In an exciting milestone for clean energy innovation, Duke Energy Florida has officially launched the DeBary Hydrogen Production Storage System in Volusia County—a pioneering achievement that's setting the stage for America's renewable energy future. This remarkable facility is the first in the entire United States capable of managing every step of the green hydrogen process, from production through storage to combustion.

The ingenious system represents a beautiful marriage of existing and emerging technologies. It all begins with Duke Energy Florida's solar site in DeBary, where sunshine powers two sophisticated electrolyzer units. These devices work like nature's own chemistry set, gently separating water molecules into their component parts—oxygen and hydrogen atoms. The oxygen returns harmlessly to the atmosphere while the valuable green hydrogen is carefully stored in specially reinforced containers, ready to spring into action whenever needed.

What makes this innovation truly special is its flexibility and reliability. When energy demand peaks—those hot Florida afternoons when air conditioners are working overtime, or early evenings when families return home—the stored hydrogen flows to an upgraded combustion turbine equipped with cutting-edge GE Vernova technology. This turbine can run on various blends of natural gas and hydrogen, or impressively, on 100% hydrogen alone.

This flexibility is a game-changer for renewable energy. Unlike solar panels that only work when the sun shines, or wind turbines that depend on breezy conditions, the hydrogen system can activate instantly, any time of day or night, regardless of weather. This means Duke Energy Florida can confidently expand its solar capacity knowing there's a reliable backup ready to ensure customers never experience interruptions.

Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida's state president, captured the excitement perfectly: "Diverse generation is strong, reliable generation. The DeBary hydrogen project underscores Duke Energy Florida's deep understanding of that notion and our commitment to making strategic infrastructure investments that will allow us to continue providing value for our customers while meeting their rapidly increasing demand for energy."

The benefits extend directly to the 2 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers Duke Energy Florida serves across its 13,000-square-mile service area. By enabling greater use of solar energy—which requires no fuel costs—the system helps manage electricity expenses while still meeting the state's growing energy needs.

Reggie Anderson, Duke Energy Florida's vice president of regulated and renewable energy, emphasized the broader impact: "The DeBary system allows for safe, reliable generation and storage of clean energy. Duke Energy Florida is proud of this successful innovation and the lasting impact it will have on our industry, our company and, most importantly, our customers."

This achievement represents more than just technological advancement—it's a beacon of hope showing that clean energy can be both practical and reliable. As Duke Energy continues its ambitious energy transition, projects like DeBary demonstrate that we can power our modern lives while caring for the planet. The future of energy is here, and it's shining brightly in Florida.