Fuel cells have a great potential to make buildings carbon neutral. They generate electricity and heat from hydrogen in a very efficient way. A fuel cell unit brings tremendous benefits by significantly reducing the energy costs and carbon footprint of a building. It supports energy systems integration, by linking electricity, heat and gas systems. Discover during our free webinar how fuel cells exactly work, their potential to build a more sustainable energy system and the concrete benefits for the end-user.
Date
Tuesday 26 May | 11:00 to 12:00
Agenda
- Welcome
- Fuel cells in buildings: many benefits and opportunities for the energy system and end-user
Hans Korteweg – COGEN Europe - Fuel cells in micro-cogeneration mode: the technology explained
Jan-Willem Tolkamp – SOLIDpower - How fuel cells in buildings can help to make the European Green Deal a reality
Alexandra Tudoroiu – COGEN Europe - Q&A
Summary of webinar
Watch the webinar again HERE!
- Stationary fuel cells (or fuel cell micro-cogeneration) are the latest clean energy solution for buildings. They efficiently convert H2 into heat and power to cover own building consumption and stabilise power grids. Today fuel cell systems use hydrogen obtained from natural gas from the grid, but can run on pure hydrogen or any other renewable or decarbonised gases as their uptake accelerates.
- As key European manufacturers are offering consumers already a wide product range, nearly 10,000 stationary fuel cells have been installed in European homes and SMEs.
- Industry and the public sector are ramping up efforts towards the mass commercialisation of stationary fuel cells. The 90 million EUR EU PACE project is part of these efforts. In addition, between 2016-2020 more than 350 million EUR was invested by industry into stationary fuel cells, more than a third of all investments in hydrogen solutions (incl. H2 production and transport applications).
- Fuel cells achieve important direct emission reductions – close to 30% compared to a condensing boiler and more as the gas used is decarbonised. In addition, fuel cells virtually eliminate local air pollution, because they are based on a chemical process and do not use combustion to generate energy. By producing dispatchable and efficient electricity at times of peak demand from electric heat pumps and EVs and low wind and sun supply, stationary fuel cells enable smart systems integration and grid flexibility. Moreover, they supply efficient electricity at or near the point of consumption, thus reducing power grid reinforcements, with estimated system benefits of approx. 3500 EUR per 1 kW unit.
- Stationary fuel cells must therefore be recognised as a key enabler of the Green Deal, with significant contributions to: 1) smart and efficient buildings (Renovation Wave); 2) the efficient and flexible integration of electricity, gas and heat (European Systems Integration Strategy); 3) ensuring the efficient electrification of heat and transport linked to buildings (Renovation Wave, Systems Integration); 4) improving the energy and resource efficiency of renewable and decarbonised gases to be increasingly distributed to buildings (Hydrogen Strategy & Systems Integration); 5) Fostering jobs, innovation and European industrial leadership (Next Generation EU, Renovation Wave)
