Case Story: Advent 5kW Fuel cells – a green response to monsoon challenges

Sustainable solution with increased run-time, and optional Scalability

This example is installed by our partner in Thailand, ALCC as an off-grid hybrid solution on a mountain top and archipelago national park. The hybrid consists of fuel cells and solar panels where the system operates at night after the sun sets, cools down when the sun rises, and re-starts charging on the solar batteries. During the 6-8 weeks monsoon season, the fuel cells generate power more than 24 or 48 hours continuous. In this given example, 4 x 1000 l IBC tanks, provides around 900 hours of fuel-cell run-time, and 4,400 kWh.

Advent Technologies A/S’  fuel cell system is addressing base stations and communication infrastructure, generating up to 15 kW power with 1-3 fuel cell units.

According to the directors of ALCC, “The system is a user-friendly system with an enclosure that makes it easy to install – with readiness for increase of power generation and run-time demands. The 10kW system can generate continuous power for more than 24 hours. When applying the external fuel tank option, independent run-time can be extended significantly”.

The robust design, remote monitoring, and self-maintenance safeguards the system’s stability and fuel quality. Moreover, the system keeps noise and emission at a minimum.

It meets high safety standards and is climate resilient, suitable for harsh and humid weather conditions, the cabinet favors remote and off-grid application as well as back-up for grid applications and thereby, making up an excellent power source for inherited areas and roof-top installations – with an indoor installation option.

It is a truly self-sustainable power system, that is also well suited for distributed power supply low emission microgrid and hybrid solutions supporting telecom base stations.

Success Criteria:

  • Hybrid constellation
  • Supplementary power all year; in moonsoon period: continous power
  • Increased run-time
  • Sites with low impact on surrounding environment: zero emission, no vibrations
  • Compact systems with low maintenance
  • Scalable systems

Fuel cells in hybrid solutions, could potentially improve economies, climate and life quality locally for billions of people who traditionally have been forced to deal with consequences of heavily running fossil generators for a significant part of the year.

Monsoon Impacts:

The challenge and how to respond

Future change in summertime rainfall under a warmer climate will increasingly impact the lives of more than two-thirds of the world’s population (Future changes in monsoon duration and precipitation using CMIP6, Suyeon Moon & Kyung-Ja Ha, Climate & Atmospheric Science, 2020). With Monsoon seasons from Southeast Asia, Central Africa to Southern regions of US and Northern part of Latin America, green solutions can positively impact the lives of billions of people locally in the implicated regions.

Effect of Climate:

Since many countries heavily depend on regular precipitation for adequate crop production and electricity, a shifted monsoon can devastate the economies, as much as a change in frequency and force with which they occur. Having adapted to certain growing seasons that coincide with the cycling of monsoons, the yield from crops can become greatly diminished and inadequate to feed the country, as well as export.

Pollution:

It has been found that pollution slow this dry and wet monsoon circulation and prevent rainfall in the summer. With pollution and fossil fuels linked to climate change, the countries whose economies rely on heavy industry shoot themselves in the foot, as they are often the countries that also rely on regular monsoon seasons.

Macro Economics:

Fuel cells in hybrid solution, could potentially improve economies, climate and life quality locally for billions of people who traditionally have been forced to deal with consequences of heavily running fossil generators for a significant part of the year.

Fit for the green transition?

Download our guide: “Fit for the green transition?” to map your company’s opportunities transitioning to clean power by Advent Technologies A/S.

The guide is intended to help you consider and initiate the transition to clean and renewable energy and presenting by Advent a viable catalyst; methanol-based fuel cells for your future, alternative energy practice.

Fit for the Green Transit