Articles tagged with "hydrogen-storage"
China's solar-nuclear hybrid system boosts grid reliability above 98%
Researchers at China’s Guangdong Power Grid have developed a solar-nuclear hybrid microgrid system that demonstrated over 98% power supply reliability in a one-year simulation, while reducing operational costs by about 18.7% and carbon emissions by nearly 37.1%. The system integrates 40 MW of photovoltaic (PV) capacity with a Small Modular Reactor (SMR) nuclear unit, supported by a 20 MWh lithium-ion battery and a hydrogen storage unit, to manage an average industrial load of 85 MW and a residential load of 15 MW. This hybrid approach leverages the complementary strengths of solar and nuclear power to enhance grid resilience and lower emissions. Central to the system’s success is an advanced Energy Management System (EMS) that employs a dual-layer storage strategy combining short-term battery storage and long-term hydrogen storage to balance daily and seasonal energy fluctuations. The EMS uses a sophisticated scheduling framework that integrates multi-objective distributionally robust optimization (DRO) with real-time reinforcement learning (RL
energysolar-powernuclear-energymicrogridenergy-management-systembattery-storagehydrogen-storageThe US Green Hydrogen Industry Is Taking Its Show On The Road
The US green hydrogen industry, despite setbacks under the Trump administration, is finding opportunities abroad where governments are more supportive of decarbonization efforts. A notable example is the H2 Hollandia green hydrogen project in the Netherlands, where New York-based Plug Power is deploying a 5-megawatt electrolyzer system powered entirely by renewable energy from the adjacent 115-MWp Vloeivelden Hollandia solar array. This setup allows the conversion of surplus solar energy—otherwise curtailed due to grid limitations—into green hydrogen for storage and use in transportation and industry, without adding strain to the electricity grid. Scheduled to become operational in 2026, the H2 Hollandia project aims to produce approximately 300,000 kilograms of green hydrogen annually, serving as the first fully green electrolyzer hydrogen hub in the Netherlands. The project is led by Dutch green energy developer Novar and construction firm Avitec, highlighting the role of green hydrogen in reducing grid congestion and promoting clean mobility. Plug Power
energygreen-hydrogenrenewable-energyelectrolyzerdecarbonizationsolar-powerhydrogen-storageNobel Prize in Chemistry honors trio behind metal–organic frameworks
The 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for their pioneering development of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). These crystalline materials are constructed by linking metal ions with organic molecules to create highly porous structures with vast internal surface areas. MOFs can trap, store, and manipulate gases and molecules, enabling applications such as capturing greenhouse gases, purifying water, catalyzing chemical reactions, and storing hydrogen fuel. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences highlighted the trio’s work as transformative for materials science, opening new avenues for clean energy and environmental sustainability. The origins of MOFs date back to 1989 when Richard Robson first assembled copper ions with organic molecules into crystalline frameworks, although early versions were unstable. Susumu Kitagawa later demonstrated the frameworks’ flexibility and gas absorption capabilities, while Omar Yaghi engineered the first highly stable MOFs and introduced rational design principles. These principles allow chemists to tailor MO
materials-sciencemetal-organic-frameworksMOFsclean-energycarbon-capturehydrogen-storageenvironmental-applicationsHonda and Astrobotic team up to keep the lights on through the long lunar night
Honda and lunar startup Astrobotic have partnered to investigate the use of Honda’s regenerative fuel cell (RFC) system to provide continuous power during the Moon’s two-week-long night. Their collaboration focuses on integrating Honda’s RFC with Astrobotic’s LunaGrid, a scalable solar power service featuring Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT) designed to maximize sunlight capture. The RFC stores solar energy as hydrogen during the lunar day and converts it back to electricity at night, producing water as a byproduct, which is then recycled to create more hydrogen, forming a closed-loop energy cycle. This system aims to overcome the challenge of sustaining power when solar panels are inactive due to the lunar night’s extreme cold. Astrobotic, known for its Peregrine lunar lander and development of lunar power and mobility systems, seeks to build a lunar economy, while Honda marks its first public foray into space applications of its fuel cell technology. The partnership involves conducting illumination studies at potential lunar south pole landing sites and evaluating
energyregenerative-fuel-celllunar-powersolar-energylunar-explorationhydrogen-storagespace-technologyCommon mineral ‘green rust’ could make hydrogen cars, ships a reality
Researchers at Japan’s National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) have developed a cost-effective, high-performance catalyst for hydrogen storage by modifying a common mineral called green rust, an iron hydroxide. This catalyst enables the release of hydrogen from sodium borohydride (NaBH4) through hydrolysis at room temperature without relying on expensive precious metals like platinum, addressing a major challenge in hydrogen fuel technology. The modification involves treating green rust particles with copper chloride, creating nanoscale copper oxide clusters that serve as highly active sites for hydrogen production. The catalyst also harnesses solar energy, with the green rust structure absorbing sunlight and transferring energy via copper clusters to enhance the hydrolysis reaction’s efficiency and hydrogen generation rate. Performance tests showed that this catalyst achieves hydrogen production rates comparable to or exceeding those of traditional precious metal catalysts, while maintaining durability over repeated use. Its room-temperature operation, simple production, and compatibility with existing hydrogen systems position it as a promising solution to advance clean hydrogen energy, particularly when combined with
