A Conceptual Framework for the Evaluation of Fuel-Cell Energy Systems in the Uk Built Environment

Abstract

Energy-efficient buildings can reduce human impact on the environment. Energy efficiency is not only concerned with generating more energy using fewer resources, nor reducing energy usage, but also it is about harnessing natural resources, such as wind and sun, to produce energy. The UK government is thus promoting the adoption of renewable energy in buildings. The Fuel-Cell Energy Systems (FCES), which utilizes hydrogen from renewable sources (green hydrogen), is a prominent technology yet with little application in the UK built environment. FCESs can help in addressing the problem of intermittent supplies of renewable energy by allowing for energy storage, which could act as a buffer to meet the variability in user-demand thereby maintaining energy security. Thus, the aim of this article is to explore the application of FCES in the UK built environment by drawing on the scant literature as well as discussion with industry experts. With the recent implementation of FCESs in Scotland, the development of guidelines for evaluation of the FCES is timely. A conceptual framework for the evaluation of FCES is thus outlined in this article, which could be piloted in Scotland (and possibly elsewhere). It is argued that such framework provides a holistic and structured approach for establishing the efficacy of FCES, which is crucial for informing its wider adoption in the future and in particular when it comes to the Return-on-Investment, especially from the perspective of funders and the local community.

Keywords:

• Evaluation
• Fuel cells
• ROI
• Renewable-energy and built environment

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the help and support of the following people: Dr Daniel Aklil, Managing Director Pure Energy Centre, Ross Gazey, Design Engineer, PURE project, and the former Hydrogen Development Officer. The views expressed in this article are solely of the authors and any error remains their responsibility.

Notes

¹Most of the buildings in 2050 have already been built (Blomdahl 2010).

²Semi-structured interviews allow for flexibility when eliciting information from the respondents.

³Information on the PURE project is available at www.pure.shetland.co.uk/html/pure_project1.html

⁴The Pure Energy Centre was established on the back of the PURE Project in 2005 which delivered a zero emissions, off-grid renewable hydrogen hybrid power supply to an industrial estate on the most northerly island in the United Kingdom. Further information on the Pure Energy Centre is available at www.pure.shetland.co.uk

⁵Information on the Hydrogen Office project is available at www.pure.shetland.co.uk/html/pure_project1.html.

⁶Dark fermentation refers to the fermentative conversion of organic substrate to biohydrogen.

⁷No matter how much the temperature changes on land, the temperature even just a few meters below the ground remains constant. By drilling boreholes to a depth at which the rocks are approximately 12°C all year round, water for the heating system can be pumped down, be warmed by the surrounding rocks, and then used to heat the Hydrogen Office. The system is very efficient: by using a GSHP, every unit of electricity used by the system will generate four or six times that of heat.

⁸This information is essential for the establishment of benchmarks and standards, for the validation of new designs and techniques, for the development of robust national policy, and for the development of up-to-date and authoritative teaching materials.