Update: US Department of Energy grants up to $1.2 billion to form a hydrogen hub in California

The US Department of Energy (DoE) will award up to $1.2 billion in grant funding to a public-private partnership in California to create a hydrogen hub in the state.

PHOTO: An aerial view of the Long Beach Port. Getty Images

The project, led by the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), aims to produce hydrogen from renewable energy and biomass. It will also provide a blueprint for decarbonising public transportation and port operations.

ARCHES is California's initiative that supports projects related to renewable hydrogen.

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, partners in the California hydrogen hub project, will receive a portion of the state’s grant funds “to advance the use of hydrogen fuel in goods movement,” the Los Angeles (LA) Port Authority said.

The grant will be used to deploy hydrogen fuel cell cargo-handling equipment and hydrogen fuelling trucks or stations in the ports’ terminals, it said.

“Transitioning to hydrogen fuel technology in the maritime and transportation industries is critical as the Port of Los Angeles moves toward our ultimate goal of zero emissions,” said Los Angeles Harbor Commission president Lucille Roybal-Allard.

“We’ll use this grant to support the purchase of hydrogen fuel cell-powered equipment on all modes of transportation throughout the port complex,” said Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles.

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach introduced targets for reducing greenhouse (GHG) emissions from port operations in 2017 – Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP). Under this plan, the ports set ambitious goals to reduce GHG emissions by 40% from 1990 levels by 2030, and by 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.

The port of Oakland, also a partner in the California hydrogen hub project, along with the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will receive a portion of the state's grant funds.

“Port of Oakland’s projects include construction of hydrogen fueling stations and replacement of cargo handling equipment with zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell technology,” the port authority said.

By Aparupa Mazumder 

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