ITM Power Plc (ITMPF)

[Gerry321]

Have ITM solved the problem of stranded energy?
Heres a thought
To date ITM have invented a low cost electrolyser and now plan to place the stack inside a high pressure storage tank for use in hydrogen powered vehicles
They have also indicated that they are developing a combination electrolyser and fuel cell for production and sale in the second half of 2009
We know that ITM have patented a novel design of storage tank where two different gases can be stored in a cylinder within a cylinder
We know that approx 15% of the cost of proprietary fuel cells goes towards separating the oxygen from the nitrogen in the air intake system for the fuel cell The efficincy of the fuel cell is also affected to some degree by not having absolutely pure oxygen

So
If we put all this together we get the following product

Power is taken from a green or offpeak source and converted into high pressure hydrogen and oxygen These gases are stored inside a specially designed “cylinder within a cylinder” high pressure storage tank
When the green power source is unable to provide power or alternatively when the cost of grid power is too expensive the fuel cell is switched on and power is produced from the stored hydrogen and oxygen
The real attraction is that the size of the system ought to be able to be tailored to suit the needs of the application
For Example ….the 2009 product launch
A domestic or small industrial installation to store solar or wind energy in an outdoor tank and reduce or eliminate their reliance on the grid i.e. Micro generation at its most efficient
Bigger versions would enable solar or wind powered industrial and commercial units to largely dispense with high cost daytime peak electricity
But
The biggie is this
Every Wind Farm and Solar Farm in the world would be able to level out the peaks in their power production using power that is stranded under their present system
i.e.
At present any off peak wind power is simply added into the grid where it joins up with power from other base load sources like nuclear and fossil fuels
However once wind power gets to the point where the amount of wind energy available can only be used if a nuclear plant is switched off then the wind turbine has to be shut down since nuclear plants have to be kept running
With the arrival of hydrogen storage and the reconversion system this problem is not only solved it is solved at zero cost or indeed at a profit This is because the income generated by not switching off wind turbines will more than offset the capital costs involved
So potentially
The combination electrolyser/storage/fuel cell system could be the biggest money spinner of all
AND
The market is sitting there waiting for it !