China's First 5MW "Energy-Storage-Free" Off-Grid Hydrogen System Breaks Ground in Ordos
ORDOs, INNER MONGOLIA, August 15 — The Shenneng Etuoke Banner 5MW Off-Grid Photovoltaic Hydrogen Production Project, an innovative system that produces hydrogen without relying on energy storage, has officially broken ground. This milestone marks the successful transition of a technology with complete independent intellectual property rights from lab-scale verification to large-scale engineering, paving the way for low-cost, green hydrogen production in China.
A Groundbreaking Technical Approach
The core of this project is its unique "intrinsically energy-storage-free" technical route. Unlike conventional hydrogen production systems that require large and expensive energy storage devices, this technology uses direct current from a 5MW photovoltaic (PV) array to directly power the hydrogen production and purification equipment.
The system is designed to intelligently track and match the variable output of the solar power generation. This "load following source" operation is achieved through a flexible hydrogen production and purification process that allows for intelligent, optimized dispatching. This innovation not only simplifies the system's structure and significantly reduces initial investment costs but also eliminates dependence on the power grid.
From Lab to Large-Scale Verification
Before this megawatt-level engineering project, the technology had been validated at a 100kW scale at Tsinghua University's Department of Electrical Engineering and the Tsinghua Sichuan Energy Internet Research Institute. The current project will serve as a comprehensive test of its practical application and economic viability, providing a crucial real-world model for the technology.
This project represents a significant step forward in industry-academia-research collaboration, aiming to:
- Promote Practical Application: Provide essential data to prove the economic feasibility of fully off-grid green hydrogen operations.
- Build a High-End Platform: Establish a practical platform for green hydrogen research and education, fostering innovation and cultivating talent.
- Strengthen Research Cooperation: Act as a key vehicle for interdisciplinary research among universities and research institutions.
This project is a testament to China's commitment to advancing its green hydrogen sector through technological innovation and robust industry partnerships.
Source: Shenneng Beikong