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Heliocentris wins repeat order for Africa telecoms, investment
NEWS catalysts, has constructed a dedicated plant for fuel cell catalysts within its existing Shonan Plant in Hiratsuka City, about 50 km south of Tokyo. This ¥1 billion (US$10 million) ‘mother plant’ for PEM fuel cell catalyst manufacturing will meet the increasing demand for fuel cell electric vehicles and distributed power generation. The new manufacturing facility – with a total floor space of 1000 m2 (10 800 sq ft) inside the Shonan Plant – is currently seeing the merger and relocation of the group’s fuel cell catalyst R&D, product inspection, and shipment functions from the Hiratsuka Technical Center. This will enable further strengthening of the organisation for development and manufacture of fuel cell catalysts. Positioning it as a mother plant for expansion to meet anticipated greater demand for catalysts, will make it possible to quickly and flexibly increase production capacity. The dedicated plant is scheduled for completion in March, with functions transferred in phases ahead of full operation expected by October. The Tanaka Kikinzoku Group is combining precious metal catalyst technology and electrochemical technology that the company has been cultivating over many years, to develop highly active platinum catalysts used in PEMFC cathodes, and platinum alloy catalysts with excellent resistance to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning used in PEMFC anodes. The Group realised that it would be unable to scale up manufacturing sufficiently under the existing catalyst manufacturing organisation – hence the need to construct a dedicated plant. Automobile manufacturers are conducting R&D aimed at introducing practical FCEVs from 2015, and there is increased demand for catalysts in residential fuel cells since the launch of the Ene-Farm systems in 2009. Tanaka is establishing a division for the development and manufacture of catalysts in April, to continue its focus on R&D with the aim of making highly durable fuel cell catalysts, and reducing platinum consumption by providing greater performance. It will pursue cost reductions through process improvements, to further expand the fuel cell business. Moreover, the company will make full use of platinum recycling technology, and provide comprehensive support for the wider rollout of fuel cells. Tanaka Precious Metals: http://pro.tanaka.co.jp/en
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Fuel Cells Bulletin
Heliocentris wins repeat order for Africa telecoms, investment
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erman-based Heliocentris Energy Solutions reports that its partner Telesite Management Limitada in Mozambique has received its first repeat order for more than 50 Heliocentris Energy Management Systems from Mozambican Cellular (mcel). An additional order of a further 90 systems is expected shortly. Heliocentris has also announced the successful completion of a capital increase, as well as the renaming of its business units. Telesite serves the needs of mobile telecom companies in Mozambique and across Africa. Its client mcel – Mozambique’s largest wireless operator – purchased 500 Energy Management Systems in late 2011, most of which have been installed and commissioned [FCB, December 2011, p4]. The systems allow mcel to remotely monitor its base station infrastructure and remote assets, significantly reducing operational expenditure associated with energy use and maintenance visits, as well as increasing site uptime. ‘We see this as a confirmation of the performance of our systems, as well as of our market approach to generate continuous rollout business in the networks of our existing clients,’ says Ayad Abul-Ella, CEO of Heliocentris. ‘We have shown this with our client du, the second largest operator in the UAE, by the various follow-on orders received [FCB, April 2012, p4], and we appreciate to be able to do the same with mcel.’ As well as generating repeat orders with existing clients, Heliocentris has built a substantial pipeline of projects with new telecom prospects, and expects to receive further awards shortly. Meanwhile, Heliocentris has completed a capital increase for cash contributions from selected existing investors and strategic partners. The company received gross proceeds of E1.5 million (US$2 million), which will be used for further business expansion. In other news, the Heliocentris Group has renamed its business units, now that it has fully integrated P21 GmbH following its acquisition nearly two years ago [FCB, July 2011, p10]. Heliocentris Energy Solutions AG, with headquarters in Berlin, constitutes central functions like human resources, accounting, marketing etc., and acts as the holding company. Heliocentris Industry GmbH – formerly P21 GmbH – is located in Berlin and Munich, and
comprises sales, product management, R&D, and relevant functions for global business with clean energy and energy management solutions. Berlin-based Heliocentris Academia GmbH, formerly Heliocentris Energiesysteme GmbH, comprises sales, product management, development, and production of education, training, and research systems as well as associated curricula for customers worldwide. The Heliocentris Energy FZE (Free Zone Entity), located in the Dubai Silicon Oasis free economic zone [FCB, February 2012, p10], covers the Middle East and North Africa. And Heliocentris Energy Systems Inc in Vancouver, Canada is responsible for sales and business development of teaching, training, and research systems and associated curricula in North and South America. Heliocentris Energy Solutions, Berlin, Germany. Tel: +49 30 340 601500, www.heliocentris.com
HySA Catalysis, Oorja to push methanol fuel cells in South Africa
