IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern
California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced the power-to-gas
("P2G") hydrogen pipeline injection program it funds at the
University of California Irvine has
successfully demonstrated the use of excess renewable electricity
that would otherwise go to waste.
P2G is a technique for converting surplus clean energy from
solar panels or wind farms into hydrogen, which can be blended with
natural gas and utilized in everything from home appliances to
power plants. The renewable fuel can also be converted to methane
for use in a natural gas pipeline and storage system or used in
hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The features of hydrogen can
especially enable long-term storage of large amounts of carbon-free
power–which is a significant advantage over lithium ion
batteries.
"This research lays the groundwork for leveraging the natural
gas infrastructure already in place for the storage and
transmission of renewable energy," said Jeff Reed, director of business strategy and
advanced technology at the SoCalGas. "As more wind and solar
production is deployed, energy storage will be a critical component
for grid reliability."
"One of the big challenges we've faced in adding wind and solar
to the grid is what to do with the excess electricity," said
Jack Brouwer, associate professor of
mechanical & aerospace engineering and civil &
environmental engineering at UCI
and associate director of its Advanced Power & Energy Program
(APEP). "We've shown you need not halt renewable power generation
when demand is low. Instead, the excess electricity can be used to
make hydrogen that can be easily integrated into existing natural
gas pipeline infrastructure."
The pilot project began last summer with funding from SoCalGas
and the participation of Proton OnSite, provider of an electrolyzer
that produces hydrogen from electricity and water. APEP engineers
worked with UCI facilities
management technicians to install the new equipment adjacent to the
campus's power plant. Since then, the process has been closely
monitored by researchers trying to determine whether P2G is
feasible on statewide or regional power grids. Such systems are
currently in place in Germany and
Canada.
The central component of the process is the electrolyzer, which
takes in water and uses excess renewable electricity to power an
electrochemical reaction that splits it into hydrogen and oxygen.
The oxygen is released into the atmosphere, and the hydrogen is
compressed and sent about 60 feet through a pencil-thin, stainless
steel tube to an injection point in UCI's natural gas pipeline. There the hydrogen
is mixed with natural gas and, shortly thereafter, burned in the
gas turbine power plant to generate electricity and heat for the
campus.
Hydrogen produced from electricity and water can also be
converted into methane and injected into a natural gas pipeline
system. The natural gas system includes transmission and
distribution pipeline networks and existing underground storage
facilities that can store enormous amounts of renewable methane or
hydrogen energy for use at a later time. In the SoCalGas service
territory alone, more than 12 terawatt-hours of electric equivalent
storage can be accommodated.
"Our initial testing indicates smooth operation for this first
successful U.S. proof of concept," Brouwer said. "Storage of the
hydrogen in existing natural gas infrastructure could become the
most important technology for enabling a 100 percent renewable
future."
About Southern California Gas Co.
SoCalGas has been
delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers
for over 145 years. It is the nation's largest natural gas
distribution utility, providing service to 21.6 million consumers
connected through 5.9 million meters in more than 500 communities.
The company's service territory encompasses about 20,000 square
miles throughout central and Southern
California, from Visalia to
the Mexican border. SoCalGas is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra
Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company
based in San Diego.
About the University of California,
Irvine
Founded in 1965, UCI is the youngest member of the prestigious
Association of American Universities. The campus has produced three
Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier
research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor
Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 30,000 students and offers
192 degree programs. It's located in one of the world's safest and
most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County's second-largest employer,
contributing $5 billion annually to
the local economy. For more on UCI, visit www.uci.edu.
About the UCI Advanced Power
& Energy Program
APEP addresses the broad utilization of
energy resources and the emerging connection of electric power
generation, infrastructure, transportation, water resources and the
environment. It seeks to develop, promote and deploy increasingly
efficient and environmentally sustainable power production and
energy conversion worldwide, with a focus on the creation and
sharing of new knowledge through fundamental and applied research,
education and outreach. Key to this vital effort is industry
involvement and partnership, as with SoCalGas in the current
effort.
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Co.