Development of a solar-hydrogen cycle in Italy

The paper describes a demonstrative plant, located near Rome (Italy), built to investigate and test some commercial solar-hydrogen technologies. The system consists of a photovoltaic (PV) array coupled to a high pressure alkaline electrolyser; a storage for hydrogen gas in a metal hydride alloy, and a pressurised gas cylinder; and a solid polymer fuel cell as regenerative technology. The description of the main equipment with the preliminary performance results is reported, as well as the control, monitoring and safety systems and the experimental facility. (C) 1997 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. All rights reserved.