“The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Industries in Ohio are on the verge of considerable success. One piece of the puzzle that will help push us over the top is a united voice for the fuel cell and hydrogen industries. The FCHEA provides Ohio, the rest of the country—and the Industry-- with that voice through advocacy, support and a united front.”
“Now, more than ever, the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industries need to speak in one powerful voice. FCHEA's efforts have been exceptional in creating a compelling platform to advance industry initiatives on Capitol Hill and within the States”
PhD, Executive Director,
South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance
“By providing clean, efficient and continuous base-load energy for buildings and enabling zero-emission transportation, fuel cells have become a proven and crucial component of the clean energy network. We are extremely grateful for the important work FCHEA is doing to raise the profile of these game-changing energy technologies for the marketplace, policy makers, key decision-makers and the general public.”
Vice President,Government Affairs, and General Counsel,
"FCHEA's efforts are providing great help in moving Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles to a new level of market acceptance in a way one individual automaker could not."
"FCHEA brings a strong, united voice about fuel cells and hydrogen to a national audience. We look forward to working closely with FCHEA staff and members to advance the commercialization of fuel cells in the United States."
California Fuel Cell Partnership
"FCHEA is an important conduit for informing and educating government leaders and the public about the impact hydrogen is making today as well as significant technology advances, and hydrogen’s role in solving the clean energy issue for all future generations."
Global Business Director,
Hydrogen Energy Systems at Air Products
“Plug Power greatly appreciates the importance of FCHEA in advancing hydrogen fuel cell solutions in commercial applications. It is the visionary collaboration of the partnership that provides a strong foundation for today’s advanced technology to prove out value, viability and reliability in key markets. Industry pioneers, like FCHEA, will ensure a path to a future that includes hydrogen and fuel cells as core to the clean energy network”
"Solar and wind are good technologies, but they do not address the total customer need for continuous power as fuel cells and hydrogen energy do . Many customers require a more dependable base-load, energy efficient solution that works around the clock, and in a smaller footprint. ClearEdge Power fuel cells provide exactly that solution, and the FCHEA helps us to inform and educate customers and policymakers about the many benefits of fuel cells and hydrogen energy."
President & CEO
Hydrogen produced through renewable energy sources is an emissions-free way to carry clean energy. Hydrogen is most commonly generated from renewables with a device called an electrolyzer, which uses electricity to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. By converting renewable electricity into hydrogen, the intermittent power of wind and sunlight can be stored for long periods and used in a fuel cell for power at any time, day or night. Electrolysis can also leverage the surplus generation from renewables that would otherwise be wasted. Currently, wind turbines are shut down on windy days when electricity generation outpaces demand. By simply installing electrolyzers, that surplus power could be put to use generating hydrogen.
Landfills, wastewater treatment plants, and food processing facilities are some of the other places fuel cells can produce renewable power. All of these facilities handle organic waste, which can be processed using microorganisms like bacteria in an anaerobic digester to create biogas. Biogas is a mix of mostly methane and carbon dioxide. Many waste treatment plants simply burn off this biogas. However, biogas can be cleaned up with a reformer and used to power fuel cells. This trash-to-energy conversion is free, renewable, and already happening around the country.
How Renewable Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Integrate with the Grid
Solar Hydrogen Stations
Imagine a gas station that created gas from water and sunlight. Some hydrogen stations already do this today. By linking solar panels to an electrolyzer, power from the sun splits water into pure hydrogen and oxygen. At stations like this, you can fill a fuel cell car with renewable hydrogen and drive hundreds of miles with no emissions.
The ancient art of brewing produces a steady stream of organic waste. Passing this waste through anaerobic digesters yields biogas. Breweries can use this biogas to power fuel cells, producing electricity and heatwhich can be used in the brewing process. This waste-to-energy concept makes many breweries nearly energy independent.
Airplanes That Never Land
As part of a project with the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Boeing is creating an aircraft that can fly continuously on sunlight alone. The planes wide wings are covered in solar panels. But how does it fly by night? A solid-oxide fuel cell from Versa Power Systems powers the plane’s electric engine at night using fuel produced from excess solar generation during the day.