A revolution in Polish photovoltaics. The end of fees and the return of surplus energy.

• The amount of energy generated by photovoltaics in Poland continues to grow. It's increasingly clear that there's too much of it. Therefore, owners of photovoltaic installations must return any excess energy to the grid for a fee.
• However, there's a solution to this problem. EkoPowerBOX technology is a type of catalyst that allows for the safe storage of excess solar energy in uncompressed hydrogen, which can then be used at any time.
• - The introduction of our solution has the potential to transform the energy market - said the president of CBRTP, Grzegorz Putynkowski.

As reported by the WNP.pl portal , engineers from the Center for Research and Development of Technologies for Industry (CBRTP) and the founders of the NGCH start-up have built an innovative EkoPowerBOX system (a type of catalyst), which, combined with an electrolyzer producing hydrogen and oxygen from water, will allow owners of photovoltaics to store the surplus energy generated from solar radiation in uncompressed hydrogen .

According to Grzegorz Putynkowski, president of CBRTP, introducing this solution to the market has the potential to transform the energy market. He assured that it is completely safe and could be an interesting option for photovoltaic installations from 1 kW.

As we read in WNP.pl, the developed innovative technology allows for the generation of heat at temperatures of up to 130 degrees Celsius from an air stream containing only 4% hydrogen.

This amount of hydrogen is completely safe and non-explosive, therefore the installation of the system in households will not require EkoPowerBOX owners to obtain any permits or technical approvals.

- the president pointed out, adding that the system can be installed in both single-family and multi-family homes, as well as in small businesses that are not able to use all the energy generated from photovoltaics .

Storing excess energy generated without increasing surplus charges

According to Grzegorz Putynkowski, the system enables the storage of excess energy generated in such installations without incurring additional fees for transferring the surplus to the Distribution System Operator's network.

In this way, this energy can be used later at any time, e.g. as an alternative source of thermal energy or a lower source to improve the efficiency of heat pumps.

The authors of the project also indicated that EkoPowerBOX may be an interesting option for:

• recipients without technical conditions for the construction of a gas network,
• where there are limited power possibilities for electricity consumption.

While the CEO admitted that the solution is in a relatively early stage of implementation, he also emphasized that the technology components are already in place. Investors are currently being sought to bring the system to market and launch mass production.

The WNP.PL portal reported that talks on this subject are being held, among others, with one of the state-owned companies.

A maximum of one year is needed to complete the project's complete process and implementation documentation. Including the construction of the production facility and production launch, which cost approximately PLN 80 million, the total time is 24-30 months.

- Grzegorz Putynkowski enumerated.

According to estimates, the device should be available for the price of a gas furnace, in the range of 12,000-16,000 PLN. However, CBRTP intends to encourage the implementation of the option of renting such devices to households. According to the CEO, investors could benefit from fees for the energy produced, which the recipient will then consume for their own needs.