H2 INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGE

 

ENERGY SUPPLY (LOAD LEVELLING) HYDROGEN FC SERVICE STORAGE STATIONS

 

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ONE MINUTE - Amoco pumps at one of the 'Minute' service stations networked across the USA. For the first 25 years of motoring, petrol pumps did not exist. Instead, people were required to buy fuel in two-gallon cans from their nearest chemist, hardware shop or hotel. The world’s first filling station was a drugstore, still standing at Stadt-Apotheke – or Town Pharmacy – in Wiesloch, south of Heidelberg, Germany. This was where Bertha Benz first refuelled her husband’s Motorwagen. Her husband being Karl Benz. His 1886 patent for a horseless carriage is the first for an automobile designed to produce its own power. It was a tricycle with a motor, and used spoked-wire wheels, differential gears, and chains widely used on the bicycles of the day. Benz was a bicyclist.

In August 1888, without her husband’s knowledge, Bertha took the third version of the car for its first long-distance journey, a 65 mile drive on rough roads from Mannheim to Pforzheim, the world’s first long distance car journey. (Coincidentally, the world’s first bicycle journey was started in the same town, by Baron Von Drais, back in 1817).

The first petrol station in the UK was opened in November 1919 at Aldermaston, Berkshire by the Automobile Association (AA). It had a single, hand-operated pump and motorists were greeted by AA petrol staff in full uniform. During this post-war period, the AA was trying to promote the sale of British-made benzole fuel which was a by-product of burning coal. While benzole had been readily available from Russia, this deal was tainted by the 1917 Russian Revolution and the rise of the Bolsheviks. The initiative was successful, and the AA opened another seven filling stations. A total of 7,000 pumps were in operation by 1923. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is as yet no infrastructure for Hydrogen powered vehicles, nor for EVs on mass. This applies to every country in the world, including USA, EU, Asia, China, and UK. Thus, you may have a brilliant design in the JVH2 vehicle category, but be unable to operate it unfettered. The cart before the horse syndrome, or if you prefer, the chicken and egg conundrum. Though you could argue, that once you have a cart, you will find a way to pull or push it. Horses run on grass, grains and hay, fuels available the world over.

 

So here we are with hydrogen and battery EVs, but no infrastructure to supply them in the quantity needed to transition from petrol and diesel, to clean renewables. This then is a Jules Verne challenge. Since the author predicted hydrogen would surpass other fuels, he must have pondered the infrastructure for his vision.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE JVH2 INFRASTRUCTURE CHALLENGE

 

There is no limit to the design of a system to supply hydrogen to produce electricity to FCEVs at the roadside - in any form of the wonder molecule: ammonia, methanol, compressed or liquid gas.

 

This design challenge is Open Class. Any person, company or government can apply.

 

Though, architects and engineers should take into account the cost of producing a viable entry, as with logistics, and the vagaries of the planning system in your geographical region. Bearing in mind Red Flag politics.

 

 

 

 

 

SKY NEWS MARCH 2023 - The key to soaking up wasted energy, is to integrate the electricity supply industry with the infrastructure for EVs. The problem being that the automotive world and the electricity industry, appear not to comprehend the problems, so contained are they in their own little bubbles. You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.

 

 

 

The EU bans petrol and diesel cars by 2035. The UK by 2030.

The only way to turbo-charge change, is with clean statute. Well done to the EU February 2023. The technology has existed for many years. Manufacturers will now have to build zero carbon cars. Let us hope they do not wait until the last minute, like VW are saying. Energy companies will need to follow suite with infrastructure, or lose their grip on transport fuels. Great news for those considering entering the JVH2. At the moment it is the lack of alternative fuels at filling stations, that is the log jam.

The UK is aiming at 2030, while Norway is ahead of the game in EV sales, with gasoline’s share of the new car market vanishing more every month - faster than anyone could have predicted. This has led Norway to have the earliest target for the phaseout of new gasoline vehicle sales in the world – 2025.

Much of the credit for Norway’s head start can be credited to strong tax incentives for electric vehicles. Gas vehicles are subject to a significant tax, and electric vehicles are exempt from that tax. Where it is clear that gas cars are on the way out, nobody wants to be saddled with a vehicle they won’t be able to fuel in 10 years. Some Norwegian gas stations are already replacing pumps with chargers, after all. But green hydrogen and methanol is lagging.

 

 

 

 

 

A publicly owned electricity generation firm could save Britons nearly £21bn a year, according to new analysis that bolsters Labour’s case to launch a national energy company if the party gains power.

 

 

 

 

 

Marks will be awarded for low cost and speed of installation. Also the cost of purchase by way of CAPEX investment, by way of a costing exercise - or simply based on the cost of the project, minus development time.

 

Means to self finance alongside other services, piggy backing your concept will be likely considerations. One obvious one, is providing load levelling to energy companies who are paying massive fines to turn off wind turbines.

 

Hence, the trophy will be awarded in three guises: 

 

Stage 1. A low cost road side service station for the supply of hydrogen fuels.

 

Stage 2. A networked low cost energy supply service system, or with network capability built in.

 

Stage 3. A system as in 1., and 2., above, where the proposed system offers electricity grid supply and storage, by way of load levelling for national grids.

