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Ballard passes 1m MEA production milestone, on lower-cost processes
NEWS Energy and Defense. The company says that its hydrogen generators have been operated with fuel cells from seven manufacturers, and have been used from New Zealand to Scandinavia and eastern Europe. The company has previously supplied a Genesis 20L-D methanol reformer to the Swedish fuel cell developer Cellkraft, which used it recently onboard a fuel cell powered small boat on a lengthy trip through the Stockholm archipelago [FCB, December 2010]. Genesis Fueltech Inc, Spokane Valley, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 509 534 5787, www.genesisfueltech.com
COMMERCIALIZATION
Ballard passes 1m MEA production milestone, on lower-cost processes
C
anadian-based Ballard Power Systems has produced its onemillionth membrane-electrode assembly (MEA), the proprietary core component of its PEM fuel cells, marking a milestone in the commercialization of fuel cell technology. Ballard’s automated manufacturing is driving down product unit cost, enabling more competitive positioning against the incumbent technologies. Improved manufacturing productivity has resulted from several factors, the most significant being the introduction of automated, continuous manufacturing in place of more discrete, labor-intensive processes. For example, MEA lamination – in which key MEA component parts are cut and assembled – is now accomplished with new equipment designed to Ballard’s exacting specifications. This automation can effectively increase lamination production 10-fold, using the same amount of labor. In addition, the lamination equipment requires less than one-tenth of the physical floor space needed for a discrete process, freeing up space for future growth. Insights gained from the use of this MEA laminator are now being applied to the design of a nextgeneration MEA laminator that will deliver an additional four-fold increase in productivity. The growth in production volumes, together with implementation of automated manufacturing processes, have contributed significantly to a 30% annual reduction in the cost of Ballard’s fuel cell products over the past two years. These factors are expected to further reduce cost, enabling more aggressive competitive positioning in the market, as well as higher gross margins on product sales. 10
Fuel Cells Bulletin
‘While we have been ramping up production volumes, we have also been reducing cost through important innovations in automation of various manufacturing steps, including ionomer spray coating, LIM sealing, and MEA lamination,’ says Paul Cass, VP of operations at Ballard. ‘This is contributing to a stronger value proposition for Ballard fuel cells across the range of applications we are focused on.’ Ballard Power Systems Inc, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com
Heliocentris industrial field testing under way for Nexa 1200 system
G
erman-based Heliocentris Energy Solutions has begun industrial field testing of its Nexa 1200 fuel cell system, in collaboration with industrial partners, as the company develops its compact and clean energy storage solutions with longer runtimes. Heliocentris has also received a grant of up to E760 000 (US$1 million) from the German federal ministry of transport, building and urban development (BMVBS), in support of the industrial field tests. The Heliocentris system is being integrated into various solutions in the field of emergency power and autonomous power supply solutions. The much higher energy density of hydrogen compared with batteries means that the Heliocentris system can achieve a significantly longer runtime while maintaining a compact design. Heliocentris says that a number of industrial partners, including a globally active chemical group, will take part in the test phase. The company anticipates that these field tests will greatly aid the further optimization of the Nexa 1200 – unveiled in the form of a hybrid emergency power solution last spring at the Hannover Fair [FCB, May 2010] – to meet real-world market requirements, and so help prepare it for a wider range of markets. ‘We are happy to be able to test our new system in different applications under real conditions with our numerous industrial partners, thus taking a major step towards a targeted market launch,’ says Henrik Colell, CEO of Heliocentris. ‘The customers’ desire to be able to realize a longer electrical power supply without having to rely on extensive battery banks or diesel generators confirms our approach.’ During the field test, Heliocentris will integrate the Nexa 1200 into a variety of indoor and outdoor stationary power solutions. The output power – from a couple of hundred watts up to
10 kW – is achieved through cascading the systems. The selected test partners will extensively test these solutions for emergency power supplies, extended runtimes, and autonomous power supply solutions under real-world conditions. The project, which runs until 2012, is supported by the BMVBS ministry in the framework of its National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP), which is coordinated by NOW GmbH. Heliocentris Energy Solutions specializes in clean energy storage solutions based on a smart combination of batteries, fuel cells, and energy management for both mobile and stationary applications. Heliocentris Energy Solutions AG, Berlin, Germany. Tel: +49 30 340 601500, www.heliocentris.com German National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology: www.now-gmbh.de/index.php?id=80&L=1
Diverse Energy wins investment to push fuel cells in rural telecoms
U
K-based Diverse Energy has received an investment of £2 million (US$3.2 million) from Octopus Investments in London. The money will fund the company’s roll-out of low-cost power solutions for off-grid rural telecoms, as it transitions to a fully commercial manufacturing organization. The Diverse Energy technology extracts hydrogen from ammonia, to efficiently power off-grid cell phone towers. Diverse Energy provides self-contained, lowcost power supplies for cell phone communication towers in rural areas of developing countries. Its ammonia-fueled PowerCube® is a stand-alone replacement for the diesel generators currently used as remote power supplies for cell phone towers where electricity is not available. It delivers power in a highly efficient way with low fuel and maintenance costs, offering a 25% reduction in total cost of ownership and a two-year payback. The new investment will enable Diverse Energy to take commercial orders for its PowerCube baseload power supply solution, complete an assembly plant, and expand rapidly to serve its potentially very large export market. ‘Diverse Energy is entering an exciting development phase, and we recognize the company’s unique positioning in the growing green energy market,’ comments Luke Hakes of Octopus Ventures. ‘To date, no other company has been able to combine the necessary technology, fuel infrastructure, and service agreements to take this proposition to market.’
