California's SoHyCal project will be the largest hydrogen generator driven completely by North American renewable energy.

Nearly all hydrogen refueling stations in the continental U.S. are situated in California, the only state with hydrogen infrastructure.

However, a fuel-cell electric vehicle (FCEV) sales slump hit hard this year, with less than 100 hydrogen-powered cars sold countrywide in the second quarter compared to 1,094 in the same period last year – a 91% decrease, according to data from the Hydrogen Fuel Cell Partnership.

FCEV sales have fallen steadily since last summer when a critical shortage hit California's main supplier, creating a major service disruption that resulted in a months-long shortage of fuel that left drivers struggling to keep their tanks full.

But The Golden State hasn't given up on the dream of hydrogen.

As North American transportation works toward a net-zero-emissions future with a multi-pronged approach to green energy – from various battery chemistries to renewable, clean-burning fuels –hydrogen is still a big contender. If generated by renewable energy, "green hydrogen" is a win-win fuel for the transportation industry and industrial applications that require more oomph than today's electric batteries can handle.

In the United States, there are over 30 green hydrogen projects in the works in Texas, Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Oregon, Montana, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware; with California being particularly active in developing large-scale green hydrogen hubs due to its clean energy initiatives.

SoHyCal green hydrogen project

Enter H2B2 Electrolysis Technologies, which is leading the way with its SoHyCal project – an initiative building the largest hydrogen generation plant driven completely by renewable energy in the U.S.

Stationed in Fresno, California, SoHyCal's early-stage plant is running smoothly, producing up to one ton of green hydrogen daily powered by burning biogas from an organic waste source near the production facility. Its next phase will be a transition to solar with the addition of a photovoltaic power plant in 2025.

Once it reaches full capacity, the plant will be capable of producing up to three tons of green hydrogen per day, fueling the equivalent of 210,000 cars per year or 30,000 city buses.

The proton exchange membrane electrolysis technology supplied by Ingeteam utilizes renewable energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, producing a clean, carbon-neutral fuel.

"This project is very important for Ingeteam, as it is our first project in North America and confirms our firm global commitment to green hydrogen," said Harkaitz Ibaiondo, director of Ingeteam's green hydrogen business unit.

Hydrogen offers great potential to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors, replacing fossil fuels in processes such as refining, iron, steel, chemicals, and transport.

SoHyCal was awarded a $3.96 million grant from the California Energy Commission's Clean Transportation Program to support hydrogen refueling stations across the San Joaquin Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area, a key initiative in California's broader clean energy goals.

"In the quest for a greener energy transition, SoHyCal represents a cornerstone in California's commitment to developing and promoting clean and sustainable hydrogen fuel technologies. The project is poised to significantly contribute to the surging demand for hydrogen, particularly for transportation applications, the reduction of emissions and the decarbonization in mobility," said Pedro Pajares, CEO of H2B2 USA.

The role of H2B2's SoHyCal project in shaping the future of hydrogen technology puts the company at the forefront of a market projected to be valued at nearly $40 billion by 2030. The potential for green hydrogen to transform industries like transportation, power production, and industrial manufacturing is strongly anticipated.

California continues to be a market leader, aggressively supporting the increase in hydrogen development and establishing a benchmark for future green hydrogen initiatives globally.