News

Constellation completes hydrogen blending test at Alabama gas-fired plant

The company said the 38 percent blend at the Hillabee Generating Station nearly doubled the previous blending record for similar generators.
Constellation completes hydrogen blending test at Alabama gas-fired plant
(Source: Pixabay).

Working with Siemens Energy and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Constellation said it blended 38 percent hydrogen as part of a test at the Hillabee Generating Station, a 753 MW natural gas combined-cycle (NGCC) plant in central Alabama.

Constellation said the 38 percent mark nearly doubled the previous blending record for similar generators. The blending test at Hillabee occurred May 18 on a Siemens Energy SGT6-6000G gas turbine.

Constellation said only “minor modifications” were required for the blending test. The company said it added an inlet for the hydrogen to be blended, a control valve and calibrated instrument to measure fuel flow.

The company said nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions did not increase during this blending test.

NOTE: We are currently accepting speaker submissions for presentations at POWERGEN International on January 23-25, 2024 in New Orleans. Topics include hydrogen co-firing through our track Unlocking Hydrogen’s Power Potential. Submit an abstract for a chance to join our speaker lineup here.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released new rules aimed at reducing carbon emissions from the electric sector, citing hydrogen co-firing as a primary technology to help decarbonize the U.S. power sector and achieve the nation’s climate goals.

Constellation said it will use the results from this test to inform its plans for transitioning its natural gas facilities to carbon-free technology in the coming years. The company has a large nuclear fleet and produces nearly 90 percent of its energy from carbon-free sources, with a goal of achieving 100 percent carbon-free electricity generation by 2040.

Hillabee Generating Station is a three-unit plant that began operating in 2010. The plant is fitted with Selective Catalytic Reduction technology, which significantly reduces nitrogen oxide emissions.

Tags