FUEL CELLS
Fuel cells are an efficient, practical and potentially cost-effective way of converting stored energy, in the form of hydrogen or other chemicals, directly into electrical energy, thereby providing a unidirectional link between the gas and electricity networks (see also Theme 3—Power-to-gas). They offer higher efficiency and smaller scale operation compared to gas turbines without some of the capacity and other limitations of batteries. The main technical challenges to more widespread adoption of fuel cell technology are the cost of fuel cell stacks and hydrogen storage.
A/PROF CHRIS MENICTAS
Theme Leader
Chris Menictas has been actively involved in the energy efficiency sector for over 20 years. His research interests include: energy storage; flow battery and fuel cell systems; energy harvesting; temperature shifting devices for bio-medical applications, refrigeration and air conditioning efficiency optimisation; and thermal morphing. Dr. Menictas is Head of the Energy Storage and Refrigeration Research Group in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, UNSW Sydney Australia.