Recently, LONGi Green Energy Technology Co., Ltd., a leading photovoltaic company, has entered the hydrogen energy field, primarily to develop photovoltaic hydrogen production. This has significantly increased attention to hydrogen energy, even causing related companies' stocks to rise considerably. In fact, LONGi is not alone; other photovoltaic companies have previously dabbled in the hydrogen energy sector, albeit on a smaller scale. So why is photovoltaic hydrogen production so popular?
On the one hand, the electricity generated by photovoltaic power is wasted in some areas due to grid connection issues and high transportation costs. Therefore, if it can be combined with hydrogen production, the wasted photovoltaic power can be fully utilized, reducing the curtailment rate.
Furthermore, based on production methods, hydrogen energy can be categorized into gray hydrogen, blue hydrogen, and green hydrogen. Green hydrogen refers to hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources, representing the most ideal production method, but it accounts for a very small percentage of the total. The development of photovoltaic hydrogen production will undoubtedly significantly increase the proportion of green hydrogen, achieving a closed loop of green energy from production to use.
On the other hand, many provinces and cities have recently introduced subsidy policies for photovoltaic energy storage. In fact, hydrogen energy can also be used as an energy storage method. Combined with photovoltaic hydrogen production, hydrogen can be stored. When electricity is needed, the stored hydrogen can be converted into electricity through various means (internal combustion engines, fuel cells, or other methods) and transmitted to the grid. Although multiple conversions reduce utilization, hydrogen energy storage is still an effective energy storage method in many scenarios.
In summary, photovoltaic hydrogen production not only expands the advantages of photovoltaic power generation but also meets the needs of energy storage policies, making it a win-win solution that has attracted the attention of many companies.
