- Email: [email protected]
Funding approved to add seven stations in Northern California
NEWS promoting greater adoption of fuel cell systems because of their outstanding power generation efficiency and minimal CO2 emissions. The system was developed through a process of demonstration testing 250 kW-class systems, supported by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Systems were demonstrated at automaker Toyota Motor Corporation’s Motomachi Plant in Toyota City, and NGK Spark Plug Co operated a system at its Komaki Factory, both in Aichi Prefecture, near Nagoya [FCB, May 2017, p6]. The Hybrid-FC 250 power generation system employs SOFC technology and an MGT in its two-stage power generation mode, running on hydrogen and carbon monoxide (CO) produced by reforming natural gas. Unreacted fuel in the SOFC exhaust is fed at high pressure to the MGT, and combusted to generate additional electricity. The hybrid power generation system was jointly developed by MHPS, Toyota, and its subsidiary Toyota Turbine and Systems Inc [December 2014, p1 and October 2016, p8]. MHPS will target further improvements in the system’s performance, as it promotes the new hybrid system to potential business and industrial customers. NEDO is supporting a number of other projects to develop market-ready SOFC systems for power generation applications, and novel approaches to energy storage at water purification plants [see two items on page 8]. Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Fuel Cell Power Generation Systems: http://tinyurl.com/mhps-sofc New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization: www.nedo.go.jp/english/index.html
PORTABLE & MICRO
SFC partner Oneberry launches autonomous DMFC powered robot
SFC Energy: www.sfc.com or www.efoy-pro.com
T
he flagship EFOY Pro direct methanol fuel cell product of German-based SFC Energy has been integrated into the Roboguard™, an innovative autonomous ‘security robot’ developed by its partner Oneberry Technologies in Singapore. Oneberry Technologies developed Roboguard to address manpower shortages in the Singaporean security sector, while increasing productivity and raising the level of security for public clients. Oneberry – an established security and surveillance solutions provider – is SFC Energy’s exclusive partner in Singapore. Roboguard is powered reliably by SFC Energy’s EFOY Pro fuel cells, allowing it to operate autonomously and maintenance-free for up to a month without intervention. All it 6
needs is a minute to hot-swap the methanol fuel cartridge. Roboguard can be deployed anywhere in just minutes, freeing security personnel from foot-patrol duties and allowing them to perform higher-value skilled tasks. ‘Without a reliable power source, even the most innovative security solution is useless,’ says Ken Pereira, CEO of Oneberry Technologies. ‘Having to change batteries every few hours or to get a robot to change ‘shifts’ for recharging is very unproductive and very costly. A reliable and autonomous power source is key to any mission, especially in surveillance situations where downtime is critical.’ Earlier this year Oneberry won a multiyear tender for providing the most reliable integrated off-grid security and surveillance solutions for public and state security, and placed the largest Asian single order so far for EFOY Pro fuel cell systems [FCB, February 2017, p9]. And last summer Oneberry’s affiliate Innoverde procured several hundred units of the EFOY Pro 2400 – and the requisite EFOY methanol fuel cartridges – to provide reliable offgrid power for security and surveillance equipment in Singapore; some of the DMFCs have been hybridised with a solar module in a weatherproof system by Oneberry Technologies. The contract award builds on the success of several years of extensive business development between SFC and Oneberry [May 2014, p3]. ‘In security and surveillance applications, our EFOY Pro fuel cell is a proven enabling technology,’ says Dr Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC Energy. ‘As reliable off-grid power is a decisive prerequisite in the functionality of more and more systems used independent of grid power, we see a substantial potential for our fuel cells in markets on a worldwide basis.’ SFC Energy offers a portfolio of portable, mobile, stationary, and vehicle-based DMFCs for a wide variety of applications, with more than 37 000 fuel cells sold [see the SFC feature in January 2013].
Fuel Cells Bulletin
Oneberry Technologies: www.oneberry.com
FUELING
Funding approved to add seven stations in Northern California
T
he California Energy Commission has approved more than $16 million in grants for Equilon Enterprises LLC, which does business as Shell Oil Products US, to develop seven new hydrogen refueling stations in Northern California.
