- Email: [email protected]
Ballard develops home generator for Africa with Anglo American
NEWS MOBILE APPLICATIONS Editorial office: Elsevier Ltd The Boulevard, Langford Lane Kidlington Oxford OX5 1GB United Kingdom Tel:+44 (0)1865 843239 Fax: +44 (0)1865 843971 Website: www.fuelcellsbulletin.com Publisher: David Hopwood Editor: Steve Barrett E-mail: [email protected] Production Support Manager: Lin Lucas E-mail: [email protected] Subscription Information An annual subscription to Fuel Cells Bulletin includes 12 issues and online access for up to 5 users. Prices: 1273 for all European countries & Iran US$1427 for all countries except Europe and Japan ¥169 100 for Japan (Prices valid until 31 December 2012) To subscribe send payment to the address above. Tel: +44 (0)1865 843687 or via www.fuelcellsbulletin.com Subscriptions run for 12 months, from the date payment is received. Permissions may be sought directly from Elsevier Global Rights Department, PO Box 800, Oxford OX5 1DX, UK; phone: +44 1865 843830, fax: +44 1865 853333, email: [email protected]. You may also contact Global Rights directly through Elsevier’s home page (www.elsevier.com), selecting first ‘Support & contact’, then ‘Copyright & permission’. In the USA, users may clear permissions and make payments through the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA; phone: +1 978 750 8400, fax: +1 978 750 4744, and in the UK through the Copyright Licensing Agency Rapid Clearance Service (CLARCS), 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1P 0LP, UK; phone: +44 (0)20 7631 5555; fax: +44 (0)20 7631 5500. Other countries may have a local reprographic rights agency for payments. Derivative Works Subscribers may reproduce tables of contents or prepare lists of articles including abstracts for internal circulation within their institutions. Permission of the Publisher is required for resale or distribution outside the institution. Permission of the Publisher is required for all other derivative works, including compilations and translations. Electronic Storage or Usage Permission of the Publisher is required to store or use electronically any material contained in this journal, including any article or part of an article. Except as outlined above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of the Publisher. Address permissions requests to: Elsevier Science Global Rights Department, at the mail, fax and email addresses noted above. Notice No responsibility is assumed by the Publisher for any injury and/ or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein. Because of rapid advances in the medical sciences, in particular, independent verification of diagnoses and drug dosages should be made. Although all advertising material is expected to conform to ethical (medical) standards, inclusion in this publication does not constitute a guarantee or endorsement of the quality or value of such product or of the claims made of it by its manufacturer.
12977 Digitally Produced by Mayfield Press (Oxford) LImited
2
Fuel Cells Bulletin
Plug Power fuel cells for lift trucks at fourth Procter & Gamble site
I
n the US, Procter & Gamble has selected Plug Power’s GenDrive® fuel cell products to power the electric lift truck fleet at its manufacturing facility in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania. This additional facility brings to four the number of P&G sites converting to GenDrive fuel cells. The latest order means that more than 340 units will be deployed throughout Procter & Gamble’s manufacturing infrastructure. The P&G facilities already using fuel cell technology are in California, North Carolina, and Louisiana [FCB, December 2011, p1]. The hydrogen PEM fuel cell powered GenDrive system ensures a constant voltage to the truck and has a refuelling cycle that takes just minutes, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60%. By contrast, lead-acid batteries need to be changed, charged, stored and maintained, which is timeconsuming and involves costly infrastructure. ‘Plug Power’s GenDrive product is delivering increased fleet productivity, decreased facility operating costs, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions at customer sites throughout North America,’ says Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power. ‘P&G is one of six Fortune 100 companies to convert multiple facilities to GenDrive fuel cells. With this fourth site conversion, P&G will lessen its environmental impact while realising increased productivity, reduced operating costs, and better predictability of its fleet performance.’ Plug Power has long-standing relationships with industry leaders in a variety of sectors, including Walmart, Sysco, and Mercedes-Benz [FCB, August 2012, p2], with more than 3000 GenDrive units already deployed with materials handling customers [see the Plug Power feature in FCB, December 2011].
