Hydrogen storage costs

For decentralised stationary storage, metal hydride stores or one of the similar concepts described in Chapter 2, section 2.4 may be more attractive than compressed gas flasks, but the cost is difficult to estimate because the final designs are not available (e.g., geometrical layout allowing sufficiently rapid extraction). Capital costs for metal hydride stores have been estimated as in the range of 2 000-80 000 2004-US per kg of Hj capacity (Amos, 1998). 

The storage cycle costs are estimated at 0.4-25 US kg (Padro and Putsche, 1999). If successful, such stores may also be considered for automotive applications, although the weight will be a problem except for some non-metal chemical or carbon storage types. Best current guesses are for a cost that is a few times higher than that of compressed storage containers. 

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This is consistent with a fuel-cell drive train (the fuel cell, hybrid battery, motor and auxiliaries) manufacturing cost of about 50/kW, and hydrogen-storage cost of 10/kWh, and a retail price mark-up factor of 1.4 (i.e., the retail price is 1.4 times the manufacturing cost). 

Carpetis, C., Estimation of storage costs for large hydrogen storage facilities. Int.. Hydrogen Energy, 7(2), 191-203,1981. 

Fuel operating cost Comparable to current ICE vehicles Energy-efficient hydrogen storage... 

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