Neah Power Systems is developing silicon-based fuel cell technology using a porous silicon substrate and liquid electrolyte. This approach offers advantages over traditional fuel cells like higher scalability, predictable performance, and potential for high-volume manufacturing. Neah Power's fuel cells could be used in both stationary and portable energy storage applications from watts to kilowatts. The company is working on a hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell that could be coupled with renewable energy sources and electrolyzers for hybrid energy solutions.
GRAPHENE WILL BECOME THE GAME CHANGER - it is a thinnest and strongest material ever tested and high efficient capacity to overcome in all fields especially in biomedical and energy storage applications.
Design and Modeling of Grid Connected Hybrid Renewable Energy Power GenerationIJERA Editor
This paper proposes a design and modeling of grid connected hybrid renewable energy power generation. The
energy system having a photo voltaic (PV) panel, Srg wind turbine and fuel cell (sofc) for continuous power
flow management. Fuel cells (storage & generating) are added to ensure uninterrupted power supply due to the
discontinuous nature of solar and wind resources. Renewable energy generated during times of plenty can be
stored for use during periods when sufficient electricity is not available. But storing this energy is a difficult
task: batteries and similar technologies perform well over short timescales, but over periods of weeks or months
a different approach is necessary. Energy storage in the form of hydrogen is one such possibility: excess
electricity is fed into an electrolyser to split water into its constituent parts, oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen
is then used in fuel cells to produce electricity when needed which will overcome the problem of storage. This
work is mainly concentrated on the design, analysis and modelling of Fuel cells and Analysis and modelling of
Switched Reluctance Generator (SRG) in the application of Wind Energy Generation and pv cell. Also an
effective approach is proposed in this thesis to ensure renewable energy diversity and effective utilization. The
pv cell, wind and fuel cell renewable energy system is digitally simulated using the MATLAB/SIMULINK
software environment and fully validated for efficient energy utilizations and enhanced interface power quality
under different operating conditions and load excursions
This report discusses new advances in technologies like regenerative breaking, mass production that reduces cost, battery management system, and higher battery life and battery efficiency are the few of the techies that made electric cars a within the reach of the common man.
International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) is an open access online peer reviewed international journal that publishes research and review articles in the fields of Computer Science, Neural Networks, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Plastic Engineering, Food Technology, Textile Engineering, Nano Technology & science, Power Electronics, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Computational mathematics, Image processing, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Environmental Engineering, VLSI Testing & Low Power VLSI Design etc.
GRAPHENE WILL BECOME THE GAME CHANGER - it is a thinnest and strongest material ever tested and high efficient capacity to overcome in all fields especially in biomedical and energy storage applications.
Design and Modeling of Grid Connected Hybrid Renewable Energy Power GenerationIJERA Editor
This paper proposes a design and modeling of grid connected hybrid renewable energy power generation. The
energy system having a photo voltaic (PV) panel, Srg wind turbine and fuel cell (sofc) for continuous power
flow management. Fuel cells (storage & generating) are added to ensure uninterrupted power supply due to the
discontinuous nature of solar and wind resources. Renewable energy generated during times of plenty can be
stored for use during periods when sufficient electricity is not available. But storing this energy is a difficult
task: batteries and similar technologies perform well over short timescales, but over periods of weeks or months
a different approach is necessary. Energy storage in the form of hydrogen is one such possibility: excess
electricity is fed into an electrolyser to split water into its constituent parts, oxygen and hydrogen. The hydrogen
is then used in fuel cells to produce electricity when needed which will overcome the problem of storage. This
work is mainly concentrated on the design, analysis and modelling of Fuel cells and Analysis and modelling of
Switched Reluctance Generator (SRG) in the application of Wind Energy Generation and pv cell. Also an
effective approach is proposed in this thesis to ensure renewable energy diversity and effective utilization. The
pv cell, wind and fuel cell renewable energy system is digitally simulated using the MATLAB/SIMULINK
software environment and fully validated for efficient energy utilizations and enhanced interface power quality
under different operating conditions and load excursions
This report discusses new advances in technologies like regenerative breaking, mass production that reduces cost, battery management system, and higher battery life and battery efficiency are the few of the techies that made electric cars a within the reach of the common man.
International Journal of Engineering Research and Applications (IJERA) is an open access online peer reviewed international journal that publishes research and review articles in the fields of Computer Science, Neural Networks, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Plastic Engineering, Food Technology, Textile Engineering, Nano Technology & science, Power Electronics, Electronics & Communication Engineering, Computational mathematics, Image processing, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Environmental Engineering, VLSI Testing & Low Power VLSI Design etc.
