Hydrogen Fuel Cell: A Potential Clean Energy Source
With the growing focus on developing green energy sources while fulfilling the constantly rising energy demands, innovations such as fuel cells have emerged as a potential alternative to replace conventional sources. A fuel cell is a clean energy source that uses fuels such as hydrogen to produce electricity without leaving any harmful residue. It converts the chemical energy stored in the gas into electrical energy used to operate electric transportation and power stations.
Fuel cell technology has been around for a century. The first fuel cell was developed in 1838 by William Robert Grove, using two platinum electrodes with one end immersed in a container of sulfuric acid and the other in separate containers of oxygen and hydrogen. The process resulted in a constant flow of current between the two electrodes.
Further, the commercialization of fuel cells started in the 1970s during the oil crisis in the U.S., when the country had to develop a renewable energy source on a larger scale to meet the energy demands of the country.
The fuel cells can use other clean fuel sources such as methanol, ethanol, and ammonia; however, compressed hydrogen is the most common fuel used. Hydrogen is an abundantly available resource with no harmful effects on the environment; therefore, it is considered the most effective replacement for fossil fuel energy sources.
According to the BIS research report, the global green hydrogen market is expected to reach $4.45 billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 5.13% during the forecast period 2021–2031.
How Do Fuel Cells Work?
Fuel cells are battery-like energy storage resources that run on clean fuel such as hydrogen and produce heat and electricity. It consists of two electrodes, one negative electrode (anode) and another positive electrode (cathode). Fuel such as hydrogen is run through the battery. A catalyst is used to separate the protons and electrons from hydrogen, creating a flow of electricity within the battery.
How Can Fuel Cells Contribute to Clean Energy?
Hydrogen fuel cells have several applications in the clean energy industry. Some applications are as follows:
1. Backup Power Resource: Establishing the fuel cells as the primary electricity source is challenging, but it can be used as a backup power source when the primary source is disrupted in industries. It can also be used in remote and inaccessible areas where big power plants cannot be installed.
The fuel cells used for backup power come in portable sizes and do not need any special infrastructure to be installed. They can generate sufficient electricity to run computer systems, manufacturing facilities, utility stations, and homes. The proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is the most commonly used cell type for backup power.
2. Transportation: Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are automotive vehicles that use fuel cells as the power source to operate. Some FCVs use fuel cells along with the battery and supercapacitor to efficiently use and maintain the peak power. The fuel cell uses oxygen from the air in FCVs and the already present compressed hydrogen for power generation. These vehicles cause no pollution as they only emit water and heat as by-products.
Since the automotive industry is one of the most significant contributors to global carbon emission, FCVs are a highly probable solution. Along with personal vehicles, the fuel cell can also be used for different public modes of transport such as buses, planes, and trains.
Advantages of Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Developing fuel cell technologies aims to establish a clean energy source and minimize environmental damage. Moreover, they also have other advantages. Some of these advantages are as follow:
· The fuel cells are an efficient storage medium for hydrogen. The gas does not evaporate unless used to generate electricity according to the need; therefore, it can be stored in fuel cells till not required.
· The fuel cells are energy efficient. Currently, most internal combustion engines operate with an efficiency of around 25%, and power plants can achieve about 35% efficiency; however, when used in a combined heat and power system, a stationary fuel cell can have an efficiency level of greater than 80%.
· The hydrogen fuel cells require less infrastructural cost than the installation of conventional power stations. Depending on the need, the size and type of fuel cells can also be flexibly changed into portable smaller sizes and bigger sizes.
· The fuel cells are also economically beneficial as they reduce the cost of importing oil from other countries.
Conclusion
The development of clean energy technologies such as fuel cells is crucial for controlling the environmental damages caused by fossil fuels. Therefore, huge investments are being made by the government and key market players in the research and development of hydrogen fuel cell systems to make them commercially more viable.
