Hydrogen offers a route to storing renewable electricity and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Metal–organic framework (MOF) adsorbents are promising candidates for hydrogen storage, but a deep understanding of their potential for large-scale, stationary back-up power applications has been lacking. Here we utilize techno-economic analysis and process modelling, which leverage molecular simulation and experimental results, to evaluate the future opportunities of MOF-stored hydrogen for back-up power applications and set critical targets for future material development. We show that with carefully designed charging–discharging patterns, MOFs coupled with electrolysers and fuel cells are economically comparable with contemporary incumbent energy-storage technologies in back-up power applications. Future research should target developing MOFs with 15 g kg⁻¹ of recoverable hydrogen adsorbed (excess uptake) and could be manufactured for under US$10 kg⁻¹ to make the on-site storage system a leading option for back-up power applications.

氢提供了一条储存可再生电力和降低温室气体排放的途径。金属-有机框架 (MOF) 吸附剂是很有前途的储氢候选材料，但一直缺乏对其在大规模、固定备用电源应用中的潜力的深入了解。在这里，我们利用技术经济分析和工艺建模，利用分子模拟和实验结果来评估 MOF 储存氢在备用电源应用中的未来机会，并为未来材料开发设定关键目标。我们表明，通过精心设计的充电-放电模式，MOF 与电解槽和燃料电池相结合，在经济上与备用电源应用中现有的储能技术相当。^-1的可回收氢吸附（过量吸收）并且可以以低于 10 美元^-1的价格制造，使现场存储系统成为备用电源应用的主要选择。