Caterpillar shares H2-fueled CHP project results

Caterpillar Inc. announced the results of a fuel flexibility project with District Energy St. Paul that it said successfully demonstrated a 2.0-MW combined heat and power (CHP) system with a Cat G3516 gas generator set using 100% hydrogen fuel. The CHP system demonstrated maximum efficiency consistent with high-performance generator sets operating entirely on natural gas.

The fuel flexibility project at District Energy St. Paul featured a Cat G3516 generator set packaged in a standardized, factory-assembled solution to minimize complexity and infrastructure requirements. (Photo: Caterpillar)

Supported and partially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO), the project was led by Caterpillar in collaboration with District Energy St. Paul and DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

The project’s objective was to evaluate the solution’s impact on local air quality and highlight the reliability and durability of a hydrogen system. To fully assess every aspect of the hydrogen system under real-world operating conditions, power and heat from the demonstration project were fed into the Minnesota utility’s active distribution system. The system used 100% hydrogen fuel and 100% natural gas fuel for up to 200 hours with each fuel type.

The CHP system with Cat G3516 gas generator set used 100% hydrogen fuel and 100% natural gas fuel for up to 200 hours with each fuel type. (Photo: Caterpillar)

“As technology in our industry continues to advance, we will need a range of fuels and energy sources to capture the optimal function and efficiencies of these energy systems,” said Luke Gaalswyk, president and CEO of District Energy St. Paul. “It has been exciting for our team to help advance the data on hydrogen use with a global leader like Caterpillar in partnership with the DOE and NREL.”

“The success of this CHP demonstration highlights our commitment to understanding our customers’ needs and delivering tailored energy solutions that help them achieve their energy goals,” stated Melissa Busen, senior vice president for Caterpillar’s Electric Power Division. “This is a great example of our expertise and commitment to developing innovative solutions that help build a better, more sustainable world.”