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QuestAir, FCE to evaluate production of hydrogen from DFC power plants
NEWS PNNL’s nanoscience approach to using ammonia borane for hydrogen storage is reported to beat DOE’s weight and volume storage goals for 2010. In addition to increasing hydrogen production, it also appears to suppress the undesirable formation during decomposition of volatile borazine, which is harmful to fuel cells. Based on computational thermodynamic analysis, Autrey and Gutowska believe their process may eventually be reversible, which would allow the storage material to be regenerated and provide a sustainable hydrogen storage compound with a longer lifetime. A patent is pending on this process for hydrogen storage. The researchers presented their findings at The Grand Challenge of Hydrogen Storage symposium, part of the American Physical Society Meeting in Los Angeles in March. Contact: Tom Autrey, Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 509 375 3792, Email: [email protected], Web: http://emslbios.pnl.gov/id/autrey_t
Hydrogenics, Hitachi Zosen target Japanese power systems market
O
ntario-based Hydrogenics has signed an agreement with Hitachi Zosen Corporation (Hitz) in Japan to jointly develop and commercialize hydrogen fuel cell-based power products for the Japanese market. In combining Hitz’s power technology and experience in the Japanese power markets with Hydrogenics’ fuel cell expertise, the collaboration will focus on stationary power applications, but will also investigate markets for transportation and hydrogen generation. Japan is one of the key countries leading the hydrogen economy, and this agreement will help Hydrogenics take advantage of these opportunities, comments Hydrogenics’ president/CEO, Pierre Rivard. ‘This relationship will let us showcase our HyPM technology to the Japanese market, while allowing Hitz to enter into power markets that are currently untapped,’ he adds. According to Hitz managing director Masaru Wakabayashi, there are immense opportunities for hydrogen fuel cells in Japan. He says that by working together the partners would be able to offer the Japanese market more innovative power solutions and advance the commercialization of the technology. The two companies previously worked together to supply and install a hydrogen
May 2005
powered stationary fuel cell system for Itochu Corporation in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture [FCB, July]. Hitz provided a water electrolyzer to generate hydrogen for a HyPM 10 power module. Contact: Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com Or contact: Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Osaka, Japan. Tel: +81 6 6569 0001, www.hitachizosen.co.jp
Vancouver FCV project gets under way with Ford cars
F
ord of Canada has delivered five Ford Focus Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs) powered by hydrogen to the Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program (VFCVP), launching this first-of-itskind demonstration program, which encompasses three years of a fiveyear initiative announced last summer [FCB, June]. The partners in the C$9m (US$7.2m) program are the Government of Canada, which is providing half of the funding, as well as Ford Motor Company/Ford of Canada, Fuel Cells Canada and the Government of British Columbia. The cars will be used by BC Hydro, BC Transit, Ballard Power Systems, the City of Vancouver, Fuel Cells Canada, National Research Council Canada (NRC), Natural Resources Canada and the Government of British Columbia in real-world daily driving conditions as part of a three-year hydrogen fuel technology demonstration program. The VFCVP is managed by Fuel Cells Canada, which is headquartered at the NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation, where the vehicles will be maintained and refueled. The VFCVP is one of a number of hydrogenrelated programs targeted for implementation before the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler. ‘This project highlights British Columbia’s leadership in the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, and builds on our commitment to have the world’s first hydrogen highway developed in time for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games,’ says the Honourable Richard Neufeld, BC’s minister of energy & mines. ‘BC’s 2002 Energy Plan lays out a path for future energy use and production, with a key focus on alternative energy, including hydrogen fuel cells, which will ensure
environmental sustainability – one of our key goals for the next decade.’ The Ford Focus FCV is a third-generation hybrid-electric vehicle that uses the locally made Ballard Mark 902 series fuel-cell engine and 350 bar (5000 psi) compressed hydrogen storage tanks from Calgary-based Dynetek. Contact: Fuel Cells Canada, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 822 9178, www.fuelcellscanada.ca
QuestAir, FCE to evaluate production of hydrogen from DFC power plants
C
anadian-based QuestAir Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding with FuelCell Energy of Connecticut to evaluate the use of QuestAir’s gas purification technology to produce pure hydrogen from the exhaust of FCE’s Direct FuelCell® stationary power plants. The companies will complete a preliminary design and economic analysis of a system using QuestAir’s commercial hydrogen purification products to purify hydrogen from the anode exhaust of a 1 MWe DFC power plant. DFC units equipped with this ‘hydrogen export’ system could be used by FCE’s customers to produce pure hydrogen for industrial use or to fuel fleets of FCVs, in addition to generating electrical power and heat. This combined generation would further enhance the value proposition for many DFC customer segments, says FCE’s chief technology officer, Dr Hansraj C. Maru. Under the terms of the MOU, QuestAir and FCE will also cooperate to secure funded demonstrations of a prototype hydrogen export system. In addition, they will assess the possible use of QuestAir’s technology to recover and recycle hydrogen within the DFC power plant. Such a ‘hydrogen recycle’ system has the potential to increase the electrical efficiency of the power plants, reducing the net cost of electrical power produced by the fuel cell. Each company will cover its own expenses for work under the MOU, which is expected to be complete by the fourth quarter. At that time they will decide whether to proceed with further product development and testing. FCE’s large stationary fuel cell power plants are currently installed at some 36 commercial and industrial sites around the world. Contact: QuestAir Technologies Inc, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 1134, www.questairinc.com Or contact: FuelCell Energy Inc, Danbury, Connecticut, USA. Tel: +1 203 825 6000, www.fce.com
