This innovative technology could help
revolutionize biomethane production and help decarbonize gas
infrastructure by displacing traditional natural gas with
carbon-neutral synthetic biomethane.
LOS
ANGELES, March 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern
California Gas Company (SoCalGas) today announced its collaboration
with Electrochaea and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
on an innovative research project that aims to develop a
single-stage electro-bioreactor to transform excess renewable
electricity and biogas into carbon-neutral synthetic biomethane,
also known as renewable natural gas (RNG). This approach could mark
a significant advancement in power to gas technology and
underscores the viability of potential for synthetic biomethane to
help decarbonize natural gas infrastructure and its end uses from
residential heating to manufacturing industries and transportation.
SoCalGas has contributed to the project's technical development and
helped provide funding, which was also supported by a $1 million grant from the Department of Energy
(DOE).
"This technology is not just an innovative approach to energy
generation; it has the potential to be a versatile solution that
aligns with California's vision
for carbon neutrality by 2045," said Jawaad Malik, Chief Strategy and
Sustainability Officer at SoCalGas. "This project
demonstrates our aspirations for a sustainable energy future and
highlights how strategic collaborations can yield solutions
designed to benefit the environment, the economy and our
communities."
If developed at scale, this technology could increase the yield
of RNG produced from carbon dioxide sources like anaerobic
digesters, landfills, dairies, fermentation facilities or
industrial processes. The hybrid bioreactor and electrolyzer system
harnesses the power of Electrochaea's proprietary microbial
biocatalyst, which consumes hydrogen and carbon dioxide,
transforming these inputs into RNG.
"We believe this technology will help enable decarbonization of
the natural gas grid infrastructure by providing a renewable source
of natural gas," said Simon Pang,
a materials scientist in LLNL's Materials Science Division who
heads the project. "This renewable natural gas can be moved and
used in existing infrastructure, allowing the technology to be
deployed soon to meet green energy demand. Moreover, by producing
pipeline-quality renewable natural gas from biogas, we can increase
the value of biogas and reduce the likelihood that it will be
vented to the atmosphere, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
improving local air quality."
The two-year project aims to efficiently combine the processes
of electrolysis and methanation in one streamlined unit. A single
unit would simplify how the system works, bring efficiency, lower
costs, and have a potential to adjust to changing energy demand and
renewable electricity sources.
"Electrochaea's team is highly committed to contributing to a
safe, affordable, and environmentally friendly energy supply now
and in the future. The new highly efficient single-stage bioreactor
is an essential asset in this endeavor," said Dr. Doris Hafenbradl, Electrochaea's Chief
Technology Officer and Managing Director. "We are excited to
collaborate with SoCalGas and Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory who are undisputed leaders in their respective fields.
The enthusiasm to continue and expand this collaborative effort is
a testament to the shared commitment to making a meaningful impact
on the energy landscape."
Cleaner energy innovations designed to help decarbonize
hard-to-electrify sectors will be a key component of California's efforts to achieve carbon
neutrality by 2045. To that end, SoCalGas continues to develop
Angeles Link, a proposed clean
renewable hydrogen pipeline system to serve Southern and
Central California. Angeles Link could be the nation's largest clean
renewable hydrogen pipeline system and help significantly reduce
greenhouse gas emissions from heavy-duty transportation, electric
generation, industrial processes and other hard-to-electrify
sectors of the California
economy.
Learn more about how SoCalGas is working to help achieve a
future through innovation, collaboration and decarbonization at
https://www.socalgas.com/sustainability
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles,
SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas aims to deliver
affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service to
approximately 21 million consumers across approximately 24,000
square miles of Central and Southern
California. We believe gas delivered through our pipelines
plays a key role in California's
clean energy transition by supporting energy system reliability and
resiliency and enabling integration of renewable
resources.
SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most
innovative energy infrastructure company in America. In support of
that mission, SoCalGas aspires to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas
emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045 and to
replace 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply to core
customers with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. RNG can be made
from waste created by landfills and wastewater treatment plants.
