The 100 MW euro-Quebec hydro-hydrogen pilot project

Abstract

The concept of a hydrogen-based, clean, renewable energy system, conceived by the Joint Research Centre-Ispra of the Commission of the European Communities, is currently investigated by European industries and the JRC-Ispra. The scope of the investigation is to establish the main characteristics of system and components and to give a first indication of costs. The 100 pilot project is to demonstrate the provision of clean and renewable primary energy in the form of Canadian hydropower converted via electrolysis into hydrogen and shipped to Europe, where it is stored and used in different ways: electricity/heat cogeneration, vehicle and aviation propulsion and hydrogen enrichment of natural gas for use in industry and households. Three transport/storage modes are investigated: methylcyclohexane as energy carrier shipped in normal oil product carriers, ammonia shipped in special tankers and liquid hydrogen shipped in special LH 2 ships and aeroplanes. First evaluations indicate costs of the electrolytic hydrogen, produced with hydropower at 2 Can, cents kWh −1, stored in a European port of 69 Dpfg Nm −3 for the methylcyclohexane mode, 57 Dpfg Nm −3 for the ammonia mode, 30 Dpfg Nm −3 for the LH 2 mode by ship transportation and 77/68 Dpfg Nm −3 by air transportation. These averaged equivalent costs of 20 Dpfg kWh −1 (th) of clean, renewable and stored energy suggest competitivity within the not too distant future.