An Introduction to Fuel Cell Technology
Course Duration: ~ 40mins – 1hr
Course Overview
This Introduction to Fuel Cell Technology course provides a clear and practical introduction to fuel cells, their applications and their potential role in the transition to a lower-carbon energy system.
Fuel cell technology is attracting significant investment globally, with applications emerging across industry, transport and electricity generation. As hydrogen production and infrastructure continue to develop, fuel cells could play an important role in converting hydrogen into useful electricity without producing carbon emissions at the point of use.
Throughout the course, delegates will explore how fuel cells work, how the technology has developed, the different types of fuel cells available and where they are being used today. The course also considers the growing use of fuel cells in vehicles and introduces the key hazards and safety considerations associated with hydrogen-powered systems.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain how fuel cells work and their potential role in decarbonising industry and transport.
- Describe the purpose and basic design of a fuel cell.
- Recognise the differences between the main types of fuel cell technology.
- Identify current and emerging applications for fuel cells.
- Describe different types of hydrogen-powered vehicles.
- Explain the role of hydrogen storage and pressure vessels in fuel cell vehicles.
- Identify the key hazards associated with hydrogen vehicle systems.
- Compare the hazards associated with hydrogen vehicles with those of petrol and battery-electric vehicles.
- Explain the key safety features and considerations involved in refuelling fuel cell vehicles.
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Course Breakdown
What are fuel cells?
We begin with the fundamentals of fuel cell technology, exploring what a fuel cell is and how it converts chemical energy into electricity.
You’ll be introduced to the basic principles behind fuel cells and consider why the technology is attracting increasing interest as part of the transition towards lower-carbon energy and transport.
How have fuel cells been used?
Fuel cell technology has been around for decades and has already been used across a range of applications.
This section explores how fuel cells have developed and where the technology has been used, providing context for its growing role in modern energy systems and transport.
Fuel cell design
We then look more closely at how fuel cells are designed and the components that enable them to generate electricity.
Understanding the basic design and operation of a fuel cell provides the foundation for exploring the different technologies available and why different fuel cell designs are suited to different applications.
Comparing types of fuel cells
There are several different types of fuel cells, each with different characteristics, operating temperatures, fuels and potential applications.
This section compares the main fuel cell technologies, exploring their advantages, limitations and typical uses.
Vehicle usage
One of the most widely discussed applications for fuel cell technology is transportation.
We explore how fuel cells are being used in vehicles, including the different types of hydrogen-powered vehicles available and why hydrogen can offer particular advantages for certain transport applications.
Hydrogen in use
We move from the technology itself to the wider hydrogen vehicle system, exploring how hydrogen is stored and supplied for use in fuel cell vehicles.
This includes an introduction to hydrogen pressure vessels, refuelling and the systems involved in getting hydrogen safely from storage into a vehicle.
Hazards in fuel cell use
We finish by considering the safety implications of fuel cell and hydrogen vehicle technology.
You’ll explore the key hazards associated with hydrogen-powered systems and consider how these compare with conventional petrol and battery-electric vehicles. The section also introduces the safety features and controls used during hydrogen vehicle operation and refuelling.
