Norway to create "Hydrogen Island" on Utsira

Fuel Cell Today ^ | 28 April 2004 | DOUG MELLGREN -- Associated Press Writer

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

OSLO, Norway (AP) - A windblown island off Norway is being used to test ways of overcoming a big drawback of alternative energy: How to store it.

Such renewable energy sources as wind, waves and solar power provide a clean alternative to climate damaging fossil fuels and potentially dangerous nuclear power.

But sometimes the wind dies, the sea calms, and the sun doesn't shine, leaving those who depend on them for power facing a blackout unless they have a backup supply.

Oslo-based Norsk Hydro ASA on Tuesday presented its project to test a combination of technologies, wind power and hydrogen fuel, to overcome that problem on the island of Utsira, off Norway's western coast.

``It is the first full scale project of this type in the world,'' said project manager Paal Otto Eide, whose company is leading the 40 million kroner ($5.8 million) effort.

The concern built two 600-kilowatt wind turbines to use with a hydrogen generator and a fuel cell in providing all the electricity for 10 homes on Utsira, Norway's smallest municipality with just 240 residents.

When it's windy, which is usual in Utsira, about 18 kilometers (11 miles) from the mainland, the wind turbines will produce more electricity than needed by the 10 homes.

The excess power will be used to produce hydrogen fuel so a hydrogen combustion engine and a fuel cell make electricity at windless times.

``What is important is to store the excess energy,'' said Eide. ``Utsira is a demonstration of what we could imagine as a hydrogen community in the future.''

Hydrogen, one of the most common elements on earth, is seen by many as a pollution-free fuel of the future, and is a key part of projects around the world, including tests of hydrogen powered cars.

It can be derived from such sources as natural gas or methane, or can be made by electricity - in this case from the wind turbines, in a process known as electrolysis that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.

The wind turbines and the hydrogen engine are already producing electricity on Utsira, 200 miles west of Oslo. The full switch from the traditional power grid is set for July 1 for the test, which will last two or three years.

Norsk Hydro is a major oil and natural gas producer, and like many energy companies is preparing to also meet demand for alternative fuels. The group was founded in 1905 to produce mineral fertilizers by using electricity from its hydroelectric plant, hence the Hydro part of its name.

``We want to prove that this is possible, not economically viable, but technically possible,'' said Eide.

Though the Oslo-based group declined to guess when such a system might be put to commercial use, it already sees potential markets.

Eide said many remote areas around the world depend on costly and polluting diesel generators for electricity, which could make an alternative, such as the wind and hydrogen supply, attractive.

Norway, the world's third largest oil exporter, produces virtually all its own electricity with hydroelectric plants.

[Willie Green]

Related thread: Norwegians Claim Invention Of Fish Salami

[m1911]

``We want to prove that this is possible, not economically viable, but technically possible,'' said Eide.

All we need is Kyoto and a huge world government grant...

[m1911]

Don't get me wrong, I think it's cool and I'm glad someone's doing it.

[Arkie2]

ping

[Willie Green]

Well, with only 10 homes on the island, Utsira is probably a good location for windmills and H₂.

I've often thought that the U.S. should pursue a similar island experiment of it's own.
It would only take 5 good-sized nukes (1000 MW each) to rid Puerto Rico of its dependency on imported fossil fuels for electricity.

[alloysteel]

The technical problems of storing gaseous hydrogen have been solved. But up to now, none have been economically feasible.

Amazing what can be accomplished if cost is not the object.

One solution: cryogenics, reducing the temperature of the gaseous hydrogen to the point it liquifies, then allowing it to warm gradually so it may be passed through the fuel cell. Unfortunately just about everything liquid hydrogen comes into contact with is turned incredibly brittle, and will shatter with the least stress.

Or a combination of cryogenics and extreme pressure. The pressure itself has a considerable number of problems, we are talking about greater pressure than superheated steam, and with a liquid/gas that will seep out of the most insignificant seam, creating a flash fire hazard, or bursting of the containment vessel with extreme prejudice.

