SERC meets its clean energy mission by performing research on renewable energy systems; designing, building, operating, and demonstrating clean and renewable energy technologies; providing training for students in renewable energy technologies; and educating the public about the advantages of clean and renewable energy technologies.
SERC has extensive real life experience with hydrogen as a fuel for transportation and stationary power generation. SERC engineers have planned, designed, obtained permits for, built, and installed hydrogen generation equipment, hydrogen storage and dispensing systems, and hydrogen fuel cell systems at locations up and down the state. These systems were created from the ground up by SERC engineers, who developed expertise in integrating equipment from multiple manufacturers along the way.
Our mission extends well beyond getting the equipment up and running. We conduct market, financial, and feasibility studies for hydrogen energy technologies. We also assist our clients in the political consensus building necessary to make these groundbreaking projects become reality. We develop public outreach and educational materials to get public officials and the public at large on board with hydrogen and to teach schoolchildren about clean energy alternatives.
SERC’s work does not stop when these facilities are completed: our engineers go on to provide system testing and startup, technology transfer, operations and maintenance manuals, and technical support and troubleshooting to our project clients.
SERC has developed extensive proprietary knowledge of fuel cells and fuel cell systems and holds two patents on fuel cell technology. SERC fuel cell technology is licensed to and sold commercially by IdaTech, LLC, and Protonex Technology Corporation.
Automated Monitoring and Control. The Schatz Energy Research Center has extensive in-house experience in the design, construction, and operation of monitoring systems. In the last decade, SERC has designed, constructed, and operated more than 20 data acquisition and control systems, ranging from simple systems that monitored two inputs to complex systems with 140 analog and digital inputs, using programming languages from DataForth to Labview on Apple Macintosh, PC/Windows, and embedded system computer platforms.
Solar Hydrogen Systems. Through its work, SERC has developed extensive experience in the design, construction, and operation of systems which utilize hydrogen as a storage medium for solar electricity. From our work with safety professionals, fire marshals, and local building officials, center personnel are familiar with codes, standards, and safe practices in dealing with AC and DC electrical circuitry and hydrogen gas. In addition, SERC has built and operated a number of small to medium sized (0.1-10.0 kW) PEM fuel cells and has successfully implemented them in “real world” applications. We have in place the design tools and experienced personnel to implement a PV-hydrogen energy system.
