Synergies of PV Solar and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hybrid Systems: Cost Effective Clean Energy Day and Night

Brant A. Peppley
Canada Research Chair in Fuel Cells Director of Queens-RMC Fuel Cell Research Centre
2010 Canada-Taiwan Symposium Renewable Energy and Technology

www.fcrc.ca

SOME BACKGROUND
Tested very early Ballard fuel cells for Canadian Department of National Defence while at the Royal Military College of Canada (1986 - 1992) Tested larger fuel cell systems and oversaw defence research contracts (1992 2007)
Ballard Power Stack

Moved to Queens University 2007 to become Serial No. 2 (1986) Canada Research Chair in Fuel Cells and the Director of the Queens RMC Fuel Cell Research Centre (FCRC) Established Ontario FC Research and Innovation Network (OFCRIN) in 2006

WHAT

IS

FCRC ?

The Queens-RMC Fuel Cell Research Centre (FCRC) is Canadas leading university research and development centre, in partnership with industry, dedicated to advancing the knowledge base for addressing the key technical and economic challenges to the widespread commercialization of fuel cell products.
FCRC is located at Queens Innovation Park

Chih-Ting (Flora) Lo

www.fcrc.ca

Manager, Energy and Carbon Services Hemmera Vancouver, Canada

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FIRST

A STORY ABOUT A GREAT DAY

HAD?

PART 1 Recent Progress in Fuel Cell Commercialisation

Where is the fuel cell car everyone was talking about?

Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Cars 1960 to April 2010

Audi A2H2 Car BMW HR2 Race Car BMW Hydrogen 7 Chrysler ecoVoyager Daihatsu Tanto FCHV Fiat Panda Concept Ford Airstream Concept Ford Explorer Fuel Cell Ford Flexible Series Edge Ford Focus FCV Ford Model U Ford Super Chief Truck Giugiaro Vadho GM Cadillac Provoq GM Chevy Equinox FC GM Chevy Volt GM Electrovan (1960) GM H2H Hummer SUT GM Hy-wire Concept GM HydroGen Minivan GM Sequel Concept Honda FCX Honda FCX Clarity (2008) Hyundai I-Blue Hyundai Tucson FCEV Kia Borrego FCEV Kia Sportage FCEV Mazda 5 Premacy RE Mazda RX-8 RE Mercedes B-Class FCell Mercedes BlueZero FCell Mercedes F600 Hygenius Mitsubishi Nessie SUV Morgan LifeCar Nissan X-Trail FCV Peugeot 207 Epure Peugeot H2Origin Pininfarina Sintesi Renault Scenic ZEV H2 Suzuki Ionis Mini Think FC5 Car Think Nordic Car Toyota FCHV SUV Toyota Fine-T (Fine-X) Volkswagen HyMotion Volkswagen Tiguan VW Passat Lingyu FCV VW Space Up Blue

48 different models, 47 prototypes and now

AUTOMOBILES

ARE NOT QUITE READY FOR THE BIG LEAGUE YET BUT

Honda is leasing the Clarity FC Vehicle in California The lease is very expensive, only 200 available and Honda will lose money but you can lease one

200 available at $700 per month

Fuel Cell Cars are available .

One of the lucky 200 customers!

as long as you live near a refueling station = Anaheim California

The Honda FCX Clarity is powered by a 100 kW V-Flow fuel cell stack, a lithium-ion battery pack, a 95 kw electric motor, and 5,000 psi compressed hydrogen gas storage tank that yields a range of 270 miles (432 km). Once the FCX Clarity's mileage is certified by the EPA it is expected to come in at 68 mpge (miles per gallon equivalent) or 3.5 L/100 km. Honda has reduced the size of the fuel cell powertrain by 400 lbs and the fuel cell itself is about the size of a desktop computer (without monitor). The fuel cell stack has also been improved so that it can start in -22 F (-28C).

OTHER PEMFC PRODUCTS

ARE ALSO AVAILABLE!

Fuelcellcompaniesarealreadysellingproductsin,nearterm nichemarkets: PlugPowerCanadaissellingfuelcellpowerpacksforforklifts (Walmart,CentralGrocers,Firestone) Hydrogenics issellingfuelcellbackuppowersystems Ballardissellingfuelcellcellulartowerpowersystemsin Indiaandfuelcellstackstonumerousotherproduct developers.

