Hydrogen’s role in grid balancing

Recent power outages across Europe, coupled with the rapid shift towards electric, zero-emissions power across many industries, highlight the urgent need to diversify power systems to ensure stable supplies fit for the net zero transition.

One emerging solution that can complement the existing grid, strengthen energy security and support the energy transition, is hydrogen.

This year alone, we have seen stark reminders of the vulnerability of existing critical infrastructure across Europe. The power disruption at Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, and the widespread power outage on the Iberian Peninsula and in the Netherlands earlier this year, both caused significant social disruption and economic impact.

These events served as warnings that existing power supplies are fragile and a nation’s power sources must be diversified to ensure continuous supply.

With the net zero transition rightfully accelerating, backed by government net zero targets, many industries are pivoting away from fossil fuels and electricity demand is soaring.

The transition to zero emissions energy solutions is an incredibly positive move, yet the electrified economy presents low carbon energy demands the existing grid will struggle to meet without support. Without additional support, grid bottlenecks and outages might become more commonplace.

Industries from transport and heating to data centres are all shifting to electric power, making the diversification to scalable, zero emission power even more essential.

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Hydrogen’s potential

To reduce pressure on the grid and expedite the adoption of sustainable energy, the integration of supplementary low-carbon power sources becomes crucial. 

A solution already exists - hydrogen. It provides zero-emission energy while acting as a safeguard in emergency supply and peak demand situations. 

Hydrogen-powered generators function like a self-charging battery system, powered by green hydrogen. Inside the unit, hydrogen is combined with oxygen from the air in a fuel cell, where a chemical reaction takes place, splitting hydrogen atoms into protons and electrons. The electrons flow through an external circuit, generating direct current (DC) electricity.

Hydrogen can complement renewables by enabling the capture and storage of excess renewable electricity, such as wind and solar, which can then be used during periods of high demand, grid constraint, or outages. By converting intermittent renewables into a stable, storable fuel, hydrogen bridges the gap between supply and demand, increasing flexibility, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and enhancing national energy security.

Showcase deployments

Hydrogen power units (HPUs) are already showcasing the potential of hydrogen in real-world applications. They combine hydrogen generation, storage and fuel cell technology and are capable of keeping critical operations running without interruption, managing grid demand and delivering supplementary and peak power to support electrified systems.

GeoPura’s HPUs have already demonstrated their ability to provide emergency backup power to the existing grid. National Grid successfully trialled them for backup power for site operations and testing projects across its Deeside Centre substation, replacing diesel generators.

Beyond grid support, they can supply power where the existing grid cannot reach. They are used across remote construction sites as well as off-grid festivals and events, including largescale festivals like Latitude Festival in the east of England.

The technology is also supporting the decarbonisation of many industries. HPUs have powered EV charging stations, TV and film production, military operations and data centres, to name a few, highlighting their versality.

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What’s next?

As a scalable solution, the opportunities for hydrogen are endless. HPUs can replace any diesel generator today, and as deployment grows, they will increasingly supplement the grid, meaning when we need power, we get it.

Energy systems will always face challenges, our response must be to plan ahead and invest in resilient, low carbon solutions, so that we are prepared to respond when it matters most.

With hydrogen, we have a technology that supports low carbon goals, delivers supplementary and peak power to support electrified systems, and steps in with grid failures, strengthening the reliability of the systems we all rely on.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Matt Barney is Chief Hydrogen Development Officer at GeoPura.