SSE and Siemens Energy have unveiled a major partnership, “Mission H2 Power,” aimed at developing gas turbines capable of running entirely on hydrogen.
The move is set to play a key role in decarbonising the UK’s power sector, with a particular focus on SSE’s Keadby 2 Power Station in North Lincolnshire.
The multi-million-pound collaboration will see Siemens Energy engineer a new combustion system for its SGT5-9000HL gas turbine, enabling it to operate on 100% hydrogen while retaining the flexibility to use natural gas or a blend of both.
As part of the project, Siemens Energy plans to expand its Clean Energy Centre in Berlin, where testing for large-scale hydrogen turbine technology will take place.
“This partnership represents a crucial step forward in making hydrogen a viable fuel for large gas turbines,” said Darren Davidson, Vice-President of Siemens Energy UK & Ireland. “Our HL-class gas turbine has already set benchmarks in efficiency, and now we’re working to unlock its potential for a zero-carbon future.”
The initiative aligns with the UK’s National Energy System Operator forecast, which projects the need for 7GW of low-carbon, flexible power capacity by 2035.
Hydrogen-fired power stations are expected to supply approximately half of that demand, highlighting the importance of advancing hydrogen technologies.
“Hydrogen-fired power stations will be indispensable in providing flexible backup to renewable energy sources,” said SSE Thermal’s Managing Director, Finlay McCutcheon. “Mission H2 Power accelerates this transition, bringing us closer to a decarbonized energy mix. The question is no longer if this technology will be implemented, but when.”
Keadby 2, one of Europe’s most efficient gas-fired power plants, will serve as a focal point for the partnership, demonstrating how hydrogen-powered turbines can be seamlessly integrated into existing infrastructure.
