As the Climate Leadership Conference (CLC) works to address the climate crisis through policy, innovation, and business solutions, SoCalGas is determined to play a leadership role in accelerating the energy transition, both in California and beyond.
California is moving quickly to decarbonize its economy, as demonstrated by recent Air Resources Board policy decisions affecting rail and heavy-duty trucking. New technologies are essential to facilitating the energy transition affordably and reliably, and clean hydrogen in particular has an important role to play in rail, heavy-duty trucking, electric generation, manufacturing, and other economic sectors.
Over the last decade, moving the benefits of hydrogen from the conceptual to the operational has been a major focus of the RD&D efforts of SoCalGas, the western hemisphere’s largest natural gas utility. SoCalGas, having set the goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045, in January of 2023 unveiled its [H2] Innovation Experience, a clean renewable hydrogen microgrid and home located in the city of Downey, California.
The [H2] Innovation Experience demonstrates practical applications of clean hydrogen. It features clean hydrogen production and storage along with a demonstration home that can draw power from solar panels and convert excess renewable electricity into clean hydrogen. The type of renewable hydrogen microgrid constructed at the [H2] Innovation Experience has the potential to deliver reliable and renewable energy to more than 100 homes around-the-clock, rain or shine, even during power outages.
The [H2] Innovation Experience’s 2,000 square-foot home was built to LEED Platinum standards and the microgrid’s solar panels and hydrogen fuel cell provide reliable and clean electricity 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Clean renewable hydrogen is also blended with natural gas for use in the home’s tankless water heater, clothes dryer, stove, fireplace, and BBQ grill. For breaking new ground in energy innovation, the [H2] Innovation Experience was recognized by Fast Company magazine as a World-Changing Idea in North America and by the Los Angeles chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council for its sustainable innovation.
Because the world’s clean energy future can only be achieved through collaboration, SoCalGas is a member of the Alliance for Renewable Clean Energy Systems (ARCHES), an initiative led by California Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration that brings together over 100 major players in the state to decarbonize California’s economy with clean hydrogen. As part of bringing the benefits of clean hydrogen to Southern California, in 2022 SoCalGas proposed the Angeles Link, a renewable hydrogen energy delivery system for the Los Angeles Basin that is now in its initial design and planning phase.
The State of California has always led on clean energy, and SoCalGas, in support of the state’s goals, is driven by the belief that every Californian deserves a clean, affordable, resilient energy future. In alignment with the Climate Leadership Conference’s values and in partnership with other energy leaders, SoCalGas is building that clean energy future through innovation, collaboration, and decarbonization.
SoCalGas is a Gold Sponsor of the 2023 Climate Leadership Conference and Awards.