Global First 30MW-Class Pure Hydrogen Gas Turbine Demonstration Project Start Construction: Breakthrough in Hydrogen Energy Storage
Source： fuelcellchina
August 8 Inner Mongolia, China-The world's first 30 MW-class pure hydrogen gas turbine hydrogen energy storage demonstration project officially broke ground in the Etuoke High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Ordos City, Inner Mongolia. This milestone marks a critical breakthrough in hydrogen power generation and long-duration energy storage in China.
30MW-Class Pure Hydrogen Gas Turbine Project
The project is jointly developed by Mingyang Hydrogen Combustion (a subsidiary of Mingyang Smart Energy Group Limited) and Shenzhen Energy Group Co., Ltd. Relying on the Shenzhen Energy Etuoke Wind-Solar-Hydrogen Integration Green Ammonia Project, it features:
- Hydrogen production: 48,000 Nm³/h capacity via water electrolysis.
- Hydrogen storage: 12 spherical tanks of 1,875 m³ each.
- Power supply: A 500MW wind farm and a 5MW off-grid photovoltaic hydrogen production project.
- Downstream applications: A 150,000-ton/year green ammonia plant and a 30MW-class pure hydrogen gas turbine for energy storage
In December 2023, Mingyang Hydrogen Combustion launched its Jupiter-1 pure hydrogen combustion chamber-equipped 30 MW gas turbine, achieving 100% hydrogen combustion and true "zero-carbon emissions." In May 2024, the Jupiter-1 successfully completed a 10-hour continuous hydrogen combustion test—the longest and largest-scale in China at the time. In December 2024, the full-system trial operation validated the turbine’s reliability and safety, marking a new era for long-duration energy storage technologies.
Key innovations include:
Micro-premixed low-emission combustion technology: Overcoming challenges of flashback, oscillation, and high NOx emissions through 3D-printed nozzle design and multi-stage aerodynamic optimization.
Power-to-hydrogen-to-power (P2H2P) model: Integrating renewable energy (wind/solar) with hydrogen storage to stabilize power supply and mitigate grid volatility.
The Etuoke Wind-Solar-Hydrogen Integration Project, with a total investment of ¥3.9 billion, aims to produce 20,000 tons of green hydrogen annually, supporting a 500MW wind farm and a 5MW photovoltaic project. It is expected to generate 1.53 billion kWh of renewable energy annually, saving 459,759 tons of standard coal.
Hydrogen Long-Duration Energy Storage
China’s hydrogen energy storage development has evolved from R&D to industrialization under national strategies like the "Dual Carbon" goals. Key milestones include:
Policy framework: The 14th Five-Year Plan for New Energy Storage Development (2022) and Medium and Long-Term Hydrogen Energy Development Plan (2021–2035) emphasize hydrogen storage for grid stabilization and renewable energy integration国家发展和改革委员会网站.
Technological progress: While hydrogen gas turbines remain in demonstration phases (kW-MW scale), projects like the Xinjiang Kuqa Green Hydrogen Demonstration Project (Sinopec) and Henan Yexian Salt Cavern Storage Project highlight advancements in hydrogen production, storage, and application.
However, challenges persist:
System adaptability: Wide power fluctuations in wind/solar farms strain electrolyzers and turbines.
Technical bottlenecks: High combustion temperatures, flashback risks, and NOx control in gas turbines.
Cost competitiveness: Current green hydrogen costs are 2–3 times higher than gray hydrogen.
To address these, China is accelerating R&D, fostering policy incentives, and promoting international collaboration. The Etuoke project, as a global benchmark, will provide critical data for scaling hydrogen energy storage in extreme environments like plateaus and cold regions.
The journey toward large-scale hydrogen energy storage remains challenging but promising, with innovation and policy support paving the way for a sustainable energy future.