Hydrogen-powered fuel cells were recently successfully demonstrated as a backup power solution for telecom towers.

Need for Power Backup in Telecom Towers

• Uninterrupted energy supply is essential to maintain connectivity in telecom networks.
• Currently, diesel-powered generators are widely used, but they have high emissions and maintenance costs.

About Hydrogen Powered Fuel Cell

• Electrochemical devices that convert chemical energy from hydrogen into electricity through an electrochemical reaction.
• Works by combining hydrogen and oxygen, producing electricity, water, and heat as by-products.
• The fuel cell consists of an anode (negative electrode), a cathode (positive electrode), and an electrolyte membrane.
• Developed by the Centre for Fuel Cell Technology (CFCT) at the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology.
  • The Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell system was deployed at a telecom tower within the Pune Municipal Corporation limits. 

Structure and Components of Hydrogen Powered Fuel Cell

• Anode: Hydrogen gas (H₂) enters, splitting into protons (H⁺) and electrons (e⁻).
• Electrolyte Membrane: Allows only protons (H⁺) to pass through, forcing electrons to generate electricity by flowing through an external circuit.
• Cathode: Oxygen (O₂) from the air combines with electrons and protons, forming water as the only by-product.

Benefits of Using Fuel Cells

• Clean Energy: Produces electricity with minimal emissions, avoiding pollutants like PM, NOx, and SOx.
• High Efficiency: More efficient than traditional combustion-based power generation.
• Reliable Backup: Provides clean, quiet, and dependable power, ideal for hospitals, telecom towers, and data centers.
• Energy Storage: Converts excess renewable energy into hydrogen, allowing storage for later electricity generation.
• Fuel Versatility: Can use hydrogen, natural gas, biogas, ethanol, or methanol, depending on the type of fuel cell.

Applications of Fuel Cells

• Electric Mobility: Used in zero-emission vehicles with fast hydrogen refueling and higher efficiency than battery electric vehicles.
• Backup Power: Provides silent, clean, and reliable energy for telecom towers, hospitals, and critical infrastructure.
• Portable Electronics : Powers smartphones, laptops, and cameras, replacing conventional batteries.
• Off-Grid Energy: Suitable for remote areas with limited or no grid connectivity.
• Combined Heat and Power (CHP): Generates electricity and captures waste heat, improving overall efficiency.