15/06/2006

The largest fuel cell in Greece has been installed and activated by the Centre for Renewable Energy Sources (CRES), in its Wind Park in Keratea, Attica. This fuel cell can produce electricity worth 5kW by using clean hydrogen as fuel. It is at this same park that, in November 2005, the first European hydrogen production unit from wind energy was installed.

Fuel cells produce electric current via an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen with water as the only by-product. Basically, they work like batteries except that they do not die out since the fuel (hydrogen) and the oxidant (air or oxygen) constantly enter in the rise and fall, and the products (electric energy, heat and water) are released.

Putting to use this specific technology can contribute not only to managing the energy problem through the utilisation of renewable energy sources, but also to the protection of the environment and the management of climatic changes at local and global levels.

Direct applications of fuel cells include: replacing batteries in uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems in telecommunications and power production stations and energy storing from renewable sources into autonomous energy systems. In the future, cells are expected to replace liquid and gas fuels in heating and transport.

The fuel cell is part of the Ηydrogen Technologies Laboratory of the CRES developed for the Ministry of Development?s Operational Programme "Competitiveness". The CRES Department for Incorporating RES & Hydrogen is responsible for the functioning and maintenance of the unit.

Source: CRES