Exolum's Innovative Green Hydrogen Pilot Project in Britain
Key Ideas
- Exolum, a Spanish oil storage company, is testing a pilot project in Britain to transport and store green hydrogen using existing oil infrastructure.
- The project utilizes liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC) to safely transport hydrogen in liquid form, aiming to address a key challenge in the hydrogen economy.
- Reusing fossil fuel storage and pipelines for green hydrogen could accelerate its deployment, with the British government supporting the project financially.
- Exolum plans to release a report on the costs and benefits of the system next year, potentially paving the way for more widespread adoption of green hydrogen.
Exolum, a Spanish oil storage infrastructure company, has initiated a groundbreaking pilot project in Britain to explore the transportation and storage of green hydrogen at a commercial scale using existing oil infrastructure. This innovative project involves the use of liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHC), organic compounds capable of absorbing and releasing hydrogen through chemical reactions, to transport and store hydrogen in liquid form. The primary objective is to overcome a significant challenge in the hydrogen economy: the safe and cost-effective transportation of hydrogen to end users. By repurposing existing fossil fuel storage facilities and pipelines, Exolum aims to expedite the deployment of green hydrogen, a type of hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources. The project, located at the British freight port of Immingham, has received financial support from the British government. It involves transporting 400 cubic meters of LOHC containing 20 metric tons of hydrogen through a 1.5-kilometer pipeline. Following this pilot phase, Exolum plans to release a comprehensive report early next year outlining the potential costs and benefits of the system. This initiative not only represents a step towards sustainable energy practices but also demonstrates the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders in advancing green hydrogen technology.