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PEM PRODUCTS

ARE MATURING RAPIDLY

Lifetime and durability issues for PEM fuel cells have been overcome. (>10,000 hours is readily achievable) Products come with warranties. Servicing and technical support plans are included Pricing is well established for volume products and an acceptable payback period can be achieved for various applications. Volume manufacturing methods are improving.

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A WINNER: FORKLIFT

AND

MATERIAL HANDLING

3 minute refueling versus 8 hour recharge No lead-acid battery pack to dispose of at end of life

Plug Power delivered 140 Class 3 GenDriveTM power units (115 GD-3M24-390 and 25 GD3M24-310F Freezer units) to Central Grocers new distribution facility in Joliet, IL, March 29, 2009.
POINT: FUEL CELLS
WORK JUST AS WELL IN THE COLD.

BATTERIES

LOSE CAPACITY

Ref: www.usfcc.com/download_a_file/ download_a_file/IndustryOverview2010.pdf

Quote received for comparable system. $45K US for a 8kW system = $5600/kW

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BACKUP FUEL CELL POWER

12 kW

Batteries

Hydrogenics is installing backup power systems for large eCommerce server farms.
1 tank of H2

20 minutes backup
For ISPs in urban centres this is often the only practical power backup option

BACKUP FUEL CELL POWER

VS.

BATTERIES

Hydrogenics/ CommScope system configuration: 8000W PEM fuel cell Stack 8000 Watts Power Conditioning Module 1 Overall System Controller Module 16 x K cylinders of Hydrogen Gas c/w standard industrial grade hydrogen 99.99% purity and storage pressure of 2100 psi

Ref: Szasz, R. and J. C. Lemos (2010). Update - Fuel Cell Technology: An emerging solution for Back-up Power to replace or supplement the traditional solutions. Telecommunications Energy Conference (INTELEC), 32nd International. POINT: FUEL CELLS
WORK JUST AS WELL IN THE COLD.

BATTERIES

LOSE CAPACITY

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BACKUP FUEL CELL POWER (AT NIGHT)

Installations Coca-Cola Enterprises CT Science Center Fujitsu America Hilton New York Mohegan Sun New York Power Authority NYPD Price Chopper Saint Helena's Hospital Samsung Everland South Windsor High School Verizon Whole Foods Market

Cost $2.28 million for 400-kilowatt Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell = $5700 /kW Payback 10 years with Connecticut electricity prices. Runs on hydrogen from reformed natural gas.
Ref: www.utcpower.com/fs/com/bin/fs_com_Page/0,11491,0229,00.html

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LARGE SCALE GRID BACKUP POWER

Ballard designed the ClearGen generator to provide clean energy peaking capacity, which is particularly useful during heavy energy demand periods in the summer months. The unit hs been tested to a power level of one megawatt. In addition, the Ballard generator is transportable so it can be relocated to other sites on a seasonal basis.

Ref: http://www.ballard.com/Stationary_Power/Distributed_Power_Generation/CLEARgen.htm

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STATIONARY MCFC INSTALLATION

World's first Direct Fuel Cell - Energy Recovery GenerationTM) power plant (2.2 MW), located at Enbridge Headquarters, Toronto, ON
Direct Fuel Cell - Energy Recovery and Generation System. The building to the left houses a 1 MW turboexpander and the cluster of containers on the right is a 1.2 MW MCFC fuel cell system (Ref: Enbridge Gas)

FuelCell Energy Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell system operates directly on de-sulfurized natural gas MCFC systems are also running on biogas from wastewater treatment plants.

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SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS

Under the DOE SECA program Versa Power of Calgary, Alberta is making significant progress on scaling up their technology to the megawatt scale for coal gasification applications.

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SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS

Solid oxide fuel cell technology is well suited to carbon capture and storage because the air and the fuel do not mix. Fuel in the anode. Air in the cathode
http://www.versa-power.com/

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SOFC

IN A

BLOOMBOX

The power from the fuel cells -- which is created by converting methane into electricity, carbon dioxide and water with a network of catalytic ceramic plates -- costs approximately 0.085 $/kWh compared to 0.13 $/kWh grid power from Pacific Gas &Electric,(Randy Knox, Sr. Director of Workplace Solutions Adobe) The price includes maintenance, fuel and the amortized cost over the operative life of the fuel cell (10 years), along with the 30 percent federal tax credit and the California incentives available for companies that use the device. Adobe could further lower its costs by running standard methane through the system. Instead, the company has contracted to buy bio-methane from a landfill over a five-year period. Wal-Mart, Google, FedEx and eBay have all installed the boxes. Big installations can cost up to $800,000 per box.
$700K-800K for 100 kW = $7000-8000/kW

This price is probably due to the balance of plant or The imbalance of plant as it were. Marten Ternan will probably explain later!