(HDW), for the industrial production of an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system based on a methanol reformer. HDW’s current non-nuclear submarine AIP system utilises PEM fuel cell technology running directly on hydrogen. Conventional submarines have become increasingly important in modern low-intensity conflict scenarios, especially in coastal waters, as these smaller, ultra-silent boats offer significant advantages compared with larger nuclear ones. The use of an effective AIP system provides major tactical advantages, as it removes the need for snorkel operation to recharge batteries, and allows long-endurance submerged missions, in both littoral (coastal) and deep sea regions. The two companies signed an initial R&D collaboration agreement in 2006, and since then SENER and HDW have been working together in the development of different subsystems for AIP. The partners have now overcome all of the technological hurdles during the development phase. A first complete industrialised system is expected to be produced by the end of next year, opening the way to series production. SENER is responsible for developing the CO2 subsystem, among others, which dissolves gases into seawater without any influence on the submarine’s signature in terms of bubbles and noise. The effort in this collaboration for the AIP based on a methanol reformer was performed by close collaboration between its Aeronautics & Vehicles, Power & Process, and Marine departments. HDW – part of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems – leads the market in the field of conventional submarines equipped with AIP systems, in which HDW started its developments more than 20 years ago, based on fuel cell systems with metal hydride storage cylinders for the hydrogen [see the feature on HDW in FCB, June 2012]. Since then, parallel developments have been accomplished aiming for a methanol reformer system for onboard hydrogen production. HDW’s latest methanol reformer has proven efficiency greater than 90%.
Plug Power, Latham, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com
Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH, Kiel, Germany. Tel: +49 431 7000, www.hdw.de or www.hdw.de/en/class-214.html
Procter & Gamble: www.pg.com
Sener Marine: www.senermar.es/NAVAL
HDW, SENER develop methanol reformer for fuel cell submarines
T
he Spanish engineering group SENER has signed an agreement with the German submarine builder Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH
SMALL STATIONARY
Ballard develops home generator for Africa with Anglo American
C
anadian-based Ballard Power Systems has announced successful
December 2012
NEWS / EDITORIAL completion of the first phase of work, and significant progress on the second phase, with Anglo American Platinum under a product development agreement on fuel cell-powered electric generators for the African rural home market. Under the agreement, Anglo American Platinum will fund development and testing of the planned home generator product, which will be capable of providing primary power to homes in remote African communities that are without access to the electric grid. Work to date has included a market feasibility study, testing of a proof-of-concept system based on existing technology from Ballard and Dantherm Power, its Danish-based backup power company, and initial work on a prototype system. The home generator product is being developed as a means of addressing the many African households in rural communities that are currently unable to economically access the grid as a result of distance or terrain. The home generator will run on readily available methanol fuel, utilising an integrated fuel reformer. Ballard is providing fuel reformer and fuel cell stack technology, while Dantherm Power will provide the remaining system components needed for the finished product. ‘The agreement is clear evidence of their commitment to fuel cells, and will enable the development of an integrated small-scale stationary power system, which could have a transformational impact in South Africa and beyond,’ comments John Sheridan, president and CEO of Ballard Power Systems. Once Ballard has completed development of a prototype system that meets commercial product requirements, the companies will undertake further field trials, potentially leading to the manufacture, distribution, and support of a commercial product for the African market. The low-cost fuel reformer being developed for the home generator will also represent an important evolutionary step for the methanol fuel cell products recently acquired by Ballard from US-based IdaTech [FCB, August 2012, p10]. Ballard Power Systems is partnering with Anglo American Platinum to push fuel cells in the South African market for early-stage stationary and motive power applications [FCB, May 2012, p10], and they have demonstrated a prototype fuel cell mine locomotive [see the news feature in FCB, May 2012, p12]. Dantherm Power also supplied a 150 kW hydrogen fuel cell generator and associated engineering services to Anglo American Platinum – the world’s largest primary producer of platinum – for deployment at a mining operation in South Africa [FCB, November 2011, p6].
