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Agni invests in European manufacturing facility
NEWS
Agni invests in European manufacturing facility
M
alaysian-based Agni Inc will invest 65m (US$77m) over the next three years to establish a European manufacturing facility in Portugal which will primarily focus on the production of clean energy technology equipment. The products include fuel cells, fuel reformers, HyPwr™ hydrogen power modules, and multi-MW IFCE (integrated fuel cell engine) systems. Up to 225 jobs will be created at the new site, in Montemor-o-Velho, by the time it is fully operational in 2009, according to the Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Negocios. Agni reports that it has closed 39 MW worth of orders for its hydrogen power module and IFCE technologies, and is currently experiencing demand in excess of 500 units per month for its micro trigeneration systems, Navitas and Energia. The company is a leading developer of alternative energy technologies, with products including fuel cells, hydrogen power systems, micro CHP systems, fuel reformers, biofuels, gasifiers, and biomass-derived gasoline and diesel synthesis. Contact: Agni Energie Sdn Bhd, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Fax: +60 3 5510 1001, www.agni-inc.com Or contact: Agni Inc Lda, Lisbon, Portugal. Fax: +351 218 821224.
Franklin wins grant from Penn energy developer
U
S-based SOFC developer Franklin Fuels Cells has received a $410 000 grant from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA), for an applied research project for ongoing development of the company’s technology. Within 12 months, Franklin expects to have a core direct-oxidation SOFC technology that is technically feasible, economically viable and ready to incorporate into pre-commercial products. The grant allows Franklin to greatly increase its in-house capabilities by expanding its current state-of-the-art facility to reduce its design/build/ test cycles, permitting faster analysis and implementation of results ‘to further speed technology development and product enhancement.’ Franklin’s proprietary direct-oxidation SOFC technology is unique among current SOFC development technologies, in employing a copperceria impregnated anode. The technology was 6
Fuel Cells Bulletin
initially developed at the University of Pennsylvania. The company’s anode technology operates directly on current hydrocarbon fuels without the need for fuel reformation or hydrogen, and is not prone to carbon or sulfur fouling that results in dramatically reduced fuel cell life and efficiency. The fuel-flexible technology has been demonstrated and proven to run on almost every commercially available liquid and gaseous fuel – retail pump gasoline, diesel, kerosene, ethanol and naphtha as well as natural gas, propane, butane and hydrogen [FCB, May and August 2005]. Contact: Franklin Fuel Cells Inc, Malvern, Pennsylvania, USA. Tel: +1 610 640 7545, www.franklinfuelcells.com
Astris collaborates with Canadian universities, delivers Italian order
I
n Canada, alkaline fuel cell firm Astris Energi is collaborating on projects with Queen’s-RMC Fuel Cell Research Centre (FCRC) and the Queen’s Fuel Cell Team (QFCT). The company has also delivered a fuel cell generator and supporting test equipment to fulfill an initial order from Electronic Machining Srl in Italy. The initial project between Astris and the FCRC is based around an Astris Powerstack™ MC250 fuel cell already purchased by the Queen’s Fuel Cell Team. The group, which promotes hands-on engineering work in planning, design and evaluation of fuel cell technologies, is developing a fuel cell system to power a golf cart. According to Dr Jon Pharoah, professor at Queen’s University and researcher at the FCRC, the project has both research and educational aspects. ‘The Queen’s Fuel Cell Team gives excellent exposure not just to fuel cells, but to the entire system required to deliver a product using fuel cell technology. Students spanning all years of the engineering program are excited to be working on the project,’ he says. The project is supported by a grant from Materials and Manufacturing Ontario. Follow-up projects are expected to address commercialization and manufacturing of Astris’s fuel cell technology. Meanwhile, the company reports that it has delivered a fuel cell generator and supporting test equipment in fulfilment of its initial order from Electronic Machining Srl (El Ma) in Italy. The C$200 000 (US$173 000) order, placed last year [FCB, October], is the first fruit of a three-year cooperation agreement signed in 2004 [FCB, December 2004]. El Ma will demonstrate the fuel cells and generators to government agencies, potential clients and partners in Europe. The company has already
