INGRID Project

How to face the increasing energy demand and penetration of decentralized fluctuating renewable energy sources, often situated in areas with weaker power connection are challenging power networks stability, security and congestion level, due to the electricity surplus available in periods of low demand? A possible answer lies in hydrogen energy storage. INGRID is a 23,9 MEUR R&D European project (cofunded under 7FP) that is demonstrating technical and economic viability of Solid-state Hydrogen Energy Storage System aimed at operating a hybrid multi-network energy management system, which integrates electricity and hydrogen networks operation. The system includes: • a 1,2 MW water electrolyzer connected to the primary power substation, working as controllable load while producing hydrogen to alleviate power network congestion; • a magnesium metal hydrides solid storage subsystem, storing the hydrogen generated by the electrolyzer at higher volumetric density than compressed or liquid gas; • the energy delivery subsystem, a fuel cell serving electric cars chargers or providing Low Voltage regulation services to power distributors (Closed Loop Operation). Otherwise, the hydrogen surplus is made available to the value chain either injected into gas distribution networks (Open Loop Operation). The Energy Storage Management allows the optimal allocation of hydrogen surplus through the Closed and/or Open Loop modalities, depending from technical constraints or economic opportunity. The INGRID technology is about to be demonstrated through the deployment of a 39 MWh hydrogen energy storage facility able to store more than 1 ton of hydrogen in Puglia region (Italy), where over 3.500 MW of solar, wind and biomass are already installed. The project consortium includes: Engineering Ingegneria Informatica (ITA, Coordinator); ARTI – Puglia Regional Agency for Technology and Innovation, Enel Distribuzione, RSE (ITA); McPhy (FRA); Hydrogenics (BEL); Tecnalia (SPA).