Utilizing fuel cell technology for Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)

Abstract

The need for developing environmentally friendly and sustainable energy sources is globally evident. This is due to two main reasons: Fossil fuels will continue to supply energy demands for only a few more decades and the amount of pollution generated due to fossil fuels is exceeding acceptable limits. One very promising clean energy converter is the fuel cell (FC). Fuel cells have the ability to convert the chemical energy of their feed fuel to electricity through a chemical process without involving combustion, which significantly reduces harmful emissions such as NOx. Fuel cells generate absolutely no harmful emissions when their fuel supply is pure hydrogen and they are more efficient than internal combustion engines. This research will investigate the feasibility of utilizing fuel cells in the public transportation system of Dubai operated by the Roads & Transportation Authority (RTA), in order to gradually replace transportation fleets running on fossil fuel engines to engines running on pure hydrogen. The Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell is one of the leading technologies which has started to replace internal combustion engines. However, technology development, cost, durability and lack of relevant infrastructures are the biggest challenges to the implementation of FC.