Introducing

Pacific Hydrogen Alliance

Our municipalities represent diverse geographies, demographics, economic drivers, and levels of hydrogen deployment. From Lancaster in the high desert (population 180,000), to the tropical County of Hawai‘i in the central Pacific (population 200,000), to the seaside town Namie in northern Japan (population 17,000), we are quite different. Our industrial bases and potential demand for hydrogen vary widely, greatly influencing hydrogen deployment choices.

DOE H2 Twin Cities Mentor Mentee Program Overview:

The DoE H2 Twin Cities is a “global initiative that connects cities and communities worldwide to deploy clean hydrogen solutions.” With this program, two or more cities can apply to receive support to share ideas, mentor, and learn from each other, all while building a community of hydrogen best practices and strengthening global commitment to ideas that foster environmental justice, social equity, and clean energy jobs, particularly at the city and municipality level.

LANCASTER

City of Lancaster, CA, United States

In 2020, the City of Lancaster announced its ambition to be the first hydrogen city in the United States after achieving its goal to be the first net-zero emissions city in the world. The City of Lancaster is in southern California’s Antelope Valley. Through recently passed federal legislation, California seeks to establish its ARCHES Hydrogen Hub, and Lancaster is partnering with ARCHES to anchor new clean hydrogen production capacity.

  • Element Resources is building a renewable hydrogen facility that will produce 20,000 tons annually through its first phase, which is targeted to begin commercial operations in early 2025

  • The City of Lancaster developed a “Smart Sister City” relationship with the City of Namie in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, through the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). The relationship facilitates cultural and educational enrichment activities while enabling new interests and investments for each party in the partnership

  • SGH2 is bringing a green hydrogen production facility to Lancaster. The plant will gasify recycled mixed paper waste to produce green hydrogen that reduces carbon emissions by two to three times more than green hydrogen produced by electrolysis and renewable energy and is five to seven times cheaper

  • Hitachi Zosen Inova is developing a $100 million anaerobic digestion plant that generates renewable natural gas (RNG)from organic waste for conversion to clean hydrogen

  • Enso Infrastructure is working to transition the City Hall building to hydrogen via a green energy microgrid (GEM)system that combines a state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel cell energy generation and storage system, solar energy generation, and battery storage technology. The microgrid system also features bidirectional EV charging

  • Heliogen entered an MOU with the City to develop a facility that uses solar thermal systems to convert sunlight into steam, heat, power, and green hydrogen fuel. Under MOU, Heliogen will serve as the technology provider, project developer, builder, operator, and equity partner for a green hydrogen generation facility that will support the city’s vision to become a model for hydrogen production in the US

  • Hydroplane will establish its headquarters and operations in the City of Lancaster to develop and test its hydrogen-powered aircraft, which can provide coverage for regionally ranged flights with zero emissions

NAMIE

Namie Town in Fukushima is a coastal region in Japan and in 2021 alongside the City of Lancaster came together in a first-of-its-kind international agreement to use hydrogen as their primary energy source. Namie is aiming to become a zero-carbon city by 2035 and is home to one of the world’s largest renewable hydrogen demonstration plant.

Namie Town, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan

  • Fukushima Hydrogen Research Field, “FH2R,” completed in 2020, has 900 metric tons of hydrogen production capacity per year. [NEDO’s demonstration project]

  • An engineering company, JGC Corporation, is researching green ammonia production using green hydrogen.

  • The use of hydrogen by pure hydrogen fuel cells has begun in multiple public facilities, such as a roadside station in Namie utilizing a Toshiba pure hydrogen fuel cell(capacity 3.5 kW).

  • RE100 is an international initiative that aims to supply 100% renewable energy to cover the energy companies use in their business operations. In Namie, the RE100 Industrial Park concept utilizes renewable energy and hydrogen.

  • Along with Obayashi Corporation, Namie aims to construct a low-cost hydrogen supply chain of truck trailers and rack—equipped vehicles to expand the use of hydrogen fuel cells. [the Ministry of the Environment commissioned project]

  • Two hydrogen stations have opened, and the world’s first fuel cell vehicle mobile sales business and fuel cell vehicle school buses have been introduced.

  • In collaboration with Sumitomo Corporation, Namie is also considering the development of facilities where people can experience life with hydrogen.

Hawai’i

The County of Hawai‘i (also known as the “Big Island”) has a diverse portfolio of renewable resources, including solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass. Hydrogen production can use these diverse resources to fuel high-efficiency or backup power systems and provide dense energy storage capabilities with rapid refueling times These hydrogen attributes are especially attractive to island residents challenged by limited available land. For the County of Hawai’i, the transportation sector is a high priority in hydrogen advancement due to transit including outbound air travel, being the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions (~75%) for the County of Hawai’i

The County of Hawai’i, Hawai’i, United States

  • Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) has a 65 kg/day hydrogen production capacity.

  • One refueling station along with three distribution trailers(100 kg each).

  • One 21-passenger hydrogen bus will be in Kona, with two more 19-passenger buses in Hilo by the end of 2023.

  • One fueling station is to be installed at the mass transit bus yard.