The resilient energy systems of tomorrow demand changes to gas infrastructure today

Between now and 2050, the need for electricity worldwide is expected to increase significantly, reaching double the current levels. However, in order to move towards achieving net zero emissions, it is crucial to reduce carbon emissions. The most practical approach to address this challenge is to meet the rising demand for power by constructing new facilities, while also working to decrease the carbon footprint of our current energy infrastructure.

In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% before 2040, it is necessary to transition to more renewable energy sources and improve current gas turbines to use a mix of hydrogen and gas. Although it may seem straightforward, hydrogen can play a crucial role in achieving decarbonization goals and helping the EU reach its emission reduction targets.

In Europe and other parts of the world, natural gas is still commonly used for generating power because it is very effective. But now, there is a new technology that allows hydrogen to be mixed with gas in gas turbines for even more efficient power generation.

This offers a reliable way for energy providers to transition to cleaner sources of energy, addressing the challenges of sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and energy stability. This benefits not only the power industry but also helps reduce pollution in industries like steel, cement, and aluminum manufacturing.

The market in Germany is moving forward with the Power Station Strategy. The goal is for Germany to become a climate-neutral industrial country by 2045. This strategy focuses on building gas-fired power stations that will run on hydrogen. This will allow German industries to produce steel, cement, and other energy-intensive products without emitting any carbon by 2045.

The upcoming gas-powered plants will use natural gas temporarily and are projected to transition to environmentally-friendly green hydrogen by 2035 to 2040.

Power Sector Emissions Reduction

It is very important to pay attention to the energy industry if we want to make a difference. This industry alone is responsible for 60% of worldwide carbon emissions, so it is essential to encourage power companies to switch to cleaner energy sources. In Europe, power plants that run on gas are still a major source of energy. In fact, S&P reports that there was a small increase in the development of gas-powered plants in Europe in 2023, as a response to high energy prices caused by Russia cutting off gas supplies to the region.

In order to ensure our energy supply remains stable, we must make use of existing power plants at the moment. Although gas turbines were originally designed to run on natural gas from fossil fuels, they are now essential in shifting power grids towards cleaner energy sources like hydrogen for sustainable electricity production in the future.

We should concentrate on what we can accomplish immediately. Today's gas turbines offer the advantage of burning fuel efficiently and emitting low levels of pollutants, while also being able to easily switch to using alternative fuels like hydrogen. Even by adding small amounts of hydrogen, we can make a significant impact on reducing emissions.

In a big power plant, like a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) with 700MW, using hydrogen at 30% can reduce emissions as much as if 40,000 diesel cars were taken off the roads. If one of these CCGTs uses 100% hydrogen, it's like removing 500,000 diesel cars from the roads.

In numerous European nations and the United Kingdom, there is no need to update the national electricity system in order to incorporate a 30% mixture of hydrogen, which will help speed up the process of reducing carbon emissions.

Connecting Past & Future Energy Through Gas Turbines

The procedure to modify the combustor of current gas turbine systems to work with hydrogen is straightforward. Mitsubishi Power has created a hydrogen gas turbine combustor that can handle a combination of LNG and 30% hydrogen, which is the fuel commonly used in gas-fired power plants.

The technology burns hydrogen and helps reduce Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions to the same level as gas-fired thermal power. It can produce up to 700MW of power and can reduce CO2 emissions by around 10% compared to gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) systems.

Empowering A Clean Energy Future

One more crucial factor in favor of incorporating gas turbines is that it aids in maintaining the stability of our power grids amidst the unpredictable nature of renewable energy sources.

Europe and the UK are shifting towards a system that relies entirely on renewable energy. Emissions-free sources generated 74% of EU electricity from January to June 2024, with 50% coming from renewable sources like wind and solar, as reported by the industry association Eurelectric.

The primary force behind the shifting energy sources in Europe is the quick growth of renewable energy installations. In 2023, the EU added 56 gigawatts of new solar power capacity, the most in any year so far, as well as 16 gigawatts of new wind capacity.

However, the amount of power generated by renewable sources is not enough to keep our grid systems stable. The grids were designed to handle consistently reliable power from sources like coal and gas, not the unpredictable energy from wind and solar.

Because of this, the organizations in charge of regulating the energy grid rely on the effectiveness and consistency of gas turbine power stations to manage the balance between the amount of electricity being produced and the amount being used. These power plants are essential and must continue to be utilized, although changes will need to be made to make them compatible with a world that is moving towards being free of carbon emissions.

In order to help fight climate change, it is important for stabilisation services to be carbon neutral or even carbon negative. These services should mimic thermal baseload power by being controllable, reliable, and able to respond quickly to the needs of the electricity system.

"Gas & Hydrogen: Resilient Energy Systems"

Hydrogen is a great energy source that can be used without creating carbon emissions. It can help provide grid services like managing voltage and frequency in a clean way.

The possible uses of hydrogen in the energy industry are huge. By making use of the current gas infrastructure, we can greatly increase the use of hydrogen on a large scale to help decrease emissions in a cost-effective, convenient, and secure manner. The technologies needed to support this transition to cleaner energy systems are already in place and functioning.

Hydrogen serves as a strong model for a durable energy system. According to the United Nations, these systems greatly benefit a nation's society, economy, and environment, while also being able to easily bounce back from unexpected disturbances and adjust to the effects of climate change.