- Email: [email protected]
Bloom Energy sets up JV with SoftBank to serve Japan market
NEWS The agreement includes 120 direct hydrogen ElectraGen-H2 systems as well as 100 methanolfueled ElectraGen-ME systems, to be delivered to Azure by the end of 2013. Ballard’s portfolio of highly reliable telecom backup power PEM fuel cell systems provides more cost-effective and environmentally friendly solutions for extended-duration runtime applications than the traditional alternatives of lead-acid batteries and diesel generators. Ballard recently sold a 175 kW ClearGen™ distributed generation fuel cell system to Azure [FCB, April 2013, p7]. Ballard is also participating in an operational trial for its fuel cell backup power systems in the China Mobile telecom network, with 50 systems delivered by its Danish subsidiary Dantherm Power; Azure is providing custom integration and local technical support [FCB, July 2012, p4]. And Ballard recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Azure Hydrogen to extend the scope of their existing collaboration to include fuel cell buses [FCB, June 2013, p2]. Ballard Power Systems, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com Azure Hydrogen Energy Science & Technology Corporation: www.azurehydrogen.com (in Chinese)
Ceres partners with Korean boiler maker KD Navien, new CEO
U
K-based Ceres Power has signed a new commercial and technical partnership with KyungDong Navien Co Ltd (KD Navien), the leading boiler manufacturer in South Korea. Ceres Power – which is developing decentralised energy products featuring its unique intermediatetemperature solid oxide fuel cell technology – has also appointed Philip Caldwell as its new CEO. KD Navien has the largest market share of installed boilers in Korea, and is a major exporter to key markets around the world, particularly the US. Korea represents a significant market for fuel cell combined heat and power (CHP) products; the government also offers generous subsidies for the deployment of fuel cell products. Under the terms of a technology assessment agreement, KD Navien will carry out trials of the Ceres 1 kW-class natural gas fueled fuel cell module (FCM) at its facility in Seoul. It will also engage in the first stages of design of a microCHP product for the mass residential market in Korea and potentially other territories. Ceres will 4
Fuel Cells Bulletin
provide hardware and technical support to KD Navien during the agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, KD Navien will pay Ceres for hardware and technical support to develop FCM testing and CHP system engineering capability. The companies will collaborate to maximise synergies with other partners already developing components or systems related to the Ceres technology. The two companies subsequently intend to enter into a licensing agreement for the manufacture and distribution of CHP products incorporating the Ceres FCM in the Korean residential market. ‘By entering into this technical partnership, KD Navien, with its world-class condensing technology, and Ceres Power will look to tie up and leverage their core competencies for the development of an innovative, eye-opening SOFC system,’ says Jae-Bum Choi, CEO of KD Navien. In other news, Philip Caldwell is taking over as CEO of Ceres Power. Phil is currently corporate development director at another UK-based fuel cell company, Intelligent Energy, which specialises in the development of PEM fuel cell systems across multiple markets. He was instrumental in establishing IE’s joint venture with Suzuki Motor Corporation, which will manufacture fuel cells under licence in Japan [FCB, March 2013, p8]. Ceres Power has agreements with British Gas in the UK [FCB, July 2009, p6] and Bord Gais Energy in Ireland [FCB, December 2009, p4] to incorporate the Ceres Technology Platform within a wall-mountable residential CHP unit. Last autumn Ceres announced that it would resize its business to focus on continued development and commercialisation of its core fuel cell and module technology platform [FCB, December 2012, p11].
alternative energy source added to the site that will be known as the Alternative Energy Production Center (AEPC) at Lewis & Clark. College president Dale Chapman says that the AEPC will provide an applied research and teaching facility for its faculty staff and students, as well as its partner Ameren and others such as the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and the fuel cell manufacturer. The PureCell Model 5 System is a highly efficient, combined heat and power (CHP) system now re-engineered to utilise phosphoric acid fuel cell technology [see the ClearEdge Power feature in FCB, July 2011]. The fuel cell system runs on a natural gas supply, through a fuel processor. The byproduct heat from the electrochemical reaction will be utilised for the building’s hot water system. Ameren will place the fuel cell onsite, and donate the installation costs of the new technology. In exchange, Ameren will utilise the fuel cell demonstration site for viewings by its strategic partners. Ameren and EPRI will have access to the data from the fuel cell for further research and analysis. ‘The key research aspect of this project is to study fuel cell operation in an integrated manner within the Alternative Energy facility, to better understand the overall system efficiency, costs, and environmental performance,’ says Steve Kidwell, Ameren’s VP of corporate planning. ClearEdge Power also makes large power plants based on phosphoric acid fuel cell technology, through the former UTC Power subsidiary it acquired earlier this year [FCB, March 2013, p8]. It recently won an order for a 400 kW PureCell Model 400 for the Busan International Finance Center’s Landmark Tower in Busan, Korea [FCB, July 2013, p6].
