How Fuel Cells Can Boost Reliability
Fuel cells could be a useful tool when it comes to emergency preparedness, as they hold promise for electric utilities when it comes to improving reliability and resiliency. And anything that could potentially keep the lights on longer and more consistently is a win in my book!
How Fuel Cells Can Benefit Electric Utilities
In a nutshell, fuel cells can be used to provide battery-backup services to the critical systems within substations. While having battery backup capability at the substation level is nothing new, the lead acid batteries that are traditionally used for this do not last as long as fuel cell batteries. As an example, a typical lead acid battery can be expected to last for 4-8 hours, whereas a fuel cell battery could last up to a whopping 80 hours.
In addition to the impressive difference in battery duration, fuel cell technology is also cleaner than another method of providing backup power – diesel generators – because they do not emit any CO2, only H2O. They also tend to be more weather-resistant, quieter, require a smaller footprint, and have lower maintenance requirements compared to other backup options. They are also cost-competitive with traditional battery devices.
Interestingly, fuel cell technology can also provide something akin to a morale boost. According to one utility spokesperson, the utilization of fuel cells “significantly lowered the stress level of the technical teams” because it provides workers with an extra layer of confidence in terms of having enough time to restore the system.
It’s no wonder that some of the largest utilities in the U.S. are utilizing this technology, including ConEd, Dominion Power, Exelon, Southern California Edison, and Southern Company, to name just a few. In the final analysis, if your company doesn’t have substation-level fuel cells on the radar, it’s time to reconsider, especially if the company’s leadership values the provision of reliable service to customers.
