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A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "D2: Electrochem: Batteries, Fuel Cells, Capacitors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 February 2026 | Viewed by 5590

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Caroline Willich

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Guest Editor

Institute for Energy Conversion and Storage, Universität Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany
Interests: hydrogen; fuel cells; fuel cell systems; hybrid systems; energy storage; system analysis; thermodynamics

Dr. Christiane Bauer

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institute for Energy Conversion and Storage, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 47, 89081 Ulm, Germany
Interests: hybrid system; battery; fuel cell; electric aircraft; power control

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The importance of hydrogen as an energy carrier will increase in the coming years as hydrogen scenarios are essential in the future energy strategies of many countries.

Fuel cell systems offer high efficiency in converting hydrogen into electrical energy and have great potential to be used in many different mobile and stationary applications. Comercial fuel cells and systems are already available in different sectors. The challenges impeding their broader application lie in optimal system integration and control to meet the demands of specific applications, the reduction of costs and maximising their lifetime, and upscaling of system size and production facilities.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect articles (original research articles and reviews) on recent developments and progress made through experimental and modelling studies with respect to fuel cell systems in various applications. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

Progress and development of fuel cell systems in mobile applications;
Optimisation of fuel cell systems for specific applications like, for example, heavy-duty trucks, trains, maritime, aviation, and combined heat and power;
Operation of fuel cell systems in harsh environmental conditions;
Control of fuel cell systems;
Optimal operation of fuel cell systems;
Cooling and thermal integration of fuel cells;
Hybrid fuel cell systems;
Optimisation of balance-of-plant components;
Weight reduction of fuel cell systems for mobile applications;
Strategies and approaches for the upscaling of fuel cell system size;
Strategies for cost reduction and life-time extension of fuel cell systems.

Dr. Caroline Willich
Dr. Christiane Bauer
Guest Editors

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Keywords

fuel cell systems
fuel cells
fuel cell applications
balance of plant
upscaling of fuel cell systems

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

27 pages, 59147 KB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Characterization and Co-Simulation Analysis of an Agricultural Rover with a Fuel-Cell Range-Extender Unit

by Valerio Martini, Salvatore Martelli, Francesco Mocera and Aurelio Somà

Energies 2025, 18(24), 6432; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18246432 - 9 Dec 2025

Viewed by 169

Abstract

The adoption of autonomous-driving rovers represents a feasible solution to improve the sustainability of the agricultural sector, as they are smaller and more efficient compared to traditional machinery. However, endurance and productivity can be critical factors for the adoption of such vehicles. In addition, the autonomous-driving algorithm should guarantee that the rover is able to accomplish tasks without supervision. In this paper, a numerical analysis of an autonomous-driving rover with a hybrid fuel-cell powertrain, specifically designed for orchards and vineyards, is presented. The proposed powertrain presents a first innovative integration of a metal-hydride hydrogen-storage system into an orchard mobile machine. A Li-ion battery pack is the main energy source, while the fuel-cell system operates in a range-extender configuration. A co-simulation model was developed comprising the autonomous-driving algorithm, a multibody model, and a powertrain model. Experimental tests were carried out to characterize the fuel-cell system and the metal-hydride tank, and the obtained data were used to develop and tune their numerical models. A virtual test scenario consisting of a typical rover maneuver, namely a 180-degree turn, performed in different soil and payload conditions, was defined, and simulations were carried out evaluating the rover’s performance. The simulation results showed that the rover completed the mission in loam and hard soil conditions, and with up to 200 kg of payload. Moreover, the fuel-cell range extender significantly enhanced the rover’s endurance, with up to +60% of increase when employing a tank swap technique to replace the metal-hydride tank upon hydrogen depletion. On the contrary, in the case of critical terrain conditions, such as muddy and sandy soils, the rover was not capable of completing the task due to tire slipping. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Fuel Cell Systems)

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22 pages, 2027 KB

Open AccessArticle

Energy, Economic and Environmental (3E) Assessment of Wind Powered Electricity Generation with Hydrogen Storage in Vesleskarvet, Antarctica

by Temitope R. Ayodele, Thapelo C. Mosetlhe, Adedayo A. Yusuff and Ayodeji S. O. Ogunjuyigbe

Energies 2025, 18(21), 5748; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18215748 - 31 Oct 2025

