Hybrid Technologies: Fuel cells and renewable energies

Abstract

Hybrid systems are characterized by containing two or more technologies of electrical generation, in order to optimize global efficiency of the processes. These systems can present different operation modalities. Also, they contemplate aspects that concern to the electrical and thermal efficiencies, as well as the polluting emissions reduction.

There is a wide range of possible configurations to conform hybrid systems, including hydrogen, renewable energies, gas cycles, vapour cycles or both. This paper presents and analyses those systems that use fuel cells, as base technology, for hybridization processes. Specifically, the cogeneration process that can be configured with PEMFC and SOFC technologies. Related to fuel cells of high temperature, SOFC, it is considered the possibility of using its exhaust gases, with later treatments, to generate hydrogen for the supply of the PEMFC technology. Finally, the hybridization processes of fuel cells with wind turbines and photovoltaic plants is presented.