Hydrogen Enables Storage of Excess Wind Power in Spain

 

February 6, 2006

The Sotavento Galicia wind farm currently loses revenue by producing more electricity than can be delivered to the grid, as the excess "green" electricity cannot be stored or delivered to the electrical grid. By powering the HySTAT Hydrogen Station with the excess wind energy, Gas Natural will provide the means to capture high value electricity that otherwise would have been lost and use it to make more electricity for the grid than before.

"This project demonstrates the role that hydrogen can play as an energy carrier," said Pierre Rivard, Hydrogenics President and Chief Executive Officer. "One of the biggest challenges with wind power is that unused energy cannot be stored for later use when the wind isn't blowing. Hydrogen solves this problem. As we will prove at this location, excess electricity from wind can produce hydrogen to fuel an internal combustion engine, essentially turning that excess wind power back into electricity that people can use."

The project at the Sotavento Galicia wind farm is completely green and is the sixth project that Hydrogenics has announced with various worldwide customers where hydrogen stations are powered by wind or solar energy. This latest hydrogen station, which represents a contract worth more than EUR 500,000 [USD $600,000], is complete with outdoor housing and auxiliary equipment. Installation and commission is expected by September 2006.