DECARBONIZING POWER GENERATION
Hydrogen fueled gas turbines
While the effort to reduce carbon emissions from traditional power generation assets is driving an increase in renewable power production from renewables, hydrogen-ready gas turbines could also play a role. See how we’re leading the charge.
Can GE’s gas turbines run on hydrogen fuel?
YesOur turbines have nearly 30 years of experience operating on a variety of fuels that contain hydrogen, totaling over 6 million operating hours as hydrogen-fueled turbines using concentrations ranging from 5% to 95% (by volume). This includes synthesis gas (syngas), a variety of steel mill gases (i.e. coke oven gas and blast furnace gas), and refinery off-gases. This experience has helped GE become one of the world leaders in the application of fuels containing hydrogen in gas turbines.
The use of hydrogen as a gas turbine fuel has been demonstrated commercially, but there are differences between natural gas and hydrogen that must be taken into account to properly and safely use hydrogen in a gas turbine. In addition to differences in the combustion properties of these fuels, the impact to all gas turbine systems as well as the overall balance of plant, must be considered. In a power plant with one or more hydrogen-fueled turbines, changes may be needed to the fuel accessories, bottoming cycle components, and plant safety systems. GE’s broad field experience enables our engineers to understand the impact of using hydrogen as a gas turbine fuel.
As gas turbines are inherently fuel-flexible, they can be configured to operate on green hydrogen or similar fuels as a new unit, or be upgraded even after extended service on traditional fuels, i.e. natural gas. The scope of the required modifications to configure a gas turbine to operate on hydrogen depends on the initial configuration of the gas turbine and the overall balance of plant, as well as the desired hydrogen concentration in the fuel.
Hydrogen: Here’s how it works
Did you know GE’s gas turbines are already using hydrogen as a source of energy? Let GE’s Fuel Guy, Jeff Goldmeer, walk you through how hydrogen can be used as a power generation fuel today and in the future.
Want to learn about the impact hydrogen has on power plant systems
and how it’s being used today? Click here to watch Part 1 of our series.
More experience in more places
GE has over 70 gas turbines supporting power generation with hydrogen and associated fuels around the world—take a tour of a selection!
Broad hydrogen capability across the entire gas turbine portfolio
GE has combustion technologies that are capable of operating on a wide range of hydrogen concentrations up to ~100% (by volume) converting a gas turbine to a hydrogen turbine.
More MW and more units
Of the world’s power generation units powered by hydrogen and similar low BTU fuels, GE accounts for
| 51% | 45% | |
| of the units | of the MW |
RUN THE NUMBERS
Hydrogen and CO2 emissions calculator
If you’re thinking about the possibility of using hydrogen on your next power generation project, you’re probably running into more questions than answers. Try out our calculator and get the facts around potential tax savings, as well as water and infrastructure required.
Hydrogen and CO2 Emissions Calculator
Learn more about hydrogen's potentials savings
With the rise in global interest in the use of hydrogen as a zero-carbon fuel, there are still many questions surrounding the real-world numbers around its implementation. What will you need in terms of infrastructure? How will it impact your CO2 emissions? We've made it easy for you. GE's Hydrogen and CO2 Emissions Calculator will help you:
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Understand the fuel flow rate required for a gas turbine to operate on hydrogen
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Discover the water and electricity infrastructure needed to make hydrogen
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Get the numbers around the potential savings you could realize
Want to get started? Give us a few pieces of information to see more information around your potential hydrogen project.
The information presented on or through this website and calculator is made available solely for general information purposes. GE does not warrant (i) the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of any results, conclusions, or information provided by this website or calculator, (ii) that any specific operating or performance results will occur from any information provided by this website or calculator, or (iii) that any desired objective will result from this website or calculator. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. GE disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the results, conclusions, or information provided by this website or calculator by you, or by anyone who may be informed of any of its contents. Calculations are based on GE 2019 catalog performance data.
1
What kind of gas turbine do you have?
2
How is your plant configured?
3
What are the expected annual operating hours of your gas turbine?
4
What's the volume percent of hydrogen you want to run through?
5
What CO2 tax rate do you pay today, if any?
Enter in your rate below. Not sure? Simply select your country using the dropdown menu. Rates are in USD/ton.
Your hydrogen and CO2 emissions results
These results are based on your estimate of 5,020 annual operating hours at 55% hydrogen on a 7HA.02 turbine configured as a 1x1 combined cycle plant and a current CO2 tax of $2.00 per ton.
RECALCULATE- Infrastructure Requirements
- CO2 Savings
- Summary
Hydrogen production and infrastructure requirements
Choose your process:
Electricity required
Energy per year
MW
You will need the equivalent of - 1.5 MW wind turbines to create the required energy for your hydrogen infrastructure.
