Pure Hydrogen Power Plant | Eastern NC Now

    Today our modern world moves into its digital epoch. It has many complicated problems that must be solved shortly. One such problem is energy. You see, you can do anything without energy. All your devices are becoming useless without it and digitization simply becomes a word. On the other hand, jeeps using coal, gas, and oil can bring disaster to our planet. It might be turned from a blue planet into a red one. Alternative energy sources such as air or sun aren't enough, especially for megapolises. Nuclear energy has its benefits and also disadvantages that can cost a lot. So why not try using hydrogen energy? We have prepared some examples of hydrogen energy use.

Hydrogen Energy in Norway

    Norwegian engineers have converted the university's gas-fired mini-CHP to run on hydrogen. This is the first case of such an upgrade of a CHP plant, which has not been seen anywhere else in the world before.

    Operating on 100% hydrogen, the CHP produces significantly less power than gas but is sufficient for university needs. Another disadvantage is the relatively high cost of hydrogen itself, partially offset by the lack of carbon pricing.

    The most important thing, according to the developers, is that the modernization was quite cheap and carried out on existing machinery and equipment designed to work on gas. Given the shortage of gas in Europe, the experience of Norwegian engineers has good prospects for scaling up.

Toshiba H2One

    The engineers have developed the H2One mobile mini power plant that converts water into hydrogen and hydrogen into energy. It uses solar panels to maintain electrolysis, and the excess energy is stored in batteries and ensures the operation of the system in the absence of sunlight. The resulting hydrogen is either fed directly to the fuel cells or stored in an integrated tank. The H2One electrolyzer generates up to 2 m3 of hydrogen per hour, and at the output, it provides power up to 55 kW. The plant requires up to 2.5 m3 of water to produce 1 m3 of hydrogen.

    So far, the H2One station is not capable of providing electricity to a large enterprise or an entire city, but its energy will be quite enough for the functioning of small areas or organizations. Thanks to its mobility, it can also be used as a temporary solution in times of natural disasters or power outages. In addition, unlike a diesel generator, which needs fuel to function normally, a hydrogen power plant needs only water.

    Currently, Toshiba H2One is used only in a few cities in Japan. For example, it supplies electricity and hot water to a railway station in the city of Kawasaki.

Largest Hydrogen Fuel Power Plant

    One of the largest power plants on hydrogen fuel cells is planned to be constructed in South Korea. The power plant should be able to generate up to 78.96 MW of electricity. It also should be able to remove the microparticles from the air from the liquefied natural gas power plants.

    The power plant will be able to provide more than 250000 household electricity and keep more than 44000 households with heat. The construction of this power plant started in 2017. Next to the power plant will be built the supply of liquefied hydrogen in order to keep the power plant working. The plant will be built by the end of 2023 and in the same year, it should be able to start providing its liquefied hydrogen.

    This was not the only project in South Korea. Another such plant will be built next to Seoul, though it would be that large. South Korea is planning to use hydrogen energy for nuclear and coal. That will be a great start to green energy. Tough, according to the price it won't be cheaper.