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Fossil-free future
PIONEERING technology, developed in Sheffield, has brought the prospect of a future free from dependence on fossil fuels one step closer.
Atlas Way-based ITM Power is the company behind a world-beating system that allows electricity generated by renewable sources like solar cells, wind turbines and wave generators to be used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
While the oxygen is released into the atmosphere, the hydrogen can be stored in pressure tanks and used to fuel modified conventional generators to make electricity again or burnt in appliances like gas cookers, fires, fridges and central heating boilers.
ITM's electrolyser solves two related problems with green energy – how can you store it and what do you do when the sun isn't there, the wind drops and the sea is calm?
It also cuts years off the development of the 'Hydrogen Economy' – which many see as the best means of weaning the world off its addiction to global warming creating fossil fuels.
Unlike the hydrocarbons that release carbon dioxide and other pollutants when they are converted to energy, hydrogen produces nothing more harmful than water when it burns.
Chimneys and flues become redundant and hydrogen is so light that it rapidly dissipates if there is a leak, unlike natural gas.
The biggest barrier to creating a hydrogen economy has been the need to install the new pipes to bring the gas to the homes and businesses – and filling stations for hydrogen powered cars.
But that is all about to change thanks to ITM technology, which is likely to cost no more than an Aga cooker, is no bigger and can turn locally generated 'green' electricity – or off peak power from the grid – into hydrogen that can be stored in a tank and used when it is needed.
The first houses and flats powered by the technology could soon be built in South Shields.
The homes are part of a "Carbon Neutral" development being undertaken by the Eco charity Groundwork South Tyneside and Newcastle and social housing developer Four Housing Group and they will actually beat challenging Government Targets by being 'Carbon Negative.'
That means they will generate more energy than they need to use for cooking, washing, heating, lighting and home entertainment, without adding to CO2 emissions.
The proof that the technology will work can be seen at ITM Power's Atlas Way Prototype Production Facility.
There, one of its low-cost electrolysers uses solar power to split water into oxygen, which is released into the atmosphere, and hydrogen, which is stored in modified tanks, originally designed to store propane.
It can then be used 'on demand' to fuel a demonstration flat in its offices, kitted out with a modified gas cooker, gas fridge and what ITM believes is the world's first hydrogen-powered combi boiler, in addition to running a generator that produces enough electricity to provide lighting, boil kettles and power an electric fridge, air conditioning and a widescreen TV.
What's more, ITM also captures the heat from the exhaust of its hydrogen-powered generator to run the central heating in the "flat."
"We've been monitoring usage and the plan is to use the solar array we have on site to produce enough hydrogen over the weekend to run the factory for free on Mondays," says ITM's Shaun Stancliffe.
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
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