The Arctic: Ecology and hydrogen energy

Abstract

Hydrogen fuel cells being hydrogen energy storage devices are the most effective and environmentally friendly for energy accumulation and storage. Direct current provides the accumulation of electric energy and is therefore necessary when using renewable energy sources.The social and environmental aspects, as well as climatic and glaciological features of the Arctic development in terms of energy supply are considered. The most expedient ways of complex development of the Arctic are shown. In terms of large and unique stationary projects a number of shortcomings is marked. They are high cost and long-term construction, incomplete autonomy and insufficient solution of ecological and waste processing problems. Incomplete autonomy is due to the need for transportation of materials, products, replacement crews and personnel, as well as insufficient logistics and transportation difficulties on the mainland in summer and by sea in winter. Ecological and waste processing problems are associated with the use of traditional methods of burning solid and liquid fuel using coal or fuel oil, polluting the environment. Switching to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) for electric propulsion and power supply will significantly improve the environmental situation. The research performed on the mathematical model of the multifunctional energy complex (MEC) showed the possibility of uninterrupted power supply of local load from the centralized network, diesel generator (DG) and the electricity storage (ES); by that DG is used to save fuel as a backup source. The proposed technologies of power generation based on hydrogen or low-power nuclear power plants (LPNPPs) allow, along with improving the environment, to increase the energy efficiency of the direct fuel conversion plant and provide integrated waste processing. The small population of the Arctic, its mobility when using the rotational method require the integrated development of mobile energy and life support systems of low power up to 30 MW using LNG or LPNPPs, completed by renewable energy sources (RES). If the hydrogen installation is both a source and a storage of electricity, the use of LPNPPs and especially RES require energy storage devices. These hydrogen or electrochemical cycle storage devices are the most progressive in the world energy sector and their applicability significantly depends on the development of the service infrastructure. Typing and replication of power supply sources will solve the problem of development of remote and isolated regions of the Arctic through the integrated use of innovative technologies for generation, storage, transmission and distribution of electricity, life support, utilization and recycling of wastes, environmental conservation using hydrogen energy and digital control and monitoring systems.The climatic conditions of the Arctic and the presence of LNG determine the use of hydrogen as a source for generating electricity, heat, water and air.