Advancing the Transition: Solid State Hydrogen Storage Project in Colorado
Key Ideas
  • SoCalGas and GKN Hydrogen, in partnership with NREL, are leading a project to evaluate solid-state hydrogen storage technology for clean energy integration.
  • The project aims to increase the availability of resilient, on-site renewable power generation by storing hydrogen in metal hydrides, potentially contributing to a net-zero emissions economy.
  • GKN Hydrogen's storage systems offer benefits in safety, footprint, and cost efficiency, showing promise for commercial use cases in the growing hydrogen economy.
  • Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and SoCalGas, the project utilizing NREL's ARIES platform in Colorado is set to run until December 2026, aiming to advance hydrogen technologies at scale.
SoCalGas, in collaboration with GKN Hydrogen and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), has initiated a groundbreaking project in Los Angeles to explore the potential of solid-state hydrogen storage technology. This innovative approach involves storing hydrogen in metal hydrides, a departure from traditional gaseous storage, and aims to assess its performance and integration with clean energy systems like microgrids and fuel cells. The project, based at NREL's Flatirons Campus in Arvada, Colorado, will leverage renewable energy sources to produce clean hydrogen through electrolysis, demonstrating the storage of up to 500 kilograms of hydrogen in a solid state without compression. By utilizing GKN Hydrogen's storage systems, the project seeks to enable on-site generation of zero-emissions electricity using fuel cells, contributing to the reduction of carbon footprints. Jawaad Malik, from SoCalGas, highlights the project's focus on leveraging surplus renewable energy for sustainable energy solutions. Jim Petrecky, COO of GKN Hydrogen, emphasizes the transformative potential of hydrogen in the energy sector, citing benefits in safety, footprint, and cost efficiency. The project is part of efforts to decarbonize industries through long-duration storage technologies. The collaboration with NREL's ARIES platform underscores a commitment to validating diverse decarbonization applications in commercial and industrial settings. Katherine Hurst, the principal investigator at NREL, anticipates that the project will enhance the interoperability of hydrogen technologies and renewable energies on a significant scale. Funded by the DOE and SoCalGas, this endeavor symbolizes a crucial step towards advancing the hydrogen economy and facilitating the transition to cleaner energy systems. With a timeline extending until December 2026, the project signifies a long-term commitment to exploring the commercial viability of solid-state hydrogen storage. By harnessing the expertise of industry leaders and research institutions, this initiative aims to drive innovation in energy storage, supporting the broader goal of achieving a sustainable and efficient energy infrastructure.
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