Jupiter I – World’s first 30-MW pure hydrogen gas turbine goes live in China
Jupiter I, the world’s first 30 megawatt (30 MW) pure hydrogen gas turbine, is now fully operational in China.
The achievement is important as a carbon-free way to generate on-demand energy, saving over 200,000 tonnes of carbon emissions per year compared to thermal power generation units.
In our bid to move away from fossil fuels, we have focused our attention on renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar. Scalability challenges marked the early days of these technologies. However, in recent years, large-scale installations have ensured that these approaches can power the grid routinely.
Energy storage solutions such as high-density batteries have been crucial in ensuring this change. However, battery-based energy storage is expensive and therefore highly limited.
During times of low energy demand and excess generation, renewable energy power plants can be forced to shut down due to a lack of storage facilities. Projects like Jupiter-I are aimed at overcoming the challenge of using renewable energy
Storing excess energy in hydrogen
An innovative way of storing excess renewable energy generated during off-peak hours is to convert it into hydrogen. Instead of investing in massive battery packs, large-scale renewable energy plants integrate an electrolytic water hydrogen production system.
Instead of shutting off capacity during high production, the plant uses this to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The split gases can be recombined and react again, releasing energy that can be converted into electricity and supplied to the grid.
However, researchers found that converting hydrogen and oxygen back into water is a relatively slow process and cannot meet peak energy demands. For more controllable, instant power generation, the stored hydrogen can be combusted to drive a gas turbine.
How big is Jupiter I?
Built by MingYang Group, Jupiter I is a 30 MW gas turbine. While its capacity is substantial, it should be recognized for its ability to burn hydrogen directly.
Interesting Engineering reported last year that engineers at the MingYang group had to overcome multiple challenges through aerodynamic and thermal design innovations to demonstrate the technology’s feasibility.
At its peak, Jupiter I can burn 30,000 cubic meters of hydrogen in just one hour. When used in combined-cycle operation, it can generate 48,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity an hour, sufficient to meet the energy demand of 5,500 households.
More importantly, it will avoid emissions of over 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide that would be given out when using a thermal power plant of similar capacity. After a technology demonstration in December last year, Jupiter I has now been under stable operation in North China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region since Sunday, Chinese media reported.
The role of the turbine is not limited to converting green hydrogen into electricity but also to smooth fluctuations in renewable energy output and regulate the grid. One of the first projects in the hydrogen-based energy sector, this marks China’s ambitious plans to generate power without associated carbon emissions.
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Jupiter I – World’s first 30-MW pure hydrogen gas turbine goes live in China, source
