Primary Power Supply: Solar
NYIT's home will be powered by solar power, also known as photovoltaic (PV) generated electricity. PV cells are made of semi-conducting materials that directly convert sunlight into electricity. NYIT is using 54 Sanyo HIT-200 Sanyo Solar Panels that will be mounted on the roof of Blue Space. Each panel is 12.7 square feet, equating to a total solar array footprint of 686 square feet. The Sanyo HIT-200s can produce 200 watts of power, providing for a substantial 10.8 kilowatt array nameplate capacity.
This solar panel installation was designed to maximize energy production based on a limited amount of space: Solar decathlon rules challenge each team to design a maximum 800 square foot footprint home that is "off-grid" and energy self sufficient. Since NYIT is using a unique and somewhat inefficient energy storage system, production was put at a premium. After carefully balancing architectural and engineering needs, the team worked out a compromise of 55 panels. The Sanyo HIT-200 panels incorporate mono crystalline and ultra-thin amorphous layers, and are some of the most efficient commercially available.
Energy Storage: Hydrogen Fuel Cell
Since sunlight is variable and non-existent at night, the off-grid house must have an energy storage system. NYIT's home will be unique in that it consists of a regenerative hydrogen energy storage system. This system requires several components in addition to PVs, including a hydrogen generator (electrolyzer), gas tanks and a fuel cell.
How it works: Electricity from the PV system will be used to separate hydrogen from water through electrolysis. The hydrogen will be stored and later used to power a fuel cell that provides electricity and heat on demand.
Each component of this system was carefully selected for its production and integration capabilities.
Electrolyzer: Hydrogen Generator
NYIT is using the Proton Energy Systems HOGEN 40 RE electrolyzer. This unit will take photovoltaic DC electricity and convert that into hydrogen at a rate of 100 ft3 H2 for every 15-18 kWh supplied. Hydrogen is then stored at a low pressure (200 psia) for later use in a bank of hydrogen tanks.
Fuel Cell
NYIT is using Plug Power's GenCore 5 kW pure hydrogen fuel cell. Fuel Cells use hydrogen as fuel to generate electricity through an electrochemical process. The reaction starts when hydrogen is fed to the anode where a catalyst separates hydrogen's negatively charged electrons from positively charged ions (protons). The flow of electrons is used to supply an electrical load with current. Oxygen is fed to the cathode, where recombining of hydrogen with oxygen complete the reaction. The only byproducts from the process are heat and water; there is no pollution. With no internal moving parts, fuel cells operate similar to batteries. An important difference is that batteries store energy, while fuel cells can produce electricity continuously as long as fuel - hydrogen - and air are supplied.
