A Smart Step Towards a Cleaner Future: Hydrogen Blending Project at UC Irvine

At UC Irvine, we are proud to build on our strong history of environmental leadership, inspired by Nobel laureate F. Sherwood Rowland, whose groundbreaking research right here at UC Irvine showed the world how certain chemicals were harmful to the ozone layer.

Rowland's discovery led to Irvine becoming the first U.S. city to ban those chemicals, setting a national example for environmental policy and protection. In that same spirit, UC Irvine continues to lead the way, researching real-world solutions that not only boost our economies but also help our communities and protect our planet.

That’s why UC Irvine is an ideal partner to SoCalGas in a proposed hydrogen blending demonstration project that, if approved, would take place at the university’s Anteater Recreation Center (ARC).

This demonstration project - at the request of the California Public Utilities Commission - and similar projects by other major California gas utility companies, have become increasingly important now that the state has been awarded $1.2 billion from the U.S. Department of Energy to build a clean, renewable hydrogen infrastructure. With Irvine already serving as a hub for clean technology, this project highlights UC Irvine’s crucial role in shaping a sustainable future for everyone.

The Plan: Hydrogen Blending at UC Irvine

In March 2024, SoCalGas submitted its application to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for approval to start a hydrogen blending demonstration project at the University of California, Irvine. The proposed project will provide valuable data that will help the state and other utilities create a statewide standard for hydrogen blending – a huge step towards bringing clean, renewable energy to all of California. 

The plan is to mix a small amount of hydrogen and gradually increase it up to a maximum of 20 percent into the natural gas pipelines that serve the ARC. A faculty review committee evaluated the proposal and recommended UC Irvine’s participation while emphasizing the need for clear steps to ensure the project is safe, transparent and accountable. 

Upon CPUC approval, anticipated in early 2026, the 18-month blending project will be monitored by a dedicated team from UC Irvine’s Facilities Management and Environmental Health & Safety departments. Additionally, a governance structure has been established to provide oversight of the demonstration project, including that safety protocols are being adhered to. This is led by an Administrative Oversight Committee consisting of leaders in administration, and a Student Advisory Committee to ensure that student voices are included in the process. The actual hydrogen blending operations would commence in late 2027, following an extensive planning period. The project would conclude in 2029 with a decommissioning of the system and a comprehensive examination of the data.

SoCalGas is proposing to blend small amounts of clean renewable hydrogen (between 5 and 20 percent) with natural gas and safely inject it into an isolated section of the campus. This blended gas would power equipment and appliances located within the Anteater Recreation Center (ARC) utilizing SoCalGas’s existing distribution system on campus. To do this, SoCalGas will take natural gas from the existing distribution gas line on California Avenue and route it to the proposed hydrogen production and blending site, which is located on a vacant lot just south of the ARC, adjacent to the old farm school.

SoCalGas would produce clean renewable hydrogen using water and electricity generated from solar panels. An electrolyzer, powered by renewable energy, would be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen would then be stored onsite and blended with natural gas using a blending skid. Once blended to the designated percentage, the blended fuel would flow northbound on California Avenue and be reinjected into the existing natural gas distribution system, where it would ultimately feed the ARC’s equipment. The pipeline system on California Avenue would be modified so that only the ARC receives the blended gas.

Demonstration Project

Hydrogen Blending: A Clear Path to Clean Energy

The goal of hydrogen blending is to make our existing energy system cleaner by adding hydrogen to the natural gas that flows through our pipelines. When hydrogen is burned, it releases water vapor rather than carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. This simple step helps reduce the carbon emissions produced from heating our homes and generating electricity.

Hydrogen is a key player in our clean energy future. It is featured in several state and federal plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and organizations worldwide, including the International Energy Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the California Air Resources Board, see it as essential for cutting down on carbon. With carbon-free energy as a long-term goal, hydrogen blending is a practical step toward that.

Prioritizing Safety

Safety is the absolute top priority for SoCalGas and UC Irvine. A dedicated UC Irvine campus administrative team will be working closely with SoCalGas to implement comprehensive safety measures before, during and after the hydrogen blending demonstration 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 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 isolate and prevent hydrogen or hydrogen blends from reaching natural gas storage areas or electrical switching equipment

SoCal Gas’s proposed UC Irvine demonstration project will utilize solar power to run special machines called electrolyzers, which split water into hydrogen and oxygen. A small amount of the hydrogen gas (five percent) is mixed into isolated sections of the campus's natural gas system to power existing equipment, with a gradual increase in the mix to reach 20 percent.

