Three power companies team up to develop hydrogen based energy systems

Three power companies from Spain, Canada and Norway are teaming up to develop hydrogen-based energy systems using renewable energy. The three -- Corporacion EnergÌa Hidroeléctrica de Navarra (CEHN) of Spain, Canada's Stuart Energy Systems and Norwegian power company Statkraft -- say they share a common belief that hydrogen produced from renewables will be "a vital energy carrier of the future." Their goal is to develop a platform for long term, commercial collaboration in this area. Stuart Energy Systems has developed technology for the production of hydrogen through water electrolysis, while Statkraft is Norway's largest power producer. CEHN, which has developed about 30% of Spain's installed wind capacity, sees the agreement as a way to make "a decisive entry into the field of hydrogen," says the company's Carlos Itoiz. "Working with our partners we can generate hydrogen from the wind, thus ensuring a completely clean cycle in its production." Statkraft and EHN have each bought hydrogen generation technology from Stuart Energy and are evaluating sites that would demonstrate the use of hydrogen as a transportation fuel and as an energy source for electricity production. Among the research projects planned are a hydrogen demonstration facility that Statkraft will set up in Norway and hydrogen filling stations that EHN will establish in Spain. Research into the production of hydrogen using renewable energy will also be undertaken at the University of Trondheim in Norway and co-ordinated with a similar project at the University of Navarra, Spain.