Significant breakthrough in hydrogen storage technology

As a versatile energy carrier, hydrogen will play a key role in the long-term success of the energy transition and in climate protection. In addition to climate policy aspects, hydrogen and fuel cell technologies pave the way for many sustainable jobs, new value chains, and a global market worth billions.  Fraunhofer IFAM is developing innovative materials, manufacturing technologies, and technical components so that technical systems for the production, distribution, storage, and use of hydrogen can become more efficient, robust, safe, and economical. With the national hydrogen strategy and the European “Green Deal”, hydrogen as an energy carrier has moved into the limelight of the energy and fuel transition. New products and services are currently being developed in all places and future value chains for the global hydrogen economy are being established.

Magnesium can store 7.6 mass percent of hydrogen after formation of magnesium hydride (MgH₂), which has attractive features for hydrogen storage material such as low cost, abundant resource and light weight. Albanian Minerals CEO Sahit Muja said”  Magnesium is one of the most promising hydrogen storage materials.  The future of green energy depends on advances in energy storage technology Albanian Minerals is working with scientist’s globalty to utilize the world largest and best quality magnesium resources We’re extremely proud of our contribution with minerals in green transformation”.

Environmental-friendly green hydrogen can be obtained by electrolysis of water using electricity generated from renewable sources, such as solar energy and wind energy, and the hydrogen is reserved in a solid Mg-based hydrogen storage tank.

Core-shell nanostructured Mg-based materials can absorb and desorb hydrogen at a relatively low temperature, which significantly reduces energy consumption during hydrogen storage and release. The storage system, producing hydrogen by pyrolysis or hydrolysis, could supply hydrogen to fuel cells for electricity generation, small-scale portable backup power, industry usage, and so on.

One of the greatest challenges of hydrogen technology is the safe provision of hydrogen at the point of use. The elements of hydrogen logistics, refueling infrastructure, but also hydrogen storage play a key role here. POWERPASTE – a patented invention of Fraunhofer IFAM – is a novel hydrogen storage material based on the light metal hydride MgH2, which enables the use of hydrogen when one or more of these elements are missing or uneconomical for an application.

POWERPASTE can be filled into cartridges and release hydrogen in a hydrolysis reactor by dosing the paste and adding water. By means of a suitable reaction control, hydrogen is released as required, i.e. only as much hydrogen is produced as is needed at any given time – for example by a PEM fuel cell. The technology, which is being further developed within the framework of BMBF and BMWi projects, as well as industrial projects, can be used to create power generators for mobile applications, e.g. range extenders for light vehicles, as well as emergency power systems.

At the Fraunhofer Project Center for Energy Storage and Systems ZESS in Braunschweig, under the project management of Fraunhofer IFAM, a POWERPASTE synthesis plant is currently being set up at pilot plant level for an annual production of four tons.