Euro Gas Report: Partners test hydrogen blend in compressor turbine

A mobile blending plant the size of a 40-foot ISO shipping container was brought to the compressor station for the tests.

GRTgaz Deutschland, Open Grid Europe (OGE) and Caterpillar subsidiary Solar Turbines announced that they had successfully tested a hydrogen blend on a turbine driving a natural gas compressor.

The tests were carried out at the MEGAL compressor station in Waidhaus, Germany, which is 51% owned by OGE and 49% by GRTgaz Deutschland. A low-emission Titan 130 SoLoNOx Solar gas turbine, a prime mover on the compressor, was tested using hydrogen blending rates of up to 25%.

A mobile blending plant the size of a 40-foot ISO shipping container was brought to the compressor station for the tests, with temporary hydrogen supply established. Using green hydrogen – which is produced using renewable energy – the gas turbine was extensively tested with various hydrogen blending rates under different loads. The partners measured the emissions and turbine performance, demonstrating the turbine’s ability to operate with the same available power while meeting required emission levels. The demonstration lasted for more than six weeks, and the turbine operated on a hydrogen blend for over 200 hours. The ability of the turbine to safely start on the hydrogen blend was also demonstrated, the companies said.

“The project shows the desire and ability to expand and realize the hydrogen economy,” stated a member of OGE’s board, Thomas Hüwener. “But to do this, we now need the right legal and regulatory framework to accelerate Germany’s hydrogen economy supported by a strong financing model.”