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BMW deploys Plug Power in materials handling
fUelCELLS BULLETIN
www.fuelcellsbulletin.com
ISSN 1464-2859 October 2010
BMW deploys Plug Power in materials handling
Contents Contents
I
NEWS Plug Power for BMW materials handling NREL stationary MCFC, PAFC analysis
n the US, New York-based Plug Power has announced the deployment of a fleet of 86 GenDrive™ fuel cell units with a new customer, BMW Manufacturing Co LLC in Greer, South Carolina. The power units will be used at BMW’s newly constructed automotive manufacturing plant in Class 1 sit-down counterbalance, Class 2 reach, and Class 3 rider pallet trucks. The lift trucks are being manufactured by The Raymond Corporation and Crown Equipment Corporation. Linde North America, a member of The Linde Group, is supplying the indoor hydrogen fueling system to power the trucks. Plug Power’s GenDrive units competed against lead-acid batteries and fast-charge batteries to be deemed the best power source for BMW’s materials handling fleet. GenDrive offers BMW increased productivity of its lift truck fleet, and more efficient use of its facility space. Operational costs are also reduced as a result of decreased
operator and vehicle downtime. GenDrive fuel cells can be fueled by the truck drivers themselves in 1–3 minutes, compared with the 20 minutes it takes specialized maintenance personnel to change out a depleted lead-acid battery. BMW Manufacturing’s new 1.2 million ft2 (111 500 m2) assembly plant is being built north of its existing production facility. ‘With proven benefits to BMW’s business and an existing hydrogen infrastructure in place, there is a high potential to convert the entire campus to GenDrive-powered materials handling vehicles over the next three years,’ says Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power. Plug Power is the leading integrator of fuel cell systems for materials handling applications, utilizing PEM fuel cells supplied by Canadian-based Ballard Power Systems. [Check out the feature on pages 12–19 of this issue, and last month’s feature on fuel cell MH installations in North America.] Plug Power: www.plugpower.com
NREL issues stationary MCFC, PAFC analysis
T
he US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has published a detailed technical and cost gap analysis of molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) and phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) stationary fuel cell power plants. The report, Molten Carbonate and Phosphoric Acid Stationary Fuel Cells: Overview and Gap Analysis, also identifies pathways for reducing costs. The results suggest that significant cost reductions can be achieved through technical advances on several fronts. The three most important MCFC R&D areas to be addressed are extending stack life to 10 years, increasing power density by 20%, and significantly reducing the cost for contaminant removal from fuel streams. The MCFC analysis was performed by Dr Robert Remick at NREL in Golden, Colorado. The MCFC developer in question, FuelCell Energy in Danbury, Connecticut, provided information on the current costs of manufac-
turing its products, and shared its vision for reducing costs by 2020. The PAFC analysis was conducted by Douglas Wheeler at DJW Technology LLC in Ohio. The PAFC developer, UTC Power, provided insight into opportunities for cost reduction that could yield additional technology advances, but was more circumspect with proprietary cost data. One of the most important issues identified – which is not specific to any fuel cell type – is contaminant removal. Development of a costeffective process for removing contaminants, especially from renewable fuels, would have an impact well beyond the fuel cell community. The report also concluded that there is no clear pathway for either MCFC or PAFC units that would lead to power plant costs below $2000/kW. This analysis builds on the results of the MCFC/ PAFC Research and Development Workshop held in Palm Springs, California last November in advance of the 2009 Fuel Cell Seminar. Report: www.nrel.gov/docs/fy10osti/49072.pdf
1 1
MOBILE APPLICATIONS EFOY option in motor homes, standard fit SiGNa, Pedego high power electric bikes Shell Eco-marathon winner from Horizon SFC, Sortimo power commercial vehicles GL sees large marine market for fuel cells SMALL STATIONARY Victoria confirms CFCL BlueGen order Toyota, Aisin improve residential SOFCs
2 2 2 3 3
4 4
LARGE STATIONARY FCE power for California water district
5
PORTABLE & MICRO AMI for battlefield renewables software
5
FUELING Hydrogenics’ Belgium hydrogen station ITM Power progress, launches HFuel unit Bella Coola for remote energy storage Cenex leads UK on hydrogen networks COMMERCIALIZATION Report on fuel cell use at top US firms DOE funds small business tech push South Africa eyes 25% catalysts share Connecticut regional H2, fuel cell cluster Element One, CHEM sign reformer deal Toho Tenax carbon fiber fabric GDL ACAT for catalytic converter/reformer NuVant offers new fuel cell test station Student contest residential fueling theme RESEARCH Robert Selman wins 2010 Grove Medal Low-temp hydrogen purification catalyst Florida State nanotech for Bing Energy FEATURE Rapid refill, high uptime: running forklifts with fuel cells REGULARS Editorial News In Brief Events Calendar
6 6 6 7
7 8 8 9 9 9 9 10 10
10 10 11
12–19
3 5, 11 20
ISSN 1464-2859/10 © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by Elsevier Ltd, and the following terms and conditions apply to their use: Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying, including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Special rates are available for educational institutions that wish to make photocopies for non-profit educational classroom use.