This presentation outlines the different storage technology options available to cope up with the intermittent nature of the Renewable energy like wind and solar.
Comparative analysis of electrochemical energy storage technologies for smart...TELKOMNIKA JOURNAL
This paper presents a comparative analysis of different forms of electrochemical energy storage technologies for use in the smart grid. This paper addresses various energy storage techniques that are used in the renewable energy sources connected to the smart grid. Energy storage technologies will most likely improve the penetrations of renewable energy on the electricity network. Consequently, energy storage systems could be the key to finally replacing the need for fossil fuel with renewable energy. It is hard to evaluate the different types of energy storage techniques between themselves due to the fact that each technology could be used in a different way and are more like compliments. Subsequently, for the purposes of this paper, it is seen that the use of energy storage technologies will increase the supply, and balances out the demand for energy.
This document is about the Importance of Energy Storage, how to the energy can be stored and the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of Energy storage elements
Overview of Energy storage Technologies, Why we need to use Energy storage system, Case studies , The future of Energy storage systems and Development of Energy Storage systems, Brief discription of each system mentioning its advantages and disadvantages.
Integration Planning and Operation Scheduling of Distribution Generation for ...IJERA Editor
Use of distributed renewable energy sources for domestic energy consumption will increase in near future due to
its advantages as being clean and infinite energy generation possibility. This trend allows more efficient energy
consumption because of reducing distribution losses and dependence of domestic appliances to grid distribution.
Electrical energy is an essential ingredient for the development of a nation. In this paper, it is proposed grid
connected solar PV without and with battery at domestic level to minimize the load on live grid during peak
time, excess power export to the grid when the PV generation is more compared to connected load and increase
the participation of renewable energy sources in our daily energy consumption. The decision support program
enables the consumer to implement the most efficient electricity management strategy while achieving the goal
of minimizing the electricity bill and to supply the quality power. The cost of investment and payback periods
are computed for PV system using cost benefit analysis
Presentation by Bushveld Energy at the African Solar Energy Forum in Accra, Ghana on 16 October 2019. The presentation covers four topics:
1) Overview of energy storage uses and technologies, including their current states of maturity;
2) Benefits to combining solar PV with storage, especially battery energy storage systems (BESS)
3) Examples from Bushveld’s experience in combining BESS with PV for commercial and industrial customers;
4) Introduction to Bushveld and its approach to BESS projects.
This presentation outlines the different storage technology options available to cope up with the intermittent nature of the Renewable energy like wind and solar.
Comparative analysis of electrochemical energy storage technologies for smart...TELKOMNIKA JOURNAL
This paper presents a comparative analysis of different forms of electrochemical energy storage technologies for use in the smart grid. This paper addresses various energy storage techniques that are used in the renewable energy sources connected to the smart grid. Energy storage technologies will most likely improve the penetrations of renewable energy on the electricity network. Consequently, energy storage systems could be the key to finally replacing the need for fossil fuel with renewable energy. It is hard to evaluate the different types of energy storage techniques between themselves due to the fact that each technology could be used in a different way and are more like compliments. Subsequently, for the purposes of this paper, it is seen that the use of energy storage technologies will increase the supply, and balances out the demand for energy.
This document is about the Importance of Energy Storage, how to the energy can be stored and the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of Energy storage elements
Overview of Energy storage Technologies, Why we need to use Energy storage system, Case studies , The future of Energy storage systems and Development of Energy Storage systems, Brief discription of each system mentioning its advantages and disadvantages.
Integration Planning and Operation Scheduling of Distribution Generation for ...IJERA Editor
Use of distributed renewable energy sources for domestic energy consumption will increase in near future due to
its advantages as being clean and infinite energy generation possibility. This trend allows more efficient energy
consumption because of reducing distribution losses and dependence of domestic appliances to grid distribution.
Electrical energy is an essential ingredient for the development of a nation. In this paper, it is proposed grid
connected solar PV without and with battery at domestic level to minimize the load on live grid during peak
time, excess power export to the grid when the PV generation is more compared to connected load and increase
the participation of renewable energy sources in our daily energy consumption. The decision support program
enables the consumer to implement the most efficient electricity management strategy while achieving the goal
of minimizing the electricity bill and to supply the quality power. The cost of investment and payback periods
are computed for PV system using cost benefit analysis
Presentation by Bushveld Energy at the African Solar Energy Forum in Accra, Ghana on 16 October 2019. The presentation covers four topics:
1) Overview of energy storage uses and technologies, including their current states of maturity;
2) Benefits to combining solar PV with storage, especially battery energy storage systems (BESS)
3) Examples from Bushveld’s experience in combining BESS with PV for commercial and industrial customers;
4) Introduction to Bushveld and its approach to BESS projects.
