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Press Release16 November 2021Siemens EnergyMunich
Siemens Energy is the first manufacturer to receive certification for “H2-Ready” power plant concept
Hydrogen can play a central role in the
decarbonization of energy systems. In particular, natural gas-fired combined
cycle power plants (CCPP) currently being built or planned are also expected to
run partially or fully on hydrogen fuel in the future. This means that utilities
that plan to purchase this type of power plant will expect a statement of the
plant's ability to use hydrogen as a fuel. Some new combined or single cycle
gas-fired power plants are already being advertised as “H2-Ready” today. Until
now, however, there hasn’t been a clear definition of what this term means.
“Our guideline enables OEMs, plant
operators, and insurers to use a standard transparent framework”, says Reiner
Block, CEO of the Industry Service Division at TÜV SÜD. “The certification
covers a complete power plant with the relevant subsystems.” The “H2-Ready” certification,
however, doesn’t certify existing power plants; rather, it provides a roadmap that
describes how plants can be converted over time to co-fire hydrogen or even
burn pure hydrogen. That’s why the certification of a combined
cycle power plant includes three stages: First, a concept certificate for the
conceptual design (including boundary conditions) during the bidding phase;
second, a project certificate for the implementation phase, in other words, the
final plant design and its specifications; and third, a transition certificate
for the conversion of an existing CCPP to burn hydrogen – including a review of
the retrofit measures and their impact on safety and performance.
“Hydrogen is an important building-block
for decarbonizing the energy supply. An independent certificate creates
certainty for investments. We’re proud to be the first manufacturer to receive
this important certification,” says Karim Amin, Executive Vice President
Generation at Siemens Energy. “If we design CCPPs today for future operation
with hydrogen, they don’t just serve as a bridging technology to a CO2-free
future, they’ll also make an important contribution to a reliable and
affordable power supply in the long term.”
To meet ambitious climate goals, it won’t
just be combined cycle power plants that are modified as hydrogen power plants.
The certification offered by TÜV SÜD can be applied to a wide range of
solutions. Siemens Energy already offers hybrid solutions with hydrogen
generation, storage, and re-electrification. The company is currently involved
in the construction of several power plants that are designed to be partially
or fully hydrogen-fired.
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Siemens Energy is one of the world’s leading energy technology companies. The company works with its customers and partners on energy systems for the future, thus supporting the transition to a more sustainable world. With its portfolio of products, solutions and services, Siemens Energy covers almost the entire energy value chain – from power generation and transmission to storage. The portfolio includes conventional and renewable energy technology, such as gas and steam turbines, hybrid power plants operated with hydrogen, and power generators and transformers. More than 50 percent of the portfolio has already been decarbonized. A majority stake in the listed company Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) makes Siemens Energy a global market leader for renewable energies. An estimated one-sixth of the electricity generated worldwide is based on technologies from Siemens Energy. Siemens Energy employs more than 91,000 people worldwide in more than 90 countries and generated revenue of €28.5 billion in fiscal year 2021.