[ storage ]
H2MOF founders ( from left to right ): Samer Taha , Sir Fraser Stoddart , and Omar Yaghi
storage technologies . Material-based storage , leveraging , for instance , metal hydrides , is slightly more cost-efficient than their physically based counterparts , but still suffers from an extreme weight penalty and costly energy consumption at the point of release . In contrast , reticular material-based storage offers significant savings :
• Reduced capital expenditures : Because reticular material-based storage vessels can store hydrogen at low pressures as it is generated , for instance , by an electrolyzer , hydrogen producers will not need to invest in expensive compression equipment such as multi-stage oil-free diaphragm compressors and associated highpressure balance of plant . As for the reticular materials themselves , they can potentially absorb low-pressure hydrogen directly from an electrolyzer . High-capacity storage systems based on reticular materials can store hydrogen on the ground , and also help with transporting bulk hydrogen cost-effectively to off-taker sites .
• Reduced operating expenditures : Hydrogen transport using traditional steel pressure vessels is expensive since only about 200 – 300 kg of hydrogen can be transported per trailer .
The high logistics cost is reflected in the high cost of delivered high-pressure hydrogen . Liquid hydrogen allows for more efficient transport of hydrogen ; however , the delivered hydrogen remains extremely expensive due to the high cost of liquid hydrogen , tankers , and boil-off losses . Reticular material-based low-pressure storage and transportation have the potential to dramatically lower the cost of delivered hydrogen . The cost of high-pressure compression is avoided , and the transportation logistics costs are significantly reduced due to the high capacity of the material .
• Scalability : The modular nature of storage systems based on reticular materials allows for scalability across different sectors , ranging from small-scale decentralized green hydrogen generation projects to industrial power generation , and vehicle refueling applications , as well as safe and economical on-board fuel storage .
Energy density and storage capacity
One of the key performance metrics for hydrogen storage technologies is energy density . Reticular materials exhibit impressive hydrogen storage
Hydrogen Tech World | Issue 20 | February 2025 23