Hydrogen power supply complex for isolated areas

The article presents the results of Russia’s first industrial test of a hydrogen power supply system for remote low-power consumers, using the example of IT infrastructure facilities. The system includes an electrolysis unit with a capacity of 0,5 Nm³/h, a LaNi5-based metal hydride storage system, and a 4 kW electrochemical generator. The total cost of ownership comparison between the hydrogen system and a diesel generator set takes into account the logistics costs of delivering diesel fuel, climate constraints, equipment reliability, and maintenance requirements. The analysis results show that hydrogen technologies can already be economically competitive compared to diesel generators. The identified climate and transportation risks are compensated by the equipment’s climate adaptation and the reinforced design of the mini-container. The conducted tests confirmed the equipment’s stated technical parameters, including the electrolyzer’s performance, storage system characteristics, and power output. The economic assessment showed that the direct costs of hydrogen production are about $2,3/kg, which corresponds to the cost of generation of ~$0,15/kWh, whereas diesel generators require about $0,7/kWh. The total cost of ownership analysis for backup power supply of communication towers also revealed the advantage of the hydrogen complex over the diesel one. The presented results demonstrate the technological readiness of hydrogen power plants for industrial application and their potential for scaling on autonomous and hard-to-reach sites.

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