Press release
Constellation Sets Industry Record for Blending Hydrogen With Natural Gas to Further Reduce Emissions
Test confirms hydrogen’s potential to meet nation’s climate goals by reducing carbon emissions from existing natural gas-fired power plants
About this update from Constellation Energy Corporation
[{"type":"text","content":"\nTest confirms hydrogen’s potential to meet nation’s climate goals by reducing carbon emissions from existing natural gas-fired power plants\n\n\n BALTIMORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--\nConstellation, the nation’s largest producer of carbon-free energy, has set an industry record for blending high concentrations of hydrogen with natural gas, further proof that hydrogen can be an effective tool to lower greenhouse gas emissions.\n\n\nWorking with Siemens Energy and EPRI, the hydrogen blending test was conducted at Constellation’s Hillabee Generating Station, a 753-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas plant in central Alabama that began operating in 2010. The test showed that with only minor modifications, an existing natural gas plant of that age can safely operate on a blend of 38 percent hydrogen, nearly doubling the previous blending record for similar generators. The blending test occurred May 18 at Hillabee on a Siemens Energy SGT6-6000G gas turbine.\n\n\nThe Environmental Protection Agency recently released new guidelines aimed at reducing carbon emissions from the electric sector, citing hydrogen blending as a primary technology to help achieve the nation’s climate goals. The testing results at Hillabee demonstrate that hydrogen produced with clean energy can be an effective tool in meeting the agency’s goal.\n\n\n“This test proved what we’ve suspected for years -- that blending clean hydrogen with natural gas can safely reduce emissions without major modifications to an existing plant that’s well over a decade old,” said Joe Dominguez, president and CEO of Constellation. “As the EPA and numerous climate experts have acknowledged, the availability of affordable clean hydrogen at scale will be essential if we are going to prevent the ravaging effects of climate change.”\n\n\nA 38 percent blend rate would reduce Hillabee’s carbon emissions by approximately 270,000 metric tons annually, the equivalent of taking more than 60,000 passenger cars off the road, based on EPA data. Experts from Siemens Energy and EPRI collaborated with Constellation on the fuel blending tests.\n\n\nNitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions did not increase during this blending test, confirming there was no negative impact to local air quality.\n\n\n“Siemens Energy is committed to reducing emissions from electric generation as we grow and diversify our energy mix to mee...