Creating the UK’s first renewable hydrogen energy ‘supply chain’

10 October 2011

The move to a hydrogen economy has taken a significant step forward with the announcement of a new government-funded project that brings together three of the top names in the field of renewable energy.

The move to a hydrogen economy has taken a significant step forward with the announcement of a new government-funded project that brings together three of the top names in the field of renewable energy.

The project - known as rabh2 - is a collaboration between Arcola Energy, RE Hydrogen and industrial gases company BOC, a member of The Linde Group, who recently launched the UK’s first open-access hydrogen vehicle refuelling station at Swindon.

Backed by the Technology Strategy Board, the project aims to create a manufacturing and distribution network for low-carbon hydrogen and a suite of fuel cell systems that use the hydrogen to power a wide range of products. When fully operational, it will create the UK’s first renewable hydrogen energy end-to-end ‘supply chain’.

The process will use a groundbreaking 5kW electrolyser - developed by RE Hydrogen - that reduces the capital cost of set up by a remarkable 90 percent. The plan is to carry out a technical and commercial feasibility study which is intended to lead to installation of an electrolyser at a BOC production facility in the UK. Because the capital cost is so much lower, the team will be able to afford to power the electrolyser with ‘green’ – but more expensive – electricity. The hydrogen produced will be used in a wide range of fuel cells built by Arcola Energy at their factory in East London.

Dr Ben Todd, Managing Director of Arcola Energy said: “Arcola Energy is developing a wide range of end-user customisable fuel cell solutions which give significant cost and carbon savings through efficient use of energy. The rabh2 project completes the package through the supply of convenient, cost-effective hydrogen fuel generated from renewable sources”.

Dr Amitava Roy, RE Hydrogen CEO said: “As 80 percent of the cost of producing hydrogen with RE Hydrogen electrolysers is affected by current electricity prices compared to only 25-35 percent for other electrolyser companies, we can reduce the cost of green hydrogen by using the surplus renewable electricity as a means of grid balancing services. RE Hydrogen is pleased to work with BOC and Arcola Energy in the rabh2 project.

Steve Thompson, BOC Business Manager said: “As a member of The Linde Group, BOC is committed to investing in hydrogen as an energy carrier for the future, as the recent launch of our hydrogen filling station at Swindon demonstrates. Electrolytically-generated hydrogen will be an important part of the future clean energy mix and the rabh2 project could play a key role in taking this to the next stage.”

The project will be launched at the Technology Strategy Board’s Innovate11 conference and exhibition at the Business Design Centre in London on 11th October 2011.