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Project begins to produce hydrogen from wind power off Nagasaki coast

Discussion in 'Fuel Cell Vehicles' started by usbseawolf2000, Apr 7, 2015.

  1. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    GOTO, Nagasaki Prefecture--An experimental project got under way here on April 6 to generate hydrogen from wind power as a step toward achieving a zero-emission hydrogen-powered society.

    The Environment Ministry and construction giant Toda Corp. conducted the experiment at a wind power producing facility in waters about 1 kilometer off Kabashima island, one of the Goto Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture.

    “We demonstrated that we can convert wind power into hydrogen and transport it,” said Iku Sato, Toda deputy manager. “If we can trim the costs of manufacturing hydrogen with technological innovation, it will serve to expand the introduction of the renewable energy.”

    Using large wind turbines measuring 80 meters in diameter, the offshore power plant has an output of two megawatts of electricity. The plant transmits wind-generated electricity through a cable running along the seabed to Kabashima island, where Kyushu Electric Co.’s power grid supplies 100 households on the island.

    One drawback of wind-power generation is its unstable output, which is dependent on favorable weather conditions. Its surplus electricity, however, can be converted into hydrogen for storage, and the hydrogen can be converted into electricity during times of increased energy needs, which will help provide a stable supply of power.

    Project begins to produce hydrogen from wind power off Nagasaki coast - AJW by The Asahi Shimbun
     
    #1 usbseawolf2000, Apr 7, 2015
  2. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    I have also said that making H2 from solar or wind makes sense when you are in remote location so there is no way to get the power to a grid but you could make H2. And you are left with pure O2 by-product for , I do not know, welding in the desert.

    Just take the leads from solar panel and stick them in salty water ...instant H2 + O2 generator.
     
    #2 wjtracy, Apr 7, 2015
  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    As an energy storage system, I wonder how electrolysis to hydrogen storage to fuel cell compares to an industrial flywheel.

    Methylcyclohexane is interesting. Part of the experiment is storing the hydrogen produced by reacting it with toluene to form the methylcyclohexane. Then it is extracted with heat and a catalyst. Presumably, the toluene can then be reused. This might be a viable hydrogen storage system over compressing the elemental hydrogen for closed systems like this energy back up to wind power.

    Methylcyclohexane - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia also has a few other uses, like part of a jet fuel substitute.
     
    #3 Trollbait, Apr 7, 2015
  4. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    That's basically what an oil refinery does. Crude oil is rich in (a complex mixture ) of things like methylcyclohexane. But for octane and chemicals manufacture you'd rather have toluene, so there is the catalytic reforming process with "Platformate" (platinum catalyst) to take the H2 out and make Toluene and related materials. The H2 byproduct is then used to get the sulfur out of gaso and diesel, but usually that's not enough H2 so an H2 plant is used to make some extra H2 from nat gas.
     
    #4 wjtracy, Apr 7, 2015
    Trollbait likes this.
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