Fuel Cells Bulletin
9
Hydrogenics, Hitachi Zosen target Japanese power systems market
O
ntario-based Hydrogenics has signed an agreement with Hitachi Zosen Corporation (Hitz) in Japan to jointly develop and commercialize hydrogen fuel cell-based power products for the Japanese market. In combining Hitz’s power technology and experience in the Japanese power markets with Hydrogenics’ fuel cell expertise, the collaboration will focus on stationary power applications, but will also investigate markets for transportation and hydrogen generation. Japan is one of the key countries leading the hydrogen economy, and this agreement will help Hydrogenics take advantage of these opportunities, comments Hydrogenics’ president/CEO, Pierre Rivard. ‘This relationship will let us showcase our HyPM technology to the Japanese market, while allowing Hitz to enter into power markets that are currently untapped,’ he adds. According to Hitz managing director Masaru Wakabayashi, there are immense opportunities for hydrogen fuel cells in Japan. He says that by working together the partners would be able to offer the Japanese market more innovative power solutions and advance the commercialization of the technology. The two companies previously worked together to supply and install a hydrogen
May 2005
powered stationary fuel cell system for Itochu Corporation in Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture [FCB, July]. Hitz provided a water electrolyzer to generate hydrogen for a HyPM 10 power module. Contact: Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com Or contact: Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Osaka, Japan. Tel: +81 6 6569 0001, www.hitachizosen.co.jp
Vancouver FCV project gets under way with Ford cars
F
ord of Canada has delivered five Ford Focus Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCVs) powered by hydrogen to the Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program (VFCVP), launching this first-of-itskind demonstration program, which encompasses three years of a fiveyear initiative announced last summer [FCB, June]. The partners in the C$9m (US$7.2m) program are the Government of Canada, which is providing half of the funding, as well as Ford Motor Company/Ford of Canada, Fuel Cells Canada and the Government of British Columbia. The cars will be used by BC Hydro, BC Transit, Ballard Power Systems, the City of Vancouver, Fuel Cells Canada, National Research Council Canada (NRC), Natural Resources Canada and the Government of British Columbia in real-world daily driving conditions as part of a three-year hydrogen fuel technology demonstration program. The VFCVP is managed by Fuel Cells Canada, which is headquartered at the NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation, where the vehicles will be maintained and refueled. The VFCVP is one of a number of hydrogenrelated programs targeted for implementation before the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler. ‘This project highlights British Columbia’s leadership in the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, and builds on our commitment to have the world’s first hydrogen highway developed in time for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games,’ says the Honourable Richard Neufeld, BC’s minister of energy & mines. ‘BC’s 2002 Energy Plan lays out a path for future energy use and production, with a key focus on alternative energy, including hydrogen fuel cells, which will ensure
environmental sustainability – one of our key goals for the next decade.’ The Ford Focus FCV is a third-generation hybrid-electric vehicle that uses the locally made Ballard Mark 902 series fuel-cell engine and 350 bar (5000 psi) compressed hydrogen storage tanks from Calgary-based Dynetek. Contact: Fuel Cells Canada, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 822 9178, www.fuelcellscanada.ca
QuestAir, FCE to evaluate production of hydrogen from DFC power plants
C
anadian-based QuestAir Technologies has signed a memorandum of understanding with FuelCell Energy of Connecticut to evaluate the use of QuestAir’s gas purification technology to produce pure hydrogen from the exhaust of FCE’s Direct FuelCell® stationary power plants. The companies will complete a preliminary design and economic analysis of a system using QuestAir’s commercial hydrogen purification products to purify hydrogen from the anode exhaust of a 1 MWe DFC power plant. DFC units equipped with this ‘hydrogen export’ system could be used by FCE’s customers to produce pure hydrogen for industrial use or to fuel fleets of FCVs, in addition to generating electrical power and heat. This combined generation would further enhance the value proposition for many DFC customer segments, says FCE’s chief technology officer, Dr Hansraj C. Maru. Under the terms of the MOU, QuestAir and FCE will also cooperate to secure funded demonstrations of a prototype hydrogen export system. In addition, they will assess the possible use of QuestAir’s technology to recover and recycle hydrogen within the DFC power plant. Such a ‘hydrogen recycle’ system has the potential to increase the electrical efficiency of the power plants, reducing the net cost of electrical power produced by the fuel cell. Each company will cover its own expenses for work under the MOU, which is expected to be complete by the fourth quarter. At that time they will decide whether to proceed with further product development and testing. FCE’s large stationary fuel cell power plants are currently installed at some 36 commercial and industrial sites around the world. Contact: QuestAir Technologies Inc, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 1134, www.questairinc.com Or contact: FuelCell Energy Inc, Danbury, Connecticut, USA. Tel: +1 203 825 6000, www.fce.com
Fuel Cells Bulletin
9