TIDMITM
RNS Number : 6226U
ITM Power PLC
04 December 2013
4 December 2013
ITM Power plc
("ITM Power" or "the Company")
Injection of Hydrogen into the German Gas Distribution Grid
ITM Power (AIM:ITM), the energy storage and clean fuel company,
is pleased to announce that, with its partners Mainova
Aktiengesellschaft and NRM Netzdienste Rhein-Main GmbH, the Company
has injected hydrogen into the German gas distribution network. The
ITM Power rapid response electrolyser plant has been delivered and
commissioned ahead of schedule and the compliance and permitting
work has been completed to enable the incorporation of hydrogen via
the compliant mixing plant.
According to an announcement made in Germany by the Thüga
Group:
"During the current commissioning phase of the Thüga Group's
power-to-gas demonstration plant, the system injected the first
ever electrolytically generated hydrogen into the Frankfurt am Main
gas distribution network. This represents the first ever plant to
convert electricity into hydrogen and subsequently inject the
hydrogen into the German gas distribution network. "The system
worked as planned, so much so that we will go into trial operation
in the very near future ahead of final commissioning at the start
of 2014" Michael Riechel, Member of the Board of Thüga
Aktiengesellschaft said.
By the end of 2016, the partners will have gained experience of
how the system works under real-world conditions. The project
partners are badenova AG & Co. KG, Erdgas Mittelsachsen GmbH,
Energieversorgung Mittelrhein GmbH, erdgas schwaben gmbh, ESWE
Versorgungs AG, Gasversorgung Westerwald GmbH, Mainova
Aktiengesellschaft, Stadtwerke Ansbach GmbH, Stadtwerke Bad
Hersfeld GmbH, Thüga Energienetze GmbH, WEMAG AG, e-rp GmbH and
Thüga Aktiengesellschaft, which acts as project coordinator. The
operational phase will be accompanied by scientific partners, whose
involvement is being funded by the Hessian Ministry for the
Environment, Energy, Agriculture and Consumer Protection.
H2 Injection without Compression
The core of the system is an ITM Power proton exchange membrane
(PEM) electrolyser. The electrolyser converts electrical energy
into chemical energy, which in turn facilitates the storage of
electricity. A gas mixing plant ensures that the proportion of
hydrogen in the natural gas stream does not exceed two per cent by
volume, the technically permissible maximum value when a natural
gas filling station is situated in the local distribution network.
The electrolyser supplies the hydrogen-methane mixture at the same
pressure as the gas distribution network, namely 3.5 bar. "We were
thus able to avoid using a compressor and save costs," said
Riechel.
The plant is located on the premises of Mainova
Aktiengesellschaft in Schielestraße in Frankfurt am Main. The
project partners decided to deploy a PEM system, as this
technology, in comparison with alkaline systems, uses water rather
than a potassium hydroxide solution, and is therefore more
environmentally friendly. In addition, the system can respond more
quickly to changes in the electrical load. A further advantage is
the unit's compact design (2.45m high, 6m long, 3.30m wide,
weighing 10 tons). The power consumption of the electrolyser is 315
kilowatts. It produces about 60 cubic meters per hour of hydrogen
and thus in one hour can feed 3,000 cubic meters of
hydrogen-enriched natural gas into the network.
Power-to-Gas Project Platform
13 companies of the Thüga Group have combined their collective
know-how and capital in a project platform to invest jointly in the
development of power-to-gas storage technology. The focus is on
testing the feasibility of power-to-gas technology. The companies
are confident that in the long-term, this offers the greatest
potential for storing excess renewable energy. To this end, the
group is collectively developing, building and operating its own
demonstration plant in Frankfurt am Main over a three-year period
(2012 - 2016). The plant converts electricity into hydrogen and
then stores this in the gas distribution network. Overall, the
partners will invest more than EUR1.5m. The project is financially
supported by the Hessian Ministry for the Environment, Energy,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection. Following the first phase of
this project, the partners will consider a second project, in which
hydrogen will be generated and combined with carbon dioxide to form
synthetic methane to be directly injected and stored in the natural
gas grid. For more information see www.energie-und-wende.de."
ITM Power has deployed its PEM Electrolysis P2G plant at the
Mainova Aktiengesellschaft site in Schielestrasse, Frankfurt am
Main where the compliant gas mixing and grid injection
infrastructure designed and built by NRM was already in place. This
plant is part of the Thüga Group's Power-to-Gas (P2G) project as
previously reported, which was jointly commissioned by 13 partners
within the Thüga Group to investigate P2G energy storage. The
install also includes a monitoring facility and visitor's reception
so that members of the Thüga Group can examine the performance of
the plant.
Phil Doran, MD of ITM Power GmbH commented: "ITM Power is
delighted to be have performed the first ever injection of hydrogen
into the German gas grid using a PEM electrolyser with our partners
in the Thüga Group, and look forward to the official commissioning
early next year."
