Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) revealed that Cummins Inc. will deliver a 25 megawatt (MW) electrolyzer system for the FPL Cavendish NextGen Hydrogen Hub – Florida’s first green hydrogen plant – which might pave the way for a carbon-free energy future.
“At FPL, we are always looking over the horizon and focused on making smart, long-term investments to build a more modern, stronger and cleaner energy grid that future generations can depend on,” said Eric Silagy, FPL President and CEO. “Since building our first solar energy center in 2009, FPL has constructed 50 solar energy centers, commissioned the world’s largest solar-powered battery and embarked on innovative pilot programs to advance microgrid technology and electric vehicle (EV) charging while eliminating coal from our fleet in Florida. Now, we are helping usher in the next era of Florida’s clean energy future with a ‘green’ hydrogen pilot project that could be key to unlocking 100% carbon-free electricity.”
Solar energy will be used to power the electrolysis process that produces “green,” or carbon-free, hydrogen from water at the FPL Cavendish NextGen Hydrogen Hub. Once produced, the “green” hydrogen will be combined with natural gas and utilized to power an existing combustion turbine at the adjacent FPL Okeechobee Clean Energy Center, thereby producing greener energy that will assist power FPL customers across the grid. Five Cummins HyLYZER®-1000 PEM electrolyzers will be used to generate a total of 25 MW – or 10.8 tons of hydrogen per day.
“This project is exciting for Cummins as we establish green hydrogen as a viable way to decarbonize the economy here in the United States,” said Amy Davis, Vice President and President of New Power at Cummins. “An electrolyzer installation of this magnitude further solidifies PEM technology as a key to reaching zero emissions in energy-intensive industries. FPL’s commitment to the acceleration of the energy transition and support of future demand for affordable renewables is one we passionately share.”
FPL’s rapid expansion of clean energy in Florida
FPL is implementing its “green” hydrogen pilot with the country’s largest solar expansion. The company is now more than halfway to achieving its “30-by-30” target of installing 30 million solar panels – a goal that will now be accomplished five years sooner, in 2025. Additionally, the business completed the construction of the world’s largest solar-powered battery in Manatee County last year, in addition to closing and decommissioning the company’s final coal plant in Florida.
Cummins is accelerating the advancement of hydrogen technology
Cummins has a long history of developing cutting-edge technology and technical capabilities, as well as a diverse range of market-leading renewable hydrogen technologies. Cummins operates over 600 active electrolyzers worldwide and has installed over 2,000 hydrogen fuel cells. Cummins technology has been used to power a number of world-first hydrogen projects, including the world’s largest PEM electrolyzer, which is operating at a capacity of 20 MW in Bécancour, Canada; the world’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train, which operates across Europe; the world’s first hydrogen refueling station for ships, cars, trucks, and industrial customers in Antwerp, Belgium; and being selected to power the largest PEM electrolysis plant in the United States.
