Grid-Scale Hydrogen Production and Storage for Decarbonized Energy Systems

Grid-Scale Hydrogen Production and Storage for Decarbonized Energy Systems

The transition to a low-carbon energy system demands scalable, reliable, and sustainable energy carriers . Hydrogen , with its high energy content and versatile applications, is a leading candidate for large-scale energy storage and grid balancing. This article provides a technical deep dive into grid-scale hydrogen production and storage, integrating descriptions, equations, and practical examples. The Role of Hydrogen in Decarbonization Hydrogen can be utilized as a chemical energy carrier , a fuel , and a feedstock . It offers the potential to decouple energy generation from consumption both in time (storage) and space (transport). When produced via renewable-powered electrolysis , hydrogen is considered green and carbon-neutral, contributing to global net-zero emissions targets . Hydrogen’s gravimetric energy density is approximately 120 MJ/kg, nearly three times that of gasoline, although its volumetric energy density is low due to its low molecular weight. This necessitates compression, l…