A Minnesota gas utility says it is successfully blending “green” hydrogen into its natural gas pipeline system in one of the first such tests in the country.
Since last spring, CenterPoint Energy customers near downtown Minneapolis have been burning a bit of hydrogen alongside the usual mix of methane gas in their stoves and furnaces.
The utility completed a $2.5 million hydrogen production pilot facility last year and began injecting the carbon-free fuel into its system in small amounts in June. Hydrogen accounts for no more than 5% of the overall blend at any time.
“The good news is that this facility has integrated well with our distribution system,” CenterPoint spokesperson Ross Corson said of the facility’s first months of operation.
The pilot project is a chance for the utility to iron out operational challenges….