Yet another light bulb moment has pioneered The Department of Science and Technology - Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI)’s plan to experiment with fuel cells, hoping to switch to a more eco-friendly choice for energy sources. 

The Department of Energy claims that fuel cells are like limitless batteries that do not require charging and are reliable sources of heat and electricity for as long as the fuel itself is continuously replenished. These work by draining the chemical energy of certain sources, the most common being hydrogen — an element that constitutes the compound for water — with electricity, water, and heat as its products. 

The structure of fuel cells is similar to a sandwich. The bread slices are the positive electrode (cathode) and negative electrode (anode), which are conductors where electricity, for example, flows upon contact with a nonmetallic part. The electrolyte, which breaks into its component ions or charged particles when submerged in fluids like water, acts as the stuffing. 

The science happens when the fuel, say hydrogen, is given to the anode while air is given to the cathode. Catalysts in the anode help speed up the separation of hydrogen atoms into protons and electrons. The negatively charged particles then enter an external circuit that generates electricity, while the positively charged atoms travel to the cathode to bond with oxygen and other electrons to create water and heat. 

Ronaldo Parreño Jr., DOST-ITDI fuel cell R&D testing facility project leader, expressed the issues the experiment aims to manage upon usage, including energy security and eco-friendliness as fuel cells do not emit carbon, unlike fossil fuels. 

“Isa sa mga gusto nating i-address, is yung energy security. But at the same time gusto rin nating ma-address yung mga problems associated with the environment, like air pollution,” he mentioned. 

“It is twice as efficient than the internal combustion energy na ginagamit natin for cars and also for power production. As much as 30% to 40% yung mase-save natin for energy consumption,” Parreño added. 

Recognizing the potential, the Department of Energy and the DOST-ITDI readily funded the creation of fuel cells and provided the latest equipment to facilitate its development, estimating the production of a viable prototype by the end of next year or mid-2026. 

This project plays a vital role in the country’s technological advancements as fuel cells are as flexible as rubber — providing products that can power several systems, whether they are as tiny as laptops or as large as power stations, while simultaneously having lower or no emissions if compared to other combustion engines. 

Sources:
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/science/919598/dost-developing-fuel-cell-as-alternative-energy-source/story/

https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/fuel-cells