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Zero carbon infinite COP heat from fuel cell CHP

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  • Staffell, Iain

Abstract

Fuel cells are a promising technology for combined heat and power (CHP); however their efficiency and carbon benefits are often overlooked because of their reliance on fossil fuels. This paper sets out the numerical methods and evidence of real-world performance needed to compare fuel cells with other low-carbon technologies. It is demonstrated that firstly, the efficiency of present-day fuel cells is high enough to outperform the best electric heat pumps, even when these are powered exclusively by the best modern power stations. The equivalent COP (coefficient of performance) of today’s fuel cells ranges from 5 to ∞, compared to 3–4 for the best ground source heat pumps. Secondly, this high efficiency means that even when fuelled with natural gas, the heat from a fuel cell is zero- or even negative-carbon when electricity from central power stations is displaced.

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  • Staffell, Iain, 2015. "Zero carbon infinite COP heat from fuel cell CHP," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 373-385.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:147:y:2015:i:c:p:373-385
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.02.089
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    6. A.G. Olabi & Tabbi Wilberforce & Enas Taha Sayed & Khaled Elsaid & Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem, 2020. "Prospects of Fuel Cell Combined Heat and Power Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    7. Kourougianni, Fanourios & Arsalis, Alexandros & Olympios, Andreas V. & Yiasoumas, Georgios & Konstantinou, Charalampos & Papanastasiou, Panos & Georghiou, George E., 2024. "A comprehensive review of green hydrogen energy systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    8. Dominik Kryzia & Marta Kuta & Dominika Matuszewska & Piotr Olczak, 2020. "Analysis of the Potential for Gas Micro-Cogeneration Development in Poland Using the Monte Carlo Method," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-24, June.
    9. Wu, Ziyao & Pei, Pucheng & Xu, Huachi & Jia, Xiaoning & Ren, Peng & Wang, Bozheng, 2019. "Study on the effect of membrane electrode assembly parameters on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell performance by galvanostatic charging method," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 251(C), pages 1-1.
    10. Chang, Huawei & Wan, Zhongmin & Zheng, Yao & Chen, Xi & Shu, Shuiming & Tu, Zhengkai & Chan, Siew Hwa & Chen, Rui & Wang, Xiaodong, 2017. "Energy- and exergy-based working fluid selection and performance analysis of a high-temperature PEMFC-based micro combined cooling heating and power system," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 446-458.
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    12. Raluca-Andreea Felseghi & Elena Carcadea & Maria Simona Raboaca & Cătălin Nicolae TRUFIN & Constantin Filote, 2019. "Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology for the Sustainable Future of Stationary Applications," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-28, December.

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