Creating resilient clean energy from solar power and waste
By Patrick Goodman, Fluor fellow, Clean Hydrogen Technology
In the popular children’s story, “The Little Engine That Could,” a train is
headed over a mountain to deliver children’s toys and food when its engine
breaks down. The only other engine that stops to help is a small one that
has never worked outside a train yard much less gone over the mountain. This
little engine saves the day through self-encouragement by chanting, “I think
I can! I think I can! I think I can!” as it pulls the train carrying the
large load up and over the mountain. Hydrogen has a similar journey as the
little engine – and this small, but mighty, molecule is on its way to
producing big things.
So, what are some of the big things that hydrogen can do?
SoCalGas recently unveiled its [H2] Innovation
Experience home in Downey, California. The first project of its kind
in North America, the home gives a glimpse into the future by showing how a
carbon-free gas, made from renewable energy, can be used to fuel clean
energy systems. The home integrates solar panels, a battery, an electrolyzer
that converts solar energy to hydrogen and a hydrogen fuel cell to supply
electricity to the home. Hydrogen is also blended with natural gas to run
home appliances, from the stove to the water heater.
Fluor worked with SoCalGas
as the engineering, procurement and construction management contractor on
this groundbreaking project. This type of clean hydrogen microgrid has the
potential to deliver reliable and renewable energy around-the-clock to more
than 100 homes, rain or shine, for as much as seven days.
The [H2] Innovation Experience home is just one example of the many benefits
that hydrogen can provide, and with good reason. Hydrogen is a versatile,
clean energy gas that emits no carbon when it is used – its only byproduct
is water. There is enormous potential for hydrogen to play a key role in
achieving net-zero carbon emission goals. In fact, the IEA
notes hydrogen could provide 13 percent of total final energy use by 2050.
Green Hydrogen
Fluor is helping clients produce hydrogen using a variety of methods
including so-called green hydrogen both from biomass gasification and
renewable-powered electrolysis. Electrolysis uses electrical energy to split
water into hydrogen and oxygen molecules and dates back nearly 100 years
using hydroelectric power. Significant cost decreases in solar and wind
energy as well as electrolysis technology are making these projects more
economical than ever.
As demand continues to grow, hydrogen applications are also becoming more
consumer focused, with hydrogen powering fuel cell electric vehicles, buses,
forklifts and trains.
Fluor is also supporting development opportunities resulting from the U.S.
Department of Energy’s Regional
Clean Hydrogen Hubs program (H2Hubs). These hubs will form an
integral part of a hydrogen network and serve to jumpstart the clean
hydrogen industry in the U.S.
Industrial Applications
Many industrial applications are the front runners for advancing clean
hydrogen into the mainstream. Fluor is supporting one of the first
large-scale green ammonia facilities under development that is powered by
hydrogen. Ammonia is a key component of fertilizers to support global food
supply needs as well as a clean-burning option for marine fuel.
Hydrogen also has a special role to play in traditionally heavier emission
industries like oil and gas, steel
and chemicals. These industries are energy intensive and difficult to simply
reduce emissions by electrification. Fluor is working with clients to deploy
clean hydrogen in a range of manufacturing facilities.
So, is hydrogen the little molecule that could? I think so. Meeting the
world’s net-zero goals is a major undertaking, and hydrogen is going to pull
its share of the load in delivering the energy people need while meeting
these targets. Hydrogen is a key enabler of the energy transition
engine.
For more of Patrick’s thoughts on the evolution of hydrogen energy
sources, check out Episode 3 of the Built
Revolution Podcast.