The Commission has also funded the upgrading of the Torrance Shell hydrogen station in Los Angeles, which is now open to the public as a retail station. Three of the seven new hydrogen stations will be located in San Francisco (at 551 Third Street, 1201 Harrison Street, and 3550 Mission Street), one in Walnut Creek (east of Oakland), one in Berkeley (1250 University Avenue), and two in the Sacramento region (at 3510 Fair Oaks Boulevard, and in Citrus Heights). Each station has been awarded a $2.3 million grant, through the Alternative & Renewable Fuel & Vehicle Technology Program. The Commission has funded 60 stations across the state, including these latest approvals, with 29 currently in operation. It recently approved $17 million in funding for nine new hydrogen stations to be constructed by FirstElement Fuel and Air Liquide [FCB, July 2017, p8]. The funding announcement also included an amendment to a previous grant to Linde LLC, to change one of its originally proposed stations, a new facility at Oakland Airport, to an upgrade of AC Transit’s Emeryville light-duty station [see the News Feature in May 2012], boosting its refueling capacity to 350 kg/day of hydrogen and ensuring compliance with the latest standards and fueling protocols. The California Energy Commission has also funded the upgrade of the Shell hydrogen station in Torrance, to the south of Los Angeles International Airport, which is now open to the public as a retail station. The grant was administered by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and upgrade activities undertaken by station operator Shell working with Air Products [December 2016, p10]. This is the 30th retail hydrogen station in California, following the recent opening of the 29th station by Linde in San Ramon [August 2017, p5]. The Torrance station is the only one in the US to be fed by a hydrogen pipeline [June 2011, p7, and also see page 7 in this issue]. California Energy Commission: www.energy.ca.gov Alternative & Renewable Fuel & Vehicle Technology Program: www.energy.ca.gov/drive California Fuel Cell Partnership, station map: www.cafcp.org/stationmap Shell, Hydrogen: http://tinyurl.com/shell-h2 Linde, Hydrogen: http://tinyurl.com/linde-experience-h2
Australia funding first hydrogen refueling station in Melbourne
T
he Victoria State Government in Australia is providing A$1 million
September 2017
PORTABLE & MICRO
SFC partner Oneberry launches autonomous DMFC powered robot
SFC Energy: www.sfc.com or www.efoy-pro.com
T
he flagship EFOY Pro direct methanol fuel cell product of German-based SFC Energy has been integrated into the Roboguard™, an innovative autonomous ‘security robot’ developed by its partner Oneberry Technologies in Singapore. Oneberry Technologies developed Roboguard to address manpower shortages in the Singaporean security sector, while increasing productivity and raising the level of security for public clients. Oneberry – an established security and surveillance solutions provider – is SFC Energy’s exclusive partner in Singapore. Roboguard is powered reliably by SFC Energy’s EFOY Pro fuel cells, allowing it to operate autonomously and maintenance-free for up to a month without intervention. All it 6
needs is a minute to hot-swap the methanol fuel cartridge. Roboguard can be deployed anywhere in just minutes, freeing security personnel from foot-patrol duties and allowing them to perform higher-value skilled tasks. ‘Without a reliable power source, even the most innovative security solution is useless,’ says Ken Pereira, CEO of Oneberry Technologies. ‘Having to change batteries every few hours or to get a robot to change ‘shifts’ for recharging is very unproductive and very costly. A reliable and autonomous power source is key to any mission, especially in surveillance situations where downtime is critical.’ Earlier this year Oneberry won a multiyear tender for providing the most reliable integrated off-grid security and surveillance solutions for public and state security, and placed the largest Asian single order so far for EFOY Pro fuel cell systems [FCB, February 2017, p9]. And last summer Oneberry’s affiliate Innoverde procured several hundred units of the EFOY Pro 2400 – and the requisite EFOY methanol fuel cartridges – to provide reliable offgrid power for security and surveillance equipment in Singapore; some of the DMFCs have been hybridised with a solar module in a weatherproof system by Oneberry Technologies. The contract award builds on the success of several years of extensive business development between SFC and Oneberry [May 2014, p3]. ‘In security and surveillance applications, our EFOY Pro fuel cell is a proven enabling technology,’ says Dr Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC Energy. ‘As reliable off-grid power is a decisive prerequisite in the functionality of more and more systems used independent of grid power, we see a substantial potential for our fuel cells in markets on a worldwide basis.’ SFC Energy offers a portfolio of portable, mobile, stationary, and vehicle-based DMFCs for a wide variety of applications, with more than 37 000 fuel cells sold [see the SFC feature in January 2013].
Fuel Cells Bulletin
Oneberry Technologies: www.oneberry.com
FUELING
Funding approved to add seven stations in Northern California
T
he California Energy Commission has approved more than $16 million in grants for Equilon Enterprises LLC, which does business as Shell Oil Products US, to develop seven new hydrogen refueling stations in Northern California.
The Commission has also funded the upgrading of the Torrance Shell hydrogen station in Los Angeles, which is now open to the public as a retail station. Three of the seven new hydrogen stations will be located in San Francisco (at 551 Third Street, 1201 Harrison Street, and 3550 Mission Street), one in Walnut Creek (east of Oakland), one in Berkeley (1250 University Avenue), and two in the Sacramento region (at 3510 Fair Oaks Boulevard, and in Citrus Heights). Each station has been awarded a $2.3 million grant, through the Alternative & Renewable Fuel & Vehicle Technology Program. The Commission has funded 60 stations across the state, including these latest approvals, with 29 currently in operation. It recently approved $17 million in funding for nine new hydrogen stations to be constructed by FirstElement Fuel and Air Liquide [FCB, July 2017, p8]. The funding announcement also included an amendment to a previous grant to Linde LLC, to change one of its originally proposed stations, a new facility at Oakland Airport, to an upgrade of AC Transit’s Emeryville light-duty station [see the News Feature in May 2012], boosting its refueling capacity to 350 kg/day of hydrogen and ensuring compliance with the latest standards and fueling protocols. The California Energy Commission has also funded the upgrade of the Shell hydrogen station in Torrance, to the south of Los Angeles International Airport, which is now open to the public as a retail station. The grant was administered by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and upgrade activities undertaken by station operator Shell working with Air Products [December 2016, p10]. This is the 30th retail hydrogen station in California, following the recent opening of the 29th station by Linde in San Ramon [August 2017, p5]. The Torrance station is the only one in the US to be fed by a hydrogen pipeline [June 2011, p7, and also see page 7 in this issue]. California Energy Commission: www.energy.ca.gov Alternative & Renewable Fuel & Vehicle Technology Program: www.energy.ca.gov/drive California Fuel Cell Partnership, station map: www.cafcp.org/stationmap Shell, Hydrogen: http://tinyurl.com/shell-h2 Linde, Hydrogen: http://tinyurl.com/linde-experience-h2
Australia funding first hydrogen refueling station in Melbourne
T
he Victoria State Government in Australia is providing A$1 million
September 2017