Siemens Energy, Duke Energy, Clemson University to study hydrogen use

The U.S. Department of Energy awarded Siemens Energy a $200,000 grant to help fund a pilot research project with Duke Energy and Clemson University to study the use of hydrogen production, energy storage and co-firing with natural gas at Duke Energy's combined heat and power plant located at Clemson University in South Carolina.

The pilot project, called H2-Orange, a nod to hydrogen gas and the collaboration with Clemson University, will ramp up in March 2021.  The studies will evaluate multiple forms of hydrogen production, including green hydrogen, which is created from water and has no byproducts. Hydrogen also has the potential to store larger quantities of energy more efficiently and for longer durations than current lithium-ion battery technology.

Siemens Energy will study the use of its Silyzer electrolyzer to produce hydrogen fuel to help power the existing SGT-400 natural gas turbine at the Clemson plant. The Silyzer can use renewables and clean energy sources to create hydrogen without producing emissions.

Clemson University will lead the integration of hydrogen into the campus grid and ensure energy needs are met.

Duke Energy will provide operational, engineering and grid modeling expertise. Duke Energy also expects the results of the study to be applicable to its larger combustion turbine fleet.

For years, Duke Energy has actively evaluated hydrogen as a low- or no-carbon fuel source to help the company meet its net-zero carbon goal by 2050. Siemens Energy and Clemson University also have net-zero carbon goals to reach by 2030.