Avina Clean Hydrogen has begun constructing a green hydrogen facility in Vernon, California, as of October 30, 2024.
Located near the Port of Long Beach, this facility is a strategic move in Avina’s mission to reduce pollution from heavy-duty transport and support California’s clean energy initiatives.
This new site will produce up to 4 tons per day of green hydrogen through an electrolysis process, which uses clean electricity to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. Once operational, it will be one of the largest such facilities worldwide, offering a viable alternative to diesel fuel by replacing diesel trucking with hydrogen trucks. The facility could reduce emissions by around 130,000 tons of CO2 annually, enhancing air quality locally.
Strategic Location
According to Vishal Shah, Avina’s CEO, the location in Southern California enables the facility to meet the region’s increasing demand for green hydrogen, particularly for key transportation routes and urban markets. Vernon Mayor Judith Merlo expressed the city’s enthusiasm for supporting the project, mentioning the streamlined permitting process and reliable power from the local utility, VPU. She emphasized Avina’s role in advancing clean technology to mass production across California.
Dan McGill from FASTECH highlighted their partnership with Avina to build a reliable hydrogen production and distribution network in the region. This collaboration underlines a shared commitment to innovation in clean energy and supports a sustainable future for mobility technologies. Katrina Fritz, CEO of the California Hydrogen Business Council, noted the facility’s potential impact on the hydrogen industry’s growth, serving applications like zero-emission trucks, buses, and power generation projects.