Study on an energy supply system assuming a pipeline transportation of compressed hydrogen for distributed fuel cell in China

In this research, we investigated an energy supply system with distributed fuel cell in China based on compressed hydrogen derived from renewable energy. By analyzing the area where is rich in solar and wind power energy and considering the suitable pilot city, we investigated the energy system will transport compressed hydrogen from Xinjiang (where hydrogen be produced) to Shanghai (where hydrogen energy will be supplied by distributed fuel cell). Here, we will use the existed natural gas pipelines to transport compressed hydrogen to save costs when the maximum pressure of pipeline is 10 MPa. By analyzing the energy loss of all devices, the energy efficiency of the system based on the calorific value was 34.5% when the output of renewable energy was set to 100%, the total electrical power efficiency was about 18% and the efficiency of the heat supply was 16.5%.