Amy Davis, Vice President and President of New Power, painted a picture of a decarbonized transportation sector with the help of both battery electric and hydrogen-powered solutions at The New York Times Climate Hub in Glasgow, Scotland, earlier this month. And while the debate between various low- and zero-carbon solutions continues around the world, she urged governments and corporations to start doing something now – because the carbon you put out today, tomorrow and next week cannot be taken back.

Cummins is over 100 years old, and we’ve been powering all kinds of commercial applications. One of the things we know is that [transportation] is very diverse, and we believe it’s not going to take just one solution [to decarbonize it].” – Amy Davis, President of New Power

In parallel with the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, the Climate Hub hosted its program The Forum.  Over nine days, people across the globe tuned in to 45 live discussions, debates and workshops that addressed the mounting threat of climate change and what actions can be taken to stop it. 

Davis’ presence at The Forum was just one of numerous engagements and initiatives occurring in Glasgow that week. Cummins Chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger also attended COP26, meeting with governments, industry leaders and media to advocate for the shift from fossil fuels to low- and no-carbon solutions and demonstrating how Cummins will be part of the energy transition.

In the days leading to COP26 and The Forum, Cummins was accepted into two influential groups advocating for climate action. 

The consensus across conversations was that moving toward a carbon-free world is essential – but is it easier said than done? How do we make decarbonization happen? What does decarbonization even look like?

During the Transport and Mobility panel Time and Space: Moving People and Goods in a Carbon-Free World, Davis participated alongside Avinash Rugoobur, President of Arrival; Laura Lane, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of UPS; and Peter Vanacker, President and CEO of Neste – all transportation and technology companies moving the industry toward a cleaner, greener future.

Watch the full discussion below as The New York Times climate reporter and panel moderator Brad Plumer opens the floor to Davis to discuss why Cummins is approaching decarbonization beyond just electrification, how infrastructure challenges have influenced hydrogen in mobility, and how transitionary periods lead to innovation in aftermarket solutions. 

Watch the full panel:

Fuel cells aren’t new. In fact, the first reference to hydrogen fuel cells appears in 1838 in the December issue of The London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science. Almost 200 years later, the world is recognizing fuel cells as a key technology to unlocking a carbon-neutral future.

Here is what they are, how they work and two fuel cell types that Cummins is investing in.

What is a fuel cell in simple terms?

Like batteries, fuel cells are energy converters – they use an electrochemical reaction to take the chemical energy stored in a fuel source and convert it to electricity. Unlike batteries, which contain a fixed supply of energy, fuel cells do not require recharging. As long as fuel is continuously supplied to the fuel cell, electricity, water and heat will be produced.

How does a fuel cell work?

A fuel cell is comprised of two electrodes and an electrolyte membrane. The electrodes are called a cathode and an anode, and they sandwich the electrolyte membrane between them. Within that system, a series of chemical reactions occur to separate the electrons from the fuel molecules to create energy.

The fuel, typically hydrogen, is fed into the anode on one side while oxygen is fed into the cathode on the other. At the anode, the hydrogen fuel molecules are separated into protons and electrons that will travel different paths toward the cathode. The electrons go through the electrical circuit, creating the flow of electricity. The protons travel through the electrolyte to the cathode. Once at the cathode, oxygen molecules react with the electrons and with the protons to create water molecules.

A fuel cell is a clean energy source with the only byproducts being electricity (power), heat and water. A single fuel cell alone only produces a few watts of power; therefore, several fuel cells can be stacked together to create a fuel cell stack. When combined in stacks, the fuel cells’ output can vary greatly, from just a few kilowatts of power to multi-megawatt installations.

What fuels can be used in fuel cells?

Fuel cells offer flexibility in the fuel type that can be used. While hydrogen is the most common fuel source for fuel cells (hence the common name, hydrogen fuel cells), hydrogen-rich fuels such as natural gas and ammonia are also viable fuel sources.

Hydrogen: When produced using renewable electricity – like solar, wind and hydropower – hydrogen is completely decarbonized and produces zero emissions. Hydrogen fuel cells (i.e. fuel cells that are fueled by hydrogen) produce power, heat and water and release no carbon dioxide or other pollutants into the air.

Natural gas: As widespread production of green hydrogen is still in progress, natural gas is currently the most-used fuel to power fuel cells. In this case the fuel cells are not completely emission-free, but they do offer significantly lower emissions than other fuels, like oil and coal.

Ammonia: Ammonia is most used in agriculture as fertilizer. However, in recent years, several companies have been working to develop green ammonia. Green ammonia is made with hydrogen that comes from water electrolysis powered by alternative energy, making it another option for a low-carbon fuel.

What types of fuel cells is Cummins investing in?

There are six types of fuel cells that are under development, each primarily classified by the kind of electrolyte they employ. Each type of fuel cell has its own advantages, limitations and potential applications. Out of the six, Cummins has recognized the potential in two types of fuel cells – proton exchange membrane fuel cells and solid oxide fuel cells - and has invested in the advancement of their technologies and their application.

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells: Also referred to as polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, this type of fuel cell uses a polymer electrolyte and operates at lower temperatures of around 80 degrees Celsius. PEM fuel cells are more suitable for mobile and back-up power applications due to their high-power density and quick start-stop capabilities.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs): SOFCs use a hard, non-porous ceramic compound as their electrolyte and operate at high temperatures, as high as 1,000 degrees Celsius.  This type of fuel cell is most suitable for stationary applications because it is highly efficient and fuel flexible. In addition, waste heat may be harnessed and reused to increase the overall system efficiency.

Why invest in fuel cells?

Already leaders in PEM electrolyzers that produce green hydrogen through electrolysis, we are working on making green hydrogen more readily available for future use in fuel cells. Cummins was awarded a U.S. Department of Energy grant for the advancement of SOFCs and have seen our fuel cells successfully support the operation of battery electric vehicles.

Fuel cells may predate the beginning of Cummins, but we are wasting no time discovering how to advance their technology to create a zero-emission future.

9 сентября 2019 г. Cummins Inc. объявила о завершении анонсированной ранее сделки по приобретению компании Hydrogenics Corporation, специализирующейся на разработке технологий производства топливных элементов и водорода.

«Мы рады приветствовать сотрудников Hydrogenics в семье Cummins», — сказал Том Лайнбаргер, президент и первое лицо Cummins Inc. «Hydrogenics является одним из ведущих мировых разработчиков технологий производства топливных элементов и водорода, а их знания и инновационный подход откроют перед нами новые возможности в этой области. Эта сделка позволила Cummins сделать еще один шаг в нужном направлении, став очередной инвестицией в производство широкого ассортимента экологически чистых, экономичных и высокопроизводительных продуктов и технологий, которые помогают нашим клиентам повысить эффективность их бизнеса».

Компания Cummins Inc. начала развивать свой потенциал в области производства топливных элементов еще более 20 лет назад, а благодаря приобретению Hydrogenics при поддержке Air Liquide она сможет более эффективно внедрять инновации и распространять технологии водородных топливных элементов на глобальных коммерческих рынках. Владение технологиями производства топливных элементов и генерации водорода методом электролиза позволит компании предлагать клиентам комплексные, индивидуализированные и полностью интегрированные решения «под ключ».

«Компании Air Liquide и Cummins имеют общее понимание в отношении роли водорода как одного из ключевых элементов в процессе перехода к альтернативным источникам энергии. В качестве держателя акций и, что более важно, в качестве компании в целом, Air Liquide активно поддерживает использование водорода в качестве источника энергии», — говорит Пьер Этьен Франк, главный исполнительный директор The Hydrogen Company. «Обе транснациональные компании, являющиеся лидерами в своей отрасли, обладают дополняющими друг друга знаниями в области водородной энергетики. Мы полагаем, что благодаря инвестициям Cummins, технологии Hydrogenics значительно ускорят свое развитие».

Hydrogenics, штаб-квартира которой по-прежнему будет находиться в г. Миссиссога, Канада, станет частью бизнес-подразделения по электрическим трансмиссиям компании Cummins Inc. Это подразделение Cummins по электрификации, созданное в 2018 году, занимается разработкой и производством электрических и гибридных силовых систем, а также инновационных компонентов и подсистем для обслуживания коммерческих рынков в процессе перехода на электрическую тягу. К настоящему времени это подразделение представляет комплексные электрические силовые решения в семи областях применения и предлагает инновационные продукты клиентам по всему миру, включая Россию.

Стоимость сделки составила приблизительно 290 млн. долларов США. Приобретением Hydrogenics Cummins Inc. подтверждает свою приверженность передовым технологиям, сформулированную в стратегическом видении компании: «Разработка инновационных продуктов, которые позволяют нашим клиентам добиваться успеха». На данный момент компания уже обладает широким портфолио различных технологических решений по трансмиссиям, от традиционного дизельного до различных альтернативных, и будет и дальше работать над инновационными предложениями, соответствующими изменяющимся требованиям новой эпохи в эволюции транспорта.