HyScale is an innovative project that aims to access curtailed wind generation to create green hydrogen as a storage medium for renewable energy. Working with partners Cadent, National Grid Gas Transmission and Wales & West Utilities, HyScale is investigating opportunities to use Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs) to capture, store, transport and release hydrogen at bulk scale around the UK.

Hydrogen would be produced using electrolysis powered by renewable wind and then hydrogenated – stored within a suitable liquid carrier.  The hydrogen, as LOHC, can be stored and transported in low cost containers and tankers and has the potential to be used as bulk storage underground without any degradation. When required for use the hydrogen is dehydrogenated from the liquid carrier and piped into a distribution network under pressure, in the same way natural gas is distributed today.

Hydrogen stored within a liquid is a potential carbon free solution to the problem of mass storage and transportation of electricity, for use at periods of high demand when the power grids are at capacity, or when customers can’t access energy where they need it. It has significant advantages over compressed hydrogen gas, not least its easy storage and portability. 

It would provide an alternative to storing energy in expensive high-risk pressurised steel vessels as LOCHs can be stored at normal atmospheric pressure. Hydrogen in a LOHC state can be stored and transporter in the same way as liquid fuels such as diesel, but at less risks due to the very low volatility of LOHCs.

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