A remote site has to live with the resources it can reach. That includes its energy supply, but also the road, boat or service visit needed to keep equipment operating. A solution that looks straightforward on a workshop floor can become difficult to support when replenishment takes a long journey.

Hydrogen offers a promising option for places with local renewable electricity and a clear use for the gas. For HydroCharge, this is a possible application of our modular development work, with several quite different routes to explore.

A field operation that needs hydrogen

Start with equipment that already consumes hydrogen. A temporary operation using hydrogen-powered equipment may need a supply at a location where regular cylinder deliveries are inconvenient. Local production could allow replenishment at the operating base, provided the site has the electricity, water and other resources required. Here, the objective is quite specific: supply the equipment with usable hydrogen.

The refueling interface, gas quality and amount needed between activities would shape the installation. The operating pattern matters too. If equipment returns to base at predictable times, there may be scope to produce and store hydrogen ahead of the next use. If the timetable changes frequently, the reserve and replenishment capacity need to accommodate that uncertainty.

An island with surplus renewable electricity

A different situation arises where a site wants to keep energy from a windy or sunny period for later. Electrolysis can convert electricity into hydrogen, which can be stored. A fuel cell can subsequently use that hydrogen to generate electricity. The US Department of Energy includes this pathway in its work on energy storage and distributed power generation.

That makes hydrogen production part of a larger energy system. The site would need the fuel cell and electrical equipment as well as the hydrogen production and storage components. Control has to coordinate them around the loads that need power.

Where our modules could contribute

HydroCharge is moving toward separate production, compression, storage and refueling modules. For a remote application, this offers a basis for choosing the relevant functions around the site’s needs. A direct hydrogen user and a site seeking electricity storage would require different integration work.

We are interested in exploring these opportunities with potential users. A useful starting point is the site’s actual demand profile, the resources available and the deliveries it currently depends on. With that information, we can assess how a HydroCharge configuration could support a more independent local hydrogen supply.

US Department of Energy — Systems Development and Integration Energy Storage and Power Generation