GE and Cricket Valley Energy Center (CVEC) has announced that the companies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop a green hydrogen technology roadmap (H2 Roadmap) and advance a demonstration project to reduce carbon emissions at CVEC’s combined cycle power plant located in Dover Plains, New York—initiating the first step toward the conversion to a 100 percent hydrogen fuel capable plant. The project is planned to begin in late 2022.
The initial step of the project will demonstrate the feasibility of converting the natural gas-fueled facility to utilize hydrogen, in support of New York State’s nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which mandates 100 percent zero-carbon emissions in the electricity sector by 2040. The project will be conducted on one of three GE 7F.05 gas turbines currently operating at CVEC by introducing 5% hydrogen blended with natural gas for several weeks, leveraging GE’s expertise with combustion technology using hydrogen and low-BTU fuels.
An outgrowth of an industry forum sponsored by CVEC earlier this year, the agreement plans to expand to include leading hydrogen providers, along with consultation from New York State and federal agencies to develop policy guidance related to the production, transport, delivery, and storage of hydrogen. The H2 Roadmap will serve as a research and development plan for technical changes necessary to increase the percentages of hydrogen utilization at the plant as it becomes more readily available while adhering to applicable operational guidelines.