Alternative Applications

Apart from Peak Power Plant, the system might have alternative applications, which are discussed below.

Transport sector

Both electric vehicles, and vehicles fuelled by hydrogen, are growing sectors. Our Hydrogen Peak Power Plant could be used to refill both types of vehicle.
This plant could be used to provide electricity or hydrogen to recharge / refuel multiple electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles, for example in a car park.

Our Hydrogen Power Plant would store 300 kg of hydrogen which is enough to completely refuel 75 to 100 hydrogen powered cars [7]. Also in terms of electrical output, our Hydrogen Power Plant has a capacity of 6MWh. This amount of electricity capacity is sufficient to refill 120 to 230 electric cars. [8]

Therefore, our module is enough to power:

Case study - Glasgow Airport Long Stay Car Park

        It is assumed that 10% of the future car fleet will be either hydrogen or electric vehicles, and this proportion will be parked in Glasgow Airport car park at any time.

                              - Parking capacity is 3000 cars
                              -   Number of cars to refill - 300
                              -    2-3 modules of Hydrogen Power Plant will be enough
                                  to refuel / recharge the anticipated number of hydrogen
                                    and electric cars in Glasgow Airport Car Park.

          It is anticipated there will be growing demand for such applications. For example, Glasgow City Council is proud to offer free charging for electric vehicles in numerous city car parks [9]. Pilot projects involving hydrogen transport include Aberdeen hydrogen bus project [10], and Levenmouth Community Energy Project [11].
           A hydrogen peak power plant could, in the future, service such applications.

Further potential applications

Our hydrogen peak power plant can supply either both electricity and hydrogen, which can be used in many different sectors. Some potential alternative uses are described below.

Supplying electricity to other customers
The economics of such a system become more attractive if there are other markets to sell the electricity into.For example, the Hydrogen Office project sells electricity to its neighbours in a business park, at a price attractive to both buyers and seller. [12]
Own on-site renewable generation
If generation capacity (e.g. a wind farm) was owned by the PPP, then the electricity could be provided, not bought.Clearly initial capital cost would be higher to install generation capacity.The economics here would be different, and may be more favourable.
Remote locations
In remote locations not connected to the grid, the economics are very different.This may also be the case in locations with a weak grid connection.An energy storage system could help make an island micro-grid viable work, and in such circumstances it may be viable. [13]
Selling hydrogen into the natural gas grid
Hydrogen can be added to the existing gas grid in modest concentrations, without a major change in infrastructure.The hydrogen then contributes to a source of energy for heat.A 6MW electrolyser plant is planned to be built in Germany to work in this way, using wind generated electricity which might otherwise be curtailed.[14]

Summary

The system envisaged, and the model, are deliberately simple ones. There is scope to further develop and improve these. The electricity and hydrogen could potentially be used in the transport sector, and in other situations. The economics may be more favourable in such circumstances.

[7]            J. Voelker. (2015, 2016). Gas, Electricity, Hydrogen. How many cars can "fuel" and what will it cost?
Available: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1099548_gas-electricity-hydrogen-how-many-cars-can-fuel-and-what-will-it-cost
[8]            U.S. Department of Energy. www.fueleconomy.gov the official U.S. government source for fuel economy information.
Available: https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSearch.do?action=noform&path=1&year1=1984&year2=2016&vtype=Electric&pageno=1&sortBy=Comb&tabView=0&rowLimit=10
[9]            Glasgow City Council. (2016). Electric Vehicles. Available: https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=18029
[10]         Aberdeen City Council. (2016). H2 Aberdeen hydrogen bus project. Available: http://aberdeeninvestlivevisit.co.uk/Invest/Aberdeens-Economy/City-Projects/H2-Aberdeen/Hydrogen-Bus/Hydrogen-Bus-Project.aspx
[11]         Bright Green Hydrogen. (2015). Levenmouth Community Energy Project.
Available: http://brightgreenhydrogen.org.uk/home/levenmouth-community-energy-project-2/levenmouth-community-energy-project/
[12]         D. Hogg Technical Manager Bright Green Hydrogen / Levenmouth Community Energy Project / The Hydrogen Office www.brightgreenhydrogen.org.uk, Personal communication (telecom and email correspondence) ed, 2016.
[13]         P. Enevoldsen and B. K. Sovacool, "Integrating power systems for remote island energy supply: Lessons from Mykines, Faroe Islands," Renewable Energy, vol. 85, pp. 642-648, 2016.
[14]         Siemens. (7 July 2015). World's largest hydrogen electrolysis facility. Available: http://www.siemens.com/innovation/en/home/pictures-of-the-future/energy-and-efficiency/smart-grids-and-energy-storage-largest-hydrogen-electrolysis-facility.html

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION