Proposed Hydrogen Blending Demonstration Project

At UC Irvine, our commitment to sustainability and alternative energy is both forward-thinking and grounded in our community's history of environmental action. Our pragmatic approach is inspired by the legacy of Nobel laureate F. Sherwood Rowland, whose pioneering research at UCI unveiled the detrimental impact of chlorofluorocarbons on the ozone layer.

Rowland’s discovery was instrumental in the city of Irvine becoming the first municipality in the country to ban CFCs, setting a precedent for environmental policy. In this spirit, UC Irvine continues to engage in research that yields practical solutions, fostering economic resilience, and in community outreach to address climate health and safeguard our environment.

The importance of this demonstration project – involving UC Irvine’s Clean Energy Institute – is further underscored by the U.S. Department of Energy's decision to allocate $1.2 billion to California for the development of clean, renewable hydrogen infrastructure. Irvine is well positioned as a nexus for clean technology innovation, highlighting the critical and collaborative role that UC Irvine plays in shaping a sustainable future.

Background

On March 1, 2024, SoCalGas filed an application amendment with the California Public Utilities Commission to propose a hydrogen blending demonstration project at Anteater Recreation Center. The SoCalGas project is included in a joint application consisting of five hydrogen blending demonstration project proposals coming from all four of California’s investor-owned gas utilities (SoCalGas, SDG&E, Southwest Gas and PG&E).

The proposed demonstration project at UC Irvine will generate data, information and knowledge and will be part of a broader effort by the state and the utilities to inform the development of a statewide hydrogen blending standard – an important step in the process for the delivery of clean, renewable energy to California. The project intends to mix hydrogen (up to 20 percent) into SoCalGas’ infrastructure serving the Anteater Recreation Center.

The proposal for hydrogen blending at the ARC has been evaluated by a faculty review committee. The members recommended that UCI participate in the demonstration project and suggested a number of steps to ensure safety, transparency and accountability throughout the life of the project. In accordance with their recommendations, should the CPUC approve the proposal, this project will be guided and monitored by a dedicated administrative team, including experts from Facilities Management and Environmental Health & Safety. Additionally, in support of openness and inclusivity, a student advisory committee is being established. It will be tasked with providing feedback to the campus oversight committee responsible for the hydrogen blending project.

Hydrogen & Hydrogen Blending

What is hydrogen?

Hydrogen is an energy carrier. When used, it emits only water vapor, making it an eco-friendly option. It is recognized by organizations such as the International Energy Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Air Resources Board as a key to energy system decarbonization.

What does hydrogen blending involve?

Hydrogen blending is the practice of mixing hydrogen with natural gas within existing pipelines and other gas system infrastructure to decrease the carbon emissions associated with heating and electricity generation. This process aims to utilize existing gas networks to deliver a cleaner energy mix in the short term and a fully decarbonized energy carrier in the long term.

Why are hydrogen blending projects being conducted?

There are several economic, technical and scientific reasons to conduct hydrogen blending demonstrations, including:

  1. The combustion of hydrogen results in the emission of water vapor instead of carbon dioxide, which is a major greenhouse gas.
  2. Utilizing existing infrastructure for hydrogen blending may offer a more cost-effective method for the transmission and distribution of renewable energy.
  3. The feasibility of safely and effectively conducting hydrogen blending could mean leveraging current gas infrastructure to transport hydrogen from production sites to points of use, potentially bypassing the need for significant new investments in renewable energy infrastructure and addressing limitations in the current electrical system's transmission capabilities.
  4. California's ambitious 2045 decarbonization targets may hinge on the availability of additional avenues for renewable primary energy and substantial enhancements in transmission infrastructure.
  5. California's grid, which is heavily reliant on renewable sources, may need to incorporate capacity and decarbonized dispatchable generation, possibly through the transformation of the gas network to deliver renewable fuel underground, to meet established reliability and resilience criteria, such as the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's N+1 standards.

Why are blends limited to 20 percent hydrogen in this case?

