The California Energy Commission has approved $18.690.000 in grants for projects aimed at expanding the state’s hydrogen fueling infrastructure for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
These awards were made through the Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program.
For the current fiscal year, the program is slated to invest approximately $90 million to encourage the development and use of new technologies, and alternative and renewable fuels, to help the state meet its climate-change goals. It is paid for through surcharges on vehicle and boat registrations, and smog check and license plate fees.
California has identified hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as playing an important role in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.
Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are already operating on California roads. They can be leased in some California markets, and more than a dozen hydrogen fuel cell buses are currently in service with public transit agencies in the state.
Further promoting this market is the recent establishment of a new federal Energy Department public-private partnership effort called H2USA, which includes Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and Honda.
Fueling infrastructure must be in place to support the successful introduction of these vehicles. Studies suggest that 68 stations are needed by 2017 to support the market. Currently, nine public stations are operating, and about a dozen more are in development in California.
The hydrogen fueling award recipients are:
South Coast Air Quality Management District will receive $6,690,828 to evaluate, test and upgrade publicly accessible hydrogen fueling stations. With the exception of a station in Emeryville (Alameda County), the stations covered by this award agreement are within the South Coast Air Basin, which includes all of Orange County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Linde, LLC, will receive $4.5 million to install three hydrogen fueling stations in the cities of Mountain View and Cupertino (both in Santa Clara County), and Foster City (San Mateo County). The agreement includes a $3,069,948 match-funding requirement.
Hydrogen Frontier, Inc., will receive $3 million to build a 100 percent renewable hydrogen fueling station in Chino (San Bernardino County). The award agreement includes a $1,615,385 match-funding requirement.
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., will receive $2,999,172 to install two hydrogen fueling stations and to automate two trailer loading operations for transporting hydrogen for fueling from a production facility in Southern California. The fueling stations will be located in Woodland Hills (Los Angeles County) and Mission Viejo (Orange County). The award agreement includes a $1,614,927 match funding requirement.
Air Liquide Industrial US LP, will receive $1.5 million to build a hydrogen fueling station in Anaheim (Orange County). The award agreement includes a $933,996 match-funding requirement.
