TY - JOUR
T1 - Usage of Methanol Fuel Cells to Reduce Power Outages in the Etelä-Savo Region, Finland
AU - Hernandez, Pedro Gomez
AU - Berg, Thomas Leopold
AU - Xydis, George
PY - 2023/6
Y1 - 2023/6
N2 - The operation of the electricity grid can be heavily affected by unexpected meteorological phenomena which generate emergency situations that cause extensive outages. This often has to do with weather-related events. In several places in the world, an electricity network operator is responsible for fairly compensating end-users. In Finland, there are areas where these weather-related impacts are significantly harsher than those in other areas. Based on this and historic data, the applicability and viability of a high-temperature proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) backup power system was studied in order to assess the opportunity for its installation in the affected municipalities and regions. When implemented on a larger scale, from both technoeconomic and social perspectives, such systems have the potential to yield significant benefits. Compared to a diesel generator, the HT-PEMFC produced nearly half of the volume of CO2 and its fuel costs were six times smaller; however, it remains inapplicable to individual detached households.
AB - The operation of the electricity grid can be heavily affected by unexpected meteorological phenomena which generate emergency situations that cause extensive outages. This often has to do with weather-related events. In several places in the world, an electricity network operator is responsible for fairly compensating end-users. In Finland, there are areas where these weather-related impacts are significantly harsher than those in other areas. Based on this and historic data, the applicability and viability of a high-temperature proton-exchange membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) backup power system was studied in order to assess the opportunity for its installation in the affected municipalities and regions. When implemented on a larger scale, from both technoeconomic and social perspectives, such systems have the potential to yield significant benefits. Compared to a diesel generator, the HT-PEMFC produced nearly half of the volume of CO2 and its fuel costs were six times smaller; however, it remains inapplicable to individual detached households.
KW - compensation
KW - fuel cells
KW - municipalities
KW - power system
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85163618696&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/environments10060096
DO - 10.3390/environments10060096
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85163618696
SN - 2076-3298
VL - 10
JO - Environments
JF - Environments
IS - 6
M1 - 96
ER -