Upload
others
View
2
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Fuel Cells, Hydrogen and Reliable Power for Data CentresDr Rory Monaghan
ThermE Research Group, School of Engineering, NUI Galway
Ryan Institute for Marine, Environment and Energy Research, NUI Galway
MaREI, the SFI Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine
DataCentres Ireland, Dublin, 18 November 2019
• Principles of fuel cell operation
• Fuel cell technologies
• Fuel cell deployment for data centres
• Hydrogen’s role in deep decarbonisation & sector coupling
• Some flagship hydrogen projects
• Outlook
2
Electrolytic & Galvanic Cells (Sorry! But…)
Electrolytic cellElectric current passing
through aqueous electrolyte solution
generates H2 and O2 at electrodes
This is an Electrolyser
Galvanic cellConsumption of H2 and O2
in presence of aqueous electrolyte solution at electrodes generates electric currentThis is a Fuel Cell
3
Current source
H2 & O2 sources
An Acid Electrolyte Fuel CellPEM, PAFC for example (Nearly there!)
• Cathode• Electrically positive
terminal
• Electron sink
• Positive ion sink
• Reaction
• Anode• Electrically
negative terminal
• Electron source
• Positive ion source
• Reaction
22 4 4H H e+ −→ +2 24 4 2O H e H O+ −+ + →
H+
e-
• Electrolyte• Allows passage of
positive ions from anode to cathode
• Circuit• Allows passage
of electrons from anode to cathode
Overall Reaction: 2 2 22 2H O H O+ →
4
An Alkaline Electrolyte Fuel CellAFC, SOFC for example (Last one!)
• Cathode• Electrically positive
terminal
• Electron sink
• Negative ion source
• Reaction
• Anode• Electrically
negative terminal
• Electron source
• Negative ion sink
• Reaction
2 22 4 4 4H OH H O e− −+ → +2 24 2 4O e H O OH− −+ + →
OH-
e-
• Electrolyte• Allows passage of
negative ions from cathode to anode
• Circuit• Allows passage
of electrons from anode to cathode
Overall Reaction: 2 2 22 2H O H O+ →
5
Membrane Electrode AssemblyIncreases Contact Area & CurrentSingle Fuel Cell
Areas available for reaction
6
Fuel Cell Stack
Solid electrolytes work better in stacks
Fuel Cell Technologies Categorised by Electrolyte Type
Mekhilef S. “Comparative study of different fuel cell technologies”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 16 (2010) 981-989
7
55-65%
55-65%
Fuel Cell DeploymentBy Application & Technology
8
Fuel Cell Industry Review 2018, E4Tech, http://www.fuelcellindustryreview.com/
Fuel Cell Deployment for Stationary Power
• Up to ~5 MW for uninterruptible and back-up power
• Data centres, banks, hospitals
• SOFC is the dominant technology
• Quick, modular installation, monitoring & servicing
• Quiet operation
• No NOx emissions
• Use the natural gas grid
9
Where does the hydrogen come from?
The high temperature inside the SOFC cracks or “reforms” natural gas to syngas (CO & H2), which
undergoes electrochemical reactions
Condensing water out of exhaust gives pure CO2
https://www.doitpoms.ac.uk/tlplib/fuel-cells/high_temp_sofc.php
Fuel Cell Deployment for Data Centres
Doosan PureCell 400
• 460-kW PAFC
• 44 units for 20 MW at Energy Innovation Park micro-grid in Connecticut, a $1-billion data centre development
10
Fuel Cell Industry Review 2018, E4Tech, http://www.fuelcellindustryreview.com/
Fuel Cell Deployment for Data Centres
Bloom Energy Energy Server 5
• 200-kW SOFC
• Total 328 MW installed in USA, India, Japan, Korea
• Data centre projects underway• 1.8 MW for SUNY Medical Centre,
New York• 1.1 MW for JSR Micro, California
• $100 million from Key Equipment Financing (10-15 MW of Energy Servers)
• IPO on NYSE in July 2018
11
Fuel Cell Industry Review 2018, E4Tech, http://www.fuelcellindustryreview.com/
Fuel Cell Deployment for Data Centres
SolidPower BlueGen
• 1.5 kW SOFC
• 1,000 units operational
• Deployed in Microsoft data centre in Seattle
12
Fuel Cell Industry Review 2018, E4Tech, http://www.fuelcellindustryreview.com/
Fuel Cell Deployment for Data Centres
Ceres Power SteelCell
• 5-kW SOFC
• Partnering with Bosch and with Cummins for data centre activity
• In-field efficiency of 55% (60% in the lab)
13
Fuel Cell Industry Review 2018, E4Tech, http://www.fuelcellindustryreview.com/
Where does the hydrogen come from?