12 BLOOMBOXES 1.2 MW

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PART 2 But why do we need fuel cells if we have solar PV Sunshine is free. Hydrogen is hard to make, hard to store and scary
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AM NOT AN EXPERT ON SOLAR

PV

BUT

After years of careful observation I have determined that the sun does not shine at night!! and the nights can be long in Canada particularly the far north!

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SOLAR PV GROWTH

IS

EXPECTED

IN

ONTARIO

10kW Typical Roof Mount System

$66,000 for 10 kW = $6600/kW

With Ontarios micro FIT you are well paid for PV electricity. Solar PV <10 kW Roof mount Ground mount $/kWh (20 yrs) 0.802 0.588

Initial Cost Annual export Income Rate of Return (after tax) Payback Energy Prodn Cost GHG redn cost

$ $ % Yrs $/kWh $/tonCO2

66,000 11,993 16.5 5.5 0.36 1,786

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Ref: www.solarpvlease.com

RAPID WORLDWIDE GROWTH

OF

SOLAR PV

Reference: Technology Roadmap: Solar photovoltaic energy, International Energy Agency, 2010 (http://www.iea.org/papers/2010/pv_roadmap.pdf)

The anticipated penetration of solar PV on the grid will be on the order of 11% of the total power generation by 2050.

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HOW CAN FUEL CELLS FIT

WITH

FIT?

Fuel cell power products can play an important role in enabling the maximum effectiveness of solar PV
Unlike conventional sources that can provide immediate response to consumer demand, renewable sources cannot provide supply adjustable to the demand. Thus, the growth of the decentralized production would mean that the power system has to deal with not only uncontrollable demand but also has to deal with uncontrollable generators. As a result, greater network load stability problems will be created.
Ref: Zahedi A., Maximizing solar PV energy penetration using energy storage technology. Renew Sustain Energy Rev (2010),doi:10.1016/j.rser.2010.09.011

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HOW CAN FUEL CELLS FIT

WITH

FIT?

Fuel cell power products can play an important role in enabling the maximum effectiveness of solar PV
The variability of solar PV can be combined with a compensating loadfollowing PEM system.

Solar PV system output (kW)

Ref: Bergen, A., L. Pitt, A. Rowe, P. Wild and N. Djilali (2009). "Experimental assessment of a residential scale renewable-regenerative energy system." Journal of Power Sources 186(1): 158-166.

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HOW CAN FUEL CELLS FIT

WITH

FIT?

Fuel cell power products can play an important role in enabling the maximum effectiveness of solar PV
SOLAR PV SYSTEM +
Fuel Cell system output (kW) Solar PV system output (kW)

The variability of solar PV can be combined with a compensating loadfollowing PEM system.
= 8 KW (CONSTANT)
DAY AND NIGHT

+ FUEL CELL SYSTEM

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WHERE

DOES THE HYDROGEN COME FROM?

Option 1: Merchant hydrogen from gas suppliers This is mostly made by steam methane reforming or is byproduct of chloro-alkali process. Cost is surprisingly reasonable in certain jurisdictions (Cost competitive with $1.00 per liter gasoline). Transport over long distances reduces GHG mitigation benefits very quickly. Option 2: Onsite generation with natural gas fueled reformer This is convenient when the site has natural gas supply near by. There is a significant cost and complexity penalty. GHG benefits are still significant. Option 3: Electrolysis of water with off peak and renewable electricity Time of day pricing and electrolyser efficiency losses would probably reduce the opportunity for economic benefit. Grid stabilizing effects could compensate for the electrolyser inefficiencies (to be determined with experience) Might work and be very effective in combination with wind energy.
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OPTION 1
1.012 kg of hydrogen is needed to meet the equivalent energy of one US gallon of gasoline! 11.12 m3 per kg of hydrogen (or 393 scf per kg = 1 USG = 0.83 Imp. Gal.)

