The ability to use hydrogen as a zero-carbon power generation fuel is viewed by some as a cornerstone of decarbonization. GE Vernova is collaborating with Duke Energy on the nation’s first 100% green hydrogen-fueled peaking power plant. This is one of several pilot projects around the world that seek to address the biggest issue with hydrogen generation – the availability of hydrogen and the infrastructure to support it.
“Burning hydrogen or blending it with natural gas is the easy part,” said Jeffrey Goldmeer, Global Hydrogen Value Chain Leader at GE Vernova. “Making the hydrogen is the biggest challenge.”
He noted the vast quantities of hydrogen stored by NASA at Cape Kennedy — over 1 million gallons. He said that a large gas turbine can burn all of that within a couple of hours.
“A gas turbine can consume fuels at a very high rate,” said Goldmeer. This is a challenge for hydrogen given the relatively small quantities of low-carbon intensity hydrogen produced today.” Hence, several projects around the globe seek to address the supply chain challenge.
GE Vernova, for example, has the Okeechobee project in Florida with Florida Power & Light that burns a 5% hydrogen blend; the Debary project in Florida with Duke Energy that intends to use solar panels to generate enough hydrogen onsite to run one E-Class peaking unit on up to 100% hydrogen – it can also run on natural gas or distillate fuel oil; the Tallawarra project in Australia which will run a GE 9F.05 with a 5% hydrogen blend; and the CS Energy Brigalow project in Australia that intends to use a 35% hydrogen blend in a peaking station that runs GE LM2500 aeroderivative turbines.
“The capability of the gas turbine is not the barrier; it’s the supply chain and availability of hydrogen,” said Goldmeer. “But in today’s market, if you can’t show your units are capable of running on hydrogen, you may not qualify for some projects.”
For more event coverage, please see the following articles:
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