NTPC Ltd has signed an MoU with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Japan and its subsidiary Mitsubishi Power India Pvt Ltd to demonstrate the feasibility for hydrogen co-firing blended with natural gas in MHI 701D gas turbines installed at NTPC Auraiya Gas Power Plant in Uttar Pradesh.
The total installed capacity of the Auraiya Gas Power Plant is 663 MW with four gas turbines operating in combined cycle mode.
Under this MoU, both companies will collaborate to carry out the study and identify key actions for introducing hydrogen co-firing at NTPC Auraiya Gas-based combined cycle power plant. The study will identify key actions for co-firing for various percentages of hydrogen – 5, 15, 30, 50 and 100, and the hydrogen required for the project will be supplied by NTPC.
Decarbonization targets
Achieving decarbonizing targets requires a concerted and wide-ranging roadmap across all energy intensive sectors. As a part of this road map, hydrogen co-firing in gas turbines can play a key role in reducing CO2 emissions. NTPC Ltd., being the largest power generator in India, intends to play a major role in energy transition and achieving the COP26 commitments. As a part of this initiative, NTPC is exploring various new hydrogen generation technologies along with hydrogen usage so as to ensure future readiness, develop the required capabilities, and technical expertise, and align with the national decarbonizing and hydrogen mission targets, a release by NTPC said.
Third MoU
According to information available with T&D India, this is the third MoU that NTPC has signed in recent times with respect to hydrogen co-firing, after those signed with GE and Siemens.
Featured photograph shows NTPC’s Auriya gas power plant in Uttar Pradesh (Photo: Google Images)