Duke Energy Florida unveils nation's first system capable of producing, storing and combusting 100% green hydrogen

Rhea-AI Summary

Duke Energy Florida (NYSE: DUK) unveiled the DeBary Hydrogen Production Storage System on Jan. 7, 2026, the first U.S. demonstration capable of producing, storing and combusting up to 100% green hydrogen end-to-end.

The system uses the existing DeBary solar site to power two electrolyzers that split water; oxygen is released and green hydrogen is stored in reinforced containers. Stored hydrogen can fuel an upgraded combustion turbine (using GE Vernova technology) on a blend of natural gas and hydrogen or at 100% hydrogen to meet peak demand.

Company-level context: Duke Energy Florida owns 12,300 MW of capacity serving 2 million customers; Duke Energy serves 8.4 million electric customers and owns 54,800 MW capacity.

Positive

• First U.S. end-to-end 100% green hydrogen demo system
• DeBary solar powers two electrolyzers for on-site hydrogen production
• Upgraded turbine can run on blend or 100% hydrogen using GE Vernova technology
• 12,300 MW Florida capacity supports 2 million customers

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction

-1.32%

1 alert

-1.32% News Effect

On the day this news was published, DUK declined 1.32%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Current price: $117.74 52-week high: $130.03 52-week low: $105.2 +5 more

8 metrics

Current price $117.74 Pre-news trading level

52-week high $130.03 52-week range upper bound

52-week low $105.2 52-week range lower bound

Green hydrogen capability 100% hydrogen DeBary system can combust up to 100% green hydrogen

DEF capacity 12,300 megawatts Duke Energy Florida owned energy capacity

DEF customers 2 million Duke Energy Florida customer base

Duke Energy electric customers 8.4 million Across six U.S. states

Duke Energy capacity 54,800 megawatts Owned electric generation capacity

Market Reality Check

Price: $123.43 Vol: Volume 3,292,719 is in li...

normal vol

$123.43 Last Close

Volume Volume 3,292,719 is in line with the 20-day average of 3,278,311. normal

Technical Price at 117.74 is trading below the 200-day MA of 120.4.

Peers on Argus

DUK is up 0.8% with mixed peer moves: SO +0.6%, AEP +0.87%, EXC +0.69%, while NG...

DUK is up 0.8% with mixed peer moves: SO +0.6%, AEP +0.87%, EXC +0.69%, while NGG -0.41% and D -0.14%, suggesting a more company-specific tone to today’s news.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 02 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 02	Storm cost recovery	Positive	+0.2%	SC regulators approved Helene cost recovery and grid-strengthening measures.
Dec 30	Nuclear site permit	Positive	+0.1%	Filed early site permit for potential advanced nuclear in North Carolina.
Dec 29	Customer savings outlook	Positive	+0.3%	Forecast over <b>$1 billion</b> in 2025 customer savings from FL investments.
Dec 22	Community investment	Positive	+0.6%	Reported ><b>$1 million</b> in 2025 community donations and local support.
Dec 22	Customer assistance	Positive	+0.6%	Expanded aid programs and microgrants to support energy affordability.

Pattern Detected

Recent positive operational and regulatory updates have been followed by modest positive price reactions.

Recent Company History

Over the past few weeks, Duke Energy has reported several constructive developments, including South Carolina approval of Hurricane Helene cost recovery, early site permitting for potential new nuclear capacity, and more than $1 billion in projected 2025 customer savings from Florida infrastructure investments. Community support initiatives and regulatory settlements also featured. Against this backdrop, today’s Florida green hydrogen demonstration project fits an ongoing narrative of grid modernization, advanced generation technologies, and customer-focused reliability and cost initiatives.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Active S-3 Shelf · $4,000,000,000

Shelf Active

Active S-3 Shelf Registration 2025-09-30

$4,000,000,000 registered capacity

An effective Form S-3ASR dated 2025-09-30 registers up to $4,000,000,000 of PremierNotes, with a maximum net aggregate principal amount outstanding of $2,000,000,000. The notes are unsecured, floating-rate demand instruments that can be issued under this active shelf, which has already seen follow-on usage via a 424B3 filing on 2025-12-22.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights Duke Energy Florida’s DeBary system, described as the first U.S. demons...

Analysis

This announcement highlights Duke Energy Florida’s DeBary system, described as the first U.S. demonstration capable of producing, storing and combusting up to 100% green hydrogen using existing solar and turbine assets. It fits alongside recent grid, nuclear and customer-savings initiatives seen in prior releases. Investors may watch how this technology integrates with the company’s 54,800-megawatt fleet, future regulatory treatment, and capital deployment under the active PremierNotes shelf program.

Key Terms

green hydrogen, electrolyzer, combustion turbine, renewable energy, +1 more

5 terms

green hydrogen technical

"capable of using an end-to-end system to produce, store and combust up to 100% green hydrogen."