Renewable Energy Sources are generally utilized in power generation nowadays. Energy storage is a governing factor. It can decrease power variation, improve the framework adaptability, empowers the capacity and dispatching of power produced by renewable energy sources, for example wind, solar etc. Distinctive storage methodologies like Compressed Air Energy Storage System CAES , Voltage Regulation Battery energy storage system are utilized in electric power framework. Energy storage is included in a storage medium, a power transformation framework and an equalization of plant. Electrical energy storage can possibly raise the circumstances by empowering the renewable energy to store in place of curtail and can be utilized in future. Karishma Kumari | Kumar Hrishab | Dr. Amit Srivastava ""Renewable Energy Storage"" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-3 | Issue-3 , April 2019, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd22924.pdf
Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/engineering/electrical-engineering/22924/renewable-energy-storage/karishma-kumari
As the penetration of renewable generation increased, it
had become obvious that the variability of these sources
and the fact that renewables are not always available when
the power is needed, were becoming a problem. As a
consequence, fossil-based operating reserves are required to
augment renewable generation to ensure reliability. Energy
storage can provide a superior solution to the variability
problem when compared to fossil-based generation, while
also improving the availability of renewables to provide
electricity upon demand. Energy storage is a flexible
resource for grid operators that can deliver a range of
grid services quickly and efficiently. The rapid growth of
policy mandates and incentives for renewable generation
and, more recently, for energy storage, the need for
modernization of the grid infrastructure, and the desire to
decarbonize the economy, are the principal drivers behind
the renewed interest in energy storage.
Unlocking the Power of Energy Storage Capacity A Comprehensive Exploration.pptxGRAVIENT™
In the quest for sustainable energy solutions, the spotlight has increasingly turned towards energy storage capacity as a linchpin in the transition towards a cleaner, more efficient energy landscape. Energy storage capacity refers to the ability to capture, store, and subsequently deploy energy as needed, thereby mitigating the intermittency of renewable energy sources and enhancing grid stability.
My presentation at 7th International Renewable Energy Conference Eilat-Eilot Israel, November 2016 of course there are many comments and explanations to add to each slide in this presentation like $450 in savings per household See also Clarifications for
Peer to Peer Networks in “Smart Cities” Includes recent report from Australia
Unveiling the Backbone of Sustainable Energy The Rise of Energy Storage Facil...GRAVIENT™
Enter energy storage facilities, the unsung heroes of the energy transition. These facilities play a pivotal role in bridging the gap between energy production and consumption, ensuring reliability, stability, and resilience in our power grids.
Smart Cities presentation at the Renewable Energy Conference at Eilat EilotHaim R. Branisteanu
My presentation of "Smart Cities" storage at Eilat- Eilot Renewable Energy Conference, of course there are many comments and explanations to add to each slide in this presentation, including recent LCOE report form Australia (see also Clarifications for Peer to Peer Networks in “Smart Cities” document.)
A Review on Power Flexibility, Generation and Distribution Systemijtsrd
Distributed power generation is the latest field because of the ability to accommodate various types of Renewable alternative energy sources, its hidden potential to improve the energy efficiency and power system capability, and its promise for power reliability and security. Many distributed energy sources exist such solar energy, fuel cell, micro turbine, and wind energy. Distributed power generation concept has been implemented in various places with various degree of complexity. A comprehensive review on the distributed power generation is presented in this paper. Rahul Gokhle | Pramod Kumar Rathore "A Review on Power Flexibility, Generation and Distribution System" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-5 | Issue-6 , October 2021, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd46379.pdf Paper URL : https://www.ijtsrd.com/engineering/electrical-engineering/46379/a-review-on-power-flexibility-generation-and-distribution-system/rahul-gokhle
IJERA (International journal of Engineering Research and Applications) is International online, ... peer reviewed journal. For more detail or submit your article, please visit www.ijera.com
Market Challenges for Pumped Storage Hydropower Plantsijceronline
For power system development planning, a thorough valuation of each of its components is carried out with an objective to improve the system reliability and economy. This paper deals with energy storage technologies with particular emphasis placed on the pumped storage hydropower plants (PSHs). For the long-term development planning of a system with different generating facilities, PSHs still play the major role in the implementation of intermittent renewable energy sources into a future generation mix. For planning of a generation mix with PSHs we use the concept of “Levelized Cost of Electricity” (LCoE) to compare the economic indicators of a system in order to make a fair and unbiased selection of new plants intended to cover customer demands. Being based on the monetary indicators, the LCoE concept is able to help in making investment decisions in view of technology and size of any new generating sources proposed for a defined time horizon. Owing to their excellent operational flexibility PSHs may also be good players on the electricity markets, offering both, capacity and energy services.
