Hydrogen power could help stabilize energy grid

A Canadian power system operator has found that hydrogen energy could be the answer to keeping the electricity grid stable.

Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) recently completed a successful trial in which it used electrolyzer technology from Hydrogenics Corporation to provide utility-scale grid stabilization. The HySTAT electrolyzer, which produces hydrogen and oxygen from water, was able to respond to power regulation signals from the IESO on a second-by-second basis. The result was a better balance of electrical supply and demand while alleviating local transmission constraints.

“We are very interested in seeing new technologies enter the market to provide services that have traditionally only been available from a limited number of sources,” said Bruce Campbell, Vice President, Resource Integration for the IESO. “Hydrogenics’ ability to provide regulation services demonstrates the success of finding new ways to balance supply and demand on a second-by-second basis.”

Hydrogenics president and CEO Daryl Wilson said the company’s next step will be to use what it learned during the trial to work toward the development of megawatt-scale energy storage applications.