Duke Energy Florida has introduced the DeBary Hydrogen Production Storage System in Volusia County, marking what the company describes as the first demonstration project in the United States capable of producing, storing, and combusting up to 100% green hydrogen.
The system utilizes energy from Duke Energy Florida’s existing DeBary solar site to power two electrolyzer units. These units separate water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen. The produced oxygen is released into the atmosphere, while the green hydrogen is stored in reinforced containers for later use.
When energy demand peaks, the stored hydrogen is supplied to a combustion turbine that has been upgraded with GE Vernova technology. This turbine can operate on a blend of natural gas and hydrogen or entirely on hydrogen.
According to Duke Energy Florida, this process enhances the flexibility of its natural gas turbines and supports the integration of renewable energy sources into its generation fleet. Because green hydrogen can be used on demand, it allows turbines to be activated as needed, regardless of weather or time of day. This reliability helps accommodate intermittent renewable sources such as solar power while continuing to meet customer demand.
“Diverse generation is strong, reliable generation,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “The DeBary hydrogen project underscores Duke Energy Florida’s deep understanding of that notion and our commitment to making strategic infrastructure investments that will allow us to continue providing value for our customers while meeting their rapidly increasing demand for energy.”
Reggie Anderson, vice president of regulated and renewable energy at Duke Energy Florida, stated: “The DeBary system allows for safe, reliable generation and storage of clean energy. Duke Energy Florida is proud of this successful innovation and the lasting impact it will have on our industry, our company and, most importantly, our customers.”
Duke Energy Florida serves approximately 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile area in Florida with 12,300 megawatts of capacity. Its parent company Duke Energy operates across six states and supplies electricity to 8.4 million customers. The company continues investing in grid upgrades and cleaner forms of generation including renewables and energy storage.
More information about these initiatives can be found at the Duke Energy News Center.
