Earlier this year, state elected officials and agency leaders convened with clean energy experts at the California Hydrogen Leadership Summit to discuss why hydrogen is critical in the fight against climate change and what infrastructure is needed to support California’s zero-emission electricity and transportation sectors.

There’s no debating that hydrogen will play an important role in California’s energy transition. The state was recently selected as a national hydrogen hub by the U.S. Department of Energy and will receive up to $1.2 billion to accelerate the development and deployment of clean renewable hydrogen. Los Angeles County, arguably with the world’s most complex transportation infrastructure as a regional, national and international hub for passenger and freight traffic, has an outsized opportunity to set the clean air standard. Given California’s long history of setting the curve on environmental issues, it is only fitting that we are once again taking on a leadership role.

In a state where transportation accounts for nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions, we must remove obstacles to bring every decarbonization solution to bear in meeting the climate agenda set by the California Air Resources Board. One such obstacle is the exclusion of hydrogen engine technology as eligible to meet California’s zero-emission vehicle mandate regulations. Hydrogen engines must be included in the solution mix for California to reach its goal of carbon neutrality by 2045.

Hydrogen engines will be ready soon

While other zero-carbon technologies are still in early stages of development, hydrogen engines will be ready this decade – meaning lower emissions faster. Cummins introduced its 15-liter hydrogen engine in 2022 and expects full production before 2030, while other industry leaders like Volvo, Bosch, DEUTZ and many others are also introducing hydrogen engines to their portfolio. 

Hydrogen engines are a zero-carbon technology that can be deployed at scale quickly due to their similarities with existing engines, as well as a workforce that is already familiar with the underlying technology.

Furthermore, hydrogen engines will accelerate the buildout of the clean hydrogen infrastructure that is a priority for California by increasing demand for hydrogen refueling stations, expediting hydrogen storage tank development for vehicles, and fostering the development of robust supply chains.

In addition to emitting zero GHG, a truck equipped with a hydrogen engine will dramatically lower tailpipe NOx emissions. According to the Southwest Research Institute, tailpipe NOx emissions for hydrogen engines are “more than four times lower than the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2027 limit and still well below the CARB Ultra-low NOx standard.” While hydrogen engines will not eliminate NOx completely, they will still mean greatly improved air quality for California in the near term, particularly in port communities and transportation corridors with heavy truck traffic.

Hydrogen engines also offer a cost-effective solution that can be harnessed by fleets sooner than other technologies. Low capital expenditure requirements for combustion engines and decreasing hydrogen prices can be appealing for truck operators running on razor thin margins. In addition to being affordable and bending the emissions curve downward immediately, hydrogen engines also bring down the cost of other hydrogen technologies.

For these investments to come to fruition in California, the transportation industry needs a clear signal from regulators to continue its investment in all hydrogen engines.

The fastest way to decarbonize is by enabling a broad range of clean energy technologies that are suitable for different applications. For that reason, CARB should recognize hydrogen engines as a viable, near-term solution to achieve California’s decarbonization goals with Los Angeles County playing a lead role with its bustling ports and airports and as a center for hydrogen investment and innovation. Advancing this technology will also pave the way for other solutions such as fuel cells and battery electric vehicles.

California has long been the leader in adopting clean energy technologies. In fact, California employs more people in green jobs than any other state in America. If California excludes this technology, we risk falling behind on our ambitious climate goals – at a time when our state’s leadership is needed more than ever. 

Katrina Fritz is president and chief executive of the California Hydrogen Business Council.