January 2011
COMMERCIALIZATION
Ballard passes 1m MEA production milestone, on lower-cost processes
C
anadian-based Ballard Power Systems has produced its onemillionth membrane-electrode assembly (MEA), the proprietary core component of its PEM fuel cells, marking a milestone in the commercialization of fuel cell technology. Ballard’s automated manufacturing is driving down product unit cost, enabling more competitive positioning against the incumbent technologies. Improved manufacturing productivity has resulted from several factors, the most significant being the introduction of automated, continuous manufacturing in place of more discrete, labor-intensive processes. For example, MEA lamination – in which key MEA component parts are cut and assembled – is now accomplished with new equipment designed to Ballard’s exacting specifications. This automation can effectively increase lamination production 10-fold, using the same amount of labor. In addition, the lamination equipment requires less than one-tenth of the physical floor space needed for a discrete process, freeing up space for future growth. Insights gained from the use of this MEA laminator are now being applied to the design of a nextgeneration MEA laminator that will deliver an additional four-fold increase in productivity. The growth in production volumes, together with implementation of automated manufacturing processes, have contributed significantly to a 30% annual reduction in the cost of Ballard’s fuel cell products over the past two years. These factors are expected to further reduce cost, enabling more aggressive competitive positioning in the market, as well as higher gross margins on product sales. 10
Fuel Cells Bulletin
‘While we have been ramping up production volumes, we have also been reducing cost through important innovations in automation of various manufacturing steps, including ionomer spray coating, LIM sealing, and MEA lamination,’ says Paul Cass, VP of operations at Ballard. ‘This is contributing to a stronger value proposition for Ballard fuel cells across the range of applications we are focused on.’ Ballard Power Systems Inc, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com
Heliocentris industrial field testing under way for Nexa 1200 system
G
erman-based Heliocentris Energy Solutions has begun industrial field testing of its Nexa 1200 fuel cell system, in collaboration with industrial partners, as the company develops its compact and clean energy storage solutions with longer runtimes. Heliocentris has also received a grant of up to E760 000 (US$1 million) from the German federal ministry of transport, building and urban development (BMVBS), in support of the industrial field tests. The Heliocentris system is being integrated into various solutions in the field of emergency power and autonomous power supply solutions. The much higher energy density of hydrogen compared with batteries means that the Heliocentris system can achieve a significantly longer runtime while maintaining a compact design. Heliocentris says that a number of industrial partners, including a globally active chemical group, will take part in the test phase. The company anticipates that these field tests will greatly aid the further optimization of the Nexa 1200 – unveiled in the form of a hybrid emergency power solution last spring at the Hannover Fair [FCB, May 2010] – to meet real-world market requirements, and so help prepare it for a wider range of markets. ‘We are happy to be able to test our new system in different applications under real conditions with our numerous industrial partners, thus taking a major step towards a targeted market launch,’ says Henrik Colell, CEO of Heliocentris. ‘The customers’ desire to be able to realize a longer electrical power supply without having to rely on extensive battery banks or diesel generators confirms our approach.’ During the field test, Heliocentris will integrate the Nexa 1200 into a variety of indoor and outdoor stationary power solutions. The output power – from a couple of hundred watts up to
10 kW – is achieved through cascading the systems. The selected test partners will extensively test these solutions for emergency power supplies, extended runtimes, and autonomous power supply solutions under real-world conditions. The project, which runs until 2012, is supported by the BMVBS ministry in the framework of its National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP), which is coordinated by NOW GmbH. Heliocentris Energy Solutions specializes in clean energy storage solutions based on a smart combination of batteries, fuel cells, and energy management for both mobile and stationary applications. Heliocentris Energy Solutions AG, Berlin, Germany. Tel: +49 30 340 601500, www.heliocentris.com German National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology: www.now-gmbh.de/index.php?id=80&L=1
Diverse Energy wins investment to push fuel cells in rural telecoms
U
K-based Diverse Energy has received an investment of £2 million (US$3.2 million) from Octopus Investments in London. The money will fund the company’s roll-out of low-cost power solutions for off-grid rural telecoms, as it transitions to a fully commercial manufacturing organization. The Diverse Energy technology extracts hydrogen from ammonia, to efficiently power off-grid cell phone towers. Diverse Energy provides self-contained, lowcost power supplies for cell phone communication towers in rural areas of developing countries. Its ammonia-fueled PowerCube® is a stand-alone replacement for the diesel generators currently used as remote power supplies for cell phone towers where electricity is not available. It delivers power in a highly efficient way with low fuel and maintenance costs, offering a 25% reduction in total cost of ownership and a two-year payback. The new investment will enable Diverse Energy to take commercial orders for its PowerCube baseload power supply solution, complete an assembly plant, and expand rapidly to serve its potentially very large export market. ‘Diverse Energy is entering an exciting development phase, and we recognize the company’s unique positioning in the growing green energy market,’ comments Luke Hakes of Octopus Ventures. ‘To date, no other company has been able to combine the necessary technology, fuel infrastructure, and service agreements to take this proposition to market.’
January 2011