SoCalGas is also investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while
working to keep bills affordable for customers. SoCalGas is a
subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), an energy infrastructure company
based in San Diego.
For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with
SoCalGas on X (formerly Twitter) (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas)
and Facebook.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about the
future, involve risks and uncertainties, and are not guarantees.
Future results may differ materially from those expressed or
implied in any forward-looking statement. These forward-looking
statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the
date of this press release. We assume no obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
In this press release, forward-looking statements can be
identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "intend,"
"anticipate," "contemplate," "plan," "estimate," "project,"
"forecast," "envision," "should," "could," "would," "will,"
"confident," "may," "can," "potential," "possible," "proposed," "in
process," "construct," "develop," "opportunity," "preliminary,"
"initiative," "target," "outlook," "optimistic," "poised,"
"maintain," "continue," "progress," "advance," "goal," "aim,"
"commit," or similar expressions, or when we discuss our guidance,
priorities, strategy, goals, vision, mission, opportunities,
projections, intentions or expectations.
Factors, among others, that could cause actual results and
events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any
forward-looking statement include: decisions, investigations,
inquiries, regulations, denials or revocations of permits,
consents, approvals or other authorizations, renewals of
franchises, and other actions, including the failure to honor
contracts and commitments, by the (i) California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC), U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Internal Revenue
Service and other regulatory bodies and (ii) U.S. and states,
counties, cities and other jurisdictions therein where we do
business; the success of business development efforts and
construction projects, including risks related to (i) completing
construction projects or other transactions on schedule and budget,
(ii) realizing anticipated benefits from any of these efforts if
completed, (iii) obtaining third-party consents and approvals, and
(iv) third parties honoring their contracts and commitments;
macroeconomic trends or other factors that could change our capital
expenditure plans and their potential impact on rate base or other
growth; litigation, arbitrations and other proceedings, and changes
to laws and regulations, including those related to tax and trade
policy; cybersecurity threats, including by state and
state-sponsored actors, of ransomware or other attacks on our
systems or the systems of third parties with which we conduct
business, including the energy grid or other energy infrastructure;
the availability, uses, sufficiency, and cost of capital resources
and our ability to borrow money on favorable terms and meet our
obligations, including due to (i) actions by credit rating agencies
to downgrade our credit ratings or place those ratings on negative
outlook, (ii) instability in the capital markets, or (iii) rising
interest rates and inflation; the impact on affordability of our
customer rates and our cost of capital and on our ability to pass
through higher costs to customers due to (i) volatility in
inflation, interest rates and commodity prices and (ii) the cost of
meeting the demand for lower carbon and reliable energy in
California; the impact of climate
and sustainability policies, laws, rules, regulations, disclosures
and trends, including actions to reduce or eliminate reliance on
natural gas, increased uncertainty in the political or regulatory
environment for California natural
gas distribution companies, the risk of nonrecovery for stranded
assets, and uncertainty related to relevant emerging and
early-stage technologies; weather, natural disasters, pandemics,
accidents, equipment failures, explosions, terrorism, information
system outages or other events, such as work stoppages, that
disrupt our operations, damage our facilities or systems, cause the
release of harmful materials or fires or subject us to liability
for damages, fines and penalties, some of which may not be
recoverable through regulatory mechanisms or insurance or may
impact our ability to obtain satisfactory levels of affordable
insurance; the availability of natural gas and natural gas storage
capacity, including disruptions caused by failures in the pipeline
system or limitations on the withdrawal of natural gas from storage
facilities; and other uncertainties, some of which are difficult to
predict and beyond our control.
These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the
reports that the company has filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports are available through the
EDGAR system free-of-charge on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, and
on Sempra's website, www.sempra.com. Investors should not rely
unduly on any forward-looking statements.
Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Infrastructure Partners, Sempra
Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC
(Oncor) and Infraestructura Energética Nova, S.A.P.I. de
C.V. (IEnova) are not the same companies as
the California utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric Company or
Southern California Gas Company, and Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra
Infrastructure Partners, Sempra Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities,
Oncor and IEnova are not regulated by the CPUC.
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Company