Abstract
Today, hydrogen is recognized as a non-polluting energy carrier because it does not contribute to global warming if it is produced from renewable energy resources. This chapter presents one of the possibilities of using hydrogen fuel cells in the energy support of electric vehicle charging stations. A comparative study was presented for five situations in which fuel cells have different nominal powers, a study whose objective is to investigate the equipment capability, assuming their use as the first and only source of electricity in a future economy based on hydrogen, in which case the hydrogen fuel used by the fuel cell is available to the final consumer through a centralized distribution infrastructure. The main decision criteria taken into account include electricity generated by fuel cell, degree of autonomy from the classic electricity grid, total hydrogen consumption, energy purchased from the grid, excess energy, total CO2 emissions, initial investment, electricity unit prices, total cost calculated for 25 years of system life.
TopBackground
This chapter comes to present one of the possibilities of using the hydrogen to electricity conversion technology in the energy support of electric vehicle charging stations (Dash et al., 2022; Mastoi et al., 2022; Ravi & Aziz, 2022), approaching a comparative study on five situations in which the fuel cells have different rated powers, a study that investigates the capability and energy efficiency of the equipment, assuming their use as the first and only source of electricity generation in a future hydrogen-based economy (Badea et al., 2021), in which case the fuel used by the fuel cell is available to the final consumer through a distribution infrastructure centralized (Ali et al., 2022), hydrogen production is also outsourced and independent of the energy generation system (Akarsu & Genç, 2022, Turoń et al., 2020).
The technical-economic and ecological study carried out aims to determine and highlight a set of general criteria that allow the characterization of these types of systems (Felseghi et al., 2021; Longden et al., 2022; Venkatasatish & Dhanamjayulu, 2022), but also to approach this energy solution of using the fuel cell in the field of green mobility from the point of view of sustainability (Farias et al., 2022; Kovač et al., 2021; Park et al., 2022), based on a multi-criteria comparative analysis carried out on the five fuel cells of different powers.
For the development and substantiation of the study, simulations were carried out in operation of energy systems with fuel cells having nominal powers of 1 kW, 2 kW, 3 kW, 4 kW, 5 kW, and the results of these simulations were presented in the form of a comparative analysis.
An electric vehicle charging station type consumer, was used as input data, with a total electricity demand of 6759 kWh/year. As an initial condition, it was established that for the configuration of the studied energy systems, the consumer is also connected to the electricity distribution network, and that excess energy storage in batteries is not foreseen, in order to create the possibility to quantify and capitalize this excess as a form of green energy that can be exported to the grid, but also to have the electricity available to ensure the start-ups for the component equipment of the systems (Așchilean et al., 2021; Badea et al., 2015, Enescu et al., 2023).
Given the particular virtual conditions of this case, the operating principle assumes that the energy system uses the fuel cell supplied with hydrogen from the centralized network to generate electricity and supports the consumer energetically by ensuring the total energy demand through the electrochemical conversion of hydrogen (Ahmad et al., 2022; Karaca & Dincer, 2023; Jones et al., 2020; Rojas et al., 2022). This type of system was further named Energy System with Fuel Cell powered by Hydrogen from the Distribution Network (SE - FCH).
Based on the input data of the energy requirement and the particularities of the energy systems, the computational simulations regarding the operation of these types of systems were carried out using iHOGA version 2.5 software (Dufo-López & Bernal-Agustín, 2020), and as global optimization criteria, aspects related to the minimization of emissions were initially set of carbon dioxide, uncovered energy and excess energy (Badea et al., 2019; Felseghi & Papp, 2014; Filote et al., 2020; Li & Taghizadeh-Hesary, 2022). The obtained value results are presented in detail in the following.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Electric Vehicle or Electromobile: Is a zero-emission vehicle powered by an electric motor, with power from an electricity source.
Hydrogen Economy: Represents all the energy infrastructures at the national and international level that have hydrogen as an energy resource. Building an infrastructure that allows, easily and efficiently, the transport and delivery of hydrogen energy is a critical step towards a future hydrogen-based economy.
Sustainable Mobility: Decarbonisation of the transport sector. The transport sector must undergo a transformation that will require a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, while ensuring affordable solutions for people.
Clean Energy Generation System: A system designed primarily to provide clean energy services to end users.
Hydrogen as a Carrier of Green Energy: Etymologically, the word hydrogen is a combination of two Greek words, meaning “to make water”. Produced from non-fossil sources and raw materials, through the use of different forms of alternative energy (solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass, etc.), hydrogen is considered to be a primary fuel in achieving the supply of so-called “green energy”. Thus, systems that operate with hydrogen as fuel can be considered to be among the best solutions for accelerating and ensuring stability at the global level.
Multicriteria Comparative Analysis: Describes any structured approach used to determine overall preferences among several alternative options, which options lead to the fulfillment of a number of objectives.
Hydrogen Energy: Today, hydrogen is recognized as a non-polluting energy carrier because it does not contribute to global warming, if it is produced from renewable sources. In addition, hydrogen is the only secondary energy carrier that lends itself to wide application on the market. In the center of attention is the fact that hydrogen can be obtained from a wide range of primary energies. It can be used advantageously for a wide range of applications, from transport and portable to stationary. In addition, hydrogen can also be used in decentralized systems without emitting carbon dioxide.
Fuel Cell: Is an electric cell, which, unlike battery cells, can be continuously supplied with fuel, so that the electric power from the output of this electric cell can be maintained indefinitely. Thus, the fuel cell converts hydrogen or hydrogen-based fuels directly into electricity and heat through the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen with oxygen.