As part of its Zero Carbon Target strategy, CCEC recently launched a new brand, Accelera, aimed at accelerating the introduction of zero-emission solutions to the market.
For more than 100 years, CCEC has been committed to developing leading power solutions, and hydrogen energy will play a vital role in the future-oriented sustainable development of power systems. Antonio Leitao, vice president of CCEC’s non-road engine business, said, “Our strategy is to focus on the entire value chain of the hydrogen energy industry to promote sustainable development and bring it to market faster. “Through a series of acquisitions and investments, Cummins focuses on three hydrogen-related areas: green hydrogen production, management and transportation, and hydrogen internal combustion engines and fuel cells.
Alison Trueblood, General Manager of Accelera Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Technology, said, “Accelera is committed to letting more people understand the flexibility and reliability of hydrogen energy and fuel cell engines. We are establishing long-term partnerships with customers and reaching consensus. That is, the best power solution in the future is zero carbon.”
Green hydrogen converts renewable energy (wind energy, solar energy, hydropower) into hydrogen energy through electrolysis of water. This process is zero-carbon. The key to achieving this is the electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen. Accelera is building new hydrogen electrolysis plants in La Mancha, Spain and Minnesota, USA, and expanding capacity in Oevel, Belgium, and Mississauga, Canada.
Accelera has deployed more than 600 water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment in 100 countries around the world, and continues to increase investment. One of the latest projects includes the delivery of a 35 megawatt (MW) proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis plant for hydrogen energy company Linde Group’s new hydrogen production plant in Niagara Falls, New York. Upon completion, Accelera will power Linde’s largest green hydrogen plant in the United States. The Accelera 1500E stack unveiled at the exhibition is part of the 2.5 MW proton exchange membrane electrolysis water hydrogen production equipment.
The on-board hydrogen storage system is a key component of hydrogen power, and hydrogen needs to be stored after compression to meet the needs of vehicle operation. Cummins forms a joint venture with NPROXX, a leader in high-pressure hydrogen storage and transportation, to support assembly with OEMs. The pressure capacity of the hydrogen storage bottle is 700bar, which can maximize the hydrogen storage capacity and cruising range of the vehicle.
Leitao said: “The development of hydrogen energy supply and infrastructure will take time. Hydrogen popularization may start from applications where hydrogen can be centrally refueled, such as in-base operations or close to large hydrogen refueling hubs
CCEC is developing hydrogen internal combustion engines to provide customers with sustainable carbon reduction solutions. The hydrogen internal combustion engine is compatible with existing vehicle designs, which can help OEMs and customers reduce integration difficulty and complexity. At the same time, the hydrogen internal combustion engine and existing engine parts can be partially shared, which not only promotes the advantages of economies of scale, but also provides reliability and durability comparable to diesel engines.
The Cummins M15H hydrogen engine unveiled at Con Expo is suitable for excavators, wheel loaders, drilling rigs, milling machines and air compressors, with a maximum rated power of 530 horsepower (395 kW) and a peak torque of 2600 Nm.
Leitao added: “The hydrogen internal combustion engine can be fitted to existing equipment, is compatible with current gearboxes, and can be smoothly connected to existing service networks.”
Hydrogen fuel cell technology can provide an efficient power solution for heavy-duty vehicles with high frequency of use and high energy demand, while meeting the demand for zero emissions. The fuel cell converts the chemical energy generated by hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy, and it can provide instantaneous power response in a parallel hybrid architecture together with batteries (supercapacitors, lithium-ion or lead-acid).
Accelera demonstrated its fourth-generation fuel cell engine at Con Expo, which has improved power density, efficiency and durability while achieving zero greenhouse gas and harmful substance emissions. Single 150 kW and dual 300 kW modular engines are available for heavy-duty and off-road equipment applications.
Leitao said: “Hydrogen internal combustion engines and fuel cells complement each other, providing customers in different zero-carbon emission stages with a variety of choices. At the same time, the promotion of hydrogen internal combustion engines will also accelerate the development of hydrogen energy infrastructure and promote the wide application of fuel cell power systems.”
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