- Email: [email protected]
Ballard orders for GrafTech, UQM
NEWS Meanwhile, for hydrogen cleanup, early results indicate that a bimetallic gold-platinum catalyst may result in a broader temperature window for CO oxidation, with high conversion and high selectivity to CO2. To allow the performance of gold catalysts to be more widely benchmarked, the WGC has also commissioned a leading Japanese company to manufacture a number of supported gold reference catalysts. These catalyst samples are available to research and industrial organisations. The rationale for developing these gold catalyst technologies is not only based on their promising technical performance, but also the relatively low stable price and greater availability of gold compared with platinum group metals. Use of gold catalysts could therefore produce a welcome reduction in the capital cost of fuel cell and hydrogen related technology. The latest gold catalyst technology developments will be discussed at the Gold2003 conference in Vancouver, Canada on 28 September–1 October (www.gold2003.org). Contact: Dr Richard Holliday, World Gold Council, 45 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JG, UK. Tel: +44 20 7766 2712, Fax: +44 20 7839 6561, www.gold.org/discover/sci_indu
Plug Power completes DoD demonstration at Watervliet Arsenal Latham, NY-based Plug Power has successfully completed its fuel cell demonstration program, funded by the US Department of Defense, at the Watervliet Arsenal in Watervliet, NY. The program represented the largest implementation of PEM fuel cells so far at a military facility. In early 2002 Plug Power installed 10 gridparallel 5 kWe fuel cell systems, which operated for more than 80 000 h and generated approximately 210 MWh of electricity during the year. The systems provided supplemental power to a telecoms facility, an R&D lab and provided all power for the four units at base housing. The systems operated at or above 94% average availability during the year, exceeding the contract requirement of 90%. ‘The fuel cell systems showcased an electricity source that is quiet, environmentally positive and holds significant promise for our military infrastructure,’ said facility commander, Colonel Donald C. Olson. ‘These systems served the Arsenal by providing some or all of the power required for these three facilities in a way that was transparent to the Arsenal staff and its residents.’ The program sponsor was the US Army Corps of Engineers, Construction Engineering Research
March 2003
Laboratory (CERL). Although the contract operations under the demonstration program are complete, Plug Power will continue to operate the systems in cooperation with the Arsenal. Contact: Frank Holcomb, Principal Investigator, US Army Corps of Engineers, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, ERDC/CERL, PO Box 9005, Champaign, IL 61826-9005, USA. Tel: +1 217 352 6511 ext. 7412, Email: [email protected], www.dodfuelcell.com Operational data from the Watervliet project are at: www.dodfuelcell.com/res/watervliet.php3 Or contact: Plug Power Inc, 968 Albany-Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, Fax: +1 518 782 9060, www.plugpower.com
Ballard orders for GrafTech, UQM Ballard Power Systems has ordered approximately US$500 000 worth of GrafTech fuel cell products, under its existing supply agreement with the Ohio-based graphite specialist, as well as placing a follow-on order for additional fuel cell compressor drive motors from UQM Technologies in Colorado. The GrafTech order is for delivery by June, and will support automotive customer demand for Ballard’s Mark 902 fuel cell stack for both light- and heavy-duty fuel cells. Grafcell™ advanced flexible graphite features in Ballard’s fuel cells for DaimlerChrysler’s Citaro buses and Mercedes-Benz ‘F-Class’ cars, Honda’s new FCX vehicle and the Ford Focus FCV. UQM Technologies has been supplying its custom-designed compressor drive motors to Ballard since early 2001 for use in its fuel cell engines. The design of UQM’s compact and highly efficient motors has been optimized for this particular design application to meet the specific operating requirements. A compressor driven by an electric motor powers and controls the delivery of compressed air within the fuel cell, but also consumes some of the electricity produced by the fuel cell. Improvements in the efficiency of fuel cell auxiliary systems improve the overall energy efficiency of the fuel cell engine. Contact: Ballard Power Systems Inc, 9000 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, BC V5J 5J9, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, Fax: +1 604 412 4700, www.ballard.com Or contact: Advanced Energy Technology Inc, GrafTech International Ltd, PO Box 94637, Cleveland, OH 44101, USA. Tel: +1 216 529 3777, Fax: +1 216 529 3922, www.graftech.com Or contact: UQM Technologies Inc, 7501 Miller Drive, Frederick, CO 80530, USA. Tel: +1 303 278 2002, Fax: +1 303 278 7007, www.uqm.com
