• Feasibility study could provide solution to safe, long-term hydrogen storage facilities in the UK
• The storage concept could also have an application in reducing transport emissions by allowing hydrogen to be safely transported and stored when used as a replacement for diesel

Corre Energy is the lead partner in a consortium¹ that has been awarded UK government funding to examine the feasibility of the development of a pilot hydrogen storage prototype that could see hydrogen easily and safely stored and transported. This would support power grid flexibility and also offer the potential for green hydrogen to replace diesel in the UK’s Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) fleet.

The consortium will receive c.£150,000 funding from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, awarded through its Longer Duration Energy Storage Demonstration programme. The programme forms part of the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP), which aims to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative low-carbon technologies, systems and processes in power, buildings and industry.

Under the first phase of the two-phase programme, the consortium will seek to demonstrate a unique long duration hydrogen storage system utilising Hydrilyte™, a multi-patented hydrogen storage technology from company Carbon280.

Hydrilyte™, Carbon280’s patented solution, stores hydrogen by bonding it to a metal dust suspended in a liquid, which can be safely and cost effectively stored and transported. Subject to feasibility, the supply model for Hydrilyte™ would mirror the existing fossil fuel diesel market, using centralised hydrogen production hubs and conventional road tanker distribution to fuel stations.

The prototype would fulfil a significant market need as all diesel vehicles will be banned in the UK from 2040, with HGV class 2&3 being banned from 2035. Zero emission commercial vehicles would reduce emissions by 250 million tonnes annually. Hydrilyte™ could also provide a unique long duration hydrogen storage system for powering the national grid utilising a cost-effective, scalable, grid-flexible hydrogen storage medium that is safe and non-toxic.

Commenting, Keith McGrane, CEO of Corre Energy said: “Our consortium is very pleased to have been awarded feasibility funding under this UK government sponsored competition and the prospect of substantial additional funding. However, the bigger prize would be helping to decarbonise the UK’s heavy goods fleet and powergen sectors by developing scalable green energy storage solutions that are safe and clean and will help drive down energy costs.

Many decarbonisation ambitions are high on aspiration but are difficult or costly to implement. By utilising the existing diesel supply models of direct delivery to fuel forecourts we believe Carbon280 is on the cusp of a highly implementable alternative to fossil fuels for transport and for product delivery supply chains.”

About the Longer Duration Energy Storage Demonstration Programme:

The Longer Duration Energy Storage Demonstration Programme forms part of the UK Government’s Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution (GIR), in which the Prime Minister committed £100m to address ‘Energy Storage and Flexibility Innovation Challenges’ as part of the £1bn Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP).

Funding is provided by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and will be delivered through 2 different funding mechanisms, targeting technologies at different maturity levels.

Stream 2 (first-of-a-kind prototypes) of the competition will be delivered through two Phases:

• Phase 1 - Feasibility Study. The maximum contract size per project is £150,000.
• Phase 2 – Prototyping. The indicative maximum funding available per project will be £9.45M. BEIS intends to fund ~3 projects in Phase 2.

The Corre Energy consortium has already been announced a winner of phase 1 funding. Phase 2 winners are not yet announced. Stream 2 projects do not require match funding for Phase 2 projects.

Ends

Note 1: The consortium includes: Corre Energy (Prime contractor and project administration); Carbon280 (HydrilyteTM Technology developer); Worley (EPCM); Element 2 (Hydrogen Refueller); Menter Mon (Holyhead site for the refueller prototype); and Energy Reform (Energy systems modelling).