RENEWABLE ENERGY BASED HYDROGEN REFUELLING STATION

Energy use for transportation purposes and the number of passenger vehicles is increasing rapidly around the world. Fuelling infrastructure based on hydrogen provides an attractive alternative to predominating fossil fuels. Hydrogen can be used in various end-use applications and it can form a basis for a non-polluting energy infrastructure. Once integrated with renewable energy sources, hydrogen provides efficient independence from centralized electricity production and combustion of fossil fuels. The growing interest on environmental issues and a search for an alternative for fossil fuels have launched numerous hydrogen energy programs worldwide. In transport sector, almost every major auto manufacturer has introduced their vision of a hydrogen vehicle of the future. This work includes research on hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and its local refuelling station based on hydrogen production from renewable energy sources. Hydrogen produced via electrolysis is stored in portable metal hydride containers to be used in a fuel cell hybrid vehicle.

Autorentext
Dr Mohan Kolhe is Director of Programmes and Senior Lecturer at the University College London (UCL)'s School of Energy & Resources (www.ucl.ac.uk/australia). Atte Pakkanen and Arjo Heinsola are with the Renewable Energy Group of the University of Jyväskylä, Finland.