German energy major RWE and Japan’s Kawasaki Heavy Industries have launched commissioning of their hydrogen-capable 34MW gas-fired power plant in Lingen, Germany.
Claimed as the largest gas turbine of its kind in Europe, the pair said the facility could play a role in Germany’s planned hydrogen-integrated energy system, enabling flexible power capacity when renewable generation is low.
Across coming months, the turbine will be used to generate electricity using hydrogen blends increasing up to 100%.
The test will be fuelled with green hydrogen from RWE’s co-located GET H2 Nukleus.
Following the 300MW project producing first molecules in August, the commissioning will represent one of the first major uses of its hydrogen output.
Backed by €619m ($690m) in German federal government and state funding, the Nukleus project is due to eventually supply up to 49,000 tonnes of hydrogen for regional industrial users.
RWE recently landed German government contracts to build three hydrogen-ready combined cycle gas turbines in Voerde, Werne, and Weisweiler totalling around 2.1GW of power capacity.
It plans to begin construction of the first of these in “just a few weeks.”
Hydrogen-derived power is gaining popularity as a route to low-carbon energy, and hydrogen-compatible gas-fired plants are seen as enabling a transition that can switch from conventional fuels stepwise, in line with accompanying hydrogen infrastructure.
