We have been awarded the contract to supply a power-to-power system designed to upgrade the laboratories of the ITS Academy AgriPuglia Foundation. This is an innovative project aimed at introducing the use of hydrogen for agricultural applications within the institute’s laboratories.
The use of hydrogen in agriculture opens up new possibilities for renewable energy management, particularly in contexts where access to the electricity grid is limited or unreliable.
A power-to-power system for the laboratories
Simplifhy has been awarded the contract as part of the project ‘Optimisation and Accessibility of ITS Academy AgriPuglia Laboratories: Between Tradition and Innovation’ (CUP E14D25003920006), funded through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
The project forms part of Mission 4 ‘Education and Research’, Component 1, Investment 1.5, dedicated to the development of the tertiary vocational training system and the upgrading of ITS Academy laboratories.
Established in 2010 and based in Locorotondo, in the province of Bari, the ITS Academy AgriPuglia Foundation operates in the field of advanced technical training for the agri-food sector. Through a network involving educational institutions, universities, research and training bodies, local authorities, trade associations and businesses, it develops training programmes and experimental activities tailored to the needs of the agricultural and food supply chains.
The new project we are working on will expand the ITS AgriPuglia’s scope for experimentation by introducing a complete cycle dedicated to the production, storage and conversion of hydrogen into electricity within the laboratories.
Structure and operating principles of the hydrogen cabinet
The hydrogen cabinet will be installed outdoors and will comprise three main components:
- an electrolysis system (electrolysiser) with a power output of 4.8 kW;
- 35 bar metal hydride storage system, with a total capacity of 3 kg of hydrogen;
- a 4 kW fuel cell.
The operation of the hydrogen cabinet will enable the entire power-to-power cycle to be replicated.
Excess electricity generated by a plant powered by renewable sources will be used by the electrolysis system to produce hydrogen. The hydrogen will then be stored in metal hydrides and, when required, used by the fuel cell to be converted back into electricity.
The system will therefore enable a practical study of one possible method of integrating hydrogen with renewable energy sources:
renewable energy → electrolysis → hydrogen → storage → fuel cell → electricity.
This solution allows excess energy to be stored and made available again at a later time, helping to mitigate the intermittency of renewable energy sources.
Hydrogen in agriculture: renewable energy for an agricultural robot too
The energy generated by the system can also be used to power a new-generation agricultural robot, which is part of the laboratory upgrading programme. The robot will thus be powered entirely by energy from renewable sources.
The project establishes a direct link between renewable energy for agriculture, hydrogen and automation, enabling students to observe how different technologies can be integrated within the same energy system.
New skills for the evolution of energy systems
The aim of the project is not merely to install new technology, but also to provide students with tools to explore the evolution of energy systems and their potential applications.
As our CEO Sergio Torriani points out, “bringing a complete power-to-power system to the laboratories of ITS Academy AgriPuglia means making innovative technology directly available to students, lecturers and the local community. The project demonstrates how hydrogen can help integrate renewable sources and make energy available even in agricultural areas where the electricity grid is absent or inadequate. The possibility of using this energy to power an agricultural robot makes the experimentation even more practical, linking the energy transition to automation and innovation in the primary sector. Investing in laboratories means investing in the skills that will drive the evolution of agriculture and the energy system.”
With the new hydrogen cabinet, ITS Agripuglia will therefore be able to conduct laboratory trials of the entire hydrogen value chain as applied to electricity generation: from production via electrolysis to storage, right through to reconversion via fuel cells.
This innovative project is designed to transform the technology into a tool for training and applied research, and to explore, in a practical context, the potential role of hydrogen in agriculture.
Contact us to develop your hydrogen-based P2P system for agricultural applications
