H2 au fil de l'eau

The aim of the project is to implement the production of green hydrogen through electrolyses, powered electrically by local renewable energies: photovoltaic and recovery of waste energy or hydroelectricity.

The hydroelectricity will be produced through a reversible pump turbine, placed at the core of the pipes supplying the Gallets water tower in Rennes. The photovoltaic production will be through 2000 m2 of surface available on land beside the water tower.

To begin with, production will be set at 10 kg of hydrogen per day. The aim being to install a first green hydrogen distribution station in Rennes and to supplement the local ecosystem of carbon free mobility with a hydrogen offer.

Project objectives :

Techniques: Installation of a reversible pump turbine in the pipes joining the top and base of the water tower, to deliver the most stable hydro-electric production possible. Average output: 350 m3/h. Which is around 0.22 MWh/day or 81 MWh/year. PV installation on a surface of 2000m² with an anticipated production level, calculated by Tecsol, of 345.3 MWh/year or 0.94 MWh/day.

Energy related : The outcome of this hydro-electric and photovoltaic production is the production of 10 kg/day of green hydrogen through electrolysis. Reduction of 120g of CO2/km covered. The hydraulic energy produced will be 81 MWh/year and photovoltaic production 345.3 MWh/year.

Environmental: Reduction of GHGs by using the renewable energies found locally. Energy savings of 82.93 MWh/year through the recovery of waste heat.

Commercial: Instigate an H2 mobility ecosystem in the Rennes area.

Economic: Return on investment within 5 years for the hydroelectricity portion and within 14 years for the photovoltaic portion.

User involvement: This private demonstrator project is for the project stakeholders and partners. Deployment of a hydrogen distribution solution for the general public will be organised on other territories. Wide reaching communication and popularisation is planned for this demonstrator: desire to reassure and persuade future project sponsors or users. Support will also be provided for the project managers who will primarily be employees of the CEBR and the SPL.

Added value of the project :

The project will enable the installation of the first Hydrogen distribution station in Rennes and will complete the existing carbon free mobility services with hydrogen powered mobility.