Hydrogen fuel is in high demand around the world, its usage has tripled in the last 45 years. By 2050 it is estimated that hydrogen could supply nearly a quarter of the world’s energy demand. The future of hydrogen is of high importance for world governments, especially in Europe, where an estimated €470 billion will be invested in hydrogen by 2050, and as much as €18 billion into fossil-based, low-carbon hydrogen. There is currently a lot of demand for zero-emission hydrogen-based technology that is not being met due to lack of adequate technology available to fulfil it. The same is true in the residential sector where the demand is also on the rise. A company called Alkaline Fuel Cell Power aims to meet these demands by offering hydrogen fuel cells designed specifically to meet the requirements and price range of residential buyers.
Hydrogen fuel cells are absolutely clean in their operation, they do not use combustion, making them free of harmful emissions, noise, and vibration. Hydrogen fuel cells work by taking in hydrogen and providing electricity and heat with only a small amount of water as by-product. This zero-emission operation is great for the environment, because hydrogen is the optimal option for storing green energy. The fuel cells Alkaline Fuel Cell Power is developing specifically use alkaline fuel cell technology and can provide an affordable, greener alternative to electricity, the prices of which have been rising continuously in the US and other parts of the world. Hydrogen fuel cells can be used instead of a connection to the electrical grid or can be used together with one to offset peak costs.
Alkaline Fuel Cell Power is in the process of developing and prototyping their first 4kW system and aim to have it ready for sale in 2024. What makes Alkaline Fuel Cell Power different from their competitors is that their design utilizes competitively priced components, making high volume of production possible. Current similar energy storage technology solutions are too expensive for adoption in residential markets, but the design of Alkaline Fuel Cell Power micro-CHPs has lower material costs than what is currently available, thus making it more viable for consumers.
