Development of a Generation and Distribution of Local Energy Prototype with an Electrolyser and a Hydrogen Fuel Cell

One of the biggest concerns of modernity is the generation of power in remote locations and emergency power systems, with a good compromise between efficiency and carbon emissions. These systems currently have mostly non-renewable energy sources, such as diesel generators, or lack the necessary energy storage, for example lithium batteries. Knowing this scenario, the HyGen group sought the use of hydrogen to obtain and generate power in isolated locations and power generators. Although of higher capex and complexity, the hydrogen economy is expected to increase in the next 10 years, approximating the hydrogen cost and use of current technologies. The higher efficiency and easier maintenance when compared to internal combustion engines and higher energy storage capacity when compared to batteries are other advantages of hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer systems. In this scenario, the energy of the electrical grid or auxiliary renewable energies is stored to use in the lack of electrical energy. The present work aims to design, build, and evaluate this in a bench system, also applying the concept of power-to-hydrogen (use of renewable energies for hydrogen generation) for a final evaluation of the system. To meet these objectives, a FuelCell Stack1020 fuel cell from Ballard Power Systems, an electrolyser, a pressurization system, and a control system will be developed. For this, simulations of the system and control were developed in MATLAB, then calculating its theoretical energy efficiency and sizing the pressurization system. Then, the control of the system will be developed, and the bench will be built, then evaluating its real efficiency, its cost, and its final volume, to compare the system developed with those currently used. In addition, the system will also be simulated with auxiliary solar panels, evaluating the recharge time, its impact on the system and its market viability.