Southern California Gas Co (SoCalGas), part of Sempra Energy, has detailed a proposal to develop what would be the largest green hydrogen energy infrastructure system in the US.
The proposed Angeles Link would use 100% renewable electricity that is on the grid, new build, or being curtailed to provide power to 10-20GW of electrolyser capacity to make green hydrogen, under proposals.
SoCalGas has filed an application with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requesting approval to track costs related to development of the Angeles Link.
The company has proposed a phased approach with a “robust stakeholder process each step of the way”.
The application includes descriptions of each phase, including development of a detailed project application as part of phase three.
With this application submission the proposed Angeles Link is in its initial stage of development, and subsequent stages will require further regulatory review and discretionary approvals, among other things.
“The challenges we face on climate require solutions of scale and urgency,” said Scott Drury, chief executive officer of SoCalGas.
“The Angeles Link is designed to meet those challenges head-on. Today in Southern California we’re announcing plans for one of the world’s largest clean energy infrastructure systems, to help tackle emissions for which there are no easy answers.
“Those emissions – from power plants, industry, and heavy-duty trucks – very much ‘count’ and must be significantly reduced to reach our and the State’s climate goals.”
As the nation’s largest manufacturing hub, the Los Angeles Basin is home to many potential green hydrogen users.
Drury added: “With relationships to thousands of industrial end users, a regulatory framework that promotes a transparent and robust stakeholder process serving the public interest, and an extraordinary workforce to do the job safely, SoCalGas is well positioned to work with California to capitalise on this pioneering opportunity to build what would be America’s largest green hydrogen hub.
“The Angeles Link project, if approved and completed, is poised to extend our state’s position as a leader on clean energy well into the future while helping to attract billions of dollars in new investment and maintaining and creating thousands of skilled jobs.”
Global investments in green hydrogen are helping to reduce its cost.
Locally, HyDeal Los Angeles, an initiative of the Green Hydrogen Coalition, a non-profit organisation supported by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), SoCalGas, Mitsubishi Power, and others aims to make green hydrogen cost-competitive with traditional fuels – and achieve at-scale green hydrogen procurement at $1.50/kg in the LA Basin by 2030.
In 2015 SoCalGas launched the first power-to-gas hydrogen demonstration project in the US and the company has 10 hydrogen pilot projects underway today and is also testing moving hydrogen through existing natural gas infrastructure.