UNB lab develops improved hydrogen storage

A University of New Brunswick researcher believes he's developed a more efficient way to store hydrogen.

One obstacle in the use of hydrogen, which is potentially a clean fuel source, is the problem of storing it safely.

The UNB laboratory is testing metal powders as a means of storing hydrogen gas.

Sean McGrady has already had success using aluminum, and now a still-secret mixture of metals has given him even better results.

Chris Wilson's company, HSM Systems Inc., has partnered with UNB to develop commercial ways to store and transport hydrogen. They're using sandwiches of sealed metal plates to contain the hydrogen-charged powder.

"This black box is the actually physical prototype that you would sell. It stores about 20 grams of hydrogen," Wilson said. "So it's a very small tank of hydrogen."

Referring to the prototype's capacity, McGrady said "It's actually releasing seven per cent of its weight as H2, as hydrogen gas. That may not sound like a lot but in this game it's a pretty impressive number," McGrady said.

"That's because conventional storage of high-pressure hydrogen gas in thick steel cylinders is only five per cent by weight."

The prototype is still at a size appropriate for lab work. But by using McGrady's new metal mix, Wilson said he hopes to scale it up to a capacity that can power vehicles.

HSM Systems is looking at further prototypes for remote locations that could store energy from wind or solar power in the form of hydrogen.