The Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking’s project SURFER aims to facilitate the widespread deployment of variable renewable energy sources by demonstrating the use of flexible electrolysers as dynamic energy buffers. It also aims to stabilise multiple types of energy networks, focusing primarily on power grids, but also considering heat valorisation and isolated or weak grids.
The main concept of the project is to enable electrolysis plants to make additional revenues from power grid stabilisation, also making the latter more resilient and decarbonised with increased VRES penetration and maximisation of their use. The project will improve energy security and drive down costs, thanks to additional sources of revenues and heat integration, thus supporting Europe's energy transition goals.
The project will demonstrate the capabilities of Proton-Exchange Membrane ELectrolyser (PEMEL), Alkaline Electrolyser (AEL) and Solid Oxide ELectrolyser (SOEL) to rapidly modulate their operation to accommodate variations in renewable energy supply, grid demand and waste heat when available. The partners have made available their already existing, large-scale sites, rated up to 10 MW for PEMEL, 1.5 MW for AEL and 300 kW for SOEL.
Through multiple demonstrations across diverse European sites, including operational environments in France, Germany, and Norway, the project will improve the integration of these electrolyser technologies into the energy system. The partners will be the first in the world to provide grid services with electrolysis plants on a commercial basis.
To reach these objectives, the project partners will demonstrate the dynamic operational flexibility of electrolysis plants, understand and model their dynamic behaviours, innovate power electronics for improved responsiveness, and integrate these plants effectively into energy grids. They will also streamline the Renewable Fuel of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) certification processes, ensure rigorous safety standards under dynamic operational conditions, and reducing the Levelised Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) for wider access to renewable hydrogen.
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