Small California town could be a testing ground for hydrogen blending fuel project

A California town of around 9,525 people, many of them farmworkers, is in line to become a testing ground for a “hydrogen blending” project that could potentially lower greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

Hydrogen blending is the process through which hydrogen is gradually introduced to a gas distribution system, blending with the natural gas. The project is being proposed by the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), which has said the effort will support California’s climate and clean air goals.

“This project would offer a real-world environment to better understand how clean hydrogen and natural gas can be safely delivered to customers in the future,” the company has stated. “This is part of a broader effort by California and utilities to develop a standard for safe hydrogen blending, which could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality.”

SoCalGas would begin by introducing hydrogen concentrations of 0.1% into the town’s gas lines, which it will gradually increase up to 5%. Active blending in Orange Cove expected to last around 18 months, according to SoCalGas. The project is now pending approval by the California Public Utilities Commission, a process that can take a year, according to The Fresno Bee. Once approved, SoCalGas has said the plant could be up and running in 18 months.

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