Photovoltaic fuel cell systems

Both the gas processing and gas storage system include valves and tubes or pipes; plus, depending on the system design, compressors, pressure relief valves, gauges and other equipment specific to the method of storage.

Renewable energy sources and hybrid generating systems

In addition to photovoltaics, other renewable energy sources such as geothermal, tidal, hydro and wind power can be used to produce hydrogen for fuel cells. Any of these sources can also be combined with photovoltaic panels in a hybrid system to power hydrogen production. All of these renewable energy technologies, whether combined or stand alone, have the virtue of no continuing costs of buying and transporting fuel, and thus no dependence on regular supplies of fuels from outside and politically unstable sources.

The choice of a renewable energy source to power a hydrogen fuel cell system will depend on the geography, climate and other resources of the location. I have chosen photovoltaics as the example power source for hydrogen production because it is available to more people than either geothermal, wind, or tidal. For a person without much technical skill, solar power is easier to implement than wind power. It is also less costly up front and not as dependent on location as the other RE power sources