Because of the unpredictable nature of most renewable energy sources, effective energy storage is needed. The methanol economy suggests that methanol can be used as an efficient means of storing energy. Hydrogen from methanol can be used as a fuel for fuel cells, a clean way to produce energy. By coupling a solar panel to a methanol electrolyzer, hydrogen can be produced, harnessing the power of the sun. In this project, methanol electrolysis was performed under different operating conditions in order to understand the characteristics of electrolysis. Experimental data showed that increasing temperature and methanol concertation, improved methanol electrolysis performance. Additionally a solar powered methanol electrolyzer was made to access the viability of solar methanol electrolysis

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Cormier, Thomas William
• Lizotte, Oliver Peter
• Pizzuto, Joseph Nicholas

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042516-111857

Advisor

• Datta, Ravindra

Year

• 2016

Date created

• 2016-04-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright