SSE and Siemens Launch Mission H2 Power for Hydrogen Gas Turbine Technology
Key Ideas
- SSE and Siemens have initiated Mission H2 Power to develop gas turbine technology capable of running on 100% hydrogen, supporting decarbonisation efforts at Keadby 2 Power Station in North Lincolnshire.
- Siemens will create a combustion system allowing the turbine to operate on hydrogen or natural gas blends, requiring new facilities in Berlin for testing.
- The partnership also involves projects like Keadby Next Generation Power Station aiming to be the world's first 100% hydrogen-fuelled power station by 2030, contributing to the UK's decarbonisation goals.
- The collaboration aligns with the UK government's plan to decarbonise the power grid by 2030, with hydrogen-fired power stations expected to provide half of the needed low-carbon flexible power by 2035.
SSE and Siemens have jointly announced a new collaboration named Mission H2 Power to advance gas turbine technology capable of running on 100% hydrogen. The project aims to support SSE Thermal's Keadby 2 Power Station in North Lincolnshire by developing a combustion system that enables the turbine to operate on hydrogen, natural gas, or a blend of both. Siemens will establish additional facilities at its clean energy centre in Berlin for testing the technology for large gas turbines. The partners plan to make a multi-million-pound co-investment in the project.
Apart from Mission H2 Power, SSE Thermal is involved in other projects like the Keadby Next Generation Power Station with Equinor, targeting to become the world's first 100% hydrogen-fuelled power station by 2030. They are also collaborating on the Keadby 3 project, which aims to equip the UK's first power station with carbon capture and storage technology.
The companies emphasized the significance of low-carbon power stations in establishing a clean power system in the UK, providing flexible backup to a renewables-led system. The UK government's objective to decarbonise the power grid by 2030 aligns with the initiative, with an estimated 7GW of low-carbon flexible power needed by 2035, half of which is anticipated to be supplied by hydrogen-fired power stations.
Executives from both SSE and Siemens highlighted the pivotal role of hydrogen in achieving a decarbonised grid. The announcement also featured a statement from UK Minister for Industry Sarah Jones, expressing the government's commitment to making the UK a global leader in hydrogen. She emphasized that projects like Mission H2 Power are crucial in enabling clean power generation and ensuring energy security amidst volatile fossil fuel prices.
Topics
Policy
Power
Clean Energy
Technology
Energy Transition
Collaboration
Renewables
Carbon Capture
Power Stations
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