14
Source: Shell Hydrogen Study, 2017
Current hydrogen production routes
95% fossil fuels
Source: GenComm Smart H2 Position Paper, http://www.nweurope.eu/gencomm
Hydrogen Production
15
Source: Shell Hydrogen Study, 2017* Paths are compatible with existing energy/chemical systems
H2 as an intermediate for renewable natural gas (Green Gas)*
H2 as an automotive fuel
H2 distribution in the gas grid as a direct replacement for NG
H2 as an intermediate for renewable liquid fuels & chemicals*
High pressure H2 for distribution
Renewable Hydrogen and Energy Systems Integration
Hydrogen End Use – Fuel Cell TRLs
16Source: Shell Hydrogen Study, 2017
Recent Hydrogen Developments 2020 Toyota Mirai
17https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/news/2020-toyota-mirai-revealed-fuel-cell-concept-previews-second/
Recent Hydrogen Developments Caetano H2.City Gold Bus
18https://www.h2-view.com/story/caetanobus-launches-first-hydrogen-bus-with-toyota-technology/
Recent Hydrogen Developments Netherlands Hydrogen Valleys
19https://www.eusew.eu/sites/default/files/programme-additional-docs/EUSEW_86_06%20Luuk%20Buit%20N-NL.pdf
Recent Hydrogen Developments Other News Stories
Northern Irish fuel cell bus maker WrightBus saved from bankruptcy
Engine maker Cummins buys hydrogen equipment provider Hydrogenics
20
https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2019/1011/1082565-wrightbus-deal-agreed/
https://www.gasworld.com/cummins-completes-hydrogenics-acquisition/2017755.article
GenCommSector Coupling with H2
• €9.3 million project 60% backed by EU Interreg NWE
• 10 partners, 5 countries
• 3 pilot plants
• Focused on dispatch down (DD) and energy security in energy-remote communities
21
Source: Eirgrid Constraint and Curtailment Report, 2017
DD by monthDD by time
DD by region
Scotland pilot
Germany pilot
N. Ireland pilot
22
Wind Energy
Solar Energy
AD Plant
Industry
Mobility
Stationary Energy
O2
Electrolysis Handling
Renewable energy sources
Energy demands
N. Ireland pilot
Germany pilot
Scotland pilot
GenCommRenewable Hydrogen Pilots
https://vimeo.com/366993950/91cafb0bb6
Community and Industry Bodies
• Community Hydrogen Forum http://communityh2.eu/• A key output of GenComm• Platform to help communities understand the opportunities of hydrogen• More information in my panel talk
• Hydrogen Ireland http://hydrogenireland.org/• Established by GenComm partners, DCU others• Aims to promote the role of hydrogen in decarbonising Ireland’s economy
• Hydrogen Mobility Ireland• Cross-industry group to promote hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles for
transportation• Recent study foresees first H2 vehicles by 2023 with 35,000 within decade:
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/energy-and-resources/hydrogen-fuel-cell-vehicles-could-be-a-feature-on-irish-roads-by-2023-1.4039351
23
Outlook
• Growing deployment of fuel cells in data centres for uninterruptible and back-up power with a diverse range of suppliers
• Fuel cells provide resiliency by using gas grid as well as (or instead of) power grid
• H2 links electricity and gas systems through long term storage and power-to-gas
• GenComm County Antrim H2 pilot plant coming very soon
• H2 in the gas grid combined with fuel cells could provide zero emissions resilient data centre operation
24