Research into the various applications of gas indicates that hydrogen blends of up to 20 percent can be used safely while also maintaining low emission levels. This range is supported by guidelines from the CPUC. A blend of more than 20 percent hydrogen would be necessary for a more substantial impact on decarbonization. While blends used in the demonstration project will not exceed 20 percent hydrogen, the data and knowledge generated from this initiative will be valuable for enhancing the efficient transmission of hydrogen, which is particularly crucial for its adoption in sectors where renewable alternatives are limited.

Hydrogen differs from natural gas. How does the demonstration project address the differences?

In regions like California where hydrogen blending is relatively new, safety and efficiency are being carefully addressed and evaluated through demonstration projects. While hydrogen has different properties from methane, modern infrastructure and safety technologies like specialized sensors and automatic shut-off systems are designed to manage these differences effectively. Long-term impacts such as hydrogen embrittlement in pipelines are subject to ongoing research, but no significant damage is expected in the low-pressure, mostly plastic distribution systems over the short term. Additionally, the impact on nitrogen oxide emissions is being monitored, with initial findings showing lower emissions for appliances using hydrogen-natural gas blends.

Where else is hydrogen blending taking place?

Globally, the safe use of hydrogen in natural gas networks is well documented, with places like Hawaii successfully delivering a blend of 12 to 15 percent hydrogen to customers for over half a century. In the town of Delta, Utah, an initiative has recently been launched in which 1,800 customers are participating in a hydrogen blending project.

Between 2017 and 2019, Keele University in the United Kingdom safely supplied 20 percent hydrogen-blended gas to 100 homes and 30 university buildings across its campus. Hydrogen blends of up to 20 percent are also being safely demonstrated in gas grids in Europe, Australia and Asia. Similar hydrogen blending programs are in development in the U.S. and Canada. Examples of existing blending projects are provided in the reference links below:

What role does hydrogen play in state and federal clean energy plans?

Hydrogen is featured in various state and federal plans as a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. California's updated scoping plan advocates for increased hydrogen production, and the U.S. Department of Energy has allocated $1.2 billion to California for its Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems regional hydrogen hub initiative to support clean hydrogen projects and infrastructure development. The U.S. Department of Energy also has launched HyBlend, an initiative to study the blending of hydrogen in natural gas pipelines.

Hydrogen Blending Project at UCI

What is the significance of the hydrogen blending project at UCI’s Anteater Recreation Center?

The hydrogen blending project at the ARC would contribute data, information and knowledge on the use of natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transport. This project would integrate hydrogen with natural gas within a controlled setting. The outcomes are expected to contribute significantly to the development of California's hydrogen blending regulations and support the state's climate and energy goals.

How will the hydrogen blending project at the ARC work?

As proposed, the project would use solar power in electrolyzers – machines that use electricity to split water into its constituent elements of hydrogen and oxygen – to make hydrogen gas that would be blended into isolated sections of the campus’s natural gas infrastructure to fuel existing equipment and appliances in the ARC. The proposed project would initially blend 5 percent hydrogen, with a goal of gradually increasing the hydrogen blend up to 20 percent – which will help reduce greenhouse gas and nitrogen oxide emissions associated with all the gas end-uses at the ARC.

Why is UC Irvine collaborating on this project?

UC Irvine has a rich tradition in energy and environmental studies and is internationally recognized for its leadership in energy and transportation research and innovation. It is home to the National Fuel Cell Research Center, dedicated in 1998 by the U.S. Department of Energy and the California Energy Commission to accelerate the development and deployment of fuel cell technology, provide outreach to the market, and address market hurdles.

The collaboration between SoCalGas and UC Irvine on the ARC demonstration project would be a progression of the partnership that began in 2016. This earlier project marked the first instance of green hydrogen being blended successfully with natural gas in the United States. Building upon that foundation, the newly proposed project represents a real-world application within a closed system, enhancing the practical understanding of hydrogen's role in sustainable energy solutions.

The goal is to extend the insights gained from the initial project and further explore the safety, efficiency and scalability of hydrogen blending as part of California's transition to a clean energy future.

What water sources will be used for hydrogen production?