For further information please visit www.itm-power.com or
contact:
ITM Power plc
Graham Cooley, CEO 0114 244 5111
Zeus Capital
Tim Metcalfe (Nominated Adviser)
John Goold (Institutional Sales) 020 7533 7727
Tavistock Communications
Simon Hudson / James Collins 020 7920 3150
About NRM Netzdienste Rhein Main GmbH:
As the network subsidiary of Mainova AG, NRM Netzdienste Rhein
Main GmbH is responsible for the planning, construction and
operation of distribution networks for electricity, natural gas,
and heat and water in Frankfurt and the surrounding area as well as
the Main-Spessart region. NRM is the central contact for all
technical and commercial issues surrounding the distribution
networks for energy traders, downstream network operators and end
users.
About Thüga Group:
450 cities and boroughs with responsibility for the living
environment of around eight million people have brought together
their 100 municipal energy and water utility companies to form the
Thüga Group. The aim is to create added value for each
environmental area and to secure local values long-term through
their collaboration. In total the Thüga Group employs 18,100 staff.
They provide almost 3.6 million customers with electricity, around
2.1 million customers with natural gas and 0.9 million customers
with drinking water. The turnover of the Thüga network in 2012 was
22.3 billion euros. The Thüga Group is Germany's largest municipal
network of local and regional energy suppliers. The roles are
clearly allocated within the Thüga Group: the 100 partners take
care of active marketing efforts with their local and regional
brands. Thüga - financial partner of the cities and boroughs and,
in this capacity, minority shareholder in the partner companies -
is the core element of the group and is tasked with business
development: attracting new partners, value retention and
development of the company, coordination and facilitation of
projects as well as control of collaboration in the group.
About ITM Power plc:
ITM Power plc was admitted to the AIM market of the London Stock
Exchange in 2004 and raised its initial funding of GBP10m gross in
its IPO. Further funding rounds of GBP28.5m in 2006, GBP5.4m in
2012 and GBP2m in 2013 have been completed. The Company has now
made the transition from a research and development company to a
product manufacturer and technology provider. The Company has both
a strong base of intellectual property and engineering expertise
for providing complete hydrogen solutions. The Company has been
successful in developing strategic industry partnerships in the
following projects:
First Refuelling Station Sale in the US
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/first-refuelling-station-sale-in-the-us/
ITM Power Joins Californian Hydrogen Business Council Hydrogen
Energy Storage (HES) Program
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/itm-power-joins-californian-hydrogen-business-council-hydrogen-energy-storage-hes-program/
German Energy Agency Power to Gas Strategy Platform
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/itm-power-joins-german-energy-agencys-power-to-gas-strategy-platform/
Incorporation of ITM Power ApS Denmark
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/incorporation-of-itm-power-aps-in-denmark/
Participation in H2USA
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/participation-in-h2usa/
Participation in North Sea Power-to-Gas Platform
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/participation-in-north-sea-power-to-gas-platform/
First Sale of 'Power-to-Gas' Plant in Germany
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/first-sale-of-power-to-gas-plant-in-germany/
First Sale in Russia
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/first-sale-in-russia/
First Sale in Japan
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/first-sale-in-japan/
Electrolysis to play a key role in Hydrogen Roadmap for UK
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/electrolysis-to-play-a-key-role-in-hydrogen-roadmap-for-uk/
CE Marking of Fuel Cell System for Materials Handling
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/ce-marking-of-fuel-cell-system-for-materials-handling/
EU Funding for Advanced Refuelling Project
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/e3-59m-grant-award-for-an-advanced-refueling-product/
AEG Power Solutions electrolyser integration with power
electronics
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/rapid-response-electrolyser-power-systems-integration/
DECC Funding Award for the Production of Synthetic Methane
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/decc-funding-award-for-the-production-of-synthetic-methane/
EU Funding for PEM Fuel Cell Innovation - IMPACT
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/eu-funding-for-pem-fuel-cell-innovation-impact/
Agreement with ABO Wind of Wiesbaden, Germany
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/agreement-with-abo-wind-of-wiesbaden-germany/
Shell and National Grid Join Gas Inject Project
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/shell-and-national-grid-join-gas-inject-project/
EcoIsland TSB Funding
http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/news-events/news-archive/2012/july/ecoisland-progresses-tsb-grant-awarded-for-isle-of-wight-integrated-hydrogen-project
700bar Dispensing Collaboration in Germany
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/700bar-dispensing-collaboration-in-germany/
Marks & Spencer Pilot Materials Handling Fuel Cell
Project
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/ms-agreement/
UKH2Mobility with leading auto OEM's, UK Gov't and industrial
gas companies
http://www.itm-power.com/about-itm/partners/?id=49
EcoIsland with Toshiba, IBM, Cable & Wireless, SSE and
Southern Water
http://www.itm-power.com/about-itm/partners/?id=46
Boeing Unmanned Aircraft System Refueller
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/agreement-with-boeing/
Electrolyser Distribution with Horizon Fuel Cells
http://www.horizonfuelcell.com/fuel_solutions_hbox.htm
CREO with Ford, Jaguar Land Rover and Johnson Matthey
http://www.itm-power.com/about-itm/partners/?id=45
Exclusive European distribution rights for Materials Handling
Fuel Cells
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/exclusive-european-distribution-rights-for-materials-handling-fuel-cells/
Sale of Equipment to EADS
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/sale-of-equipment-to-eads/
EU Grant Award for PEM Water Electrolysers Coupled to Renewable
Power Sources
http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/eu-grant-award-for-pem-water-electrolysers-coupled-to-renewable-power-sources/
-ends-
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