Duke Energy announced plans to submit an application to the South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC) later this year to build a 1.4-GW gas-fired combined cycle power plant with hydrogen capability in Anderson County. The project, located on a 200-acre site near Highway 81 South, would be Duke’s first new generation proposal in South Carolina in over a decade and is targeted to begin operations as early as January 2031.

The facility will use GE Vernova gas turbines manufactured at the company’s Greenville, South Carolina plant, leveraging a recent agreement that secures up to 11 7HA units across Duke’s service areas. The hydrogen-ready turbines reflect South Carolina’s evolving energy landscape, supported by the state’s new Energy Security Act, signed into law in May 2025, which encourages utilities to pursue hydrogen-capable natural gas facilities to meet growing demand while maintaining fuel flexibility.

Construction could start as soon as mid-2027, pending regulatory approvals and continued planning. The plant aligns with Duke Energy’s Carolinas Resource Plan and efforts to meet a projected 4-5% annual load growth driven by expanding industrial and data center customers.

Alongside this project, Duke is exploring additional clean energy investments including solar, battery storage, pumped hydro, and advanced nuclear reactors, such as small modular reactors (SMRs), aiming to diversify its generation portfolio through 2040 and beyond.

The initiative is part of a broader state push to ensure reliable, flexible, and secure electricity infrastructure amid rapid economic and population growth in South Carolina.

Source: powermag.com