GKN Powder Metallurgy Establishes New Business Unit GKN Hydrogen
GKN Powder Metallurgy launches new dedicated green hydrogen unit, GKN Hydrogen, on May 11, 2021, with a virtual market launch event. GKN Hydrogen is pioneering emission-free, safe, and compact all-in-one renewable energy storage solutions to drive the global energy transition. GKN Hydrogen’s unique green hydrogen storage technology based on metal hydrides is the most reliable and secure system on the market. The Hydrogen unit launch reinforces GKN Powder Metallurgy’s global technology leadership in conjunction with other advances the business is making, including in 3D printing.
GKN Hydrogen’s 100% recyclable product suite has been developed and refined over the last years to become the most reliable and secure hydrogen storage solution on the market. The robust systems generate green hydrogen from fluctuating renewable energy sources, storing it compactly and safely in metal hydride over long periods of time. When needed, the green hydrogen can be used directly or converted back into electricity and heat for a variety of applications. The scalable system design allows for maximum versatility, from emergency power backup and off-grid energy supply to residential housing, maritime transport, and large-scale industry.
“GKN Hydrogen is an incredibly exciting venture that will play a key role at the forefront of the energy transition. Using a state-of-the-art technology with far-reaching implications and extensive scope for development, we are helping to solve the issue of hydrogen storage and provide a clean energy for all that is green, safe and compact,” Peter Oberparleiter, Chief Executive Officer at GKN Powder Metallurgy, said.
With the launch of GKN Hydrogen, its second business unit to focus on innovative technologies alongside GKN Additive, GKN Powder Metallurgy is strengthening its position as a provider of leading-edge technology solutions for the future. Leveraging the business’s world-leading position in powder metal solutions, GKN Hydrogen is pioneering safe, emission-free green hydrogen storage to help organizations and societies around the world achieve their carbon neutrality goals today, and in the years to come.
“We created GKN Hydrogen after consulting with colleagues from across GKN Powder Metallurgy and are proud to be seen as an enabler for a decentralized, carbon neutral energy supply infrastructure. We are very excited to introduce our new business unit to the world on May 11, 2021. Our mission is to stop climate change, for ourselves and for generations to come,” Peter Oberparleiter continues.
Hydrogen storage based on metal powder
Hydrogen is generated from electrical energy by electrolysis and fed into storage tanks filled with metal powder. The hydrogen bonds to the metal particles to form metal hydride, a stable and safe compound. With simple adjustments of the temperature, the hydrogen can be released to a fuel cell and converts back into electrical power.
The heat waste is collected by an integrated heat management system and used to heat the house. The result: an efficient zero-emission power and thermal power plant with the only emissions being water and oxygen.
Hydrogen in combination with metal powder results in metal hydride. It is particularly suitable for storing hydrogen for a long time, safely and compactly.
The benefit: With the excess renewable energy from summer, you can store it and reuse it in winter.
Metal hydrides are one of the safest technologies to store hydrogen energy over a longer period. They also have a great volumetric density, which allows for a significantly smaller storage size than other energy storage types at the same energy capacity, such as batteries or other gaseous hydrogen storage systems.
Different from normal hydrogen vessels the Hy2 tanks are filled with compressed metal powder. When hydrogen is brought to the tanks, it bonds with the metal in a stable and dense way. Without any additional compression, the Hy2 technology reduces size for the same volume of hydrogen, compared to gaseous hydrogen storage.
The Hy2 storage system is the ideal solution to make better use of locally generated energy from renewables and to become energy self-sufficient.
The Hy2 systems supply electricity and heat. This increases the overall efficiency of the system without any harmful emissions – only water and oxygen are left behind.
About GKN Powder Metallurgy
GKN Powder Metallurgy is the world’s leading authority in powder metal solutions, from advanced metal powders to high-performance sinter metal components. Leveraging its strong core business competencies, the company is accelerating its expansion into the future growth areas of Additive Manufacturing and Hydrogen Storage. As a stand-alone business unit of Melrose PLC, GKN Powder Metallurgy today comprises four business units: GKN Powders, GKN Sinter Metals, GKN Additive and GKN Hydrogen. Together GKN Powder Metallurgy empowers over 6,000 problem solvers in 29 locations, setting its global technology network at the highest standard.
