From wind farms to fuel cells: Energy-industry gas applications where nexAir delivers value

Renewable energy facilities and advanced power generation systems all depend on industrial gases to function. Wind turbine manufacturing requires welding gases for the towers and structural components. Solar panel production uses ultra-pure nitrogen and specialty gases during photovoltaic cell fabrication. Fuel cells need hydrogen delivered at precise purity levels. Geothermal and biomass plants use compressed gases for equipment maintenance and repairs. The specific gas requirements vary by application, but the common thread is that inconsistent supply or contaminated product causes shutdowns and lost production time.

Wind Turbine Manufacturing and Maintenance

Building wind turbines involves a lot of welding. The towers, nacelles, and internal components all require precision metalwork that can withstand decades of stress from constant rotation and weather exposure. Welders working on these components use argon and argon-CO2 mixes for MIG welding, and the quality of those welds directly affects how long a turbine lasts in the field.

Maintenance crews also rely on compressed gases for hydraulic systems and pneumatic tools used during repairs. When a turbine goes down, getting it back online quickly matters. Waiting days for a gas delivery extends downtime and cuts into power generation revenue. Our KnowHow™ includes understanding that wind energy facilities operate on tight maintenance windows, especially during peak production seasons when every hour of uptime counts.

Solar Panel Production and Installation

Solar panel manufacturing uses specialty gases during the production of photovoltaic cells. Nitrogen creates inert atmospheres that prevent oxidation during critical manufacturing steps. Silane and other specialty gases are essential for depositing thin films onto silicon wafers. The purity requirements here are strict because even minor contamination affects panel efficiency and lifespan.

Installation teams working on large solar farms need gases for equipment operation and occasionally for on-site fabrication work. These projects often happen in remote locations where delivery logistics get complicated. Planning supply routes and delivery schedules around construction timelines prevents work stoppages that delay project completion and push back when the facility can start generating revenue.

Fuel Cell Systems Across Multiple Applications

Fuel cells are showing up in more places than just experimental vehicles. Backup power systems for data centers, telecommunications equipment, and critical infrastructure increasingly rely on fuel cell technology because it’s cleaner and quieter than diesel generators. Each installation needs hydrogen at specific purity levels, and the supply infrastructure has to match how the fuel cell will be used.

A fuel cell providing backup power for a cell tower has different consumption patterns than one running a forklift fleet in a warehouse. Stationary applications might use bulk storage with periodic refills, while mobile applications need cylinder exchange programs that keep equipment running without long refueling breaks. We work with facility managers and fleet operators to match supply methods to usage patterns instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all approach.

Supporting the Full Energy Mix

Wind, solar, hydrogen, geothermal, and biomass all play roles in how we generate power. We help you Forge Forward by providing gases and delivery schedules tailored to how your specific energy operation works, whether you’re maintaining turbines, manufacturing solar panels, or running fuel cell installations. Contact nexAir to discuss your facility’s requirements and how we can support your operations.