One of the pilot projects is being developed at a Chilean scientific base located on an Antarctic island. It will be a 27kW solar, hydrogen fuel cells project.
The project is developed at the Chilean Antarctic Institute – INACH Professor Julio Escudero Scientific Base, located on King George Island, some 120 km from the coast of Antarctica.
The initiative is carried out by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit – GIZ, the German agency as part of the Team Europe Renewable Hydrogen Development – RH2 project co-financed by the European Union and Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy – BMWE of Germany.
The proposed 27kW solar, hydrogen fuel cells project is to trial hybrid energy solutions in one of the most challenging operating environments in the world while reducing the dependence on fossil fuels within Antarctic infrastructure.
The pre-feasibility study of the project suggests the use of a solar photovoltaic plant of 27 kW, based on monocrystalline solar panels of 500 W being one of the options under consideration. This setup would produce about 66 kWh per day, or 1,980 kWh per month, as well as 11,880 kWh for a six-month season. The design would take close to 54 solar panels from the outputs of each module. In the report, this option is also compared to a 12 kW wind power plant and an 11 kW optoelectric solar panel system.
When it comes to the hydrogen side, the conceptual design considers on-site hydrogen production employing a small electrolyzer of around 0.5 Nm 3 /h or 1 kg of hydrogen per day and a nominal electrical usage of 2.4–5 kW. All three technologies, alkaline, PEM, or AEM electrolysers, fulfill the requirements of the pilot project.
The hydrogen will be stored as a gas within static tanks or cylinders with a minimum volume of 5 kg and a highest pressure of 30–40 bar. The stored hydrogen would be used to feed PEM fuel cells in order to supply the base laboratory with 30 kW of backup power for a maximum of two hours per month. The estimated hydrogen consumption for this purpose is 4.14 kg/month, 25 kg/operating season, as well as 50 kg/year.
Apparently, the electricity produced by the fuel cells would need a 30kW inverter and an automatic transfer switchboard to isolate as well as power the laboratory directly in the event of a power failure. The system design includes hydrogen leak sensors, emergency shutdowns, alarm systems, thermal control, air renewal systems, and water purification equipment, as well as stainless-steel piping for venting hydrogen and water along with oxygen.
It follows studies carried out in 2022 and 2023 into the economic and technical viability of making use of hydrogen as a source of electricity and heat in harsh environments. The evaluations found that it is practical to design a modular system to produce, store, and utilize renewable hydrogen on site.