Pfalzen (IT), Bonn (DE), Carlsbad (US), August 22nd 2024
· First CO2-free operated communication tower installed in South Tyrol
· Sustainable assurance of critical communication infrastructure
· Reliable emergency power solution for 96 hours through hydrogen storage
GKN Hydrogen, global technology leader in metal hydride hydrogen storage, has successfully commissioned an innovative energy storage solution to provide emergency power for the communication facility on Ratsberg in the municipality of Toblach (South Tyrol, Italy). At the beginning of August 2023, the Provincial Office for Civil Protection within the Civil Protection Agency placed the order, as the communication facility from the 1980s was too small and previously had no emergency power.
The innovative and decentralized solution from GKN Hydrogen will ensure a sustainable and reliable emergency power
supply. The primary challenge for the client is to maintain communication for public institutions during weather-related power outages, thereby ensuring the uninterrupted safety of the population.
In such situations, the hydrogen-powered energy storage system from GKN Hydrogen will be used. The system is designed for a continuous electrical output of 10 kW and provides emergency power for up to four days or 96 hours. This is sufficient to operate the communication tower without interruption until normal power supply is restored. The hydrogen, produced using grid electricity and electrolysis, is stored almost loss-free as a solid in metal powder for years. When needed, an integrated fuel cell converts the stored hydrogen back into electricity, which then operates the communication facility.
“This successfully implemented project represents our first reference in the area of emergency power supply for critical infrastructures. It is a significant step towards a sustainable and emission-free emergency power supply and serves as a use case for future projects to support critical infrastructures, such as in rescue services and firefighting operations. The system can be remotely controlled and updated by our service team, ensuring operational readiness at all times. This is particularly important in such remote locations.”
About GKN Hydrogen
GKN Hydrogen is transforming the way energy is stored. As a hydrogen storage company, offering the safest storage solutions in the world, the company decarbonises industrial processes, power plants and infrastructure. Prioritising safety, minimal footprint and easy integration, project efficiency is optimised. Depending on requirements, the green hydrogen can be used directly or converted back into electricity and heat. The robust systems generate green hydrogen from fluctuating renewable energy sources, storing it compactly and safely in metal hydride over long periods of time. Located in Pfalzen, Northern Italy, Carlsbad CA in the US and Bonn, Germany, GKN Hydrogen is part of Langley Holdings’ Power Solutions division.
About Langley Holdings
Langley Holdings plc is a privately owned UK-based engineering and industrial manufacturing group, principally producing capital equipment for diverse markets worldwide. Langley businesses are either outright market leaders, or occupy strong niche positions in their respective fields, providing advanced technologies in a solutions-based approach. The Group operates in three principal areas: Power Solutions, Print Technologies, and Other Industrials.
The Group’s operations are based in Germany, Italy, France, the UK, and Norway, with 18 production facilities in Europe, the UK, and the USA. The Group has more than 90 sales and service subsidiaries worldwide and employs around 5,500 people.
Langley Holdings was established in 1975 by the current Chairman & CEO, Anthony Langley and remains entirely in family ownership.
About Power Solutions
The Power Solutions Division comprises Bergen Engines, the Norwegian medium-speed engine builder; Marelli Motori, the Italian producer of electric motors and generators and; Piller Group, Europe’s leading producer of critical power conditioning, stabilisation and backup systems based in Germany. In 2024, the Power Solutions Division will account for approximately half of the Group’s $1.5bn revenues and 5,000+ employees.