Osisko Development - Investor Presentation - June 24
Neah Power Systems White Paper
1. ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS USING
SILICON - BASED FUEL CELLS
A Neah Power Systems White Paper
Neah Power Systems
NPWZ.OB
1
The quest for efficient energy affects every country on the planet. Worldwide there is an increasing
interest in developing clean, reliable alternatives to petroleum fuels. Fuel cells are proof that there are
smart, safe, and clean alternative power sources.
There is an opportunity to better utilize renewable energy sources such as solar or wind by
integrating them with energy storage systems that would provide a reliable pathway towards a clean,
alternative energy economy.
This article presents a position on the future of energy storage solutions and introduces Neah Power
Systems, a developer of the leading technology and integration solutions critical for the future of this
market.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain of the statements contained herein may be, within the meaning of the federal securities laws,
"forward-looking statements," which are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-
looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause
the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from any
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. See Neah Power System’s Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008
for a discussion of such risks, uncertainties and other factors. These forward-looking statements are
based on management's expectations as of the date hereof, and the company does not undertake
any responsibility to update any of these statements in the future
1
2. Energy Storage Market Segments
Stationary (3kW - >1MW)
• Grid reinforcement
• Integration of renewable energy sources
(Supply Shaping)
• Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS)
Mobile (1kW – 250kW)
• On-board power for vehicles
• Electric and hybrid drive trains
• Standby power
Portable (<1kW)
• Consumer Electronics
• Industrial
• Military
The energy storage market can be most easily divided into stationary,
mobile and portable segments. The most important sector of the whole market is
the stationary component, sometimes described by utility and industrial applications,
including grid reinforcement, integration of renewable energy sources, and
uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). Mobile component is dominated by on-board
power for vehicles; and new drive trains, such as electric and hybrid. The portable
sector of the market includes computing, cell phone, and camera applications.
This study looks primarily at energy storage solutions for stationary
applications because the creation of the new energy economy based on reliable
renewable energy sources could inevitably lead to revolutionary improvements in
the transportation and portable markets as well. For example, a technology for
electricity production from a renewable energy source, coupled with a method for
efficient energy storage could ultimately lead to a rapid acceptance of electrical or
hybrid vehicles if a cheap and reliable network of recharging stations could be
established. Solar photovoltaic electricity or wind turbine electricity could be used to
produce hydrogen, store it and use it at the time of demand to either refill the
hydrogen storage tanks on board of vehicles or to convert it back to electricity in fuel
cells and recharge the batteries in electrical or hybrid vehicles.
Similarly, the advances in the wireless energy transmission field seem
to indicate that portable devices in the future could be powered predominantly
through wireless recharging, eliminating thereby the need for direct or wired energy
exchange. It is not hard to imagine the day when abundant, renewable and clean
electricity generation stations could be distributed in both populated and remote
areas; and when these stations could be transmitting electricity to charge portable
devices in their vicinity. This vision of the future doesn’t mean automatic elimination
of the need for portable power, but indicates that a shift is likely to occur and that
the enabling technologies must adapt in time.
3. Energy Production Mix could Change
The only possible solution to meet the energy demand decades from now and to
protect the environment is to use alternative energy sources derived principally from
the enormous power of sun’s radiation. While energy production mix forecasts vary,
there is no doubt energy sources such as solar, wind, ocean, geothermal, and
biomass, in addition to already established hydroelectric energy, could be the
primary drivers in the new energy economy and could generate the majority of
energy needs by the middle of the twenty-first century.
While hydroelectricity provides about 7% of world’s total energy demand and
traditional biomass still accounts for significant use in developing countries, all other
renewable energy sources are underrepresented and provide less than 1% of total
energy demand. One of the main reasons for this slow pace of progress is in the
apparent inability of renewable energy technologies to provide steady and reliable
power.
