Concept and Project Objectives

The world’s primary energy needs are expected to grow by 55% from 2005 to 2030 [1], whereas fossil fuel reserves are limited (see picture, from [2]). The present energy supply is based on these limited fossil fuels, the use of which is causing the CO₂ content of the atmosphere to increase and possibly also the global mean temperature. Renewable energy sources like sun, wind or biomass are obvious alternatives to the present use of fossil fuels, but suffering from one major problem: They are unevenly distributed both geographically and over time. Most countries need to integrate several contributions of renewable energies. Therefore, a safe, cheap and efficient energy carrier is required, which can be converted e.g. to electrical energy or heat without harm for the environment. Hydrogen would be the ideal choice, but it suffers from one fundamental drawback – as hydrogen is a light gas at ambient conditions, it is very difficult to store in the density and compactness required for industrial and consumer applications.

Primary Energy Supply: Contributions from Fossil and Nuclear Fuels (from [2])

Novel materials form the backbone of any emerging energy technology such as the hydrogen based future economy. The scientific core of FLYHY is to carry out international cutting-edge design, preparation, characterisation and application of novel materials for hydrogen storage in the solid state. FLYHY will take the challenge of effective, high capacity hydrogen storage for low temperature applications compatible with advanced PEM fuel cells. The aim of FLYHY is design and development of a novel hydrogen storage material that meet the requirements of consumers, industry [3] and governmental bodies [4], i.e.:

1. Hydrogen storage capacity of the tank system of more than 6 wt% and > 45 g/l, requiring storage materials with a hydrogen storage capacity higher than 6, preferably than 8 wt%.
2. A enthalpy of formation of the hydride between -20 and -30 kJ/(mol H₂) enabling a sufficiently high desorption pressure and minimising the required heat fluxes during release and uptake of hydrogen, thus avoiding a too complex and heavy heat management system.
3. An temperature of operation well below 200°C, preferably below 150°C, which is compatible with at least that of advanced, high temperature PEM fuel cells.

Furthermore for practical application

4. the hydrogen storage material has to allow for fast charging of the tank system <5 min and
5. the storage materials also need to be cheap and to be produced by industrially upscalable processes allowing material costs below 10€/kg.