Increasing utilization of solar PV in Sweden through large-scale seasonal energy storage

Abstract

This report examines the feasibility of integrating large-scale seasonal hydrogen storage with solar photovoltaics (PV) to facilitate the diffusion of solar PV in Sweden by allowing electricity that cannot be used directly to be utilized at a later date. Sweden’s geographical position makes it an interesting point of study because of the significant fluctuations in solar energy availability and energy demand across different seasons. Methodologically, the report is a combination of a literature search, qualitative calculations, and interviews. The results include an analysis of current technologies for converting electricity to hydrogen, hydrogen storage methods and converting hydrogen back to electricity. This is followed by a calculation that models a potential scenario of a hydrogen storagebacked solar PV system in Sweden. Lastly, a holistic review of this kind of energy system is done with societal, economic, and environmental aspects considered. The main findings of the report show that using hydrogen as an energy carrier for storing electricity might not be feasible for large-scale applications due to problems justifying it economically, which is a result of the large capital costs needed for the infrastructure to accommodate the storage demand. An alternative approach where hydrogen is utilized directly in industry instead of converting it back to electricity was found to be a more feasible solution. This could still facilitate the diffusion of solar PVs in Sweden, as the need to replace hydrogen that is sourced from fossil fuels will support this development.