During World War I, the UK and Germany were sworn enemies. Today, however, they are no longer enemies, but they do have a friendly competition going regarding the use of renewable resources to create clean hydrogen fuel. In the UK, ITM Power is teaming up with several different partners in an EcoIsland project.
According to ITM Power, “The EcoIsland project brings together within a single island energy system a critical mass of smart energy technologies to demonstrate how a future energy system can be configured. With renewable generation including wind, solar, tidal and geothermal the island will need to match supply and demand using battery energy storage, hydrogen energy storage and demand side management. These technologies will be coordinated centrally by smart grid technologies supplied by IBM, Cable&Wireless Worldwide, SSE and Toshiba.
“ITM Power is the hydrogen fuel partner and will supply hydrogen refueling equipment controlled by smart grid technology to optimize both renewable energy storage and the provision of fuel to both fuel cell vehicles and Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine commercial vehicles. The intention is that the island will also be a showcase for advanced low emission hydrogen vehicles being launched from 2013.”
And in Germany, just outside of Berlin a groundbreaking has occurred for a one of a kind, hydrogen hybrid fueling station.
According to DB, “The aim of this groundbreaking project is to demonstrate the feasibility of a safe and sustainable supply and storage of energy by using a mix of purely renewable energy sources in practical testing. The hydrogen-hybrid power station unites for the first time wind, hydrogen and biogas to one compound. The electricity generated by three wind turbines is proportionately used to manufacture CO2-free hydrogen. This green hydrogen is stored and used to produce electricity and heat by means of a combined hydrogen-biogas power plant at times of high demand and simultaneously low supply of wind energy. Moreover, this hydrogen is also used in the pumps at TOTAL hydrogen filling stations in Berlin and Hamburg. In this way, green hydrogen from the Uckermarck guarantees CO2-free mobility in our capital city.”
So, you see, the UK and Germany are charging full bore ahead when it comes to novel ways to produce hydrogen cleanly in anticipation of the influx of H2 vehicles that will start to be sold commercially within the next few years.