In late September 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy awarded more than $1.6 million to a project collaborated on by Southern California Gas Company and Tulsa-based ClearSign Technologies Corporation that would scale up an ultra-low-nitrogen oxide hydrogen-powered industrial burner prototype and introduce the technology to industries in Southern California.
According to SoCalGas, the process burner can run on natural gas, natural gas blended with hydrogen or pure hydrogen. It also cuts down on nitrogen oxide emissions from combustion while providing high heat that can be used in many industrial processes. Officials with ClearSign Technologies say the collaboration with SoCalGas will help move the energy transition forward in California.
The project has already seen the completion and deployment of a prototype process burner that successfully integrated hydrogen and hydrogen blends while maintaining an ultra-low nitrogen oxide output. Phase Two, which will occur over the next two years, involves a fourfold increase in the size of the prototype burner as well as its deployment in real-world industrial settings that require high heat.
The project was one of more than 100 identified by the DOE to receive $126 million-plus in funding, with a goal of helping small businesses address multiple DOE mission areas, including clean energy and decarbonization, cybersecurity and grid reliability, fusion energy and nuclear proliferation.
In addition to the $1.6 million in DOE funding, SoCalGas will provide an additional $500,000 for the field demonstrations in Southern California.
“This exciting and innovative project offers a look at how hydrogen can play a vital role in helping industries in California start down the path to net zero through technology that allows the transition to clean fuels,” said Neil Navin, SoCalGas chief clean fuels officer. “Investments in clean fuel technologies like this will be key in providing hard-to-decarbonize industries the means to reach net zero quickly and affordably.”
The utility says the collaboration is part of its effort to help California achieve net zero by 2045, which includes a proposed green hydrogen pipeline system to serve Southern and Central California and the development of a state hydrogen blending standard.