GE Vernova’s Gas Power business announced that it will support the development of an end-to-end green H₂ system that Duke Energy plans to build and operate at its DeBary plant in Volusia County, Florida near Orlando. When operational in 2024, the new H₂ system will provide peak power to Duke’s customers at times of increased electricity demand.

The plant will be the first in the nation and among the world’s first power plants to produce and use green H₂ to power a gas turbine for peaking power applications, when the grid requires additional electrical generation to meet demand. The production, storage and end use will be co-located at the DeBary power plant.

GE Vernova will support the integration of the turbine with green H₂, including the upgrade on one of the four GE 7E gas turbines installed at the site to accommodate H₂ fuel blends of significant volumes. This will be the first commercial operation of this ability.

The DeBary H₂ project will leverage Duke Energy’s installed solar array to operate electrolyzers to create green H₂, which will be stored onsite. Then, the green H₂ will be used to power the gas turbine with up to 100% H₂ fuel to support periods of peak demand for electricity.

“This first-ever, commercial operation of a gas turbine on 100% H₂ will be a groundbreaking achievement for Duke Energy and for our industry. Our existing solar field and gas turbines at DeBary provide a unique opportunity for us to produce green H₂, store it onsite and then combust it to ensure reliable service when electricity demand is high,” said Regis Repko, Duke Energy’s senior vice president of generation and transmission strategy. “This combination of technologies will allow gas turbines to become decarbonized, dispatchable assets that support the addition of more renewables to our grid, and we appreciate the opportunity to collaborate on such an innovative project with GE Vernova and others.”

Demand for energy in the U.S. and globally is increasing rapidly, making it even more challenging to rely solely on intermittent, renewable energy to keep the power grid operational when the wind is not blowing, or the sun is not shining. However, H₂ produced from excess renewable energy during optimal generation conditions and stored for later use by gas turbines can provide a unique mechanism to help ensure reliable, affordable, and more sustainable electricity generation.

“GE Vernova is thrilled to work closely with Duke Energy on this project, which is a perfect example of the interplay opportunities between renewable energy and efficient gas-fired combustion technologies and exhibits how gas turbines are an essential technology in the energy transition,” said Eric Gray, President and CEO of GE Vernova’s Gas Power business. “Multiple engineering and consulting teams located across GE’s sites worldwide will support the DeBary H₂ project, perform any needed modifications to the gas turbine and work with Duke Energy to support the overall integration of the H₂ fuels. We are honored to work with Duke Energy in this first-of-its-kind project.”

To support the project, GE began working with Duke Energy on a H₂ plant readiness assessment in 2021. Following the installation of the electrolyzer equipment and H₂ storage capacity onsite, GE Vernova will execute modifications to the existing gas turbine infrastructure at the DeBary plant, including the fuel handling systems, valves and piping compatible with higher blends of H₂ operation and up to 100% H₂ (by volume). GE Vernova will also install the fuel skid with H₂ blending, finalize control modifications, and support the overall integration of the project to support 100% H₂ operation expected in 2024.

When fully operational, the converted 83-megawatt (MW) 7E gas turbine will have the ability to operate on natural gas, liquid fuel, 100% H₂ or a blend of natural gas and H₂ providing the site with complete fuel and operating flexibility while maintaining plant reliability.

Located just north of Orlando, the Duke Energy Florida DeBary plant consists of a 74.5-MW solar power plant spread across an area covering the equivalent of almost 200 football fields and a 692-MW gas power plant for reliable reserve power. The power plant is powered by six of GE’s 7B gas turbines and four of GE’s 7E gas turbines.