The U.S.-based engineering company Caterpillar, in collaboration with the energy provider District Energy St. Paul, successfully operated a combined heat and power (CHP) system equipped with a Cat G3516 gas engine using pure hydrogen. The aim of the project was to demonstrate the efficiency, reliability, and environmental compatibility of such a system under real-world conditions.
The tests were conducted within the supply network of District Energy St. Paul in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The 2.0-megawatt system was operated for up to 200 hours each with 100% hydrogen and 100% natural gas. The energy generated was fed directly into the active distribution network. According to Caterpillar, the system achieved an efficiency comparable to that of high-performance natural gas systems.
The project was supported and partially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and the Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO). The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) was also involved.
“It was exciting for our team to collect data on hydrogen use together with Caterpillar, the DOE, and NREL,” said Luke Gaalswyk, President and CEO of District Energy St. Paul. Melissa Busen, Senior Vice President of Caterpillar’s Electric Power Division, stated: “The success of this CHP demonstration underscores our commitment to developing tailored energy solutions that help our customers achieve their energy goals.”
Caterpillar currently offers a range of generator solutions that can operate on natural gas-hydrogen blends. The available systems cover a power range from 400 kW to 4.5 MW and are designed for hydrogen content of up to 25% by volume. In addition, the company operates gas turbines with up to 80% hydrogen content.
District Energy St. Paul aims to become climate neutral by 2050. Already today, around 50% of the heat it generates comes from renewable sources such as solar thermal energy and biomass. Over the past two decades, the system’s greenhouse gas emissions have been reduced by 77%.
With the successful test run of a fully hydrogen-powered CHP system, Caterpillar is expanding its expertise in low-emission energy supply. According to the company, it has 35 years of experience with hydrogen technologies in power generation.
