Cummins Is Demonstrating the Potential to Use Hydrogen to Store Other Forms of Renewable Energy

Global power leader Cummins is working on three projects that use hydrogen production as a means to store renewable energy, a key issue for proponents of wind, solar and other low-carbon renewable energy sources.

Using renewable sources such as wind to produce hydrogen emits no greenhouse gases. Wind energy can be converted into hydrogen using an electrolyzer and utilized in several ways – from fuel-cell hydrogen trucks, buses and trains, to ships powered by liquid ammonia made from hydrogen, to a substitute for natural gas for heating homes.

Three installations are currently working to demonstrate the concept’s potential as the world looks to reduce carbon emissions to address climate change.

In Falkenhagen Germany, a demonstration plant is using the idea to store wind energy in the natural gas grid. Six Cummins HySTAT® 60-10 electrolyzers are used to convert excess wind energy into hydrogen, then fed via a 2km pressurized hydrogen pipeline into the gas grid.

Meanwhile, in Hychico, Argentina, where the Argentinean Patagonia has one of the best wind resources in the world, Cummins HySTAT® electrolyzers are using wind energy to create hydrogen, which is stored and exported to other locations and industrial applications.

Finally, in New South Wales, Australia, the Cummins HyLYZER® 200-30 electrolyzer will use solar and wind energy to generate green hydrogen that will be injected and stored in a gas distribution network. The hydrogen will be blended with natural gas, essentially replacing a portion of the gas with a zero emissions alternative. 

Hydrogen’s potential for storing and transporting energy from wind and other renewable sources makes it a key enabler of a global transition to clean energy and Cummins is excited to be at the forefront.