The National Grid Future Energy Scenarios* indicate a significant role for hydrogen storage by 2050 to balance supply and demand of both electricity and hydrogen within the energy system:
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National Grid Future Energy Scenarios forecast over 40 GW of network connected electrolysers in two of four scenarios (Leading the Way and System Transformation) in 2050.
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Strategic storage is required in the whole energy system of the future to balance inter-seasonal demand and supply and increase resilience against external security of supply risks. Future energy systems require both inter-seasonal energy storage and long duration storage.
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Inter-seasonal energy storage: is the storage of energy for periods of up to several months, most commonly in the form of gas, hydrogen or thermal energy. The energy can be collected whenever it is available and be used whenever needed, such as in periods of high energy demand.
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Longer duration storage: can help secure the system over longer periods of high or low renewable generation output. However, non-electrical storage in other fuels such as hydrogen or gas is better suited to very long term or inter-seasonal storage.
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Hydrogen storage is able to serve both requirements.
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As an example the National Grid Scenario for System Transformation by 2050 requires 56 TWh of storage and, is also affected by use of methane reformation to produce hydrogen, compared to electrolysis. The volumes of hydrogen storage in National Grid Leading the Way and System Transformation represent an increase in capacity compared to today’s natural gas storage volume of 16 TWh.