4. Renewable Energy – The Problem
Renewable Energy
• Abundant
• Clean
Problem: Intermittent
• Climate
• Time
The demand for energy is not constant and it varies over the day, the week, and the
year. This demand is met by the electricity supply systems structured to provide
power whenever needed. Renewable energy sources must also fit into the matching
supply and demand scenarios. The problem with all renewable energy technologies
is that they are time and climatic condition dependent, which makes the
implementation of reliable electrical output difficult without methods to store energy
during the periods of excess and then use it when needed.
This inability to provide continuous electricity is one of the major stumbling blocks
for widespread introduction of renewable energy sources. There is a fundamental
question of what should be done on a day without solar or wind power; and even
more important question what to do with surplus sunshine or wind.
For the wide acceptance of technologies such as solar photovoltaic, wind, biomass
or small hydro, they must be integrated into hybrid systems with energy storage
devices. One of the most interesting and attractive energy storage methods relies
on the hydrogen economy.
5. Solution: Energy Storage
Load Leveling - Peak Shaving - Contract Profiling - Arbitrage
Electrolyser Fuel Cell
Storage
H 2O H2 H 2O
Electricity Generation
Transportation Stationary
Residential Commercial Industry
Consider a hybrid system consisting of electricity production from a renewable
energy source such as solar or wind to electrolyse water to produce hydrogen
integrated with a fuel cell energy storage system to store hydrogen then use it at the
time of demand in fuel cells to produce electricity.
Storage offers energy services in the form of price arbitrage in energy markets, as
well as capacity/power services such as peak and peak reserve capacity; frequency
regulation; spinning and standby reserve; black start; load following / ramping; and
T&D deferral.
Wind increases opportunities for storage in several ways. One, wind adds to price
volatility which increases arbitrage opportunities; wind curtailment results in
potentially lost revenue for the operator or low cost energy for storage owners.
Second, wind increases ancillary service requirements.
Co-located, dedicated renewable energy storage reduced transmission demands
and can help overcome transmission constraints – reducing pressure on the
transmission grid not only by providing an alternative to new transmission but also
by allowing less transmission for a given amount of delivered energy. For example,
sizing a transmission line at 90% of the line rating in conjunction with storage
provides for filling up the transmission line completely during high demand and
stored wind power is time-shifted for use when the generation is less.
6. Energy Storage Solutions
Source : “Energy Storage: A Distributed Energy Resource”, U.S. Department of Energy
Metal-Air Flow Batteries Pumped
Batteries ZnBr VRB PSB Hydro
Long Duration Fly Wheels NaS Battery CAES
En
Discharge Time at Rated Power
High Energy
Super Capacitors er
g y
Lead-Acid Batteries M
an
Ni-Cd ag
em
Li-ion
Br en
Po Po idg t
Other Adv Batteries w w ing
er er
Seconds Minutes
& Q
High Power Fly Wheels
UP ua
S lity
High Power Supercaps SMES
1kW 10kW 100kW 1MW 10MW 100MW 1GW
System Power Ratings
A range of technologies is available to meet rapid and possibly unexpected demand
fluctuations. Pump storage plants are used typically in conjunction with hydroelectric
power plants. At the time of low demand, surplus electricity is used to pump water
into high level reservoirs, which can be later used to generate electricity within
seconds. Small gas turbines and diesel generators can be brought to full power in
30 minutes or less, but their main disadvantage is of course that they consume
fossil fuels and are less thermally efficient than larger “base-load” power stations.
Compressed air energy storage uses off –peak electricity to compress air (> 100
atm) and store it in underground caverns. At the time of demand this air is fed to a
gas turbine and enables reduction in gas consumption of up to 60%.
Lead acid batteries are sometimes used by electricity utilities for peaking power and
emergency backup. The largest capacity reported is 40 MWh system in California.
The limitations of lead acid batteries are of course in the number of cycles that a
battery can endure before degrading. A sodium-sulfur battery, which operates at
high temperature (> 300°C) uses a positive electrode of molten sulfur and negative
electrode of molten sodium. At the time of low electricity demand, the battery is
recharged by regenerating the elemental sulfur and sodium. Several of such energy
storage systems in the MW range are in use in Japan.
Flow batteries have also been used in UK and Japan. These batteries use active
chemicals that are liquids and can be stored in tanks separately from the battery
itself. Systems have been demonstrated in 15 MW range using sodium bromide
and sodium polysulfide; and based on vanadium or zinc bromide.
