1. Hydrogen Energy Systems for Local Energy Storage and Services
M. Persson (1), D. Mignard (1), G. Harrison (1), S. Galloway (2)
University of Edinburgh, King’s Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JN
University of Strathclyde,Royal College Building, Glasgow, G1 1XW

2. The Need of Energy Storage
Renewable energy growing in capacity
Countries setting ambitious target
For Example Scotland
Renewables covering equivalent of 100% of electricity consumptions by 2020
Renewable energy sources are growing in capacity worldwide, with ambitious targets from countries supporting the change in our electricity sources. For example, Scotland is aiming to have the equivalent of 100% of their electricity consumption generated from renewables ( Although it is fantastic for countries to push for greener energy, renewable energy has one big flaw, its generation isn’t predictable, and it can vary a lot from day to day. This makes it very difficult when planning energy generation to meet demand. A possible solution is energy storage, where there are several technologies both on the market and being developed. They all have their advantages and disadvantages, where didfferent solutions will be application for different locations depending on the specific location and requirements.

3. The Need of Energy Storage
Problems when planning according to demand
Unpredictable energy
Energy storage can help balancing the energy output
Several energy storage technologies
Best technology depends on location and requirements
Renewable energy sources are growing in capacity worldwide, with ambitious targets from countries supporting the change in our electricity sources. For example, Scotland is aiming to have the equivalent of 100% of their electricity consumption generated from renewables ( Although it is fantastic for countries to push for greener energy, renewable energy has one big flaw, its generation isn’t predictable, and it can vary a lot from day to day. This makes it very difficult when planning energy generation to meet demand. A possible solution is energy storage, where there are several technologies both on the market and being developed. They all have their advantages and disadvantages, where didfferent solutions will be application for different locations depending on the specific location and requirements.

4. Green H2 Electrolytic Hydrogen What is it?
Using electricity from renewable energy
One of the this types of solutions is electrolytic hydrogen, produced by splitting water using electricity to get H2 and O seperately. There are currently a number of projects taking place worldwide with focus on hydrogen, and electrolytic hydrogen is used in some.

5. Why Hydrogen? Long term solution Several applications For Example:
Electricity
Waste heat
Fuelling vehicles
Bottled for industry
So why Hydrogen? Hydrogen has the potential to have several uses within one system. For example, the process of water electrolysis to create hydrogen can be reversed to produce electricity when needed, the process results in wasted heat that can be captured, hydrogen can also be used for powering vehicles and be bottled up for industry. Hydrogen has the capability to be stored at a high quality for a long time.

6. Disadvantages with Hydrogen
Expensive
Inefficient
Safety concerns
So what is the future of green hydrogen?
So why aren’t we seeing more hydrogen systems than are currently around today? Well for electrolytic hydrogen, we have the problem of water electrolysis being expensive, inefficient (basic assumption for BGH is 50% elec and 50% fuel cell), and safety concerns (flammable in air at 4%-74%). So the question is, when does a hydrogen system make sense, and how should the set up be to optimise the system depending on local. In other words, what is the future of green hydrogen?

7. Levenmouth Community Energy Project (LCEP)
Methil, Fife
Showcase Hydrogen Energy Storage
Not-For-Profit
4 key areas
Technology and Demonstration
Education and Training
Research and Development
Project Consultancy

8. What’s included? 910kW renewable generation
8 building parallel microgrid
Toshiba H2EMS Smart Grid control
250kW electrolyser/100kW fuel cell ESS
2 hydrogen refuellers
17 vehicle fleet
Study into rural hydrogen production
Storage tanks – 30 bar
Refuellers – 450 bar (as vehicles are 350 bar)

9. The site

10. Energy Priority Diagram

11. The LCEP PhD Project Tracking information from site
Techno – Economic Model
Learnings from LCEP to find best solutions depending on location
Optimisation, comparing technologies and different hydrogen uses
From this setup, data is collected to gather indepth knowledge of what the ideal combination should be for a hydrogen energy system to remain competitive. The PhD project aims to achieve this goal by building a techo-economic model of the site, compare existsing technologies at LCEP with competing products, test weather data both from Methil and other locations to be able to find when and where this system is the best solution.

12. Today Studying our data Looking at other models
Researching different technologies

13. Next Steps BGH model What technologies are direct competition?
Suitable locations?

14. Any Questions? Maja.Persson@ed.ac.uk