An artist's rendering of the SoHyCal green hydrogen plant near Mendota. H2B2 image

A new green energy producer is ready to make a splash near Mendota in the first quarter.

Spanish hydrogen producer H2B2 Electrolysis Technologies’ SoHyCal hydrogen production plant in Fresno is scheduled to begin production in the first quarter of 2023.

H2B2 tweeted in November that construction on the main equipment for the first phase is expected to be complete in the first half of this month.

SoHyCal, H2B2's project in California and one of the US's largest green hydrogen plants using electrolysis, has achieved a new milestone after reaching 85% of the global progress for the first 3 MW phase. pic.twitter.com/SYIChY93WY

— H2B2 Electrolysis (@H2B2_Inc) November 25, 2022

It’s located on a 324-acre parcel near Whitesbridge Avenue and South James Road about 7 miles east of Mendota, according to Fresno County planning documents. The property owner is Bar 20 Dairy, LLC.

In 2019, the California Energy Commission awarded H2B2 a nearly $4 million grant for the development of the green hydrogen plant in Fresno.

Hydrogen production through electrolysis involves using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This reaction occurs in a unit called an electrolyzer.

The plant’s 3-megawatt first phase will represent the first green hydrogen plant powered by H2B2 that is vertically integrated — from the photovoltaic production of electricity, to the transportation and dispensing of green hydrogen at the charging station.

This week, H2B2 and Florida-based RMG Acquisition Corporation III, a publicly-traded, special purpose acquisition company, announced they have entered into a letter of intent (LOI) for a potential business combination.

Under the terms of LOI, H2B2’s shareholders will continue holding all of their equity in the combined public company.

The companies will announce more details about the business combination once there is a final agreement, which expected before the end of the Q1 of this year.

As part of the transition,  Anselmo Andrade Fernandez de Mesa has been appointed as CEO, taking the reins from H2B2 founder  Felipe Benjumea Llorente.

“The Company will continue to distinguish itself by bringing together a team with decades of experience in the hydrogen energy sector and deploying its proprietary technology as it continues its expansion,” Andrade said.