7. Distributed Power Generation
Small, embedded power generation
No transmission or distribution losses
Natural gas, diesel, propane, etc.
Renewables: solar photovoltaics, wind, wave, biomass
Energy Source End-use for
•Solar PV Direct Conversion
•Wind Electricity
•Small Hydro Short-term Energy Storage
•Biomass • Batteries
• Supercapacitors
• Fly wheels By Demand
Hydrogen Hydrogen Hydrogen
Production Storage Utilization
Long-term Energy Storage
One way to accomplish effective demand management and eliminate
the need for large scale utility grids is to introduce a concept of distributed power
generation based large numbers of small embedded power stations. These small,
modular electricity generators are located close to customer loads and offer
advantages that large-scale, capital-intensive, central-station power plants cannot
provide. Distributed generation avoids transmission and distribution power losses
and provides a choice of energy systems to the utility customer. Many distributed
power systems produce so little noise or emissions that they can be located inside,
or immediately adjacent to, the buildings where the power is needed. This greatly
simplifies the problems of bringing power to expanding commercial, residential, and
industrial areas.
Distributed energy systems offer the promise of reliability for
consumers who need dependable, high-quality power to run sensitive digital
equipment and can provide alternative, less-expensive power sources during peak
price periods. The potential market for providing power during peak price periods is
as high as 460 GW, according to a DOE study. Distributed power generation
technologies use a variety of fuels, including natural gas, diesel, biomass-derived
fuels, fuel oil, propane, hydrogen, sunlight, and wind.
Distributed power generation based on renewables is especially
attractive for remote applications. “Stand alone” systems can eliminate the need to
build expensive new power lines to remote locations while providing completely
autonomous power generation.
8. UPS Applications
Uninterruptible power supplies
End User, e.g.
Sensitive operations, e.g. computer computer
networks network
Typically: diesel generators
Battery
Batteries
Batteries and fuel cells
Renewable
Energy Electrolyser Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Source
Electricity is Hydrogen is
Water is
generated by Hydrogen is used in fuel
electrolyzed to
using solar stored for cells for local
produce
PVs, wind, later use power
hydrogen
biomass or generation
small hydro
Uninterruptable Power Supplies (UPSs) are becoming essential
components of the modern electricity delivery systems. Most of those systems use
liquid fuel generators or batteries. Fuel cells have also been used as direct
replacement for batteries for long-term backup (i.e., extended autonomy time), but
batteries remain a part of the system because of their ability to deliver
instantaneous full power. If the power loss occurs, the batteries carry the load until a
fuel cell reaches its full operating power (typically 3-10 minutes). This means that
UPS systems with fuel cells can be regarded as long-term back-up power solutions
and they are usually employed only for applications where this is the requirement.
The type of fuel used in fuel cells is a critical issue for these
applications. Many solutions, particularly in urban areas with availability of natural
gas, use natural gas as a fuel. The alternative is to store hydrogen that is either
shipped or produced on site in electrolysers.
9. Energy Storage on Silicon Platform
Unique platform suitable for multi-functional devices
Highly scalable: mW to kW range
High-volume manufacturing processes
kW range
W range
Neah Power Systems has developed a unique proprietary technology
to produce highly scalable fuel cells. Besides many advantages of this technology
(described bellow) the flexible configuration used by Neah Power offers
unprecedented opportunities for utilization of the proprietary silicon platform in multi-
functional devices and for seamless integration into larger energy storage systems.
Neah Power Systems concept is adaptable for use in a number of
different schemes involving energy production and storage. Furthermore, the range
of applications is enormous: from portable applications for laptop computers to
larger stationary applications in the hundreds of watts and into kW range.
Remarkably, Neah Power could be able to use the same manufacturing process
regardless of the size of the system. This is based on the outstanding capability of
producing silicon platform in high volume processes, but also because of the
obvious quality of silicon to be made into very small chips.
10. Silicon-Based Fuel Cells
Porous silicon substrate
Highly structured substrate
Predictable performance
Liquid electrolyte
Faster electrode reaction
Basic concept of Neah Power cell
This is the only technology that relies on porous Si as electrode
substrate and reactant distribution structure. The configuration enables the use of
liquid electrolyte in place of solid polymer electrolyte membranes that have all but
reached their usefulness.
