‘UK first’ | Centrica to inject hydrogen made from methane pyrolysis into peaking gas plant
Utility to use tiny percentages of H2 from local producer HiiROC as part of 12 month trial, as it eyes future roll-out of 100% hydrogen-fired power plants
UK utility Centrica is to use hydrogen made from methane pyrolysis in one of its peaking fossil gas plants, as part of a trial that could eventually see the firm roll out 100% hydrogen-fired power.
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Billed as a “UK first”, the trial will start next summer at Centrica’s 49MW Brigg peaking gas plant in Lincolnshire, where blends of fossil gas mixed with tiny amounts of hydrogen — no more than 3% — will be burned in its turbines.
Hydrogen for the trial will be supplied by local company HiiROC, which produces H2 using methane pyrolysis, typically known as “turquoise hydrogen”. This method uses heat and a catalyst to reform methane into hydrogen and solid carbon, or “carbon black”. HiiROC also claims to be able to use biomethane as a feed gas, which would produce so-called “emerald hydrogen” with negative carbon emissions.
After the 12-month trial, Centrica plans to incrementally increase the amount of hydrogen blended into the plant to 20%, before exploring the idea of using 100% hydrogen across its fossil gas power portfolio.
Peakers
Peaking plants, or “peakers”, are designed to fill the gap at times of high demand or abnormally low supply elsewhere across the power mix, for example when the wind is not blowing or sun not shining. As a result, they typically operate no more than three hours a day, and at times when power prices are very high, which may make the economics of burning expensive hydrogen more appealing.
The plants are usually fired by fossil gas, as open cycle gas turbines can be fired up and turned off again very quickly.
The 49MW Brigg power station is one of two new peaker plants built in eastern England by Centrica in 2018. The new facility is located adjacent to the site of its now-decommissioned gas-fired plant, where the company has recently begun developing a 50MW/100MWh battery storage project.
This month the UK’s electricity transmission service operator, National Grid, warned that the UK could experience blackouts if the UK experiences a winter cold snap, as a result of power supply constraints in France, as well as expected low wind speeds.
“With the continued and crucial rollout of renewable energy generation, intermittency of power supply is a key issue, and the programme we are developing with Centrica will explore routes to address intermittency without generating CO2 emissions,” said Tim Davies, HiiROC’s CEO.
The trial is being funded with a slice of the £8m ($9m) Open Innovation Programme fund, run by the UK and Scottish government-backed Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC), and is being touted by Centrica as a way to decarbonise the UK’s gas-fired power capability.
Greg McKenna, managing director of Centrica Business Solutions, said: “Gas still plays a huge role in maintaining a secure, stable supply of power in the UK, with around 40% of our power coming from natural gas. So it’s vital that we find ways to reduce the carbon intensity of gas plants like that at Brigg.”
Centrica has also increased its stake in HiiROC to 5% this week, following its purchase of a minority stake in the company last November. HiiROC’s funding call at that time raised £28m, attracting investors such as UK cement manufacturer Cemex, car manufacturers Hyundai and Kia, and investment fund HydrogenOne. German fossil gas producer Wintershall Dea and venture capital fund VNG are also strategic investors in the company.
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