# The Potential for the Use of Hydrogen Storage in Energy Cooperatives
###### Abstract  
According to the European Hydrogen Strategy, hydrogen will solve many of the problems with energy storage for balancing variable renewable energy sources (RES) supply and demand. At the same time, we can see increasing popularity of the so-called energy communities (e.g., cooperatives) which (i) enable groups of entities to invest in, manage, and benefit from shared RES energy infrastructure; (ii) are expected to increase the energy independence of local communities from large energy corporations and increase the share of RES. Analyses were conducted on 2000 randomly selected energy cooperatives and four energy cooperatives formed on the basis of actual data. The hypotheses assumed in the research and positively verified in this paper are as follows: (i) there is a relationship between hydrogen storage capacity and the power of RES, which allows an energy community to build energy independence; (ii) the type of RES generating source is meaningful when optimizing hydrogen storage capacity. The paper proves it is possible to build \"island energy independence\" at the local level using hydrogen storage and the efficiency of the power-to-power chain. The results presented are based on simulations carried out using a dedicated optimization model implemented by mixed integer programming. The authors' next research projects will focus on optimizing capital expenditures and operating costs using the Levelized Cost of Electricity and Levelized Cost of Hydrogen methodologies. hydrogen energy storage; renewable energy generation; energy cooperatives +
Footnote †: journal: Applied Sciences  
areas, thus provide an interesting reference base for hydrogen technology applications. The European Hydrogen Strategy anticipates that hydrogen will solve many of the problems with energy storage for balancing the variable supply of renewable energy sources (RES) and the variable demand for RES-generated energy [12]. It will also become a catalyst for change in broadly defined urban spaces, including in transportation [13; 14]. Starting to use clean hydrogen (according to the European Commission, \"clean hydrogen\" refers to hydrogen produced by the electrolysis of water with electricity originating from renewable sources. It can also be produced by biogas reforming or by biochemical conversion of biomass, assuming that the sustainability requirements are met) on a wide scale and at a rapid pace is crucial for the EU to achieve its very ambitious climate target of cost-effective greenhouse-gas emission reduction of at least 50-55% by 2030 [1; 15]. In the strategy papers concerning achieving climate neutrality, the EU assumes an increase in the share of hydrogen in the European energy mix from the present 2% to 13-14% [6]. However, there is still no guarantee that the EU's hydrogen production potential can be fully harnessed [16]. At today's stage of technology development, it is important to be aware of the many barriers and problems that are inherent in the issue of the popularization and use of hydrogen fuel and hydrogen storage [17]. These include:  
* choosing the right research pathways into the use of wind-based, solar-based, or grid-electricity-based electrolysis, or perhaps the use of steam-methane reforming [18];
* focusing on the development of the most efficient technology and source of hydrogen, i.e., producing hydrogen from natural gas, renewable sources or nuclear energy [19];
* cost issues and cost dependencies: the cost of renewable hydrogen and the effect of storage on hydrogen production [20];
* institutional problems: delayed legislation, the lack of standards and certification schemes;
* the adequate availability of financial and investment instruments from the public (e.g., EU funds) as well as private (banks, VCs);
* last but not least, the \"chicken and egg\" problem, meaning supply is waiting for demand to develop and vice versa [16]. Hydrogen storage is a means for storing compressed or liquid hydrogen that can later be used as an energy carrier.