LOHC Technology: Strengths & Weaknesses

Ion Agirre and Laura Barrio from the SherLOHCk project discuss the challenges of storing and transporting hydrogen   Hydrogen is emerging as the preferred energy source in the battle against greenhouse gas emissions, with a notable emphasis on obtaining green hydrogen. Its integration with renewable sources is pivotal to smoothing out production fluctuations and facilitating energy transport. However, the challenge lies in storing and transporting hydrogen from renewable production sites to application points. The existing technologies for hydrogen storage primarily focuses on boosting its volumetric energy density, yet faces hurdles due to high pressures and low temperatures, slowing down the evolution of the hydrogen economy. In response to these challenges, there’s a growing interest in liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs). This innovative technology involves reversible hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactions utilising cyclic hydrocarbons. What makes LOHCs stand out is their potential to transport hydrogen seamlessly through current liquid fuel infrastructures, offering a loss-free solution for long-term hydrogen storage.   What are the LOHCs? Under the...