Clean Energy: Building the bridge to the zero emission future.

As societies grow in density and foreign oil dependence, they quickly understand the importance of a domestically-produced zero emission transportation future. Building on its own experience of providing natural gas fueling at 168 stations throughout North America, Clean Energy is developing its first hydrogen-compressed natural gas (HCNG) fueling station in Canada in order to leverage its existing natural gas infrastructure as a bridge toward a hydrogen transportation future. Natural gas, like hydrogen, possesses “lighter than air” characteristics and requires high pressurization to store onboard vehicle fuel. End-users of natural gas systems are educated on hydrogen-like systems and deal with hydrogen-like challenges. In fact, some transit properties that are experimenting with hydrogen systems today currently use natural gas as a transportation fuel.

That is why Clean Energy is focused on the blending potential of natural gas with hydrogen. Undergoing extensive research and development, Clean Energy and its partners have achieved a breakthrough in HCNG blending dispenser technology in that it can produce both pure and various blended forms of natural gas and hydrogen fuels. This breakthrough capability provides much needed flexibility for end-users and engine manufacturers as hydrogen technologies and fueling strategies develop. With over 750 natural gas fueling stations across the U.S., the ability to cost effectively introduce hydrogen and hydrogen blends to the market acts as an important springboard. The upgrade of a CNG facility to an operable HCNG fueling facility has also provided invaluable lessons in hydrogen bottling storage, piping, leak and fire detection, overall operational design, regulatory approvals, and liability insurance issues. Clearly, this experience with HCNG blends will play a critical role in how Clean Energy designs future stations; making them more compatible with hydrogen for the future.

While some transportation and energy experts believe that a successful transition to hydrogen will take a significant period of time, Clean Energy believes the transition to hydrogen will benefit significantly if the existing natural gas fueling infrastructure for vehicles can be leveraged to provide greater hydrogen fueling access. Further, this effort will provide more transit properties with the opportunity to experiment with hydrogen blends with existing natural gas bus fleets or new hydrogen bus procurements. Not only will Clean Energy's HCNG research efforts continue to advance our knowledge of HCNG fueling systems, it will also advance our knowledge of vehicle systems and the emission benefits derived from hydrogen blends. At Clean Energy, we are proud of our commitment to provide clean fuel alternatives to oil and our new role in building the bridge toward a zero emission future.