Avina Clean Hydrogen celebrated a major milestone with the groundbreaking of its flagship green hydrogen production facility in the City of Vernon, Southern California, just 10 miles from the Port of Long Beach. This ambitious project aligns with Avina’s mission to decarbonize heavy-duty transport and advance California’s clean energy goals.
The state-of-the-art facility will produce up to 4 metric tons per day (MTPD) of compressed green hydrogen using electrolysis, which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using renewable electricity. Once operational, it will rank among the largest integrated electrolytic hydrogen production and refueling sites worldwide. By replacing diesel trucking miles with hydrogen-powered alternatives, the project is expected to eliminate approximately 130,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually, significantly improving air quality in local communities.
“Our facility’s strategic location in Southern California allows us to serve critical transportation corridors and urban markets, meeting the growing demand for clean hydrogen across the region,” said Vishal Shah, Founder and CEO of Avina Clean Hydrogen.
Vernon Mayor Judith Merlo highlighted the city’s support for the project, stating: “The City of Vernon is proud to kick off the groundbreaking of Avina’s Clean Hydrogen Project. Through our streamlined permitting process and reliable power supplied by our locally owned utility, VPU, we are helping Avina lead the way in bringing clean hydrogen technology to mass production for regional needs.”
Dan McGill, President and Founder of FASTECH, emphasized the collaboration’s importance: “We are thrilled to partner with Avina Clean Hydrogen on this facility, a testament to our shared commitment to innovation in clean energy and creating a sustainable future for mobility customers.”
Katrina Fritz, CEO of the California Hydrogen Business Council, added: “The growth of California’s hydrogen industry is reflected in projects like Avina’s facility. It will support critical applications such as zero-emission trucks, buses, and distributed power generation, helping to decarbonize and improve air quality in our local communities. We are proud to support Avina in this vital market sector.”
With key environmental permits secured, the project is on track to begin construction and commence commercial operations in July 2025, further solidifying California’s leadership in the hydrogen economy.