The energy sector is investing heavily in new technologies to modernize the power grid. As the population grows and energy demand increases, building grid resilience is a top priority for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and other key stakeholders.
One new technology becoming more prevalent in the energy space is hydrogen fuel cells. They have numerous applications in several industries, such as electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing, building management and long-term power storage.
Fuel cells will also become more prevalent in the construction industry, a sector ripe for innovation.
Hydrogen Fuel: The Fuel of the Future
According to the DOE, fuel cells use chemical energy from hydrogen to produce electricity. The only products of hydrogen fuel cells are water, electricity and heat.Â
Compared to traditional energy sources, fuel cells are much cleaner, more efficient and do not contribute any carbon emissions. Hydrogen fuel is considered the most environmentally friendly option on the planet.
New Innovations: Hydrogen Fuel Cell Generators
Hydrogen fuel cells are becoming more widely used. One increasingly popular application is in electrical generators. Various industries require them as backup power sources, meaning hydrogen fuel cell generators could play a more significant role in modernizing the nation’s energy infrastructure.
Below are some companies using hydrogen fuel cell generators to power the construction industry.
Siemens Energy and GeoPura
Hydrogen fuel cell generators are being used in a major infrastructure project in the U.K. This type of generator allows construction companies to stop using diesel versions, which harm the environment and public health. Siemens Energy and partner GeoPura installed the hydrogen fuel cell in 2020, and it’s now stored in an on-site shipping container.
Generac Power Systems
Wisconsin-based company Generac Power Systems introduced a hydrogen fuel cell generator capable of producing 88 kW for commercial and industrial applications.Â
Typically, small generators can handle up to 30 kW, while any other application in construction or engineering would require more than 30 kW. The generator by Generac was once used to light up the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
EODev
EODev, a French startup, is another company that released its own version of a hydrogen fuel cell generator. It suggests the generator is useful in isolated areas, such as remote construction sites, sensitive environments, protected regions and emergency applications.Â
Why Are Hydrogen Fuel Cell Generators Used for Construction?
The construction industry is critical to the nation’s economy and infrastructure. However, it’s also widely known that the sector contributes significantly to the level of carbon emissions entering the atmosphere, which warms the planet and causes climate change.
Hydrogen fuel cell generators allow construction firms to lower their carbon footprint, making the industry much more efficient and sustainable long term. The United Nations is calling on the construction sector to reduce or reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. These generators are a small piece of the bigger decarbonization puzzle.
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Expect More Clean Energy Systems in Construction
Every industry is looking for sustainable solutions to integrate into their operations. This significant transition to clean energy will not happen overnight but incrementally. It’ll be interesting to see hydrogen fuel cells become ubiquitous and how they transform construction for the better.
Jane Marsh, Contributor
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Fuel Cells Works, its directors, partners, staff, contributors, or suppliers. Any content provided by our contributors or authors are of their own opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.
