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Fuel cell Innovative Remote
System for Telecom
FIRST
Challenges
Two novel approaches for a remote power supply
of-the-art of the components such as fuel cells,
telecom application in the range of 150 W and
electrolyser, hydrogen storage system, energy
an energy consumption of 3.6 kWh/day are
management system and charge regulator for CIS
being developed and tested:
photovoltaic modules.
SHOWCASE 1: PV–Fuel Cell Hybrid System. Solar
Project structure
energy is used, with short-term energy storage by
The FIRST project is being carried out by a
Photovoltaic (PV) power systems are widely
means of batteries, during most parts of the
consortium of 7 partners from 4 countries, and
used in telecommunication applications,
year. Only during long periods of low solar radiation,
operates with the collaboration of a Board of
when AC mains are not available, for
when the state-of-charge of the batteries becomes
Interest, formed by end user companies that
reliability and simplicity reasons or where
very low, does the fuel cell start its operation as
have a strong interest in these technologies. The
connections to AC mains are not cost
an additional system for powering the telecom
list of the partners and members of the Board
effective due to remote locations. However,
equipment. Hydrogen is delivered to the system
of Interest is presented below along with a brief
availability of solar power systems depends
externally. The main advantage of this system is
description of their role:
on the amount of available solar radiation,
that power system availability is increased
1. INTA (Spain): co-ordination of the project,
and this varies throughout the year. This
considerably because the fuel cell energy is
collaboration in the design and sizing of the
problem could be solved using fuel cells in
available by maintaining fuel in the tank. Therefore
systems, integration and evaluation of
combination with solar power systems to
with good maintenance it is possible to ensure that
showcase 1.
improve power availability.
the telecommunication system will be properly
Within the FIRST project two different
powered. Maintenance requirements compared to
solutions are being developed in this way.
conventional diesel generator powered systems
Showcase 1 is a hybrid system in which the
will be significantly reduced.
Objectives
2. Air Liquide (France): PEM fuel cell system
development, economics studies.
3. Fraunhofer ISE (Germany): sizing of the
systems, PEM medium pressure electrolyser development, Energy Management
fuel cell is an additional power source that
enters into operation when necessary;
SHOWCASE 2: PV system with additional long-
consuming hydrogen regularly supplied to
term (seasonal) energy storage system. Solar
the system. Showcase 2 is a completely
energy excesses generated during long sunny
autonomous system with a seasonal energy
periods, especially in summer, are stored by
5. ICP-CSIC (Spain): Hydride metal based
storage system, including an electrolyser
means of a hydrogen storage system based on
Hydrogen Storage System development.
generating hydrogen in summer to be used
metal hydrides, where hydrogen is initially
6. NUVERA Fuel Cells Europe (Italy): PEM stack
in winter by the fuel cell.
produced by an electrolyser and consumed when
required by the fuel cell. This system enables
solar power systems to be used in places where
System development.
4. CIEMAT (Spain): PEM bipolar plate design,
integration and evaluation of showcase 2.
development.
7. WÜRTH Elektronik (Germany): CIS technology
solar panels development
operation of conventional back-up systems is not
Board of Interest:
allowed. This increases the system availability
8. INABENSA (Spain): Interest in remote energy
while
reducing
the
maintenance
costs
systems for telecom.
significantly.
9. CHLORIDE BOAR (Spain): Interest in
In order to fulfil the strict telecommunication
10. ISOFOTON (Spain): Interest in solar remote
uninterrupted power supplies.
requirements in terms of size and reliability in
these showcases it is also necessary to develop
specific elements that improve the actual state56
systems.
11. GREENCELL (Spain): Interest in fuel cell
systems.
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Expected results/Exploitation plan
Progress to date
The expected results of the two dif ferent
Presently the consortium has completed the
showcases are related to improving power
development and commissioning phases, all
availability while decreasing costs and size
the components have been developed and tested
compared with conventional solar power
(in all the cases achieving the expected
systems.
performances), and both showcases have been
integrated and commissioned. In the beginning
Exploitation plans are related to the different
of the fourth year of the project the evaluation
industrial par tners:
phase is starting at Madrid (Showcase 1 at INTA
• To analyse the reliability and the technical
facilities and Showcase 2 at CIEMAT ones).
INFORMATION
References: ERK5-CT-1999-00018
status of stand-alone power systems for
Programme:
FP5 - Energy, Environment, Sustainable
Development
telecom application is the main objective of
companies joining the project in the Board of
Interest (INABENSA, CHLORIDE BOAR,
Title:
Fuel cell Innovative Remote System for
Telecom (FIRST)
ISOFOTON and GREENCELL). This Board of
Interest is still open for further participants.
Duration: 48 months
• To develop power generation systems based
on fuel cells for different applications is the
Partners:
- Instituto Nacional de Técnica
Aerospacial (E)
- Air Liquide (F)
- Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Förderung
der Angewandten Forschung (D)
- Centro de Investigaciones Energeticas
Medioambientales y Tecnologicas (E)
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Cientificas (E)
- Nuvera Fuel Cell Europe (I)
- Würth (D)
main objective of Air Liquide and Nuvera Fuel
Cells Europe.
• To develop hybrid power systems based on
solar systems for different applications is the
main objective of Wür th Elektronik.
FIRST project tasks are focused to fulfil these
different objectives of the industrial par tners.
Board of Interest:
- INABENSA (E)
- Chloride Board (E)
- ISOFOTON (E)
- GREENCELL (E)
Contact point:
Fernando Isorna
Tel: +34-91-520-1448
Fax: +34-91-520-1614
isornaf@inta.es
EC Scientific Officer:
Glyn Evans
Tel: +32-2-2965047
Fax: +32-2-2964288
glyn.evans@cec.eu.int
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Status: Ongoing