GeoPura’s hydrogen generates interest
29 November 2023
GeoPura aims to increase the on-site usage of electricity generated by hydrogen to replace diesel engine equipment, reduce emissions and deliver operational efficiencies.
The business was established in 2019 and has hubs in Newcastle upon Tyne and Nottingham. It is manufacturing its hydrogen power units (HPUs) alongside partner Siemens Energy, as well as investing in the production of green hydrogen to fuel the units.
Essentially, green hydrogen is produced by the electrolysis of water using power from net zero sources. This drives a fuel cell to create DC electricity that is converted to AC via an inverter and can be fed directly to where it is required or stored in a battery. Systems can be monitored and adjusted remotely via telemetry
The only by-products are water, which can be collected and used for applications like vehicle wheel washing, and heat that can be fed into site welfare cabins, drying rooms and for hot water.
Will Docherty, GeoPura’s Head of Sales, says that an HPU gives emission-free operation with no carbon, NOx or other particulates and it is very quiet in operation, making it suitable for applications in residential areas and sensitive locations.
Given the specialist nature of the technology, GeoPura is currently hiring machines directly to customers, although as the market develops the company is seeing interest from other hirers.
Will says that the business has adopted an ‘energy as a service’ approach whereby it controls all aspects of operation for customer peace of mind, from generating and supplying the hydrogen, to designing and servicing an installation.
The hydrogen is delivered to site by GeoPura in tube trailers or gas bottles, known as MCPs and replaced as required on a managed basis to ensure a continuous supply of fuel.
The HPU can harness energy on site from other green sources, including solar and wind. Connections can be synchronised with the grid and installations have an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) as backup.
Target applications include construction sites, events, film studios, data centres and electric vehicle charging facilities.
GeoPura HPUs were chosen to provide the power for television production equipment used during the 2023 BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Golf Club in September, as reported earlier on the blog. Two machines positioned on the fairway of the sixth hole were used in place of diesel generators, saving an estimated 16.4 tonnes of CO2 compared against the 2022 tournament.
The power generated also charged the golf buggies used to transfer people and equipment across the site.
Other companies using the technology have included Balfour Beatty, HS2, National Grid and the BBC.
GeoPura plans to deploy a fleet of over 3,600 HPUs by 2033, providing clean, low-cost reliable power, and displacing more than six million tonnes of CO2 emissions through their operation over their life.
Hydrogen fuel admittedly carries a price premium but GeoPura is confident that costs will decrease as production facilities ramp up and the concept grows in popularity. But it’s clear that end users who need to meet sustainability aims and green targets are already seeing it as a solution.
