RLB_UK_Riders_Digest_2013

A source of renewable energy
Feed In Tariffs are index linked and guaranteed for 20 years,
greatly improving the financial return
Power is exempt from the Climate Change Levy
The system produces no harmful emissions
Highly visible demonstration of renewable energy
Limitations
Planning issues could be a problem
May have implications for load capacity of roof or building
structure
May have implications for availability of plant space on roof
Substantial foundations required
Electricity generation dependant on wind speeds
Noise is an issue if sighted on or close to buildings
Fuel Cell
How does it work?
A fuel cell is
similar to a battery
except that fuel
(most commonly
hydrogen) is
constantly fed
into it to generate
electricity and
heat by an
electrochemical
process. Pure water is produced as the output emission.
Fuel cells have two electrodes; an anode on the negative side
and a cathode on the positive side. These are separated by
a solid or liquid electrolyte; the type of electrolyte determines
what type of fuel cell belongs to.
Hydrogen is supplied to the anode while oxygen is supplied
to the cathode thus creating the chemical reaction.
Hydrogen can be supplied through bottle stores or reformed
from natural gas.
Types of fuel cell; Phosphoric acid, molten carbonate, solid
oxide, proton exchange membrane etc.
In a building context a fuel cell can be used as a CHP unit
generating electricity and heat for building services.
E.G. Woking BC, the UK’s only commercially operational
fuel cell (200kW phosphoric acid) system providing power
© Rider Levett Bucknall UK 2013 109