HOW WILL TITANVOLT AND ITS LTO BATTERIES CONTRIBUTE TO THE HYDROGEN NETWORK?

The announcement that Titanvolt has been selected as sole battery supplier for the UK’s green hydrogen mega-project is great news. But what benefits will our large-scale battery energy storage systems (ESS) bring to the 1GW HySpeed project and the hydrogen network as a whole?

The first thing to recognise is that injecting hydrogen into the gas grid for industrial decarbonisation or creating a comprehensive hydrogen transport infrastructure still requires hydrogen production in the first place.

To be efficient and meet HySpeed’s target of cutting CO2 emissions by one million tonnes per year, production (through electrolysis) will need to be powered by renewable sources, such as solar and wind. However, these sources are intermittent.

Renewable smoothing

LTO batteries stabilise power for hydrogen production. Titanvolt’s ESS can store excess renewable energy when generation is high and release it to power electrolysers when renewable output dips, ensuring more stable and continuous hydrogen production.

In the context of a hydrogen network, Titanvolt’s LTO battery ESS can also play a crucial role in several other ways:

• Optimising electrolyser operation

  LTO batteries smooth fluctuations in the renewable power supply, allowing electrolysers to operate more consistently at optimal load, improving efficiency and extending lifespan.

• Grid services and stability

  LTO battery energy storage systems connected to the hydrogen production facility can provide grid services, such as frequency regulation and voltage support.

• Decentralised hydrogen production

  LTO batteries can ensure a reliable hydrogen supply from smaller, local production units – especially if the local renewable generation is variable or the unit is off-grid.

• Hydrogen refuelling station support

  LTO batteries at refuelling stations can store electricity from the grid (say at off-peak times) or local renewables. Stored energy can then power compressors and other equipment needed to refuel hydrogen vehicles, reducing peak demand and potentially lowering operating costs.

• Enhanced resilience

  In case of temporary disruptions to the main power supply for hydrogen production or refuelling, LTO batteries can provide backup power and ensure continued operation.

• Supporting hydrogen-electric hybrid systems

  LTO batteries are vital for the efficient operation of hydrogen-electric hybrid buses, and could also be used in hydrogen-powered trains or industrial vehicles, where LTO ESS provides power smoothing and regenerative braking capabilities.