The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service recently published an article highlighting the department’s use of Adaptive Energy’s solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) to innovate in the face of climate change and extreme weather.
Propane fuel cells are ideal for organizations that need more rugged and flexible power options, especially for off-grid use cases. This is because propane fuel cells operate even in the harshest of conditions with little maintenance. And thanks to being a quiet, clean and dependable power solution, propane-powered solid oxide fuel cells work in a wide variety of applications. We recently shared how propane fuel cells work, so today we wanted to dive into how propane fuel cells are being used by customers around the world.
The northern border in Washington State is so mountainous that cellular reception is not available, and many satellite phones do not work. For the USDA Forest Service, rangers have to rely on radio repeaters to maintain vital communication — especially during emergencies. As shared in this interview with Stacy Griffith, the Alaska Region Radio Manager, the issue was finding an offgrid power solution to keep the small 100W radio stations powered, regardless of weather conditions.
A fuel cell converts chemical energy of a fuel, like propane or hydrogen, into cleanly and efficiently produced electricity. Fuel cells are unique in part because of their flexibility and ability to be used in a variety of applications; they can provide power for systems as large as utility power grids and as small as a drone. There are different types of fuel cells, but today we’re going to focus on propane fuel cells.
Most recently, the Penguin C UAV from UAV Factory has been acquired by company Clear Pulse, to be used in the event of a disaster. In such a situation, the fixed-wing UAV will perform airborne radiological surveys to detect, study and map the radiation levels. These flights will then give a better idea than before about the safety and evacuation decisions needed. Clear Pulse manufactures radiation measurement products, and its contract with UAV Factory, signed in 2018, covers delivery and various follow-up support services for the Penguin C and its ancillary equipment.
