The general population usually only gets to experience energy projects once they have been finalized. Still, they are not always privy to the hurdles and complications that might arise during the process. Now and then, the world gets to learn about just how much goes into the decision-making process and the political issues surrounding energy developments. In a display of this, SoCalGas asked California regulators to revise hydrogen-blending pilot rules, citing global safety evidence.
Unpacking the hydrogen generation landscape in the United States
When questions arise regarding the safety surrounding the generation of a specific type of energy source, one begins to consider just how that energy source is generated worldwide. The hydrogen landscape in the United States is experiencing something new at the moment, as it is undergoing a quick transition from a reliance on grey hydrogen to low-carbon clean hydrogen.
The continuous technological innovation has contributed significantly to this, as it allows the nation to execute groundbreaking projects that once seemed impossible. Despite the latest issues in California, the United States is still the leading nation when it comes to hydrogen generation. In fact, California is the leading state in hydrogen adoption, as it consists of over 50 refueling stations and over 950 funded cell vehicles supported by state goals for 100% clean energy by 2045. Considering all this, it is fair to ask why exactly California is experiencing its current issues.
SoCalGas asks California to revisit hydrogen-blending pilot rules: Why now?
Hydrogen production has occurred for many generations in the US without the complications that have arisen now. The corporation SoCalGas, together with San Diego Gas & Electric and Southwest Gas, took over the headlines after visiting the court with a petition asking the CPUC to remove a relatively recent requirement that demands utilities to complete a demonstration project blending up to 5% hydrogen into natural gas before they can officially establish it as the blending standard.
Upon first glance, SoCalGas and its collaborators appear justified to file such a petition, considering that the 2022 decision, which brought the requirement into action, was based on limited safety data and willingness to protect customers and infrastructure. As the world has progressed and experts had more resources to attain knowledge, utilities in California, across the US, and around the world have expanded real-world experience with hydrogen blends.
Further unpacking why SoCalGas has a reason to ask for the rule change
Numerous reports convey that SoCalGas’s belief is that the increasing amount of evidence reveals that small-scale hydrogen blends don’t destroy pipelines, they don’t demand changes to customer appliances, and they can be provided safely through medium-pressure gas systems that already exist in the energy industry. As such, other nations are able to blend hydrogen without a hassle.
Assessing how the rest of the world generates and blends hydrogen
When news broke about SoCalGas’s petition, the instinctive question that many people asked was how do other nations and US States generate hydrogen without the issues in California? For instance, Utah has completed demonstration projects showing 5% blends can be managed safely in existing infrastructure, which is the same issue that California is dealing with.
In another example, Hawaii’s utility has used hydrogen in its gas supply at levels higher than 5% for numerous decades without disturbing electric appliances in homes and businesses. If California were truly experiencing an inescapable obstacle, there wouldn’t be as many developments worldwide in 2026.
It might be unfair to criticize SoCalGas for its petition, but worldwide evidence shows that what the state is complaining about is something that other places manage well. The extensive range of information proves that even blends of up to 20% hydrogen can still support everyday appliances while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions. As such, is the 5% really worth complaining about for California?
