A High Efficiency PV to Hydrogen Energy System

76223-The energy requirements of the United States and the world, with over 2 billion people without electricity, are increasing each year. In addition, environmental problems resulting from the use of present energy sources also are increasing. In 2003, total US energy consumption was 95 quadrillion Btu with over 26 percent imported from other countries, a major contributor to our foreign trade deficit. This project will develop a renewable energy source that can: (1) generate energy for transport to other locations for use, or (2) upon demand, be converted into electricity for electrical peaking loads, base load, or to supply 24-hour power for non-grid/remote applications. Phase I will complete a system design to integrate a commercial concentrating solar photovoltaic (PV) system with an electrolyzer and fuel cell technology, thereby meeting system level requirements for hydrogen and electrical generation. Hardware components will be configured to verify the performance of the design. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The system should be of interest to electrical utilities in this country and others around the world. The United States could generate clean energy for all its needs in a small area of Nevada and become an exporter of energy instead of an importer.