Renewable Energy

RENEWABLE ENERGY

HYDROGEN COULD FUEL GREEN ECONOMIC RECOVERY

Mark Griffin, Hydrogen Market Development Manager for Clean Fuels, BOC

Large-scale hydrogen storage react quickly to vary their electricity can support renewables while demand on request, they can get paid bringing benefits to public sector for their flexibility by grid operators. organisations, transport companies and electricity suppliers. This is called demand-side response. ENERGY STORAGE – energy mix – bringing benefits to everyone involved. The UK grid benefits from increased

HYDROGEN AND THE FUTURE EXPLORING THE OPTIONS flexibility, while hydrogen storage facility

OF GREEN ENERGY There are a number of ways to store owners benefit from financial incentives

Public sector organisations need to take surplus electricity, and each has its own offered for grid balancing activities. Transport a lead role in the government’s plan for a unique advantages. Pumped storage companies then benefit from reduced green economic recovery, and investment hydroelectricity (PSH) uses surplus electricity prices in hydrogen fuel. And of course, in hydrogen transport and storage is a good to pump water from a reservoir to a higher everybody benefits from lower transport place to start. Converting transport fleets elevation. This is one of the most efficient emissions and reduced carbon emissions as to hydrogen power is not only practical ways of storing energy – but relies on very renewable energy becomes more viable. and achievable, but, when combined large-scale geographical solutions. Most of HOW PUBLIC SECTOR with investment in large-scale hydrogen the sites where PSH could be effective are ORGANISATIONS CAN storage facilities, could set the foundations for further decarbonisation projects. By in use and creating new sites would have a significant impact on the environment. GET INVOLVED investing in large scale storage facilities, Large scale battery storage facilities While the initial investment required public sector organisations can both bring offer another way to store electricity. The for hydrogen storage is high, it becomes down the cost of fuel at the pump (making recently completed Pelham Battery Storage feasible for when businesses and public hydrogen powered EVs more affordable Project in Hertfordshire can store up to sector organisations begin converting to a wider audience) and support the 50MW and release it to add capacity to transport hubs to hydrogen power. growth of the renewable energy sector. the grid when needed. Its big advantage is When applied to fleets of 50-100

According to the National Grid Future flexibility and speed of reaction. But battery vehicles or more, the economics of hydrogen

Energy Scenario, the UK needs to increase storage facilities tend to have a relatively refuelling change dramatically. Driving up its capacity for renewable generation to short discharge time – making them less demand for large volumes of hydrogen about 100GW to reach its target of net zero suitable for prolonged shortages of power. opens the door to different investment by 2050. That’s about double the capacity A third option, however, is hydrogen. models, including the option to have the that was in place at the end of 2019. But the Using electrolysis, hydrogen can act as a hydrogen supplier fund the capital cost of more we rely on renewable sources of energy, very cost-effective energy store, which has the refuelling station. This removes one the harder it is for electricity suppliers to similar performance to PSH without requiring of the biggest barriers to organisations balance supply and demand. This is where suitable geographical features. The flexibility developing hydrogen infrastructure and large scale hydrogen storage facilities come of the proton exchange membrane (PEM) frees up capital to invest in vehicles. in. By storing surplus energy, they can help technology used within the electrolyser One of the best examples of this is the to balance the grid – a win-win situation enables the electrolysis process to be Kittybrewster refuelling station in Aberdeen. for all parties. Electricity suppliers get the switched on and off very quickly to help BOC, a Linde company, worked with Aberdeen flexibility they need, city councils and local balance the grid. Its long discharge time – City Council to develop and install a tailored, authorities receive financial rewards for grid particularly when stored at scale – makes it state-of-the-art hydrogen refuelling station balancing, and the price of clean hydrogen a natural choice to complement battery and at Kittybrewster. The facility produces green fuel for transport comes down for everyone. hydro as a means of balancing the grid. hydrogen from electrolysis on site. Hydrogen is stored as a compressed gas until it is

HOW ENERGY STORAGE CAN STORAGE AND AFFORDABLE needed and then pumped into vehicles, much

BALANCE SUPPLY AND DEMAND FUEL FOR TRANSPORT like refuelling a petrol or diesel vehicle. The

When electricity demand is high, energy A shift towards large-scale hydrogen station opened in 2015 and was originally companies must either bring more power storage will also provide a supply of affordable designed to refuel single-deck buses. In 2018 online or encourage users to reduce demand. clean fuel for transport. By investing in it was scaled up to offer public refuelling

