Low Cost Green Hydrogen from Curtailed Renewable Electricity

Recording of Friday, May 09, 2025 | The smarter E Europe Exhibition Program 2025 | Exhibition Program | Language: English | Duration: 12:21 .

Unlocking Green Hydrogen's Potential: Overcoming Cost and Grid Challenges with Innovative Storage Solutions in Europe

The content delves into the challenges and potential solutions for integrating green hydrogen production with renewable energy sources. A significant issue is the high cost of producing green hydrogen, compounded by market uncertainties that have hindered its mainstream adoption despite previous enthusiasm. Renewable energy sources like wind and solar are variable, leading to power surges when excess electricity isn't utilized by grids efficiently. The proposed solution involves using surplus or curtailed electrical power from renewables to produce cheaper green hydrogen, deviating from traditional methods reliant on consistent utilization in regions abundant with cheap resources—conditions not prevalent in Europe due to less favorable weather patterns. Complex EU regulations further complicate this process by necessitating additional renewable installations for viable production within Europe. However, leveraging low-cost curtailed power offers a path towards affordable green hydrogen amidst regulatory hurdles. A study suggests optimal 40% utilization rates during off-peak times can economically benefit areas experiencing negative electricity prices due to oversupply issues—a scenario common in South Australia during peak sunlight hours. Challenges include developing electrolyzer systems capable of rapid response without damage under intermittent operations; technologies such as alkaline or PEM electrolysis alongside battery integration strategies are considered viable options. Hydrogen storage possibilities highlight salt caverns' cost-effectiveness but also recognize lined rock cavern storage where geological conditions aren't conducive for salt formations—relevant particularly in Nordic countries lacking suitable geology for salt caverns. Future prospects indicate that combining underground hydrogen storage with pipeline infrastructure could significantly lower costs associated with meeting continuous industrial demand against an intermittent supply backdrop around 2030 onwards.

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