the hydrogen office

Hydrogen for Energy Storage?

Anna Graham

Overview

• Setting the Context

• Why Hydrogen?

• The Hydrogen Office

Setting the Context

• Scotland’s wind and seas hold some of the most concentrated

energy potential in the world

• Scottish Government target of 100% electricity from renewables

by 2020, currently around 33%

• UK has only 1.11 turbines/100km2 c.f. 10.85 in Denmark

• 12,000 media articles written in 2010 but just 400 turbines installed

• The wind industry now employs >10,000 people, making it

larger than the UK coal industry

• A recent study indicated that almost 50% Scots agreed

Scotland’s energy should come from renewables

Setting the Context Meanwhile......

And....

Source: Scotsman 27th April 2011

What are the issues?

• Intermittent supply gives rise to grid instability – intermittent supply could be 50% of installed capacity by 2020 (Scotland)

• Large fossil plants required to operate at part load to meet requirements

• Spinning reserve is expensive and carbon intensive

• By 2020 may be times when wholesale electricity is free due to excess wind, and other times could peak at £1.30/kWh

• Need to consider energy storage to meet 2020 targets

The Green Hydrogen Cycle

Why Hydrogen for Storage?

• Only proven technology that can manage intermittent supply, other technologies – flow cell batteries, NaS batteries still not

fully proven

• Energy density storage higher for hydrogen vs. normal batteries

– 33kWh/kg (1.97kWh/kg including enclosure),

– 0.16kWh/kg Lithium Ion

– 0.04kWh/kg VRLA Battery

• Benefits: Can store power over long period of time, systems are

compact, no moving parts, no pollution

• Drawbacks: Cost and durability of materials, efficiency...?

Introducing The Hydrogen Office

The Energy System

Current Projects

• Sustainable

Transport

• Education

Thank you for your attention

Future contact: Gregor Murray gregor@thebusinesspartnership.org.uk

www.thehydrogenoffice.com