Fuel cells: technology of the future?

AuthorJones, Patricia

Alaska's rural communities and remote development projects provide ample opportunity for future commercial use of an emerging new energy resource--fuel cells.

Leading the fuel cell research effort within the Last Frontier is the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which has been involved with five different projects in recent years.

In 2003, UAF researchers at the Institute of Northern Engineering teamed up with industry partners and the U.S. Department of Energy to start two new fuel cell projects that hold promise for providing future reliable, affordable energy for remote areas of Alaska.

A 5-kilowatt, solid-oxide fuel cell, fueled by natural gas, was delivered to Fairbanks in late July and began generating electricity and auxiliary heat two days later.

In late October, a 1-kilowatt proton-exchange membrane fuel cell, fueled by methanol, was delivered to UAF and has been going through a series of laboratory tests.

Both research projects received partial funding from the DOE, through its Arctic Energy Office in Fairbanks, a branch of the National Energy Technology Laboratory. Total federal funds for the first year of fuel cell research work is nearly $500,000.

That amount reflects interest and enthusiasm for the new technology within an industry advisory panel making funding recommendations for energy research projects, according to Brent Sheets, the Arctic Energy office representative for NETL.

"The university has a history of fuel cell technology demonstration projects, and is well regarded in the industry. I assume the university's prior experience with this technology impressed the panel and they could see how the current projects add to the body of knowledge about this technology," Sheets said. "The Alaska power industry seems open to exploring alternatives to existing diesel technologies ... the hope for fuel cells is that some day they will be cost competitive because fuel cells are quieter than diesel generators and are relatively pollution-free."

SOLID-OXIDE FUEL CELL BURNS NATURAL GAS

Unique in its small size, a 5 kilowatt solid-oxide fuel cell, fueled by natural gas, was installed July 30 at the administrative offices and warehouse of Fairbanks Natural Gas. The unit has been operating continuously since, a pleasant surprise for the research team.

"It's performing beautifully," said Dennis Witmer, UAF's director of the Arctic Energy Technology Development Laboratory, which is overseeing the fuel cell projects.

Incorporating a fuel...

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