H2OME

Home / Uses / Reliable power for a holiday bach or crib

Power for the bach that sits at the end of the line

Baches and cribs are often on the end of a long coastal or lakeside line, empty most of the year and packed in summer. Outages land on the busiest weeks.

Empty for months, then full

The bach freezer full of bait, sausages and fish fillets is the first casualty of an outage while nobody is there. Arrive for Christmas and the power is out along the whole bay, the tank pump will not run, the fridge is warm and the kids want showers. Long coastal lines in holiday spots are exposed to wind and salt, and a holiday weekend storm can take them out with repair crews stretched.

What it would keep running

  • Bach freezer and fridge
  • Tank pump and hot water
  • Security light and cameras
  • Kitchen and heat pump for full houses

Looking after an empty bach

With the battery and inverter in UPS mode, the bach freezer, the tank pump and the security light keep running while you are away. Hydrogen keeps for weeks in the store without losing charge, so the backup made on cheap off-peak power is still there when the storm comes.

The system is designed with redundant leak sensors, automatic shutdown and venting, so it is meant to look after itself without someone on site. Remote monitoring and how a pilot install is checked while a bach is empty would be worked through in pilot planning.

How it works →
The H2OME loop: an electrolyser splits water into hydrogen, the hydrogen is stored in a tank for weeks, a fuel cell turns it into electricity for your home, and the water returns to the loop.

Honest about fit

Many baches are small, simple places, and a 15 kW whole-home system may be more than one modest crib needs. It makes most sense for a larger family bach, a bach that is lived in for long stretches, or a site with no grid at all, charged from wind or micro-hydro. Round-trip efficiency is 30% or less, so it is about reliability, not cheaper holidays.

Questions

Will it work while nobody is at the bach?

It is designed to switch over and run on its own, with leak sensors, automatic shutdown and venting. How a pilot unit is monitored at an empty bach would be worked out in pilot planning.

Is it overkill for a small crib?

It can be. At 15 kW continuous it is designed for an average home. A small, rarely used crib may not justify it, while a bigger or off-grid bach is a better fit.

Can it be charged with no grid at the bach?

Yes, it is designed to charge from a wind turbine or micro-hydro. Because round-trip efficiency is 30% or less, the source must make a good deal more energy than the bach uses over the year.

More in homes and everyday life

Elsewhere

Every use →

Join the pilot list

Pilot installs go to people on this list first. Rural homes, farms and remote sites especially. No spam, no payment.