Scientists on the College of Aberdeen are growing expertise that they are saying will allow electrical energy generated by renewables to be ‘banked’ as inexperienced hydrogen in depleted oil and gasoline reservoirs alongside industrial carbon emissions.
The group says the analysis may play a key function in serving to Scotland obtain its web zero ambitions and even turn out to be a web exporter of hydrogen, whereas offering a brand new lease of life to depleted oil and gasoline reservoirs and aquifers, in addition to the pipeline and properly infrastructure surrounding them.
It may additionally cut back constraint funds made to windfarm operators to cease producing electrical energy when manufacturing is simply too excessive, by permitting the surplus electrical energy to be transformed to inexperienced hydrogen and saved to be used elsewhere. A latest impartial report back to the UK Authorities has highlighted points across the potential of the Nationwide Grid to deal with elevated energy technology as extra renewables initiatives come on stream, underlining the potential advantages of the present analysis in easing stress on the grid. Moreover, the Scottish Authorities-funded Hydrogen Spine Hyperlink mission has underlined the essential function that hydrogen may play in Scotland’s ambitions to turn out to be a web exporter of inexperienced power.
Dr Prashant Jadhawar from the College’s College of Engineering is main the initiatives which have acquired assist from the Web Zero Expertise Centre’s (NZTC) Web Zero R&D Programme which is funded by the Scottish Authorities, Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Enterprise, and is backed by a spread of business companions together with a lot of UKCS North Sea Operators, Scottish Gasoline Community Plc, BatiGea Ltd., UK Elixir consultants Ltd., UK, and Circulate Experience Ltd., UK.
Dr Jadhawar will current his analysis on the Offshore Europe convention going down this week in Aberdeen, the place he’s presenting on the convention’s Technical Session on Hydrogen Challenges going down tomorrow (Thursday, 7 September) from 10am. He’ll then give an extra speak on the College of Aberdeen’s stand (2E68) at 1pm.
The primary section of those initiatives which is already underway makes use of a mixture of modelling, simulation and laboratory experimentation to judge the simplest technique of transporting hydrogen via the onshore and offshore North Sea pipeline community, with the purpose of growing digital instruments that may allow transportation to properties and companies.
It’s also investigating the co-storage of hydrogen and carbon dioxide in depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs and aquifers, with CO2 performing as a ‘cushion’ gasoline. This system has by no means been tried earlier than however may very well be used to retailer blue hydrogen and the related CO2 at a big scale.
In the meantime, the second section will deal with area trials and commercialisation via the potential formation of a spin-out firm to drive ahead the expertise.
Dr Jadhawar stated that the event of those applied sciences is a possible “game-changer” which may play a significant function in serving to Scotland meet its goal of 5GW of inexperienced and low-carbon hydrogen manufacturing (equal to a sixth of the nation’s power wants) by 2030.
“This goal depends on there being enough hydrogen storage capability which solely subsurface geological formations akin to depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs or aquifers can ship on such a big TeraWatt (TWh) scale,” he defined.
“Via our present analysis we have now estimated as much as a 20 TWh hydrogen storage capability, in addition to the everlasting sequestration of fifty million tons (Mton) of CO2 in a single UKCS reservoir investigated thus far.
“By providing the secure and efficient storage of bulk portions of hydrogen and CO2, our mission gives a singular alternative to assist Scotland meet its hydrogen manufacturing targets in addition to providing the potential for Scotland to turn out to be a web exporter of hydrogen.
“It’s going to additionally assist lengthen the lifetime of depleted oil and gasoline reservoirs and related infrastructure, serving to guarantee a continued and essential function for the North Sea within the web zero economic system.”
Ekua Osei, Mission Engineer at NZTC stated, “We’re excited to see innovation taking part in a key function in enabling and enhancing Scotland’s hydrogen manufacturing, storage and export functionality. This mission may evolve present practices and permit electrical energy from wind farms to be saved moderately than manufacturing being halted.
“As we transition from a legacy power supply to new vectors and extra sustainable sources, it’s essential that we accomplish that in an environmentally aware approach, while reusing and repurposing the prevailing transportation pipelines and reservoirs. These initiatives on the College of Aberdeen align with this.”
