GE and Harbin Electric Corporation revealed that Chinese state-owned power utility Guangdong Energy Group Co. has ordered two GE 9HA.01 gas turbines for its Guangdong Huizhou combined cycle power plant in Guangdong province, in the Greater Bay Area.

Expected to burn up to 10 percent by volume of hydrogen blended with natural gas upon start of operation, the gas turbines will be the first to burn hydrogen blended with natural gas in mainland China. The project is expected to be operational in 2023 providing 1.34 GW of power to the Guangdong province, which is an agglomeration of cities, to strengthen international cooperation and promote lower-carbon, inclusive, coordinated and sustainable development. Harbin Electric Corporation will also provide steam for the industrial process of the chemical complex present in Huizhou.

China is committed to the coal-to-gas transition and implementing its policy to reduce coal’s share to under 58% of the energy mix. Hydrogen-blended natural gas-fired generators have the lowest CO₂ emissions of all fossil power generation fuels—a 10% hydrogen-blended natural gas-fired combined cycle plant has roughly 40% of the CO₂emissions of a similarly sized coal plant, and lower emissions levels for other pollutants such as mercury, NOx, SOx and particulate matter.

GE’s H-Class gas turbine portfolio currently has the capability to burn up to 50% by volume of hydrogen when blended with natural gas.  This capability is enabled by the DLN2.6e combustion system that is standard on current 9HA.01/9HA.02/7HA.03 gas turbines offerings. The technology in this combustion system was developed as part of the US Department of Energy’s High Hydrogen Turbine program, and enabled combustion of high hydrogen without diluent.  This technology has enabled the DLN 2.6e combustion system to operate on blends of natural gas and hydrogen, and GE has a technology roadmap to achieve 100% hydrogen in this platform.

The project marks the first localized 9HA.01 manufactured by General Harbin Electric Gas Turbine (Qinhuangdao) Co., Ltd. Joint Venture in mainland China. The Joint Venture was formed in 2019 between GE and Harbin Electric as a joint effort to focus on heavy duty gas turbine localization, aiming to deliver efficient and reliable support for China natural and hydrogen-blended gas power plants. In addition, Harbin Electric will provide steam turbine, generator and balance-of-plant equipment for the Guangdong Huizhou power plant.

“GE sees hydrogen-blended natural gas serving as a catalyst accelerating the world’s efforts towards decarbonizing the power generation sector,” said Ma Jun, Utility Sales General Manager of GE Gas Power China. “We are pleased that Guangdong Energy Group once again has selected our H-Class technology to deliver highly efficient power generation that will emit even less carbon when blended with hydrogen. The units will initially operate on a blend of up to 10% hydrogen by volume, with potential for an increase in future.”