Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle as a Power Plant: Techno-Economic Scenario Analysis of a Renewable Integrated Transportation and Energy System for Smart Cities in Two Climates

Renewable, reliable, and affordable future power, heat, and transportation systems require efficient and versatile energy storage and distribution systems. If solar and wind electricity are the only renewable energy sources, what role can hydrogen and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) have in providing year-round 100% renewable, reliable, and affordable energy for power, heat, and transportation for smart urban areas in European climates? The designed system for smart urban areas uses hydrogen production and FCEVs through vehicle-to-grid (FCEV2G) for balancing electricity demand and supply. A techno-economic analysis was done for two technology development scenarios and two different European climates. Electricity and hydrogen supply is fully renewable and guaranteed at all times. Combining the output of thousands of grid-connected FCEVs results in large overcapacities being able to balance large deficits. Self-driving, connecting, and free-floating car-sharing fleets could facilitate vehicle scheduling. Extreme peaks in balancing never exceed more than 50% of the available FCEV2G capacity. A simple comparison shows that the cost of energy for an average household in the Mid Century scenario is affordable: 520–770 €/year (without taxes and levies), which is 65% less compared to the present fossil situation. The system levelized costs in the Mid Century scenario are 71–104 €/MWh for electricity and 2.6–3.0 €/kg for hydrogen—and we expect that further cost reductions are possible.

Download Full-text

Smart Cities and Smart Regulation

10.1093/oso/9780198822080.003.0004 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Anita Rønne

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

System Analysis ◽

New Technologies ◽

Smart Cities ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Energy System ◽

Political Agenda ◽

Smart Regulation

Increasing focus on sustainable societies and ‘smart cities’ due to emphasis on mitigation of climate change is simultaneous with ‘smart regulation’ reaching the forefront of the political agenda. Consequently, the energy sector and its regulation are undergoing significant innovation and change. Energy innovations include transition from fossil fuels to more renewable energy sources and application of new computer technology, interactively matching production with consumer demand. Smart cities are growing and projects are being initiated for development of urban areas and energy systems. Analysis from ‘Smart Cities Accelerator’, developed under the EU Interreg funding programme that includes Climate-KIC,——provides background for the focus on a smart energy system. Analysis ensures the energy supply systems support the integration of renewables with the need for new technologies and investments. ‘Smart’ is trendy, but when becoming ‘smart’ leads to motivation that is an important step towards mitigating climate change.

Download Full-text

Design Consideration Regarding a Residential Renewable-Based Microgrid with EV Charging Station Capabilities

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14165085 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (16) ◽

pp. 5085

Author(s):

Corneliu Marinescu

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Smart Cities ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Transportation Systems ◽

Public Access ◽

Design Solution ◽

Charging Infrastructure ◽

Charging Station ◽

Building Facades

Electric Vehicles (EVs) will be a key component of sustainable e-transportation systems. It is important to provide a charging infrastructure for EVs. EVs are “zero” polluting and highly efficient, but these qualities are valid only if the EV is supplied from renewable energy sources (RES). In urban areas, there is a lot of unused space such as roofs of residential and enterprise buildings, roofs of parking lots, building facades, etc. In cities, the PV and small wind turbines RES should be able to supply EVs with clean energy. Such a solution has many advantages. In an EU-financed research project, the team developed a solution for a Residential Charging Station (RCS), the design solution being implemented with the equipment available on the market. In this paper, the design considerations and some challenges raised by it are presented. Improvements of the existing equipment to better suit future needs are further discussed. The proposed solution solves the matter optimally and the implementing it will offer future Smart Cities an RCS with public access with several useful properties.

Download Full-text

Methodology for the Optimal Design of a Hybrid Charging Station of Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles Supplied by Renewable Energies and an Energy Storage System

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11205743 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (20) ◽

pp. 5743 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Higinio Sánchez-Sáinz ◽

Carlos-Andrés García-Vázquez ◽

Francisco Llorens Iborra ◽

Luis M. Fernández-Ramírez

Keyword(s):

Energy Storage ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Electric Vehicles ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Storage System ◽

Energy System ◽

Energy Storage System ◽

Design System ◽

Charging Station ◽

Electrical Generation

The global energy system is changing, mainly to achieve sustainable transport technologies and clean electrical generation based on renewable sources. Thus, as fuels, electricity and hydrogen are the most promising transport technologies in order to reduce greenhouse emissions. On the other hand, photovoltaic and wind energies, including energy storage, have become the main sources of distributed generation. This study proposes a new optimal-technical sizing method based on the Simulink Design Optimization of a stand-alone microgrid with renewable energy sources and energy storage to provide energy to a wireless power transfer system to charge electric vehicles along a motorway and to a hydrogen charging station for fuel cell-powered buses. The results show that the design system can provide energy for the charging of electric vehicles along the motorway and produce the hydrogen consumed by the fuel cell-buses plus a certain tank reserve. The flexibility of the study allows the analysis of other scenarios, design requirements, configurations or types of microgrids.