In Brief Toyota, Hino to supply Tokyo fuel cell buses Following its previous announcement that it would introduce fuel cell buses this summer, the Tokyo metropolitan government has selected Toyota Motor Corporation and its subsidiary Hino Motors Ltd to participate in its experiment to use public buses powered by fuel cells on city routes – although there seemed to be no real competition. According to a Kyodo News report, the automakers will supply the fuel cell buses to the metropolitan government, which will operate them on regular routes from this summer to gather data on acceleration, fuel efficiency and other aspects of their performance. Japanese ministry to test wind-powered hydrogen production The environment ministry in Japan is to investigate the use of wind power to massproduce hydrogen without creating CO2, to meet the fuel needs of hydrogen fuel cells, according to a report in the Daily Yomiuri. The ministry has assigned the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, to produce hydrogen by electrolysis at an offshore wind-power generation facility in fiscal 2003. Offshore wind-power plants already operate in the shallow seas off Denmark and the Netherlands. Most Japanese coastal waters are deeper, so the ministry may build a floating facility such as those used for building offshore airports. The institute will conduct a feasibility study to determine the most appropriate site to build the power plant and an efficient method for sending onshore hydrogen produced by seawater electrolysis. Demonstrations at Grove Symposium The 8th Grove Fuel Cell Symposium on 24–26 September will take advantage of the more spacious facilities at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in London’s Docklands, to offer both static and ‘live’ demonstration areas. The static area will feature stationary and vehicle fuel cell systems. Confirmed so far are a single-decker bus from QinetiQ, a fuel cell powered Suzuki van from the Scottish Fuel Cell Consortium, a car from Ford, a Nexa fuel cell module and an AirGen portable generator from Ballard, and a large stationary HotModule fuel cell from MTU. Discussions are continuing to add more in the coming months. The ‘live’ vehicle area – in the hall adjoining the exhibition area – will feature a Ford fuel cell car and the Scottish Fuel Cell Consortium’s hybrid Cobra sports car, with another bus, several cars, a scooter and a mobile refueling unit expected to be added shortly. The conference program will be available shortly. For more details, go to: www.grovefuelcell.com
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3
Plug Power completes DoD demonstration at Watervliet Arsenal Latham, NY-based Plug Power has successfully completed its fuel cell demonstration program, funded by the US Department of Defense, at the Watervliet Arsenal in Watervliet, NY. The program represented the largest implementation of PEM fuel cells so far at a military facility. In early 2002 Plug Power installed 10 gridparallel 5 kWe fuel cell systems, which operated for more than 80 000 h and generated approximately 210 MWh of electricity during the year. The systems provided supplemental power to a telecoms facility, an R&D lab and provided all power for the four units at base housing. The systems operated at or above 94% average availability during the year, exceeding the contract requirement of 90%. ‘The fuel cell systems showcased an electricity source that is quiet, environmentally positive and holds significant promise for our military infrastructure,’ said facility commander, Colonel Donald C. Olson. ‘These systems served the Arsenal by providing some or all of the power required for these three facilities in a way that was transparent to the Arsenal staff and its residents.’ The program sponsor was the US Army Corps of Engineers, Construction Engineering Research
March 2003
Laboratory (CERL). Although the contract operations under the demonstration program are complete, Plug Power will continue to operate the systems in cooperation with the Arsenal. Contact: Frank Holcomb, Principal Investigator, US Army Corps of Engineers, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, ERDC/CERL, PO Box 9005, Champaign, IL 61826-9005, USA. Tel: +1 217 352 6511 ext. 7412, Email: [email protected], www.dodfuelcell.com Operational data from the Watervliet project are at: www.dodfuelcell.com/res/watervliet.php3 Or contact: Plug Power Inc, 968 Albany-Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, Fax: +1 518 782 9060, www.plugpower.com
