Caterpillar Inc says it will begin offering Cat® generator sets capable of operating on 100% hydrogen, including fully renewable green hydrogen, on a designed-to-order basis in late 2021.

More immediately, the company will launch commercially available power generation solutions that can be configured to operate on natural gas blended with up to 25% hydrogen, it said.

“These market-focused innovations build upon Caterpillar’s hydrogen solutions portfolio, including Solar® Turbines’ gas turbine generator sets, which have run on high hydrogen blends for decades and are capable of operating on 100% hydrogen today,” the company said. “The ability to work with hydrogen fuel helps address customers’ carbon-reduction goals with high-performing, cost-effective technologies.”

Joe Creed, Caterpillar Group President of Energy & Transportation, said: “At Caterpillar, we are working alongside our customers to understand their needs, and they are looking for reliable power sources that support their climate-related goals. Our continued investment in new products, technologies and services is one way we’re supporting them with the quality solutions they’ve come to count on from Caterpillar.”

With the reciprocating engine capabilities of up to 100% hydrogen, Caterpillar says it is expanding on its legacy in gas engines and Solar gas turbines with more than 35 years of experience with high-hydrogen fuel.

It added: “Caterpillar continues to make investments aimed at improving the capability of hydrogen-powered solutions and replicating them across engine platforms as this fuel will likely play a role in customers’ plans for a reduced-carbon future.”