CEMAS user's Ohio-based companies fueling transition to sustainable energy

Paul Matter (‘01 BS, ‘06 PhD) has a lot of energy. Not only does he develop fuel cells which have the potential to create carbon emissions-free power, Matter is the founder of two Columbus-based companies. The technology his companies are commercializing will aid in the ongoing transition to sustainable energy sources by offering low cost production of “green” hydrogen, which is currently used in zero-emission fleet vehicles, as well as long-duration energy storage.

“I’ve always been interested in clean energy,” Matter said. “I see these efforts as a solution that can make it a reality.”

His first company, pH Matter, LLC, develops and commercializes carbon-based materials for emerging applications related to energy efficiency and nano-technology. 

Matter helped develop the technology as a doctoral student in the laboratory of Distinguished Professor of Engineering and William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Chair Umit S. Ozkan.

With the help of a $2.3 million Department of Energy contract, pH Matter’s advanced catalysts are being developed to produce more durable, zero emissions fuel cells for use in heavy-duty equipment such as forklifts and trucks. 

Decreasing prices of renewable energy and large company commitments to zero emissions are driving interest in fuel cells. Zero-emission fuel is needed for heavy-duty applications where battery power is not realistic, and green hydrogen is expected to replace diesel fuel for applications including buses, heavy-duty trucks, ships and trains. 

Fuel cells can store energy for long periods, so they offer advantages for vehicles like buses, long-haul trucks, and ships that need access to energy for extended periods. Fuel cells would be ideal for fleets, since hydrogen filling stations could be installed where the fleet is based. SARTA in the Akron/Canton area already has fuel cell buses that operate this way. Northern Europe, Germany, China and Japan have also embraced this technology.

Fuel cells are not more widespread currently because of the lack of infrastructure required. The cost of renewable energy has reached the point where green hydrogen can be cost-competitive with hydrocarbon fuels once hydrogen generation systems and refueling stations are in place.

Matter expects that by around 2030, about half of new trucks could be powered by fuel cells — a market potential in the billions of dollars.

As renewable energy becomes more economical, more is being added to the grid every day, but not without a few challenges. Wind and solar energy are weather dependent, potentially leading to interruptions in production and supply. Levels also vary between seasons, with a surplus during the summer and not enough during rainy or winter months. Realistically, long-term energy storage — up to six months — is needed to power the grid with mostly renewable energy.

That’s where Matter’s second company, Power to Hydrogen, comes in. The company’s efficient, long-duration fuel cell storage options are ideal for this purpose, and fuel cells excel in heavy-duty applications because the low cost of storing large amounts of energy in hydrogen containers is unmatched.  

This is how it would work. 

During peak periods of renewable energy production, surplus electricity can be turned into hydrogen and used for vehicles or stored for later use by the power grid, benefitting consumers with a continuous supply. Energy operators also benefit. Instead of losing money when their electricity supply exceeds demand, they can make hydrogen from the surplus and turn it into a valuable product.

“Hydrogen is a great fit for wind because you can take the excess energy wind often produces and store it indefinitely by making hydrogen with it, solving two problems,” Matter said. “Fuel cell technologies have advanced to the point that carbon-free emissions vehicles of all sizes are truly right around the corner.”

Surplus energy from renewables can also be fed directly back into the power grid for immediate use. Power to Hydrogen is developing a "reversible" fuel cell that enables hydrogen to be generated from renewable energy, stored, and efficiently converted back into electricity at a low cost. 

The technology could soon land on the moon, thanks to a NASA Tipping Point contract to develop a custom prototype fuel cell power source for a future moon base microgrid. These fuel cells, which run oxygen and hydrogen through a catalyst to create electricity, produce only water as a byproduct. 

The technology has to be adapted for the unique, extreme conditions found on the moon. Each lunar day is 700 hours, split more or less equally into night and day. So energy has to be stored for at least 350 hours. Having to anticipate a low-gravity environment and the extreme temperatures of the moon (-100 °C at night and up to 95 °C during the day) add to the challenge.

The technology is also being developed for fleet vehicles, and eventually passenger vehicles, through a project funded by Shell.
 
Ohio is well-positioned to play an outsized manufacturing role in the industry, thanks to earlier developments made at Ohio universities with Third Frontier funding. Ohio’s infrastructure, early adopter markets (such as distribution warehouses and data centers), abundance of component manufacturers, and the winds off Lake Erie add to the opportunity.

by Wenda Williamson, William G. Lowrie Dept. of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering