Rolls-Royce starts pilot project on using stationary fuel cells for stationary power generation

• 4 years ago (2019-12-05)
• David Flin

Distributed energy 10 Europe 1061

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Rolls-Royce and Lab1886 , an innovation lab within the Mercedes-Benz group, have agreed to jointly develop the use of vehicle fuel cells for stationary power generation. The Rolls-Royce business unit Power Systems, which produces solutions under the MTU brand name, and Lab1886 have agreed to develop a pilot project. Rolls-Royce will develop a solution for sustainable off-grid generation of continuous and emergency power using vehicle fuel cells.

The pilot project will begin in early 2020, and will include the construction of an emergency power plant for Rolls-Royce’s data centre in Friedrichshafen in Germany. The plant will be based on fuel cell modules developed by Mercedes-Benz Fuel Cell GmbH.

Alongside fuel cell technology, Rolls-Royce is researching the manufacture of hydrogen and other synthetic fuels using renewable energy sources, also for use in fuel cells. Dr Martin Teigler, Head of R&D of Power Systems, said: “Used in this combination, fuel cells promise to make an even bigger contribution to the energy turnaround. We are delighted to have Lab1886 as our partner, because their technological mindset fits ours perfectly. We’re confident that Mercedes-Benz fuel cell modules have the potential to open up new application possibilities in stationary power generation as well, and that’s our market.”