Potential of Producing Hydrogen for Fuel-Cell Vehicles by Residential Fuel Cell Co-generation Utilizing Idle Capacity

Abstract

Widespread of fuel-cell vehicles (FCV) is one of the essential solutions to CO₂ emission mitigation. However there were only 81 working hydrogen stations distributed in Japan in January 2017. Therefore, it has become increasingly necessary to establish the hydrogen stations. In this study, we focus on the unutilized hydrogen production capacity of a fuel processor system (FPS) incorporated in a residential fuel cell co-generation system. We proposed a system which the FPS and fuel cell stacks are operated independently at their respective efficient load factors, and which can produce hydrogen for the FCV using the unutilized capabilities of the FPS. An optimum scheduling model for the operation of the FPS and the fuel cell stacks was developed to evaluate annual hydrogen production for the FCV for 24 households. As the results, it was found that all households have the capacity to produce at least 1,040 Nm³/year of hydrogen, which a FCV can run 8,000 km in a year. Furthermore, we evaluated the hydrogen supply potential of collective housings installed this system to each household through the case study in Tama region, Tokyo. In the case where this system was introduced to 10 collective housings in Tama region, it was found that 80.9% of hydrogen demand for FCV in this region in 2025 in this region could be supplied.