(670a) A Future Energy Supply Based On Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHC)

This contribution describes a concept for the storage of renewable energy using Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) compounds. These compounds are characterized by the fact that they can be loaded and un-loaded with considerable amounts of hydrogen in a cyclic process (energy carrying compounds, ETS). The system N-Ethylcarbazole / Perhydro-N-Ethylcarbazole is the most explored and consequently best understood LOHC system so far. It can store six moles of hydrogen per one mole of carrier substance and therefore allows for a hydrogen storage capacity of 5.8 wt-%.

 In contrast to other hydrogen storage methods (like compressed gaseous or cryogenic hydrogen) LOHCs can be safely stored under ambient conditions in big quantities. As they have many physico-chemical similarities to Diesel, LOHCs can make use of the existing energy infrastructure (e.g. storage tanks or road tankers).

The focus of this contribution lies on the implementation of an energy storage system for residential and commercial buildings or groups of buildings based on LOHC. The transition of the mainly fossil-fuelled energy system towards regenerative sources (in Germany called ‘Energiewende’ – ‘energy sea change’) has already shifted the role of buildings from mere energy consumers to energy producers (e.g. via rooftop photovoltaics). In a future energy system buildings could in addition support the integration of intermittent renewable energies by acting as decentralized energy storage facilities.

Furthermore, options for mobility are shortly reported.