This type of fuel cell is unique because of the characteristics of the
extremely well controlled geometry of the porous Si structures. Contrary to “random”
porosity distribution and size of the catalyst layer typically used in PEM membrane-
electrode assemblies, the porous Si offers enormous advantages because of the
extremely small deviations in the pore size and distribution. This presents a much
larger opportunity to develop a perfectly engineered fuel cell system.
Porous Si offers critical opportunities that go beyond structural
advantages. The fabrication process relies on extremely well defined silicon
processing methods and very high-volume manufacturing. This presents a huge
opportunity to not only develop a functional and efficient fuel cell, but to be able to
produce them very inexpensively in high-volumes. No other fuel cell technology is
even close to demonstrating the high-volume manufacturing and that is one of the
main reasons fuel cells are still far from widespread commercial applications. The
Neah Power Systems concept offers the promise of delivering a highly scalable and
versatile fuel cell.
11. Neah Power Hydrogen-Oxygen Fuel Cell
Present system: flow-through methanol anode and nitric
acid cathode.
Development of air cathode and hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell
based on porous silicon structure and liquid, acidic
electrolyte. Electricity from
Gas-liquid interface Renewable
inside the pores of Energy Source
silicon.
Hybrid energy solutions Water
H2 Storage
O2 Storage
market: a H2-O2 fuel cell Electrolyser
coupled with a
renewable energy
sources and an Fuel
electrolyser. Cell
Electricity
Present system used by Neah Power includes flow-through methanol
anode and nitric acid cathode. However, the company is developing air cathode and
is planning the development of hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell based on its proprietary
porous silicon structure design and liquid, acidic electrolyte. The main feature of
silicon electrodes modified for gaseous reactants is the creation of the gas-liquid
interface inside the pores of silicon that extends throughout the pore. The company
is developing this approach partially because of the intention to enter the hybrid
energy solutions market where a H2-O2 fuel cell could be coupled with a renewable
energy sources and an electrolyser.
12. Reversible Neah Power Cell
Significant potential for optimizing its technology into
a reversible cell capable of functioning both as an
electrolyser and a fuel cell.
Gas separation accomplished in the pores of silicon;
the catalyst reaction zone removed from the bulk of
the electrolyte.
Load
H2 O2 H2
O2
Electrolysis mode Fuel Cell mode
Because of the nature of it’s liquid electrolyte system and porous
electrode structure, Neah Power cell has significant potential for optimizing its
technology into a reversible cell capable of functioning both as an electrolyser and a
fuel cell.
Gas separation, which is a critical issue for designing electrolysis
process can be relatively easily accomplished in this system by taking advantage of
the length of pores in silicon and the ability to establish catalyst reaction zone away
from the bulk of the electrolyte.
13. Telecom Applications
Diesel generators
reliable, but require
maintenance and
produce emission
Electrolysis
Natural gas powered fuel Mode
cells need gas pipeline
H2 Storage
O2 Storage
and still produce carbon Reversible
dioxide Unit
Neah Power reversible
Fuel Cell
“electrolyser-fuel cell” Mode
integrated with solar
photovoltaics Electricity
Remote power supply for telecom applications is becoming an area of great
importance. At present, the power for these applications is provided by batteries or conventional
diesel generators. Both technologies have enormous fundamental problems: batteries are expensive
and they degrade with the number of cycles, while diesel generators bring a multitude of problems
related to crude oil price and supply as well as environmental concerns. Recently, some fuel cell
manufacturers have been advocating the use of natural gas fuel cells for these applications.
However, this approach is also connected with the need for the natural gas pipeline leading to remote
locations and still doesn’t eliminate the CO2 emission. It can be concluded that fuel cell technology
alone doesn’t meet the present and future requirements for this type of application.
Neah Power Systems is developing a novel concept that relies on a PV-fuel cell
hybrid system. This is a completely autonomous system comprising a solar photovoltaic module and
a reversible fuel cell based on silicon. During the times of solar irradiation, PV module is powering
the telecom station and excess power is used to electrolyze water and produce hydrogen. Hydrogen
is then stored within the same unit for either short or long periods of time, and later used in the fuel
cell when needed. The key technology for this model is the reversible fuel cell – electrolyser unit.
Instead of having two separate devices, Neah Power is developing a system that can serve as both
the water electrolyser to produce hydrogen and as a hydrogen fuel cell. This approach greatly
reduces the cost as it takes the advantages of much lower capital investment and simplicity of
operation. Neah Power fuel cell configuration is one of the very few fuel cell technologies that can be
practically utilized as reversible systems. The use of liquid acidic electrolyte is equally favorable for
both the electrolysis and fuel cell reaction, while highly structured silicon substrate guarantees
precise process control in both modes of operation.