December 2012
Ballard Power Systems, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com Dantherm Power, Hobro, Denmark. Tel: +45 8843 5500, www.dantherm-power.com Anglo American Platinum: www.angloplatinum.com
FutureE and Acta sign supply agreement for Jupiter electrolysers
I
talian-based Acta SpA has signed a five-year, non-exclusive supply agreement with FutureE Fuel Cell Solutions GmbH in Germany, for Jupiter electrolysers based on Acta’s low-cost EL500 series electrolysers. The hydrogen generators from Acta will be integrated into FutureE’s Jupiter Independence PEM fuel cell and electrolyser system, for backup and off-grid power applications. Under the terms of the agreement, FutureE has appointed Acta as its preferred supplier for electrolysers in its products and solutions. The total sales value over the five-year contract period is expected to be in excess of E3 million (US$3.9 million). Acta has incorporated a number of modifications to the EL500 to meet the specific requirements of FutureE’s Jupiter Independence system. Integrating Acta’s hydrogen generating technology into FutureE’s system dramatically reduces costs, making commercial adoption viable for telecoms and other applications worldwide. FutureE is a leading supplier of fuel cell systems for backup and off-grid power. Its flagship product, the Jupiter Independence system, combines a fuel cell, electrolyser, energy management, hydrogen storage, and water tank in one housing. To allow combination with off-grid renewable energy sources, the Jupiter Independence system currently employs a platinum-based electrolyser. FutureE approached Acta looking for an electrolyser with substantially reduced cost and increased performance, to achieve a significant improvement in cost-effectiveness. ‘Market interest in high efficient fuel cell backup and off-grid systems with low operation and maintenance cost is significantly growing, particularly from the telecoms sector, as demand for Jupiter Independence systems reflects,’ says Mark-Uwe Osswald, managing director of FutureE. ‘Being able to incorporate Acta’s low-cost, safe and efficient electrolyser into FutureE’s system will speed up the market introduction of our combined fuel cell and electrolyser system.’
EDITORIAL
T
he European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU, www.fchju.eu) plays a key role in the development – and in particular demonstration – of fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies in a wide range of applications. The FCH JU is a unique public-private partnership that was established in 2008 to support research, technological development, and demonstration activities in fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies in Europe [see the feature on the FCH JU in FCB, July 2010]. It comprises the European Commission (http://tinyurl.com/c8obtho), the fuel cell and hydrogen industries represented by the New Energy World Industry Grouping (www.newig.eu), and the research community represented by the N.ERGHY Research Grouping (www. nerghy.eu). In this issue we report on five projects recently funded through the FCH JU. The Don Quichote energy storage R&D and demonstration project will design, build, deploy, and operate a ‘renewable’ hydrogen storage and fuelling facility that doubles the capacity of an existing hydrogen station at a Belgian grocery store, as well as installing a fuel cell system for electricity demand leveling [see page 1]. In the UK, AFC Energy and its project partners have been awarded a grant to install the world’s largest alkaline fuel cell power generation system, at the Industrial Chemicals Ltd chlor-alkali plant in Essex [see page 5]. Elsewhere, the three-year HYPER project will develop and demonstrate a market-ready, portable power pack comprising an integrated modular PEM fuel cell and hydrogen storage system that is readily customised for application across various low-power markets [see page 7]. In addition, the Phaedrus consortium has been awarded funding to develop an electrochemical high-pressure hydrogen refuelling station for fuel cell electric vehicles, based on ITM Power’s PEM electrolyser technology [see page 8]. And the Hydrogen Infrastructure for Transport (HIT) project aims to stimulate the deployment of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure serving FCEVs along key Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) corridors, starting with hydrogen stations along a 1000 km corridor from Gothenburg to Rotterdam [see page 8]. The feature article in this issue reports on the development of micro direct methanol fuel cell technology for use in hearing aids, by researchers at the Danish Technological Institute. This fascinating article highlights the results achieved, including the challenges faced on the path towards pilot production of these innovative micro fuel cells.
Steve Barrett
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3
12977 Digitally Produced by Mayfield Press (Oxford) LImited
2
Fuel Cells Bulletin
Plug Power fuel cells for lift trucks at fourth Procter & Gamble site
I
n the US, Procter & Gamble has selected Plug Power’s GenDrive® fuel cell products to power the electric lift truck fleet at its manufacturing facility in Mehoopany, Pennsylvania. This additional facility brings to four the number of P&G sites converting to GenDrive fuel cells. The latest order means that more than 340 units will be deployed throughout Procter & Gamble’s manufacturing infrastructure. The P&G facilities already using fuel cell technology are in California, North Carolina, and Louisiana [FCB, December 2011, p1]. The hydrogen PEM fuel cell powered GenDrive system ensures a constant voltage to the truck and has a refuelling cycle that takes just minutes, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60%. By contrast, lead-acid batteries need to be changed, charged, stored and maintained, which is timeconsuming and involves costly infrastructure. ‘Plug Power’s GenDrive product is delivering increased fleet productivity, decreased facility operating costs, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions at customer sites throughout North America,’ says Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power. ‘P&G is one of six Fortune 100 companies to convert multiple facilities to GenDrive fuel cells. With this fourth site conversion, P&G will lessen its environmental impact while realising increased productivity, reduced operating costs, and better predictability of its fleet performance.’ Plug Power has long-standing relationships with industry leaders in a variety of sectors, including Walmart, Sysco, and Mercedes-Benz [FCB, August 2012, p2], with more than 3000 GenDrive units already deployed with materials handling customers [see the Plug Power feature in FCB, December 2011].