www.fuelcellsbulletin.com
ISSN 1464-2859 October 2010
BMW deploys Plug Power in materials handling
Contents Contents
I
NEWS Plug Power for BMW materials handling NREL stationary MCFC, PAFC analysis
n the US, New York-based Plug Power has announced the deployment of a fleet of 86 GenDrive™ fuel cell units with a new customer, BMW Manufacturing Co LLC in Greer, South Carolina. The power units will be used at BMW’s newly constructed automotive manufacturing plant in Class 1 sit-down counterbalance, Class 2 reach, and Class 3 rider pallet trucks. The lift trucks are being manufactured by The Raymond Corporation and Crown Equipment Corporation. Linde North America, a member of The Linde Group, is supplying the indoor hydrogen fueling system to power the trucks. Plug Power’s GenDrive units competed against lead-acid batteries and fast-charge batteries to be deemed the best power source for BMW’s materials handling fleet. GenDrive offers BMW increased productivity of its lift truck fleet, and more efficient use of its facility space. Operational costs are also reduced as a result of decreased
operator and vehicle downtime. GenDrive fuel cells can be fueled by the truck drivers themselves in 1–3 minutes, compared with the 20 minutes it takes specialized maintenance personnel to change out a depleted lead-acid battery. BMW Manufacturing’s new 1.2 million ft2 (111 500 m2) assembly plant is being built north of its existing production facility. ‘With proven benefits to BMW’s business and an existing hydrogen infrastructure in place, there is a high potential to convert the entire campus to GenDrive-powered materials handling vehicles over the next three years,’ says Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power. Plug Power is the leading integrator of fuel cell systems for materials handling applications, utilizing PEM fuel cells supplied by Canadian-based Ballard Power Systems. [Check out the feature on pages 12–19 of this issue, and last month’s feature on fuel cell MH installations in North America.] Plug Power: www.plugpower.com
NREL issues stationary MCFC, PAFC analysis
T
he US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has published a detailed technical and cost gap analysis of molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) and phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) stationary fuel cell power plants. The report, Molten Carbonate and Phosphoric Acid Stationary Fuel Cells: Overview and Gap Analysis, also identifies pathways for reducing costs. The results suggest that significant cost reductions can be achieved through technical advances on several fronts. The three most important MCFC R&D areas to be addressed are extending stack life to 10 years, increasing power density by 20%, and significantly reducing the cost for contaminant removal from fuel streams. The MCFC analysis was performed by Dr Robert Remick at NREL in Golden, Colorado. The MCFC developer in question, FuelCell Energy in Danbury, Connecticut, provided information on the current costs of manufac-
turing its products, and shared its vision for reducing costs by 2020. The PAFC analysis was conducted by Douglas Wheeler at DJW Technology LLC in Ohio. The PAFC developer, UTC Power, provided insight into opportunities for cost reduction that could yield additional technology advances, but was more circumspect with proprietary cost data. One of the most important issues identified – which is not specific to any fuel cell type – is contaminant removal. Development of a costeffective process for removing contaminants, especially from renewable fuels, would have an impact well beyond the fuel cell community. The report also concluded that there is no clear pathway for either MCFC or PAFC units that would lead to power plant costs below $2000/kW. This analysis builds on the results of the MCFC/ PAFC Research and Development Workshop held in Palm Springs, California last November in advance of the 2009 Fuel Cell Seminar. Report: www.nrel.gov/docs/fy10osti/49072.pdf
1 1
MOBILE APPLICATIONS EFOY option in motor homes, standard fit SiGNa, Pedego high power electric bikes Shell Eco-marathon winner from Horizon SFC, Sortimo power commercial vehicles GL sees large marine market for fuel cells SMALL STATIONARY Victoria confirms CFCL BlueGen order Toyota, Aisin improve residential SOFCs
2 2 2 3 3
4 4
LARGE STATIONARY FCE power for California water district
5
PORTABLE & MICRO AMI for battlefield renewables software
5
FUELING Hydrogenics’ Belgium hydrogen station ITM Power progress, launches HFuel unit Bella Coola for remote energy storage Cenex leads UK on hydrogen networks COMMERCIALIZATION Report on fuel cell use at top US firms DOE funds small business tech push South Africa eyes 25% catalysts share Connecticut regional H2, fuel cell cluster Element One, CHEM sign reformer deal Toho Tenax carbon fiber fabric GDL ACAT for catalytic converter/reformer NuVant offers new fuel cell test station Student contest residential fueling theme RESEARCH Robert Selman wins 2010 Grove Medal Low-temp hydrogen purification catalyst Florida State nanotech for Bing Energy FEATURE Rapid refill, high uptime: running forklifts with fuel cells REGULARS Editorial News In Brief Events Calendar
6 6 6 7
7 8 8 9 9 9 9 10 10
10 10 11
12–19
3 5, 11 20
ISSN 1464-2859/10 © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by Elsevier Ltd, and the following terms and conditions apply to their use: Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying, including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Special rates are available for educational institutions that wish to make photocopies for non-profit educational classroom use.