Water flow required
Gallons of water per day required
You will consume the equivalent of Olympic-sized pools of water every day as part of your hydrogen infrastructure plan.
Hydrogen flow required
Cubic feet per day
Amount of hydrogen created
Assumption: Wind turbines running at 50% capacity factor.
Methane required
Kilograms per hour
Amount of methane required at 70°F and 1 atm of pressure.
Water flow required
Gallons of water per day required
You will consume the equivalent of Olympic-sized pools of water every day as part of your hydrogen infrastructure plan.
Hydrogen flow required
Cubic feet per day
Amount of hydrogen created
When using SMR to produce hydrogen, the CO2 reductions listed are only based on gas turbine emissions. For the entire process to be carbon-neutral, the CO2 generated must be captured and then stored or used in a process displacing CO2 from traditional sources.
Hydrogen production and infrastructure requirements
HOW MUCH LESS CO2 WILL YOU EMIT?
CO2 reduction
Based on your inputs and compared to using 100% natural gas in your gas turbine, by our calculations, you can expect to see a reduction in CO2 emissions.
POTENTIAL CO2 TAX SAVINGS IN USD
$
Based on your input of /ton CO2 tariff
This is an important calculation in terms of getting the bigger picture around your energy spend-as you weigh the pros and cons of using a higher cost fuel, numbers like tax savings need to figure prominently into your economic analysis.*
*GE and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice, and the information provided herein is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.
Carbon emissions reduction is not linear with hydrogen volume % due to the differences in the heating values between hydrogen and methane. On a volume basis, hydrogen has ~1/3 the heating value of methane.
The information presented on or through this website and calculator is made available solely for general information purposes. GE does not warrant (i) the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of any results, conclusions, or information provided by this website or calculator, (ii) that any specific operating or performance results will occur from any information provided by this website or calculator, or (iii) that any desired objective will result from the use of this website or calculator. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. GE disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the results, conclusions, or information provided by this website or calculator by you, or by anyone who may be informed of any of its contents. Calculations are based on GE 2019 catalog performance data.
Infrastructure and savings summary
YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS
ELECTROLYSIS
WATER
gallons/day
ENERGY
MW
STEAM METHANE REFORMING
WATER
gallons/day
METHANE REQUIRED
kilograms/hour
ESTIMATED HYDROGEN FLOW RATE
View by:
Cubic feet per day
Cubic meters per day
Kilograms per day
Cubic feet per hour
Cubic meters per hour
Kilograms per hour
POTENTIAL CO2 TAX SAVINGS*
ESTIMATED SAVINGS IN USD
$
(Based on /ton CO2 tariff paid)
CO2 EMISSIONS REDUCTION
Based on your inputs your emissions will be g/kWh.
*GE and its affiliates do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice, and the information provided herein is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.
Carbon emissions reduction is not linear with hydrogen volume % due to the differences in the heating values between hydrogen and methane. On a volume basis, hydrogen has ~1/3 the heating value of methane.
The information presented on or through this website and calculator is made available solely for general information purposes. GE does not warrant (i) the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of any results, conclusions, or information provided by this website or calculator, (ii) that any specific operating or performance results will occur from any information provided by this website or calculator, or (iii) that any desired objective will result from the use of this website or calculator. Any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk. GE disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the results, conclusions, or information provided by this website or calculator by you, or by anyone who may be informed of any of its contents. Calculations are based on GE 2019 catalog performance data.
Hydrogen power generation: Fuel-flexible gas turbines use hydrogen as an enabler for a low or reduced carbon energy ecosystem
This paper provides an update on how using hydrogen as a gas turbine fuel can support a low or reduced carbon electrical grid by operating on a wide variety of lower carbon fuels, including current hydrogen capabilities of GE's gas turbines, requirements for upgrading existing turbines for operation on hydrogen fuels, and potential future technology options.
Learn more about turbines and plants using hydrogen for power
Under the agreement, GE Gas Power and Uniper will form a joint working group to explore, assess, and develop technology and service options for decarbonization of Uniper’s 4-GW GE gas turbine fleet.
Hear from GE’s Brian Gutknecht and Dr. Jeff Goldmeer on how hydrogen could be rebuilding the energy ecosystem.
Get an in-depth look at the role of hydrogen and how it can complement GE’s gas turbine technology.
GE’s gas turbines boast a long history of burning hydrogen blended with natural gas, which has a long list of benefits, in a wide range of concentrations.
Discover how GE and its DLN 2.6 combustion technology are providing the capability for fuel gas mixtures of natural gas and hydrogen that can lower and ultimately eliminate carbon emissions from turbomachinery.
This paper outlines the development of a new premixing fuel injector for high-hydrogen fuels that was configured to balance reliable flashback-free operation, reasonable pressure drop, and low emissions.