Page 42 - European Energy Innovation - Summer 2017 publication

42 Summer 2017 European Energy Innovation

ENERGY STORAGE

Hydrogen produced from excess
renewable electricity can bridge the
electricity system with the transport
and industrial sectors and contribute to
their decarbonisation.

When produced from renewable
sources, hydrogen provides pollution
and CO2 free energy for all end-use
applications. The “Power-to-Gas”
concept refers to the process of
converting surplus renewable energy
into hydrogen gas. Combined with
the greenhouse gas CO2, renewable
hydrogen can be used to produce
methane, which can be injected, stored
and distributed in the natural gas
network.

Significant development is still needed
before hydrogen can be exploited in
the same way as conventional fossil
fuels. The storage and distribution
of hydrogen is challenging due to its
low volumetric energy density. It is
associated with hazards that must be
properly addressed to ensure its safe
distribution, storage and use.

In order to come up with solutions
to these challenges, JRC scientists,
engineers, computer modellers and
technical staff perform pre-normative
research for the development and
improvement of hydrogen storage,
safety and detection. They are tasked
with testing high pressure vehicle
tanks, storage materials and hydrogen
sensors to measure their safety and
performance.

“The conversion of excess electricity
to hydrogen can help facilitate the
integration of large shares of intermittent
renewable sources into energy grids.
In addition to reducing the need for
curtailment of renewable electricity
generation, power-to-hydrogen
contributes to enhanced energy security
through interlinking of the energy,

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