Hydrogen-empowered Hydro-Electric Grids (HyHEG) 

Partners: S&Ao Ltd (Lead), Investingreen Ltd, Jet Engineering Services Ltd, Lucerne University of Applied Science, School Of Engineering and Architecture, Nepal Energy Foundation, Women Network For Energy And Environment (Wonee)

Country: Nepal

Technology: Low carbon hydrogen

Stage: Mid

Stage: 9

Across Nepal, micro hydroelectric power (MHP) projects are constructed to provide basic electricity supply to local people. These island microgrid systems are limited in their performance due to their power restrictions which grossly limits electricity harvest and causes much potential energy to go to waste. Power intensive activities such as cooking cannot be covered by electric supply, therefore country-wide biomass is resorted to for cooking. Exposure to smoke from biomass-based cooking is an acute health risk. This is a typical power and energy matching problem with fatal consequences for the population.

This project aims to combat this by introducing Hydrogen production, storage, distribution, and Hydrogen-based cooking. Connected to a micro hydroelectric power station, the Hydrogen generator is able to substantially increase the energy harvest by converting surplus electricity into Hydrogen. The Hydrogen subsequently is supplied to local homes as fuel gas for cooking, thus circumventing electric power limitations. In this way, performance and efficiency of the micro hydroelectric power station are substantially increased, and clean renewable cooking is made possible.