McPhy Energy has developed and deployed the initial industrialisation of solid state hydrogen storage since 2008 with installations in five countries.
In the storage process, powder metal (PM), often formed using a thermal spray process, combine with hydrogen to form a metal hydride.
Industrial markets already consume large volumes of hydrogen, and in future the gas will play an important role in storing renewable energy as well as in CO2-free hydrogen fuel cell vehicle development. Solid state storage is identified as a safe way to store large quantities of gas with high density at low pressure.
Economic technology
“Clearly hydrogen will be an important fuel of the future and its safe storage will be key to its success,” said Peter Oberparleiter, chief executive, GKN Powder Metallurgy. “Powder metals offer the storage capacity and charge/discharge rates needed to help make this technology economic."