SBIR Phase I: A Hydrogen Fuel Demonstration Project at Chena Hot Springs Resort, Alaska

这个小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将建立在现有的400千瓦双元式地热发电厂的基础上。这座发电厂可以提供比正常商业运营所需更多的电力，而且由于电网位置偏远(阿拉斯加北极)，电网完全隔离，因此这些多余的电力没有任何用处。这个项目将利用多余的电力，否则这些电力将被浪费；不断地产生氢气。由于其高可获得性和发电设备的相对较低的成本，搁浅的地热能是一种理想的可再生资源，可用于制氢。此外，小规模、偏远的氢气生产和在北极气候中的使用带来了独特的技术挑战，这些挑战将作为该项目的一部分加以量化和解决。该项目将进一步向阿拉斯加其他农村社区的阿拉斯加原住民转让技术。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是能够显著解决偏远社区(如阿拉斯加的社区)日益增长的发电成本问题。根据阿拉斯加能源局的数据，使用柴油发电机，农村村庄的发电成本可以接近每千瓦时90美分，平均为每千瓦时46美分。高昂的燃料成本和全球气候变化的证据是寻找传统发电技术替代品的强大动机，并为阿拉斯加创造了成为可再生能源和燃料储存技术领先者的机会。在石油产量下降和燃料成本上涨的情况下，开发可再生资源对长期经济福祉的重要性日益得到共识。阿拉斯加是一个能源生产和出口州，虽然今天这种能源主要来自化石燃料，但阿拉斯加拥有可用的资源，可以过渡到成为未来世界可再生能源和氢经济的关键参与者。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project will build on an existing 400 kilowatt binary geothermal power plant. This power plant can supply more electricity than is needed during normal business operations, and because the grid is completely isolated due to its remote location (North Pole, Alaska), there is no use for this excess power. This project will use the excess electricity which would otherwise go to waste; to generate hydrogen on a continual basis. Stranded geothermal energy is an ideal renewable resource to tap for hydrogen production due to its high availability and relatively low cost of power generation equipment. Additionally, small scale, remote hydrogen production and use in arctic climates present unique technical challenges which will be quantified and addressed as part of this project. This project will further enable the transfer of technology to native Alaskans in other rural communities in Alaska. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be the ability to significantly address the increasing cost of power generation in remote communities; such as those in Alaska. According to the Alaska Energy Authority, the cost of power generation in rural villages can approach 90 cents per kilowatt/hour (kWhr) using diesel generators, and averages 46 cents per kWhr. High fuel costs and evidence of global climate change are strong motivators for seeking alternatives to traditional generation technology, and create an opportunity for Alaska to become a leader in renewable energy and fuel storage technology. There is growing consensus about the importance of developing renewable resources for long term economic well-being in the face of declining oil production and rising fuel costs. Alaska is an energy producing and exporting state, and while today this energy is primarily derived from fossil fuels, Alaska has the resources available to transition into becoming a vital player in a future world renewable energy and hydrogen economy.