A New, a small Spanish village, a team of scientists conducted a two-year experiment that could redefine the future of home energy. Through careful analysis and simulation, they identified the optimal mix of renewable to ensure the energy autonomy of a home. Yes, both night and day. And yes, all year round. Always.
An innovative approach to energy autonomy
The researchers ofUniversity of Cantabria They have developed an energy system called PVHyP (Photovoltaic-Hydrogen Power), which optimally combines photovoltaic panels with hydrogen storage. This innovative approach overcomes one of the main obstacles of solar energy: its intermittency.
The heart of research (that I link to you here): a social house of 80 m². Before the installation of the PVHyP system, this house consumed 2513 kWh of electricity annually, with a daily average of 6,88 kWh. The researchers noted significant seasonal variations, with peaks of over 7 kWh per day in winter and consumption lower by approximately 5,88 kWh per day in summer.
The PVHyP system: the recipe for energy autonomy
To meet the energy needs of the “test house”, the team designed a system composed of:
- 20 solar panels of 400 watts each;
- Quattro 2,4 kWh batteries;
- A water tank from 35 liters for electrolysis;
- A hydrogen tank from 600 litres at 300 bar pressure.
The system has been designed to operate efficiently:
- Solar panels primarily power the house;
- Excess energy is used to charge the batteries;
- When the batteries are full, excess energy is converted into hydrogen through electrolysis and stored in the high-pressure tank;
- When solar production is insufficient, batteries and hydrogen fuel cells step in to meet energy demands.
The implementation of this system has led to significant results. Three above all: reduction of the LCOE (Levelized Cost of Energy) from €0,86/kWh to €0,34/kWhEstimated annual savings of €1170. Above all, complete energy autonomy of the house throughout the year.
And what do we do now?
Silenced on the theoretical question (but I don't believe it) the eternal detractors of renewables, or the more or less official atomic lawyers, there are still challenges to face. Which ones? Transforming this "recipe" into an economically sustainable dish. Reasonable installation costs, space for components, safety for hydrogen and maintenance costs.
The chants will start again, right? We saw very long pieces of iron being laid, and we heard people screaming that the devilry called “train” was unrealizable. It is not like that, not this time either. It is a matter of wanting it and organizing it: because even large-scale adoption has its recipe. This one:
- Further research to optimize efficiency and reduce costs;
- Government support policies and incentives;
- Educating the public on the benefits and safety of hydrogen systems;
- Development of standards and regulations for the installation and domestic use of hydrogen.
A crucial piece
This research got me thinking. We are so used to depending on a centralized energy system that the idea of being completely autonomous seems almost revolutionary. But why? Why are there so many people who consider it impossible to even cut that umbilical cord that ties us to the electrical grid?
I think that in the future this story of energy autonomy is like when we decided to put wheels on suitcases. One day someone will think of us: "How did they live without them for all that time?"
Sure, there will be challenges. I can already imagine my daughter explaining to my mother-in-law that no, the hydrogen tank in the garage is not going to explode like a blimp. But think about it: a future where electric bills are a distant memory, like floppy disks or corded phones. A future where we can truly say we have control over our energy, without having to fear blackouts or sudden price increases.
And in a world that seems increasingly unpredictable, having control over something as fundamental as energy… well, isn't that the real superpower we need?
