Harnessing sun and wind energy for renewable charging within the transport sector
The transport industry has become a major adopter of clean energy technologies to reduce carbon footprints and meet sustainability targets. IDTechEx explores solar canopy charging, hydrogen generator charging, and airborne wind energy charging as avenues for powering electric vehicles without grid access
IDTechEx’s report, ‘Off-grid charging for electric vehicles 2024-2034: technologies, benchmarking, players, and forecasts’, explores different off-grid EV charging methods and provides a forecast for their uptake over the next decade.
Solar canopy charging carports that are independent of the grid could allow cars to be charged by parking under solar panels and plugging into a charging outlet. IDTechEx has called Solar canopy charging the ‘fastest-growing’ source of renewable energy.
‘Top-up charging’ enables drivers to recharge little and often, which is suitable for electric vehicles because they don't have to worry about running too low or struggling to source power. Issues around energy storage and intermittency may arise with solar canopy chargers, which, without grid stability, could be difficult to abate. However, when primarily used as a charge boost, solar canopy charging offers an environmentally friendly way to keep vehicles charged.
Wind power is currently too expensive and large to utilise for EV charging, according to IDTechEx. However, airborne wind energy (AWE) could be a loophole, involving a tether-based device that harnesses power from high-altitude winds at lower material costs. AWE also provides greater consistency than solar, due to its ability to operate even in the dark, and increasing the device’s surface area could boost power generation without increasing the ground footprint.
Hydrogen for transportation
Hydrogen could provide a means of charging battery-electric vehicles by using external fuel cells to generate electricity outside the vehicle. Hydrogen chargers could have an integrated battery, but also rely on stored, compressed hydrogen as energy storage.
While this could be a solution to off-grid or temporary power situations, IDTechEx has reported that the costs of hydrogen charging would be very high, especially when using green hydrogen. However, as renewable energy costs decrease as they become more widely available, hydrogen charging could see increased uptake.
Hydrogen planes could become a new means of travel, with the only emission produced in-flight being water vapour; it would help reduce the carbon footprint of air travel. Liquid hydrogen fuel cell planes could have between 30 to 40% of the range of a jet fuel plane, meaning a travel range of several thousand kilometers is possible, making it an ideal solution for shorter journeys under 2,000km, which accounts for over 50% of travel demand by seats, according to IDTechEx.
IDTechEx’s report, ‘Sustainable future aviation 2025-2045: trends, technologies, forecasts’, explores ways to decarbonise air travel, including the introduction of battery-powered planes and the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel.
Creating green hydrogen with electrolysis
As hydrogen applications expand in line with decarbonisation efforts, green hydrogen in particular is attracting attention as the most environmentally beneficial. Green hydrogen is produced with water electrolysis, with different electrolyser types on the market, each with its own benefits.
For example, proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers can offer more compact system designs and smaller footprints than alkaline systems. PEMELs' high power densities result from their solid proton-exchange membranes, and they are a popular commercial option for producing green hydrogen, with advancing technologies being developed.
Solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) electrolysers operate at the lowest voltages and can therefore be considered among the most efficient technologies. This is possible by leveraging high temperatures and favourable thermodynamics, according to IDTechEx.
In IDTechEx’s report, ‘Materials for green hydrogen production 2026-2036: technologies, players, forecasts’, more electrolysers used to produce green hydrogen, and their best-suited applications, are covered.
Turning hydrogen into electricity
Fuel cells operate with hydrogen fuel and an oxygen source, which undergo a chemical reaction that generates electricity to power an external load, along with water and heat. Stationary fuel cells refer to processes that occur in a fixed location, permanently or semi-permanently, and are usually operated within a fuel stack as part of a larger system.
Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are more favoured within stationary applications, including industrial power and commercial operations, for continuous generation. Other types, such as proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), are more desirable for mobile applications and are becoming contenders for backup power generation in replacing diesel generators.
The implementation of fuel cells as a means of providing large-scale renewable energy could provide relief for continuous applications, such as data centres. The sustainability promises this means of generating electricity can fulfil, especially with the use of green hydrogen in the future, will also contribute to decarbonisation efforts within the energy sector.
IDTechEx’s report, ‘Stationary fuel cell markets 2025-2035: technologies, players, and forecasts’, explores various fuel cell types, their best-suited applications, and emerging trends and drawbacks to consider.
