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

交通部门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）作为分布式储能和/或发电机的潜力，以便在需要时向电网供电。我们假设，这种FCEV到电网的途径可以最大限度地提高加拿大氢（H2）基础设施扩张的好处，以使运输和电力部门脱碳，同时为FCEV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-班夫铁路连接列车，这两者都是FCEV的潜在早期采用者。我们将首先确定燃料电池电动汽车并网的技术和经济限制（例如，峰值需求小时、电网连接位置、FCEV成本和维护费用、氢气成本）。然后，最佳的操作时间表，以最大限度地增加燃料电池汽车的空转时间将被设计出来。将评估潜在的温室气体（GHG）减排量，这取决于燃料电池电动汽车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，以评估拟议的燃料电池电动汽车到电网路径的经济效益和风险。与我们的合作伙伴Transition Accelerator的密切互动将为分析提供有价值的信息，例如真实的FCEV性能和电网集成信息，以及对高素质人员（HQP）的跨学科培训。研究结果将为FCEV-to-grid在温室气体减排和相关经济效益/风险方面的作用提供新的认识。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.