LAVO

Background:

Founded in 2020, LAVO Hydrogen Technology Limited was established to fast track the commercialisation of technology developed within the Hydrogen Energy Research Centre cofounded by Providence Asset Group (PAG) and the University of New South Wales. LAVO partnered with Evergen, GHD, Design + Industry, Varley, Ampcontrol, Nedstack, and Enapter to bring their prototype hydrogen energy storage system to market—an advanced hydrogen-based energy storage solution serving homes and businesses. 

Our role was to deliver on the design, manufacture, and commissioning of electrical and controls of a version one prototype. Initial prototyping was to develop around five to 10 units, with the future goal of manufacturing a pilot production of around 200 units.  

Through innovation and collaboration, the world’s first integrated hybrid hydrogen battery was brought to market, with limitless applications and capabilities to follow. 

Solution:

The LAVO energy storage system operates as a ‘solar sponge’, offering home and business owners an alternative energy storage solution to lithium batteries. With 40 kWh storage available at up to 5 kW, the LAVO provides 3X more storage than typical lithium-based home batteries and 7X greater cycle lifetime. 

Integrated with standard rooftop solar, LAVO generates green hydrogen, offering enough renewable power to sustain the average Australian home for two days. The unit contains a comprehensive and advanced system of components, including: 

Electrolyser 

The electrolyser converts excess electrical energy from the solar system through electrolysis, where the water is split into hydrogen and oxygen. The energy is stored as hydrogen and the oxygen is released into the atmosphere. 

LAVO hydride 

Patented metal alloy that stores and regulates hydrogen at a pressure of 30 bar g. One hundred per cent recyclable, the hydride will deliver 20,000 cycles of storage and charge. 

Fuel cell 

The fuel cell is used to convert energy stored in the hydrogen back into electrical energy. This electrical energy is released by combining hydrogen from the hydride storage vessels and oxygen from the air to form water. 

DC-DC converter 

A power conversion system is used to regulate the electrical output from the fuel cell. The electrical output from the fuel cell is variable. The DC-DC converter regulates this by boosting the voltage from the fuel cell output up to match the voltage expected at the input of the hybrid inverter. 

Battery 

The LAVO system also includes a small traditional Lithium-ion battery for fast response time. A hybrid energy storage system provides benefits of both storage technologies. 

Water purifier 

The electrolyser requires demineralised water for the electrolysis process. The integrated water purifier treats the incoming tap water, enabling the electrolyser to run using a standard mains water supply. 

The LAVO energy storage system can be connected to any 48 VDC coupled hybrid inverter to manage the flow of electrical energy between the solar cell array, LAVO, and the household. 

Outcome:

LAVO presents an opportunity to provide renewable and sustainable energy to remote and regional communities throughout Australia that don’t have access to a traditional grid. It also allows us to move people off poles and wires and onto more conscious power solutions that support global decarbonisation efforts and the movement towards net zero. 

In leading the global energy revolution, we invest in technologies such as LAVO to provide viable alternative energy solutions to our customers. This advancement in hydrogen will also support a host of applications in the years to follow.