A GeoPura 250kW hydrogen power unit (HPU) was installed at National Grid’s Deeside Centre for Innovation (DCI), providing energy to power low-voltage equipment needed for the Grid’s innovation testing projects and site operations.

Over the 10 weeks, the trial tested the capabilities and feasibility of HPU’s as a direct replacement for diesel-powered backup generators across more than 250 National Grid substation sites. H2 View understands the data collected throughout the trial will now be analysed ahead of release later this year (2023).

Using 100% green hydrogen stored on site for the trail, the HPU offered quieter, carbon-free backup power for substation operations such as cooling fans, pumps, and lighting.

“The HPU has been tested for different load profiles including typical critical substation equipment,” said Prem Ranjan, Test Engineer at DCI. “The trial results for electrical performances and environmental aspects along with hydrogen management will now be examined as viable zero-emission alternatives to diesel backup generators.”

Sean Coleman, Manager at DCI, added, “The HPU powered our test facility 24 hours a day, seven days a week and we will now consider the findings, which we hope will help accelerate the transition to a flexible and low-carbon future.”

National Grid has said although backup generators have less than a 1% chance of operating per year, moving away from diesel to low-carbon emission alternative such as hydrogen has the potential to reduce carbon intensity by 90%, saving over 500,000kg of carbon emissions.

The GeoPura HPU at Deeside is said to have power capabilities of up to 100kW in continuous operation and up to 250kW for 45 minutes, which National Grid says is enough to power up to 750 homes for 24 hours.

GeoPura’s HPUs have been put to the test in other long-running trials. In November (2022), its 250kW unit powered a three-month maintenance outage at a Uniper natural gas plant in the UK.

Read more: Green hydrogen powers three-month maintenance outage at Uniper power plant in UK

Commenting on the National Grid trial, Andrew Cummingham, Managing Director at GeoPura, said, “Backup power plays a critical role in the UK’s electricity transmission system, and this is a fantastic example of how hydrogen can be used to eliminate harmful environmental emissions in the event of a primary power loss.

“We are thrilled to have supported National Grid to undertake this comprehensive testing programme, providing a reliable, critically backed, zero-emission alternative to high polluting diesel generators.”