Hydrogen: The fuel of the future. If energy storage is the problem then hydrogen provides a solution
28/05/2014 Paolo Bert cospp.com
Hydrogen makes for the ideal choice of energy storage as it has high energy content. It is also clean, versatile and abundant. The key to unlocking hydrogen's potential for energy is on-site hydrogen generation and storage, argues Paolo Bert.
With the world turning away from fossil fuels in the face of growing regulation and looming emissions targets, renewable energy sources are undoubtedly the future. However, as the Institution of Mechanical Engineers recently warned in a report entitled Energy Storage: The Missing Link in the UK's Energy Commitments, the future viability of renewables relies largely on the ability to store renewably generated energy.
Being able to store renewably generated energy means
it can be consumed when the energy is needed,
irrespective of weather conditions
Since the shining sun and blowing wind may not coincide with energy demand, the sun or wind's potential for energy generation will be lost if it is not somehow saved. This is the intermittency challenge of renewable energies. It is principally for this reason that energy storage is so important, as being able to store renewably generated energy means it can be consumed when needed, irrespective of weather conditions.
If energy storage is the problem, then hydrogen provides a solution.
How can hydrogen be used to store energy? Through the process of electrolysis, where an electric current is passed through water, hydrogen and oxygen are produced. The electricity used to split the water into hydrogen and oxygen can be drawn from a grid supply, or indeed be taken directly from a renewable source, such as a wind turbine or solar panel...
The Acta Power the 'Hydrogen Battery'
is a self-recharging fuel cell power system
Full Article: http://www.cospp.com/articles/print/volume-15/issue-3/features/hydrogen-the-fuel-of-the-future.html