Viewed by 287

Abstract

Clean and sustainable electricity could be generated from hydrogen produced from renewable energy resources. This paper performs an assessment of Energy, Economic and Environmental (3E) potentials of hydrogen fuel cells for electricity generation in Vesleskarvet. This site is a remote area located in Antarctica and is being used as the base for South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAE IV). The hydrogen used as feedstock to the fuel cell was generated from the wind energy resource of Vesleskarvet using water electrolysis technique. Four large wind turbines—DE Wind D7, ServionSE MM100, Alstom E110 and Gamesa G128 designated as WT₁, WT₂, WT₃ and WT₄, respectively—were selected to determine which of them best matches the wind characteristics of the site for hydrogen production. Key results reveal that the capacity factor of the wind turbines is 62.78%, 58.37%, 63.80% and 57.94%, respectively. WT₄ has the best annual hydrogen productions potential of about 307 tons per annum with the cost of electricity of 2.47 USD/kWh and payback period of 5.4 years. The wind turbine will prevent the use of 1.76 × 10⁶ litters of diesel fuel resulting in a reduction of CO₂ and CO emission of 4.83 × 10⁶ and 1.37 × 10⁴, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Fuel Cell Systems)

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17 pages, 1870 KB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Artificial Neural Network-Based Mathematical Model of Methanol Steam Reforming on the Anode of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Based on Experimental Research

by Olaf Dybiński, Tomasz Kurkus, Lukasz Szablowski, Arkadiusz Szczęśniak, Jaroslaw Milewski, Aliaksandr Martsinchyk and Pavel Shuhayeu

Energies 2025, 18(11), 2901; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18112901 - 1 Jun 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 953

Abstract

The article describes a mathematical model of methanol steam reforming taking place at the anode of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC). An artificial neural network with an appropriate structure was subjected to a learning process on the data obtained during an experiment on the laboratory stand for testing high-temperature fuel cells located at the Institute of Heat Engineering of the Warsaw University of Technology. The backpropagation of error method was used to train the neural network. The training data included the results of methanol steam reforming in the fuel cell for steam-to-carbon ratios of 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1. The artificial neural network was then asked to generate results for other steam-to-carbon ratios. As a result, the artificial neural network predicted that the highest power density for a molten carbonate fuel cell working on methanol would be obtained with a steam-to-carbon ratio of 2.8:1. The article’s key achievement is the application of artificial intelligence to calculate an unusual steam-to-carbon ratio for the methanol steam reforming process occurring directly at the anode of an MCFC fuel cell. The solution proposed in the article contributed to reducing the number of experimental studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Fuel Cell Systems)

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18 pages, 4438 KB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Performance of PEM Fuel Cell Powering SRM System Using Metaheuristic Optimization

by Mohamed A. El-Hameed, Mahfouz Saeed, Adnan Kabbani and Enas Abd El-Hay

Energies 2025, 18(8), 2004; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18082004 - 14 Apr 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 748

Abstract

This paper introduces an effective method to improve the performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) system powering a switched reluctance motor (SRM). Problems arise in this system due to the inherent torque and current ripples of the SRM, which result from its saliency and nonlinear magnetic characteristics. Another cause for these ripples is the unsmoothed DC voltage applied to the SRM caused by the switching operations of the DC-DC converter. These ripples are reflected in the PEMFC, leading to more losses and a reduced lifespan. Key parameters that can help mitigate torque and current ripples include the appropriate turn-on and turn-off angles of the SRM phases, as well as the DC-link voltage controller gains. This paper investigates three objectives to compare their effects on the PEMFC system: the SRM torque ripple factor, the DC-link voltage ripple factor, and the PEMFC current ripple factor. These objectives are optimized individually using the single-objective particle swarm and stochastic fractal search algorithms. Additionally, the multi-objective Lichtenberg and multi-objective Dragonfly algorithms are applied to optimize the three objectives concurrently. The optimal decision parameters are obtained from the Pareto front solution using the technique of the order of preference by similarity to the ideal solution method. The final results demonstrate that significant enhancement in the PEMFC current ripples and DC-link voltage ripples can be achieved by appropriately selecting the decision parameters using any proposed objective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Fuel Cell Systems)

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15 pages, 3918 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

High-Altitude Operation of a Commercial 100 kW PEM Fuel Cell System

by Caroline Willich, Daniel Frank, Tobias Graf, Stefan Wazlawik, Samara Brandao and Christiane Bauer

Energies 2024, 17(24), 6309; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17246309 - 13 Dec 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2627

Abstract

A commercially available 100 kW PEM fuel cell system designed for efficient operation on ground-level was tested at low ambient pressures between 750 mbar and 940 mbar in a low-pressure chamber. The current–voltage characteristics at 940 mbar and 900 mbar showed only small differences, while the system performed worse at lower ambient pressures. To enable operation at these low pressures, an additional current-limiting strategy had to be implemented, as it was found that the compressor could not deliver sufficient mass flow at ambient pressures below 867 mbar to reach the maximum current allowed by the system (420 A). The results show that the fuel cell system, which was designed for ground-level applications, can be operated at lower pressures if the proposed current-limiting strategy is implemented, although at the cost of a lower maximum current output at low ambient pressures. Based on the results, suggestions for further hardware measures to optimise the system for flight conditions are made. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Applications of Fuel Cell Systems)

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