But in focusing on this undoubted advantage he omits the overriding issue of energy storage at very much larger scales. Such renewably generated hydrogen could supply energy storage at scales many times beyond which even the largest battery systems could attain, and could do so both in the UK and in diverse economies throughout the world. Mike KoefmanDirector, Planet Hydrogen, Manchester• Professor Underwood correctly asserts that the efficiency of a Li-ion and heat pump system in terms of heat generation is far better than electrolysing water to make hydrogen. Electricity generation is usually provided by turbines which are driven by steam at high temperatures. It is not difficult to imagine we could create a hydrogen storage system for electricity generation, preferably away from populated areas.

Source: The Guardian May 18, 2018 15:33 UTC