Generac offers a hydrogen fuel

Generac Power Systems, of Waukesha, has introduced a hydrogen fuel-cell generator that runs nearly silent and emits only warm water and filtered air as it produces electricity.

The 88-kilowatt unit is meant for commercial and industrial purposes and has been used to power a lights and laser show at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It's also been used at sporting events and concerts, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race, the Energy Boat Challenge in Monaco, a Rolling Stones concert, and the Lollapalooza Paris festival.

With its ability to run quietly and not produce harmful emissions, the portable generator has been used by a Netflix film crew to provide lighting for scenes in a castle.

Generac is importing the GEH2 units, costing approximately $300,000 each, from EODev, a French developer and manufacturer of hydrogen fuel-cell generators.

The GEH2 uses a Toyota fuel cell and a lithium iron phosphate battery that stores and distributes the electricity. The unit can run independently or as part of the utility grid.

Standing about seven feet tall, but narrow, it's meant for sporting events, concerts and other places where silence and a lack of hydrocarbon emissions are priorities. Tunnels, mines, shelters and hospitals could be other uses.

The GEH2 runs off pure hydrogen that's normally only available for industrial use.

It's more expensive to operate than a gas or diesel generator, said Erik Wilde, executive vice president of the Industrial-Americas division at Generac.

"But people want to have that pure green product," Wilde said.

The GEH2 has a broadband connection that allows continuous online remote monitoring via the cloud.

The generator is not meant to run constantly, Wilde said, but rather it keeps the battery system charged to provide power as needed.

Generac has placed an initial order for GEH2s, some of which have already arrived in the United States. It has signed a distribution agreement with EODev for the North American market.

Last week, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said he's agreed to work with the governors of Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana on developing "clean hydrogen" produced in a way that emits little or no greenhouse gases. The federal Inflation Reduction Act creates tax credits for hydrogen production as well.