Published on : 22 January 20203 min reading time
One of the main and most difficult challenges of energy and all areas using it is energy storage. The same task is the problem in the automotive industry. At the same time, electricity production is undergoing several transformations in recent years. By combining these two, one of the world leaders in the new engine technologies issue, Japanese manufacturer Honda is proudly presenting its latest solution: solar-powered refuelling and hydrogen station production.
First a few critical words about hydrogen itself. It is the material used not only as an alternative fuel, but also is thought to be a real way out for above energy storage problem. On the other hand, is twice as expensive as most vehicle fuels. The main causal factor in the increase in the price of hydrogen is high-level power waste during electrolysis, i.e. the process of decomposition and charged with electrical power, as hydrogen is produced using high-pressure water electrolysis, when it is separated from oxygen. Therefore, the material is exceptionally expensive to be more common fuel until now. But this is about to change. Fantastic solution may be to produce the right form of hydrogen for the automotive industry, using wind or solar energy.
That’s what we’re working on now. The station that would produce the right form of hydrogen and store it would be powered by solar energy. But there is another major difficulty at this location. As we know, solar power is temporary. During worst weather conditions power delivery is too little. And hydrogen itself is a solution for that as well. This is because the material can store the surplus energy, collected during sunny days. The surplus can be used all the time, so that the station will not be on shutdown at any time. So, conclusion of this part, hydrogen is perfect for both: refuelling vehicles and storing energy. And production takes place with zero CO2 emissions.
To have such a station, it would be much cheaper to operate, so that they do not start to create. However, this is only the first part of the entireness. The second is the car itself. As obvious, the station is used as a refuelling point for cars with hydrogen. And how does hydrogen work as a fuel? Really economical and environmentally friendly as well.
First element is met, because hydrogen is a renewable energy source as a power source. Above using solar energy (or wind) station can produce as much hydrogen as needed, with cost stability. Cheaper and running stations means lower prices for customers. And secondly, vehicle hydrogen can be burned or delivered to fuel link. Using the latter method, we are in the process of causing the reverse process of electrolysis – hydrogen and oxygen are linked together, and we get pure water. Remembering the functionality of the equipment, we can assume that the process will be ideal for the additional production of energy and transformed into electrical energy. And the process is taking place.
Here at least we are approaching the Honda of the masterpiece – the car used as a mobile electric power generator. Honda FCX Clarity model is adapted to produce 9 kilowatts power source, using the above method. And thanks to the above attributes of hydrogen, the energy can be stored permanently and used at any time. The car will be wobbled on the mentioned stations. First of them had already been established in Japan. Station efficiency is high, producing 1.5 kg of hydrogen within 24 hours, which will allow the car to 150 km. work is certainly underway and we can expect that soon the result will be further increased.