Hydrogen as an Energy Alternative

Commercial Microgrids

Green Power Solutions
for Commercial Applications

Our team has had many conversations with leaders and stakeholders in the commercial space related to energy. These commercial interests have expressed an interest in reliable, sustainable green power options. Many operations need an independent source of reliable backup power, but are also trying to achieve goals that align with ESG and green interests. Some operations want to be fully independent of the grid. We've developed Oncore Microgrid as a brand to help solve some of these industry challenges. Oncore Microgrid is designed to control energy costs, replace diesel generators, and have independent backup power at scale (also called a "microgrid").

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Oncore Microgrid » Applications » Commercial Microgrids

Powered by Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Summary

Hydrogen fuel cells are an excellent way to bridge the gap between the practicality of a storable fuel and the green energy demands of a 21st-century market. Hydrogen is a naturally occurring element that can be stored for use in energy production. There is no combustion involved, making it safe and clean for use. In our application, storable hydrogen fuel cells are a great replacement for batteries.

Components

Power Generation: Solar, wind, wave, hydroelectric, or hydrogen fuel cells

Energy Storage: Batteries and hydrogen bottles

Power Consumption: Users that require access to the energy

Microgrid Controller: Orchestrates the uninterrupted flow of power between production, storage, and consumption

Grid-Tied Utility: This is optional, and the microgrid will continue to operate independently when grid power is removed

Role of Hydrogen

Hydrogen’s role in the microgrid is two-fold:

Energy Production: Bottled hydrogen is fed to a fuel cell where it recombines with atmospheric oxygen to make electricity. Clean water is generated in the process.
Energy Storage: Surplus energy can be fed to an electrolyzer that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. A compressor is used to store hydrogen in bottles for later use.

Hydrogen is an exceptional value for long-term energy storage because additional tanks are relatively inexpensive; the same electrolyzer and compressor can be used to fill tanks for 3 days, 7 days, or a month’s worth of backup energy. Hydrogen offers a long-term storage value that batteries alone cannot affordably reach.

Diagram of how a microgrid works on a macro level

Why Hydrogen

Oncore Microgrid Power Generator

Oncore Microgrid builds custom solutions to meet the end-use case. Detailed engineering analysis is performed to right-size each of the major components:

Solar Array: detailed production forecasts and array recommendations for the target location
Fuel Cells: scale from 100 kW to 1 MW
Battery and Hydrogen Storage: sized for backup duration (hours or days)
Optional Electrolysis or Reformer: sized to refill the hydrogen tanks at a slow, moderate, or maximum rate

This flexibility allows us to design the optimal, right-sized solution for your requirements without over-engineering or unnecessary expense when it's not required.

Benefits

Clean Energy

Replacement for diesel fuel

Hydrogen fuel cells are the best 1:1 replacement for diesel. It's carbon-free and acceptable for use in states like California that have banned generators. This can be used in any application where traditional fuel generator fuels have been used.

Control Energy Costs

With peak shaving

Energy costs are always on the minds of owners and operators of commercial operations. Energy companies and co-ops will often utilize "demand charges" during peak energy times, which leaves your operations with tighter margins. One tool that commercial operations can use is "peak shaving". Peak shaving allows companies to automatically toggle from grid power to backup power during peak times. We use our proprietary MyH2Link technology to help commercial operators reduce energy costs.

Protect Operations

Against blackouts

A hydrogen fuel cell microgrid allows your power systems to stay operational, even when the main grid is experiencing a blackout. The system is always in standby, ready to toggle to hydrogen power when the grid goes down.

Microgrid System Statistics by Power Level

Commercial setups have varying needs when it comes to power. Oncore Microgrid is designed to be modular, based on the power levels you need to keep your operation going. Our power solutions range from 100kW to over a megawatt in power capability.

	1 MW	800 kW	600 kW	400 kW	200 kW	100 kW
Fuel Cells (kW):	1000	800	600	400	200	100
Inverters (Count):	20	16	12	8	4	2
Electrolyzer (kg/Day):	750	600	450	300	150	75
Tanks (kg):	1000	800	600	400	200	100

Auto-Transfer:	msecs	msecs	msecs	msecs	msecs	msecs
Backup at 66% Load:	24 h	24 h	24 h	24 h	24 h	24 h
Refill H2:	32 h	32 h	32 h	32 h	32 h	32 h
Live Telemetry & Diag:	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark
Use Cases:
- Backup Power	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark
- Energy Arbitrage	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark
- Curtailed Solar	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark
- ESG	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark	checkmark

Microgrid Solutions

Financing Microgrids

Since Oncore Microgrid uses hydrogen, there are incentives available to cover 30%-80% of system costs in the form of rebates, tax credits, and grant programs. Depending on your situation, you may qualify for incentives to help make the capital expense of a microgrid well within reach.

Our nation is vested

The U.S. is vested in a National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap, including $8 billion for Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs.

Incentives abound

Significant federal and state tax benefits or rebates are available. Some use cases qualify for 80% or more of cost reimbursement.

Benefits are local

Federal and state support is wonderful, but it's local employees, families, and communities that reap the benefits of clean, quiet, resilient, renewable energy - all delivered from the hydrogen microgrid.

See Financial Incentives