Off the Grid, into the Future!

Lancaster plant to produce green hydrogen using only solar and battery power, bypassing grid infrastructure entirely

12 Jun 2025

A new hydrogen facility in southern California is set to become the largest in North America to operate entirely off the electrical grid, as part of a $1.85bn project to produce zero-emission fuel using only solar power and battery storage.

Located on a 2,100-acre site in Lancaster, northeast of Los Angeles, the Clean Energy Center is being developed by Element Resources. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to produce up to 60,000kg of green hydrogen per day, powered by 650 megawatts of solar panels and backed by high-capacity batteries for continuous operation.

The project is being viewed by energy analysts as a model for decentralised hydrogen production. By avoiding connection to the grid, the Lancaster facility is designed to reduce exposure to transmission constraints and curtailment risks that have delayed other clean energy projects across the US.

“This isn’t just clean energy, it’s deployable anywhere,” said Element Resources chief executive Steve Meheen. “We’re not waiting on infrastructure. We’re creating it.”

The project arrives amid increased federal support for low-carbon hydrogen. The US Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, offers tax credits for clean hydrogen producers. At the same time, demand is growing across sectors such as transport, steel, and ammonia production, where hydrogen can serve as a substitute for fossil fuels.

While the Lancaster model addresses production challenges, questions remain around the transport and storage of hydrogen, which is costly and technically complex. Nevertheless, proponents argue that decentralised systems like Lancaster can supply hydrogen directly to nearby users, reducing the need for long-distance delivery.

Construction on the site has begun, with Element Resources expecting phased commissioning over the next two years. The company said the project’s design allows it to be replicated in other remote or resource-constrained regions, offering a potential template for expanding green hydrogen infrastructure without waiting for grid upgrades.

Lancaster’s mayor has described the project as a cornerstone in the city’s broader goal to become a national centre for green energy. If successful, the site could signal a shift in how hydrogen is integrated into energy systems — not as a byproduct of grid power, but as an independent, solar-driven solution.