Editor:

Anyone who says energy from intermittent power sources like wind, solar, run-of-river and tidal can't be stored for later use obviously hasn't heard of hydrogen. Hydrogen is a very storable clean energy source. And as everyone who ever took Grade 8 science knows, you can make hydrogen through electrolysis by running an electric current through ordinary water.

Whenever intermittent power sources are generating electricity not needed for instant consumption, that energy could be used to make hydrogen thereby capturing the energy in a stored form. Hydrogen stored in this way from various wind, solar, run-of-river and tidal energy sources could then be utilized in a number of hydrogen fuel cell systems. In particular, energy stored in the form of hydrogen could be reconverted into electricity when and where it's needed during periods of peak electricity demand.

If this sounds like science fiction think again because Ballard Power Systems, the world leader in hydrogen fuel cell technology based in B.C., just sent the largest hydrogen fuel cell in the world to Eastlake, Ohio where it's going to be used by an electrical utility to supplement the local power grid during periods of peak electricity demand. This system can power 400 to 500 homes.

Closer to home, this made-in-B.C. solution has the potential to replace the diesel fuel currently being used to generate electricity in remote B.C. communities.

We have a great opportunity in B.C. to capitalize on the natural symbiosis between our province's clean energy resources and the emerging hydrogen sector, and it could lead to hundreds, if not thousands, of new clean tech jobs. Adopting hybrid systems like these will also go a long way to reducing our carbon footprint in B.C. by 2030.

And hydrogen is just one of several ways in which clean energy from wind, solar, run-of-river and tidal sources could be stored. Huge leaps are also being made in large scale battery storage systems and other storage strategies that can maximize the power of our province's clean energy resources.

I would therefore suggest to anyone who says that energy from intermittent power sources can't be stored that they think again.

Scott Harrison

Vancouver