The Vision

The NICOLHy project aims to develop a novel insulation concept based on Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIP) that enables the safe, cost- and energy efficient storage of large quantities of liquefied hydrogen (LH2). Such large scale LH2 storage technology is necessary for establishing a hydrogen economy with dimensions between 40.000 m³ and more than 200.000 m³ of LH2. However, new design concepts are needed because the currently available technologies used in small and medium storages today are not suitable for up-scaling. The main problems prohibiting the up-scaling are the long production time due to the process chain, the low failure tolerance and the spherical shape, which reduces the payload in technical applications by up to 50% compared to other shapes. The novel concept will change these conditions by a system which is modular, open-form, time- and cost efficient while production, operation and service, multi-failure tolerant and applicable for onshore and offshore applications. The NICOLHy consortium is ideally suited for this ambitious project. It brings together experts from the fields of cryothermodynamics, marine, chemistry, process, and safety engineering.

Objectives

TO1:

Design a tank, its thermal insulation and its support structure, which is suitable for the large-scale storage of LH2, scalable, energy efficient, sustainable, having low construction and operation costs, and which assures improved safety standards.

TO2:

Define materials and predict the overall thermal insulation performance

TO3:

Testing of the novel insulation concept at laboratory scale

TO4:

Perform safety and risk analysis during operation and fire scenarios

TO5:

Perform circularity, sustainability and scalability assessment of the developed concept

NTO1:

Maximize the impact of NICOLHy and accelerate the use of the application

Methodology

Funding

NICOLHy project No. 101137629 is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Clean Hydrogen JU. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.