Dutch energy provider Essent uses photovoltaics to produce hydrogen

• The hydrogen generation facility will certainly be initially powered by a solar plant, yet Essent may likewise include wind power for durations when the sun is not beaming. The power business also plans to release some battery storage capacity at the plant for the momentary storage space of the surplus of solar energy that can not be quickly exchanged hydrogen or provided back to the grid.

Netherlands-based power and gas firm Essent has authorized a cooperation agreement with Dutch solar developer Solinoor for the building of a 5 MW electrolyzer at an undefined location in its home nation.

The hydrogen generation facility will be originally powered by a photovoltaic plant, yet Essent may also consider wind power for periods when the sun is not beaming. The power company also intends to deploy some battery storage space capacity at the plant for the short-term storage space of the surplus of solar power that can not be quickly exchanged hydrogen or supplied back to the grid.

" It is the initial project in the Netherlands in which a ground-mounted as well as floating solar park, batteries and also an electrolyzer are used for lasting hydrogen manufacturing, while concurrently addressing grid congestion and also ensuring a well balanced energy network," Essent said in a statement.

Essent and Solinoor will likewise partner on supplying the hydrogen produced to regional consumers, which is expected to be done by means of roadway transportation or straight pipeline. "Green hydrogen is produced from sustainable power. Solinoor is establishing solar parks throughout the Netherlands that can be used as an electrical energy resource for the manufacturing of hydrogen," claimed Solinoor director Vahid Kharidar. "Our team believe that there is constantly a solution for our market to transfer to 100% green energy, also when we have difficulties with restricted transport capacity on the grid."

According to Essent, prospective clients will be offered the choice to promptly change to 100% hydrogen, but can additionally to originally use a mix of hydrogen as well as natural gas, as well as switch completely to hydrogen at a later stage. "This way we assist entrepreneurs to make the transition to a green future in a responsible, controlled fashion," Essent's declaration checks out.

The energy provider, which operates across the Benelux energy market, was obtained by German energy business RWE in 2009.