“Hydrogen is an important building-block for decarbonising residual load, complementing renewable energy at times when there is not enough wind and solar power available. Designing gas-fired power plants for future hydrogen operation moves the world closer to a CO2-free future. TÜV SÜD’s independent certificate creates certainty for investors.”
Mr. Erik Zindel
Vice President Generation Sales - Hydrogen at Siemens Energy
Hydrogen is expected to play a central role in the decarbonisation of energy systems, especially for providing carbon-free power at times when there is not enough renewable wind and solar power in the system. For example, it is likely that hydrogen will be used in the future in natural gas-fired combined cycle power plants (CCPP), which are currently being planned or built. Indeed, some new combined or simple cycle gas-fired power plants are already being advertised as “H2-ready”.
Original equipment manufacturers (OEM), as well as engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies must therefore be prepared to provide a statement, related to the plant's ability to be retrofitted later to use hydrogen as a fuel, to their customers as utilities before they will be willing to purchase from this type of power plant. However, until now there hasn’t been a clear definition of what the term “H2-ready” means.
To increase investment security for utilities, TÜV SÜD has therefore collaborated with Siemens Energy to develop a guideline that clearly defines the “H2-readiness” of power plants. The guideline enables OEMs, plant operators and insurers to use a standardised and transparent framework.
The guideline is supported by independent third-party certification for original equipment manufacturers (OEM), engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies as well as plant operators. The “H2-ready” certification covers a complete power plant with the relevant subsystems, including a roadmap that describes how plants can be converted over time to co-fire hydrogen or even burn pure hydrogen.
The certification of a CCPP includes three stages and three corresponding certificates. The first is a certificate focused on the conceptual design used in the bidding phase, which confirms that the H2-Readiness concept of the OEM/EPC covers all necessary topics and is realizable within the selected framework. The second is a project certificate which covers the implementation phase, including the detailed plant design and its specifications, and confirms that a given plant is being built according to the H2-Readiness concept of the bidding phase. The third is a transition certificate focused on the actual conversion of an existing CCPP to burn hydrogen, which confirms the implementation of the retrofit measures and their impact on safety and performance.
Siemens Energy was the first company in the world to receive TÜV SÜD’s independent certification for a “H2-ready” power plant concept, indicating that it is hydrogen ready.
Erik Zindel, Vice President Generation Sales – Hydrogen at Siemens Energy said, “Hydrogen is an important building-block for decarbonising residual load, complementing renewable energy at times when there is not enough wind and solar power available. Designing gas-fired power plants for future hydrogen operation moves the world closer to a CO2-free future. TÜV SÜD’s independent certificate creates certainty for investors. We are proud to be the first manufacturer to receive this important certification.”
TÜV SÜD has decades of experience with hydrogen technology, applications, and equipment. As over 500 experts are experienced in the hydrogen sector, TÜV SÜD can ensure high availability and world-leading know-how to satisfy almost any customer request.
However, to meet ambitious global climate goals, it will require more than CCPPs to be converted to hydrogen power plants. Fortunately, the certification solutions offered by TÜV SÜD cover a wide range of solutions, as it has extensive expertise in the field of hydrogen technologies that support the entire H2 value chain, from production, storage and distribution to multiple end applications such as industrial production, transport or power generation.
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