HyBalance

The HyBalance project in Denmark is one of several initiatives to help transform energy systems from fossil dependency to relying on renewable and local energy sources by utilising the potential of hydrogen. The hydrogen is produced from water electrolysis, and the HyBalance project will demonstrate how to produce hydrogen on a larger scale from wind power, enabling the storage of cheap renewable electricity, helping to balance the grid and supplying the industrial and the transportation sector with green hydrogen. The balance is kept by operating flexible production and consumption units and by importing and exporting electricity. Dynamic PEM electrolyzing offers such flexibility using electricity when the prices are low or there is a need for balancing and transforming it into hydrogen. The HyBalance project will demonstrate the highly dynamic operation of the 1.2 MW PEM electrolyser to provide grid balancing services, a high efficiency over long time duration and a high level of availability.

The HyBalance project will be the first project to demonstrate the complete value chain from hydrogen renewable energy production to end users, including hydrogen stations and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) in circulation. Thus, the HyBalance project will contribute to accelerating the development of clean mobility in Denmark, and will assess the market for hydrogen mobility in Denmark, including cars, forklift trucks and busses. The hydrogen produced in the HyBalance project will be capable of supplying a fleet of more than 800 FCEVs and could contribute up to 0.5 per cent of the transport sector GHG reduction targets in Denmark.

The HyBalance project will demonstrate how hydrogen can act as an energy-storage medium and thus maximize the use of renewable energy resources. For large scale storage of hydrogen, salt caverns are very suitable. The underground in Northern Denmark, where the HyBalance facility will operate, is blessed with salt caverns, which in a future scenario might be utilized for storage purposes.

HyBalance is a technology showcase for sustainable development pathways in Europe. Denmark has been chosen as location for the project, being a leading country with integration of renewables into the energy system. The project receives European support through the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking, and support through the Danish ForskEL-program.