Weight-Reduced Regenerative Fuel Cell Solutions for High Altitude Airships (HAA)

High altitude airships (HAA) are viewed as an important potential strategic tool for improving homeland security. HAAs would provide long-term, high altitude stationary platforms for surveillance, telecommunications, and other functions. To supplement photovoltaic arrays, which can provide power during the daylight hours, energy storage is necessary for nighttime operation of the on-board mission loads, hotel loads, and propulsion systems. Technology Management, Inc. (TMI) proposes to investigate and then develop a lighter, more efficient regenerative fuel cell energy storage system based on TMI's reversible solid oxide fuel cell/electrolyzer technology.