Axis 2 – Monitoring and Prediction of Complex Systems:

Coupling Hydrogen-Aeolic Energy: a large-scale European project

Europe is deeply committed in the course for renewable energies and the quest for an ideal green energy mix. In this respect there is great hope coupling two fast-growing clean sources of electricity, namely hydrogen energy and wind energy. Indeed, both can efficiently sustain each other, to produce and store zero-emission fuel from wind electricity (i.e. hydrogen, by means of electrolysers) and reversely produce electricity from hydrogen (through fuel cell systems). This is the aim of HAEOLUS (Hydrogen-Aeolic Energy with Optimised eLectrolysers Upstream of Substation), an 8-partner novel project supported under the EU Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. Led by a Norwegian research organisation (SINTEF) and involving EIPHI researchers, the objective of the project is to install two 1 MW electrolysers (alkaline and polymer electrolyte membrane), hydrogen storage and fuel cell equipment in a wind farm, so as to demonstrate the synergies between those technologies. As the wind farm locates in a Norway region difficult to access and exposed to arctic winter, HAEOLUS will also aim at deploying a remote diagnostic and prognostic system that does not require any on-site personnel for monitoring and control, hence reducing the maintenance requirements.