H2OME

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Which workshop machines 15 kW can actually run

Small rural engineering and fabrication shops keep farms, contractors and transport fleets moving. After a storm they are busier than ever. This page sorts out what a 15 kW system could run in one.

Machines one at a time

A typical small workshop has a MIG welder, a lathe, a milling machine, a drill press, an air compressor and an overhead hoist. Individually, many of those fit within 15 kW, though larger welders and big three-phase machines need checking. Running several heavy machines at once is where a single system hits its limit. The pilot would look at the shop's real usage pattern.

What it would keep running

  • MIG welder
  • Lathe and drill press
  • Air compressor
  • Overhead hoist
  • Workshop lighting and office

Three-phase and starting surges

Many workshop machines are three-phase, and motors draw a sharp surge when they start. The system's battery and inverter provide peak headroom above 15 kW for short starts, and soft starters help. But whether the system can supply three-phase, and how, would be part of pilot sizing, not something to assume.

A larger fabrication shop with a big plasma table, a press brake and several welders working together would need a larger, multi-unit setup or would not be a fit. We would say that plainly before anyone spends money, because a system that trips every time two welders strike an arc is worse than useless to a busy shop.

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.

After the storm

When a storm hits a district, fences, gates, trailers and machinery break, and the local workshop gets the calls. A workshop with power when the lines are down can keep repairing. Hydrogen stored at 30 bar or less keeps for weeks, charged on off-peak power. Round trip efficiency is 30% or less, so it is backup power, not a cheaper way to run the shop.

Questions

Can it run our three-phase lathe?

Possibly, but three-phase supply and the motor's starting surge would need to be confirmed during pilot sizing. Many small lathes fit within 15 kW, but we would check rather than assume.

Can we weld and run the compressor together?

A mid-size MIG welder plus a compressor often fits within 15 kW. Large welders, plasma cutters or several machines at once could reach the limit, so the pilot would set sensible rules for an outage.

Is it cheaper than the grid for daily work?

No. The round trip is 30% or less, so power from stored hydrogen costs more than grid power. It is there to keep the shop working through outages, when repair jobs pile up fastest.

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