EU: Electrolysers are the Key to the Future’s Clean Power Grid
Can you imagine a future where all energy is renewable and clean? The scientists at the EU’s Joint Research Centre did just that in a recently published report.
The Project in Brief
Haeolus is a EU project that proposes a new-generation electrolyser integrated within a state-of-the-art wind farm in a remote area with access to a weak power grid.
Haeolus will demonstrate multiple control systems, to answer the specific challenges of the three main modes of operation identified by the International Energy Agency:
- Electricity storage
- Mini-grid
- Fuel production
For each of these modes, new operating strategies will be developed, optimizing operation concerning uncertain weather and power-price forecastsbut also constraints of the specific operating mode.
In addition, Haeolus’ demonstration shall be completely remotely controlled and monitored, due to the remoteness of the selected location and its difficult accessibility in winter; this is a characteristic of many wind farms.
The Objectives
More Wind Power
More Wind Power
Haeolus shall demonstrate several control strategies allowing wind-hydrogen integration, reducing the unpredictability of power produced by a wind farm, and thereby enabling much higher rates of renewable energy penetration in the European grid.
Use Cases
Use Cases
Haeolus will develop and test control strategies for each mode of operation for wind-hydrogen systems: energy storage, mini-grid and fuel production. The results will be relevant to many wind farms across Europe and worldwide.
2,5 MW Electrolyser
2,5 MW Electrolyser
Haeolus will demonstrate for the first time a 2,5 MW PEM electrolyser with a single-cell stack: a unique PEM cell stack, developed by Hydrogenics, will contain up to 420 cells. We will analyse the data from this electrolyser and benchmark against the results from other EU projects.
Remote Operation
Remote Operation
Very often, wind parks are in inaccessible regions—as is the case for our site of Raggovidda, Norway. Haeolus will demonstrate the ability to run a wind-hydrogen system in a remotely controlled setup, with only occasional on-site maintenance.
Dissemination
Dissemination
Haeolus will deliver public reports with analyses of business-case, techno-economical factors, environmental impact, impact on the European energy system, and a technology roadmap towards the MAWP 2013 targets.
In the News
Haeolus Workshop at ECC19
Haeolus will organise, on June 25, a workshop with the topic Modeling, Control and Operation of Advanced Energy Storage Systems in Grid Connection in connection with the upcoming European Control Conference 2019.
Summer School: Microgrids
Our project partners UTBM are organising a summer school on Microgrids in Belfort, France, July 1-5, 2019. The initiative is partially funded by Haeolus and is aimed at grad students, researchers and industry.
Hydrogen is Blowin’ in the Wind
Finnmark County Council is organising a 1-day workshop in Vadsø, titled “Hydrogen in the wind”, to showcase the opportunities for Northern Norway in hydrogen and fuel cells, an event directly inspired by the start of the Haeolus project. [UPDATE – read more for the presentations]
Third Project Meeting
The Haeolus project’s third project meeting was held in Oevel, Belgium, at Hydrogenics’ premises.
Energy Analysis of a Wind-Hydrogen System
The Haeolus project publishes today another of its key deliverables, Energy Analysis of the Raggovidda Integrated System.
Haeolus at Norwegian Municipalities’ Conference
Haeolus will be presented at the Norwegian Municipal Sector’s International day on March 5, 2019, as an example of how a small municipality like Berlevåg (Haeolus’ demonstration site) can succeed in the EU arena.
Varanger Kraft Launches New Hydrogen Company
Varanger Kraft, a key partner in the Haeolus project, is reworking its corporate structure and has founded in January 2019 a dedicated company for its hydrogen activities, Varanger Krafthydrogen.
The Haeolus consortium congratulates Varanger Kraft on their commitment to hydrogen energy!
Dynamic Model for Hydrogen Plants
The Haeolus project publishes today one of it first major public deliverables, a report on Dynamic Models for Hydrogen Production and Storage Plants.
Non-Technical Obstacles to Hydrogen Commercialisation
The Haeolus project was invited to deliver a presentation on non-technical obstacles in the commercialisation of hydrogen in the particular context of Arctic conditions at the Power-to-X workshop organised by IEA Hydrogen TP – task 38 in Aix-en-Provence, France.
Contact Points
Work Package leaders in Haeolus
Ruben Daneels
Hydrogenics, Technology manager
Ruben is responsible for the ordering, assembly and transport of all components of the electrolyser system to Berlevåg.
Daniel Hissel
FCLAB, director
Daniel is the director of the FCLAB research federation, and is in charge of dissemination activities in the project.
Iker Marino Bilbao
Tecnalia, Researcher
Iker is responsible for the integration and modelling of the overall system.
Davide Liuzza
UniSannio, Researcher
Davide is responsible for the control design activities for the various modes of operation of the electrolyser system.
Mariarosaria Russo
KES, R&D engineer
Mariarosaria is responsible for the design, deployment and demonstration of the control software with which the demonstration will be run. She is also responsible for the project's data management.
Christian Bue
Varanger Kraft, Business developer
Christian coordinates the construction activities of the demonstration site in Berlevåg.
Chris Van Oevelen
Hydrogenics, Project Manager
Chris is responsible for exploitation management in the project.
Federico Zenith
SINTEF, Senior Research Scientist
Federico is the project coordinator on behalf of SINTEF. He has over 15 years of experience in hydrogen and related technologies.
This project has received funding from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 779469.
Any contents herein reflect solely the authors’ view. The FCH 2 JU and the European Commission are not responsible for any use that may be made of the information herein contained.