California to Have ‘First Hydrogen City’: Heliogen With Lancaster

Heliogen to have production of green hydrogen in its Proxima facility in Lancaster, AI and advanced computer vision software to concentrate sunlight with mirrors

Here’s an article posted in solarpaces that talks about the first hydrogen city developed by Heliogen and Lancaster.

According to the article,

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• Heliogen and the City of Lancaster, California, have partnered to produce green hydrogen.
• The partnership marks Lancaster as the “First Hydrogen City” in the United States.
• Heliogen will use its innovative solar technology i.e. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) to produce carbon-free hydrogen for the city.

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology is a method of generating green hydrogen by using concentrated sunlight to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. Here is an overview of the technology, its advantages, and its limitations:

How CSP Works for Green Hydrogen Production:

1. Concentration of Sunlight: CSP systems use mirrors or lenses to focus sunlight onto a central point, increasing the intensity of the sunlight by a factor of several hundred to several thousand. This concentrated sunlight is then used to heat a fluid or gas, which is then used to generate steam.
2. Steam Generation: The heated fluid or gas is used to generate steam, which is then used to power an electrolyzer. The electrolyzer splits the water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
3. Hydrogen Production: The hydrogen produced is then collected and stored for use as a clean energy source.

Pros of CSP for Green Hydrogen Production:

1. High Efficiency: CSP systems can achieve efficiencies of up to 40%, which is significantly higher than other methods of hydrogen production.
2. Scalability: CSP systems can be scaled up or down depending on the energy needs, making them suitable for both small-scale and large-scale applications.
3. Flexibility: CSP systems can be used to generate both heat and electricity, making them versatile for various applications.
4. Low Cost: CSP systems have the potential to be cost-effective due to the abundance of sunlight and the efficiency of the technology.
5. Carbon-Free: CSP systems produce no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, making them a clean and sustainable source of energy.

Cons of CSP for Green Hydrogen Production:

1. High Initial Cost: The initial cost of setting up a CSP system can be high due to the need for specialized equipment and infrastructure.
2. Land Requirements: CSP systems require a significant amount of land to accommodate the mirrors or lenses, which can be a challenge in areas with limited space.
3. Intermittency: CSP systems are dependent on sunlight, which means they can only generate energy during the day and are affected by weather conditions.
4. Storage Challenges: The hydrogen produced by CSP systems needs to be stored safely and efficiently, which can be a challenge due to the high reactivity of hydrogen.
5. Maintenance Requirements: CSP systems require regular maintenance to ensure optimal performance, which can be time-consuming and costly.

Examples of CSP for Green Hydrogen Production:

1. Heliogen’s Proxima Facility: Heliogen’s Proxima facility in Lancaster, California, uses CSP technology to produce green hydrogen. The facility uses AI-enabled mirrors to concentrate sunlight and produce hydrogen at a rate of 1,500 tonnes per year.
2. EPFL’s Solar-Radiation-Concentrating Device: The École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland has developed a solar-radiation-concentrating device that produces green hydrogen at a rate of more than 2 kilowatts while maintaining efficiencies above 20%. The device uses a parabolic dish to concentrate sunlight and produce hydrogen.
3. MIT’s Train-Like CSP System: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) scientists have developed a train-like CSP system that uses up to 40% of solar heat for green fuel generation. The system uses a two-step thermochemical reaction to produce hydrogen and can be built around an existing CSP plant

Interestingly, we have some other posts related to this content:

Green Hydrogen in California: Chevron and Hyzon Motors Join Forces with Raven SR: Chevron and Hyzon Motors partner with Raven SR for hydrogen production, targeting commercial operations in Q1 2024. Chevron’s Green Waste-to-Hydrogen Project: A Step Towards Sustainable Transportation in California: Chevron invests $25 million in a waste-to-hydrogen project in Richmond, California, aiming to supply hydrogen for sustainable transportation.