WASHINGTON, Pa. – General Hydrogen Corp., a division of CGI International LLC, one of the only privately held hydrogen manufacturers in the U.S., and Long Ridge Energy Terminal announced a successful test of a new hydrogen-natural gas blending process.

General Hydrogen Corp.’s plant in Proctor, West Virginia, is supplying Long Ridge Energy’s 485-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant with hydrogen gas. Long Ridge is the first GE H-class plant worldwide in commercial operation to blend hydrogen in its fuel mix. The plant can burn between 15% and 20% hydrogen by volume in the gas stream initially and is expected to have the capability to utilize up to 100% hydrogen over time.

“This is a great beginning to delivering a carbon-free future,” said Sunny Punj, chief operating officer of CGI Group of Companies and General Hydrogen Corp. “With our capability to supply hydrogen gas, we are playing an integral part in the process to drive the transition to a cleaner energy future for the region and beyond.”

In April, Long Ridge Energy hosted a hydrogen commissioning ceremony at its site in Hannibal. In attendance were federal, state and local elected leaders from Ohio and West Virginia and representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy and Appalachian Regional Commission.

As part of the bipartisan infrastructure law, Congress approved $8 billion for regional hydrogen hubs, including one in the Appalachian natural gas region. In March, Long Ridge responded to the Department of Energy’s request for information and is awaiting DOE to release its final Hydrogen Hub Request for Proposal.

“The partnership between General Hydrogen Corporation and Long Ridge is another significant step towards our transition to clean hydrogen power,” said Bo Wholey, CEO of Long Ridge Energy Terminal. “Our goal at Long Ridge is to be a leader in providing clean, affordable power and to create and attract well-paying jobs and economic development opportunities regionally.”

“West Virginia is home to abundant natural resources and innovative companies like General Hydrogen Corporation that are vital to our nation’s energy transition. Partnerships like this are great news for our state and will help spur manufacturing across the Mountain State that will bring long-term, good-paying jobs and revitalize our communities,” said U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.