Hydrogen’s Role in Clean Energy to Take the Spotlight in SoCalGas’ “H2 Hydrogen Home”
First project of its kind in the U.S. aims to show how this carbon-free gas made from renewable electricity can fuel clean energy systems in a carbon-neutral future
LOS ANGELES– December 15, 2020 – As part of its efforts to support California’s climate change goals and its mission to become the cleanest, safest and most innovative energy company in America, Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced it will build a state-of-the-art demonstration project to show the role hydrogen could play in attaining California’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality.
Named the H2 Hydrogen Home, the project is the first of its kind in the U.S. and will include a home, solar panels, a home battery, an electrolyzer to convert solar energy into clean hydrogen, and a fuel cell to convert that hydrogen back to electricity. The hydrogen will also be blended with natural gas for use in the home’s appliances. The H2 Hydrogen Home is expected to be complete by late 2021. An ad promoting the demonstration home is available via this link.
“California will continue to lead by bringing green hydrogen into its energy mix, just as it led by integrating renewable electricity and batteries for electric storage,” said Maryam Brown, SoCalGas president. “The H2 Hydrogen Home will help guide decision-making that will ultimately create the 21st century energy system needed to provide clean, affordable and resilient energy for Californians.”
“As we move to a clean energy future, hydrogen is a zero-emission fuel that could play a significant role in California,” said California Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin. “This demonstration home will be a great way to see hydrogen in action. Looking forward I am excited about the development of hydrogen technology as a way to create jobs for Californians in a green economy.”
“This home is a great way to show in a tangible way how green hydrogen can store renewable power for an unlimited length of time and how it can be reconverted to electricity whenever it’s needed,” said Janice Lin, Founder and President of the Green Hydrogen Coalition.
The H2 Hydrogen Home is designed with solar panels, which will power the project’s home on sunny days and also provide excess electricity that will be stored for night use and cloudy days. Some of that extra electricity will charge a home battery for short-term energy storage. The rest of the solar power will be converted to clean hydrogen using an electrolyzer and stored until needed. That stored hydrogen will also be converted back to electricity with an on-site fuel cell. And finally, the hydrogen will be blended with natural gas and used in the home’s heat pump HVAC unit, water heater, clothes dryer, and gas stove.
