SSE and Siemens Energy have launched ‘Mission H2 Power’ – a collaboration which aims to deliver gas turbine technology capable of running on 100% hydrogen, fuelling the transition to net zero and potentially boosting the UK’s energy security.

The project will build on the existing partnership between SSE and Siemens Energy. It will support the decarbonisation of SSE’s Keadby 2 Power Station in North Lincolnshire, which is powered by Siemens Energy’s SGT5-9000HL gas turbine. As Europe’s most efficient combined cycle power plant, blending hydrogen into operations will ensure the class-leading technology is fit for a net zero future.

The multi-million-pound co-investment will see Siemens Energy develop a combustion system for its SGT5-9000HL gas turbine capable of operating on 100% hydrogen, while maintaining the flexibility to operate with natural gas and any blend of the two. This will see additional facilities constructed at Siemens Energy’s Clean Energy Centre in Berlin to allow testing of the technology for large gas turbines to take place.

Delivering low-carbon power stations will be essential to providing a clean power system in the UK, with the plants fulfilling a vital role as flexible back-up in a renewables-led system. Analysis from National Energy System Operator shows that around 7 GW of low-carbon flexible power will likely be needed on the system by 2035, with around half of that capacity provided by hydrogen-fired power stations.

Finlay McCutcheon, Managing Director of SSE Thermal, said: “It isn’t enough for developers to simply talk about an ambition to transition from gas to hydrogen – delivering a clean power system requires bold action which is why we’re entering into this collaboration with Siemens Energy, a long-standing partner of SSE. We know hydrogen-fired power stations will be an essential element of the energy mix in a net zero world and Mission H2 Power will help us accelerate their deployment through engineering excellence.

“As the UK’s clean energy champion, SSE is uniquely positioned to take a leading role on the deployment of low-carbon flexible power stations. Our projects will be pivotal in providing flexible backup to renewables and while we still need to see a rapid acceleration in policy and deployment, the need for this technology is beyond question – it is a matter of when not if and this partnership can help us reach that destination as soon as possible.”

Darren Davidson, Vice President of Siemens Energy UK&I, said: “We’re delighted to be building on our existing partnership with SSE and developing plans to help kickstart the zero-carbon hydrogen economy. The UK Government wants to deliver clean power by 2030, and hydrogen can be an important part of that energy mix. We recently welcomed UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to our Siemens Energy site in Berlin. This partnership is a great example of how we can share knowledge and work together to deliver on energy security.

“We are living in a transformative time for the energy sector. Our HL-class gas turbine has set records for efficiency and power performance. This new collaboration is a significant step in reaching the point where large gas turbines can run on 100% hydrogen.”

Minister for Industry, Sarah Jones said: “We want the UK to be a global leader on hydrogen. This partnership by SSE and Siemens Energy takes us another step towards that ambition. It’s projects like this one that will help deliver our Clean Power Mission, shielding us from the rollercoaster of unstable fossil fuel prices and bolstering our energy security.”

Clare Jackson, Chief Executive of Hydrogen UK, said: “We’re thrilled to see Hydrogen UK members working together to place hydrogen at the forefront of the UK’s industry emissions reduction efforts.?This partnership demonstrates the pioneering work British industry is doing to incorporate hydrogen into our energy mix and provide low-carbon power to the grid sooner rather than later.”

Investment in Mission H2 Power underlines SSE’s commitment to transition away from the use of unabated fossil fuels in electricity generation and accelerate hydrogen projects which can support the delivery of a clean power system by 2030 alongside the wider decarbonisation of industry.

One such project is Keadby Next Generation Power Station, which could become one of the world’s first major at scale 100% hydrogen-fired power stations. Keadby Next Generation, which is being developed in partnership with Equinor, would be capable of running on either hydrogen or natural gas, or a blend of the two. This allows for flexibility in the event of delays to the hydrogen infrastructure.

SSE’s Keadby site already plays a strategically important role in the energy system and has the potential to become a low-carbon generation hub with a decarbonising Keadby 2 sitting alongside new power stations using hydrogen or carbon capture technology.

Through its Hydrogen Centre for Excellence and engineering team in Leeds, SSE is driving forward projects across the value chain, including both blue and green hydrogen production and large-scale hydrogen storage which will all be needed to support a clean power system. Mission H2 Power will help to ensure that SSE’s hydrogen power projects are well positioned to deliver much-needed security of supply to the system while supporting long-term decarbonisation efforts.