June 7, 2024: For the record, the world’s first lead-acid battery-electrolyser — invented, designed and prototype manufactured in Loughborough University’s Green Hydrogen Research Group — was recognized with the International Award for Academic Excellence and International Collaboration in Hydrogen at this year’s award at the end of March.
It was a finalist in three categories representing international partnerships, UK Universities, and HyDEX Midlands-based Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) Universities.
The lead-acid battery-electrolyser is a low-cost system that makes it viable to use excess renewable energy to produce hydrogen gas. The initial market for the lead acid battery-electrolyser is using excess solar to generate hydrogen for cooking in developing countries.
Deploying the innovation in every microgrid in Africa would deliver major economic, environmental, and societal benefits. By providing affordable and clean energy to rural populations through solar and battery-electrolyser technology, electric lighting extends useable working hours beyond daylight hours, enabling reading, education and supporting job creation. This also enables cold storage which ensures access to safe and effective vaccines and medicines, and safe and nutritious food.
The accessible market for the lead acid battery-electrolyser is using excess wind to generate the hydrogen. “Deploying the innovation on every offshore wind farm would ensure that wind that could not be turned into electricity and sent to the grid could instead be made into hydrogen,” said professor Dan Parsons, Loughborough University pro vice chancellor for research and innovation.
“We can’t control how much the wind blows, so when renewable power sources produce more electricity than the electricity grid can cope with, the wind farm is curtailed or switched off, and that energy is lost.
He said: “We are pleased to be working with excellent international research and industry partners, including the Consortium of Battery Innovation, Hoppecke and Monbat on the next steps that will facilitate and accelerate the major scale up of this exciting battery-electrolyser technology.”
Caption to pic: Green Hydrogen Research Group members Lizzie Ashton and John Barton being presented with the award.
