Uniper Energy Storage GmbH
Membrane electrolysis for
Power to Gas plants
Project aims
Project details
Title
WindGas Hamburg
Project Executing Unit
Uniper Energy Storage GmbH
Collaborative project
With HanseWerk AG, Hydrogenics GmbH,
Greenerity, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar
Energy Systems ISE and German Aerospace
Center (DLR)
Location
Germany
Planned timescale
2012 - 2016
Strategic impact
• More efficient electrolysis will support the expansion of Power to Gas
as a storage for energy from renewables
• Opens up new business opportunities for hydrogen electrolysis and
Power to Gas
• Develops PEM electrolysis at utility-scale that is new to Uniper and the
energy industry
Opportunity
Uniper is developing Power to Gas technology as an
innovative way to store energy from renewable sources – in
particular wind and solar – to balance long-term fluctuations
in generation and to reduce CO2 emissions by the industrial,
heat and transport sector. The technology, which is being
demonstrated in a separate project at Uniper’s pilot plant
WindGas Falkenhagen, uses renewable electricity to produce
hydrogen by electrolysis of water. The hydrogen is
subsequently fed under pressure into the local natural gas
grid.
The development of a more efficient electrolyser, using the
Proton-Exchange-Membrane (PEM) method as opposed to
conventional alkaline electrolysis, would offer distinct
advantages for the Power to Gas approach. No PEM
electrolyzer units in the 1.5MW input range are commercially
available as yet.
Scaled-up PEM electrolysis would improve both the technical
and economic conditions for the implementation of Power to
Gas and give better prospects for its business model as a
cost-effective, environment-friendly way to store renewable
energy.
The project will comprise the development of the first
prototype PEM electrolyzer operating in the 1.5MW range.
Field trials of the system will then be conducted, the
hydrogen produced being injected into the local natural gas
grid.
In PEM electrolysis, a semi-permeable polymer-based
membrane in the electrode generates hydrogen at high
pressure, delivering lower energy losses and higher
hydrogen purity compared with conventional systems which
use a liquid alkaline electrolyte.
In October 2015 the WindGas Hamburg pilot plant was
commissioned. It is located in Reitbrook near Hamburg
(Germany) at a Uniper owned site. Partners in the project
carry out separate tasks, with SolviCore developing the
membrane electrode assembly, the basic component of the
electrolyzer, and Hydrogenics constructing and packaging the
complete electrolyzer unit. Uniper Energy Storage is
responsible for the field trial and operation of the prototype
as part of a hydrogen injection plant. Operation of the
electrolyzer will be monitored over a period of one year.
Scientific monitoring of the project is carried out by German
Aerospace Center (DLR) and Fraunhofer Institute for Solar
Energy Systems ISE.
With our partners we receive public sponsorship from the
National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Innovation
Program of the German Federal Ministry of Transport and
Digital Infrastructure (BMVI).
The WindGas Hamburg plant
Use and benefits
At present PEM electrolyzer units are commercially available
only in the power input range of up to 100kW. In comparison
to alkaline electrolyzers, PEM units show faster load
dynamics and have the capacity for temporary overload
operation. Both these properties are advantages in Power to
Gas application.
The realization of compact 1.5MW PEM electrolyzer units will
be a next-generation technology that is new to Uniper and the
energy industry as a whole. It will open up new prospects for
efficient and economic Power to Gas solutions and new
business opportunities for Uniper.
By participating in the project, we will demonstrate leadership
in the Power to Gas concept and gain valuable experience in
the assessment and operation of innovative electrolyzer
technologies.
[email protected]
www.windgas-hamburg.com