Main impacts

CO2 free, low NOx gas turbine

HyPowerGT will offer an innovative solution for the energy transition: a CO2 free gas turbine with low NOx emissions that represents the cleanest possible gas turbine configuration on the market.

Gas turbines running on hydrogen offer a significant reduction of atmospheric pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions by replacing fossil fuels, which will have a considerable impact on industry in need of combined heat and power as well as on emerging industries in need of large mechanical drives. The DLE H2 technology combines low NOx emissions, high efficiency, and the operational flexibility typical of modern gas turbines operating on natural gas.

Engines equipped or retrofitted with the DLE H2 technology will be able to work adequately with up to 100% H2, and thus pave the way for CO2 free gas turbines.

Green tech without compromise

The low NOX target will be obtained working on the DLE combustion technology, neither using diluents, nor catalysts in the gas turbine exhaust or reducing the gas turbine’s thermodynamic efficiency by lowering the combustor exit temperature.

The DLE H2 technology combines compliance with NOx regulations, high efficiency, and the operational flexibility typical of modern gas turbines operating on natural gas, leaving practically no CO2. To reduce the thermal driven NOx, the reaction temperature of flame is lowered by means of an enhanced premixing of fuel and air, still maintaining the flashback margin required to operate with fuel composition up to 100% H2. The development strategy is supported by an incremental verification approach, lowering through experimental testing the development risks, time, and costs.

This technology will also provide response capability on a par with modern gas-turbine engines fired with natural gas.

Gas turbine fuel flexibility

The project will demonstrate, by means of engine test campaigns, the ability to burn any blend of natural gas and hydrogen up to pure H2, from start-up and with a switching ability at any load.

Verification of the TRL6 achievement will be demonstrated by means of a full annular rig test campaign of the NovaLT16 combustion system burning natural gas and hydrogen fuel blends up to 100% H2. Special instrumentation will be devoted to capturing high pressure physical measurements as well as optimizing engine operational sequencies and for troubleshooting.

The combustion system will handle natural gas blended with hydrogen in any concentration up to 100% H2 with sufficient handling capability, without diluents, and without derating power by more than two percent.

Supporting EU climate neutral targets

HyPowerGT will contribute significantly to the Green Deal, proposing through a technology development up to TRL 7 a concrete market solution, which will foster energy transition through its retrofittability on existing natural gas and CHP applications.

Gas turbines are considered to have a decisive impact when the European fossil power fleet retires in the period from 2030 to 2050. In this sense, HyPowerGT will contribute to the safe and reliable decarbonisation of the electric power sector, independent of weather or seasonal conditions.

HyPowerGT will also provide opportunities to re-utilise existing infrastructure, reducing investment costs (which is the major driver of cost of energy generation by GT power plants) and ensuring a cost-efficient transition to renewable gases and zero-carbon power generation.

The proposed solution of HyPowerGT – DLE H2 technology – adheres to the strictest specifications for fuel flexibility, NOx regulations, ramp-up rate, and safety. Engines equipped or retrofitted with the DLE H2 technology will hence be able to work adequately with up to 100% H2, and thus without CO2 emissions.