Swedish energy company Vattenfall has commenced research on a project that uses a hybrid power plant to convert wind energy into hydrogen, which can then be used to generate electricity and also as fuel for cars.
Other partners working on the demonstration project are energy supplier Entertrag, French oil and gas company Total and electronics giant Siemens. The study is taking place in Prenzlau, north Germany, and equipment being tested includes a biogas unit, three 2MW wind turbines, two combined heat and power plants and an electrolysis unit that generates the hydrogen.
Oliver Weinmann, head of Vattenfall Innovation in Germany, said, 'This is a unique project both for Germany and Europe as a whole. It combines the generation of renewable electricity, heat and hydrogen. There is currently no system designed to compensate for the differences between supply and demand within the sector of renewable energy. But this project allows us to find a balance in the system and it's also good business.'
Earlier this month, Vattenfall pulled out of a carbon capture and storage project in Germany citing uncertainties in local legislation.