The 1st Annual Fueling Sustainability Conference was held on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Southern California Gas Company’s (SCG) Energy Resource Center in Downey, California. Although this event was a little over a month ago, I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to share this experience with our partners.
First, if you have not been to SCG’s Energy Resources Center, I highly encourage you to visit next time you are in the Greater Los Angeles area. This facility is a hub for education on sustainable technology and energy-efficient solutions. Through the Energy Resources Center, SCG offers seminars, demonstrations, and consulting services for those wanting to learn how to incorporate energy efficiency into their business model or make their homes more efficient.
Between speaking sessions, I had the opportunity to walk around the grounds and discover some of SCG’s learning tools and some of the areas of focus regarding energy efficiency. One of the more memorable experiences was the water heater room, where they house different types of energy-efficient water heaters and demonstrate how these technologies fit into an energy-efficient and renewable landscape.
The crown jewel of the conference was a tour of North America’s first-ever hydrogen-powered microgrid and home demonstration. Construction on this modular home began in 202 and was completed in 2022. The tour guide led small groups of conference attendees through the home and demonstrated multiple technologies that exhibit SCG’s hydrogen and natural gas combination fuel. By combining natural gas with up to 20% hydrogen fuel, greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced while allowing customers to continue use of their existing natural gas appliances. We witnessed this technology used throughout the home, including in the cooktop. One highlight of this tour occurred when the guide asked attendees if they could detect a difference in the color of the flame. Many of us could not. Additional information on the hydrogen-powered microgrid can be found here.
The event offered opportunities to interact with representatives from Toyota and see hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in person. Heavy-duty commercial trucks are one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. These trucks are also the backbone of our economy. Therefore, considerable effort is being made to convert these vehicles to cleaner fuel. I had the opportunity to see a hydrogen fuel cell-powered heavy-duty truck firsthand at the conference. I also had the opportunity to talk with the representative and ask questions about how these vehicles compare to their diesel counterparts and what program offerings are in place to assist potential buyers with the transition.
Overall, this event was amazing and very educational. I had opportunities to interact with new technologies, meet wonderful people, and eat great food. I hope this is the first of many of this conference.
