- Email: [email protected]
Hydrogenics selected for 2 MW Ontario energy storage facility
NEWS McPhy is also involved in the German H2BER project, which features a wind-hydrogen production plant and a hydrogen vehicle fueling station at the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport [FCB, May 2014, p1]. McPhy Energy has three production sites in France, Germany and Italy, and an R&D laboratory in France. The company recently commissioned its assembly unit for large-scale hydrogen production units in Wildau, Germany and relocated its Italian manufacturing operations to an ultra-modern 5000 m2 plant in San Miniato.
periods of time on available hydrocarbon fuels, such as methanol and natural gas. In early 2013 it partnered with Sankosha Corporation in Japan and Clean Energy Investments in South Africa to develop telecom markets for its products in Asia and Africa, respectively [FCB, February 2013, p5]. Hy9 is also collaborating with Dutch fuel cell manufacturer Nedstack to develop the market for reformer-based PEMFC power systems [FCB, January 2013, p10]. Hy9 Corporation, Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 508 435 3789, www.hy9.com
McPhy Energy, La Motte-Fanjas, France. Tel: +33 4 7571 1505, www.mcphy.com GKN Powder Metallurgy: www.gkn.com/powdermetallurgy
Hy9 intros hydrogen generator to power fuel cells on methanol
M
assachusetts-based Hy9 Corporation, which manufactures high-performance fuel processing and hydrogen purification systems for the stationary and backup power markets, is expanding its HGS-C™ series of methanol-based hydrogen generators. The company says that its new HGC-M range is the first methanol reformer designed for integration with a fuel cell engine and fuel storage tank to create a turnkey DC power generation solution, ideally suited for telecom applications. The complete HGC-M family of 40, 80 and 100 slpm (standard litres per minute) hydrogen generators, when integrated with PEM fuel cells, provides power levels of 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 kW, respectively, for a reliable, cost-effective, compact and efficient solution to meet increased customer demand for extended runtime applications. The new HGC-M-100 will enable operators to provide a consolidated power system to meet the needs of multiple carriers at a communications site. The HGC-M is designed for PEM fuel cell backup power applications requiring extended runtime. It operates on a fuel mixture of readily available methanol and water. Hy9’s unique and patented membrane purifier eliminates the costly and complex purification steps required in other reformer-based hydrogen generators when coupled with fuel cells. Hy9’s compact membrane purification and fuel processing solutions enable PEM fuel cells to operate reliably and efficiently over long
August 2014
ENERGY STORAGE
recently provided a 1 MW electrolyser unit for the Power-to-Gas Biological Catalysis (P2GBioCat) project in Denmark, which will use hydrogen produced using excess wind power to convert biogas from sewage sludge into methane that can be injected into the local gas network [FCB, March 2014, p8]. The company has already supplied large-scale electrolyser systems for P2G projects in Germany: for RH2-WKA at a 140 MW wind farm at Grapzow [FCB, October 2013, p8], and in Falkenhagen for E.ON [FCB, September 2013, p9]. Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com Independent Electricity System Operator: www.ieso.ca
Hydrogenics selected for 2 MW Ontario energy storage facility
I
n Canada, Hydrogenics has been selected as a ‘preferred respondent’ by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) for Ontario in its procurement for grid energy storage. This Power-to-Gas (P2G) project, located in the Greater Toronto Area, will deliver 2 MW of storage capacity, and is the first of its kind in North America. Hydrogenics will supply the facility’s nextgeneration PEM electrolysers, and is partnering with Enbridge Inc to develop, build, and operate the energy storage facility to provide regulation services to the IESO under contract. ‘Storage facilities on the grid are a real game changer. Our electricity system was built on the concept that you can’t store large amounts of electricity,’ says Bruce Campbell, president and CEO of the IESO. ‘Energy storage projects will provide more flexibility, and offer more options to manage the system efficiently.’ ‘We have already experienced the positive impact of having a highly visible reference site with E.ON in Germany, and our partnership with Enbridge will make this application an excellent reference site closer to home,’ adds Daryl Wilson, CEO of Hydrogenics. ‘We appreciate the leadership of the Ontario Ministry of Energy to invest in clean energy storage technologies, and the IESO for providing this platform for energy innovation.’ Three years ago Hydrogenics successfully completed an innovative trial with the IESO to demonstrate the viability of its HySTAT™ electrolyser technology to provide frequency regulation for utility-scale grid stabilisation in Ontario [FCB, July 2011, p9]. Hydrogenics is busy in the growing energy storage market, in particular in Europe. It
COMMERCIALISATION
Intelligent Energy fuel cell engine tech deal with Japan auto OEM
U
K-based PEM fuel cell developer Intelligent Energy has signed a further two-year, multi-million pound development agreement with a Japanese volume automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). The contract will contribute to Intelligent Energy’s revenues during financial years 2014 and 2015. The company may also be partnering with Apple to embed fuel cells in electronic devices such as iPads and mobile phones, allowing them to run for days or even weeks. The development agreement marks a further step in Intelligent Energy’s progress in the fast-developing Japanese market for fuel cell electric vehicles, and in its relationship with the (unnamed) mainstream vehicle manufacturer. The agreement will focus on the development of Intelligent Energy’s differentiated fuel cell engine technology towards ‘productionisation’ in applications that are targeted to include compact cars and two-wheeler vehicles, as well as in range-extender units for low-emission light vehicles. Intelligent Energy provides its advanced fuel cell engine technology in the 2 kW to 100 kW+ range to high-volume automotive OEMs through a licensing model, with two mainstream Japanese OEMs among its current client base. This approach combines IE’s expertise in efficient power technologies with its OEM partners’ well established broad channels to market. Intelligent Energy recently unveiled its Gen4 air-cooled PEM fuel cell power unit, developed in collaboration with Suzuki Motor