(HDW), for the industrial production of an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system based on a methanol reformer. HDW’s current non-nuclear submarine AIP system utilises PEM fuel cell technology running directly on hydrogen. Conventional submarines have become increasingly important in modern low-intensity conflict scenarios, especially in coastal waters, as these smaller, ultra-silent boats offer significant advantages compared with larger nuclear ones. The use of an effective AIP system provides major tactical advantages, as it removes the need for snorkel operation to recharge batteries, and allows long-endurance submerged missions, in both littoral (coastal) and deep sea regions. The two companies signed an initial R&D collaboration agreement in 2006, and since then SENER and HDW have been working together in the development of different subsystems for AIP. The partners have now overcome all of the technological hurdles during the development phase. A first complete industrialised system is expected to be produced by the end of next year, opening the way to series production. SENER is responsible for developing the CO2 subsystem, among others, which dissolves gases into seawater without any influence on the submarine’s signature in terms of bubbles and noise. The effort in this collaboration for the AIP based on a methanol reformer was performed by close collaboration between its Aeronautics & Vehicles, Power & Process, and Marine departments. HDW – part of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems – leads the market in the field of conventional submarines equipped with AIP systems, in which HDW started its developments more than 20 years ago, based on fuel cell systems with metal hydride storage cylinders for the hydrogen [see the feature on HDW in FCB, June 2012]. Since then, parallel developments have been accomplished aiming for a methanol reformer system for onboard hydrogen production. HDW’s latest methanol reformer has proven efficiency greater than 90%.
Plug Power, Latham, New York, USA. Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com
Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH, Kiel, Germany. Tel: +49 431 7000, www.hdw.de or www.hdw.de/en/class-214.html
Procter & Gamble: www.pg.com
Sener Marine: www.senermar.es/NAVAL
HDW, SENER develop methanol reformer for fuel cell submarines
T
he Spanish engineering group SENER has signed an agreement with the German submarine builder Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH
SMALL STATIONARY
Ballard develops home generator for Africa with Anglo American
C
anadian-based Ballard Power Systems has announced successful
December 2012
NEWS / EDITORIAL completion of the first phase of work, and significant progress on the second phase, with Anglo American Platinum under a product development agreement on fuel cell-powered electric generators for the African rural home market. Under the agreement, Anglo American Platinum will fund development and testing of the planned home generator product, which will be capable of providing primary power to homes in remote African communities that are without access to the electric grid. Work to date has included a market feasibility study, testing of a proof-of-concept system based on existing technology from Ballard and Dantherm Power, its Danish-based backup power company, and initial work on a prototype system. The home generator product is being developed as a means of addressing the many African households in rural communities that are currently unable to economically access the grid as a result of distance or terrain. The home generator will run on readily available methanol fuel, utilising an integrated fuel reformer. Ballard is providing fuel reformer and fuel cell stack technology, while Dantherm Power will provide the remaining system components needed for the finished product. ‘The agreement is clear evidence of their commitment to fuel cells, and will enable the development of an integrated small-scale stationary power system, which could have a transformational impact in South Africa and beyond,’ comments John Sheridan, president and CEO of Ballard Power Systems. Once Ballard has completed development of a prototype system that meets commercial product requirements, the companies will undertake further field trials, potentially leading to the manufacture, distribution, and support of a commercial product for the African market. The low-cost fuel reformer being developed for the home generator will also represent an important evolutionary step for the methanol fuel cell products recently acquired by Ballard from US-based IdaTech [FCB, August 2012, p10]. Ballard Power Systems is partnering with Anglo American Platinum to push fuel cells in the South African market for early-stage stationary and motive power applications [FCB, May 2012, p10], and they have demonstrated a prototype fuel cell mine locomotive [see the news feature in FCB, May 2012, p12]. Dantherm Power also supplied a 150 kW hydrogen fuel cell generator and associated engineering services to Anglo American Platinum – the world’s largest primary producer of platinum – for deployment at a mining operation in South Africa [FCB, November 2011, p6].
