The business, which was one of the first in North America to explore hydrogen blending as a fuel source, has said the pilot will take place at one of its Upper Peninsula power stations in Michigan.
Upper Michigan Energy Resources, a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group, operates two natural gas-fired power plants. The 128.1MW F.D. Kuester plant in Negaunee Township near Marquette has seven units, while the 54.9MW A. J. Mihm plant in Baraga Township in L’Anse has three units.
The reciprocating internal combustion engine (RICE) technology is used in both of the facilities, which began operations in 2019.
Gale Klappa, the executive chairman, remarked, “We’re thrilled to take a pioneering position in testing hydrogen in our contemporary natural gas-fueled generating units.”
“As we add more renewable energy to the grid, we need to make sure we can keep the lights on even when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing.” The addition of hydrogen as a clean producing fuel to our network of dispatchable plants might be a significant step toward a brighter, more sustainable future.”
WEC Energy Group is collaborating on the project with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), which will oversee its technical execution and share the project’s findings with the rest of the energy sector to help reduce carbon emissions by using hydrogen for power generation.
WEC Energy Group has set environmental goals such as achieving net-zero carbon emissions from electricity production by 2050 and net-zero methane emissions from natural gas distribution by 2030.
This pilot is intended to contribute to the development of yet another feasible decarbonization alternative.
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