Exact Robotics introduces hydrogen fuel cell autonomous tractor
The new autonomous tractor for vineyards, the TRAXX Concept H2, was introduced by French agricultural robot manufacturer EXXACT Robotics. It uses a hydrogen fuel cell.
Both tillage and vine maintenance can be done with the Trax Concept H2. The robot took 24 months to develop.
By integrating a tiny power bank and an associated fuel cell, the self-driving vehicle may utilise a complete 35 kW of electricity. This tractor’s pressurized tank enables uninterrupted operation throughout the day.
This fuel cell proposal is intended to show how a hydrogen fuel cell can be integrated with an autonomous straddle carrier that moves between grape furrows, as well as a safety, ergonomics, and charging solution.
During the grape-growing season this year, Exact Robotics will start conducting field tests with a restricted group of clients. This tractor solution was created especially for harvesting and plowing tasks.
Calvera Hydrogen creates hydrogen tube trailer
At its facility in Zaragoza, Spain, Calvera Hydrogen has created a 45-foot hydrogen tube trailer type.
It asserts that it has the greatest capacity on earth. The United States and Germany were the first two countries where it was developed to support Shell’s hydrogen refueling facilities in North America and Europe.
Hydrogen can be carried and kept in the trailer.
Jeju tram revived with hydrogen tram
On the afternoon of the 10th, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province hosted a policy conference at the Jeju Welcome Center Welcome Hall of the Jeju Tourism Organization to discuss revitalizing hydrogen trams in the Jeju style.
With this, the public discussion on the hydrogen tram, a novel mode of transportation that Oh Yeong-hoon, the candidate for the 8th civil election in Jeju Province, had highlighted as a key campaign promise, got underway. Another important initiative for the establishment of Jeju as a 15-minute city is the hydrogen tram.
The forum was presided over by former Transportation Society president Lee Yong-jae and began at 2:00 p.m. on the same day. Professor Park Jong-hyeok of Hankyong University, Doctor Kim Yeon-kyu of Sambo Technology Group, Director of Core Technology Development for Hyundai Rotem Jeong Hoon, and Director of Railway Policy for Korea Railroad Research Institute Lee Jun also presented presentations.
Wrightbus aims to build hydrogen production facility in Ballymena
At its manufacturing in Ballymena, Wrightbus intends to build a green hydrogen production facility.
The plan is being put up in collaboration with Hygen Energy, a sister business.
Manufacturing hydrogen-powered buses, some of which are used by Translink, is a component of the Wrightbus company.
For those buses and other hydrogen-powered vehicles, the new facility would assist in developing a dependable source of fuel.
The proposal is currently undergoing community engagement, and a planning application will be submitted in April.
GlobalData: Electrolysis capacity of about 1,065GW in the pipeline to create low-carbon hydrogen
GlobalData’s recent publication “Hydrogen Transition Outlook and Trends: Q1 2023,” highlights deals, trends, and investments as useful benchmarks to identify those leading companies driving the hydrogen market growth.
Andres Angulo, Energy Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “During 2022, over 393 deals related to hydrogen were closed, representing a significant increase compared to 277 deals registered in 2021. This shows an upward trend in the hydrogen market development, which could be decisive in achieving over 71 mtpa capacity worldwide by 2030… Despite the challenging global economic conditions, the number of investments in low-carbon hydrogen increased from 600 to over 1,700 between Q4 2021 and Q4 2022. As of January 2023, 93% of both active and pipeline hydrogen projects were green, as reflected by the increasing manufacturers’ electrolysis capacity and the number of EPC contractors participating in bigger green projects.”
PowerTap updates on Gen3 hydrogen technology
An update on the operations of PowerTap and its subsidiary, PowerTap Hydrogen Fueling Corp., is provided by PowerTap Hydrogen Capital Corp.
In accordance with the company’s press release from November 23, 2022, PowerTap Hydrogen Fueling Corp. and T2M Global, PowerTap’s technology partner, have advanced the engineering and supply chain validation of the PowerTap Gen3 Modular Hydrogen Production and Dispensing Unit (MHPDU) as part of PowerTap’s plan to build light- and heavy-duty hydrogen (H2) refueling stations for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) by 2024.
T2M Global has made significant strides toward finalizing a compression partnership as part of its progress on supply chain and technology validation of PowerTap’s Gen3 unit. This partnership would significantly increase station uptimes over the currently unacceptable 40% to 65% uptimes of existing H2 fuel stations (using H2 produced off-site) in California. T2M and the compression partner are putting the finishing touches on the specifics to deliver close to 100% uptimes to improve the ownership experience for H2 FCEVs.
Additionally, T2M has been essential in helping PowerTap’s business development, which has involved engaging with potential industry partners like station partners, automakers, industry consortia collaborations, and funding from governments both domestically and abroad.
PowerTap selected Salim Rahemtulla, who has served as president of the USA subsidiary of PowerTap Hydrogen Fueling Corp., as the new CEO of the USA subsidiary, as stated in the Company’s press release on February 8, 2023.
Off-grid offshore hydrogen production addressed by H2SEA
A client asked H2SEA to create solutions for the growing demand for offshore, off-grid system stability. Although future Wind Turbine Generators (WTG) are expected to create grids, existing WTGs are not.
Maintaining the stability of the power system when the Hydrogen Production System is supplied by an Offshore Wind Park without a grid link is a fundamental difficulty in Green Offshore Hydrogen production. Future wind farms dedicated to hydrogen production will not have grid connections and will be unable to rely on the grid for inertia and grid stability. Because of the low-inertia grid, the system is susceptible to shocks, which can lead to instability.
H2SEA produced three potential solutions, which were tested in an Electro Magnetic Transient (EMT) research with high voltage engineering specialist Enersynt.
The favored approach demonstrated practicality by combining traditional wind turbine generators with grid-forming converters and energy storage. Although H2SEA’s solution now works with a reduced Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), the company’s long-term goal is to develop without one.
H2SEA and sister engineering company Enersea will continue their own research program as well as client research to identify clever and cost-effective solutions for offshore hydrogen generation.
