Fuel Cells
Alternative energy technology encompasses more than harnessing natural energies such as wind or solar. Alternative energies include innovative ways of implementing existing energy technology, ways that are sustainable, efficient, and harmonious with the surrounding environment and with the demands of the community. Hydrogen fuel cells are one such innovative solution. They work by modernizing the technology of batteries to provide instant electricity and have the advantage of being easy to refuel, durable, and free of any emissions, noxious gasses, or byproducts.
Fuel cells can provide an immediate need for electricity and power by substituting for a traditional combustion engine. These fuel sources can be scaled for a variety of applications from extremely small (for a single electronic device) to large enough to power a household, a manufacturing facility, or a small community.
Unlike a battery, which must store energy, fuel cells transfer all of the electricity generated immediately to the power plant, building, or equipment to which it is connected. This makes fuel cells smaller and more portable than a battery of a corresponding wattage because fuel cells do not need the capacity to store electricity.
A Look at the Benefits
Fuel cells are an electricity source that can be used in many applications that require traditional batteries, internal combustion engines, or traditional utility grids. From a single home to an apartment building to mining and manufacturing plants, hydrogen fuel cells can be utilized to safely and quietly fulfill electricity needs:
- Hydrogen fuel cells release only clean water, making them safe to use in any operation or on any kind of land, including agricultural or dairy lands.
- Replacing the fuel module instantly recharges the fuel cell, so there is little to no loss of operating time.
- Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells have high energy density, meaning that the amount of electricity produced per kilogram of the overall unit weight is substantial. This means that fuel cells can be smaller and still provide the electricity your applications require.
- Hydrogen fuel cells which use PEM technology have cooler operating temperatures (below 90C) and high kilowatt production (up to 250 kW).