First gas turbine powered by pure hydrogen

18 Jul, 2022
Image: UiS/Kjersti Riiber

University of Stavanger operates a micro gas plant in south-west Norway. The gas turbine produces both heat and electricity. It also supplies hot water for heating the laboratory buildings in the immediate area. In addition, surplus energy is supplied to power provider Lyse's district heating and electricity grids. All energy is used efficiently.

The researchers have been working on developing a method for using pure hydrogen as fuel in the gas turbine. The goal is to produce electricity with zero CO2 emissions. In mid-May 2022, an important milestone was reached. They started running the turbine on 100 percent hydrogen.

"The efficiency of running the gas turbine with hydrogen will be somewhat less. The big gain though, is to be able to utilize the infrastructure that already exists. In addition, there are no CO2 emissions associated with this energy production," says Professor Mohsen Assadi. He emphasizes that this research is about storage as well as distribution of gas fuel.

His research team will now take a closer look at the limitations of the gas plant, and find out how they can increase the capacity to produce as much clean energy as possible.

Source: University of Stavanger

Image: UiS/Kjersti Riiber

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