POWER September 2023 - S22

EMPOWERING CLEAN ENERGY
HYDROGEN
Hydrogen Pilot Validates Fuel-Blending
Projects
T
he successful test of blending hydrogen
with natural gas at a power
plant in Michigan can be a model
for the power generation industry.
The use of hydrogen to fuel power
generation is on the rise, with several
manufacturers building turbines and
engines capable of burning hydrogen
to produce electricity. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's recent
move to adopt new standards on carbon
emissions is expected to advance hydrogen's
use in the power sector. Some
groups already are involved in hydrogen
research, including Wärtsilä. The technology
company, in collaboration with
WEC Energy Group, WEC subsidiary
utility Upper Michigan Energy Resources
Corp. (UMERC), the Electric Power
Research Institute (EPRI), and Burns &
McDonnell, carried out a hydrogen fuel
testing project at UMERC's A.J. Mihm
Power Plant in Pelkie, Michigan.
The testing at the Mihm facility,
completed in October 2023, was important
as a measure of how the use
of hydrogen could reduce the carbon
footprint of an existing natural gas-
fueled power plant. It is likely to be a
model for how utilities and power generators
pursue the use of hydrogen as
part of a decarbonization strategy. It
also is the recipient of POWER's 2023
Hydrogen Award.
" The most efficient way to develop
and validate new engine concepts is in
our engine test laboratories where we
have the freedom to really test the limits
of our engines. But to credibly prove
our products and solutions in actual
conditions, field tests together with
customers are essential, " said Jon Rodriguez,
Energy business director-Engine
Power Plants for Wärtsilä Energy.
" Especially for new sustainable fuels,
like hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol,
it's not only about demonstrating
the capabilities of the engines, but to
also provide first-hand experience and
knowledge to the customer for how the
setup works and how it will impact the
plant operation. "
Reducing Emissions
The Mihm project aligned with WEC's
goal to reduce CO2
The hydrogen fuel tests conducted
emissions from
its electric power generation fleet by
60% by the end of 2025. The utility also
wants to reduce carbon emissions by
80% by the end of 2030, compared to
2005 levels. WEC officials have said
they want their operations to be net
carbon-neutral by 2050.
" WEC Energy Group and UMERC deserve
recognition for their initiative to
take real action and establish proof for
how balancer power plants can play a
key role in the future decarbonized U.S.
energy industry, " said Fredrik Ostman,
product manager, Fuel Conversions
and Decarbonization, at Wärtsilä Energy.
" EPRI's role in this project was to
increase the value of the testing effort
by warranting the integrity of the actual
tests and to ensure unbiased reporting
of the test results. "
" EPRI is accelerating deployment of
a full portfolio of clean energy technologies
to support a net-zero future, "
said Neva Espinoza, EPRI vice president
of Energy Supply and Low-Carbon
Resources. " This demonstration
project with Wärtsilä and WEC Energy
Group is significant in showing the potential
of hydrogen blending in natural
gas-fired engines. The learnings from
this project will be shared with the energy
industry to further progress toward
deep decarbonization targets. "
The 55-MW Mihm plant, operated by
UMERC, entered commercial operation
in late March 2019. It is one of two natural
gas-fired facilities UMERC opened
at that time in Michigan's Upper Peninsula
as part of the utility's move away
from coal-fired power generation.
Burns & McDonnell served as the engineering,
procurement, and construction
contractor for both the Mihm
facility and the F.D. Kuester Generating
Station, located near Marquette.
22 Supplement to POWER & RE+ 2023
at A.J. Mihm utilized an unmodified
18-MW Wärtsilä 50SG gas-fired reciprocating
engine. Fuel blends of up to
25% hydrogen by volume were mixed
with natural gas. The Wärtsilä 50SG
engine continued to supply power to
the grid during testing, and Wärtsilä
said the 50SG served as the largest
internal combustion engine ever to
operate continuously on a hydrogen
fuel blend-what the company called " a
world-first achievement. "
Rodriguez told POWER, " This project
is proof positive for Wärtsilä customers
that our unmodified engines can
perform as specified under real-world
field conditions on hydrogen fuels.
Adapting seamlessly to a new fuel that
is as volatile as hydrogen is a testament
to our engineering team's design
forethought, equipment robustness,
construction quality, and controls versatility.
These unique attributes assure
customers know that they are continuing
to make the best, most pragmatic
purchase decisions in an ever-evolving
energy world. "
Collaboration,
Communication Keys to
Success
Ostman told POWER that communication
among the groups involved in the
Mihm project was key to a successful
outcome. " I came personally to very
much appreciate the open and very
honest conversations during the development
of the project with WEC Energy
Group and EPRI as well as the other
key partners in the project, Burns &
McDonnell Engineering and Certarus, "
said Ostman.
Burns & McDonnell has participated
in several utility-scale projects utilizing
reciprocating engines, experience
that helped during construction of the
Mihm and Kuester plants in Michigan a
few years ago. " The three-engine A.J.
Mihm Generating Station was built in
parallel with the seven-engine F.D.
POWER September 2023

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