Addressing the hydrogen storage challenge
Project challenges
Green hydrogen can be produced during periods of high renewable electricity generation; therefore, it is unlikely that hydrogen can be produced at the same rate as is commercially required for hydrogen as fuel gas or other energy storage requirement.
Business challenge
Sustainability & Net Zero
Product Innovation
Sector
Power & Energy
Hydrogen
Technology or capability
Product Design
Industrial Transformation
MTC and key technology partners designed, built and factory-tested a modular hydrogen storage solution using metal hydrides which can be scaled to become a commercially viable solution, supporting the UK’s drive towards net zero. This was a world first demonstrator at scale of this technology and was supported through a programme funded by the Department of Energy and Net Zero.
The Challenge
Green hydrogen can be produced during periods of high renewable electricity generation; therefore, it is unlikely that hydrogen can be produced at the same rate as is commercially required for hydrogen as fuel gas or other energy storage requirement.
As a result, a storage method is required to store hydrogen for periods of low generation to provide a buffer and which addresses the efficiency and safety concerns associated with traditional methods of storage.
Bulk gaseous storage is viable for large volumes but comes with costly risk and hazard mitigations or regulations which mean there are exclusion zones. Therefore, there is a need to develop other methodologies of storing hydrogen for use in proximity to people and plant.
MTC's Solution
- MTC designed and built a modular hydrogen storage solution, intended for integration into a costal environment, using a partner proprietary solution using metal hydrides in pressure vessels which is proven and certified.
- The design incorporated a series of pressure vessels stacked to create a hydrogen storage system of 38kg.
- The solution uses a standard ISO shipping container, ensuring it is modular, scalable and simple to transport and deploy in almost any environment.
- The balance of plant including heating, cooling and monitoring systems, optimising both the filling and emptying of the system as well as a partner proprietary programme to enable efficient operation.
Hydrogen has real potential for helping the UK decarbonise into the future but one of the biggest challenges with hydrogen is storage. As the industry grows, we’re going to need a lot more storage. This approach has a significant advantage in that it stores hydrogen in solid state so is safer than gaseous storage and therefore is an option to be used as a medium to store in more hazardous areas.
Huw Sullivan, Sector Development Manager – Hydrogen and Green Energy - MTC
The Outcome
- A world first demonstrator of a modular metal hydride storage solution at a commercially viable scale.
- The technology can achieve volumetric storage densities of up to 50¬ 100gH2/L, higher than liquid and gaseous state hydrogen storage.
- Forecast to be equivalent to a 400-900 bar cylinder at the same volume but at 1% of the pressure.
- Reactors operate between 1-10 bar and <100°C and store hydrogen at ambient temperatures and pressures, making it a safer, lower cost, and more efficient alternative to high pressure storage solutions onsite for long duration storage.
- Intended H2 purity output of >99.95%, applicable for use across various industrial applications.
Benefits to the Client
- Increased safety and reduced barriers to industrial scale storage by decreasing the risks of storing hydrogen in a gaseous state with associated regulatory requirements.
- Demonstrating hydrogen can be stored in higher volumetric density (using less space) for periods of days to months providing the security of supply required for buffer requirements.
- Significant cost savings compared to other methodologies (removing compression or cryogenic cooling costs and reducing site operation costs through energy optimisation).