How fuel cells can power remote and off-grid communities
Limited access to power can directly impact education, healthcare, economic development and quality of life. Therefore, for those living in remote and rural areas, reliable power sources are crucial. While diesel generators have been the go-to for decades, they can be costly to maintain, inefficient and environmentally harmful. Solar and wind are also imperfect solutions, as they can be limited by weather conditions.
But are there other solutions available and are they reliable?
Hydrogen fuel cells can offer greater efficiencies, uninterrupted power, quieter operations and also scalability to meet off-grid energy demands (learn more about hydrogen fuel cell stacks here).
In this article we’ll explore the current off-grid energy solutions, their limitations, and how hydrogen fuel cells can be a game changer in powering remote and off-grid communities.
Current off-grid energy solutions and their limitations
Currently, the main off-grid energy solutions are diesel generators, solar power systems and wind energy. But all of these come with limitations:
Diesel generators
Diesel generators depend on fossil fuels and not only harm the environment but also the health of those around. They operate loudly and emit greenhouse gases and particulate matter, including NOx and CO2, contributing to climate change, local air pollution and noise pollution. They also require frequent maintenance as their mechanical parts are prone to wear and tear.
Solar power systems
Did you know, the UK as a whole averages 1403 hours of sunlight per year? July and August get about 7 to 8 hours of sunshine per day; however, London and other UK cities still experience considerable cloud cover, which reduces the effectiveness of solar energy systems. Unlike cities like London that are linked to the national grid, communities in off grid locations don’t have the support of electrical infrastructure to keep them going when the sun goes in.
Due to their dependency on sunlight, solar power systems might not meet the higher energy demands or levels of reliability required by larger, remote communities making them ineffective on cloudy days, during long winters or at night. Batteries are also needed to store the energy harnessed by the solar panels but can be bulky to store and have a limited lifespan.
Wind energy
Much like solar power systems, wind energy is very much dependent on weather conditions. Constant wind speeds are necessary, and the set-up requires high up-front costs and a complex installation process. They also rely on bulky battery storage.
Hydrogen fuel cells for off-grid energy
We’ve previously gone into the science of how hydrogen fuel cells actually work. To summarise, electricity is generated via an electrochemical reaction, where stored hydrogen and oxygen from the air combine to generate electricity, heat, and water vapour. Because of this, they are suited to the challenges of off-grid energy supply for a number of reasons:
1. Scalability
They can be scaled to power individual homes to entire villages or industrial operations.
2. Reliability
Unlike wind and solar power, fuel cells aren’t reliant on weather conditions as they can provide continuous power as long as hydrogen is supplied. They also require little maintenance and can power on and off when needed.
3. Environmental sustainability
No greenhouse gas emissions are produced, and water vapour is the only by-product of the process with hydrogen fuel cells.
4. Silent operation
Unlike noisy diesel generators, hydrogen fuel cells operate quietly, making them suitable for residential areas, remote communities, hospitals and areas with wildlife.
5. Compact and portable
The lightweight and compact nature of hydrogen fuel cells makes them easy to transport and install in remote or temporary locations. This is also advantageous in disaster relief scenarios or mobile operations.
What are the applications of hydrogen fuel cells in off-grid energy?
Hydrogen fuel cells are incredibly versatile, meaning they can address a whole range of off-grid energy needs, including:
- Powering homes, schools and community centres in remote villages
- Keeping remote telecoms towers operational to maintain connectivity
- Providing reliable power during emergencies and in disaster relief scenarios
- Delivering uninterrupted power for medical equipment in rural or mobile healthcare facilities
- Powering agricultural irrigation systems, lighting and refrigeration.
Delve into the applications in more depth in our guide on IE POWER fuel cell applications here.
Intelligent Energy’s role in off-grid energy
Our IE-POWER range can supply clean energy to off-grid communities at a range of power outputs when connected together. They are compact, easy to integrate, quiet when operating and configurable to work with various battery technologies.
Case study: Pestech Energy’s Solar Hydrogen Solution, Malaysia
Pestech Energy successfully implemented a renewable-based microgrid solution in Tapah, Perak, Malaysia, providing electricity to the Orang Asli community for the first time in 60 years. This rural community had previously lived without access to the grid.
The solution consists of a self-sustaining, off-grid energy system with minimal maintenance requirements and an impressive system uptime of over 99.99%.
Learn more about Pestech’s work with the Orang Asli community here.
For communities or research groups that usually depend on costly, inefficient and polluting diesel generators, or unreliable solar and wind systems, hydrogen fuel cells offer a new standard for off-grid energy production. Providing continuous power and aligning with global sustainability goals, hydrogen fuel cells are likely to play a central role in achieving energy equity and reducing the environmental footprint of off-grid operations.
By combining technological expertise with a commitment to sustainability, we’re empowering off-grid communities to access clean and reliable energy at Intelligent Energy.
To find out more about the solutions Intelligent Energy can offer for off-grid energy, fill out a contact form today!