The Golden State has just struck gold once again and is now leading the race that has moved beyond oil and lithium. The world has been seeking the answer to lowering the global carbon footprint, with hoping to mitigate the effects of climate change once and for all. California has found the answer and has indicated exactly where the world has fallen behind in the race. Will this discovery reform the Golden State’s energy security while keeping its carbon footprint intact?
The amazing race towards sustainable energy security
Global energy security is under pressure, especially as the world is part of the amazing race for sustainable energy solutions. Several other factors further complicated the clean energy transition. According to Greenpeace, the rise of AI and its data centers is straining the grid with energy demands that are impossible to keep up with.
Furthermore, outdated infrastructure requires costly upgrades to integrate renewable plants into the grid, which takes time, especially regarding misaligned funding and policies. The IEA also notes that geopolitical tensions also have implications for the transition. With climate targets nearing faster than anticipated, the race is on, and the focus is on finding solutions beyond oil and lithium.
Oil has a dominant role in industry and transport, but as a fossil fuel, it conflicts with several climate targets. Lithium plays a vital role in renewable storage and electrification, but its extraction is not sustainable and faces challenges with supply chain disruptions. Now it seems California has found the answer beyond oil and lithium, and in three different places.
California found the answer beyond oil and lithium
The Golden State is renowned for being a hub of innovation, which is why it should come as no surprise that California has found the answer to becoming a hub for green energy solutions. The answer, of course, is hydrogen. This resource plays a significant role in increasing energy security, and according to the IEA, it does so in the following ways:
- Long-term renewable energy storage solution
- Decrease reliance on fossil fuel imports
- Stabilizes the grid
- Decarbonizes carbon-heavy sectors
- Local production
- Diversifies energy trade
However, California is another step ahead in the race, as the true sustainable answer is not just any hydrogen, but green hydrogen. Hydrogen’s sustainability is classified by color, which is allocated according to its production method. While white hydrogen is seen as the “white gas gold” that America needs, green hydrogen is the most sought-after produced resource.
Getting lucky not once, not twice, but three times
There are three green hydrogen production facilities in California, and these projects are located in Lancaster, Antelope Valley, and the Mojave Desert, respectively.
SGH2 Lancaster Plant
- 12 tons daily, and 4,188 tons annually
- SGH2 technology uses mixed recycled paper waste for production
- Processes 42,000 tons of waste annually
- Cuts landfilling costs between $50 and $75 per ton
- Decreases emissions by 23-31 tons for every ton of green hydrogen
Antelope Valley Hydrogen 1
- 1,000-acre facility
- 235 MW solar production
- 182 MW electrolyzers
- 27 tons daily
- Qualifies for the entire $3/kg hydrogen production tax credit
- Commercial production expected to go online in 2028
Cadiz Ranch Facility
- 100% solar-powered electrolysis green hydrogen production
- 50 tons daily
- In proximity to roads, rail lines, and pipelines
- Create over 200,000 jobs
- In the planning and permitting stage
California is thus well on its way to becoming a major green hydrogen hub, and the combined value of these three projects is set to significantly boost the local economy while ensuring the state’s energy security. Furthermore, the state will take the lead in the race towards sustainable solutions, with substantial potential to decarbonize its heavy sectors such as industry and transport. Florida and Duke Energy are also rolling out a green hydrogen facility, showing that green is the future of the U.S.
