JERA Americas unveiled plans to blend hydrogen at two plants, where it has ownership interests, in support of reducing CO₂ emissions.

“Our parent company, JERA, has set an ambitious goal to be net zero CO₂ by 2050, with an interim goal of 20% reduction in CO₂ emission intensity for its business in Japan by 2030,” said Steven C Winn, CEO of JERA Americas. “They set the vision to be a global leader in LNG and renewables, sparking the transition to a clean energy economy. We support that goal and will also be working toward the same net-zero CO₂ emission goals here in North America.”

The company has made initial progress toward that goal with plans to employ hydrogen fuel blending in its US power generation portfolio.

• Linden Cogeneration – Linden Cogeneration (Linden Cogen) signed an agreement with Phillips 66 for Linden Cogen to take Bayway Refinery produced hydrogen-containing fuel gas and blend it with natural gas used to fuel the 172MW Linden Cogen unit 6 gas turbine. The modification will enable using a fuel gas blend containing up to 40% hydrogen. The work, expected to be completed in 2022, will improve overall refinery and Linden Cogen operational efficiency, and will reduce air emissions primarily through improved furnace and flare efficiencies. While actual reductions will be based on how much hydrogen is used at any given time of plant operation, the Company anticipates a reduction in CO₂ emissions up to approximately 10% of annual CO₂ emissions from unit 6.

“The work we are doing here in Linden has the potential for dramatic emission reductions not just in North America but also globally,” said Winn. “This is the first step in what could ultimately be the modification of one of the largest gas turbine fleets in the world.”

JERA Americas acquired a 50% interest in Linden Cogen in 2017 and serves as the asset manager for the facility. Power and steam produced from the 972 MW natural gas-fueled thermal cogeneration plant is supplied for industrial use under long-term contracts and electricity is also sold into the NY-ISO and PJM wholesale markets. The facility, which began operating in 1992, has six gas turbine units and three steam turbines and is jointly owned by JERA Americas, EGCO, DBJ and GS-Platform Partners. Phillips 66’s Bayway Refinery, located on New York Harbor in Linden, processes mainly light, low-sulfur crude oil.

• Cricket Valley Energy Center (CVEC) – JERA Americas is also involved in a second project to employ hydrogen technology to reduce carbon emissions. The company is part owner of CVEC which signed an MOU with GE to develop a green hydrogen demonstration project in New York state. The agreement calls for using hydrogen for 5% of the fuel in one of the three units at the power station. This initiates the first step toward converting to a 100% hydrogen fuel capable plant.

“We intend to move forward on many fronts to achieve meaningful CO₂ reductions,” said Winn. “These two agreements at Linden Cogen and Cricket Valley Energy Center are a starting point on our journey to a clean energy future.”