Ceres Power, Horsham, West Sussex, UK. Tel: +44 1403 273463, www.cerespower.com
ClearEdge Power, Hillsboro, Oregon, USA. Tel: 1 877 257 3343 (tollfree in US), www.clearedgepower.com
KD Navien: http://en.kdnavien.com
Lewis & Clark Community College: www.lc.edu Ameren Corporation: www.ameren.com
ClearEdge supplying 5 kW fuel cell power plant to Illinois college
L
ewis & Clark Community College in Illinois is working with utility Ameren Corporation to house a stateof-the-art 5 kW PureCell® fuel cell system from ClearEdge Power on its main campus in Godfrey. The fuel cell power plant, which is expected to be installed in November, will be placed in the Trimpe Building, as part of the planned renovations for the building over the next 18 months. The fuel cell system will be the first
Electric Power Research Institute: www.epri.com
LARGE STATIONARY
Bloom Energy sets up JV with SoftBank to serve Japan market
C
alifornia-based Bloom Energy is establishing a joint venture with telecom/internet company SoftBank Group in Tokyo, to address the urgent need in Japan for clean, reliable, and affordable electricity. Bloom Energy
August 2013
NEWS has also manufactured the first fuel cell units at its factory in Delaware, which is still under construction, and delivered them into service with regional utility Delmarva Power. The damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, the incident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, and the subsequent closure of nuclear power plants have created a significant electrical power deficit in Japan. Bloom Energy Japan Ltd has been created to provide a reliable electricity alternative that is safe, clean, affordable, compact, and provides electricity 24/7. Bloom Energy Japan will deploy Bloom Energy’s solid oxide fuel cell Energy Servers with customers such as office buildings, hospitals, data centres, government agencies, and other large commercial enterprises that want to generate their own energy while contributing to national energy security and sustainability. The 50:50 joint venture will allow SoftBank to offer distributed baseload power from Bloom Energy alongside its telecom and internet services, complementing its existing portfolio of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind through its SB Energy subsidiary. Bloom Energy has installed its 100 and 200 kW SOFC Energy Servers for various blue-chip clients in the US, but this new joint venture marks a major international expansion. Existing installations include 10 MW of power plants at Apple’s new data centre in Maiden, North Carolina [FCB, January 2013, p5], 17.1 MW total installed capacity for AT&T at sites in California and Connecticut [FCB, November 2012, p6], and systems ordered recently for Verizon in California [FCB, July 2013, p7]. The flexible, modular Bloom Energy Server can run on natural gas and biogas, and provides excellent efficiency. Meanwhile, Bloom Energy has manufactured its first fuel cell units at its not-yet-finished factory in Newark, Delaware [FCB, May 2012, p9]. The systems have been delivered to a Delmarva Power operation near New Castle and are already in service, according to DelawareOnline.com. Delaware agreed in 2011 to provide up to $16.5 million in direct incentives to Bloom, with energy utility Delmarva Power agreeing to buy renewable energy credits for up to 30 MW of power generated by Bloom clusters near substations outside Newark and New Castle. The early start of ‘Bloom Box’ assembly in the new factory is related to the terms of that deal. Only 10 MW of the 30 MW are allowed to come from units delivered from Bloom’s existing factory in California – the rest must be made in Delaware.
August 2013
And in other news, Bloom Energy plans to install an Energy Server system at the Macy’s distribution centre in Cheshire, Connecticut. The 600 kW power plant, running on natural gas, will provide the facility’s critical electric load, and sell excess electricity to the grid, according to HartfordBusiness.com. The state’s Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority is providing a $0.9 million grant to help fund the project, and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority has classified it as a Class I renewable energy source. Bloom Energy Corporation, Sunnyvale, California, USA. Tel: +1 408 543 1500, www.bloomenergy.com
Fuel Cell Seminar & Expo 21–24 October, Columbus, Ohio, USA The 2013 Fuel Cell Seminar & Energy Exposition, Featuring Hydrogen Fuel is the premier international gathering of the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industries with their stakeholders and customers. The event – with the theme Fuel Cells and Natural Gas: Securing America’s Energy Future – is a great opportunity to learn about the latest advances in fuel cell and hydrogen research, development, demonstration, and applications.