When supply is plentiful and demand is low, large-scale hydrogen projects, public sector of cars and vans, with further upgrades suppliers must either lower production or organisations can benefit from financial to accommodate double decker buses. find ways to store the surplus power. The incentives offered for grid balancing and With an expanding fleet of hydrogen driving force behind this is the requirement put the infrastructure in place needed to buses and other vehicles, Aberdeen City is to keep alternating current at a continuous decarbonise transport hubs. These refuelling starting to reap the rewards of hydrogen as frequency of 50hz. A shift in the balance of stations could also be made available to the a transport fuel. And, with the potential to supply and demand will affect the frequency – public – a potential game changer in terms provide energy storage and grid balancing so electricity producers, suppliers and traders of the cost of hydrogen at the pump. services in the future, there are opportunities must constantly work together with large Finally, large-scale hydrogen storage to develop the role of hydrogen even further. consumers to ensure the grid remains stable. facilities will help support the grid as www.boconline.co.uk/HydrogenSolutions

If large energy users are able to renewables become a larger part of the

WHAT ON EARTH IS HYDROGEN? • Abundant element could be vital in response to climate emergency but support for public’s “hydrogen literacy” must keep pace, says EI President. • New EI Guide to Hydrogen provides information on the potential benefits, challenges and user experience in the home, for transport and in industry.

Anew resource designed to support everyday understanding about hydrogen has been published today, to address concerns that lack of awareness could be a barrier to its deployment in the low carbon energy system.

Energy Essentials: A Guide to Hydrogen is an evidence-based, peer-reviewed resource specifically aimed at those who are not expert in the field. It sets out what hydrogen is, how it is made, transported and used, what the experience would be like in the home, for transport and in industry, and what the future of hydrogen might be. EI President Steve Holliday FREng FEI said: “Our response to the climate emergency must put all low carbon solutions in the frame. Hydrogen has potential as a versatile enabler of decarbonisation across the economy and our way of life.

“Like the unfamiliar application of any technology, hydrogen will need to prove itself in terms of cost, safety and low carbon production, but it’s hard to imagine a net zero future without hydrogen in some form or other. “That will mean change, and require a greater level of support to improve the hydrogen literacy of energy users themselves. This new guide has been produced by the Energy Institute as a contribution to that endeavour.”

It is estimated by the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) that more than half (53%) of the emission reductions needed to reach net zero in the UK will come from behavioural or societal change in combination with low carbon technologies. But studies have raised concerns that the public’s level of awareness about hydrogen and its potential role is lagging behind other low carbon technologies and could pose a barrier to its deployment. Research by Madano for the CCC in 2018 found just over half (51%) of survey respondents have never heard of hydrogen fuel boilers, the lowest awareness of all alternative low carbon heat technologies. Research for the H21 project by Leeds Beckett University found 68% of customers are indifferent or undecided about conversion to hydrogen, largely because they don’t know enough about it, are unconvinced that it’s the right solution, or are simply not engaged with the topic. The new guide is freely available at www.energy-inst.org/hydrogen both as an interactive web page and a print-friendly pdf.

WANT TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT?

With large landholdings, vast available roof space, significant energy demand and specific carbon reduction targets, universities and public sector organisations are well placed to develop renewables as a means of making energy savings and potentially generating an additional source of revenue.

Locogen are equipped with specialist knowledge of renewable sources including solar PV, wind energy, hydropower and renewable heat, all of which can reduce reliance on electricity from the grid and safeguard against rising electricity prices. The investment in renewable technologies is a robust one for universities and public sector organisations, especially when the majority of the power is consumed on site or in the case of solar PV, uses freely available space and requires little to no maintenance. There are also opportunities to enter into power purchase agreements with developers who can finance the build and sell the electricity back at a reduced price. This is a low risk way to generate carbon savings and reduce running costs. Locogen have considerable experience working with Local Authorities, NHS Trusts, universities and police authorities on renewable energy projects. This work has ranged from individual technology-specific projects to multi-technology strategy documents and framework agreements for the whole Authority area. The breadth of our experience with universities and public sector organisations means we understand how best to help our clients through the internal decision making stage and provide support during the public procurement process.

If you are an energy manager with carbon reduction targets for your university or public sector organisation - contact us. Phone us on 0131 555 4745, email us at info@locogen.com or find us online at www.locogen.com.