For an electrolyzer to work with electricity from the grid, it needs a rectifier. The rectifiers work, in essence, like a photovoltaic inverter – but the other way around. Several companies from the solar industry are now active in this area. Positive side effect: Your technology is inherently network friendly.
Instead of by electrolysis, hydrogen can also be produced photochemically. A research team at Universität Ulm has developed a molecule that stores energy from light by holding onto electrons released by another molecule. The hydrogen can then be produced with this stored energy at a later time as needed.
French company Lhyfe has plans to establish large-scale hydrogen production at sea. That’s where the greatest potential lies, it believes. It’s an ambition that could be helped by the legacy pipes and connections from old oil and gas fields. The goal is to have a test facility up and running just off the French Atlantic coast by late summer 2022.
With the Hydrogen Technology Conference & Expo, a hydrogen and fuel cell fair has taken place in the city of Bremen for the first time. On October 20th and 21st, around 130 exhibitors seized the opportunity to finally be in the presence of customers and business associates after the long break on account of COVID. The number of participating institutions, however, were not enough to fill the exhibition hall. As a result, the fair gave the appearance of being rather improvised. Stand numbers were missing, a map of the hall was only to be found on the app, and the stands were for the most part small and sparse in terms of presentation material. When asked, the exhibitors said that they were just getting a feel for what the new trade fair could bring.
While hydrogen is indeed a versatile energy carrier, the transportation of large quantities over long distances remains a challenge. One solution could be green ammonia as it can be conveyed and stored in a more manageable way than hydrogen.