Exolum is embarking on a pioneering demonstration project at its Immingham terminal in the UK to showcase the bulk transport and storage of hydrogen using Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs) in repurposed oil infrastructure. With over £500,000 in funding from the UK Government through Innovate UK, this initiative marks a significant step forward in hydrogen energy storage and logistics. Exolum aims to leverage its existing pipeline and tank storage facilities to handle commercial-scale volumes of LOHCs, a first-of-its-kind endeavor worldwide.
LOHCs, oil-like compounds that can safely absorb and release hydrogen, offer a promising solution for the storage and transport of hydrogen. This project focuses on demonstrating the feasibility of using LOHCs within Exolum’s existing oil infrastructure, addressing the final unproven step in the LOHC process—its transport and storage.
Slated for completion by the end of 2024, the project will facilitate the storage and movement of 400 cubic meters of LOHC, equivalent to approximately 20,000 kg of hydrogen. This quantity could fuel a hydrogen passenger car for around 2 million kilometers. Laboratory tests will assess the maintenance of LOHC quality throughout the process.
This initiative not only positions Exolum at the forefront of new energy carrier logistics solutions but also underscores the potential of repurposing existing energy infrastructure for green hydrogen and its derivatives. By adapting its versatile infrastructure, Exolum is ready to support the burgeoning demand for hydrogen storage and distribution, ahead of alternative solutions.
The project collaboration includes Axiom, a leading British engineering consultancy, which will oversee the laboratory testing. Exolum’s commitment to accelerating the energy transition is further evidenced by its involvement in various projects and partnerships aimed at advancing green hydrogen and low-carbon ammonia production and distribution across Europe and the USA.
Exolum’s proactive approach in leveraging its state-of-the-art logistics system for the energy transition showcases the tangible possibilities for integrating new energy carriers into existing infrastructures, potentially revolutionizing the green energy landscape.