Water availability is an important issue in Southern California. The project team is exploring sustainable water sources, including the potential use of recycled water, to minimize the environmental impact. This careful consideration ensures that the project is consistent with the region's water resource management strategies.

How does this project align with California's climate change goals?

This project has the potential to contribute to California's climate action plan by providing alternative energy solutions, supporting the state's target for carbon neutrality. It also could complement electrification efforts and offer insights into scaling up hydrogen production, which is crucial for decarbonizing sectors that are difficult to directly electrify and for supporting the integration of renewable electricity through micro-grids and other innovations.

 

Hydrogen Blending Safety Measures

How safe is hydrogen blending?

Globally, the safe use of hydrogen in natural gas networks is well documented, with places like Hawaii successfully delivering a blend of 12 to 15 percent hydrogen to customers for over half a century. In the town of Delta, Utah, an initiative has recently been launched in which 1,800 customers are participating in a hydrogen blending project.

Between 2017 and 2019, Keele University in the United Kingdom safely supplied 20 percent hydrogen-blended gas to 100 homes and 30 university buildings across its campus. Hydrogen blends of up to 20 percent are also being safely demonstrated in gas grids in Europe, Australia and Asia. Similar hydrogen blending programs are in development in the U.S. and Canada. Examples of existing blending projects are provided in the reference links below:

What safety protocols are established for the hydrogen blending project?

Following recommendations from the scientific review committee, a dedicated campus administrative team at UC Irvine will be working closely with SoCalGas to implement comprehensive safety measures before, during and after the hydrogen blending project. This commitment focuses on safety through the lenses of public safety, infrastructure safety, employee safety and contractor safety and will include the following:

  • Extensive hydrogen safety training for personnel
  • Development of blending protocols and emergency response plans
  • Operational tests and equipment tests to confirm that the gas system and equipment are free of leaks and prepared to receive a hydrogen blend prior to the introduction of hydrogen
  • Rigorous safety assessments of hydrogen storage and hydrogen components
  • Thorough inspections of behind-the-meter equipment to confirm that it is free of leaks and operating safely
  • Continuous leak monitoring, including monthly surveys (which is 12 times the normal protocol of leakage inspection)
  • Installation of remote methane/hydrogen monitoring systems
  • Stringent measures to prevent hydrogen or hydrogen blends from reaching natural gas storage areas or electrical switching equipment

What is the environmental impact of using hydrogen-blended natural gas?

Utilizing hydrogen, especially when sourced from renewable or electrolytic methods, lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Demonstrations have shown varying effects on air quality, with most instances reporting reductions in nitrogen oxide emissions. Ongoing research and analyses support the notion that using hydrogen blends can align with improved air quality standards. UC Irvine's proposed project aims to gather more data on hydrogen leakage and gas conversion equipment emissions, contributing to a broader understanding of hydrogen's environmental impact.

Is there an increased risk of leakage with hydrogen-blended gas?

Current research indicates no significant difference in leakage rates between hydrogen-blended gas and natural gas. The UC Irvine demonstration project would continue to investigate this, conducting thorough leak surveys (12 times more frequently than the usual protocol) and evaluations of detection technology to ensure the integrity of the gas system when hydrogen is blended. 

Timeline

SoCalGas has proposed a five-year Closed System Hydrogen Blending Project at UC Irvine's Anteater Recreation Center, beginning with its application to the California Public Utilities Commission in 2024 and culminating in a comprehensive data analysis in 2029. This project is structured into four sequential phases. The first two phases, encompassing planning and demonstration, are set to unfold over three years, providing ample opportunity for data gathering and assessment throughout varying operational conditions and seasons. Hydrogen blending operations are scheduled to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026. The project will then proceed to the final two stages, which involve the dismantling of the system and a detailed examination and dissemination of the collected data and findings.

Project timeline

Rosters

Faculty Review Committee
  • Reginald Penner
  • Distinguished Professor, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation
  • Department of Chemistry
  • Efi Foufoula-Georgiou
  • Distinguished Professor, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation
  • Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
  • Diran Apelian
  • Distinguished Professor
  • Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Administrative Team
  • To Be Determined
Student Advisory Committee
  • To Be Determined