The most promising of probable means of storage seems to be a porous mass of nickel and other metallic elements, that combine readily with gaseous hydrogen under relatively modest pressure to form nickel hydride, a crystalline substance that will readily give up the free hydrogen as pressure is reduced. But these nickel "hydrogen sponges" are rather large and cumbersome units, not a problem for fixed locations, but a little harder to make mobile. Much like lead-acid batteries.

Outside of that, hydrogen would be just about a perfect energy storage medium.

[GATOR NAVY]

It would only take 5 good-sized nukes...

Sorry, nukes aren't an option. According to the bedwetters who wrote this article, nukes are "potentially dangerous" (as if no other source of energy is).

[GATOR NAVY]

Unfortunately just about everything liquid hydrogen comes into contact with is turned incredibly brittle, and will shatter with the least stress.

What's the temperature difference between LNG and liquid hydrogen?

[TBall]

This company has another way to store hydrogen.

http://www.millenniumcell.com/

[alloysteel]

Liquid hydrogen is much, much colder than LNG, liquidied CH4, and much lighter in molecular weight

[Willie Green]

Sorry, nukes aren't an option. According to the bedwetters who wrote this article

LOL! Doesn't sound like either one of us cares much about the bedwetters.

But it occurred to me that Hawaii would also be a good place for a nuke or two.
As an island (actually a chain of islands), they too are dependent on imported fossil fuel for over 80% of their electricity. And I was surprised to learn that Hawaii has a much smaller population than Puerto Rico: only 1.2 million vs 3.8 million. So they don't really need as much generating capacity as Puerto Rico. Only 1 or 2 nukes would have a major benefit.

Of course, with Hawaii being an island chain, it wouldn't be practical for the nukes to supply the smaller islands. So it wouldn't be quite as easy as Puerto Rico to totally displace fossil fuel generating plants. Nevertheless, it's an interesting comparison with possibilties that merit consideration.

[alloysteel]

This sounds like it has huge potential, but the troublesome stumbling block is the "proprietary" catalyst needed to release the gaseous hydrogen from the sodium borohydride. This is getting a little close to other "magic" ways to extract 100% of the energy in petroleum as useful power delivered to the road with an internal combustion engine. Or combining coal and water to make gasoline.

Now do not misunderstand, there IS a way to combine coal, or rather coke, and water, and make a useful fuel. It involves heating coke to incandescence in the absence of free oxygen, then injecting the incandescent carbon with water under pressure. Carbon monoxide, which is combustible, and free hydrogen are generated, which if burned in atmosphere which includes oxygen, is an excellent heating and gaslight fuel. This was done regularly for years before electric lights were available, so the technology is not new by any means.

[GATOR NAVY]

Of course, with Hawaii being an island chain, it wouldn't be practical for the nukes to supply the smaller islands.

There was a post not too long ago about a Japanese company willing to build mini-nukes in the Alaska bush. Did you see that?

[tet68]

Kewl, heat and power your home for only $500,000 !

[blanknoone]

for 10 homes on Utsira, Norway's smallest municipality with just 240 residents.

By my calculation, that is an average of 24 people per household? I thought the scandanavians stopped breeding 20 years ago!

[Willie Green]

Yeah, I remember seeing it, but I don't recall the details.
I may be a staunch advocate of large scale nukes where proper safety precautions and procedures can be strictly monitored and enforced. But I'm quite a bit more cautious when it comes to encouraging widespread proliferation of the mini-nukes in remote areas. It doesn't seem very prudent.

[Willie Green]

By my calculation, that is an average of 24 people per household?

Well now we know how they've managed to keep warm all these years without any electricity!

[blanknoone]

Well with no electricity...we now know why they have 24 people per house!

[Rocky]

Methane (LNG): -164C (-263F)

Hydrogen: -252.5C (-422.5F)

Hydrogen's boiling point is close to absolute zero (-460F).

Hydrogen is sometimes stored as a liquid for industrial purposes, so the metallurgy issues are not insurmountable.