energyhydrogen-storagegreen-rustcatalysthydrogen-fuel-cellsclean-energymaterials-scienceJapan's 90 °C hydrogen battery breakthrough solves storage barrier
Researchers at the Institute of Science, Tokyo, have developed a groundbreaking hydrogen battery capable of operating at just 90 °C, significantly lower than the conventional 300–400 °C required for hydrogen storage. This innovation addresses a major challenge in hydrogen energy: safe and efficient storage. The team, including Dr. Takashi Hirose, Assistant Professor Naoki Matsui, and Professor Ryoji Kanno, created a solid-state battery using magnesium hydride (MgH₂) as the anode and hydrogen gas as the cathode, coupled with a novel solid electrolyte that facilitates rapid hydride ion movement at near room temperature. This design enables a fully reversible cycle of hydrogen absorption and release without the need for extreme heat, achieving the full theoretical storage capacity of MgH₂ (approximately 2,030 mAh g⁻¹ or 7.6 wt.% hydrogen). This breakthrough has significant implications for the hydrogen economy, potentially accelerating the adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles, renewable energy storage, and
energyhydrogen-storagesolid-state-batteryrenewable-energymagnesium-hydrideclean-energybattery-technologyHydrogen tank leaks threaten fuel supply, study suggests fixes
A recent study by researchers at Washington State University addresses the significant challenge of hydrogen fuel loss due to evaporation in liquid hydrogen storage tanks. Liquid hydrogen, favored for industrial use and clean energy applications, must be kept at extremely low temperatures, but even brief exposure to air causes rapid evaporation, leading to substantial fuel losses. The team developed an efficient mathematical model that simulates tank behavior over extended periods, enabling operators to identify conditions that trigger hydrogen boil-off and adjust operational parameters accordingly. For example, by simply modifying the pressure limits of relief valves during hydrogen transfer, the researchers demonstrated a 26% reduction in fuel loss, highlighting that straightforward operational tweaks can yield major efficiency improvements. This advancement holds considerable real-world implications, especially for companies like Plug Power, which operates hundreds of liquid hydrogen tanks fueling tens of thousands of forklifts critical to supply chains. Even small efficiency gains at this scale can translate into significant cost savings and reduced emissions. The new model, calibrated with real-world data and capable of simulating hundreds of
energyhydrogen-storagefuel-efficiencyclean-energyliquid-hydrogenenergy-modelingfuel-loss-reductionHydrogen breakthrough: New liquid stores clean fuel at room temperature
Researchers at EPFL and Kyoto University have developed the first hydride-based deep eutectic solvent (DES), a hydrogen-rich liquid stable at room temperature that could revolutionize hydrogen storage. This liquid is created by mixing ammonia borane and tetrabutylammonium borohydride in specific ratios (50%-80% ammonia borane), resulting in a transparent, stable liquid containing up to 6.9% hydrogen by weight—surpassing the US Department of Energy’s 2025 hydrogen storage target. The DES remains liquid due to strong hydrogen bonding disrupting the crystalline structure of the individual components, and it does not crystallize even when cooled below −50°C, instead undergoing a glass transition. This new hydrogen storage medium offers significant advantages over existing methods, which rely on high-pressure gas compression or cryogenic cooling, both energy-intensive and cumbersome. The liquid releases pure hydrogen gas at a relatively low temperature of 60°C, requiring less energy than many solid-state storage materials, and only the
energyhydrogen-storageclean-fuelhydride-based-solventdeep-eutectic-solventrenewable-energysustainable-materialsPlasma tech zaps air into clean ammonia without gas or pressure
Researchers at the University of Sydney have developed a novel plasma-based technology that produces ammonia directly from air using electricity and artificial lightning, offering a cleaner, decentralized alternative to the traditional Haber-Bosch process. Unlike the conventional method, which requires high heat, pressure, and fossil fuels, this new two-step approach excites nitrogen and oxygen molecules in air via plasma and then converts them into gaseous ammonia through a membrane-based electrolyzer. This innovation bypasses previous inefficiencies where ammonia was only produced in liquid ammonium form, enabling a more straightforward and scalable production of green ammonia, particularly beneficial for rural or off-grid areas. Ammonia is critical not only for fertilizer production, supporting nearly half of global food supply, but also as a potential carbon-free fuel and hydrogen carrier, with industries like shipping exploring its use to reduce emissions. The Sydney team’s plasma-electrolysis method has demonstrated viability in energy efficiency and scalability for the plasma component, though further improvements are needed for the electrolyzer’s efficiency.
energygreen-ammoniaplasma-technologysustainable-fertilizerhydrogen-storageclean-energymembrane-electrolyzer