E.ON and MM Neuss have commissioned a hydrogen-ready combined heat and power [CHP] plant at Neuss in western Germany – billed as Europe’s first fully automated, large scale facility of its kind.
The combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) operated in CHP achieves an electrical output of 22 megawatts (MW) and a thermal output of 59 MW.
This saves up to 22,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually compared with conventional generation. The fully digitised controls allow for unattended operation for up to three days.
Manfred Wirsing, member of the management board of E.ON Energy Projects, said it was creating a “future proof infrastructure” by combining latest technology, digitised features and hydrogen readiness.
The power plant was designed for hydrogen compatibility from the outset.
Currently a hydrogen content of 10% can be used in the fuel mixture but in future, the plant can be converted to up to 100% hydrogen operation – a crucial step towards climate-neutral energy supply. E.ON will operate the plant until at least 2045.