December 2012
Ballard Power Systems, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com Dantherm Power, Hobro, Denmark. Tel: +45 8843 5500, www.dantherm-power.com Anglo American Platinum: www.angloplatinum.com
FutureE and Acta sign supply agreement for Jupiter electrolysers
I
talian-based Acta SpA has signed a five-year, non-exclusive supply agreement with FutureE Fuel Cell Solutions GmbH in Germany, for Jupiter electrolysers based on Acta’s low-cost EL500 series electrolysers. The hydrogen generators from Acta will be integrated into FutureE’s Jupiter Independence PEM fuel cell and electrolyser system, for backup and off-grid power applications. Under the terms of the agreement, FutureE has appointed Acta as its preferred supplier for electrolysers in its products and solutions. The total sales value over the five-year contract period is expected to be in excess of E3 million (US$3.9 million). Acta has incorporated a number of modifications to the EL500 to meet the specific requirements of FutureE’s Jupiter Independence system. Integrating Acta’s hydrogen generating technology into FutureE’s system dramatically reduces costs, making commercial adoption viable for telecoms and other applications worldwide. FutureE is a leading supplier of fuel cell systems for backup and off-grid power. Its flagship product, the Jupiter Independence system, combines a fuel cell, electrolyser, energy management, hydrogen storage, and water tank in one housing. To allow combination with off-grid renewable energy sources, the Jupiter Independence system currently employs a platinum-based electrolyser. FutureE approached Acta looking for an electrolyser with substantially reduced cost and increased performance, to achieve a significant improvement in cost-effectiveness. ‘Market interest in high efficient fuel cell backup and off-grid systems with low operation and maintenance cost is significantly growing, particularly from the telecoms sector, as demand for Jupiter Independence systems reflects,’ says Mark-Uwe Osswald, managing director of FutureE. ‘Being able to incorporate Acta’s low-cost, safe and efficient electrolyser into FutureE’s system will speed up the market introduction of our combined fuel cell and electrolyser system.’
EDITORIAL
T
he European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU, www.fchju.eu) plays a key role in the development – and in particular demonstration – of fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies in a wide range of applications. The FCH JU is a unique public-private partnership that was established in 2008 to support research, technological development, and demonstration activities in fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies in Europe [see the feature on the FCH JU in FCB, July 2010]. It comprises the European Commission (http://tinyurl.com/c8obtho), the fuel cell and hydrogen industries represented by the New Energy World Industry Grouping (www.newig.eu), and the research community represented by the N.ERGHY Research Grouping (www. nerghy.eu). In this issue we report on five projects recently funded through the FCH JU. The Don Quichote energy storage R&D and demonstration project will design, build, deploy, and operate a ‘renewable’ hydrogen storage and fuelling facility that doubles the capacity of an existing hydrogen station at a Belgian grocery store, as well as installing a fuel cell system for electricity demand leveling [see page 1]. In the UK, AFC Energy and its project partners have been awarded a grant to install the world’s largest alkaline fuel cell power generation system, at the Industrial Chemicals Ltd chlor-alkali plant in Essex [see page 5]. Elsewhere, the three-year HYPER project will develop and demonstrate a market-ready, portable power pack comprising an integrated modular PEM fuel cell and hydrogen storage system that is readily customised for application across various low-power markets [see page 7]. In addition, the Phaedrus consortium has been awarded funding to develop an electrochemical high-pressure hydrogen refuelling station for fuel cell electric vehicles, based on ITM Power’s PEM electrolyser technology [see page 8]. And the Hydrogen Infrastructure for Transport (HIT) project aims to stimulate the deployment of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure serving FCEVs along key Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) corridors, starting with hydrogen stations along a 1000 km corridor from Gothenburg to Rotterdam [see page 8]. The feature article in this issue reports on the development of micro direct methanol fuel cell technology for use in hearing aids, by researchers at the Danish Technological Institute. This fascinating article highlights the results achieved, including the challenges faced on the path towards pilot production of these innovative micro fuel cells.
Steve Barrett
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3