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alifornia-based Oorja Protonics has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the HySA Catalysis Centre of Competence in South Africa, to collaborate in a strategic partnership for the commercialisation of direct methanol fuel cells in the South African market. HySA Catalysis is one of three competence centres [see page 6] established to fulfill the SA Department of Science & Technology’s National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Flagship Programme initiatives (known as Hydrogen South Africa, HySA). Co-hosted by the University of Cape Town and Mintek in Johannesburg, HySA Catalysis has the lead role in the HySA Portable Power Programme, with the goal of delivering commercially viable prototypes in the 50 W to 5 kW power range. The Oorja collaboration is aligned with HySA’s portable power key programme strategy, where non-South African technologies are introduced with the plan to incorporate South African technologies into its joint future product offerings. The plan involves Oorja granting rights to market, sell, and distribute its DMFC-based products in the African market for various applications such as telecom towers, materials handling, and refrigerated trucks. During the second phase of the collaboration, Oorja will license its technology to HySA Catalysis for manufacturing of its OorjaPac™ fuel cell unit in South Africa, with the ultimate plan to incorporate South African
March 2013
10
Fuel Cells Bulletin
Heliocentris wins repeat order for Africa telecoms, investment
G
erman-based Heliocentris Energy Solutions reports that its partner Telesite Management Limitada in Mozambique has received its first repeat order for more than 50 Heliocentris Energy Management Systems from Mozambican Cellular (mcel). An additional order of a further 90 systems is expected shortly. Heliocentris has also announced the successful completion of a capital increase, as well as the renaming of its business units. Telesite serves the needs of mobile telecom companies in Mozambique and across Africa. Its client mcel – Mozambique’s largest wireless operator – purchased 500 Energy Management Systems in late 2011, most of which have been installed and commissioned [FCB, December 2011, p4]. The systems allow mcel to remotely monitor its base station infrastructure and remote assets, significantly reducing operational expenditure associated with energy use and maintenance visits, as well as increasing site uptime. ‘We see this as a confirmation of the performance of our systems, as well as of our market approach to generate continuous rollout business in the networks of our existing clients,’ says Ayad Abul-Ella, CEO of Heliocentris. ‘We have shown this with our client du, the second largest operator in the UAE, by the various follow-on orders received [FCB, April 2012, p4], and we appreciate to be able to do the same with mcel.’ As well as generating repeat orders with existing clients, Heliocentris has built a substantial pipeline of projects with new telecom prospects, and expects to receive further awards shortly. Meanwhile, Heliocentris has completed a capital increase for cash contributions from selected existing investors and strategic partners. The company received gross proceeds of E1.5 million (US$2 million), which will be used for further business expansion. In other news, the Heliocentris Group has renamed its business units, now that it has fully integrated P21 GmbH following its acquisition nearly two years ago [FCB, July 2011, p10]. Heliocentris Energy Solutions AG, with headquarters in Berlin, constitutes central functions like human resources, accounting, marketing etc., and acts as the holding company. Heliocentris Industry GmbH – formerly P21 GmbH – is located in Berlin and Munich, and
comprises sales, product management, R&D, and relevant functions for global business with clean energy and energy management solutions. Berlin-based Heliocentris Academia GmbH, formerly Heliocentris Energiesysteme GmbH, comprises sales, product management, development, and production of education, training, and research systems as well as associated curricula for customers worldwide. The Heliocentris Energy FZE (Free Zone Entity), located in the Dubai Silicon Oasis free economic zone [FCB, February 2012, p10], covers the Middle East and North Africa. And Heliocentris Energy Systems Inc in Vancouver, Canada is responsible for sales and business development of teaching, training, and research systems and associated curricula in North and South America. Heliocentris Energy Solutions, Berlin, Germany. Tel: +49 30 340 601500, www.heliocentris.com
HySA Catalysis, Oorja to push methanol fuel cells in South Africa
C
alifornia-based Oorja Protonics has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the HySA Catalysis Centre of Competence in South Africa, to collaborate in a strategic partnership for the commercialisation of direct methanol fuel cells in the South African market. HySA Catalysis is one of three competence centres [see page 6] established to fulfill the SA Department of Science & Technology’s National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Flagship Programme initiatives (known as Hydrogen South Africa, HySA). Co-hosted by the University of Cape Town and Mintek in Johannesburg, HySA Catalysis has the lead role in the HySA Portable Power Programme, with the goal of delivering commercially viable prototypes in the 50 W to 5 kW power range. The Oorja collaboration is aligned with HySA’s portable power key programme strategy, where non-South African technologies are introduced with the plan to incorporate South African technologies into its joint future product offerings. The plan involves Oorja granting rights to market, sell, and distribute its DMFC-based products in the African market for various applications such as telecom towers, materials handling, and refrigerated trucks. During the second phase of the collaboration, Oorja will license its technology to HySA Catalysis for manufacturing of its OorjaPac™ fuel cell unit in South Africa, with the ultimate plan to incorporate South African
March 2013