Demonstrating Fuel Cell Technology NHA Home Page • NHA News Index
In fiscal 2001, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) launched a new partnership with the public and private sectors to demonstrate the environmental benefits of an alternative energy source—the hydrogen fuel cell.
A 3,000-watt hydrogen fuel cell—a form of distributed power that uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity—was used for several months to power sophisticated air quality monitoring equipment at the TNRCC’s headquarters in Austin. The fuel cell then was moved to the Port of Houston Authority to collect air quality data.
The demonstration project was held to increase awareness of the air quality, energy conservation, and reliability benefits of fuel cells. This emission-free technology emits water as its only byproduct.
Fuel cells are a highly efficient way to reduce transmission losses and can operate with a variety of fuel sources, including natural gas, pure hydrogen, methane gas, and propane. Besides curbing air emissions and greenhouse gases, fuel cells have the potential to complement the existing energy supply.
The TNRCC also began evaluating fuel cells to power a 12-watt portable system to monitor water quality in Austin’s Walnut Creek as well as the use of portable fuel cells to conduct remote sampling throughout the state. Fuel cells could replace diesel generators used for remote sampling, thereby eliminating generator emissions that can compromise air quality testing. The samples are essential to the decision-making process used by regional, state, and national regulatory agencies.
The next phase of the fuel cell demonstration project involves the use of “reformer” technology to convert any hydrocarbon fuel into usable hydrogen for the fuel cell. Along with the TNRCC, participants include the TNRCC, Texaco Energy Systems Inc., DCH Technology through its EnableTM Fuel Cell Corp. subsidiary, Air Products Corp., the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), IPS MeteoStar, the Texas Railroad Commission, the Texas State Energy Conservation Office, Unocal Corp., Praxair Inc., and the Port of Houston Authority.
The Legislature in 2001 passed two bills designed to promote the commercialization of fuel cell technology. Senate Bill 2845 requires the State Energy Conservation Office to develop a statewide plan to increase the commercial availability and economic viability of fuel cells. The office will study programs that could aid commercialization and report its findings and recommendations for fuel cell development.
Representatives from the fuel cell industry, energy services providers, electric transmission and distribution utilities, small electric energy consumers, and electric cooperatives will help develop the plan.
SB 5, also known as the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP), provides grants and manages other funding for programs aimed at reducing emissions and reaching attainment under the federal Clean Air Act. Fuel cells will be one type of technology eligible to receive funding. Under the bill, a representative from the fuel cell industry will serve on a 15-member board that will advise on the implementation of SB 5.
More information about fuel cells is available at: www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/exec/sbea/fuelcell/index.html. For further information contact Ken Zarker at Pollution Prevention and Industry Assistance, Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, P.O. Box 13087, MC-112, Austin, Texas 78711-3087, phone: 512/239-3145, fax: 512/239-3165, kzarker@tnrcc.state.tx.us.
©2002. All Rights Reserved. A Publication
of the National Hydrogen Association.
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