Hydrogen Fuel Cell Microgrid Project: Energy Innovation, Integration and Assurance
April 30 2024 - 3:28PM
BWR Innovation announces it was recently granted a two-year
subcontract by The Global Connective Center, LLC as a part of an
agreement with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to develop
and integrate capabilities for a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Microgrid
(H2MG) to promote operation energy resilience. The H2MG project is
a research, development, testing and evaluation effort to
demonstrate and assess the feasibility and performance of the
solar-H2 storage and off-take systems to support island-able
microgrids. The project is intended to advance the understanding of
operational H2 energy and provide a model to replicate microgrids
for the Department of Defense (DoD).
H2MG project will leverage and expand the current capabilities
of the 1.5 MW Pacific Energy Assurance Renewables Laboratory
(PEARL) PV microgrid, which was initiated in 2016 at the Joint Base
Pearl Harbor Hickam (JBPHH) in Hawaii. Enhancements will deploy new
hydrogen technologies and systems to produce, store and utilize
compressed gas and liquified hydrogen from solar electricity
generated by the existing PEARL microgrid. The project will
demonstrate an initial proof of concept (known as PEARL H2) for DoD
microgrids using hydrogen off-take for fuel cell production and
sustainable installation energy, exploring transportable capability
to support military operations.
BWR Innovations will deliver the hydrogen fuel cell microgrid,
which will include a 1 MW electrolyzer, compressor, 600 kg of
hydrogen storage, 600 kW of PEM fuel cells and the software
integration to control and integrate into the existing microgrid.
The hydrogen fuel cells and pneumatic hydraulics for the
electrolyzer and storage will be manufactured in partnership with
Intelligent Energy.
Dr. Joel Jorgenson, BWR president and CEO, states, “BWR is proud
to be selected as the equipment vendor and integrator in this
critical Air Force project for clean grid resilience. This AFRL
project is an important demonstration of the BWR hydrogen fuel cell
integration technology. We expect that the results from this
project will reflect the importance of hydrogen as a critical
component in the clean energy microgrid solutions.”
Key deliverables for the project include hydrogen safety
protocols and operating procedures, a techno-economic analysis
(TEA), and business models for cost-effective and sustainable
operation. H2MG offers significant transition opportunities,
scaling from the initial PEARL H2 Microgrid proof of concept to
strategic locations worldwide that promote regional stability and
energy security.
The project is supported by a robust stakeholder base that
includes the Indo-Pacific Command, the National Guard Bureau, the
Hawaii Air National Guard, and the Naval Facilities Engineering
Systems Command. It is bolstered by the United States Air Force
(USAF) commitment to renewable energy and underpinned by clean
energy initiatives outlined by the DoD and each services’ climate
action plans.
Planning and execution of this project includes partners from
Hawaii Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies, BWR
Innovations, NEOEx Systems, SAGE Pacific, Moran Innovation and Ohio
State University, who are all considered leaders in renewable and
sustainable energy.
About BWR InnovationsBWR Innovations, LLC is a
Fargo, North Dakota-based private company with a team of seasoned,
accomplished professionals who are creating innovative temperature
monitoring, telemetry and hydrogen/fuel-cell based products. Their
products include the iNsite ioT product line of wireless
temperature monitoring products and the Sol Source fuel cell energy
systems.
To learn more, visit: www.bwr-innovations.com.
Media ContactJoel Jorgenson,
CEOjoel.jorgenson@bwr-innovations.com(701) 205-3103