Fuel Cells Bulletin
9
periods of time on available hydrocarbon fuels, such as methanol and natural gas. In early 2013 it partnered with Sankosha Corporation in Japan and Clean Energy Investments in South Africa to develop telecom markets for its products in Asia and Africa, respectively [FCB, February 2013, p5]. Hy9 is also collaborating with Dutch fuel cell manufacturer Nedstack to develop the market for reformer-based PEMFC power systems [FCB, January 2013, p10]. Hy9 Corporation, Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 508 435 3789, www.hy9.com
McPhy Energy, La Motte-Fanjas, France. Tel: +33 4 7571 1505, www.mcphy.com GKN Powder Metallurgy: www.gkn.com/powdermetallurgy
Hy9 intros hydrogen generator to power fuel cells on methanol
M
assachusetts-based Hy9 Corporation, which manufactures high-performance fuel processing and hydrogen purification systems for the stationary and backup power markets, is expanding its HGS-C™ series of methanol-based hydrogen generators. The company says that its new HGC-M range is the first methanol reformer designed for integration with a fuel cell engine and fuel storage tank to create a turnkey DC power generation solution, ideally suited for telecom applications. The complete HGC-M family of 40, 80 and 100 slpm (standard litres per minute) hydrogen generators, when integrated with PEM fuel cells, provides power levels of 2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 kW, respectively, for a reliable, cost-effective, compact and efficient solution to meet increased customer demand for extended runtime applications. The new HGC-M-100 will enable operators to provide a consolidated power system to meet the needs of multiple carriers at a communications site. The HGC-M is designed for PEM fuel cell backup power applications requiring extended runtime. It operates on a fuel mixture of readily available methanol and water. Hy9’s unique and patented membrane purifier eliminates the costly and complex purification steps required in other reformer-based hydrogen generators when coupled with fuel cells. Hy9’s compact membrane purification and fuel processing solutions enable PEM fuel cells to operate reliably and efficiently over long
August 2014
ENERGY STORAGE
recently provided a 1 MW electrolyser unit for the Power-to-Gas Biological Catalysis (P2GBioCat) project in Denmark, which will use hydrogen produced using excess wind power to convert biogas from sewage sludge into methane that can be injected into the local gas network [FCB, March 2014, p8]. The company has already supplied large-scale electrolyser systems for P2G projects in Germany: for RH2-WKA at a 140 MW wind farm at Grapzow [FCB, October 2013, p8], and in Falkenhagen for E.ON [FCB, September 2013, p9]. Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com Independent Electricity System Operator: www.ieso.ca
Hydrogenics selected for 2 MW Ontario energy storage facility
I
n Canada, Hydrogenics has been selected as a ‘preferred respondent’ by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) for Ontario in its procurement for grid energy storage. This Power-to-Gas (P2G) project, located in the Greater Toronto Area, will deliver 2 MW of storage capacity, and is the first of its kind in North America. Hydrogenics will supply the facility’s nextgeneration PEM electrolysers, and is partnering with Enbridge Inc to develop, build, and operate the energy storage facility to provide regulation services to the IESO under contract. ‘Storage facilities on the grid are a real game changer. Our electricity system was built on the concept that you can’t store large amounts of electricity,’ says Bruce Campbell, president and CEO of the IESO. ‘Energy storage projects will provide more flexibility, and offer more options to manage the system efficiently.’ ‘We have already experienced the positive impact of having a highly visible reference site with E.ON in Germany, and our partnership with Enbridge will make this application an excellent reference site closer to home,’ adds Daryl Wilson, CEO of Hydrogenics. ‘We appreciate the leadership of the Ontario Ministry of Energy to invest in clean energy storage technologies, and the IESO for providing this platform for energy innovation.’ Three years ago Hydrogenics successfully completed an innovative trial with the IESO to demonstrate the viability of its HySTAT™ electrolyser technology to provide frequency regulation for utility-scale grid stabilisation in Ontario [FCB, July 2011, p9]. Hydrogenics is busy in the growing energy storage market, in particular in Europe. It
COMMERCIALISATION
Intelligent Energy fuel cell engine tech deal with Japan auto OEM
U
K-based PEM fuel cell developer Intelligent Energy has signed a further two-year, multi-million pound development agreement with a Japanese volume automotive Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). The contract will contribute to Intelligent Energy’s revenues during financial years 2014 and 2015. The company may also be partnering with Apple to embed fuel cells in electronic devices such as iPads and mobile phones, allowing them to run for days or even weeks. The development agreement marks a further step in Intelligent Energy’s progress in the fast-developing Japanese market for fuel cell electric vehicles, and in its relationship with the (unnamed) mainstream vehicle manufacturer. The agreement will focus on the development of Intelligent Energy’s differentiated fuel cell engine technology towards ‘productionisation’ in applications that are targeted to include compact cars and two-wheeler vehicles, as well as in range-extender units for low-emission light vehicles. Intelligent Energy provides its advanced fuel cell engine technology in the 2 kW to 100 kW+ range to high-volume automotive OEMs through a licensing model, with two mainstream Japanese OEMs among its current client base. This approach combines IE’s expertise in efficient power technologies with its OEM partners’ well established broad channels to market. Intelligent Energy recently unveiled its Gen4 air-cooled PEM fuel cell power unit, developed in collaboration with Suzuki Motor
Fuel Cells Bulletin
9