SoCalGas, GKN Hydrogen and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory Begin Innovative Solid State Hydrogen Storage Demonstration Project

Core Insights - Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and GKN Hydrogen have launched a research demonstration project in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to develop a clean renewable hydrogen storage solution using solid-state technology [1][2][4] - The project aims to evaluate the performance of GKN Hydrogen's storage technology, which utilizes metal hydrides for hydrogen storage, and its integration with clean energy systems [1][3][4] - The initiative is expected to contribute to the transition to a net-zero emissions economy by enhancing the availability of renewable power generation and storage [1][2] Project Details - The demonstration project will be located at NREL's Flatirons Campus in Arvada, Colorado, and is scheduled to run until December 2026 [1][4] - The project will utilize renewable energy sources such as solar and wind to produce clean hydrogen through an electrolyzer, with a capacity to store up to 500 kilograms of hydrogen in solid-state form [2][4] - Funding for the project includes $1.7 million from the U.S. Department of Energy and $400,000 from SoCalGas for research, development, and demonstration [4] Technology and Benefits - GKN Hydrogen's storage technology promises advantages in safety, footprint, and operational costs, which are critical for the scaling of the hydrogen economy [3][4] - The project will leverage NREL's Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) platform to validate various commercial and industrial applications for decarbonization [3][4] - The findings from this project could significantly advance the interoperability of hydrogen technologies and renewable energy systems at scale [4]