Long-duration energy storage is one of the key issues in increasing the use of renewable energy sources and improving the energy self-sufficiency of buildings. This is the context for Hybitat XL, the new hydrogen energy storage system developed by Hybitat for residential, commercial and industrial applications.
Here at Simplifhy, we have completed the design and construction of the electrolysis section of the first Hybitat XL system, contributing to the development of a power-to-power solution designed to produce, store and reconvert renewable hydrogen into electricity.
A hydrogen-based power-to-power system
Hybitat is a joint venture with the SIT Group, with its operational headquarters in Padua, specialising in the development of hydrogen-based energy storage systems.
The Hybitat XL power-to-power system consists of three main modules:
- hydrogen production via electrolysis
- metal hydride storage
- conversion back into electricity via fuel cells.
This system makes it possible to convert electricity generated from renewable sources into hydrogen, store it and make it available again when needed. The system therefore provides a long-term energy storage solution and is a key element in promoting greater use of renewable sources and increasing the energy independence of buildings. The aim is to reduce hydrogen production costs and make this technology accessible to an ever-increasing number of users.
The electrolysis section designed by Simplifhy
Our contribution to the development of Hybitat XL relates to the electrolysis section, which is based on eight AEM stacks from our partner Enapter, each with a capacity of 2.4 kW.
The stacks are divided into two independent strings of four stacks each, a configuration that allows the system to operate with a high degree of flexibility. The two strings can, in fact, be activated separately, adapting hydrogen production to the availability of renewable energy.
This aspect is particularly important when integrating with intermittent sources, such as solar PV. When production exceeds the building’s energy requirements, the system can maximise hydrogen production by converting the surplus electricity into a storable resource.
Hydrogen storage for buildings and larger-scale applications
Hybitat XL is designed for a wider range of users than traditional residential applications. The system is aimed at residential, commercial and industrial buildings, where energy consumption management and integration with renewable energy systems require more flexible and scalable solutions.
The aim of the project is to contribute to the widespread adoption of hydrogen storage systems capable of increasing the energy independence of buildings and making the local use of renewable energy more effective.
The system’s compact and modular design is also a key factor in keeping production and installation costs down, thereby making this technology more accessible.
Renewable hydrogen and distributed storage
This project confirms the role of renewable hydrogen in the development of distributed energy systems, which are not limited to large industrial plants.
“Working alongside Hybitat on a project such as Hybitat XL means contributing to the development of a technology that brings renewable hydrogen into people’s homes and businesses, not just into large industrial plants. It is an important step towards building a distributed and accessible hydrogen supply chain”, says our CEO Sergio Torriani.
For Hybitat, the project addresses the need to make hydrogen energy storage available to buildings that need to manage their energy consumption more independently.
“Hybitat XL was created to meet a specific need: to make hydrogen energy storage available to residential, commercial and industrial buildings that need to manage their energy consumption independently. Our collaboration with Simplifhy on the electrolysis component will enable us to build a robust system, the performance of which we can validate with a view to scaling up”, says Giovanni Pulice, CEO & Co-Founder of Hybitat.
Towards more self-sufficient and decarbonised buildings
The development of Hybitat XL forms part of the ongoing evolution of technologies for the decarbonisation of buildings. With increasing energy generation from renewable sources, hydrogen-based energy storage can help overcome the limitations of intermittency, making energy available even at times other than when it is generated.
As a solution provider offering strategies and systems for the decarbonisation of industry through the use of hydrogen-based technologies, Simplifhy is the ideal partner for the development of projects such as Hybitat. By designing the electrolysis section of the Hybitat XL system, we are contributing to the development of a solution designed to make renewable hydrogen more accessible, modular and easily integrated into real-world energy consumption contexts.
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