World’s first 30MW-class pure hydrogen gas turbine demonstration project

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On the 8th of the month, the world’s first 30MW-class hydrogen storage demonstration project using pure hydrogen gas turbines, developed jointly by MingYang Hydrogen & Fuel, a subsidiary of MingYang Smart Energy, and Shenzhen Energy, officially broke ground in the Etoke High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia. This marks a significant breakthrough in China’s efforts in hydrogen-powered power generation and long-duration energy storage, offering a replicable Chinese approach and model for the global energy transition. The 30MW-class pure hydrogen gas turbine hydrogen storage demonstration project is based on the ShenNeng Otogon integrated wind and solar hydrogen production facility for the synthesis of green ammonia, with a hydrogen production capacity of 48,000 Nm³/h ； The hydrogen storage section is equipped with 12 1875 m³ spherical tanks ； The supporting power supply is for a 500MW wind power project and a 5MW photovoltaic off-grid hydrogen production project; the downstream chemical facility is an ammonia synthesis plant with an annual production capacity of 150,000 tons, and it is equipped with a 30MW-class pure hydrogen gas turbine for hydrogen storage. As the world’s first 30MW-class pure hydrogen gas turbine project to enter the engineering implementation phase, its core value lies in establishing an \"electricity-hydrogen-electricity\" model that involves converting green electricity into green hydrogen, which is then used to generate electricity. Green hydrogen is produced by electrolyzing water using volatile renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. The stored hydrogen is then converted into stable zero-carbon electricity through 30MW-class hydrogen fuel turbines, thereby enabling coordination across the entire value chain involving hydrogen production, storage, and power generation via hydrogen combustion. This approach helps to mitigate the fluctuations associated with renewable energy sources, provides essential flexibility for the power grid, and serves as a model and support for large-scale applications of hydrogen energy. Furthermore, this project will comprehensively test the long-term operational capabilities of the 30MW-class pure hydrogen gas turbine independently developed by MingYang Hydrogen Fuel under various operating conditions, accelerating the resolution of key technical challenges related to pure hydrogen gas turbines and laying a solid engineering foundation for the development of gas turbines with higher power ratings. Wang Yongzhi, general manager of MingYang Hydrogen Fuel, said that this project represents MingYang’s strategic effort to achieve the \"dual carbon\" goals and to develop the hydrogen energy industry. By relying on this demonstration project, the company will continue to work on improving the technology of pure hydrogen gas turbines as well as reducing their costs, thereby providing essential equipment support for the development of new power systems. The demonstration effect of the Etoke project will spread across the country, accelerating the coordinated development of the entire hydrogen industry chain. It will help establish a complete industrial ecosystem for green hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and power generation, as well as fostering collaborative innovation in technologies across different stages of the industry. This will enable the region to become a leading hub for hydrogen energy development, serving as a model for energy transformation in Inner Mongolia and throughout the country. The hydrogen energy storage demonstration project for 30MW-class pure hydrogen gas turbines began construction in August, with the goal of establishing the world’s largest-scale test and demonstration facility for pure hydrogen gas turbines by the end of 2025. As technology matures and costs are reduced, pure hydrogen gas turbines are expected to be deployed on a large scale across the country, serving as a key source of flexibility in the new power system. This will provide technical support for achieving China’s ‘dual carbon’ goals, while also helping to usher in a new era in global energy transformation.