Download Full-text

Multicriteria Approach to Sustainable Transport Evaluation under Incomplete Knowledge: Electric Bikes Case Study

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11123314 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 3314 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Wojciech Sałabun ◽

Krzysztof Palczewski ◽

Jarosław Wątróbski

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Transportation Systems ◽

Assessment Model ◽

Sustainable Transport ◽

Sustainable City ◽

Interval Numbers ◽

Modern Approach ◽

Incomplete Knowledge ◽

Pollution Levels

The problem of sustainable city transport is a growing field of study, and will be addressed in this paper. With the rising significance of present transportation systems’ negative externalities on the environment, such as the unavoidable increase of air pollution levels, cities seek sustainable means of transport and reduction of combustion cars’ utilization. Moreover, improvements in the area of renewable energy sources have led to rising trends in sustainability, driving the usage and production of electric vehicles. Currently, there is an increasing tendency of looking for more sustainable transport solutions, especially in highly congested urban areas. It seems that in that case, electric bicycles can be a good option, as they yield more benefits in comparison to cars, especially combustion cars. In this paper, we identify an assessment model for the selection of the best electric bicycle for sustainable city transport by using incomplete knowledge. For this purpose, the Characteristic Objects METhod (COMET) is used. The COMET method, proven effective in the assessment of sustainable challenges, is a modern approach, utterly free of the rank reversal phenomenon. The evaluated model considers investigated multiple criteria and is independent of chosen alternatives in the criteria domain. Hence, it can be easily modified and extended for diverse sets of decisional variants. Moreover, the presented approach allows assessing alternatives under conditions of incomplete knowledge, where some data are presented as possible interval numbers.

Download Full-text

The contribution of distributed flexibility potentials to corrective transmission system operation for strongly renewable energy systems

10.36227/techrxiv.12739217.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Till Kolster ◽

Rainer Krebs ◽

Stefan Niessen ◽

Mathias Duckheim

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Distribution Systems ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Energy Systems ◽

Energy System ◽

Transmission System ◽

System Operation ◽

Renewable Energy Systems ◽

Flexibility Options ◽

Distribution Grids

<div>Corrective transmission system operation can help integrate more renewable energy sources and save redispatch costs by providing a higher utilization of the power grid.</div><div>However, reliable and fast provision of flexibility are key to achieve corrective operation. <br></div><div>This work develops a new method to determine if flexibility from distribution grids is available on transmission corridors when needed. An analysis of the German energy system in the year 2030 is performed to estimate the potential of different flexibility options and shows the potential flexibility distribution systems can contribute to a corrective transmission system operation.<br> </div>

Download Full-text

ENHANCING WIND/FUEL CELL HYBRID ENERGY SYSTEM

International Journal of Power System Operation and Energy Management ◽

10.47893/ijpsoem.2013.1084 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 176-180

Author(s):

PAVAN R. PADGHAN ◽

P.K. KATTI

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Wind Turbine ◽

Cell Hybrid ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Energy System ◽

Sustained Load ◽

Hybrid Energy System ◽

Hybrid Energy ◽

Fuel Cell Hybrid

This paper describe of a renewable energy based hybrid energy system with MATLAB implementation results. In order to meet sustained load demand during varying natural conditions, different renewable energy sources need to be integrated with each other. This paper focuses on the combination of wind/fuel cell hybrid energy system. As wind turbine output power varies with wind speed & FC systems can be integrated to ensure that the system performs under all conditions. The result show that the proposed hybrid energy system can be tolerate the rapid change in natural condition and suppress the effect of the fluctuation on the voltage wind turbine the acceptable range.

Download Full-text

Performance Analysis of a Hybrid Micro-Energy System for SA Data Centers

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/20186401003 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 64 ◽

pp. 01003

Author(s):

Thom Leholo Sempe ◽

Adewale Owolawi Pius ◽

Timothy Akindeji Kayode

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Data Centers ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Storage System ◽

Energy System ◽

Total Power ◽

Data Traffic ◽

Actual Performance ◽

Hybrid Renewable Energy System

The integration of hybridized renewable energy sources (RES) with AC/DC converters has become the focus of the 21st century for green Information Communication Technology (ICT) applications such as the data center. As the data traffic grows exponentially, the corresponding demand for energy to drive the growth becomes a great challenge and considering the environmental impact, a hybrid renewable energy system is favored for eco-sustainability and economic reasons. This is especially true for data centers which represent a dominant share of the total power in cellular networks. This paper evaluates the actual performance of a fuel cell in a renewable energy hybrid system considering the hybridization of photovoltaic (PV), Wind, Fuel Cell, and battery storage system with a choice of a half-grid mode. The reduction and the absence of available PV power by shading and rainy conditions will be easily reduced by the compensation of the other renewable sources. The modeling and simulations are performed using HOMER software. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed system as the energy supply is less intermittent and more stable.

