Storage and Transportation of Hydrogen Produced Using Small Modular Reactors (Greece). Chapter 4.2

Hydrogen has the potential to be a renewable energy storage solution due to its ability to deliver or store large amounts of energy, provided it is produced in an environmentally friendly manner. A complete energy storage system can be composed of hydrogen production through a hybrid SMR-renewable energy system, hydrogen compression and storage, and hydrogen transportation, making it suitable for a broad range of applications across virtually all sectors. The importance of hydrogen storage and transportation operations is equal to that of production processes and plays a significant role in the hydrogen economy. The primary objective of storing hydrogen energy is to ensure that it is safe and efficient for use anytime and anywhere [173]. Just like any other product, hydrogen must be packaged, transported, stored, and transferred from production to final use. The main technological challenge facing a viable hydrogen economy is its storage, and so far, a cost-effective method of storing hydrogen has proven to be an insurmountable challenge. To make hydrogen useful for transportation, it must be made more energy dense [174]. Achieving high-density hydrogen storage is a significant challenge for stationary, portable, and transportation applications. Currently available storage options typically involve large-volume systems that store hydrogen in its gaseous form. This is less of a concern for stationary applications where the size of compressed gas tanks is less critical. Compression is a crucial aspect of almost all storage methods for hydrogen and its subsequent usage. Although hydrogen compression is only part of the hydrogen value chain, it is essential for overcoming the entry barriers to a hydrogen economy. It is widely recognized that significant improvements in the efficiency, durability, and reliability of hydrogen compressors, as well as cost reductions, are needed, especially if the end-use is intended for vehicles or fuelling stations and involves high hydrogen purity requirements for transportation and other industrial applications [175-178].