Crossroads Vlaanderen - Nederland supports Oxylum in the development of sustainable energy storage
The EU’s “Crossroads Vlaanderen - Nederland” program will support the collaboration of Oxylum and DENS. The goal of the collaboration is to develop a sustainable and renewble method for energy storage, by using formic acid as an hydrogen carrier. The project started on the first of July 2024 and over the course of 18 months a proof of concept study will be performed.
The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The EU aims to cut emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. However, renewable sources like wind and solar face challenges due to their intermittent nature, making efficient energy storage crucial.
Currently, hydrogen is a promising energy carrier, but its storage and transportation are complex and costly. An alternative is formic acid, which offers safer and more efficient long-term storage. Formic acid is less volatile and toxic than other carriers like methanol and ammonia, making it a viable option for storing renewable energy.
Oxylum and DENS are collaborating to develop this innovative solution. Oxylum converts CO2 and renewable electricity into formic acid, while DENS recovers hydrogen and electricity from formic acid. Both companies have made significant progress: Oxylum is scaling up production, and DENS has a commercial formic acid-based power generator in use.
This project aims to integrate these technologies, creating a closed formic acid cycle for safe and efficient energy storage. Key research areas include optimizing formic acid production from impure CO2, determining the optimal purity for energy recovery, and developing purification methods.
An economic impact study will evaluate the integrated system's efficiency, CO2 reduction, safety, and cost compared to current technologies. This collaboration represents a significant step toward a sustainable, carbon-neutral energy future, addressing the challenges of renewable energy storage and contributing to global climate goals.
The collaboration between Oxylum and DENS is financially supported by the “Crossroads Vlaanderen - Nederland” program of the European Union.