Download Full-text

Analysis of Sustainable Transport for Smart Cities

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11072140 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 2140 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Dastan Bamwesigye ◽

Petra Hlavackova

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Smart Cities ◽

Well Being ◽

Transportation Systems ◽

Transport Systems ◽

Sustainable Transport ◽

Urban Centers ◽

Modern Cities ◽

Wide Range

For decades, transportation has been considered as a link to all aspects of life worldwide. In this case, the world’s natural environment, social well-being and economic development all usually depend on transportation systems. In most cases, safe, clean, sustainable and equitable transport systems help countries, especially in cities and urban centers, to thrive. However, a wide range of research shows that transportation systems in most of the cities and urban areas are unsustainable. In fact, some of these transportation systems are considered to be a threat to the environmental, social and economical aspects of future generations. In this perspective, therefore, changing such trends in transportation requires the collaboration of various stakeholders at regional, national and international levels. In this paper, therefore, a wide range of definitions of sustainable transport are discussed. More so, some of the aspects of smart transport for modern cities such as cycling and the role of women in sustainable transport were explored. With the aim of getting to the core of the subject, cases of women in bicycle transport, especially in the Netherlands and Germany compared to Kenya and Uganda are equally elucidated. Although not fully outlined, the idea of smart cities and sustainable transport have heterogeneous characteristics globally as discussed herein.

Download Full-text

Design and Sensitivity Analysis of Hybrid Photovoltaic-Fuel-Cell-Battery System to Supply a Small Community at Saudi NEOM City

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12083341 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (8) ◽

pp. 3341 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hegazy Rezk ◽

N. Kanagaraj ◽

Mujahed Al-Dhaifallah

Keyword(s):

Sensitivity Analysis ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Energy System ◽

Excess Energy ◽

Small Community ◽

Hybrid Energy ◽

Pv Array ◽

Load Demand ◽

Cost Of Energy ◽

Declination Angle

This research paper aimed to design and present a sensitivity analysis of a hybrid photovoltaic-fuel-cell-battery (PV/FC/B) system to supply a small community for the recently planned grand city NEOM in Saudi Arabia. The location of the city of NEOM is characterized by a high average level of solar irradiance. The average daily horizontal solar radiation is around 5.85 kWh/m2. A detailed feasibility and techno-economic evaluation of a PV/FC/B hybrid energy system were done to supply a daily load demand of 500 kWh (peak-35 kW). The PV array was the main source to meet the load demand. During the surplus periods, the battery was charged using extra energy and powered the electrolyzer for hydrogen production. The produced hydrogen was stored for later use. During the deficit periods, the FC and/or battery supported the PV array to meet the load demand. Two benchmarks, the cost of energy (COE) and net present cost (NPC), were used to identify the best size of the PV/FC/B system. Variation of the tilt angle of the PV array and the derating factor were considered to determine the effect of the performance of the PV/FC/B system’s COE and NPC. The main findings confirmed that a 200 kW PV array, 40 kW FC, 96 batteries, 50 kW converter, 110 kW electrolyzer, and 50 kg hydrogen tank was the best option to supply the load demand. The values of total NPC and COE were $500,823 and $0.126/kWh. The annual excess energy was very sensitive to the declination angle of the PV array. The minimum annual excess energy was achieved at an angle of 30 degrees. It decreased by 75.7% and by 60.6% compared to a horizontal surface and 50 degrees of declination, respectively. To prove the viability of the proposed system, a comparison with grid extension along with a diesel generation system was carried out.

Download Full-text

Solid Oxide Fuel Based Auxiliary Power Unit for Regional Jets: Design and Mission Simulation With Different Cell Geometries

Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology ◽

10.1115/1.3176282 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

M. Santarelli ◽

M. Cabrera ◽

M. Calì

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Energy System ◽

High Energy ◽

Low Noise ◽

Solid Oxide ◽

High Energy Density ◽

Oxide Fuel ◽

Balance Of Plant ◽

Compressor Power

Although it accounts for only 4.2% of the total global warming potential, the concern today is that aviation generated CO2 is projected to grow to approximately 5.7% by 2050. Aviation emissions are growing faster than any other sector and they risk undermining the progress achieved through emission cuts in other areas of the economy. Rapidly emerging hydrogen and fuel-cell-based technologies could be developed for future replacement of on-board electrical systems in “more-electric” or “all-electric” aircrafts. Primary advantages of deploying these technologies are low emissions and low noise (important features for commuter airplanes, which takeoff and land in urban areas). Solid oxide fuel-cell (SOFC) systems could result advantageous for some aeronautical applications due to their capability of accepting hydrocarbons and high energy-density fuels. Moreover they are suitable for operating in combined-heat-and-power configurations, recovering heat from the high-temperature exhaust gases, which could be used to supply thermal loads therefore reducing the electric power requested by the aircraft. ENFICA-FC is a project selected by the European Commission in the Aeronautics and Space priority of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) and led by Politecnico di Torino, in Turin, Italy. One of the objectives of the project is to carry out a feasibility study on a more-electric intercity aircraft (regional jet: 32 seats). After the characterization of the power consumption of electrical and nonelectrical loads, and the definition of a mission profile, the design of the SOFC-based energy system as well as the simulation of a complete mission is performed hypothesizing different system configurations. The simulation concerns both the stack (current and current density, cell and stack voltage, etc.) and the balance-of-plant (air compressor power, gross stack power, system efficiency, etc.). The obtained results are analyzed and discussed.

Download Full-text