The hydrogen and fuel cell industry has long looked to California as not just the U.S. example, but a global showcase of how the right policies, funding mechanisms, and private and public sector support can lead to real world innovation yielding both economic and environmental results. The state was one of the first to roll out hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and now boasts tens of thousands of fuel cell cars, buses, and trucks on the road, hundreds of megawatts (MW) of stationary fuel cell systems, and the largest network of hydrogen fueling stations for many years now.
More recently, significant federal dollars are flowing into California, with the California Hydrogen Hub, one of the seven winning Hydrogen Hubs selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the $8 billion program in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), receiving its first tranche of funding. Led by the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), the $17 million for Phase 1 awarded in July will be used to build a clean hydrogen production, distribution, and utilization network. The plan focuses on three of California’s ports – the Ports of Long Beach (POLB), Los Angeles (POLA) and Oakland.
The hydrogen generated via the ARCHES Hub will be used to fuel 200 cargo-handling vehicles and equipment; 5,000 heavy-duty fuel cell trucks; more than 1,000 fuel cell buses; and a marine vessel. Additionally, there are plans to deploy fuel cells for stationary power, as well as develop 60 heavy-duty fueling stations, approximately 165 miles of open-access pipelines, and hydrogen liquefaction capabilities.
The Port of Oakland recently received a separate $2.5 million grant from DOE for a $7 million project to shift the Port’s maritime operations to zero emissions, incorporating fuel cell vehicles and technologies.
The other two ports involved in ARCHES, POLB and POLA, are two of the world's largest and busiest ports already with a successful track record of fuel cell and hydrogen demonstration projects. Fuel cell drayage truck and material handling vehicles have been operating at the ports for several years now, and POLB has outlined a goal of zero-emissions cargo-handling by 2030 and trucks by 2035.
In May, the first “Tri-generation” system began operating at the POLB - a 2.3 MW fuel cell from FuelCell Energy that uses biogas to produce renewable electricity, renewable hydrogen, and usable water. With partner Toyota Motor North America, the fuel cell powers the vehicle processing and distribution center for Toyota Logistics Services (TLS) in Long Beach, and excess electricity is delivered to the local utility, Southern California Edison. Toyota also uses the hydrogen produced to fuel its fuel cell vehicles in operation at the port, and the by-product water for its car washing.
With the Tri-gen system adding to the impressive roster of hydrogen and fuel cell activity already underway at the POLB and around the city, Long Beach was once again selected to host the 2025 Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Seminar (Seminar) January 14-16, 2025. The Seminar is one of the longest-running industry conferences in the world, providing a critical platform for the hydrogen and fuel cell industry, researchers, project developers, and interested stakeholders to network and engage.
Long Beach has been the site of the Seminar for its past four iterations, all managed by the Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA), the national industry association in the U.S. For the 2025 Seminar, Japan is the official country sponsor, building on the strong relationship between FCHEA and Japan’s governmental and industry groups, Japanese company involvement in the POLB and POLA projects, and the tremendous interest in connecting Japanese and U.S. companies for additional partnerships and projects. Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), the Japan Hydrogen Association (JH2A), the Japan Hydrogen Forum (JH2F), and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) are collaborating to bring numerous Japanese companies, governmental representatives, and trade experts to the Seminar.
This includes a Japanese Pavilion in the Exhibit Hall, and stand alone exhibits from Toyota, with the Tri-gen and fuel cell trucks at the POLB, and Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. (TAI), which has its fuel cell-powered cargo handling equipment at the POLA, among others.
In addition to Japan, the Seminar has industry sponsors and supporting organizations from around the world. Both the U.S. International Trade Administration (ITA) and DOE have partnered with the Seminar again for value-added resources and content.
With three months to go, the Exhibit Hall is filling up and there will be many vehicles and products on display. The high-level plenary sessions and afternoon technical breakouts are being finalized and will cover the top hydrogen and fuel cell policies, economic analysis, commercial advancements, and research and development of all hydrogen production pathways and end user applications. As with past Seminars, this includes heavy-duty vehicles such as Class 8 trucks, rail, marine, and material handling.
If your company is already deploying hydrogen and fuel cell logistics equipment or vehicles, or interested in learning more, the Seminar is a can’t miss! For more information about the 2025 Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Seminar, please visit http://www.fuelcellseminar.com/seminar.