TÜV SÜD has developed a guideline for defining the "H2 readiness" of power plants and offers independent certification for original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and plant constructors (EPC). The certification increases investment security for energy suppliers. Siemens Energy is the first company worldwide to receive certification for its "H2-Ready" power plant concept. The new TÜV SÜD guide was developed in cooperation with Siemens Energy.
Hydrogen can play a central role in the decarbonisation of energy systems. In particular, natural gas-fired combined cycle power plants (CCGT) currently being built or projected are expected to run partly or entirely on hydrogen in the future. For this reason, when purchasing a new power plant, energy suppliers also expect a commitment to the possibility of using hydrogen as a fuel. While some new CCGT power plants are already being advertised as 'H2-ready', there has been no clear definition of this term until now.
"With our 'H2-Readiness' guide, we have created a standardised and transparent framework for OEMs, plant operators and insurers to follow," says Reiner Block, CEO of TÜV SÜD's Industry Service Division. "The certification covers a complete power plant with its relevant subsystems." However, he adds, this does not involve certifying an existing power plant as "H2-Ready", but rather describing a roadmap for how it can be converted to the addition of hydrogen or the combustion of pure hydrogen over time.
"For this reason, the 'H2-Ready' certification of a CCGT power plant involves three stages and three certificates," explains Dr Thomas Gallinger, Head of Hydrogen Projects at TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH. Firstly, a Concept Certificate for the conceptual design, including the boundary conditions during the tender phase; secondly, a Project Certificate for the implementation phase, i.e. the final plant design and its specifications; and thirdly, a Transition Certificate for the conversion of a built CCGT power plant to hydrogen combustion - including a review of the retrofit measures and their impact on safety and performance. Siemens Energy is now the first manufacturer worldwide to receive the Concept Certificate from TÜV SÜD.
"Hydrogen is an important building block for the decarbonisation of the energy supply. An independent certificate creates security for investments. We are proud to be the first manufacturer to receive this important certification," says Karim Amin, Executive Vice President Generation at Siemens Energy. "If we design CCGT plants today for later operation with hydrogen, they can not only serve as a bridging technology to a CO2-free future, but also make an important contribution to a reliable and affordable power supply in the long term."
To achieve the ambitious climate targets, hydrogen power plants are not only conceivable in the form of combined cycle power plants. The "H2-Ready" certification offered by TÜV SÜD can be applied to a wide range of solutions. The international testing and certification service provider already has extensive expertise and experience with hydrogen technologies along the entire H2 value chain - from generation, storage and distribution to application in a wide variety of areas, for example in industrial production, the transport sector or power generation.
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