SoftBank Corporation: www.softbank.co.jp/en Delmarva Power: www.delmarva.com Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority, Connecticut: www.ctcleanenergy.com
PORTABLE & MICRO
UltraCell fuel cells and methanol logistics pass NZ military trials
U
S-based UltraCell reports that its XX55™ 55 W reformed methanol fuel cell system and the CliCIt methanol cartridge filling station recently completed evaluation by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Battle Lab, in conjunction with the company’s Australian and New Zealand regional partner, Eylex Pty Ltd. The trials originally commenced in 2012, with the Battle Lab evaluating several XX55 systems. The trials went very well, and the evaluation was extended, reaching a high point in May 2013 when XX55 fuel cells, supported by the CliC-It refilling system, were deployed during the Alam Halfa field exercise. Alam Halfa 2013 is a major multilateral exercise involving the US Army and Marine Corps, the Australian Army, as well as local NZ Army and Royal NZ Air Force personnel. The XX55 was fielded as a reliable, man-packable power generation system. Its lightweight and efficient operation makes it highly transportable, and near-silent operation make it suitable for tactical roles. Power can be generated or batteries recharged while away from support platforms, eliminating the need for sun, wind, or cumbersome mechanical and gasoline powered systems. During Alam Halfa, XX55 fuel cells were used to power missioncritical communications equipment, including handheld and man-pack radios, laptops, and other devices requiring either 5 V USB, 12 Vdc cigarette lighter, or 24 Vdc outputs.
Technical presentations The programme includes plenaries from Honda R&D Americas, the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association, University of Dayton, Drive Natural Gas Initiative, General Motors, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, FuelCell Energy, California Fuel Cell Partnership, and the DOE Fuel Cell Technologies Office. The technical sessions cover portable power, industry status, military (including unmanned vehicles), APUs, telecom backup, commercialisation & market analysis, aerospace, fuel conversion & handling, fuel cells for transportation applications, hydrogen utilisation & infrastructure, materials handling applications, advanced fuel cell components & systems, transportation fuel cells R&D, membrane and fuel cell component R&D, stationary applications & market economics, SOFC developments, SOFC materials & modelling, biogas & biofuel cells, hydrogen production & storage, CHP, fuel processing, high-temperature fuel cells, PEM components & systems, education, and fuel cell education & technology at Ohio State University. There will also be an extensive set of poster presentations. Exposition The expo showcases US and international companies and organisations with the latest developments, technologies, and products in the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industries. It includes the Supply Chain Exchange, a networking event for suppliers from Ohio and the Midwest to connect with national and international integrators. There will also be a Ride & Drive. Short courses and workshops The main meeting will be preceded by short courses including Fuel Cells 101 for Educators. Industry and research facilities tour The Monday before the conference opens will see a full-day tour of industry and research facilities in the area, including the Ohio State Center for Automotive Research, the headquarters of research organisation Battelle, Honda’s Marysville Auto Plant, and the Transportation Research Center, an independent automotive proving ground. Website: www.fuelcellseminar.com
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5
Ceres partners with Korean boiler maker KD Navien, new CEO
U
K-based Ceres Power has signed a new commercial and technical partnership with KyungDong Navien Co Ltd (KD Navien), the leading boiler manufacturer in South Korea. Ceres Power – which is developing decentralised energy products featuring its unique intermediatetemperature solid oxide fuel cell technology – has also appointed Philip Caldwell as its new CEO. KD Navien has the largest market share of installed boilers in Korea, and is a major exporter to key markets around the world, particularly the US. Korea represents a significant market for fuel cell combined heat and power (CHP) products; the government also offers generous subsidies for the deployment of fuel cell products. Under the terms of a technology assessment agreement, KD Navien will carry out trials of the Ceres 1 kW-class natural gas fueled fuel cell module (FCM) at its facility in Seoul. It will also engage in the first stages of design of a microCHP product for the mass residential market in Korea and potentially other territories. Ceres will 4
Fuel Cells Bulletin
provide hardware and technical support to KD Navien during the agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, KD Navien will pay Ceres for hardware and technical support to develop FCM testing and CHP system engineering capability. The companies will collaborate to maximise synergies with other partners already developing components or systems related to the Ceres technology. The two companies subsequently intend to enter into a licensing agreement for the manufacture and distribution of CHP products incorporating the Ceres FCM in the Korean residential market. ‘By entering into this technical partnership, KD Navien, with its world-class condensing technology, and Ceres Power will look to tie up and leverage their core competencies for the development of an innovative, eye-opening SOFC system,’ says Jae-Bum Choi, CEO of KD Navien. In other news, Philip Caldwell is taking over as CEO of Ceres Power. Phil is currently corporate development director at another UK-based fuel cell company, Intelligent Energy, which specialises in the development of PEM fuel cell systems across multiple markets. He was instrumental in establishing IE’s joint venture with Suzuki Motor Corporation, which will manufacture fuel cells under licence in Japan [FCB, March 2013, p8]. Ceres Power has agreements with British Gas in the UK [FCB, July 2009, p6] and Bord Gais Energy in Ireland [FCB, December 2009, p4] to incorporate the Ceres Technology Platform within a wall-mountable residential CHP unit. Last autumn Ceres announced that it would resize its business to focus on continued development and commercialisation of its core fuel cell and module technology platform [FCB, December 2012, p11].
