Nano-Structured Hybrid Hydrogen Storage Materials for Small Scale Energy Supply Technologies: Project Summary

Abstract:

<p>This document is a summary of the project titled 'Nano-Structured Hybrid Hydrogen Storage Materials for Small Scale Energy Supply Technologies'.</p> <p>One of the solutions put forward for the demand for a clean, efficient form of energy production is the use of hydrogen, in particular hydrogen fuel cells, and the development of the 'hydrogen economy'. The 'hydrogen economy' is a term for a hypothetical future economy where hydrogen is the dominant form of stored energy, the manner in which the UK and other countries might adopt such an economy is currently the subject of much discussion. Hydrogen is seen as such a viable low-carbon energy solution because it can be stored with a high energy density and it can also be used with high efficiency in a fuel cell producing only water. </p> <p>This project has involved working with a number of industrial partners who are based in the North West and are interested in developing products for hydrogen storage such as fuel cells etc. A collaboration was also formed with a company that manufacture road tankers and are developing a liquid hydrogen tanker. Prof. Ross's solution involves filling the tanker with the porous matrix that is being developed for this project, this should allow the tanker to be filled with hydrogen at a similar density to current tankers but at considerable cost savings. This main advantage of this solution is the considerable safety advantages it offers over currently available tankers due to the slower release of hydrogen in accident situations.</p>

Author(s):

Ross, D.K.