JERA Americas Announces Hydrogen Fuel Blending Plans in Support of Net Zero CO2 Goals

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--JERA Americas, the US-based subsidiary of global energy leader JERA, has announced plans to blend hydrogen at two plants, where it has ownership interests, in support of reducing CO2 emissions.

“Our parent company, JERA, has set an ambitious goal to be net zero CO2 by 2050, with an interim goal of 20% reduction in CO2 emission intensity for its business in Japan by 2030,” said Steven C Winn, Chief Executive Officer of JERA Americas. “They set the vision to be a global leader in LNG and renewables, sparking the transition to a clean energy economy. We support that goal and will also be working toward the same net zero CO2 emission goals here in North America.”

The Company has made initial progress toward that goal with plans to employ hydrogen fuel blending in its US power generation portfolio.

• Linden Cogeneration – Linden Cogeneration (Linden Cogen) signed an agreement with Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX), for Linden Cogen to take Bayway Refinery produced hydrogen-containing fuel gas and blend it with natural gas used to fuel the 172MW Linden Cogen unit 6 gas turbine. The modification will enable using a fuel gas blend containing up to 40% hydrogen. The work, expected to be completed in 2022, will improve overall refinery and Linden Cogen operational efficiency, and will reduce air emissions primarily through improved furnace and flare efficiencies. While actual reductions will be based on how much hydrogen is used at any given time of plant operation, the Company anticipates a reduction in CO2 emissions up to approximately 10% of annual CO2 emissions from unit 6.

“The work we are doing here in Linden has the potential for dramatic emission reductions not just in North America but also globally,” continued Winn. “This is the first step in what could ultimately be the modification of one of the largest gas turbine fleets in the world.”

JERA Americas acquired a 50% interest in Linden Cogen in 2017 and serves as the asset manager for the facility. Power and steam produced from the 972 MW natural gas-fueled thermal cogeneration plant is supplied for industrial use under long-term contracts and electricity is also sold into the NY-ISO and PJM wholesale markets. The facility, which began operating in 1992, has six gas turbine units and three steam turbines and is jointly owned by JERA Americas, EGCO, DBJ and GS-Platform Partners. Phillips 66’s Bayway Refinery, located on New York Harbor in Linden, processes mainly light, low-sulfur crude oil.

• Cricket Valley Energy Center (CVEC) – JERA Americas is also involved in a second project to employ hydrogen technology to reduce carbon emissions. The Company is part owner of CVEC which signed a memorandum of understanding with GE (NYSE: GE) to develop a green hydrogen demonstration project in New York state. The agreement calls for using hydrogen for 5% of the fuel in one of the three units at the power station. This initiates the first step toward converting to a 100% hydrogen fuel capable plant.

“We intend to move forward on many fronts to achieve meaningful CO2 reductions,” said Winn. “These two agreements at Linden Cogen and Cricket Valley Energy Center are a starting point on our journey to a clean energy future.”

ABOUT JERA AMERICAS

A subsidiary of Tokyo-based JERA, the company that produces about 30% of all electricity in Japan, JERA Americas delivers innovative energy solutions for customers through a diversified portfolio of low carbon assets and technologies. The Company is a leading integrated energy provider supporting the Americas’ energy transition in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.

Under its “JERA Zero CO2 Emissions 2050” objective, JERA has been working to eliminate CO2 emissions from its domestic and overseas businesses by 2050. JERA, which stands for Japanese Energy for a New Era, will contribute to the development of a sustainable society, and seek to become a global company that is worthy of the regard of the global energy market and indispensable to the people of the world. https://www.jera.co.jp/english/.