Hydrogen economy in Armenia

The hydrogen economy is a newly emerging renewable energy technology, even more – economy, actively developed in recent years mainly in USA as a part of US diversification strategy in power sector. Hydrogen could become a primary form of stored energy for numerous applications and load balancing. In particular it is discussed as a method for replacing the petroleum based hydrocarbon fuels currently used in automobiles, although virtually anything running on electricity can be powered by hydrogen through fuel cells. The concept of hydrogen economy is known for many years, but now the world witnesses the first practical attempts of its implementation. Governor Schwarzenegger’s California Hydrogen Highway Initiative, Iceland’s continuing commitment and actions towards becoming the first hydrogen economy, growing number of hydrogen fuelling stations, fuel cell installations and vehicles around the world are all signs of accelerating pace to wider use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel and power source.

Armenia is the only Caucasian republic where active works on hydrogen economy is currently carried out. The works are mainly bounded with H₂ECOnomy, the Closed Joint Stock Company established and operating by investments from the Cafesjian Family Foundation - an American Armenian Diaspora fund  H₂ECOnomy possesses the necessary human resources/expertise for implementation of various projects in hydrogen economy. Currently, up to 500 W hydrogen based commercial fuel cells are produced and sold worldwide (see the figure bellow)

Fuel cells

One of the branches of hydrogen economy is the development and production of hydrogen fuel cells. They are considered power sources of the future. It is expected that they will be used in vehicles, in portable devices and in big power plants. Fuel cells convert hydrogen and oxygen into water simultaneously producing electricity. This is an environmentally sound process, because other than direct electric current, only heat and pure water as waste are produced.  The fuel cells considered here are called Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells.  They are perhaps the simplest and most practical of the various types of fuel cells available today.

There is an obvious need for cost-effective, reliable, quiet and environmentally friendly backup/uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems for Mission Critical functions in many industries.  This area appears to be a prime candidate for early adoption and rapid spread of fuel cells. H₂ ECOnomy CJSC has succeeded in developing different prototypes of UPS devices based on PEM fule cell technology. These 1kW  systems are designed to function as a backup/uninterruptible power supply or an extender

Bio-Diesel and Bio-fuels

Armenia currently is under 100% dependency level from import of engine fuels (gasoline, diesel oil, natural liquefied gas, propane). In such circumstances the transport sector of the republic becomes extremely vulnerable from the point of view of any disruptions in import of engine fuels. Thus, reducing this dependency level should become one of the main components of power diversification strategy of the Republic. Unfortunately, till now little progress is recorded in this direction. Even the latest power sector development strategy paper, adopted by the government of Armenia in June 2005 does not tackle this issue.

Demand for alternative fuels is growing due to depletion of fossil fuels and environmental concerns related to pollution and greenhouses gases. Among different kinds of fuel alternatives the fuel produced from biomass (or the bio-fuel) draws much attention throughout the world in recent years. Bio-fuel may be in gas, liquid and solid forms. In its turn the liquid bio-fuel can be categorized mainly as bio-diesel and bio-alcohol.

Bio-diesel is a biodegradable, non-toxic, and clean-burning fuel that can be made from any kind of animal fat or vegetable oil (including recycled cooking oil). Chemically, bio-diesel is comprised of a mix of mono-alkyl (methyl or ethyl) esters of long chain fatty acids. Bio-diesel can be used in all conventional diesel engines, delivers similar performance and engine durability as the regular fossil diesel. It can be used in its pure form or blended in any ratio with petroleum diesel. The latter is particularly advantageous since it means bio-diesel can be stored and dispensed wherever petroleum diesel is, and thus, virtually no changes in fuel handling and delivery systems are required.

Raw materials for bio-diesel are high oil content plants, which are numerous and can grow in a multitude of geographical zones. In production of bio-diesel (transesterification of organically derived oils or fats to obtain methyl or ethyl esters of fatty acids) a second component, alcohol (methanol or ethanol) is needed, in the proportion of 10% to the glycidic oil. Methanol and ethanol also can be produced from various plants, and if it turns out that Armenia has the potential of producing alcohols, then they can be considered as a candidate for alternative liquid bio-fuel. There is a significant track record of successful use of alcohol fuels around the world (e.g. in Brazil, USA, Sweden, France etc.).

Currently in Armenia two private companies (H2 ECOnomy CJSC, Solaren LLC) and several reseaurch groups (State Engeneering Univercity of Armenia, State Univercuty of Armenia, Institute of Microbiology, and American Univercity of Armenia, etc) are active in this field, mostly in different research areas.

Recently (7 December 2006) Armenian Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (R2E2 Fund) with support of GEF/WB Renewable Energy Project held a seminar dedicated to this issue as well as to new emerging renewable technologies. The early 2007launch of a special project was announced, dedicated to the resource assessement and outlining the development strategy in new emerging renewable technologies in Armenia. More details on the subject as well as the proceedings of the seminar could be found here [ http://www.r2e2.am/enversion/index.php].

Further contacts

Contact persons: 

Morten Sondergaard, Renewable Energy Key Expert. 

Ara Marjanyan, Renewable Energy Working Group Manager.

Data used

1. Energy Sector Development Strategies in the Context of Economic Development in Armenia. Adopted by the Government of Armenia. Session Protocol No 24, Resolution No 1. 23 June 2005.

2.    A. H. Marjanyan. Vision of Renewable Energy Development in Armenia. Market ready and emerging technologies. Presentation in the R2E2 Fund/WB Seminar. December 2006. Yerevan, Armenia.

Other data

WEB page of the Armenian Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund  http://www.r2e2.am/enversion/index.php

WEB page of the Ministy of Energy of the Republic of Armenia http://www.minenergy.am/?language=2