Wednesday, May 18, 2022 8:06:27 AM
Stationary fuel cells reliably boosting industry growth
May 17, 2022
https://www.openaccessgovernment.org/stationary-fuel-cells-reliably-boosting-industry-growth-hydrogen-gas/135827/
Frank Wolak, President and CEO, Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association, argues here that stationary fuel cells reliably boost industry growth
You’d be hard-pressed to scroll through an energy news feed without seeing several major announcements involving hydrogen. The first element on the periodic table has become somewhat of a fuel celebrity nowadays, not only for its environmental and economic benefits, but because of its versatility in both production and utilisation pathways.
Hydrogen is capable of being generated from numerous feedstocks and methods and can be used in practically limitless market applications.
Hydrogen has a role to play in the decarbonisation of society
While the transportation sector tends to receive the majority of media coverage, hydrogen has a tremendous role to play in the decarbonisation of our entire society, including where and how we work and live. This includes reducing carbon intensity of industrial processes such as steel, cement, and glass production, blending with natural gas in pipelines, stabilising and providing long-term energy storage for intermittent renewable energy sources, and providing reliable, efficient, and clean energy with stationary fuel cell systems.
Fuel cell units are deployed for both primary and backup power at utility substations, telecommunications networks, retail stores, hospitals, universities, municipal facilities, data centers, and many other private and public sector sites. The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) estimates more than 550 megawatts (MW) of stationary fuel cells are currently in operation in the United States (U.S.). Throughout the past year, FCHEA member companies reported more than 80 MW of sales, orders, or installations for fuel cell systems that will collectively be deployed in not just the usual California and Northeast region in the U.S., but in North Dakota, Texas, and Washington. Outside the country, stationary/backup fuel cell sales announcements included customers in Canada, Germany, Malaysia, the Philippines, and South Korea.
Most large-scale fuel cell installations depend on natural gas right now
Currently, the majority of the large-scale fuel cell installations run on natural gas, which provide high efficiencies, leading to significant emissions reductions compared to conventional technologies. Many of these systems are configured to capture waste heat and utilise it in various ways, including for hot water, space heating, and even cooling and refrigeration, which increases the efficiencies even more. A growing portion of fuel cells are utilising renewable biogas, renewable natural gas, or methane generated from landfills or wastewater treatment plants, which in some cases, are calculated as being carbon negative. Smaller units for backup or remote/off-grid power typically operate on hydrogen or methanol, replacing loud, dirty, and inefficient diesel generators.
There has been significant and innovative progress in the market, with FCHEA members introducing larger systems that use hydrogen; and small-scale systems that run on ammonia. This allows for growth in existing areas, such as data centers, microgrids, and telecommunications, but also opens newer markets focused on powering and complementing competing energy pathways such as oil/gas exploration equipment and electric vehicle charging stations. Fuel cells are proving to be a great complementary technology to batteries as well, with hybrid applications allowing users the ability to reduce the size, weight and volume of the batteries required to store renewable energy while also extending the life and duration of the batteries’ charge and their lifetimes.
Stationary fuel cell manufacturers are now in the marine and mobility sectors Also noteworthy is the expansion of companies traditionally known for focusing on one end-use application, with new products, partnerships, or installations into other market areas. This includes stationary fuel cell manufacturers entering marine and mobility sectors, and automotive and transportation focused companies demonstrating systems for stationary use.
In the U.S., much fanfare has been made about the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), otherwise known as the bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL), that was signed by President Biden last November. The law provides $1.2 trillion for a range of transportation and energy infrastructure programs, including $9.5 billion for clean hydrogen research, development, and deployment programs.
The BIL will push for efficiency of energy, alongside decarbonisation
However, the BIL also allocates more than $16 billion to several grant programs focused on improving grid reliability and resilience via low-or no-carbon emission sources, with hydrogen and fuel cells listed as eligible technologies. These programs are coordinated by both the U.S. Department of Energy and the Department of Transportation, and include:
- Port Infrastructure Development Program.
- Program Upgrading Our Electric Grid and Ensuring Reliability and Resiliency.
- Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid Grants Program.
- The Energy Storage Demonstration Pilot Grant Program.
- Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grants.
While each program has its own criteria for eligibility and timeframe for engagement, they each offer potentially significant opportunities for stationary fuel cell systems, which have a proven track record providing reliable and resilient power through major weather disasters and power outages.
As the BIL rollout unfolds, FCHEA and its members will be ready to showcase how vital fuel cell and hydrogen technologies are to help the U.S., and the world at large, meet necessary climate goals while boosting economic growth across the globe.
