Hydrogen Attracts Significant Investments to Support a Decarbonized Energy Economy
In late 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a $7 billion initiative to establish seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs, aiming to scale the use of cost-effective clean hydrogen. This initiative comes as utilities face growing pressures from data centers and other industries that are demanding increasingly large amounts of reliable power. Hydrogen’s role in helping utilities meet these growing demands while adhering to net zero carbon goals makes it an essential part of the energy transition. With more companies pledging carbon neutrality, hydrogen provides a versatile tool for balancing increased demand with sustainability efforts.
Globally, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) projects that 5.5 TW of electrolyzer capacity will be required by 2050 to meet climate goals. While the timelines and strategies for integrating hydrogen into the energy economy vary, EPRI is focusing on understanding applications of hydrogen to aid in power sector decarbonization while maintaining reliability and affordability.
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has partnered with utilities and diverse stakeholders in its Low-Carbon Resources Initiative and Gas Turbine Advanced Components and Technologies Program to explore using hydrogen as a fuel in various natural gas power plants. “The blending with natural gas aims to incrementally reduce carbon emissions,” said Alex Gupta, EPRI’s Low-Carbon Fuel Safety Specialist. “Using existing assets with a relatively low hydrogen concentration allows for some decarbonization, with potential for higher as hydrogen blends and infrastructure matures.”
Hydrogen and Natural Gas Co-Firing Demonstrations
One important aspect of utilizing hydrogen to decarbonize the power sector is ensuring it does not pose unintended safety and environmental risks. Additionally, developing standardized best practices for stakeholders is essential as hydrogen use in natural gas power plants expands.
EPRI’s recent research initiative, detailed in the report “Safety and Environmental Lessons from Hydrogen-Natural Gas Cofiring Demonstrations,” addresses these concerns. EPRI analyzed three demonstration projects to understand the safety measures, environmental concerns, and lessons from real-world hydrogen and natural gas cofiring. The projects varied in size, prime mover technology, and hydrogen percentage in the fuel mix:
- A 45-MW gas turbine operated by New York Power Authority (NYPA), with hydrogen blends between 5% and 44%.
- A 265-MW gas turbine operated by Southern Company, using fuel blends ranging from 0% to 20% hydrogen.
- An 18.8-MW equivalent reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE), operating with 10% to 25% hydrogen blends.
These projects represent a cross-section of the natural gas power-generating assets in operation across the U.S.
Key Environmental and Safety Findings
EPRI’s analysis provided insights to guide future deployments of hydrogen-natural gas blends. Concerns that hydrogen might increase nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions were not substantiated; emissions were monitored, and no increase was detected.
“We didn’t observe adverse environmental impacts. NOx emissions were comparable to those from natural gas, and overall environmental impacts were reduced due to lower direct carbon emissions,” Gupta said. “While hydrogen offers considerable benefits in reducing carbon emissions, it’s important to acknowledge that its production, particularly through electrolysis, is energy-intensive. The need to balance these energy demands with renewable sources is crucial for ensuring that hydrogen contributes to decarbonization without creating new challenges in energy efficiency. Scaling green hydrogen will require vast renewable energy capacities to match the demand.”
Safety concerns, particularly around leaks, were also addressed. No leaks or safety issues were detected during the three projects’ operations. Established industry protocols and hydrogen-specific codes and standards, such as NFPA 2, proved effective in ensuring safety.
Best Practices for Co-Firing Hydrogen and Natural Gas
The demonstrations confirmed that co-firing hydrogen with natural gas does not necessitate novel emissions controls or operating conditions. Gupta noted, “Operations were routine, similar to burning any other fuel.” The best practices EPRI identified to facilitate future projects include:
- Early identification of applicable codes and standards is critical, with a focus on exceeding safety and environmental requirements.
- Establish a collaborative project team, with clear roles and responsibilities, and a comprehensive project plan involving local communities, regulators, and permitting authorities.
- Safety and operational measures should include proper site layout, pressure system integrity, reliable fuel blending controls, comprehensive emissions monitoring, and independent verification and safety reviews.
- A thorough safety protocol includes strategic sensor placement for leak detection, access control to sensitive areas, environmental health and safety (EHS) training, and clear communication.
These best practices aim to accelerate hydrogen’s role in power sector decarbonization. “Our report serves as a guide for those interested in hydrogen combustion, offering a starting point that avoids reinventing the wheel and ensuring safety and beneficial environmental outcomes,” Gupta concluded.
—EPRI contributed this article to POWER.