This document discusses using hydrogen as an energy storage solution for Scotland's intermittent renewable energy sources like wind and tidal power. Scotland aims to source 100% of its electricity from renewables by 2020 but intermittent supplies can cause grid instability. Hydrogen is proposed as the only proven technology that can manage intermittent supply at scale. It has a higher energy density than batteries and can store power over long periods with no pollution. The document introduces The Hydrogen Office, a group currently working on projects around sustainable transport and education to advance the use of hydrogen as an energy storage and transportation fuel in Scotland.

1. Hydrogen for Energy Storage?
Anna Graham

2. Overview
• Setting the Context
• Why Hydrogen?
• The Hydrogen Office

3. Setting the Context
• Scotland’s wind and seas hold some of the most concentrated
energy potential in the world
• Scottish Government target of 100% electricity from renewables
by 2020, currently around 33%
• UK has only 1.11 turbines/100km2 c.f. 10.85 in Denmark
• 12,000 media articles written in 2010 but just 400 turbines
installed
• The wind industry now employs >10,000 people, making it
larger than the UK coal industry
• A recent study indicated that almost 50% Scots agreed
Scotland’s energy should come from renewables

4. Meanwhile......
Setting the Context

5. And....
Source: Scotsman 27th April 2011

6. What are the issues?
• Intermittent supply gives rise to grid instability – intermittent
supply could be 50% of installed capacity by 2020 (Scotland)
• Large fossil plants required to operate at part load to meet
requirements
• Spinning reserve is expensive and carbon intensive
• By 2020 may be times when wholesale electricity is free due to
excess wind, and other times could peak at £1.30/kWh
• Need to consider energy storage to meet 2020 targets

7. The Green Hydrogen Cycle

8. Why Hydrogen for Storage?
• Only proven technology that can manage intermittent supply,
other technologies – flow cell batteries, NaS batteries still not
fully proven
• Energy density storage higher for hydrogen vs. normal batteries
– 33kWh/kg (1.97kWh/kg including enclosure),
– 0.16kWh/kg Lithium Ion
– 0.04kWh/kg VRLA Battery
• Benefits: Can store power over long period of time, systems are
compact, no moving parts, no pollution
• Drawbacks: Cost and durability of materials, efficiency...?

9. Introducing The Hydrogen Office

10. The Energy System

11. Current Projects
• Sustainable
Transport
• Education

12. Thank you for your attention
Future contact: Gregor Murray
gregor@thebusinesspartnership.org.uk
www.thehydrogenoffice.com