The development of this unique concept named “Solar – Reversible Fuel Cells for
Telecom Applications”, could be pursued through a consortium of interested partners, including
telecom, energy, and silicon processing segments.
14. Other Renewable Energy Hybrid Systems
Hydrogen from wind, wave or small hydro
Electricity from
Renewable
Energy Source
Electrolysis
H2 Storage Mode
O2 Storage
Reversible
Unit
Fuel Cell
Mode
Electricity
Besides utilizing solar photovoltaic convertors as the primary source of
electricity, other hybrid systems comprising Neah Power Reversible fuel cell could
be considered as a part of the overall portfolio. If, for example, wind power is
available and more attractive than solar for a certain region; Neah Power reversible
fuel cell can easily be integrated with the electricity produced by a wind turbine. The
only difference in the overall system design would be a conversion from AC
electricity generated by a turbine to DC electricity needed for the electrolyzer, a
process that can be accomplished easily and cheaply.
Similarly, the availability of renewable energy sources in remote
locations, would lead to hybrid systems comprising wave electricity generating
devices, tidal barrages, ocean currents, or even a small hydro. Common for all
these renewable energy conversion technologies is that they are clean and un-
exhaustible (on a human time scale), but also intermittent, dependent on climatic
conditions, and inherently unreliable. They are all usually located in extremely
remote areas, with no connection to electricity grid and difficult access for fuels (e.g.
gas pipelines, shipped liquid or solid fuels). If permanent, reliable power is needed
in those areas, as in the case of telecom applications, the only practical, long-term
solution is to build hybrid systems that would ensure continuous power supply and
require no or minimum maintenance.
15. Manufacturing Model & Cost estimates
$1000/KW
Si Substrate Si Electrode A&T
Production Production OEM
(Sanmina/
(IceMOS) (Neah)
Other)
Neah Power works with the whole supply chain to ensure quality, cost and timeliness
Manufacturing Model:
Neah’s technology is well suited to an outsourced manufacturing model that leverages world class
capabilities that the semiconductor industry currently uses. The semiconductor industry has
driven the innovation of foundries and outsourced manufacturing. The foundries build world class
manufacturing facilities and keep them updated, aggregate demand from a variety of customers,
thereby driving down cost for the individual customer, while creating capital efficient large scale
manufacturing systems. This demand aggregation has enabled innovation in the semiconductor
industry while simultaneously driving down costs across the entire industry. Neah is leveraging
this same capability in the fuel cell arena, and this is a distinctive competitive edge vs. all other
fuel cell technologies. Neah has currently defined manufacturing relationships as follows –
1. Porous Silicon foundries – IceMOS is the preferred supplier, with Company T, Inc being qualified
as an alternative supplier.
2. Thin film deposition – Currently done in house at Neah, plan is to outsource that to IceMOS and
Company T.
3. Final assembly and test – Sanmina – SCI is the current final assembly and test supplier for
Neah. Sanmina is a multi-billion dollar outsourced manufacturer with 30+ locations worldwide.
They have the logistics, tax, and supply chain expertise to support a variety of customers in
different locations throughout the world.
Cost target: Neah believes it could achieve ~ $1000/kW in high volume manufacturing, when the
company can fully leverage the supply chain and the various enhancements that are currently
under development.
16. Summary
Neah Power is developing a dual strategy for entering the
field of hybrid energy solutions.
The company’s H2-O2 fuel cell can be used to produce
electricity from hydrogen and air when there is a source of
hydrogen available.
Alternatively, the Neah Power system design is extremely
adaptable for the reversible cell capable of functioning as
both electrolyser and a fuel cell. This would be the preferred
approach because of the potential capital cost savings.
The company is interested in partnering with developers of
renewable energy sources and working on the system
solutions.
Neah expects to achieve a cost of $1000/KW in HVM
Neah Power Systems is developing an extremely efficient, scalable,
and cost effective technology for energy storage that combines hydrogen production
and fuel cell in a single unit. The company’s H2-O2 fuel cell can be used to produce
electricity from hydrogen and air when there is a source of hydrogen available. This
technology can become a backbone of the future renewable energy systems and
ensure, on-demand and reliable energy delivery.
The company is interested in partnering with developers of renewable
energy sources and working on the system solutions. To learn more about Neah
Power Systems and powering the future with clean, affordable energy, visit
www.neahpower.com.