Energy crises forces fuel cells to the fore
Scotland Regional Group: Fuel cells mini symposium, 1 February 2006, St Andrews University, UK
| Energy demand will increase by over 50% by 2025 |
The last of the four-part Scotland Regional Group fuel cell programme was held at St Andrews University chemistry department on 1 February 2006. The meeting discussed progress in fuel cell technology which depends essentially on improving the catalytic capabilities of the cell itself. This is where universities are playing the lead role which will be followed by commercial developments.
Donald Macphee of Aberdeen University described his fuel cell technology as an antipollution scavaging process. The title of his lecture was ‘Fuel cells configured for environmental applications’ and he described the use of a fuel cell designed on methanol as its fuel source so that it could be adapted to use other fuel sources such as naphthalene, E.coli, ichlorophenol, pentachlorophenol and atrazine, all of which are pollutants commonly found in the environment. The process also removes humic acid, the brown colour found in domestic Scottish water supplies after heavy rains. Estrogens are also a problem in recyclable water supplies and this technique should also offer a solution for their removal.
Eileen Cape, deputising for Stephen Pyke of Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems, described the ‘Commercialisation of fuel cell system technology’. The premise for alternative energy sources is based fundamentally on our planet’s requirement for energy. In 2001, 1.18x1014 kWh was required to satisfy demand. By 2025 it has been estimated that 1.83x1014 kWh will be needed. This represents a 54% increase with China and India requiring some 40% of this gain. Currently, fossil fuels supply much of this primary energy but after 2015 it is predicted that there will be a decline in conventional oil and in total hydrocarbon availability. It is therefore imperative that greater efficiency in fuel use is achieved.
This is possible. A comparison of fuel cell technology with conventional fossil fuel technology indicates that the fuel cell converts fuel directly to electrical energy while conventional technologies convert fuel to electrical energy via intermediate thermal and mechanical stages. This allows fuel cells to be significantly more efficient in the conversion of fossil fuels to electrical energy with an associated reduction in carbon dioxide emissions per unit of energy. Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems is developing a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system for commercialisation as a stationary power source. The system would operate at temperatures in the region of 900°C with an efficiency of 50-65%. One major advantage of SOFC technology is that it can use a range of fuel systems. The mainly academic audience appreciated the commercial context of the lectures.
By John Lewis,
Vice Chairman,
Scotland Regional Group
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