LOS ANGELES, July 28, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California
Gas Company (SoCalGas) announced today it will be working together
with Sierra Northern Railway, Gas Technology Institute (GTI), and
other technical experts to develop and test a zero-emission
hydrogen fuel cell engine for a switcher locomotive. Switcher
locomotives are a type of engine for trains that carry goods from
ports to nearby warehouses. Creating a fuel cell engine for these
trains would potentially eliminate their emissions and provide a
much-needed reduction in air pollution from the railways that serve
California's warehouses and ports.
The project was selected for funding by the California Energy
Commission, which awarded Sierra Northern Railway and GTI nearly
$4 million to fund the design and
demonstration of the train in Sacramento, with the goal of creating a clean
alternative to diesel locomotives. SoCalGas is committing another
$500,000 to advance the research.
"We believe hydrogen fuel cell-powered locomotives can play a
significant role in reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas
emissions from the railways that serve California's ports and warehouses," said
Neil Navin, SoCalGas Vice President
of Clean Energy Innovations. "This research is just part of our
efforts to lead the transition to clean fuels in California and it supports our commitment to
achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in our operations and
delivery of energy by 2045."
The issue of warehouse-related air pollution received heightened
attention earlier this month when the air quality regulators at the
South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) adopted a rule
to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) and diesel particulate matter
emissions from diesel trucks serving distribution centers. In order
to comply with this new rule, warehouses larger than 100,000 square
feet can choose to directly reduce emissions from their operations
or pay a mitigation fee to fund technologies and projects that
reduce air pollution in nearby communities.
Sierra Northern Railway proposes to retire a high-emission Tier
0 diesel locomotive engine and replace it with an engine that will
integrate a hydrogen fuel cell and hydrogen storage tank with
advanced battery and systems control technologies. Upon completion,
the new zero-emissions switcher locomotive will displace up to
10,000 gallons of conventional diesel fuel per year by using
hydrogen fuel, providing the capacity to eliminate more than 100
metric tons of carbon dioxide—more than that produced by driving a
car 250,000 miles. In addition to helping improve air quality and
cutting greenhouse gas emissions, the hydrogen fuel cell locomotive
technology will eliminate the noise and odor associated with diesel
engines.
"Sierra Northern Railway is very pleased to partner with
SoCalGas to design, build and test the switcher locomotive.
Without their support, building this important next step zero
emission locomotive would not be possible. This demonstration will
facilitate the improvement of local air quality, a reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions, noise, and odor for those communities
that live near ports throughout California." Said
Kennan H. Beard III, President of Sierra Northern
Railway.
"This locomotive project is very exciting not only for us, but
for the entire rail industry," said Michael
Faust, President of Velocity Strategies and lead project
consultant for Sierra Northern Railway. "It will further
demonstrate how locomotives across the state can shift to hydrogen
fuel cell technology and be a part of clean energy solutions.
Sierra Northern Railway is thrilled to lead by example with this
work and showcase what kind of innovation is possible."
"Hydrogen fuel cell technology for locomotives is a clear path
forward in the future, as it provides a safe, responsible and
efficient energy alternative," said Ted
Barnes, Director of Research & Development at GTI. "This
project is an opportunity to propel long-term technological
advancements forward in the rail sector that will have a direct
positive impact on our environment. "
Project demonstrations will take place on Sierra Northern
Railway's short-line operations, which serve the railyard and
seaport in West Sacramento. Sierra
Northern Railway and GTI will partner with an experienced team of
rail and hydrogen industry experts to build and test the train
engine. These experts include Ballard Power Systems, Sacramento
Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, UC Davis Institute of
Transportation Studies, Railpower Tech LLC, OptiFuel Systems LLC,
Valley Vision, Velocity Strategies, and Frontier Energy.
"It is exciting to be a part of a hydrogen fuel cell project
that could have a lasting impact both locally and globally," said
Lewis Fulton, Director of
Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways at University of California Davis. "Not only will the
West Sacramento communities near
the railway benefit from Sierra Northern Railway's build and
demonstration, but this research could also have a lasting,
wide-scale effect on the rail industry's future as a whole."
"By increasing utilization of hydrogen fuel cell power in
locomotives, we will have the ability to further sustainability
goals both across the state and the entire U.S.," said Tim Sasseen, Market Development Manager at
Ballard Power Systems. "We are thrilled to be part of the technical
team moving this clean energy research forward in the rail
industry. We are confident it will drive positive change that will
make a real difference for generations to come."
SoCalGas is advancing numerous low- and zero-carbon energy
technologies similar to development of the fuel cell switcher
locomotive in support of its goals towards net zero greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by
2045. In March the utility committed to reducing not only the
company's own direct emissions, but also those generated by its
customers to support a carbon neutral economy.
SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest, and most
innovative energy company in North America. More information
on the company's mission and climate commitment can be found
at socalgas.com/mission.
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los
Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest gas distribution
utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers
affordable, reliable, clean and increasingly renewable gas service
to 21.8 million consumers across 24,000 square miles of
Central and Southern California. Gas delivered through the
company's pipelines will continue to play a key role
in California's clean energy transition—providing
electric grid reliability and supporting wind and solar energy
deployment.
SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most
innovative energy company in America. In support of that
mission, SoCalGas is committed to achieving net-zero
greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and delivery of
energy by 2045 and to replacing 20 percent of its traditional
natural gas supply to core customers with renewable natural gas
(RNG) by 2030. Renewable natural gas is made from waste created by
dairy farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is
also committed to investing in its gas delivery infrastructure
while keeping bills affordable for customers. Over the past five
years, the company invested nearly $7.5 billion to
upgrade and modernize its pipeline system to enhance safety and
reliability. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE:
SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego.
For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or
connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (@SoCalGas),
Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook.
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Company