Open the papers and you’ll see that hydrogen-based transport, mobility and infrastructure are securing serious investment. In the past, the high cost of fuelling infrastructure – and “stupid” concept of using electricity to make hydrogen to make electricity – have stalled the advancement of this ultra-versatile clean fuel and energy storage solution. However, thanks to the availability of surplus power from RES and hydrogen’s remarkable flexibility, the numbers are beginning to add up and that means competition for batteries. Mike Scott explains why the money is finally moving hydrogen’s way…
The hydrogen economy has always been a bit like a mirage in the desert – hanging enticingly before us, never seeming to get any nearer. In some ways, this is surprising as it has so many advantages as an energy carrier. There’s lots of it, it produces only water vapour when it is burned, it can be stored for long periods of time – unlike energy stored in batteries– and it’s flexible.
It can be used to produce electricity in fuel cells, it can be used as a transport fuel either by being burnt or in fuel cells and it can be injected into gas grids and so used for heating. When renewable energy is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, it is an emissions-free fuel. The technology is well-known, long-standing and proven.
“When renewable energy is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, it is an emissions-free fuel”
Given that the focus is now turning to decarbonising heating and tr…
Blaizot Marc says
What about electrodes prices and composition ?
Which metal and how much do we need to manufacture so many electrodes at a reasonable ecological and human cost ?
Matthew James says
Hi Marc, those are super technical questions. Perhaps another reader can help out. The full article has links to some very technical papers. Perhaps the answers are in there: https://energypostweekly.eu/hy-society-flexible-hydrogens-winning-formula/
Blaizot Marc says
Thanks for your answer Matthew ; I will pass through these papers because I think before supporting the H2 chain we need to know what is really behind and metals mining and refining are generally questionable; are you interested I keep you informed if I find answers ?
Matthew James says
definitely, we will report on this topic regularly I am sure
Ferdinand Engelbeen says
What I remember from my working life in a chlorine plant, the electrolysis doesn’t need exotic materials like rare earth metals, only rather common materials like steel and nickel (in the case of chlorine also titanium at the chlorine side, but not needed for oxygen). The separation between the poles (and thus oxygen and hydrogen) is by special membranes. All materials have very long life spans if you use extremely pure water (or the membrane get clogged), so you can produce lots of hydrogen with a basic plant.
Still wonder about the overall energy yield. The electrolysis results in about 80% energy left in the hydrogen. The hydrogen to energy transition has a yield of about 50% (fuel cells) or 35% (diesel-like motor). Overall at best some 40% energy left from PgP.
Batteries go to over 90% power to power, but price and volume/weight/charge time are disadvantages.
As I have worked with hydrogen, that is not an easy gas to handle: it creeps through near all materials like gaskets and to have some range, you need a 700 bar pressure container… Thus sorry, not in my car. And think about the following: if you want a lot of cars driving on hydrogen, you need to transfer the whole volume of current storage tanks for petrol and diesel to 700 bar pressure tanks. Not a light work…
Bas Gresnigt says
Fuel cell yields are gradually advancing towards >80%.
It will bring the PtG=>Storage=>GtP cycle yield towards 50-60%.
Assuming wind & solar price decreases towards 100% during >3000hrs/year, so prices will then be <2cnt/KWh
PtG can then operate ~3000hrs/yr while buying power at an av. price of ~1cnt/KWh. It will then produce cheaper H² than present methods like steam reform. So we now see firm plans for 100MW PtG installations by the industry in NL.
Note that there is no storage problem for green gas. In NL we have small empty gas fields and salt domes (few are already used to store a winter supply of conditioned natural gas in order to keep the size of the conditioning plants smaller). Most other countries have similar deep earth caverns.
So the produced green H² can and will be used to cover longer periods without wind & solar production. It even may replace major part of present natural gas consumption.