EIA Provides Update on Hydrogen Co-Firing Projects at U.S. Power Plants

 

     The U.S. Energy Information Administration recently gave an update on hydrogen do-firing at U.S. power plants. As the map below shows, there are currently ten projects that are ongoing. Five of those tested hydrogen co-firing at various percentages, in 2022 and 2023. The H2 percentages ranged from 5% to 44%. One of the tests was conducted at the A.J. Mihm Generating Station in Upper Michigan using 25% hydrogen in one of the station’s three 18.8-MW reciprocating internal combustion engines. It is unclear whether these projects are currently and regularly burning H2 at the plants and at what percentages. Two of the projects plan to upgrade existing facilities to burn hydrogen. Of those, one in Florida owned by Duke Energy, a 74 MW simple cycle peaking plant is expected to be upgraded to burn 100% hydrogen. The other, in California, is expected to burn 30% H2 by the end of the decade and possibly up to 100% after that. The last three projects are new combined-cycle plants being built with hydrogen blending capabilities. The turbines in the power plants are outfitted and adjusted for hydrogen co-firing. Two of the three plan to burn 30% hydrogen. The other one, Kindle Energy’s 678-MW Magnolia Power Plant in Louisiana is expected to be online in 2025 with the ability to cofire up to 50% hydrogen.

     Hydrogen production is being supported at the federal level through tax credits and the IRA. A sensible way to Add hydrogen at power plants is to make it at or very near those plants so transporting it is minimized. This also minimizes costs associated with compressing it. The development of hydrogen hubs around the country is set to take off with new funding. Carbon capture at hydrogen production facilities that utilize steam methane reforming to make it, is able to capture high percentages of high-purity CO2.

 

A Note on H2 % and CO2 Emissions

 

     Hydrogen is less dense and less energy dense than natural gas so adding it only replaces a little more than one-third of the natural gas energy, or closer to 40%. Thus, when a blend contains 30% hydrogen it results in just a 12% drop in CO2 emissions, and at that rate a 90% hydrogen blend would result in a 36% reduction in CO2 emissions.

 

References:

U.S. electric power sector explores hydrogen cofiring at natural gas-fired plants. Energy Information Administration. September 12, 2024. U.S. electric power sector explores hydrogen cofiring at natural gas-fired plants - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)