MILWAUKEE, Jan. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WEC Energy Group
(NYSE: WEC) today announced that it is leading a pilot project to
test hydrogen as a fuel source for power generation. The company
will test co-firing hydrogen with natural gas at one of its power
generation plants in Michigan's
Upper Peninsula. This is one of the first hydrogen power pilot
programs of its kind in the United
States.
WEC Energy Group has set some of the most aggressive
environmental goals in the energy industry, including net-zero
carbon emissions from electric generation by 2050 and net-zero
methane emissions from natural gas distribution by the end of 2030.
This pilot continues that industry leadership and could help create
another viable option for decarbonizing the economy.
"We're pleased to take a leading role in testing hydrogen in our
modern natural gas fueled generation units," said Gale Klappa, executive chairman. "As we bring
more renewable energy online, we must ensure that we can keep the
lights on when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing.
The potential of adding hydrogen as a clean generating fuel to our
fleet of dispatchable plants is an important step as we bridge to a
bright, sustainable future."
During the pilot project, hydrogen and natural gas will be mixed
up to a 25/75 percent blend to power one of the generating units
that serves customers of Upper Michigan Energy Resources, a WEC
Energy Group subsidiary. The units use a technology known as RICE —
reciprocating internal combustion engines. The engines were
manufactured by technology company Wärtsilä and began service in
2019.
WEC Energy Group is partnering with the Electric Power Research
Institute (EPRI), the world's preeminent independent, non-profit
energy research and development organization, driving innovation to
ensure the public has clean, safe, reliable, affordable, and
equitable access to electricity across the globe.
EPRI will lead the technical implementation of the project and
share results to further educate the energy industry about how to
successfully use hydrogen for power generation to support reducing
carbon emissions.
"Demonstration projects like this one are critical to advancing
clean energy technologies needed to meet net-zero goals," said EPRI
CEO Arshad Mansoor. "This project
will provide key insights on how this could be replicated
throughout the country, providing energy companies with a suite of
solutions to reduce carbon emissions. We look forward to working
with WEC Energy Group and other energy stakeholders throughout the
clean energy transition."
WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC), based in Milwaukee, is one of the nation's premier
energy companies, serving 4.6 million customers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota.
The company's principal utilities are We Energies, Wisconsin
Public Service, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas, Michigan Gas
Utilities, Minnesota Energy Resources and Upper Michigan Energy
Resources. Another major subsidiary, We Power, designs, builds
and owns electric generating plants. In addition, WEC
Infrastructure LLC owns a growing fleet of renewable generation
facilities in the Midwest.
WEC Energy Group (wecenergygroup.com) is a Fortune 500
company and a component of the S&P 500. The company has
approximately 39,000 stockholders of record, 7,000 employees and
$39 billion of assets.
Forward-looking statements
Certain statements contained in this press release are
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of
the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based upon management's
current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties
that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those
contemplated in the statements. Readers are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these statements. Forward-looking statements
include, among other things, statements concerning management's
expectations and projections regarding emissions, corporate
initiatives and clean energy projects. In some cases,
forward-looking statements may be identified by reference to a
future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking
terminology such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates,"
"expects," "forecasts," "guidance," "intends," "may," "objectives,"
"plans," "possible," "potential," "projects," "should," "targets,"
"will" or similar terms or variations of these terms. Factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contemplated in any forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to: general economic conditions, including business and
competitive conditions in the company's service territories; the
extent, duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic or any future
health pandemics; timing, resolution and impact of rate cases and
other regulatory decisions; availability of the company's
generating facilities and/or distribution systems; energy and
environmental conservation efforts; the company's ability to
successfully acquire and/or dispose of assets and projects;
cyber-security threats and data security breaches; construction
risks; equity and bond market fluctuations; changes in the
company's and its subsidiaries' ability to access the capital
markets; changes in tax legislation or our ability to use certain
tax benefits and carryforwards; federal and state legislative and
regulatory changes, including changes to environmental standards,
the enforcement of these laws and regulations and changes in the
interpretation of regulations by regulatory agencies; supply chain
disruptions; political developments; current and future
litigation and regulatory investigations, proceedings or inquiries;
the ability of the company to obtain additional generating capacity
at competitive prices; and other factors described under the
heading "Factors Affecting Results, Liquidity and Capital
Resources" in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations and under the headings
"Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information" and
"Risk Factors" contained in the company's Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2020, and in
subsequent reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. Except as may be required by law, the company expressly
disclaims any obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking information.
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SOURCE WEC Energy Group