RENEWABLE HYDROGEN
Electricity passing through water splits the water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen produced from this process can be used as a fuel directly, or as a building block to make other energy- intensive products such as ammonia and methane. Using renewable electricity for this process can reduce dependence on fossil fuels and extend the reach of wind and solar power beyond the confines of the electric grid.
Electrolyzers are the set of technologies for converting electricity and water into fuel. They can provide completely flexible electrical demand, helping to accommodate the variability of renewable resources, and reduce the amount of renewable energy lost when supply exceeds demand for power. At-scale deployments in Europe have caused the cost of the technologies to drop precipitously, introducing a new opportunity to address climate change with a win-win solution.
SURPLUS RENEWABLES AND HYDROGEN
Power from wind and solar is the least cost source of electricity in many regions. Costs for these resources are historically low and continue to drop, prompting utilities and states to depend more and more on renewable electricity.
A key feature of these renewable sources is the variability in output levels—sometimes producing less than demand, and increasingly, more power than demand can support. When supply exceeds demand, wholesale electric market prices drop, sometimes resulting in wind and solar power being turned away altogether due to lack of demand.
Using the excess or “surplus” renewable power to produce hydrogen is a more efficient use of the energy created, and increases the value of renewables by creating flexible demand for power when it can’t otherwise be efficiently put to good use.
See the global Hydrogen Council’s “Hydrogen Scaling Up!” video below. (full report)
See the March 2020 World Hydrogen Fuels Summit summary visit below. The next World Hydrogen Summit will take place between 9th and 10th March 2021.
UPCOMING EVENTS
California Hydrogen Business Council Long Duration Storage webinar, Oct 20, 2020, 11 am – 12:15 pm Pacific Time.
Center for Hydrogen Safety Europe Conference 2020, Oct 20-22, teleconference.
RHA Washington Policy Subcommittee Meeting, Oct 22, 2020, 1 PM – 2 PM PST.
RHA Commercial Development Committee Meeting w/ Mitsubishi Power, Oct 29, 2020, 9 AM – 10 AM PST.
RHA Oregon Policy Subcommittee Meeting, Nov 10, 2020, 1 PM – 2 PM PST.
Green Hydrogen Visions for the West, Green Hydrogen Council, Nov. 17-18, 2020 8:30 am – 12:30 pm Pacific Time.
**Asia-Pacific Hydrogen Summit, Nov 24-25, 2020, Singapore.
**European Hydrogen & P2X Conference, Feb 9-10, 2021, Copenhagen.
**2nd World Hydrogen Summit, Mar 9-10, 2021, Virtual.
Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Energy Summit, Mar 17/18, 2021, Porto Portugal.
Hydrogen + Fuel Cells Europe, Apr 12-16, 2021, Hanover, Germany.
World Hydrogen Energy Conference, June 26-30, 2022, Istanbul, Turkey.
*RHA invited to speak.
** Special offer to RHA members may apply.
* **RHA member discount, RHA speaking.
