OKEECHOBEE – Solar power could be key to reducing carbon emissions. In northern Okeechobee County, the FPL Cavendish Solar Energy Center powers the NextGen Hydrogen Hub – Florida’s first hydrogen plant.

This new technology has the potential to reduce costs for consumers by reducing FPL’s exposure to the volatile fluctuations in the natural gas market, explained Engineer Stevany Cole.

“The project uses materials found in abundance in Florida – sunshine and water – to produce clean energy,” she explained.

Using solar energy, they split demineralized water into hydrogen and oxygen. The oxygen is vented to the atmosphere. The hydrogen is stored in cannisters for later use as fuel.

Stevany said the hydrogen is mixed with natural gas to fuel combustion turbines to produce electricity.

She said solar energy can go directly onto the grid during the day, but in order to store solar energy for use after the sun sets, other FPL solar centers use batteries. The NextGen Hydrogen Hub is a pilot project to store hydrogen instead,

This pilot project is on a smaller scale, she explained. The intent is to gain knowledge about the best way to blend hydrogen and natural gas and help identify the base long-term plan for green energy and reduce dependence on natural gas. Burning hydrogen instead of natural gas also reduces carbon emissions.

The Okeechobee FPL plant currently has three solar sites, each produces 75 megawatts of energy per day. A fourth solar site is under construction.

Each “skid” in the NextGen hub can produce 10 tons of hydrogen per day. Five skids are planned. Two skids are currently in operation. The third skid is scheduled to go online this week.

A larger site would have more skids and more storage, Cole continued. The Okeechobee pilot project is smaller scale. “One of things we will be learning is operating the hydrogen blend,” she said.

The Okeechobee site was selected for the pilot project because of the availability of the solar sites and combustion turbines already in operation, fueled by natural gas which comes to the site by pipeline.

“As you start offsetting natural gas with hydrogen, you  reduce carbon emissions,” Cole said. “It makes for a cleaner energy grid.”

At the solar plant, FPL spokesperson Jack Eble said each of the solar energy sites covers 500-600 acres. FPL has 66 photovoltaic solar sites in operation in Florida.

 “We’re excited for this project to see the benefits of solar energy for our customers,” he said.

Older solar technology relied on thermal energy. The new photovoltaic solar panels are more efficient than the older sites.

FPL’s original solar site in DeSoto County was only capable of producing 25 megawatts per day, he explained. Over the course of the last decade, thanks to new technology, solar sites are now capable of generating three times the energy of the older plants, he explained.

“As the industry improves, we’re looking for best cost-effective solar solutions,” he said. In addition to those already in operation, more than a dozen new solar sites are expected to come online in 2024.

“We’re using technology we know is reliable,” he said.

Eble said solar plants have a life expectancy of 30 to 35 years. By the time the current solar plants require replacement, there could be new technology to make them even more efficient.

 “Over the course of the past 20 years, the company has found new technology,” he said. “Clean hydrogen could be key to unlocking a carbon-free energy future.”

Elbe said the solar sites throughout the state are remotely monitored at the Renewable Operations Control Center in Palm Beach County. They can view the sites via drones. Engineers are sent out as needed for repairs or maintenance.

Elbe said in 2022, FPL had 50 solar energy sites online and thanks to the solar energy produced, they saved $375 million in fuel costs. As more solar energy sites come online, the savings will increase, he added.

“As we continue to invest in solar energy, the less fuel we need to buy,” he said. “Last year there were unpredicted spikes in the cost of natural gas.”

A solar-powered electrolyzer splits water into oxygen and hydrogen. The oxygen will be released into the air. The hydrogen will replace some of the …