Mobile Hydrogen Fuel Cell Generation System
The project will deploy four mobile clean energy back up power MORBUGs with a 180kW maximum output power rating.
Electric Power Research Institute, Inc.
Recipient
Palo Alto, CA
Recipient Location
13th
Senate District
24th
Assembly District
Active
Project Status
Project Update
The Issue
California has been experiencing an increase in catastrophic wildfires that are having a greater impact on communities and requiring a greater level of emergency response to support the safety and health of the affected communities. Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) grid outages have increased, and in response the use of stationary or mobile fossil fuel backup generation has also increased. Mobile clean-energy backup systems are needed to support customers during grid outages.
Project Innovation
The project focuses on the technology development and demonstration of advanced clean energy mobile backup systems or Mobile Renewable Backup Generation Systems (MORBUGs) above 10kW that create a standalone power source for an emergency facility and postpone the use of fossil-based backup power sources as long as possible, thereby increasing the resiliency of the electricity system to climate change and extreme weather events while utilizing a renewable fuel supply.
Project Benefits
This Agreement will lead to technological advancement and breakthroughs to overcome barriers to the achievement of the State of California's statutory energy goals by demonstrating the techno-economic feasibility of a transportable, renewable energy-based emergency power source that provides electricity on-demand where needed, and can be easily moved around, as well as connected to the grid to provide grid services during healthy grid conditions. Furthermore, the work being conducted in the agreement will show how such as system can be a key strategic component in expanding energy equity through distributed resiliency in the underserved communities. Lastly, through the engagement of a strong large-scale manufacturing automotive OEM partner, replicability, scalability and lower costs can be achieved with high reliability.
Affordability
The MORBUG can be connected to the grid to provide grid services, enabling revenue to be generated during non-emergency healthy grid conditions.
Environmental Sustainability
Portable diesel generator usage and associated air pollution has substantially increased in California due to Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). The MORBUG provides a clean energy alternative to diesel back up generators.
