Get to know the basics of hydrogen
- Hydrogen is a fundamental molecule. It constitutes 75% of the mass of the entire universe in the form of water and organic elements.
- Hydrogen is the lightest and most basic element with the chemical symbol H and atomic number 1. The atomic form is very unstable, so the element occurs in a molecular form designated as H2.
- It contains only one electron and one proton.
- Under normal conditions, hydrogen is in a gaseous state. It can also be compressed and condensed.
- Hydrogen is a non-toxic, odorless, and lighter than air gas.
- Hydrogen can be safely produced, stored, and transported.
Hydrogen advantages
Hydrogen is relatively easy to produce in industry, chemical processes, and installations that produce it from water through electrolysis. It is also an excellent energy carrier.
By producing hydrogen in electrolyzers powered by electricity from renewable energy sources (RES), we obtain clean, environmentally friendly “green” hydrogen.
Hydrogen utilization
It is a very versatile energy carrier and can be converted to:
- thermal energy for technological processes and heating
- kinetic energy to power vehicles
- electrical energy for direct supply and support of power grids during peak energy demand hours
- chemical energy for conversion into other fuels and use in chemical processes
Energy storage
Excess renewable energy is accumulated by the battery system, and when it is charged, hydrogen production begins in the electrolysis process. When demand is greater than the production capacity of the PV installation or wind power plant, the fuel cell starts the oxidation process, accompanied by the generation of electrical and thermal energy.
Until now, renewable energy sources have not guaranteed stable production, which is required for effective management of the National Power System.
The development of hydrogen technology and its use for energy storage is a remedy for the disadvantages of RES.
Energy storage is the missing link in renewable energy, and its development will simultaneously stimulate further investments in solar and wind power plants. Energy accumulated during periods of overproduction can be successfully used for a wide range of applications. One of the applications is the possibility of charging vehicles with green energy at any time, which will result in a real reduction of the carbon footprint of individual transport.