identified several subsequent local demonstration projects. Astris is keen to gain exposure in the European market, which it believes is currently developing ahead of that in North America. Contact: Astris Energi Inc, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 905 608 2000, www.astris.ca Or contact: Queen’s-RMC Fuel Cell Research Centre, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 613 547 6700, www.fcrc.ca Or contact: Electronic Machining Srl, Rovereto (Trento), Italy. Tel: +39 0464 443280, www.elmanet.it
Air Products grant for NTDA Energia
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TDA Energia, a leading Spanish developer of hydrogen and solid oxide fuel cell technology, is to receive a grant from Air Products and its Spanish subsidiary Carburos Metalicos. NTDA and Air Products are committed to jointly contributing to the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies within the framework of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform’s Deployment Strategy and the future EU Joint Technology Initiative in this sector. ‘This investment is a further step forward in the close relationship between NTDA and Air Products,’ says Agustin Escardino, president/CEO of NTDA Energia. ‘We are very pleased about Air Products’ commitment, as we expand our activities in Spain and in Europe on systems integration, fuel cell development and strategic projects.’ NTDA Energía is a leading Spanish company in hydrogen and fuel cells systems engineering, SOFC research and development, and strategic planning of integrated hydrogen and fuel cell infrastructures. The company is closely involved in the work of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Technology Platform, and participates in R&D and demonstration projects at regional, national and EU levels. NTDA is participating in two integrated projects – Roads2HyCOM and SOFC600 – as well as the Procura project to promote the use of alternative fuel vehicles. Contact: NTDA Energía, Valencia, Spain. Tel: +34 96 131 8036, www.ntdaenergia.com Or contact: Air Products and Chemicals Inc, Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA. Tel: 1 800 654 4567 (tollfree in US/Canada), www.airproducts.com/h2energy Or contact: Air Products Plc, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, UK. Tel: +44 1270 614114. For more information on the Roads2HyCom project, go to: www.roads2hy.com
March 2006
Agni invests in European manufacturing facility
M
alaysian-based Agni Inc will invest 65m (US$77m) over the next three years to establish a European manufacturing facility in Portugal which will primarily focus on the production of clean energy technology equipment. The products include fuel cells, fuel reformers, HyPwr™ hydrogen power modules, and multi-MW IFCE (integrated fuel cell engine) systems. Up to 225 jobs will be created at the new site, in Montemor-o-Velho, by the time it is fully operational in 2009, according to the Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Negocios. Agni reports that it has closed 39 MW worth of orders for its hydrogen power module and IFCE technologies, and is currently experiencing demand in excess of 500 units per month for its micro trigeneration systems, Navitas and Energia. The company is a leading developer of alternative energy technologies, with products including fuel cells, hydrogen power systems, micro CHP systems, fuel reformers, biofuels, gasifiers, and biomass-derived gasoline and diesel synthesis. Contact: Agni Energie Sdn Bhd, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Fax: +60 3 5510 1001, www.agni-inc.com Or contact: Agni Inc Lda, Lisbon, Portugal. Fax: +351 218 821224.
