Wind power stored as hydrogen
Norsk Hydro's wind power and hydrogen storage demonstration facility is located at Utsira off the southwestern coast of Norway.
PIONEERING. In the summer of 2004 energy history was written on Utsira, when ten households on this island west of Haugesund became part of a pioneering project which is providing electricity solely from wind turbines and hydrogen. (Photo: StatoilHydro)
The Utsira wind power facility stores excess power in hydrogen fuel cells. Fuel cells are like gigantic batteries that can hold electric power until it is needed. The Utsira fuel cells are activated when the electricity need exceeds the supply from the two 600-kilowatt wind turbines. When the turbines supply more electricity than the ten houses on the island need, the fuel cells are charged.
Further reading:
StatoilHydro: The Utsira project
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