Feasibility of open source fuel cell stacks with different hydrogen storage options (23.RP2.0158)

This project addresses the scaling opportunities of an open source hydrogen fuel cell stack developed at the Advanced Powertrains Professorship at Chemnitz University of Technology (TUC). This Open Source Stack (OSS) can enable multiple deployment options, not only in passenger cars, but also heavier transport vehicles such as trains and trucks, and stationary power applications in plants and on mine sites. This project will examine a test case to demonstrate the application of the OSS for the Australian market, providing the basis for further reach and scaling of the open source fuel cell stack.

To allow hydrogen fuel cells to be adopted in mobility applications, particular attention must also be paid to the method of hydrogen storage. To achieve high volumetric energy densities, storage in the liquefied state at cryogenic temperatures is one option (approx. 20 K). However, there is also the prospect of storing hydrogen at comparable energy densities by means of adsorption in porous materials at higher cryogenic temperatures, e.g. 90 K, which could be advantageous technically and economically. Therefore, as part of this project, the technical and economic advantages and disadvantages of both storage technologies will be investigated and evaluated, in conjunction with an implementation of the OSS for freight transport and stationary power applications.

A large focus of the project is for the project team to “learn by doing”, so that it can examine how the OSS platform / system can be used to test new components for new manufacturers. Based on the results, there is the future prospect of planning, developing and building a demonstrator and/or hydrogen cluster in Victoria and Western Australia that can be used to illustrate the possibilities of local fuel cell manufacture and zero-emission power for heavy transport or remote industrial sites.

Partners: Deakin University, Technology University of Chemnitz, The University of Western Australia, Victorian Government Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions.

Project Leader: Prof. Eric May

Duration: 6 Months