Wake up to a low carbon future: Hydrogen and fuel cells

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Wake up to a low carbon futureHydrogen and fuel
cells

• Sustainable Environment Research Centre (SERC)
• University of Glamorgan

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UK energy goals

• To cut CO2 emissions by 60 by about 2050, with
  real progress by 2020.
• To maintain the reliability of energy supplies.
• To promote competitive markets in the UK and
  beyond.
• To ensure that every home is adequately and
  affordably heated.
• Kyoto protocol
• UK target is a 12.5 reduction in greenhouse gas
  emissions from 1990 levels, by 2008 to 2012.

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Why hydrogen and fuel cells?
If produced sustainably, hydrogen can address
each of these aspects.
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Case studies Transportation

• HyFLEET CUTE project.
• Demonstrate, test and evaluate hydrogen buses in
  10 cities (including London) across three
  continents (Europe, Asia and Australia).
• Hydrogen comes from many different sources both
  renewable and non-renewable including solar,
  wind, geothermal, natural gas, LPG (Liquefied
  Petroleum Gas) and Bio-DME (Bio Dimethyl Ether).

• The London Hydrogen Bus
• As a result of the project, London is to have 10
  hydrogen buses by 2010.
• 5 to use hydrogen fuel cells and 5 hydrogen
  internal combustion engines.

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Case study Transportation

• Hydrogen Road of Norway (HyNor) project.
• Demonstrate commercial viability of hydrogen
  energy production and use in the transport
  sector.
• 580 kilometres from Oslo to Stavanger, due to
  complete 2009.
• Comprises hydrogen production technologies as
  well as use.
• Buses, taxis and private cars, inter-city,
  regional and national transport systems.

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Case study Built environment

• Hydrogen House project, Denmark.
• Show energy technologies, systems and business
  concepts of a future hydrogen society.
• Demonstrate a complete hydrogen chain based on
  renewable energy.
• Provide display window and marketing platform
  for suppliers, customers, investors and
  consumers.
• Construction is scheduled to begin
• at the end of 2007.

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Case study Built environment

• Woking Park, London commissioned 2003.
• 200KWe fuel cell combined heat and power (CHP),
  natural gas.
• Heats swimming pool and leisure centre (net
  exporter of electricity).
• Supplies electricity, low grade heat to pool,
  high grade heat to heating systems, chilled water
  to cooling and air conditioning, pure water.

Woking Park fuel cell
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Case study Home energy

• Competition to develop fuel-cell systems for the
  home is heating up.
• Benefits of fuel cells include
• Can provide electricity, heating and cooling.
• Efficient (around 85 with heat recovery).
• Low maintenance, low emissions, quiet.
• Modular.
• Example Acumentrics fuel cell combined heat and
  power unit (micro-CHP) for householders

Acumentrics fuel cell micro-CHP unit
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Case study Portable

• In recent years micro fuel cells have been
  developed for use in mobile phones, laptops and
  video cameras.
• The fuel cells are designed to last 5 years.
• NEC expects mobile phones powered by fuel cells
  to ship later this year.

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Hydrogen and Wales

• A Welshman pioneered the development of the fuel
  cell!
• Sir William Robert Grove born in Mount Pleasant,
  Swansea in 1811.
• First experiments were conducted in the basement
  of the Royal Institution of South Wales (now
  Swansea Museum).
• In 1839, recombined hydrogen and oxygen to create
  an electric current.
• Grove's gas voltaic battery is widely
  acknowledged as the forerunner of the fuel cell.

Groves device
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Hydrogen and Wales

• Wales potentially well placed to exploit
  hydrogen
• Hydrogen production along M4 corridor.
• Renewable energy sources.
• Experienced workforce automotive, agriculture,
  high technology sectors.
• Research expertise.
• Supportive environment
• National Assembly for Wales supports the
  development of renewable energy and sees it as a
  source of employment.
• Has stated that it would seize opportunities to
  place Wales in the vanguard of the hydrogen
  economy.
• A key objective of Welsh energy policy is to
  create a stronger energy RD base to include
  exploration of the medium and long term
  potential for hydrogen use in Wales and ways of
  storing electricity.

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Whats happening in Wales?
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Welsh projects Hydrogen bus

• Development of the UKs first tribrid minibus.
• Combine advantages of fuel cell, battery and
  ultra-capacitor technologies.
• Provide intercampus transportation link which
  uses emission free technology.
• Encourage and support local industry and
  businesses.
• Completion March 2008.

• Will service the existing Trefforest and Glyntaf
  campuss.
• Upon successful trial will be expanded to the new
  Cardiff campus.
• Will also link up with the sustainable energy
  building project in Baglan, Port Talbot.

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Welsh projects Renewable Hydrogen Research
Demonstration Centre

• R, D D of renewable hydrogen for energy storage
  and as a transport fuel.
• Demonstrate hydrogen production from a range of
  indigenous renewable energy sources.
• Evaluate the benefits of hydrogen as an energy
  storage medium for intermittent renewable energy
  sources.

• Technologies and applications include wind and
  photovoltaic (PV) electrolysis, local pipelines
  and distribution, combined heat and power (CHP),
  fuel cells and hydrogen internal combustion
  engines.

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Welsh projects Bio-hydrogen

• University of Glamorgan conducts successful,
  world leading research into continuous
  bio-hydrogen.
• Producing hydrogen from a range of substrates,
  including food co-products, crops and sewage
  sludge.

• Research has now extended to pilot scale
  bio-hydrogen plants at Barry and Aberystwyth.

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Wales Working with business

• Pilot hydrogen and fuel cell training.
• Flexible training
• Self-study.
• On-line (or CD-ROM).
• Pick Mix approach.
• Topics covered include
• Technology.
• Safety, standards and regulations.
• Commercialisation and opportunities.
• Support and funding.
• Projects world-wide.
• Feedback on business needs.

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Support and funding in the UK

• Carbon Trust Energy Efficiency Loan Programme.
• Low Carbon Buildings Programme.
• DTI Demonstration Programme Scheme.
• Carbon Trust Technology Acceleration Programme.
• Carbon Trust Applied Research Programme.
• Carbon Trust Venture Capital Fund.
• Carbon Trust Incubator Programme.
• DTI Technology Programme.
• EPSRC SUPERGEN Programme.
• An online funding Finder is available from
• http//www.fuelcellsuk.org/team/funding_por
  tal/Introduction_files/slide0005.htm
• Information on accessing European funding can be
  found at http//www.energiehelpline.co.uk/home/en
  ergie-helpline-home .