Safety and Environmental Lessons from Hydrogen-Natural Gas Cofiring Demonstrations

To facilitate reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in the power industry, EPRI has participated in hydrogen-natural gas co-firing demonstrations involving several different power generation systems. Safety measures, environmental outcomes, and lessons learned from three of these demonstrations are presented here. Safety-relevant features of these demonstrations included appropriate stakeholder engagement, frequent and open communication, site/facility security, personnel training, and several other controls. Procedures were created by subject matter experts, with thorough planning and emergency response strategies. System modifications, equipment compatibility, and emissions monitoring protocols are described herein. These demonstrations reveal that hydrogen-natural gas cofiring is safe under the studied conditions. EPRI’s work in this area constitutes a significant step in the ongoing shift towards more sustainable power generation.