Duke Energy announced it soon will break ground in DeBary, Florida, on the first demonstration project in the U.S. to successfully create clean energy using an end-to-end system to produce, store and combust 100% green H₂.

The innovative system is the result of collaboration between Duke Energy, Sargent and Lundy, and GE Vernova and will be located at Duke Energy Florida's DeBary plant in Volusia County, Florida.

"Duke Energy is constantly evolving and seeking ways to provide clean, safe energy solutions to our customers," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "DeBary will be home to Duke Energy's first green H₂ production and storage system connected to existing solar for power generation, and we are grateful to the city for allowing this innovative technology in their community."

This one-of-its-kind, end-to-end system will begin with the existing 74.5-megawatt (MW) DeBary solar plant providing clean energy for two 1-MW electrolyzer units that will separate water molecules into oxygen and H₂ atoms.

The resulting oxygen will be released into the atmosphere, while the green H₂ will be delivered to nearby, reinforced containers for safe storage. During times when energy demand is highest, the system will deliver the stored green H₂ to a combustion turbine (CT) that will be upgraded using GE Vernova technology to run on a natural gas/H₂ blend or up to 100% H₂. This will be the nation's first CT in operation running on such a high percentage of H₂.