Recent PLUG News
- The Gross Law Firm Announces the Filing of a Securities Class Action on Behalf of Plug Power Inc.(PLUG) Shareholders • PR Newswire (US) • 04/26/2024 09:45:00 AM
- Plug Signs Additional BEDP Contracts for a Total of 4.5GW of Electrolyzers Across Europe and the United States • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/25/2024 11:00:00 AM
- Plug Continues to Make Substantial Advancement in Hydrogen Generation Buildout • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 04/23/2024 11:00:00 AM
- May 21, 2024 Deadline: Contact The Gross Law Firm to Join Class Action Suit Against PLUG • PR Newswire (US) • 04/19/2024 10:20:00 AM
- May 21, 2024 Deadline: Contact The Gross Law Firm to Join Class Action Suit Against PLUG • PR Newswire (US) • 04/16/2024 10:15:00 AM
- Shareholders that lost money on Plug Power Inc.(PLUG) Urged to Join Class Action - Contact The Gross Law Firm to Learn More • PR Newswire (US) • 04/12/2024 09:45:00 AM
- Plug Power Inc. Class Action: The Gross Law Firm Reminds Plug Power Inc. Investors of the Pending Class Action Lawsuit with a Lead Plaintiff Deadline of May 21, 2024 - PLUG • PR Newswire (US) • 04/09/2024 10:25:00 AM
- Shareholders of Plug Power Inc. Should Contact The Gross Law Firm Before May 21, 2024 to Discuss Your Rights - PLUG • PR Newswire (US) • 04/05/2024 09:45:00 AM
- Lost Money on Plug Power Inc.(PLUG)? Join Class Action Suit Seeking Recovery - Contact The Gross Law Firm • PR Newswire (US) • 04/02/2024 09:45:00 AM
- The Gross Law Firm Notifies Plug Power Inc. Investors of a Class Action Lawsuit and Upcoming Deadline • PR Newswire (US) • 03/29/2024 09:45:00 AM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 03/04/2024 01:00:20 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 03/01/2024 12:10:31 PM
- Plug Highlights Year of Strategic Growth and Advancements in Accelerating the Green Hydrogen Economy • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 03/01/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Form 10-K - Annual report [Section 13 and 15(d), not S-K Item 405] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/29/2024 09:02:16 PM
- Form 8-K - Current report • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/23/2024 10:30:04 PM
- Form 424B5 - Prospectus [Rule 424(b)(5)] • Edgar (US Regulatory) • 02/23/2024 10:29:30 PM
- Plug and Uline Expand Partnership to Supply Hydrogen and Fuel Cells at Four Additional Sites • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 02/23/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Plug Finalizes Contract to Support A Major U.S. Automobile Manufacturer’s Material Handling Operations • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 02/21/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Plug to Announce 2023 Fourth Quarter and Year-End Results • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 02/21/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Plug Announces Strategic Expense Reduction Plan to Save More Than $75 Million Annually • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 02/14/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Plug Cryogenic Trailers Leave Tennessee Hydrogen Production Plant for Customer Deliveries • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 02/08/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Industrial Stock Finds Success Despite Analyst Downgrade • AllPennyStocks.com • 02/06/2024 08:40:00 PM
- Plug Power Starts Production of Liquid Hydrogen at its Existing Tennessee Plant • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 02/06/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Plug Signs BEDP Contract for a 500MW Electrolyzer in Europe • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 02/02/2024 12:00:00 PM
- Plug Power Completes First Customer Fill of Liquid Green Hydrogen at its Georgia Plant • GlobeNewswire Inc. • 02/01/2024 12:00:00 PM
Bantec Reports an Over 50 Percent Increase in Sales and Profits in Q1 2024 from Q1 2023 • BANT • Apr 25, 2024 10:00 AM
Cannabix's Breath Logix Alcohol Device Delivers Positive Impact to Private Monitoring Agency in Montana, USA • BLO • Apr 25, 2024 8:52 AM
Kona Gold Beverages, Inc. Announces Name Change to NuVibe, Inc. and Initiation of Ticker Symbol Application Process • KGKG • Apr 25, 2024 8:30 AM
Axis Technologies Group and Carbonis Forge Ahead with New Digital Carbon Credit Technology • AXTG • Apr 24, 2024 3:00 AM
North Bay Resources Announces Successful Equipment Test at Bishop Gold Mill, Inyo County, California • NBRI • Apr 23, 2024 9:41 AM
Epazz, Inc.: CryObo, Inc. solar Bitcoin operations will issue tokens • EPAZ • Apr 23, 2024 9:20 AM