In recent years, the search for sustainable energy solutions has gained increasing importance, and obviously among the various emerging technologies, hydrogen he distinguished himself as a promising energy carrier thanks to its ability to store and release energy without producing carbon emissions.
That said, one of the main challenges related to the use of this technology is precisely the storage of hydrogen, that is, its safe and efficient storage. In this context, researchers at theETH Zurich they developed an innovative technology that uses the iron as a means of storing hydrogen in a cost-effective – yet safe – way.
Hydrogen storage has traditionally been expensive and inefficient, as hydrogen is highly flammable, extremely volatile and it can make many materials brittle, that’s why to store it from summer to winter, you need Special pressurized containers and cooling technologieswhich require a lot of energy and entail high safety costs.
In addition to the above, the hydrogen tanks I’m never completely sealedwhich can harm the environment and further increase costs.
To address these challenges, the research team led by Professor Wendelin Stark of the Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences at ETH Zurich has developed a new technology for hydrogen storage, a solution which is much safer and cheaper compared to existing solutions.
This technology is based on a long-known process and uses the fourth most abundant element on Earth: the iron.
The process of storing hydrogen at the chemical level developed by ETH researchers is based on the steam-iron process, which has been understood since the 19th century. During the summer months, when there is a surplus of solar energy, this can be used to split water and produce hydrogen, which is then fed into a reactor in Stainless steel filled with natural iron ore at 400 degrees Celsius.
Development of new hydrogen storage
As we stated previously, this new hydrogen storage process developed by researchers at ETH Zurich is based on a principle known since the 19th century, and the reactor inside which the chemical reaction is carried out, we find hydrogen reacting with iron oxide (Fe2O3), removing oxygen and leaving behind elemental iron and water.
This process is similar to charging a batteryas the energy contained in the hydrogen is stored as iron and water for long periods with minimal losses, that is, when the energy is needed again in the winter, the process is reversed: hot steam is introduced into the reactor to transform the iron and water into iron oxide and hydrogen.
The hydrogen can then be converted into electricity or heat via a gas turbine or a fuel cell.
One of the main advantages of this technology is its safetyunlike hydrogen gas, which is highly flammable and volatile, iron is stable and safe to store, and the process of storing and releasing hydrogen does not require pressurized containers or expensive cooling technologiessignificantly reducing construction and maintenance costs.
Another significant advantage is energy efficiencythe discharge process, which transforms iron and water into iron oxide and hydrogen, uses the waste heat generated by the reaction itselfminimizing the energy required for the process, this makes the system not only more economical, but also more energy sustainable.
Future Applications
The potential of this technology is vast, in a pilot plant located on the campus Hönggerberg of ETH Zurichresearchers are demonstrating how the technology can be used for seasonal energy storage. The facility, which contains 2-3 tons of unprocessed iron ore, is designed to meet a fifth of the campus’ winter electricity needs by 2026.
In the future, this technology could be used on a larger scale to store solar energy produced in the summer and use it in the winter, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and improving energy security. In addition to the above, it could help bridge Switzerland’s winter energy gap, reducing the need for imports and gas-fired power plants.
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