| Comment | Markus Friedli, Emmental, Schweiz
In Switzerland, the architect Mr. Friedli supplies the energy needs of his highly insulated residential house in off-grid operation mode with a solar-hydrogen energy supply system since 1990. Solar thermal collectors provide hot water. 6 kWe of photovoltaic modules supply solar electricity.
Not directly used electricity is stored in batteries or converted into hydrogen by a pressurized electrolyzer [Hydrogen Systems] at a rate of 2 m3 per hour. The hydrogen is stored in a 100 l metal-hydride hydrogen storage with a capacity of 19 m3 of hydrogen. A stove and the heating of a washing machine are fueled by H2.
The total investment costs for the solar and the hydrogen components amounted to some 500,000 Swiss Francs (83,000 SFr were publicly funded).
In addition to these stationary applications, Mr. Friedli drives a van converted to hydrogen operation. The van is a multi-fuel vehicle running on hydrogen, liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and gasoline |
