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US utility trials 50-50 hydrogen/natural gas mix in CCGT
25/6/2025
News
Georgia Power and Mitsubishi Power have completed trials blending hydrogen and natural gas fuels at both partial and full load on a combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) at a power plant near Atlanta, Georgia. They say the demonstration project is the first to validate 50% hydrogen fuel blending on an advanced class gas turbine, and is the largest test of this kind in the world to date.
‘Hydrogen fuel in gas turbines is seen as a promising bridge to a low/zero carbon future power system,’ explains Mitsubishi Power. ‘Since it contains no carbon, hydrogen as a fuel source directly reduces the carbon emitted by a gas turbine. However, much of the experience regarding hydrogen blending on gas turbines has been on older engines with diffusion flame combustion systems and operation at lower pressures and temperatures.’
This latest hydrogen blending demonstration at Plant McDonough-Atkinson ‘serves as an example to other CCGT power plants on how to safely increase hydrogen fuel blending percentages without impacting system reliability, all while reducing emissions and improving the turbine’s efficiency,’ continues Mitsubishi Power.
The 50% by volume blend is reported to have reduced CO2 emissions by some 22% compared to using 100% natural gas. Several tests were conducted at multiple blend percentages ranging from 5% to 50%. Testing occurred across several weeks in May and June.
The tests were carried out on an M501GAC natural gas turbine at Georgia Power’s Plant McDonough-Atkinson facility in Smyrna, Georgia, US, with an approximate 1-on-1 output of 283 MW. It follows work last year to convert it from steam cooling to air cooling, which includes J series combustion technology with the capability to co-fire hydrogen. ‘The conversion allowed faster startup times, increased turn down capability and decreased maintenance expenses, while also supporting the ability for this successful landmark hydrogen blend testing,’ said Georgia Power and Mitsubishi Power.
The companies first ran a 20% by volume hydrogen blending test at the plant in 2022, which reduced carbon emission by 7% compared to natural gas.
The Plant McDonough-Atkinson facility is located less than 10 miles from downtown Atlanta. It was converted to natural gas in 2012 (when coal-fired units were retired) and expanded to 2.52GW capacity, to provide power for up to 1.7 million homes. It currently operates with six advanced, large-capacity M501G and M501GAC series gas turbines, as well as three steam turbines running in three blocks of 2-on-1 combined-cycle configuration and two gas/oil fuelled combustion turbines.
Natural gas currently provides 40% of utility Georgia Power’s annual energy generation (alongside coal, nuclear, solar and hydro). ‘Natural gas serves a critical role in our generation mix, providing flexibility, baseload power and quick response to customer demand, and will continue to be an important fuel as we plan to meet the energy needs of a growing Georgia through a diverse portfolio of generation resources,’ comments Rick Anderson, Senior Vice President and Senior Production Officer for Georgia Power. ‘Investments we’re making in our fleet and power grid today will benefit future generations.’
‘This is a significant milestone for both companies to help Georgia Power reduce carbon emissions across its generation fleet,’ adds Mark Bissonnette, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Power Generation at Mitsubishi Power Americas.
Georgia Power is currently developing three new Mitsubishi Power simple cycle combustion turbines capable of utilising hydrogen at Plant Yates in Coweta County. In addition, it has proposed upgrades to 10 natural gas turbines, both combined cycle and simple cycle, at Plant McIntosh. These enhancements are expected to add an additional 268 MW of capacity.
