- Kore’s modular system diverts organic waste from California landfills and converts it into carbon negative hydrogen and renewable natural gas (RNG).
LOS ANGELES — Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) today announced that Kore Infrastructure has successfully begun testing and demonstrating its carbon-negative, waste-to-energy modular system at the utility’s Los Angeles facility.
The innovative technology is designed to divert organic waste from California landfills and convert it into carbon-negative hydrogen and renewable natural gas (RNG). These clean fuels could be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from industrial processes and hard-to-electrify sectors, including heavy-duty transportation. SoCalGas is already demonstrating how renewable hydrogen made from RNG could fuel a public transportation fleet. Testing of the Kore Infrastructure technology can provide key insights into efficiency and operating costs, as well as determining the cost-effectiveness of its deployment at scale. SoCalGas contributed $1.5 million to the demonstration project, which has also received funding from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD).
Kore’s modular system uses a proprietary pyrolysis process, which heats organic waste under high temperatures in a zero-oxygen environment, converting the waste to a blend of gases that could be converted to carbon-negative hydrogen or RNG, along with a solid carbon char that can be used to enhance soil quality or help decarbonize cement and steel production. Kore Infrastructure’s process is designed to meet South Coast AQMD’s ultra-low NOx and particulate emissions standards.
“This is the type of novel approach that we need to see more of that uses sustainable processes,” said Ben J. Benoit, Chair of the South Coast AQMD Governing Board. “Not only will it divert material from landfills, but the process will create clean energy sources that can be used in fuel cell vehicles and other clean-air technologies.”
“In California, transportation causes approximately 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Cornelius Shields, CEO and founder of Kore Infrastructure. “We’re collaborating with waste, energy, and transportation sector leaders to provide a Made-in-America, carbon-negative energy solution. Our UltraGreen™ hydrogen will be the fuel of the future for light-duty vehicles, heavy-duty trucks, and buses, ensuring our supply chain is emissions-free, sustainable, and affordable.”
“SoCalGas will continue to support companies developing innovative technologies to help achieve carbon neutrality,” said Neil Navin, vice president of clean energy innovations for SoCalGas. “The production of carbon-negative RNG and hydrogen could help provide energy security and decarbonize California in our energy transition.”
Kore plans to demonstrate the production of 99.999% pure hydrogen that would be suitable for fuel cell electric cars, trucks, buses, and trains by the third quarter of 2022. The demonstration facility has the potential to process up to 24 tons per day of organic feedstock and produce up to one metric ton of carbon negative, UltraGreen hydrogen™ per day, enough hydrogen for over 1,400 fuel cell electric cars.
This demonstration project could also help California cut methane emissions from landfills under CA Senate Bill 1383 by converting organic waste into carbon-negative renewable fuel. SoCalGas research has shown that clean fuels like hydrogen and RNG can deliver the most affordable, resilient, and technologically proven path to full carbon neutrality.
SoCalGas has more than 10 active hydrogen pilot projects. Last year, SoCalGas submitted several research and development initiatives to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Earthshot Hydrogen Program’s Request for Information (RFI), which is designed to accelerate and enable low-cost clean hydrogen, create jobs, and facilitate a net-zero carbon emissions economy by 2050.
Last year, SoCalGas announced its aspiration to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and the energy it delivers by 2045 and earlier this year released its ASPIRE 2045 Sustainability Strategy to help reach that goal.
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service to 21.8 million consumers across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. Gas delivered through the company’s pipelines will continue to play a key role in California’s clean energy transition—providing electric grid reliability and supporting wind and solar energy deployment.
SoCalGas’ mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most innovative energy company in America. In support of that mission, SoCalGas aspires to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045 and to replacing 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply to core customers with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. Renewable natural gas is made from waste created by dairy farms, landfills, and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also committed to investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while keeping bills affordable for customers. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company based in San Diego. socalgas.com/newsroom
About Kore Infrastructure
Since its founding in 2008, Kore has pursued a singular mission: to provide strategic solutions for a carbon-negative, zero waste future. Its proprietary, closed-loop technology accomplishes something that has never been done at scale: converting organic waste into 100% renewable natural gas, UltraGreen hydrogen™, biogas, and biocarbon (a valuable soil amendment and coal substitute), thereby reducing the need for landfills and incinerators and removing CO2 emissions from the atmosphere for good.
Kore’s modular conversion technology is a game-changer for a wide variety of companies seeking to balance planet and profit to accelerate the energy transition. With a growing roster of interested clients, from environmental service providers to hydrogen retailers and fuel cell electric car and truck manufacturers, Kore is poised to create unprecedented decarbonization potential for waste generators and renewable energy users alike. koreinfrastructure.com
SOURCE Southern California Gas Company
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