HomeMy WebLinkAboutRenewable, Hydrogen-Based Energy for Isolated Communities Worldwide est 1997frdesert_d [infeeetich'institute.
Renewable,Hydrogen-Based Energy
for Isolated Communities Worldwide
The use of fossil fuels constitutes our greatest source of air pollution and
causes most of the anthropogenic greenhouse gas production.Importation of
foreign oil results in more than 1/3 of the U.S.balance of trade deficit
($52B/year),and requires more than $50B/year to protect and maintain a
stable,foreign supply.
"Internationally recognized
for excellence in environ-
-mental research.
Over the past two decades many of the technologies needed for a sustainable
energy economy have evolved considerably,and are at the brink of large-
scale commercialization.Renewable technologies such as wind and solar
have proven to be technically viable sources of power.Wind power
production costs are competitive with conventional sources,while solar
power is expected to be competitive within a decade.There are certain
markets where the value of electricity is several times higher than the
electricity price in large power grid markets.For example,dozens of
communities in Alaska pay $.25 -.75/kWh for diesel-powered electricity,
where the national average is less than $.10/kWh.Many of these regions
have abundant,quality wind resources.These high-value power markets are
where renewable technologies are making their commercial entry.
Increased use of renewables in these markets will accelerate economy-of-scale cost reductions,and broaden the market base.
About 1/3 of the world's six-billion population has yet to benefit from the use of utility electricity,and it is prudent to foster the
use of renewables in developing regions.
An application of renewable power DRI is pursuing is in remote regions,where intermittent renewable power systems integrated
with adequate energy storage will provide a steady supply of electricity to a community,and be competitive with fossil power
alternatives.The energy storage component will provide power to the load when the renewable source is quiescent.Several
examples of energy storage methods are:batteries,pumped hydroelectric,compressed air,hydrogen-fuel cell systems,hydrogen-
engine-generators,halogen-fuel cell systems,Zn-air-fuel cell systems,Zn-FeCN-fuel cell systems and flywheels.Where
compressed air and pumped hydroelectric are not practical,the hydrogen systems show the most promise.
Power
grid
<-
Electricity
Electrolyzer Fuel cell
Hydrogen
Lu@ Hydrogen storage
Las Vegas Reno
P.O.Box 19040,Las Vegas,NV 89132-0040,(702)895-0497 P.O.Box 60220,Reno,NV 89506-0220,(702)673-7311
A division of the University and Community College System of Nevada
The components necessary to demonstrate a renewable hydrogen power system for a remote community are available,but have
yet to be integrated in this way.A system design would require the renewable power source to be sized to produce base-load
electricity,and supply enough additional power for hydrogen production as the energy storage medium.The maximum storage
capacity is simply a function of the average load and the maximum credible renewable quiescent period.
There are two key benefits that would result from the implementation of such a prototypical,uninterruptable renewable power
system demonstration:
1)A generic design optimization algorithm that matches an arbitrary renewable energy source profile with an arbitrary
community load profile with the right amount and type of storage.This can be generalized for any energy storage process and
medium,and
2)A generic control system optimization algorithm that provides electricity to the customer at the lowest cost,and highest
quality and reliability,based on temporally varying source and load conditions.The control system,as well as the overall power
system design will strongly benefit from advanced,mesoscale meteorological forcasting,which will aid in optimizing the system
and will drive down the capital and operating costs.
In addition to utility electricity,isolated communities have a requirement for vehicle transportation.As hydrogen powered
vehicles enter the niche marketplace,they can be introduced into these enclosed communities in a fleet-like manner.Fleet
introduction of hydrogen-powered vehicles in niche applications is a favorable way to bring them into the general marketplace,
and in isolated communities,the hydrogen production and storage elements can be increased incrementally to allow renewable
hydrogen to provide both utility electricity and transportation.
REFERENCES
Rambach,G and Haberman,D,(1997)Uninterruptable,Renewable,Hydrogen-Based Energy for Isolated Communities
Worldwide,Advocate of the National Hydrogen Association,2,2,6-7.Presented to 8th Annual U.S.Hydrogen Meeting,
Washington,DC,March 1997.
Contact:Glenn D.Rambach,(702)677-3158,glennr@ sage.dri.edu,or Jeremy Snyder,(702)677-3329,
jsnyder@sage.dri.edu,DR!Energy and Environmental Center,Reno,NV