Hydrogen energy storage: power ramp-up at the MYRTE test platform

The Greenergy Box™, an energy storage and management system developed by AREVA, has been installed at the MYRTE test platform at the University of Corsica’s Vignola site in Ajaccio Corsica. It enhances the existing installation, which has been in operation since early 2013, and increases the grid output from the energy stored in hydrogen to 150 kW, strengthening the quality and reliability of grid operations.

Jointly developed by AREVA, the Environmental Sciences Laboratory of the University of Corsica Pascal Paoli/CNRS, and the CEA, the project is certified by the Capenergies competitiveness cluster and is co-funded by the government of Corsica, the French State and the European Union.

Since January 2012, the MYRTE platform has connected photovoltaic solar panels, with an output of 560 kW, to a hydrogen-based storage system. By joining the power grid, this provides a solution to the problem of intermittency and makes it one of the rare installations in the world with this type of coupling.

Composed of an electrolyzer and a fuel cell, the Greenergy Box™ increases the potential storage of the electricity produced. The new system also offers greater flexibility for grid operations and gives the research teams at the University of Corsica, in association with the CNRS and the CEA, the opportunity to plan and test various energy management scenarios.

Mr. Paul-Marie Romani, president of the University of Corsica and Chairman of the MYRTE scientific interest grouping congratulated "this installation which is a new step forward for Corsica in the development of scientific activities devoted to energy issues.”

Mrs. Florence Lambert, director of CEA-LITEN and leader of the New Industrial France recovery plan devoted to energy storage¹, said: “This new installation provides actors in the France hydrogen industry with a platform that increases the potential for the development of innovative technological solutions that can meet the challenges of the energy transition.”

Mr. Jérôme Gosset, executive vice-president of AREVA’s Energy Storage business, added “Boosting the storage potential of the MYRTE platform demonstrates the high added value of the solution developed by AREVA to increase the security of the Corsican power grid.” 



¹ “Battery Life and Power”, New Industrial France: 34 recovery plans