Distribution and storage of hydrogen
Hydrogen is produced in centralized units, and used on site or transported by pipelines. Distribution networks of hydrogen pipelines already exist in different countries to supply chemical and petrochemical industries. The achievement of these industrial facilities shows that the process of generation and transport of hydrogen is well mastered.
Hydrogen fueling infrastructures must be developed for the distribution of hydrogen. Forty pilot plants already exist in the world, particularly in the United States, Japan, Germany and Iceland. However, it will take time for these stations cover the area, which may hinder the development of hydrogen transport.
The hydrogen storage is one of most challenging technological of the sector. Several methods exist for storing hydrogen: gas storage and chemical storage (metal hydride or chemical).
The technology of composite materials is now used to develop reservoirs.
There are other skills related to gas management (pressure regulator, compressor, safety, sensor, hydrogen refuelers) have also to be considered.
Space necessary to stock energy contained in a petrol car (DOE USA)
Distribution network
Hydrogen is produced in centralized units, and used on site or transported by pipelines. Distribution networks of hydrogen pipelines already exist in different countries to supply chemical and petrochemical industries. The achievement of these industrial facilities shows that the process of generation and transport of hydrogen is well mastered.
Hydrogen fueling infrastructures must be developed for the distribution of hydrogen. Forty pilot plants already exist in the world, particularly in the United States, Japan, Germany and Iceland. However, it will take time for these stations cover the area, which may hinder the development of hydrogen transport.
Hydrogen storage
Designing tanks which are both compact, lightweight, safe and inexpensive is crucial since it is precisely these aspects which will render hydrogen storage particularly attractive compared to electricity.
Storage under liquid form
Conditioning liquid hydrogen leads to significant energy consumption and high costs of production which makes its application inadequate as too expensive for public uses.
High pressure gas storage
Conditioning in gaseous form is a promising option. However, there are many constraints:
Light and voluminous, the gas must be compressed to their maximum to reduce the size of the tanks. Today, hydrogen is stored at 350 bars and developments now concern tanks which can withstand pressures of 700 bar.
The risk of leakage gas must also be taken into account. The study of high-pressure storage is to test the strength level of materials with hydrogen under high pressure. These materials have to be very resistant but light. Today, metal tanks are still expensive and heavy compared to the amount of gas they store. News tanks made of polymer materials are being developed as an answer to these problems.
Low pressure gas storage
Another hydrogen solution is to store hydrogen in some carbonaceous materials or in certain metal alloys that absorb hydrogen and restore the gas on demand. The French company McPhy Energy industrializes and markets these types of systems for stationary large stationary hydrogen storage.
