Learnings

Outcomes

• Vector Conversion between electricity and hydrogen remains an innovative approach with multiple consumer and system benefits.
• Uncertainty regarding the future of hydrogen demand, and therefore operation of the gas network, means that multiple scenarios will need to be analysed.
• VCS devices are most suited to connecting to the electricity and gas networks at medium voltage (33kV) and high pressure (HP) respectively. In these scenarios, the optimal sizes for P2G and G2P (with PEM Electrolyser and PEMFC), are 15-30MW and 30-60MW respectively. 

Lessons Learnt

The objectives of the scalability assessment were to provide sensible values for component scaling and connection voltage/pressure for use in further analysis. However, a number of additional insights were made in modelling the dynamics of the HyVoltage system, including how the device responds to market signals, constraints on gas injection and extraction from active and inactive gas networks, and the question of whether geographic collocation enables maximum utilisation of the benefits of Vector Conversion interfacing with gas infrastructure. Whilst these questions are not absolutely required in order to get to the demonstration stage, it is important that feasibility modelling doesn’t underestimate the benefits and performance of the technology, if it is to get buy-in, especially due to the highly competitive nature of battery energy storage.  

The siting analysis will show the most suitable location for deployment of these devices in anger, but it’s important that we keep in mind, or to make use of the same logic used in the siting analysis, to identify the most suitable locations for a demonstrator. 

Further work to secure a demonstration of the technology will come in WP4. In the meantime it will be important to keep this goal in mind when we carry out other work, however distantly unrelated, for example network modelling to understand whole system benefits, and how this ultimately influences the business case of the technology and demonstration.