- Email: [email protected]
AFC deal with Dutco to deploy in Mid-East, global manufacturing
NEWS approximately 102 000 ft2 (9480 m2) to some 167 000 ft2 (15 500 m2) in total. The project will enhance and streamline logistics functions and manufacturing processes, and prepare for subsequent manufacturing capacity expansion. The first stage will increase the size of the manufacturing facility, while the second will increase annual manufacturing capacity from the current 100 MW to at least 200 MW. The second stage will also install a MW-scale trigeneration fuel cell plant to power and heat the facility as well as provide hydrogen for the fuel cell components manufacturing process, and the creation of advanced technology testing and prototype manufacturing [FCB, May 2015, p1]. In the first phase the company expects to add 165 positions to its existing workforce of over 500 employees, and the second phase would add another 160 positions. The FuelCell Energy power plant for United Illuminating will supply 2.2 MW of ultra-clean power to the electric grid under normal operation, and is expected to be operational by late 2016. The power plant will also serve as the hub of a self-contained microgrid that, in the event of a disruption, will provide an independent power system for seven municipal facilities, including the police and fire departments. The power plant will be located at the Amity Regional High School, and the cogenerated heat from the fuel cell power generation process will be used for heating the school and providing hot water. Under a contract with UI, FuelCell Energy will design, build, and install the fuel cell power plant, and operate and maintain it under a long-term service agreement. FCE is also designing the microgrid controller. UI already has a 5 MW combined fuel cell/solar facility in Bridgeport, and a 2.8 MW fuel cell power plant in New Haven [FCB, August 2014, p6], all using FuelCell Energy power plants. FuelCell Energy has also just sold six additional fuel cell modules totaling 8.4 MW to its South Korean partner POSCO Energy, to meet growing Asian demand [see page 6]. FuelCell Energy, Danbury, Connecticut, USA. Tel: +1 203 825 6000, www.fuelcellenergy.com The United Illuminating Company: www.uinet.com
AFC deal with Dutco to deploy in Mid-East, global manufacturing
U
K-based AFC Energy has signed a Heads of Agreement with DNR
December 2015
Industries, part of the Dubai-based investment and project developer Dutco Group, to jointly fund and develop a business plan for the large-scale deployment of AFC’s alkaline fuel cells across the Middle East. AFC has also signed a Heads of Agreement with an unnamed global manufacturing partner, for the international procurement and manufacture of its fuel cell systems. The business plan with Dutco will define a commercial strategy for a significant commercial deployment opportunity, and should lead to the formation of a joint venture to execute the plan in the first half of 2016. The plan will also explore potential commercial models for the JV, with a long-term strategic view regarding the prospect for a regional power utility. The JV between AFC and Dutco is expected to cover deployment across the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait. Based on initial estimates from market soundings recently undertaken in the region by AFC and Dutco, this could present an opportunity on its own to deliver a large percentage of – if not exceeding – AFC’s stated target for 1 GW of fuel cell development by the end of 2020. ‘Dutco and AFC are already in dialogue with several of the Middle East’s largest energy and utility groups, to assess the opportunity for not only the supply of clean power to the region, but also significant quantities of clean water,’ says AFC Energy CEO Adam Bond [see the interview with him on pages 12–15]. Earlier this year AFC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dubai Carbon, to assess the deployment of 300 MW of alkaline fuel cell generation capacity in Dubai by 2020 [FCB, May 2015, p6]. AFC has also signed a Heads of Agreement with a global manufacturing partner, for the procurement and manufacture of its alkaline fuel cell systems. This sets out the basis of a proposed manufacturing services agreement which will be negotiated shortly. AFC says that the potential partner has global reach, is widely regarded as a world leading manufacturing services company, and will offer manufacturing support to AFC. It will also support value engineering, manufacturing process optimisation, and thus cost reduction through a competitive procurement of the supply chain and leveraging the network and existing infrastructure.
Fuel Cells Science and Technology 2016 13- 14
April
2016
Glasgow} UK
Submit abstracts by 29 January 2016
Topics include: Fuel cell electrochemistry Materials for fuel cells Cell and stack technology Fuels and fuel infrastructure Fuel cell systems and applications Fuel processing Modelling and control Fuel cell components
fuelcelladvances.com
AFC Energy, Cranleigh, Surrey, UK. Tel: +44 1483 276726, www.afcenergy.com Dutco Group: www.dutco.com
A Grove Fuel Cell Event
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5
AFC deal with Dutco to deploy in Mid-East, global manufacturing
U
K-based AFC Energy has signed a Heads of Agreement with DNR
December 2015
Industries, part of the Dubai-based investment and project developer Dutco Group, to jointly fund and develop a business plan for the large-scale deployment of AFC’s alkaline fuel cells across the Middle East. AFC has also signed a Heads of Agreement with an unnamed global manufacturing partner, for the international procurement and manufacture of its fuel cell systems. The business plan with Dutco will define a commercial strategy for a significant commercial deployment opportunity, and should lead to the formation of a joint venture to execute the plan in the first half of 2016. The plan will also explore potential commercial models for the JV, with a long-term strategic view regarding the prospect for a regional power utility. The JV between AFC and Dutco is expected to cover deployment across the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait. Based on initial estimates from market soundings recently undertaken in the region by AFC and Dutco, this could present an opportunity on its own to deliver a large percentage of – if not exceeding – AFC’s stated target for 1 GW of fuel cell development by the end of 2020. ‘Dutco and AFC are already in dialogue with several of the Middle East’s largest energy and utility groups, to assess the opportunity for not only the supply of clean power to the region, but also significant quantities of clean water,’ says AFC Energy CEO Adam Bond [see the interview with him on pages 12–15]. Earlier this year AFC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dubai Carbon, to assess the deployment of 300 MW of alkaline fuel cell generation capacity in Dubai by 2020 [FCB, May 2015, p6]. AFC has also signed a Heads of Agreement with a global manufacturing partner, for the procurement and manufacture of its alkaline fuel cell systems. This sets out the basis of a proposed manufacturing services agreement which will be negotiated shortly. AFC says that the potential partner has global reach, is widely regarded as a world leading manufacturing services company, and will offer manufacturing support to AFC. It will also support value engineering, manufacturing process optimisation, and thus cost reduction through a competitive procurement of the supply chain and leveraging the network and existing infrastructure.
Fuel Cells Science and Technology 2016 13- 14
April
2016
Glasgow} UK
Submit abstracts by 29 January 2016
Topics include: Fuel cell electrochemistry Materials for fuel cells Cell and stack technology Fuels and fuel infrastructure Fuel cell systems and applications Fuel processing Modelling and control Fuel cell components
fuelcelladvances.com
AFC Energy, Cranleigh, Surrey, UK. Tel: +44 1483 276726, www.afcenergy.com Dutco Group: www.dutco.com
A Grove Fuel Cell Event
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5