GE has begun its readiness assessment for the Grain combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station in Kent, England.
Grain is Uniper’s newest combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power station in the UK. Uniper and GE have been engaging closely on the long-term decarbonisation of Uniper’s gas-fired power stations and natural gas storage facilities since the signing of their cooperation agreement. This may also contribute to the UK’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
To assist in this effort, GE’s plant assessment at Grain will seek to develop detailed solutions that will enable the 1,365 megawatt (MW) combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant to use hydrogen blends up to 40% by volume, potentially lowering its carbon emissions and assisting Uniper in meeting its decarbonisation target.
“Investigating lower carbon options for gas turbines could help the power generation industry reduce its carbon emissions over the next decade and blending hydrogen with natural gas to lower carbon emissions is one of the options we’re exploring. Uniper set the strategic goal of carbon-neutrality in its European generation by 2035, and this project marks a tangible step toward the decarbonisation of our gas assets,” said Ian Rogers, Uniper Head of Asset Improvement and Making Net Zero Possible project. “The assessment will provide us with the scope of the upgrade needed to support operation of up to 40% hydrogen by volume, while maintaining both plant economics and reliability.”
This project will identify the modifications required to the existing GT26 gas turbines to support substantial hydrogen fuel mixtures. Multiple engineering and consulting teams based throughout GE’s global locations will collaborate on the review. Hydrogen utilization is a component of the site’s hybrid decarbonisation approach.
“GE is continuing to advance our gas power technologies towards near zero-carbon power generation and part of this evolution involves the modernisation of existing combined-cycle power plants through the increasing use of emissions-friendly hydrogen in GE gas turbines,” said Martin O’Neill, VP Strategy, GE Gas Power. “Our collaboration with Uniper in support of their efforts in achieving carbon neutrality across their European generation will also bring us closer to the UK’s net-zero target and help us support the energy transition.”
GE’s gas turbine technology is based on decades of experience and leadership in the use of hydrogen as a hydrogen fuel for gas turbines. Over 100 GE gas turbines have already logged over 8 million hours of operation burning hydrogen and generated 530 terawatt hours of power.
