Shell
hydrogen, Hydro-Québec (HQ) and Gesellschaft für
Elektrometallurgie (GfE) today announced plans to establish a joint venture
for developing, manufacturing and marketing hydrogen storage products.
Safe and convenient storage of hydrogen is crucial for the introduction of
hydrogen into energy markets. Hydrogen, which can be produced with little
or no
emissions, is projected to become a major energy source for both
passenger vehicles and power generation.
Shell Hydrogen, HQ and GfE are pursuing commercial discussions
regarding the proposed venture, which would be involved in the complete
value chain from development through to sale of hydride-based storage
materials and devices. The companies signed a Memorandum of
Understanding late last year.
"If a hydrogen economy is to be created, then a safe and reliable hydrogen
storage system is absolutely critical," said Don Huberts, CEO of Shell
Hydrogen.
"And by combining our respective strengths in manufacturing, research,
development and energy provision, we believe we can create a storage
system that meets these requirements much more effectively than anything
that exists today," added Jean-René Marcoux, General Manager, Business
Development and Affiliates at HQ and CEO of Hydro-Québec CapiTech.
The partners are convinced that
metal hydrides will provide the best means
of safely and reliably storing hydrogen. Metal hydrides work by ‘trapping’
the hydrogen inside a metal alloy: the storage is particularly safe because
the hydrogen atoms are bonded to the metal.
Dr. Siegfried Sattelberger, Joint Managing Director at GfE, said, "This is the
right time and the best team to push this technology forward and to make
hydrogen storage systems available."