The cost of hydrogen produced by SMR is acutely dependant on natural gas prices and is currently the least expensive among all bulk hydrogen production technologies. A welldeveloped natural gas infrastructure already exists, a key factor that makes hydrogen production from natural gas attractive.
255000 USG equiv per day or 946000 litre gas equivalent per day
Source:www.getenergysmart.org/files/hydr ogeneducation/6hydrogenproductionstea mmethanereforming.pdf

100MM SCFD reformer and waste heat recovery section supplied by Selas Fluid in a hydrogen plant designed, supplied, and constructed by Linde. The pressure swing absorption (PSA) and feed pre-treatment systems are also depicted
Source: www.selasfluid.com/international/web/le/us/likelesfus.nsf/docbyalias/reformers

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OPTION 2
Tony Lindsay, R&D Manager, Hydrogen and Advanced Technology stated that at his hydrogen station in Des Plaines, Illinois just outside of Chicago, We have set the price at $3.49 per kg because this was their calculated goal of production from an on-site small scale steam methane reformer (based on $0.60 per therm natural gas). 1 therm = 105.5 MJ $3.49/3.8 = $0.92 per L gas equiv

Des Plaines, Illinois GTI

Source: www.altenergymag.com August 2007

Porsgrun, Norway Norsk Hydro

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OPTION 3
Hydrogenics HySTAT Q Electrolyser
60 Nm3 H2 per hr, 150 psi, alkaline electrolyte 1 Nm3 H2 per hr, 150 psi, PEM electrolyte 2.5 m

Hydrogenics HyLYZER Electrolyser

Hydrogenics Chosen for Grid Stabilization Project by Ontarios Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) June 30 2010 Source: www. Hydrogenics.com

Electrolysers using off-peak power could produce hydrogen at an almost acceptable cost. ( assuming off peak electricity at $0.032 - 0.040 CAD/kWh BIG ASSUMPTION!)

From: Hajimiragha, A., M. W. Fowler and C. A. Caizares (2009). "Hydrogen economy transition in Ontario Canada considering the electricity grid constraints." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 34(13): 5275-5293.

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PEM FUEL CELL COST

IS AN ISSUE

The most practical and available fuel cell for this application is the Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) The cost of platinum catalyst at current loading levels represents approximately 60% of the cost of manufacture for low temperature fuel cells. For back up power there are situations where the fuel cell can compete with the cost of batteries over lifetime of operation The capital cost will need to decrease by factor of 2 to compete with diesel generators or the value of carbon offsets will need to be real.

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Overall Conclusions Fuel cells have come a long way in the past five years. The UPC and power back up products are close to price targets for some applications The success in the bus and UPC applications has developed fuel cell stack technology that should be suitable for solar PV hybrids. The PEM electrolyser has the potential to make the PEM fuel cell generation for grid stabilisation concept work.

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FURTHER

IN THE FUTURE

Fuel Cells are like batteries. New chemistries and concepts are always possible. Thermally regenerative fuel cells make electricity by scavenging waste heat (400C). This type of fuel cell could be run on stored solar thermal energy. Alkaline membrane fuel cells are beginning to be considered viable Non-platinum catalysts and do not require platinum electrodes.
(just like batteries lead-acid NiMH Li - ion ??)
http://www.cellera-inc.com/

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PARTING THOUGHT Fuel cells are just at the threshold of their potential applications. New breakthroughs are occurring at an accelerated pace. Problems are being overcome. New designs and concepts are being developed.
(Remember it took hundreds of years to move from the steam engine to the mass produced ICE)

The lithium battery world is now everyones great hope. When the lithium battery fails to meet the unreasonable expectations it will probably be about when fuel cells will be ready to move forward with new products.
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Be sure to join us in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada for Hydrogen + Fuel Cells 2011: International Conference and Exhibition (HFC2011) as we work together to foster Partnerships for Global Energy Solutions. Participants in Canadas premier hydrogen and fuel cells event will have the opportunity to:
International Conference Exhibition Vancouver, British Columbia Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre May 15-18, 2011

www.hfc2011.com

Please contact my friend Ay Su who is helping with the organizing committee. meaysu@saturn.yzu.edu.tw
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Acknowledgement

Thank you to the conference organisers. Thank you to the National Science and Engineering Research Council and the Ontario Research Fund Research Excellence program for support for our work.

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