Nuvera to develop hydrogen fuel cells for TRU systems

Nuvera chosen by DOE for hydrogen fuel initiative

Nuvera Fuel Cells, a developer of hydrogen fuel cells, has announced a new partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Thermo King, a developer of temperature control systems for transportation. Nuvera has been chosen to participate in a research initiative that aims to determine the value of using hydrogen fuel cells for transport refrigeration units (TRUs). The company will work alongside Plug Power, another developer of fuel cell technologies, for the same purpose.

Fuel cells could lead to a new generation of TRU systems

Most TRU systems are powered by diesel generators, which produce significant levels of emissions on an annual basis. These generators also require regular maintenance that, when combined with other auxiliary costs, make them somewhat expensive. While hydrogen fuel cells are considerably more expensive when compared to the generators themselves, these energy systems are famously durable and require relatively little maintenance.  Fuel cells also produce no harmful emissions and operate quietly, making them a somewhat attractive alternative to generators.

Nuvera systems could run for at least 400 hours

Nuvera will work to develop a TRU system that will be powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The company expects that its system will be able to operate for a minimum of 400 hours during the duration of the demonstration project. The TRU system will be equipped to a truck that will deliver goods to facilities in California and Texas.

Nuvera to generate hydrogen fuel with PowerTap system

Plug Power announced its partnership with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory earlier this week. Both Plug Power and Nuvera will be developing hydrogen-powered TRU systems for the same purpose. While Plug Power will be receiving the hydrogen fuel it needs to power its TRU system from Air Products, a leading supplier of chemical gases, Nuvera will take a different approach. The company will be using its PowerTap generator and refueling systems to produce hydrogen fuel from natural gas and water.