SSE builds new underground energy site to swerve blackouts during ‘windless’ days

“The situation should start to improve from Monday evening as weather models forecast more wind, which should ease the tightness in the UK (and also in continental Europe). But demand will remain high due to below seasonal normal temperatures.”

According to the Guardian, this project will produce hydrogen using renewable energy in a 35-megawatt electrolyser which will be stored in a cavern the size of St Paul’s Cathedral located a mile deep at an existing SSE site in Aldbrough on the Yorkshire coast.

This hydrogen, which has been hailed as a natural gas replacement for industrial uses, will be used to fire a turbine which can export power to the grid when demand is high.

SSE hopes that this “pathfinder” project, which could cost over £100million, will help demonstrate the technology’s viability before larger projects, which would require larger pipelines and infrastructure, are built. 

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Article source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1711383/sse-builds-underground-hydrogen-storage-energy-site-swerve-national-grid-blackouts