UNSW to develop home hydrogen storage of renewable energy

Residential Hydrogen Storage System (UNSW Newsroom)

“Researchers at University of NSW Sydney with partners H2Store have received a $3.5 million investment from Providence Asset Group to develop a first-of-its-kind hydrogen storage system that could mean cheaper, safer storage for renewable energy.”

The inventor, Professor Aguey-Zinsou said: “We will be able to take energy generated through solar panels and store it as hydrogen in a very dense form, so one major advantage of our hydrogen batteries is that they take up less space and are safer than the lithium-ion batteries used in many homes today.  We can actually store about seven times more energy than the current systems.” (UNSW Newsroom).

From the drawing of the system above, if looks like electricity from solar panels will be used to make hydrogen and oxygen from water via electrolysis in the electrolyser. Somehow the hydrogen will be condensed and stored. It can be later used to power a fuel cell to make electricity for the house and charging an electric car when needed.

“The team hopes to have a 5kWh home storage system prototype ready by the end of this year, and a product on the market late in 2020. This would be followed by a “ramped up” 15kWh commercial-scale storage system.” (One Step off the Grid).

Further Reading:
- UNSW to develop hydrogen storage for renewables. UNSW Newsroom, March 19, 2019.
- Home Hydrogen Storage for rooftop solar? UNSW team says it’s coming in 2020. One Step Off the Grid, March 20, 2019.