HYDROGEN ENERGY APPLICATIONS

Hydrogen now has a much expanded role to play as a future energy carrier to help meet the world’s growing demand for clean and sustainable power.

Hydrogen can be used in two types of energy conversion devices to make power – fuel cells and hydrogen combustion engines. Although internal combustion engines are much more widely available and affordable, a fuel cell power module, or engine, is far superior in meeting efficiency targets. This higher efficiency in turn translates into distinct operational benefits which you can learn more about on Hydrogenics Power Systems sub-site.

With the advent of fuel cells, essentially anything that can run on electricity can be powered by hydrogen energy. We are now starting to see the first viable applications for hydrogen energy emerge in certain niche markets where this new technology is demonstrating operational benefits compared to incumbent power technologies. As costs come down, as they invariably do with new technologies as they mature, additional commercial markets will emerge. Today’s markets include:

Transportation Infrastructure – Starting with applications that are primarily focused on technology demonstrations and ‘proof of concept’, hydrogen is being used today to fuel fleets of hydrogen buses and other demonstration vehicles, material handling vehicles, groundskeeping vehicles, and airport ground support equipment. Some of these applications are poised to advance to the early commercial stage.

Distributed Power from Renewables – There is not a strong business case for using electricity from the grid to make hydrogen for energy applications. Rather, the compelling case is when we use excess renewable energies, such as wind or solar power, to make hydrogen which can in turn be converted to electricity when these intermittent power sources are not productive.

Hydrogenics HySTAT Hydrogen Station products have been used world-wide in projects where onsite hydrogen generation is used for energy applications.

To see how to configure a HySTAT system product for energy applications click here.