LOHC

© Federal Ministry of Education and Research
LOHC
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LOHCs (Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers) are organic liquids that serve as chemical hydrogen carriers. These compounds are based on carbon chains with unsaturated bonds to which hydrogen can be chemically attached. A distinctive feature of LOHCs is that they can repeatedly store and release hydrogen without undergoing any chemical changes. Furthermore, their handling does not require any special pressures or temperatures.

The world's first commercial LOHC facility was opened in January 2016 by Hydrogenious LOHC Technologies GmbH. Using solar power, it produces hydrogen via PEM electrolysis and then stores it in dibenzyltoluene. Hydrogenious won the German Business Innovation Award in 2016 for this storage process.

Carriers

Most LOHC materials are derived from petroleum refining and have flow properties similar to those of oil. Commonly used substances include carbazole, toluene, and dibenzyltoluene. Since the carrier material is not consumed but circulates in a closed loop, its fossil origin is not considered an issue in terms of the carbon footprint.

The most important requirements for a LOHC are:

  • Liquid state throughout the entire relevant temperature range
  • Temperature and Cycle Stability
  • Reversibility of Hydrogen Uptake
LOHC

Diagram of the Loading and Unloading Process (© Bronkhorst)

Advantages and Disadvantages of LOHC

These materials are safe to handle and have a relatively high hydrogen storage capacity : Their storage capacity is 4–7 percent by weight of hydrogen. This corresponds to an energy density of 1.3 to 2.4 kWh/kg.

By way of comparison: One liter of diesel can store roughly the same amount of energy as four liters of LOHC. Hydrogen is released under controlled conditions at temperatures ranging from 150 to 350°C and a pressure of a few bar.

Advantages:

  • Use of existing infrastructure (pipelines, tanker trucks, ships)
  • High energy density
  • Safe and easy to use under normal environmental conditions
  • Reusable backing material
  • Relatively inexpensive H2 transport (compared to established storage technologies such as high-pressure or cryogenic storage)

Disadvantages:

  • Requires a large amount of space compared to fossil fuels
  • Energy required for hydrogen release
  • Not yet technically mature
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