UK Government funds world-first pilot of safe and non-toxic hydrogen storage
Element 2 Hydrogen Refuelling Station
Carbon280 has joined forces with global engineering firm Worley, and UK hydrogen refuelling specialist Element 2, in a consortium led by European storage developer, Corre Energy. The consortium also includes, Menter Mon - developers of the Holyhead Hydrogen Hub and Energy Reform, European energy systems modelling specialists. Today, the UK government Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) announced that the Hydrilyte™ Refueller Prototype project has been awarded funding through the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) Longer Duration Energy Storage Demonstration programme. Under the first phase of the two-phase programme, the consortium is delivering a feasibility study for a Phase 2 prototype which, if successful, will be built between 2022 and 2024 at Holyhead in North Wales.
The UK’s COMAH regulations for dangerous goods prohibit the storage of hydrogen gas in large volumes in non-industrial areas like truck stops.
Hydrogen refuelling specialist Element 2 is investing in prime locations across the UK and Ireland, and plan to deploy over 800 hydrogen refuellers onto the UK network by 2027 and 2,000 by 2030. Brendan Bilton, Founder and Chief Technology Officer at , Element 2, commented: “This limitation on volume practically limits the number of trucks that a truck stop can service to around eight to 10 HGVs per day. With around 500,000 HGVs on UK roads, compressed hydrogen simply doesn’t offer the scalability as a ‘Hub to Station' hydrogen carrier. We are excited to be part of this project because Hydrilyte™ has the potential to provide a safe and scalable alternative that will enable the UK to lead the world in the transition from diesel to hydrogen powered heavy vehicles by 2030.”
Mark Rheinlander, CEO of Carbon280 said: “ The Hydrilyte™ Refueller Prototype project will demonstrate the twin benefits of grid flexible electricity demand: i.e. the ability to turn on hydrogen production when power generated by renewables exceeds load, and turn off when load exceeds generation; and the ability to safely and economically store, transport and deliver hydrogen to refuelling stations.”
Keith McGrane, CEO of Corre Energy said: “Our consortium is very pleased to have been awarded feasibility funding under this UK government sponsored competition and the prospect of substantial additional funding. However, the bigger prize would be helping to decarbonise the UK’s heavy goods fleet and powergen sectors by developing scalable green energy storage solutions that are safe and clean and will help drive down energy costs.
Many decarbonisation ambitions are high on aspiration but are difficult or costly to implement. By utilising the existing diesel supply models of direct delivery to fuel forecourts we believe Carbon280 is on the cusp of a highly implementable alternative to fossil fuels for transport and for product delivery supply chains.”
Willie Reilly, Alliance Director at Worley, said: “Our advisory and project execution team is partnering with Carbon280 globally because of the potential for the Hydrilyte™ technology to provide a safe, low cost, highly scalable, multi-purpose hydrogen carrier, not only for Hub to Station transport, but across the many industries that we operate in.”
Dafydd Gruffydd, Managing Director at Menter Môn said: “Menter Môn is delighted to be part of this innovative project which will deliver significant added value to the Holyhead Hydrogen Hub.”
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Hands said: “Driving forward energy storage technologies will be vital in our transition towards cheap, clean and secure renewable energy. It will allow us to extract the full benefit from our home-grown renewable energy sources, drive down costs and end our reliance on volatile and expensive fossil fuels. Through this competition we are making sure the country’s most innovative scientists and thinkers have our backing to make this ambition a reality.”