As such, within the power-plant segment, the company’s MAN 35/44G TS, 51/60G and 51/60G TS gas engines are now designated as H2-ready and capable of exploiting hydrogen to further reduce CO2 emissions.
This hydrogen-combusting capability enables MAN gas engines to meet Level B requirements of the European Engine Power Plants Association’s (EUGINE) H2-readiness standard.
With Power-to-X fuels such as synthetic natural gas (SNG), MAN engines can already be operated in a completely climate-neutral way.
Dr Gunnar Stiesch, Head of Engineering Engines at MAN Energy Solutions, said:
- Flexible and decentralised, gas-fired power plants will play a decisive role for a secure power-supply on the pathway towards 100% renewable energy
- The CO2 emissions of these power plants can be further reduced by mixing the fuel gas with hydrogen
- Green hydrogen is still a scarce commodity and therefore our engines offer operators full flexibility within the scope of the admixture possible in the existing gas network
- At the same time, we are working on future concepts that will enable hydrogen fuelling of up to 100% as soon as it becomes available in large quantities
Gas engines already in operation can be retrofitted for hydrogen blend-in by upgrading the automation and adding additional ACC sensors.
Stiesch noted:- We are focusing our R&D efforts on offering our customers maximum operational flexibility and future-proofness
- The development of a hydrogen economy will take several years, during which time the infrastructure will be upgraded and the production of green hydrogen ramped up
- In the German natural-gas grid, for example, a maximum admixture of up to 10% is currently possible; in the future, 20% will be feasible
- With our engines, power-plant operators are optimally positioned for this situation
