Why do we think that formic acid and organic energy storage are a paradigm shift in energy? 

By producing formic acid, we store energy in a liquid, in a chemical bond, in the form of hydrogen. So we produce hydrogen with organic energy storage. The storage of hydrogen produced in formic acid does not require any additional process, it does not need to be cooled or compressed, and it can be stored in a plastic container for an unlimited period of time without energy loss. The stored energy can be recovered with an efficiency of almost 100%. This could be the energy storage of the future.     

What is formic acid? It is a weakly acidic liquid found in nature that can store energy. Formic acid is a liquid battery with a discharged state of carbon dioxide and a charged state of formic acid.  The advantage is that it can also be produced artificially. 

It known in science, Paul Sabatier wrote about the energy storage capacity of formic acid in the 1920s.   

Production of formic acid 

  The artificial production of formic acid requires carbon dioxide, water and energy, preferably from renewable sources. It is produced by a photocatalytic process, based on the principle of photosynthesis, at room temperature. The production of 1 ton of formic acid requires approximately 2 MWh of energy. 

The plant in the picture is suitable for the artificial production of formic acid, using the RK-X technology. Fortunately, this is not just a plan, the RK-X technology has a patent, and there are licensed plans for the plant. Production will start soon. The technology is given, and the size of the plant is almost unlimitedly scalable. 

 ENERGY: The biggest problem in the production of energy from renewable energy sources, solar energy, wind energy, wave energy, is the efficient storage of the energy from overproduction. Formic acid provides a solution to this. The energy from overproduction can be stored simply, cheaply and efficiently in formic acid. For example, formic acid production plants can be installed next to solar parks to store the excess energy. The energy is simply stored in a liquid and can be safely transported to the place of use. 

 Carbon dioxide: Formic acid production can contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Approximately 1 ton of formic acid can be produced from 1 ton of carbon dioxide. Formic acid production plants installed next to industrial carbon dioxide emission points can capture large amounts of carbon dioxide, preventing carbon dioxide from entering the air. In closed technology, the captured CO2 can be recovered and recycled into the process.  

Use of formic acid 

 Formic acid is currently available on the market, but its domestic production can be made simpler and more cost-effective with photocatalytic technology. Formic acid production only makes sense if the appropriate user market is created. 

Formic acid could play a significant role in balancing the electrical grid. Electricity can be generated using a fuel cell from hydrogen stored in formic acid. It is possible to build power plants powered by formic acid, which could replace coal and gas power plants. 

Transportation and mobility 

Formic acid is a liquid, that stores energy in liquid in form of hydrogen making it suitable as a fuel. Formic acid offers a sustainable solution to support electric and hydrogen-powered transportation. Formic acid is a liquid battery that can be produced in an environmentally friendly way from renewable energy sources, this can replace the production of environmentally polluting batteries. This is a liquid that allows the use of the existing fuel supply network, so it does not require additional costs. Approximately 10 liters of formic acid stores 14 kWh of energy, so it can be a solution in the transportation sector. Formic acid can offer a realistic alternative in the field of urban public transport, rail transport and drive agricultural machinery, promoting the widespread use of renewable energy sources. 

HCOOH benefits 

1. Finally, let’s summarize what are the benefits of formic acid.  

2. Hydrogen production from formic acid is more economical than the electrolysis of water, because during the electrolysis of water two chemical bonds have to be broken, while during the photoreduction of carbon dioxide only one. 

3. The hydrogen stored in formic acid can be easily released at the point of use. 

4. It is a liquid, so it is easy to transport and refuel. 

5. Hydrogen stored in formic acid does not require special process: It can be stored at room temperature in plastic containers at a pressure of 1 bar for an unlimited period of time, wihtout energy loss.