Save Batteries? (7) Hydrogen Fuel Cells in your Farm

Do you want to STORE ENERGY on your FARM?

Don’t you want to spend too much on BATTERIES?

Will HYDROGEN  FUEL CELLS be the solution?

Future technology for Rural areas

I’ll say it clear. Hydrogen fuel cells are NOT currently a viable economic solution. But it will be in the future,  when electrolysis and fuel cell technologies will be more developed, especially in rural areas:

- On a farm you can enable room enough to perform the electrolysis with renewable energy.

- To produce the hydrogen in situ, involves a lot of savings in storage. On your agribusiness activity you can find space for accumulating hydrogen.

- Fuel cells not only serve for the electrical needs of the farm, but also can take the heat energy given off.

- Fuel cells may be a solution for mobile equipment for agricultural needs  (tractors, harvesters, vehicles, etc.) when moving with an electric motor powered by hydrogen fuel cells.

Electrolysis for Hydrogen

The hydrogen is very volatile gas in its pure form (H2) and high calorific value, which can be obtained by electrolysis.

Electrolysis of water. – When you pass an electric current in a container of water (H2O), Oxygen (O2) is separated at the anode and Hydrogen (H2) at the cathode.
H2 electrolysis can be a very clean production if the electricity comes from renewable energies (photovoltaic, wind, etc). The efficiency of the entire system is low (<30%) but has the advantage that it can store energy from the sun or wind that is lost on many occasions.

Producing electricity with a fuel cell

The fuel cell is basically a electrochemical container with a PEMFC, Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell, which enters hydrogen and oxygen and produces electricity and water vapor.

A fuel cell converts about 50% of the heat energy of the hydrogen into electrical energy. Including the electrolysis process and storage consumption, the system efficiency is below 30% (similar to a fuel generator).

Lead acid conventional batteries are capable of accumulating 90% of the power supplied and up to now, at a lower price than expensive fuel cells. This is realistic at this moment.

But when hydrogen technologies will lower their costs drastically, they should profitably deploy stand-alone systems. When we reach this future (I do not know how many years), may overcome the limitations of accumulation with current conventional batteries. The energy independence of a farm or rural housing will be a reality.

What do you think of hydrogen technology for farms? Do you believe your isolated agribusiness will have fuel cells in a few years? Thanks for your feedback.

Related articles

• Water- Fuel of the future (ahilan007.wordpress.com)
• Fuel Cell Energy: What is it? What can it do? (txu.com)