Duke Energy Wins the 98th Edison Award for Innovation and Excellence

Duke Energy Wins the 98th Edison Award for Innovation and Excellence

Duke Energy Wins the 98th Edison Award for Innovation and Excellence

LAS VEGAS (June 03, 2026) - The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) today awarded Duke Energy with the 98th Edison Award for its DeBary Hydrogen Production and Storage System. Presented annually and selected by a panel of former energy industry executives, the Edison Award is the electric power industry's highest honor. The award was presented in Las Vegas during EEI 2026, the institute's annual conference and thought leadership forum.

"On behalf of EEI and our member companies, I am proud to congratulate Duke Energy for winning this year's Edison Award," said EEI President and CEO Drew Maloney. "By transforming Florida sunshine into stored, on-demand power, this hydrogen project is advancing what's possible for clean energy storage and helping Duke Energy meet rapidly increasing energy demand while keeping customer costs as low as possible."

"Our DeBary Hydrogen Production and Storage System reflects the innovative spirit of our employees and our focus on delivering real value to Floridians," said Harry Sideris, president and CEO of Duke Energy. "We are putting innovation to work in Florida to expand fuel diversity, support a growing state, and help keep energy costs as low as possible. This work strengthens reliability when demand is highest, supports continued economic growth, and helps position Florida as a leader in building a more flexible, resilient, and innovative energy system."

Duke Energy's DeBary Hydrogen Production and Storage System is the nation's first end-to-end facility capable of producing, storing, and combusting up to 100 percent green hydrogen generated from solar energy.

The system increases the flexibility of natural gas turbines and diversifies Duke Energy Florida's generation mix to support the expansion of renewable energy. Because green hydrogen is an on-demand energy source, turbines can be turned on and off as needed, independent of time of day or weather conditions. This reliability enables greater integration of intermittent renewable resources, like solar, helping reduce fuel costs for customers while meeting growing energy demand.

In December, DeBary set a world record by generating 50 megawatts using 100 percent green hydrogen combustion-demonstrating the technical feasibility of this approach and establishing a new benchmark for the industry.

Read more about this year's Edison Award winner and finalists at ElectricPerspectives.com.