Californian energy infrastructure specialist Sempra Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the US Department of Energy (DoE) to use AI and smart grid technologies to reach net-zero energy goals.

The MoU is with the DoE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and provides a framework for a joint effort to advance future net-zero energy systems. The agreement, which builds on nearly ten years of collaboration, will continue current work researching and developing innovations to help shape a lower-carbon future through technology and applications capable of withstanding increasing energy demand.

“To achieve global carbon neutrality, energy systems will need to transform dramatically over the coming decades,” said Lisa Alexander, senior vice president for Sempra Energy. “Our partnership with NREL drives forward a vision to advance the energy systems of the future by focusing on innovation and resiliency. New investment and innovative partnerships are critical to developing solutions that will manifest a global energy transition while promoting economic growth and prosperity.”

Sempra Energy and NREL have been collaborating for nearly a decade on cooperative and multi-year projects exploring the development, access and integration of low-carbon fuels and microgrid technology.

In 2013, Sempra subsidiary San Diego Gas & Electric and NREL established the USA’s first utility-owned community microgrid in Borrego Springs, California, connected to a local 26MW solar field, two battery storage systems, two generators and an ultracapacitor. The microgrid, which is being upgraded so it can operate on 100% clean energy, was designed to provide consistent power flowing to the remote desert town during emergencies and planned outages on the larger grid.

In 2017, Sempra’s subsidiary Southern California Gas and NREL partnered to create, validate and integrate the USA’s first carbon-free, power-to-gas pilot-system. The technology takes excess electricity and converts it to hydrogen, which can be used, stored or combined with carbon dioxide and fed to a bioreactor to produce renewable natural gas. This technology could provide North America with a large-scale, cost-effective method for storing excess energy produced from renewable sources.

Additionally, Sempra Energy and NREL have coordinated efforts to research the impacts of hydrogen blending in natural gas networks, and studied potential pathways for wholesale market access to hydrogen production facilities.

“Building on our strong history of collaboration, we are excited to accelerate our work with Sempra to advance clean energy,” said Doug Arent, executive director at NREL. “Researching key synergies across power, low carbon fuels and industrial sectors are expected to provide critical innovations towards realising a low carbon, equitable, affordable, secure and reliable energy economy.”

Under the MoU, which is not legally binding but sets a framework for cooperation, Sempra Energy and NREL will coordinate and share objectives focused on:

• Advancing artificial intelligence to scale across the USA and enable cities to reach clean energy goals;
• Integrating low-carbon fuel, including hydrogen, renewable natural gas, carbon capture, use and sequestration, and fuel cells;
• Exploring innovations towards 100% renewable energy communities, requiring and implementing smart and enhanced controls, integration and operational capabilities as a blueprint for expansion;
• Enhancing electric grids with technology that upgrades the infrastructure with a focus on reliability, connectivity and security; and
• Promoting viable net-zero technology that is delivered with equity and widespread community access.

In its current work, Sempra Energy and its operating companies are also exploring the decarbonisation of regional and industrial hubs, or industrial clusters, to mitigate carbon emissions from industrial processes – such as manufacturing, steel and chemicals – that cannot be electrified.

The companies, in partnership with NREL and the DoE, are researching integrations that may enable these sectors to achieve significant emissions reductions, while maintaining productivity, creating jobs and fostering healthier communities.

The Sempra Energy family of companies has more than 19,000 employees who deliver energy to over 36 million consumers. With more than $66bn in assets at the end of 2020, the San Diego-based company is the owner of one of the largest energy networks in North America.