NEWS PORTABLE & MICRO
BOC unveils hydrogen fuel cell powered lighting package
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K-based industrial gases company BOC has launched a hydrogen fuel cell powered lighting package aimed at offgrid locations and night-time working in built-up areas. This latest addition to the Hymera product range uses high-efficiency, low-wattage lamps with an output equivalent to two 300 W halogen lamps. This latest addition to the Hymera family of hydrogen fuel cell products from BOC – a member of The Linde Group – is an ideal option for locations that cannot connect to grid electricity [see the feature on the BOC Hymera in FCB, August 2011]. The zero-carbon, longlifetime alternative to gasoline generators will be particularly useful for work in tunnels or poorly ventilated locations, as well as outside maintenance areas or night-time sports practice courts. It has also been developed for use at outdoor functions; the technology has already been trialled at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk, where it provided lighting for marquees, forest performances, and toilet facilities. In the summer Network Rail endorsed the Hymera suite of hydrogen fuel cell based products for use across the UK rail network [FCB, September 2012, p1], while earlier in the year BOC launched the Hymera DC battery charging system, capable of delivering 150 W of DC power in offgrid and remote locations, in particular for remote monitoring applications [FCB, March 2012, p6]. The Hymera systems feature a hydrogen PEM fuel cell manufactured by Singapore-based Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies.
BOC, Hymera: www.BOConline.co.uk/hymera
Neah Power launches PowerPlay consumer electronics recharger
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S-based Neah Power Systems, which is developing power solutions for the military, transportation, and portable electronic devices, has unveiled the PowerPlay™ portable fuel cell recharger designed for cell phones, smart phones, tablets or just about any portable consumer device. This consumer-oriented fuel cell
November 2012
recharging solution is slated for full release in spring 2013. Neah Power has developed the PowerPlay portable recharger using its processing expertise with the larger PowerChip™ silicon-based direct methanol fuel cell technology. The PowerPlay features a small fuel cell without any of the pumps or moving parts found in the larger PowerChip products. These passive fuel cells use small interchangeable, refillable methanol cartridges to provide the fuel, with each cartridge expected to supply enough power to charge a typical smart phone up to four times. ‘We are excited to be able to deploy the key elements of the PowerChip technology for this new architecture, leverage our existing infrastructure, and combine other proprietary developments for these compact, portable applications in the consumer market,’ says Dr Chris D’Couto, CEO of Neah Power. ‘We anticipate much interest in this product as we further define the go-to-market strategy to include both a direct-to-consumer approach as well as integrated distributive solution.’ Neah Power uses a unique, patented, siliconbased design for its Powerchip and PowerPlay micro DMFCs that results in higher power densities, lower cost, and compact formfactors, as well as the ability to run in aerobic and anaerobic mode. The company recently shipped a PowerChip fuel cell to a ‘Fortune 150’ defence supplier [FCB, October 2012, p7], and is exploring collaboration with Boeing to deploy the PowerChip technology to various distributed power sources on Boeing’s current and future airplane and ground systems [FCB, November 2011, p4]. Neah Power Systems, Bothell, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 425 424 3324, www.neahpower.com
along with piping to multiple indoor fuelling dispensers. The 72 lift trucks, now converted to hydrogen-powered fuel cell material handling units, are used to move vehicle parts where required on the assembly lines. The material handling vehicles feature Plug Power’s GenDrive® hydrogen fuel cell power units [FCB, August 2012, p2]. The GenDrive systems can be quickly refuelled in just minutes, completely eliminating the need to change, store, charge, and maintain multiple lead-acid batteries for each lift truck [see the feature on Plug Power in FCB, December 2011]. ‘We have multiple product offerings that can be expanded with the customer life cycle,’ says John O’Bryan, Air Products’ project manager for hydrogen energy systems. ‘These are available for customers interested in material handling fleet conversions and, in fact, we provided our mobile fuelling technology to Mercedes for initial fuellings prior to placing the permanent equipment onstream.’ Air Products is the leading provider of hydrogen fuelling and related infrastructure to the material handling market, and is now fuelling more than 1000 material handling units on a daily basis in the US, including the fuel cell powered forklifts at Joint Base LewisMcChord (JBLM), near Tacoma in Washington state [FCB, March 2012, p1]. Air Products, Hydrogen Energy: www.airproducts.com/h2energy Plug Power: www.plugpower.com
Acta wins more orders for onboard hydrogen, electrolysers, stacks
FUELLING
Air Products fuelling fuel cell lift trucks at Mercedes US plant
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n the US, Air Products has installed its hydrogen fuelling technology and infrastructure, to successfully convert a significant portion of the lift truck fleet at the Mercedes-Benz US International car manufacturing facility in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The installation was completed during an annual week-long summer shutdown. The Air Products equipment and infrastructure at Tuscaloosa includes an outdoor liquid hydrogen storage and compression system,
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talian-based Acta SpA has received two additional orders from M-Field Energy in Taiwan for its renewable energy powered electrolysers. The company has also received an order for multiple units of its EL100 hydrogen generator from Heliocentris Energy Solutions in Germany. And Acta has received the first two orders for its 1 m3/h hydrogen generator stack, currently the largest electrolyser stack unit it produces. The repeat orders from M-Field follow the recent shipment of the first fully integrated fuel cell telecom backup power system incorporating Acta’s onboard hydrogen generation for automatic fuel replenishment, which was assembled by system integrator M-Field and shipped to SEFCA Pty Ltd, Acta’s
