PHOTOVOLTAIC TO FUEL CELL ENERGY SYSTEM DURING THE TURIN 2006 OLYMPIC GAMES

Piedmont is the first and only Italian Region that has conceived and made real a system of H2-related research activities integrated with business strategies to develop the hydrogen technologies market; the Turin 2006 XX Olympic Winter Games will be an occasion to show some applications of the actual R&D level of the Region.
Biathlon Stadium's reception structure in Cesana is going to be in part powered by renewable energy during and after the Turin 2006 XX Olympic Winter Games with a fuel cell and photovoltaic energy system: in sunny hours, a 15 kWp photovoltaic system satisfies the energy consumption of the reception structure, the surplus of energy becomes hydrogen thanks to a high pressure electrolyser that refills 15 tanks at 55 bar.
The stored hydrogen feeds two 5 kW Plug Power GenCore systems that work in parallel with the photovoltaic system and helps it if the request will be higher than its capacity or satisfies the consumption of energy in the hours without sun. During the Olympic Games the energy system is going to be used to provide energy to the press area, after the Olympics it will become a hotel and the plant will provide clean energy to certain parts of the building.
Four or more mobile fuel cell systems will be realized to provide energy to as many info-points in the centre of the main Olympic town in the Alps; at the end of the Winter Games the fuel cells will be moved to Cesana, to power the main stationary plant or to public buildings. During the Olympic events four 1 kW generator will be placed among spectators to show them the safety and the use of fuel cell systems.
A mini-fleet composed by ten electric mini-scooters, powered by fuel cells and batteries, will go around for the main Olympic cities showing the hybrid configuration of future vehicles.
The high innovative value of the project and the international attention in the Winter Olympics will provide a launch-pad for industrial development in Piedmont and Italy.