Mini-fuel cell delivers maximum performance

Inergio's battery can fly a delivery drone for several hours © 2021 Alain Herzog - EPFL startup INERGIO has just unveiled a prototype for a lightweight, eco-friendly, high-performance fuel cell that can supply energy in situations where there's no power grid. Its system can be used to run delivery drones, weather stations, environmental sensors, telecommunication antennae and even campsites. A slew of applications, ranging from weather stations and mountaintop environmental sensors to remote pipeline surveillance systems, drones and even campsites, would benefit from a compact, long-lasting and eco-friendly power supply. With this in mind, INERGIO - a spin-off based at EPFL's Innovation Park and born out of 15 years of joint research between EPFL and HEIG-VD - has developed a compact fuel cell that is 80% lighter than similar systems on the market. With support from several startup funds, the company has just completed a prototype fuel cell that measures 25 cm long by 14 cm high and wide, and that can generate 25 W of continuous power. The next step for INERGIO will be to test its system with various companies in the Lake Geneva area and develop a pilot production line. Seven to eight hours of flight time for delivery drones Fuel cells - including hydrogen fuel cells, which will likely power tomorrow's cars - offer a promising alternative on the path to carbon neutrality.