Heliogen has signed an MOU with the City of Lancaster, California to develop and provide equity for a green hydrogen generation facility there, according to a press release.
“Heliogen expects to bring on additional equity partners to support the project’s construction costs,” the release states.
The City of Lancaster will assist with site identification, review by City Council and the community as required, support for permitting process, and evaluation of economic development potential.
This relationship is expected to accelerate the use of concentrating solar thermal energy for a commercial hydrogen generation facility and builds upon the existing relationship between the City of Lancaster and Heliogen, which sited its demonstration test facility in the city in 2019.
The facility is expected to leverage Heliogen’s patented technology to use AI and advanced computer vision software to concentrate sunlight and could generate up to 1500 metric tons per year of carbon-free hydrogen.
The Heliogen facility could help support other projects within the city and region, including sustainable aviation fuel for hydrogen-powered aircraft, fueling stations for hydrogen-powered vehicles, and sales and distribution of hydrogen fuel for industrial processes such as vertical agriculture, cement, and mining.
This news follows a recent announcement that Heliogen intends to develop a green hydrogen facility on leased land in the Brenda Solar Energy Zone in Arizona. The company also entered into a letter of intent with sustainable fuels-focused Dimensional Energy to produce sustainable aviation fuel.