Wind to Hydrogen Demonstration Project

Xcel Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory are working on a unique project that uses electricity from wind turbines to produce and store pure hydrogen. The project's goal is to overcome the intermittent aspect of wind energy by enabling energy storage for later use when the wind isn't blowing or the demand for electricity is high. The hydrogen can be stored and used later to generate electricity from either an internal combustion engine turning a generator or from a fuel cell. In either case, there are no harmful emissions, and the only by-product from using the hydrogen fuel is water. For additional details read the project fact sheet or view the video.

U.S. Congressman Mark Udall looks on as Xcel Energy CEO Dick Kelly, left, shakes hands with National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Director Dr. Dan Arvizu after hitting the button to light the "H2" hydrogen sign, dedicating the Wind to Hydrogen Demonstration Project at NREL's National Wind Technology Center located between Golden and Boulder, Colo.