Analyzing the potential of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles as distributed energy storage or generators to decarbonize transportation and power sectors

交通运输部门的脱碳和扩大能源储存对于向净零经济过渡至关重要。该项目旨在评估将燃料电池电动汽车（fcev）连接到电网（fcev -to-grid）的潜力，作为分布式能源存储和/或发电机，在需要时向电网供电。我们假设，这种氢燃料电池汽车到电网的途径可能会最大化加拿大氢（H2）基础设施扩张的好处，从而使交通和电力部门脱碳，同时为氢燃料电池汽车所有者提供潜在的经济激励。我们将研究两个案例：401高速公路上的重型卡车和卡尔加里-班夫铁路线列车，两者都是潜在的fcev早期采用者。我们将首先确定氢燃料电池汽车并网的技术和经济限制（例如，高峰需求时间、并网地点、氢燃料电池汽车成本和维护费用、氢成本）。然后设计出最优的运行计划，使燃料电池汽车怠速时间最大化。对潜在的温室气体（GHG）减排进行评估，这取决于氢燃料电池汽车的并网时间表以及氢气和发电的碳强度。还将开发一个技术经济模型，以评估拟议的氢燃料电池汽车到电网途径的经济效益和风险。与我们的合作伙伴过渡加速器的密切互动，将提供有价值的信息，如现实生活中的FCEV性能和网格集成信息，用于分析，以及对高素质人员（HQP）的跨学科培训。研究结果将为氢燃料电池汽车在温室气体减排中的作用以及相关的经济效益/风险提供新的认识。团队中的HQP将准备成为加拿大蓬勃发展的清洁技术部门的未来劳动力。

Decarbonizing the transportation sector and scaling up energy storage are critical to the transition to a net-zero economy. This project aims to evaluate the potential of connecting fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) to the electrical grid (FCEVs-to-grid) as distributed energy storage and/or electricity generators to supply electricity to the grid when needed. We hypothesize that this FCEVs-to-grid pathway may maximize the benefits of the hydrogen (H2) infrastructure expansion in Canada to decarbonize both the transportation and power sectors, while providing potential economic incentives to FCEV owners. We will study two cases: the heavy-duty trucks on Highway 401 and the Calgary - Banff Rail Link train, both of which are potential early adopters of FCEVs. We will first identify the technical and economic constraints for FCEVs-to-grid (e.g., peak demand hours, grid-connection locations, FCEV cost and maintenance expense, hydrogen costs). Then optimal operation schedules to maximize FCEV idling time will be devised. The potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction will be evaluated, which depends on the FCEVs-to-grid schedules and the carbon intensities of hydrogen and the power generation. A techno-economic model will also be developed to evaluate the economic benefits and risks of the proposed FCEVs-to-grid pathway. Close interactions with our partner, the Transition Accelerator, will provide valuable information such as the real-life FCEV performances and grid integration information for the analyses, as well as interdisciplinary trainings to the highly qualified personnel (HQP). The results will provide new understandings on the role of FCEVs-to-grid for GHG reduction and the associated economic benefits/risks. HQP on the team will be prepared as future workforce in the blooming cleantech sector in Canada.