SHyLO to design and build a modular low-pressure hydrogen storage for EMEC

ShyLo (Solid Hydrogen at Low Pressures) is one of 28 projects chosen for financing by the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) as part of the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio Low Carbon Hydrogen Supply 2 Competition. The fund promotes hydrogen generation and transportation research and development.

Kwasi Kwarteng, the Minister of Business and Energy, said: “The British Energy Security Strategy makes it plain that we support hydrogen as a future emergent sector in which the UK can lead the globe, not only as a potential source of clean, inexpensive indigenous energy.” This money will enable us to position ourselves as a worldwide hydrogen superpower by accelerating the development of this fascinating new sector.”

The ShyLo project, led by H2Go Power, a pioneer in hydrogen-based solutions for renewable energy storage, intends to show the viability of utility-scale solid-state green hydrogen storage.

In collaboration with EMEC, Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), Abbot Risk Consulting (ARC), Autodesk, and HSSMI, the company’s modular 1 MWh solid-state hydrogen storage system will be implemented and trialed at EMEC’s hydrogen production plant in Eday.

H2Go Power’s smart storage technology stores and distributes hydrogen in solid-state materials, providing better volume storage densities than liquid and gaseous hydrogen and so needing less floor area. The system stores hydrogen at room temperature and pressure, allowing for longer-term seasonal storage while also improving safety and cutting costs. The goal is to create a more efficient alternative to high-pressure storage.

EMEC and H2GO Power unveiled the HYAI 2 project earlier this year, which is a distinct deployment of their artificial intelligence (AI) platform HyAI. HyAI 2 will test the application of artificial intelligence software to optimize hydrogen production and storage while maximizing the usage of renewable energy. To test its performance and economic viability, the ShyLo system will be connected with the HyAI cloud system and EMEC’s network of hydrogen assets.

Matt Storey, EMEC’s Hydrogen Development Manager, said: “The SHyLo project is another illustration of EMEC’s hydrogen R&D ecosystem’s usefulness. Because of the equipment and infrastructure on Eday, EMEC and its partners may test and showcase innovations that could aid in the transition to a sustainable energy system. The ShyLo project will be critical in overcoming the high cost and volume requirements of hydrogen storage, which is a key problem for the use of hydrogen at scale, thanks to the track experience of the other consortium members and EMEC’s industry-leading skill set.”

H2GO Power CEO Dr. Enass Abo-Hamed said: “This implementation demonstrates how our technology can scale to achieve improved efficiency and reduced costs.” The levelized cost of hydrogen will be reduced as part of this effort, making the energy more competitive with natural gas. Moving away from fossil fuels is a top priority for everyone, both in the near term due to the global energy crisis and in the long term due to climate change. At scale, technology like ours meet all of the government’s decarbonization goals, from economics to security and dependability.”

H2GO Power Product Development Director Peter Italiano said: “We’re ecstatic that BEIS has chosen us to exhibit our cutting-edge technology.” The SHyLO project will show how our patented hardware and software can cut the cost of storing hydrogen by lowering storage pressures while also improving performance — a win-win!”