Green Hydrogen: A game changer in the renewable energy sector

By David Wolff, Regional Manager, Nel Hydrogen

Nel Hydrogen recently presented a webinar sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to members of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), an R&D collaborative for the electric power industry. The webinar helped participants identify opportunities created by the extraordinary changes occurring in renewable electricity supply. Water electrolysis hydrogen generation will be an enabler to profiting from electricity supply changes.

Thermal electric power generation has always emphasized controlling when electric energy is produced—matching supply exactly to demand. Makes sense—it costs money (variable cost) for fuel to make electricity with a thermal power plant. Industry has emphasized continuously matching electricity supply to demand to avoid waste and minimize costs. But what about the scenario that is rapidly evolving: renewable electricity generation at essentially zero variable cost? If supply exceeds demand, prices drop.

Electricity is sold with instantaneous pricing. Like New York City Uber riders in a rainstorm, Texas residents can vouch for the huge price spikes that occur when the supply of a non-storable resource—whether New York City car rides or Texas electrons—fails to meet instantaneous demand. The deregulated Texas grid exposed residents to the full impact of an electricity supply shortfall. Had the Texas grid been equipped with electric energy storage, the shortfall might have been avoided.

Hydrogen generation from electricity and water enables electricity storage as hydrogen, and conversion into many other forms and products: hydrogen fuel for trucks, buses, forklifts, ships and airplanes, fuel gas to decarbonize thermal power generation and industrial heating, industrial raw material to make chemicals, metals, and polymers. Most fascinating, the electric energy which is the primary feedstock for these end products is increasingly nearly free much of the time.

For additional information, please contact: David Wolff
Regional Manager

10 Technology Drive, Wallingford, CT 06492 USA
Tel: + 1.860.604.3282
[email protected]

About Nel Hydrogen | www.nelhydrogen.com

Nel is a global, dedicated hydrogen company, delivering optimal solutions to produce, store and distribute hydrogen from renewable energy. The company serves industries, energy and gas companies with leading hydrogen technology. Since its origins in 1927, Nel has a proud history of development and continual improvement of hydrogen plants. Its hydrogen solutions cover the entire value chain from hydrogen production technologies to manufacturing of hydrogen fueling stations, providing all fuel cell electric vehicles with the same fast fueling and long range as conventional vehicles today.