Team 11

Team Members

Faculty Advisor

Dev Barochia
Arthur Silva
Austin Gelinas
Ethan Taylor

Dr. Brian Willis

Sponsor

Unsponsored Student Team

sponsored by
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Green Energy Machine

Our project offers a sustainable and more efficient approach integrating multiple green energy sources for potential enhanced profitability. Many ski resorts still rely on old and inefficient methods for generating power and snowmaking. We want to emphasize the importance of integrating multiple energy sources to create a more efficient power generation system. Our team will take advantage of the higher elevation by integrating a fuel cell, electrolyzer, and water turbine system that will work from the mountain peak to the lodge at its base. This system will optimize water production from the fuel cell near the mountain peak to maximize energy efficiency. Our design combines multiple energy systems to supply electricity to the lodge, lifts, snowmaking machines, and other operations which may require electricity. At the mountain base, a PEM electrolyzer produces hydrogen and oxygen. The system transports hydrogen from the base of the mountain to the peak, where a fuel cell will utilize it for energy production. The system either sells the oxygen to a third party for profit, or it transports the oxygen to the peak to increase the efficiency of the fuel cell. The system then transports the water produced from the fuel cell back down to the base, where it runs a water turbine and produces additional electricity. We must consider the production/manufacturing side of the renewable energy sources we are utilizing for the design, as well as the safety of keeping and storing hydrogen near the lodge. We must also consider the placement of the fuel cell, as its efficiency will decrease as the elevation increases. Our solution is unique because it is tailored to the site’s elevation, and our team relies on the natural topography to generate additional electricity through the water turbine. By integrating multiple renewable energy sources, we aim to increase total profitability and present a more attractive option for our client and potential investors.