Hydrogen Fuel to Power a Refuge Above Tignes

The refuge of the Col du Palet is located at 2,600 meters above sea level in the heart of the Vanoise National Park and, like most mountain refuges, it faces the problem of an independent energy source. But now, thanks to energy storage through hydrogen technology, the refuge will benefit from renewable electricity, whatever the weather.

Currently at the refuge the solar panels (covered with photovoltaic cells) convert sunlight into electricity, but over 50% of the energy produced in a year is wasted as there is no where to store it during the months when the refuge is vacant. Things will soon change with the introduction of the hydrogen fuel cell. The hydrogen technologies are a means of storing the electrical energy and redistributing it. The hydrogen will be stored in tanks and then, when you need it the hydrogen will be recombined in a fuel cell to produce electricity.

Eventually, the system will provide clean energy in large quantities.