San Diego Gas & Electricity Company (SDG&E) revealed it had submitted a proposal with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for the project, which could see the injection of up to 20% hydrogen into plastic natural gas pipe on an isolated section of gas line, serving a UC San Diego apartment complex.

If approved, the hydrogen blended gas would be used for common building equipment including boilers and water heaters. H2 View understands the hydrogen for the study would be produced onsite via a dedicated, grid-connected electrolyser.

SDG&E has said the results of the study would help inform the development of a renewable hydrogen blending standard for California.

Caroline, Winn, CEO of SDG&E, said, “Achieving the state’s climate goals, including reaching carbon neutrality by 2045, will require a broad range of clean energy technologies. That’s why we are investing in the research, development and demonstration of emerging hydrogen innovations that have the potential to be a game changer.

“Developing clean fuels like hydrogen is key to creating a clean, reliable and climate-resilient energy sector, while also stimulating economic and job growth.”

The plans come as the second hydrogen blending project that the University of California’s campuses look set to host. Last Friday (September 9), SoCalGas revealed similar blending project plans for the University of California, Irvine campus.

Read more: Hydrogen blending project plans for SoCalGas and the University of California

Pradeep Khosla, Chancellor of UC San Diego, commented, “At UC San Diego, we take tremendous pride in fostering innovations and developing solutions to real-world problems.

“Sustainability and public service have been a key part of the university since its founding. That’s why we are helping to support California’s decarbonisation efforts through this pilot project exploring the economical and safe use of blended hydrogen.”