Swiss green technology startup Plan-B Net Zero is advancing a dual approach to stabilising Europe’s power grids by integrating battery storage with hydrogen systems, reinforced by artificial intelligence (AI).

Founded in 2023, the Vienna-based firm presented its concept this week at the D-A-CH Hydrogen Symposium in Wiener Neustadt, Austria. The model proposes using battery energy storage systems (BESS) to manage short-term fluctuations with millisecond response times, while hydrogen reserves offer long-duration, seasonal backup through fuel cells and turbines.

According to the company, the integrated model is designed for the interconnected grids of Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH), which are facing increasing pressure due to volatile renewable feed-in, delays in grid expansion and extreme weather events. “The model integrates Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), green hydrogen and artificial intelligence (AI) into a flexible, intelligent energy ecosystem designed to stabilise power grids and strengthen supply security,” the firm said in a blog post.

The approach enables rapid absorption of short-term surpluses or deficits via BESS, while hydrogen—produced from renewables—serves as a seasonal storage medium, capable of storing energy for months before reconversion into electricity.

The announcement comes shortly after South Korea began construction of what will be the world’s largest hydrogen fuel cell power plant, which is expected to supply clean electricity for roughly 270,000 households annually, underscoring the growing global focus on hydrogen as a key component of the energy transition.

Energy experts suggest that smarter, decentralised solutions such as the one proposed by Plan-B Net Zero may be crucial in addressing the challenges posed by increasingly complex and volatile renewable energy grids in Europe.

The company emphasises that AI plays a central role in optimising the system, enabling the combined BESS and hydrogen setup to autonomously respond to fluctuations in real time. By predicting demand patterns and coordinating storage and dispatch, the AI-driven platform aims to maximise efficiency, reduce reliance on fossil fuel peaker plants, and support a smoother integration of renewable energy into the DACH grids.

Source: 

https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/swiss-firm-marries-batteries-hydrogen