North America has cemented itself firmly in the green hydrogen game with the first operational plant in the United States. H2B2 Electrolysis Technologies owns the solar-powered hydrogen generator and has named the plant SoHyCal, alluding to its location in California’s Central Valley. The facility, which secured $3,96 million in funding, is expected to produce three tons of hydrogen each day, which will go a long way in the drive to eradicate carbon emissions and adopt clean energy.
SoHyCal unveiled as a pioneer of conservational hydrogen
The process of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis technology is used to produce conservational hydrogen from biogas with a capacity of three tons a day, which is the equivalent of a 100-vehicle fleet traveling around 3,000 miles each, which is about the same distance as driving across the entire United States—every day! Spanish company Ingeteam, which specializes in energy conservation and management, is competently in charge of the cutting-edge PEM system.
Pedro Pajares, CEO of H2B2 USA, promoted the project as an example to others:
“In the quest for a greener energy transition, SoHyCal represents a cornerstone in California’s commitment to developing and promoting clean and sustainable hydrogen fuel technologies. The project is poised to significantly contribute to the surging demand for hydrogen, particularly for transportation applications, the reduction of emissions, and the decarbonization in mobility.”
Renewable hydrogen produced by renewable energy
Conservational hydrogen supplier H2B2’s 100% renewably powered plant SoHyCal is ready to revolutionize the energy market and impact the transport sector, especially in North America. Not only does it produce hydrogen as a clean energy product, but the plant is also powered by photovoltaic energy generated in an integrated solar power system. This means that the entire operation is sustainable, from the energy used to the power produced.
Benefits for the State of California and beyond
California is firmly behind the carbon-free revolution, and its goals are reflected in the support extended to the development of the SoHyCal hydrogen fuel plant. Under its main goal, the Californian administration also wants to see hydrogen refueling stations installed across the San Joaquin Valley and San Francisco Bay areas. There are numerous types of vehicles capable of operating on hydrogen, including cars, trucks, and buses, that will soon depend on the supply network and justify the installation of the infrastructure.
Among other benefits, this will encourage more transport customers to transition from gasoline and diesel to responsibly sourced hydrogen, ultimately leading to decreased emissions and improved air quality.
Global standards for ecological hydrogen production
SoHyCal goes beyond being an achievement for North America, it also has global relevance. The Hydrogen Valley Platform (H2V), which is a global forum for sharing information about significant hydrogen projects, identified SoHyCal as a role model for hydrogen generation projects on other continents.
Hydrogen is becoming an increasingly attractive option for numerous industries as technology and performance advance, such as power generation, transportation, and industrial manufacturing. The market for hydrogen is expected to be worth $10 trillion by 2030, which puts H2B2 in a position to take a lead in the emerging market. China is another contender, with hydrogen production and export increasingly accounting for a portion of the Asian country’s GDP.
Benefits of hydrogen as a renewable fuel
There are several advantages of hydrogen in fuel applications:
- Zero emissions: The only byproduct that hydrogen fuel produces is water vapor.
- Energy efficiency: This means more “value” derived from the volume of full, resulting in longer ranges.
- Industrial applications: Hydrogen is ideal for high-power applications like manufacturing, aviation, and shipping, where batteries are not capable of delivering sustained periods of high-power output.
- Fast refueling: Hydrogen tanks are faster to refuel than charging batteries in electric vehicles, taking about the same amount of time as gasoline or diesel vehicles. This makes it an attractive choice for long-distance transportation and public transport.
The time of hydrogen is rising, and the United States is rising with it as the world looks to clean fossil fuel alternatives.