alternative energy source added to the site that will be known as the Alternative Energy Production Center (AEPC) at Lewis & Clark. College president Dale Chapman says that the AEPC will provide an applied research and teaching facility for its faculty staff and students, as well as its partner Ameren and others such as the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), and the fuel cell manufacturer. The PureCell Model 5 System is a highly efficient, combined heat and power (CHP) system now re-engineered to utilise phosphoric acid fuel cell technology [see the ClearEdge Power feature in FCB, July 2011]. The fuel cell system runs on a natural gas supply, through a fuel processor. The byproduct heat from the electrochemical reaction will be utilised for the building’s hot water system. Ameren will place the fuel cell onsite, and donate the installation costs of the new technology. In exchange, Ameren will utilise the fuel cell demonstration site for viewings by its strategic partners. Ameren and EPRI will have access to the data from the fuel cell for further research and analysis. ‘The key research aspect of this project is to study fuel cell operation in an integrated manner within the Alternative Energy facility, to better understand the overall system efficiency, costs, and environmental performance,’ says Steve Kidwell, Ameren’s VP of corporate planning. ClearEdge Power also makes large power plants based on phosphoric acid fuel cell technology, through the former UTC Power subsidiary it acquired earlier this year [FCB, March 2013, p8]. It recently won an order for a 400 kW PureCell Model 400 for the Busan International Finance Center’s Landmark Tower in Busan, Korea [FCB, July 2013, p6].
Ceres Power, Horsham, West Sussex, UK. Tel: +44 1403 273463, www.cerespower.com
ClearEdge Power, Hillsboro, Oregon, USA. Tel: 1 877 257 3343 (tollfree in US), www.clearedgepower.com
KD Navien: http://en.kdnavien.com
Lewis & Clark Community College: www.lc.edu Ameren Corporation: www.ameren.com
ClearEdge supplying 5 kW fuel cell power plant to Illinois college
L
ewis & Clark Community College in Illinois is working with utility Ameren Corporation to house a stateof-the-art 5 kW PureCell® fuel cell system from ClearEdge Power on its main campus in Godfrey. The fuel cell power plant, which is expected to be installed in November, will be placed in the Trimpe Building, as part of the planned renovations for the building over the next 18 months. The fuel cell system will be the first
Electric Power Research Institute: www.epri.com
LARGE STATIONARY
Bloom Energy sets up JV with SoftBank to serve Japan market
C
alifornia-based Bloom Energy is establishing a joint venture with telecom/internet company SoftBank Group in Tokyo, to address the urgent need in Japan for clean, reliable, and affordable electricity. Bloom Energy
August 2013
NEWS has also manufactured the first fuel cell units at its factory in Delaware, which is still under construction, and delivered them into service with regional utility Delmarva Power. The damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, the incident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, and the subsequent closure of nuclear power plants have created a significant electrical power deficit in Japan. Bloom Energy Japan Ltd has been created to provide a reliable electricity alternative that is safe, clean, affordable, compact, and provides electricity 24/7. Bloom Energy Japan will deploy Bloom Energy’s solid oxide fuel cell Energy Servers with customers such as office buildings, hospitals, data centres, government agencies, and other large commercial enterprises that want to generate their own energy while contributing to national energy security and sustainability. The 50:50 joint venture will allow SoftBank to offer distributed baseload power from Bloom Energy alongside its telecom and internet services, complementing its existing portfolio of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind through its SB Energy subsidiary. Bloom Energy has installed its 100 and 200 kW SOFC Energy Servers for various blue-chip clients in the US, but this new joint venture marks a major international expansion. Existing installations include 10 MW of power plants at Apple’s new data centre in Maiden, North Carolina [FCB, January 2013, p5], 17.1 MW total installed capacity for AT&T at sites in California and Connecticut [FCB, November 2012, p6], and systems ordered recently for Verizon in California [FCB, July 2013, p7]. The flexible, modular Bloom Energy Server can run on natural gas and biogas, and provides excellent efficiency. Meanwhile, Bloom Energy has manufactured its first fuel cell units at its not-yet-finished factory in Newark, Delaware [FCB, May 2012, p9]. The systems have been delivered to a Delmarva Power operation near New Castle and are already in service, according to DelawareOnline.com. Delaware agreed in 2011 to provide up to $16.5 million in direct incentives to Bloom, with energy utility Delmarva Power agreeing to buy renewable energy credits for up to 30 MW of power generated by Bloom clusters near substations outside Newark and New Castle. The early start of ‘Bloom Box’ assembly in the new factory is related to the terms of that deal. Only 10 MW of the 30 MW are allowed to come from units delivered from Bloom’s existing factory in California – the rest must be made in Delaware.