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NEWS Australian marketing and distribution partner [FCB, October 2012, p6]. The additional electrolysers will be incorporated together with a Ballard PEM fuel cell stack into two further telecom backup power systems. The system, incorporating Acta’s electrolyser for generating hydrogen onsite from renewable power, offers substantial benefits to telecom companies seeking to reduce the operating costs and security risks of their offgrid base stations. The system uses surplus photovoltaic power to generate hydrogen, which is then converted to electricity through a fuel cell when backup power is required. This arrangement provides the backup power system with extended runtime capability for the primary battery array. This is particularly advantageous in remote locations and in markets with high hydrogen costs, such as in Australia and across South East Asia. The Heliocentris order is worth approximately E150 000 (US$190 000), depending on the product mix, with delivery anticipated during the first half of 2013. Delivery against the order is subject to call-down of the units by Heliocentris, based on market demand generated through its global distribution network for the educational market. The Heliocentris HG100 is based on Acta’s 100 litre/h EL100 hydrogen generator. Acta has incorporated a number of modifications to the electrolyser to meet the specific requirements of Heliocentris’ target market, including the development of a dryer module for highpurity hydrogen production. Heliocentris has an exclusive global license to sell Acta’s products to the educational market, in return for a commitment to buy alkaline membrane electrolyser products exclusively from Acta [FCB, February 2012, p1]. The two orders for the largest, 1 m3/h hydrogen generator stack – sold at a list price of E9500 ($12 150) each – are from the Spanish National Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology (CIEMAT), and from an unnamed German electrolyser manufacturer which is seeking to integrate Acta’s hydrogen generator stack into its product range. Deliveries of these two orders are scheduled for December. Acta is also currently negotiating a number of additional sales proposals for these large electrolyser stacks [see the feature on Acta in FCB, September 2012]. Acta SpA, Crespina, Pisa, Italy. Tel: +39 050 644281, www.actagroup.it M-Field Energy Ltd: www.m-field.com.tw Heliocentris Energy Solutions: www.heliocentris.com CIEMAT: www.ciemat.es (in Spanish)
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Fuel Cells Bulletin
ENERGY STORAGE
ITM, ABO Wind to grow wind–hydrogen projects in Europe
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K-based ITM Power has signed an agreement with ABO Wind in Germany to identify and develop wind-to-hydrogen projects in the UK, Ireland, and Germany. Wiesbaden-based ABO Wind initiates wind farm projects, acquires site locations, organises all technical and business planning, arranges international bank financing, and delivers turnkey wind farms. To date, the company has connected more than 350 turbines with a total capacity of more than 600 MW through projects in Europe (including Germany, the UK, and Ireland) and in Latin America. In addition to managing its own projects developed after commissioning, ABO Wind also takes on the commercial and technical management of wind farms on behalf of international operators. It currently manages 297 wind farms. ‘ABO Wind is a market leader in Germany for turnkey wind power projects, and is increasingly developing a strong presence in the UK,’ says Phil Doran, managing director of ITM Power GmbH in Germany. ‘We are delighted to have found such a significant partner who shares our vision of wind power coupled to energy storage.’ ‘ITM Power is gaining an international reputation in the area of hydrogen energy systems, and we are looking forward to delivering some world-leading MW-scale projects together with our partner,’ adds Thomas Nietsch, head of prototype projects at ABO Wind. ITM Power is already leading a project to investigate the feasibility of injecting hydrogen – generated from electrolysis using excess renewables – into the UK gas network [FCB, April 2012, p1 and September 2012, p8]. The company is also providing ‘green’ hydrogen for energy storage (grid balancing) and for hydrogen-powered vehicles in the EcoIsland project in the Isle of Wight [see the EcoIsland feature in FCB, October 2012, and the ITM Power feature in FCB, January 2012]. There is increasing interest in combining wind energy with hydrogen for energy storage, and sometimes utilising fuel cells – for example, the Pure Energy® Centre recently installed a system at a university in Morocco [FCB, October 2012, p8]. And Hydrogenics is involved in a ‘Power-to-Gas’ project in Falkenhagen, Germany that is producing
hydrogen for storage in the natural gas network [FCB, July 2012, p7], and also for fuelling hydrogen vehicles operating under the Clean Energy Partnership in Berlin [see the news feature in FCB, May 2012, p14]. ITM Power, Sheffield, UK. Tel: +44 114 244 5111, www.itm-power.com ABO Wind, Wiesbaden, Germany. Tel: +49 611 267650, www.abowind.com
COMMERCIALISATION
CFCL shifts emphasis from Australia to Germany, boost in UK
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eramic Fuel Cells Ltd has realigned the structure of its headquarters in Melbourne, Australia in order to more effectively support its European markets. The solid oxide fuel cell developer is continuing to invest in measures to accelerate sales in Germany, and has appointed Andreas Ballhausen as its European commercial director. CFCL has also secured a longterm project for its ceramic powder plant in the UK. The realignment, along with outsourcing of cell production, is expected to give annualised ongoing cost savings of A$5 million (US$5.2 million), with 56 staff laid off since the summer. ‘We are quickly aligning our corporate structure and operational activities to reduce overhead costs, and to focus our resources on markets where we believe we can achieve immediate and significant sales growth – Germany, the UK, and the Benelux markets,’ explains managing director Brendan Dow. ‘In the short term we are reducing our direct sales resources in other markets, Australia, Japan, and North America.’ To this end, Andreas Ballhausen has joined the European management team as commercial director, responsible for leading business development, sales, and customer service activities in Germany. He joins from German energy utility EWE, where he led its longrunning project to evaluate, install, and operate fuel cell products from a number of suppliers. EWE was Ceramic Fuel Cells’ first customer in Germany, and has been testing and operating its products since 2006 [FCB, August 2005, p9]. Ceramic Fuel Cells recently announced that 25 of its BlueGen® gas-to-electricity units are being used to power Germany’s first commercial virtual fuel cell power plant, in partnership with municipal utility network Trianel [FCB, October
November 2012