A China-based firm has successfully ignited the world’s first 30MW-class pure hydrogen gas turbine, called Jupiter I. Developed by Mingyang Group and several research teams, the turbine offers a significant solution for renewable energy storage by converting hydrogen back into electricity during peak hours.
The turbine addresses the challenge of renewable energy waste during off-peak hours, converting excess electricity into hydrogen for storage. This “power-to-hydrogen-back-to-power” method results in carbon-free power generation.
The team overcame major challenges in hydrogen combustion, including backfire, strong oscillation, and high emissions. Through innovative design and advanced control technology, they developed a hydrogen combustion chamber with independent intellectual property rights.
Jupiter I can store up to 500 million kWh of electricity annually and resolve electricity wastage in large-scale wind and solar projects. It also addresses the issue of hydrogen storage and transportation, critical for clean energy projects in China’s western deserts and wastelands.
The project is seen as a key step in China’s energy transformation, with global market potential in regions rich in clean energy resources. The scale of Jupiter I is remarkable, consuming 443.45 tons of hydrogen per hour across ten firing chambers, equivalent to filling the Hindenburg 25 times every hour, as reported by New Atlas.