August 2013
And in other news, Bloom Energy plans to install an Energy Server system at the Macy’s distribution centre in Cheshire, Connecticut. The 600 kW power plant, running on natural gas, will provide the facility’s critical electric load, and sell excess electricity to the grid, according to HartfordBusiness.com. The state’s Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority is providing a $0.9 million grant to help fund the project, and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority has classified it as a Class I renewable energy source. Bloom Energy Corporation, Sunnyvale, California, USA. Tel: +1 408 543 1500, www.bloomenergy.com
Fuel Cell Seminar & Expo 21–24 October, Columbus, Ohio, USA The 2013 Fuel Cell Seminar & Energy Exposition, Featuring Hydrogen Fuel is the premier international gathering of the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industries with their stakeholders and customers. The event – with the theme Fuel Cells and Natural Gas: Securing America’s Energy Future – is a great opportunity to learn about the latest advances in fuel cell and hydrogen research, development, demonstration, and applications.
SoftBank Corporation: www.softbank.co.jp/en Delmarva Power: www.delmarva.com Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority, Connecticut: www.ctcleanenergy.com
PORTABLE & MICRO
UltraCell fuel cells and methanol logistics pass NZ military trials
U
S-based UltraCell reports that its XX55™ 55 W reformed methanol fuel cell system and the CliCIt methanol cartridge filling station recently completed evaluation by the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) Battle Lab, in conjunction with the company’s Australian and New Zealand regional partner, Eylex Pty Ltd. The trials originally commenced in 2012, with the Battle Lab evaluating several XX55 systems. The trials went very well, and the evaluation was extended, reaching a high point in May 2013 when XX55 fuel cells, supported by the CliC-It refilling system, were deployed during the Alam Halfa field exercise. Alam Halfa 2013 is a major multilateral exercise involving the US Army and Marine Corps, the Australian Army, as well as local NZ Army and Royal NZ Air Force personnel. The XX55 was fielded as a reliable, man-packable power generation system. Its lightweight and efficient operation makes it highly transportable, and near-silent operation make it suitable for tactical roles. Power can be generated or batteries recharged while away from support platforms, eliminating the need for sun, wind, or cumbersome mechanical and gasoline powered systems. During Alam Halfa, XX55 fuel cells were used to power missioncritical communications equipment, including handheld and man-pack radios, laptops, and other devices requiring either 5 V USB, 12 Vdc cigarette lighter, or 24 Vdc outputs.
Technical presentations The programme includes plenaries from Honda R&D Americas, the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association, University of Dayton, Drive Natural Gas Initiative, General Motors, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, FuelCell Energy, California Fuel Cell Partnership, and the DOE Fuel Cell Technologies Office. The technical sessions cover portable power, industry status, military (including unmanned vehicles), APUs, telecom backup, commercialisation & market analysis, aerospace, fuel conversion & handling, fuel cells for transportation applications, hydrogen utilisation & infrastructure, materials handling applications, advanced fuel cell components & systems, transportation fuel cells R&D, membrane and fuel cell component R&D, stationary applications & market economics, SOFC developments, SOFC materials & modelling, biogas & biofuel cells, hydrogen production & storage, CHP, fuel processing, high-temperature fuel cells, PEM components & systems, education, and fuel cell education & technology at Ohio State University. There will also be an extensive set of poster presentations. Exposition The expo showcases US and international companies and organisations with the latest developments, technologies, and products in the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industries. It includes the Supply Chain Exchange, a networking event for suppliers from Ohio and the Midwest to connect with national and international integrators. There will also be a Ride & Drive. Short courses and workshops The main meeting will be preceded by short courses including Fuel Cells 101 for Educators. Industry and research facilities tour The Monday before the conference opens will see a full-day tour of industry and research facilities in the area, including the Ohio State Center for Automotive Research, the headquarters of research organisation Battelle, Honda’s Marysville Auto Plant, and the Transportation Research Center, an independent automotive proving ground. Website: www.fuelcellseminar.com
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5