Franklin wins grant from Penn energy developer
U
S-based SOFC developer Franklin Fuels Cells has received a $410 000 grant from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA), for an applied research project for ongoing development of the company’s technology. Within 12 months, Franklin expects to have a core direct-oxidation SOFC technology that is technically feasible, economically viable and ready to incorporate into pre-commercial products. The grant allows Franklin to greatly increase its in-house capabilities by expanding its current state-of-the-art facility to reduce its design/build/ test cycles, permitting faster analysis and implementation of results ‘to further speed technology development and product enhancement.’ Franklin’s proprietary direct-oxidation SOFC technology is unique among current SOFC development technologies, in employing a copperceria impregnated anode. The technology was 6
Fuel Cells Bulletin
initially developed at the University of Pennsylvania. The company’s anode technology operates directly on current hydrocarbon fuels without the need for fuel reformation or hydrogen, and is not prone to carbon or sulfur fouling that results in dramatically reduced fuel cell life and efficiency. The fuel-flexible technology has been demonstrated and proven to run on almost every commercially available liquid and gaseous fuel – retail pump gasoline, diesel, kerosene, ethanol and naphtha as well as natural gas, propane, butane and hydrogen [FCB, May and August 2005]. Contact: Franklin Fuel Cells Inc, Malvern, Pennsylvania, USA. Tel: +1 610 640 7545, www.franklinfuelcells.com
Astris collaborates with Canadian universities, delivers Italian order
I
n Canada, alkaline fuel cell firm Astris Energi is collaborating on projects with Queen’s-RMC Fuel Cell Research Centre (FCRC) and the Queen’s Fuel Cell Team (QFCT). The company has also delivered a fuel cell generator and supporting test equipment to fulfill an initial order from Electronic Machining Srl in Italy. The initial project between Astris and the FCRC is based around an Astris Powerstack™ MC250 fuel cell already purchased by the Queen’s Fuel Cell Team. The group, which promotes hands-on engineering work in planning, design and evaluation of fuel cell technologies, is developing a fuel cell system to power a golf cart. According to Dr Jon Pharoah, professor at Queen’s University and researcher at the FCRC, the project has both research and educational aspects. ‘The Queen’s Fuel Cell Team gives excellent exposure not just to fuel cells, but to the entire system required to deliver a product using fuel cell technology. Students spanning all years of the engineering program are excited to be working on the project,’ he says. The project is supported by a grant from Materials and Manufacturing Ontario. Follow-up projects are expected to address commercialization and manufacturing of Astris’s fuel cell technology. Meanwhile, the company reports that it has delivered a fuel cell generator and supporting test equipment in fulfilment of its initial order from Electronic Machining Srl (El Ma) in Italy. The C$200 000 (US$173 000) order, placed last year [FCB, October], is the first fruit of a three-year cooperation agreement signed in 2004 [FCB, December 2004]. El Ma will demonstrate the fuel cells and generators to government agencies, potential clients and partners in Europe. The company has already
identified several subsequent local demonstration projects. Astris is keen to gain exposure in the European market, which it believes is currently developing ahead of that in North America. Contact: Astris Energi Inc, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 905 608 2000, www.astris.ca Or contact: Queen’s-RMC Fuel Cell Research Centre, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 613 547 6700, www.fcrc.ca Or contact: Electronic Machining Srl, Rovereto (Trento), Italy. Tel: +39 0464 443280, www.elmanet.it
Air Products grant for NTDA Energia
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TDA Energia, a leading Spanish developer of hydrogen and solid oxide fuel cell technology, is to receive a grant from Air Products and its Spanish subsidiary Carburos Metalicos. NTDA and Air Products are committed to jointly contributing to the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies within the framework of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform’s Deployment Strategy and the future EU Joint Technology Initiative in this sector. ‘This investment is a further step forward in the close relationship between NTDA and Air Products,’ says Agustin Escardino, president/CEO of NTDA Energia. ‘We are very pleased about Air Products’ commitment, as we expand our activities in Spain and in Europe on systems integration, fuel cell development and strategic projects.’ NTDA Energía is a leading Spanish company in hydrogen and fuel cells systems engineering, SOFC research and development, and strategic planning of integrated hydrogen and fuel cell infrastructures. The company is closely involved in the work of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Technology Platform, and participates in R&D and demonstration projects at regional, national and EU levels. NTDA is participating in two integrated projects – Roads2HyCOM and SOFC600 – as well as the Procura project to promote the use of alternative fuel vehicles. Contact: NTDA Energía, Valencia, Spain. Tel: +34 96 131 8036, www.ntdaenergia.com Or contact: Air Products and Chemicals Inc, Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA. Tel: 1 800 654 4567 (tollfree in US/Canada), www.airproducts.com/h2energy Or contact: Air Products Plc, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, UK. Tel: +44 1270 614114. For more information on the Roads2HyCom project, go to: www.roads2hy.com
March 2006