CHBC Creates a Hydrogen Energy Storage Program

June 24, 2013

California Hydrogen Business Council Creates a Hydrogen Energy Storage Program

Support secured from ITM Power, Hydrogenics and other leading companies

Los Angeles – June 24, 2013 — Today, the California Hydrogen Business Council announced their new Hydrogen Energy Storage (HES) Program to address the increasingly important role energy storage will play in the state’s future energy mix.The goals of the program are to provide greater understanding of Power-to-gas energy storage and hydrogen energy storage to supply fuel for electric mobility.

“The formation of this program will play a vital part in defining the role and guiding the deployment of hydrogen energy storage,” said Mark Abramowitz, CHBC President.

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has set an ambitious goal of 33% renewable electricity by 2020, requiring a build out of renewable generation. By adding renewable energy to the energy mix, the amount of lost or “curtailed” renewable energy will increase at times when electricity demand is low. Hydrogen can act as a storage medium for that otherwise lost electricity, and therefore hydrogen energy storage has the potential to become an immense business opportunity in California.

Already, California has taken a big step forward in making grid-scale energy storage on a large scale a reality. In 2010, the California Assembly Bill 2514 was passed, the first state law calling for grid-scale energy storage. The bill requires the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to conclude on targets for viable and cost-effective energy storage systems by October 1, 2013. On June 10, 2013, the CPUC released a proposal that calls for the State’s three largest electric utilities to procure 1,300 megawatts of energy storage by 2020

###

About California Hydrogen Business Council:

The California Hydrogen Business Council is comprised of organizations and individuals involved in the business of hydrogen. Its mission is to advance the commercialization of hydrogen in transportation and stationary sources to reduce emissions and dependence on foreign oil. More information at www.californiahydrogen.org