Ballard orders for GrafTech, UQM Ballard Power Systems has ordered approximately US$500 000 worth of GrafTech fuel cell products, under its existing supply agreement with the Ohio-based graphite specialist, as well as placing a follow-on order for additional fuel cell compressor drive motors from UQM Technologies in Colorado. The GrafTech order is for delivery by June, and will support automotive customer demand for Ballard’s Mark 902 fuel cell stack for both light- and heavy-duty fuel cells. Grafcell™ advanced flexible graphite features in Ballard’s fuel cells for DaimlerChrysler’s Citaro buses and Mercedes-Benz ‘F-Class’ cars, Honda’s new FCX vehicle and the Ford Focus FCV. UQM Technologies has been supplying its custom-designed compressor drive motors to Ballard since early 2001 for use in its fuel cell engines. The design of UQM’s compact and highly efficient motors has been optimized for this particular design application to meet the specific operating requirements. A compressor driven by an electric motor powers and controls the delivery of compressed air within the fuel cell, but also consumes some of the electricity produced by the fuel cell. Improvements in the efficiency of fuel cell auxiliary systems improve the overall energy efficiency of the fuel cell engine. Contact: Ballard Power Systems Inc, 9000 Glenlyon Parkway, Burnaby, BC V5J 5J9, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, Fax: +1 604 412 4700, www.ballard.com Or contact: Advanced Energy Technology Inc, GrafTech International Ltd, PO Box 94637, Cleveland, OH 44101, USA. Tel: +1 216 529 3777, Fax: +1 216 529 3922, www.graftech.com Or contact: UQM Technologies Inc, 7501 Miller Drive, Frederick, CO 80530, USA. Tel: +1 303 278 2002, Fax: +1 303 278 7007, www.uqm.com
In Brief Toyota, Hino to supply Tokyo fuel cell buses Following its previous announcement that it would introduce fuel cell buses this summer, the Tokyo metropolitan government has selected Toyota Motor Corporation and its subsidiary Hino Motors Ltd to participate in its experiment to use public buses powered by fuel cells on city routes – although there seemed to be no real competition. According to a Kyodo News report, the automakers will supply the fuel cell buses to the metropolitan government, which will operate them on regular routes from this summer to gather data on acceleration, fuel efficiency and other aspects of their performance. Japanese ministry to test wind-powered hydrogen production The environment ministry in Japan is to investigate the use of wind power to massproduce hydrogen without creating CO2, to meet the fuel needs of hydrogen fuel cells, according to a report in the Daily Yomiuri. The ministry has assigned the National Institute for Environmental Studies in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, to produce hydrogen by electrolysis at an offshore wind-power generation facility in fiscal 2003. Offshore wind-power plants already operate in the shallow seas off Denmark and the Netherlands. Most Japanese coastal waters are deeper, so the ministry may build a floating facility such as those used for building offshore airports. The institute will conduct a feasibility study to determine the most appropriate site to build the power plant and an efficient method for sending onshore hydrogen produced by seawater electrolysis. Demonstrations at Grove Symposium The 8th Grove Fuel Cell Symposium on 24–26 September will take advantage of the more spacious facilities at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre in London’s Docklands, to offer both static and ‘live’ demonstration areas. The static area will feature stationary and vehicle fuel cell systems. Confirmed so far are a single-decker bus from QinetiQ, a fuel cell powered Suzuki van from the Scottish Fuel Cell Consortium, a car from Ford, a Nexa fuel cell module and an AirGen portable generator from Ballard, and a large stationary HotModule fuel cell from MTU. Discussions are continuing to add more in the coming months. The ‘live’ vehicle area – in the hall adjoining the exhibition area – will feature a Ford fuel cell car and the Scottish Fuel Cell Consortium’s hybrid Cobra sports car, with another bus, several cars, a scooter and a mobile refueling unit expected to be added shortly. The conference program will be available shortly. For more details, go to: www.grovefuelcell.com
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3