GE and BP to build up to 15 hydrogen power plants

GE is now to join BP in building two previously announced hydrogen power plants in Scotland and California, as a first stage in the partnership, along with BP’s existing partners Scottish and Southern Energy and Edison Mission Energy respectively.

Although the two firms say they have not formally agreed to it, they said in a joint statement that they are likely to create a joint venture to invest in the power stations, and another joint agreement to develop the technology together.

Hydrogen power stations work by converting fossil fuels into hydrogen, which is used to generate electricity, and carbon dioxide. In this case, the two firms will use carbon sequestration technology to capture the greenhouse gas and bury it underground instead of simply pumping it into the atmosphere.

David Calhoun from GE said: “Tomorrow’s energy mix will include hydrogen – and GE and BP are taking the lead in ensuring progress begins today. This initiative will demonstrate that our companies’

leading-edge technologies can make hydrogen production efficient, reliable, and economical for large-scale, commercial power production.”

“The combination of our two companies’ skills and resources in this area is formidable, and is the latest example of our intent to make a real difference in the face of the challenge of climate change,” added BP’s Vivienne Cox.

“BP and GE’s strategic approaches to developing increasingly cleaner, lower carbon power options are closely aligned and our skills and strengths are highly complementary.”

Gretchen Hendriks