News >>>Adelan fuel cells extend solar energy storage capacity in Chinese homes

Posted  March 6 2020

Adelan fuel cell technology is set to energise China’s homes in a new clean technology collaboration. Under a deal backed by InnovateUK, a complete 24-hour solar home power supply system has emerged.

Supporting a solar power and battery system developed by a Jiangsu-based partner, Adelan fuel cells add back-up power and resilience to create a hybrid unit that delivers clean, quiet and round-the-clock power.

Development of the ‘SOFcSOLar’ (SOFSOL) home power product offers significant market opportunities both in the domestic Chinese market and beyond.

Renewable energy has experienced rapid growth in China and batteries are typically being used to store any excess capacity. The problem is battery weight, volume and cost. Fuel cells are able to enhance the battery storage capabilities to give many times more storage and back-up capacity for the same size and cost. In addition, the Adelan fuel cell also potentially provides heat for hot water, another significant source of energy demand in domestic properties.

Adelan CEO Dr Michaela Kendall, explains: “Balancing renewable energy supply with power demand is one of the key challenges we need to overcome to achieve the low-carbon transition. Coupling renewables, storage and fuel cells in this system maximises the opportunity for renewable energy contributions. More importantly, by solving the variability problem, the fuel cell hybrid system works with people’s lives and means that renewables are a viable solution. In the same way, our proven microtubular SOFC technology can use easily available forecourt fuels like propane or LPG and making this a usable, real-world approach that can be widely deployed.”

The project was jointly funded by InnovateUK and co-financed by the two technology partners. The £400k project was led by Adelan’s Dr Kevin Kendall FRS with Guo Junping leading Chinese company partners. On completion of the project Guo Junping said, “China is leading the world in fuel cell and hydrogen technology development to support clean energy deployment around the world and protect global citizens from the scourge of air pollution. Multi-billion pound investments into fuel cell technology in China demonstrate a level of commitment unparalleled elsewhere in the world.  Respected experts like Adelan help to accelerate China towards clearing air pollution globally”.

Alongside the core hybrid energy system product, a new company is being established to commercialise the product in the Chinese home market. Other new products and prototypes also emerged from the partnership, where UK Midlands and Chinese manufacturing collaboration was supported.

Commenting on the project Dr Kendall said: “Projects like this are critical if we are to maximise the economic and environmental benefits that are possible from commercialising home-gown UK technology. Hybrid systems that are enabled by Adelan fuel cell technology will allow us to tap into what is widely expected to become a huge global market.”

To discover more about how Adelan can support your future energy ambitions or to meet your requirements for clean, quiet and reliable energy for remote, mobile or any other applications, please contact Dr Kendall and the rest of the Adelan team at:

Adelan Ltd, 15 Weekin Works, 112-116 Park Hill Road, Birmingham, B17 9HD (UK)

Tel: +44 (0)121 427 8033

About Adelan

First founded in The Midlands, Birmingham-based Adelan pioneered microtubular solid oxide fuel cell (mSOFC) technology more than 30 years ago. Adelan’s patented and scalable technology gives the fuel cell unprecedented flexibility, allowing the system to run cleanly on a range of commonly available fuels such as LPG, natural gas or propane/butane mix. As a result, though Adelan fuel cells can also run on hydrogen, they offer considerable additional operational flexibility and ease of use benefits whilst retaining a small, compact and lightweight footprint.