The first of seven U.S. regional hydrogen hubs has signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Energy – and it’s in California.
With the agreement signed and the first round of funding secured, California is the first state to officially launch a Hydrogen Hub, an initiative to accelerate the development and deployment of clean, renewable hydrogen projects – cutting pollution and expanding clean energy.
The California hub is part of a $7-billion federal project to build the infrastructure for a “clean” hydrogen economy to replace fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The California hub — known as the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) — will net $1.2 billion of that federal money, with plans to bring in another $11.2 billion in private investment. California was awarded hub status in October.
A hydrogen hub is a network of hydrogen production plants, trucks, and pipelines for distribution and customers that include long-haul fuel cell trucks and buses, port equipment, and electric generators.
The ARCHES hub will facilitate a network of clean, renewable hydrogen production sites to reduce fossil fuel use throughout California. The ultimate goal is to decarbonize public transportation, heavy-duty trucking, and port operations by 2 million metric tons per year—roughly the equivalent of the annual emissions of 445,000 gasoline-fueled cars.
What’s getting decarbonized:
- 3 large ports with over 200 pieces of cargo-handling equipment
- 5,000+ fuel-cell-electric trucks
- 1,000+ fuel-cell-electric buses
- 1 marine vessel
- Turbines and stationary fuel cells
- Develop infrastructure for hydrogen transport and use, including 60 heavy-duty fueling stations and 165 miles of open-access pipelines.
ARCHES is not a government body but a public-private partnership. It’s registered as a limited liability company (LLC) with four partners: the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, the University of California system, the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, and the Renewables 100 Policy Institute.
California’s hydrogen projects will be located around the state, though they are heavily concentrated in the Central Valley. Trucks and pipelines will carry hydrogen to end users. The money will be handed out to dozens of individual projects. They’ll include 10 hydrogen production sites, truck fueling stations, replacement of diesel-powered cargo-handling equipment at the state’s major ports, and experimental prototypes for uses such as ocean shipping.
“California is revolutionizing how a major world economy can clean up its biggest industries,” stated Governor Gavin Newsom. “We’re going to use clean, renewable hydrogen to power our ports and public transportation – getting people and goods where they need to go, just without the local air pollution. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration, California is excited to pioneer this world-leading initiative that’ll show other states and countries what’s possible when you prioritize clean energy and public health.”
The money will be distributed to dozens of individual – although tightly coordinated – projects. These include 10 hydrogen production sites, truck fueling stations, the replacement of diesel-powered cargo-handling equipment at the state’s major ports, and experimental prototypes for uses such as ocean shipping.
A future “offtake site” is slated for Greater Palm Springs where the nation’s first hydrogen fuel cell powered public transit busses were put into service by Sunline Transit Agency.
ARCHES said 220,000 well-paying jobs will be created, with special attention to disadvantaged communities. The hub “will create thousands of union careers while providing continued employment for existing skilled and trained union members,” said Chris Hannan, president of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California and a member of the ARCHES board.
“Today’s announcement is an extraordinary investment not just in California’s future, but for the entire country,” said Angelina Galiteva, CEO, ARCHES. “ARCHES is honored to have been chosen for such substantial funding, and we are eager to get to work to bring cutting edge projects to life up and down the state. We are grateful to President Biden and to Secretary Granholm for their dedication to a clean hydrogen future, and we look forward to rolling up our sleeves and working with our partners to advance a zero-carbon economy in a just and equitable manner that will improve the quality of life for millions of Californians.”
