Applications
Hydrogen and hydrogen carriers are fuels to help decarbonise industries and applications that have traditionally struggled to reduce their carbon footprint.
It’s those applications where grid connection is impossible, difficult, or expensive.
Fuel cells are particularly suited for backup, temporary and remote power, whether stationary or mobile for off-grid or grid-constrained applications. Today, it’s mostly polluting fossil fuel generation providing this power. We are on a mission to change that.
Sectors
Construction
The construction industry makes up about 25% of global carbon dioxide emissions. 1 Momentum is building to replace diesel generators that are used extensively today. The International Energy Agency estimates that carbon dioxide emissions from this sector need to half by 2030. 2
Fuel cells have the potential to replace diesel generators on the construction sites that are often without a connection to the grid. Fuel cells provide an opportunity for clean, quiet, portable, temporary power.
Outdoor events
Putting on outdoor events is big business globally. They are typically large-scale, outdoor, temporary and with connection to a constrained grid.
Today it’s diesel generators providing this temporary power. Fuel cells provide a clean-air and quiet alternative to diesel generators in festivals, film-sets, charity, corporate or sporting events.
EV charging
With a rapid increase in electric vehicle adoption, more fast chargers will be needed. These fast chargers need the right connection to the electricity grid. However, this is not always possible and it can be costly to install new power cabling to the grid.
Hydrogen fuel cell units with electric vehicle charge fittings can provide fast charging where grid connection is constrained, or where there is no grid connection at all.
Maritime
The International Maritime Organisation has committed to a 50% reduction in green-house gas emissions by 2050. According to the International Energy Agency ammonia will represent 45% of maritime fuel by 2050.
Ships, boats, ports, and other maritime operations around the world are looking for an alternative to heavy ship oil or diesel as a source of power. Flexibly fuelled fuel cells are this alternative. They could power propulsion of the sea vessels, as well as the operations on board or in-port.
Data Centres
Data centres and networks use about 2% of the worlds overall power. This is forecasted to grow rapidly as digital adoption grows globally. Today 20GW of diesel generation backs up the world’s data centres. Hydrogen fuel cells have the potential to transform this.
Back-up power is needed in applications where failure to have power has serious consequences. Fuel cells offer a reliable and responsive alternative to diesel generators in use today across data-centres and other critical services.
Rail
The rail sector contributes less than 0.5% of global CO2 today. It’s a carbon efficient transportation system for people and freight. There’s potential for hydrogen fuel cells to further improve this. Research and development is ongoing.