 

Please read the rules for applying, before making contact and registering your project. Email us if you have any questions or need clarification:  growth@blue-growth.org  (mark for the attention of B. Dusart)

 

 

 

 

 

 

[LEFT] In 2012, Shai Agassi began installing his 'Better Place' (BP) battery swap service stations. They were very slow in operation, complicated in design, and could not provide hydrogen - or load levelling as an accessory to grids, from which they drew their electrical energy to charge batteries. Other than these drawbacks, it was a valiant attempt.

 

Fewer than 1,000 Nissan eRogue and Renault Fluence Z.E. cars were deployed in Israel and around 400 units in Denmark, after spending about US$850 million in private capital. The IP was held by Better Place Switzerland. Their charging infrastructure network was based on a smart grid software platform using Intel Atom processors and .NET Framework, or comparable vendors.

 

This platform was to manage the charging of hundreds of thousands of electric cars simultaneously by automatically time-shifting recharging away from peak demand hours of the day, preventing overload of the electrical grid of the host country. It could have accepted wind turbine peak energy now wasted.

 

 

 

[RIGHT] A more flexible concept, generates green hydrogen from off peak and windfall energy from high winds, in addition to storing electricity - side by side. Also using Smart grid management. With the ability to re-supply energy to the grid, during peak times - for load levelling - by simply converting hydrogen back to electricity using fuel cells. Thus, not being a drain, more a buffer for electricity distribution companies and grid operators in times of emergency: a reserve grid.

 

The SmartNet™ system uses multiples of a standard energy cartridge as the storage medium, reducing costs, whether to supply vehicles, or simply act as an energy store for national grids. This is a baseline example to help you to formulate your own entry to the 'Infrastructure' JVH2. Where the BP units were expensive, we'd suggest using a flat-pack method of construction, for economical installation. A bit like flat-pack housing, that is so much cheaper than brick builds. Though, based on pre-fabricated steel sections. Simplicity should be a high priority.

 

 

 

 

The one rule that competitors must work to, is that the proposed service facilities must be able to supply hydrogen for fuel cell powered vehicles, and ICE vehicles using compressed gas, liquid hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, or peroxide. I.e., have multi-fuel capability.

 

Any proposal might also charge lithium batteries, alongside hydrogen storage, or use a standard from of cartridge for the supply and storage of electricity. Such design to be generally adoptable by automotive companies.

 

Applicants that meet these criteria, might benefit from a free License to use the name: SmartNet.

 

The Cleaner Ocean Foundation are SGD Champions. You can become a green technology Advocate. Helping to forge a better world on sustainable principles.

 

The Trophy awarded in this category will be the: "JVH2 World Hydrogen Trophy."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXAMPLE OF AN EARLY INFRASTRUCTE (2014) PROJECT - PRE: JVH2


 

 

The Wolrd's first hydrogen cartridge car, ammonia, methanol and compressed gas compatibility - for future proofed EVs

 

At the moment, there are no laws to make the automotive world invest in new technology, other than banning petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035 (in Europe). Climate change is not seen as a dire situation to some automotive concerns. Or, we'd have been driving EVs like those on sale today, over 20 years ago. The only reason why not, is because of the fossil fuel lobbies, talking politicians out of EVs - especially in California - where CARB backtracked - reversing targets. Now, the only blocker is a lack of infrastructure. And that is fairly and squarely in the lap of the administration in your country. You can help clear the fog of how and when, by fielding that dream vehicle you've always wanted to build. Then (perhaps) let your local MP check it out. The car seen here was built by students in 2014 - almost ten years ago. It features a rapid hydrogen cartridge exchange system - taking just a couple of minutes - standalone, or in a suitably equipped service station. Patent fees were prohibitive, without grant support. Leaving the car as heritage item (Museum Exhibit in Sussex, England), being the first in the world with such a system installed. Why not future proof your JVH2 entry, by installing a removable cartridge.

 

 

 

 

This very compact (unbranded) sports concept car incorporates the 'SmartNet' system. Meaning that it is compatible with the flat-pack hydrogen energy storage cartridges designed for trucks and vans - even lithium batteries swaps. But there is no statute compelling energy companies to develop such load levelling technology for the electricity and distribution supply industry - by way of a renewables infrastructure. Surely, it makes sense to soak up all that energy going to waste. Where at the moment the UK government (as one example) are paying £millions in fines, to turn wind turbines off. There must be many such solutions as yet untested. By competing in the JVH2 using compatible cartridges, you may help new energy storage and distributions companies spring up, to compete with traditional inflexible systems. Calling all entrepreneurs : )

 

 

 

The world's 1st car with a hydrogen cartridge exchange system for ammonia, methanol or liquid gas

 

 

 HISTORIC WORLD 1ST - INBUILT HYDROGEN CARTRIDGE EXCHANGE SYSTEM - SWAPS IN 2 MINS, TO AMMONIA OR METHANOL FUELS

MEANING ANY VEHICLE SO EQUIPPED MAY USE ANY H2 COMPOUND - OR EVEN LITHIUM BATTERIES - FUTURE PROOFING TECHNOLOGY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORD MODEL T - Electric cars were more popular as a mode of transport, until the electric starter motor made it easy to operate (start) petrol and diesel engines, powered by fossil fuels. Then Henry Ford came along with the Model T, making IC cars affordable. Well done to Henry. Today the challenge is to make automotive transport clean, in a sustainable world, for a healthier future.

 

 

 

 

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  THE JVH2 - FUEL SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR CARS, VANS & TRUCKS - LOAD LEVELLING SERVICE STATIONS - HYDROGEN FUEL CELL - INSPIRED BY JULES VERNE

 

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