Extensive research shows that blending up to 20 percent hydrogen is safe and keeps emissions low. This standard is supported by California's utility regulators. Hydrogen is different from natural gas in that it contains no carbon and produces only H2O, in the form of water vapor. Modern technologies, such as special sensors and automatic shut-off systems, are designed to manage these differences effectively. The UC Irvine demonstration project will use advanced detection systems to constantly monitor for leaks remotely, as well as conducting thorough in-person inspections pre-, during, and post-implementation. The system is meticulously designed to ensure that, in the unlikely event of a detected leak, the hydrogen flow will be immediately cut and automatically isolated to ensure safety.  

Hydrogen Blending: Safely Used Elsewhere

Hydrogen blending isn't new or unique to California, as similar projects are underway in Europe, Australia, Asia, and across North America. In Hawaii, for example, customers have been benefiting from a 12 to 15 percent hydrogen blend for more than 50 years and in Delta, Utah, 1,800 customers are now part of a hydrogen blending demonstration project. In the United Kingdom, Keele University safely supplied a 20 percent hydrogen blend to homes and university buildings from 2017-2019. 

With our long history of leadership in energy and environmental research, including hosting the National Fuel Cell Research Center, UC Irvine is a natural fit for this project. It builds on our past successes, like being the first in the U.S. to successfully blend green hydrogen with natural gas in 2016. 

Why UC Irvine?

Our goal is to learn even more about how to safely and efficiently scale up hydrogen blending for California's clean energy future. We're also being mindful of our resources. For hydrogen production, we're exploring sustainable water sources like recycled water to minimize environmental impact. The data we collect at the ARC will be vital for shaping California's future hydrogen regulations and helping the state meet its climate goals.

Finally, this project also provides incredible educational opportunities for our students and researchers, keeping UC Irvine at the forefront of energy innovation.

Big Benefits for California, the Country and the World

Demonstration projects like the one at UC Irvine's ARC are crucial for several reasons. First, it helps California reach its ambitious goal of being carbon-neutral by 2045, specifically working to cut greenhouse gas and nitrogen oxide emissions from energy use. 

Second, it applies smart economics by using the pipelines that are already in place, eliminating the need to build new energy infrastructure and paving the way to a more affordable method of delivering clean, renewable energy. 

Finally, it creates a stronger energy ecosystem. When we safely and effectively blend hydrogen, our existing gas infrastructure can become a powerful tool for moving clean energy around. This helps our current electrical system handle demand better and makes our overall energy supply more reliable and resilient.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hydrogen & Hydrogen Blending Hydrogen Blending Project at UCI Hydrogen Blending Safety Measures

For questions, please email h2blending@uci.edu.

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:

• U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen Program
• HyDeploy trial at Keele University
• Fort Saskatchewan Hydrogen Blending Project (ATCO)
• Clean hydrogen enters the Markham energy mix (Enbridge Gas Inc.)
• NJNG’s Green Hydrogen Project (New Jersey Natural Gas)
• CenterPoint Energy launches green hydrogen project in Minnesota
• Dominion Energy advances hydrogen as next frontier of clean energy
• Developing Hydrogen-Based Fuel in Hawaii – YouTube
• CPUC Issues Independent Study on Injecting Hydrogen Into Natural Gas Systems

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:

• U.S. Department of Energy Hydrogen Program
• HyDeploy trial at Keele University
• Fort Saskatchewan Hydrogen Blending Project (ATCO)
• Clean hydrogen enters the Markham energy mix (Enbridge Gas Inc.)
• NJNG’s Green Hydrogen Project (New Jersey Natural Gas)
• CenterPoint Energy launches green hydrogen project in Minnesota
• Dominion Energy advances hydrogen as next frontier of clean energy
• Developing Hydrogen-Based Fuel in Hawaii – YouTube
• CPUC Issues Independent Study on Injecting Hydrogen Into Natural Gas Systems

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 greenhouse gas 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 third quarter of 2027. 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. The timeline below is subject to change based on Commission directives.

Rosters