Dubbed one of the biggest green projects in the United States of America, the SoHyCal hydrogen project in California was recently unveiled. Located in Fresno, this plant is now known as a landmark project for H2B2 Electrolysis Technologies Inc. According to H2B2 USA, this hydrogen facility will play a major role in the transportation sector.
California becoming a hydrogen city
As the information suggests, the hydrogen project will offer 3000kg per day and is now labelled a major project. This facility in California is claimed as the first and largest green hydrogen plant to become operational in North America.
Located in Fresno, this massive project for H2B2 Electrolysis Technologies, Inc. awarded by the California Energy Commission, has become operational with the production of hydrogen using renewable energy sources.
Also expected to transition into its second phase with solar power sometime in the second quarter of 2024, the project, in full capacity, is anticipated to supply hydrogen well enough to power up to 210,000 cars or 30,000 city buses in a year, according to the company.
To the CEO of H2B2 USA Pedro Pajares, he said: “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.”
Hydrogen facility in California to serve as refuelling stations
As it is envisaged that the project will provide 100% clean hydrogen production using PEM technology, this facility will also help with a manufacturing capacity of up to 3 tons of green hydrogen per day using solar energy from a photovoltaic (PV) plant.
“In its initial phase of development, the facility is now capable of producing 1 ton of H2 per day using biogas from nearby dairy farms,” reports ETNews.
Moreover, the SoHyCal plant is expected to serve the hydrogen refuelling stations in the San Joaquin Valley and San Francisco Bay areas.
Coming to finances, it is reported that H2B2 has successfully secured a $3.96 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) Clean Transportation Programme for the development of the SoHyCal project.
As also reported back in May, H2B2 USA revealed plans to go public via a $750 million SPAC and has scooped the Combined Heat and Power Alliance’s 2024 Cogeneration Project of the Year award.
A model for future hydrogen projects
Energy News has it that this groundbreaking facility is seen as a model for future projects considering the fact that this SoHyCal project is part of a wider strategy to demonstrate the feasibility of renewable hydrogen solutions on an industrial scale.
“As demand for hydrogen increases, particularly for use in the transport and heavy industry sectors, the technology developed by H2B2 and 2G Energy could serve as a benchmark for other similar initiatives,” posted Energy News.
“It should be noted that the hydrogen market is booming, both in the United States and internationally, with competing projects seeking to capitalize on this energy resource.”
Meanwhile, industry experts believe that this type of project could also play a key role in the decarbonization of European and Asian energy systems.
The green hydrogen market is viewed as having significant potential, with forecasts indicating it could reach a value of $10T by 2030.
According to Chemical Engineering, “the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has also been a key partner in making the SoHyCal project a reality and the corporation is also credited for playing a pivotal role in facilitating H2B2’s journey toward building the green hydrogen production facility in the United States.