Green hydrogen is hydrogen made by splitting water with electricity that comes from renewable sources, producing little or no carbon emissions. Investors watch it because it can act like a rechargeable, low‑carbon fuel or energy carrier for industries and transport that are hard to electrify, creating long‑term demand for production plants, storage and transport infrastructure and making returns sensitive to technology costs, energy prices and policy support.

electrolyzer technical

"provides energy for two electrolyzer units that separate water molecules"

An electrolyzer is a device that uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, producing hydrogen gas that can be stored or used as fuel. Think of it like a kitchen appliance that, when plugged into a power source, turns water into a usable energy carrier; investors care because electrolyzers determine the cost, speed and carbon footprint of hydrogen production, affecting project economics, scalability and regulatory appeal.

combustion turbine technical

"delivers the stored green hydrogen to an existing combustion turbine that has been upgraded"

A combustion turbine is a machine that burns fuel to spin a shaft and produce electricity or mechanical power, similar to how a jet engine turns thrust into motion. Investors care because these turbines are core assets in power plants and industrial sites: their fuel efficiency, reliability, upfront cost and emissions rules directly affect operating expenses, revenue potential and regulatory risk, much like a car’s fuel economy and maintenance needs shape its long‑term value.

renewable energy technical

"diversifies Duke Energy Florida's generation fleet to support the expansion of renewable energy."

Sources of power that come from naturally replenishing resources—such as sunlight, wind, flowing water, and geothermal heat—rather than fuels that can run out. Investors care because renewable energy can reduce long-term fuel costs, lower regulatory and climate risk, and create growing markets for technology and infrastructure; think of it like putting money into a well that refills itself rather than a one-time fuel tank, offering steadier long-term returns and different risk profiles.

energy storage technical

"The DeBary system allows for safe, reliable generation and storage of clean energy,"

Energy storage involves capturing and holding excess energy produced during periods of low demand for later use when demand is higher. Think of it like a rechargeable battery that saves power for when it’s needed most. For investors, energy storage is important because it helps balance supply and demand, making energy systems more reliable and efficient, which can influence the value of energy-related assets and technologies.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

• The innovative DeBary Production Storage System will diversify and strengthen the company's generation fleet, creating value for customers and helping meet energy demand

DEBARY, Fla., Jan. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Duke Energy Florida unveiled its DeBary Hydrogen Production Storage System in Volusia County, the first demonstration project in the United States capable of using an end-to-end system to produce, store and combust up to 100% green hydrogen. 

How it works

• This one-of-its-kind system begins with Duke Energy Florida's existing DeBary solar site, which provides energy for two electrolyzer units that separate water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen atoms.
• The resulting oxygen is released into the atmosphere, while the green hydrogen is delivered to reinforced containers for safe storage.
• During times when energy demand is highest, the system delivers the stored green hydrogen to an existing combustion turbine that has been upgraded – using GE Vernova technology – to run on a blend of natural gas and hydrogen or up to 100% hydrogen.

Why it matters

• This process makes the natural gas turbines more flexible and diversifies Duke Energy Florida's generation fleet to support the expansion of renewable energy.
• Because the green hydrogen is an on-demand source of energy, the turbines can be turned on and off at any time – it is not dependent on the time of day or the weather.
• The site's reliability allows for more renewable, yet intermittent, energy sources – like solar – that displace the cost of fuel for customers while still meeting rising customer demand.

What they're saying

• "Diverse generation is strong, reliable generation," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "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 DeBary system allows for safe, reliable generation and storage of clean energy," said Reggie Anderson, Duke Energy Florida vice president of regulated and renewable 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."

Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,300 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida. 

Duke Energy 
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. 

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, keeping customer reliability and value at the forefront as it builds a smarter energy future. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables and energy storage. 

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition. 

Contact: Aly Raschid
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
X: @DE_AlyRaschid

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SOURCE Duke Energy

FAQ

What did Duke Energy Florida announce about green hydrogen on January 7, 2026 (DUK)?

Duke Energy Florida unveiled the DeBary system, a U.S. demonstration capable of producing, storing and combusting up to 100% green hydrogen end-to-end.

How does the DeBary hydrogen system produce green hydrogen for Duke Energy Florida (DUK)?

The system uses DeBary solar power to run two electrolyzers that split water into oxygen and hydrogen, with hydrogen stored onsite.

Can Duke Energy Florida's turbines run on 100% hydrogen after the DeBary upgrade (DUK)?

Yes; the existing combustion turbine was upgraded with GE Vernova technology to operate on a natural gas/hydrogen blend or up to 100% hydrogen.

What grid benefits does the DeBary hydrogen project provide for Duke Energy Florida customers (DUK)?

Stored green hydrogen creates on-demand generation that increases flexibility, supports intermittent renewables like solar, and helps meet peak demand.

What scale of customers and capacity does Duke Energy Florida operate (DUK)?

Duke Energy Florida owns 12,300 MW of capacity and supplies electricity to approximately 2 million customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area.