Many people dream of supplying their own energy completely carbon-neutrally. Founded in 2014, Berlin’s HPS Home Power Solution GmbH makes this dream a reality with its picea home storage system. Its principle is simple: Solar power is generated by a rooftop photovoltaic installation and can either be used directly, stored in batteries, or converted via electrolysis and stored as hydrogen.

The system comprises a battery (25 kWh) as a short-term storage device and alkaline electrolysis (with an efficiency rating of 70–80 percent) for seasonal chemical energy storage (1500 kWh) in the form of green hydrogen. A PEM fuel cell (with an electrical efficiency rating of 45 to 55 percent) is used to generate power from this hydrogen for the household and operation of a heat pump. By integrating the waste heat from the fuel cell into the heat cycle, the total utilization rate for the electrical energy from the PV system remains at 90 percent over the whole year.

The full system also includes a solar inverter for direct connection to a PV installation, an intelligent energy management system and ventilation equipment with a built-in heat exchanger for controlled ventilation of living spaces. Mass production of the hydrogen electricity storage system began at the start of this year.

The picea home storage system has been nominated for The smarter E AWARD 2021. The winners of The smarter E AWARD will be crowned on a virtual stage as part of The smarter E Industry Days being held between July 21 and 23, 2021. The AWARD ceremony will begin on July 21 at 3:00pm

Further information about all nominated projects and products can be found here .