The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is to look at the economic and technological potential of hydrogen storage and flexible turbine systems.
The UK-based organisation wants a better understanding of the economics of flexible power generation systems based on hydrogen production and storage coupled with flexible turbines. Such facilities could be coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS) to provide a low-carbon energy storage system.
Energy storage is becoming increasingly important in power grids because of the increased levels of renewable energy capacity being installed. Flexible power generation and energy storage system would be able to provide an immediate back-up to wind and solar power plants, for example, whose output can be intermittent.
Last month E.On started building a pilot plant that will generate hydrogen for storage in the German natural gas network.
The ETI is seeking organizations to carry out the five-month project and says it will use the findings to further influence its CCS programme, in which it has already invested over £30 million.
“This particular project will provide us with some immediate answers as to the viability of flexible, low carbon power generation systems involving the generation and immediate storage of hydrogen as well as help guide our future thinking and planning across our CCS portfolio,” said Andrew Green, CCS Programme Manager at the ETI. “We are seeking research partners that have a developed understanding and knowledge in this area whose work and insights can help inform our future CCS strategy.”
