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Ceres Power to trial SOFC home power in UK as part of ene.field
NEWS the German Bundeswehr, US Army, and other defence organisations for more than 10 years, with SFC products carrying NATO stock numbers [FCB, April 2012, p6]. SFC Energy, Brunnthal/Munich, Germany. Tel: +49 89 673 5920, www.sfc.com or www.sfc-defense.com
Ceres Power to trial SOFC home power in UK as part of ene.field
U
K-based solid oxide fuel cell developer Ceres Power will begin trials of its prototype home power systems in the UK later this year. This will be supported by E600 000 (US$670 000) of European funding, as it joins the ene.field residential fuel cell demonstration programme, the largest of its kind in Europe. Ceres Power’s micro combined heat and power (mCHP) systems generate around 80% of a typical UK home’s power needs, and all of its hot water heating. The system uses Ceres’ unique Steel Cell intermediatetemperature SOFC technology, which works with a conventional gas connection, but is fuel-flexible and could use biofuels or hydrogen in the future. The compact wallmounted system can be easily integrated to run in conjunction with the home’s existing heating system. Ceres Power will be part of ene.field, the largest European demonstration of residential fuel cell mCHP systems. These trials – which are being conducted with British Gas [FCB, September 2012, p11] in the UK – will provide Ceres Power and its system development partners with valuable insight into product requirements for the European market. These trials will complement the company’s ongoing testing and development programmes in Japan, South Korea, and the US. The ene.field project is the largest European demonstration of fuel cell mCHP systems, in up to 1000 households in 11 European countries [FCB, March 2016, p5]. The project is co-funded by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), and brings together 26 partners, including nine European manufacturers. In 2013 Ceres signed a commercial and technical partnership with South Korean boiler manufacturer KyungDong Navien [FCB, August 2013, p4]. The company has also been exploring other applications, including power generators with Honda [January 2016, p1] and
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Fuel Cells Bulletin
electric vehicle range-extenders with Nissan [July 2016, p4]. In other news, Ceres Power has raised approximately £20 million (US$25.3 million, before expenses) by means of a conditional placing with new and existing investors in the UK. Ceres Power, Horsham, West Sussex, UK. Tel: +44 1403 273463, www.cerespower.com ene.field project: www.enefield.eu
Toyota zero-emissions building at Honsha Plant using fuel cells
J
apanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation has installed and commissioned stationary hydrogen fuel cells in the new energy management facility at its Honsha Plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. Toyota will use the 3.5 kW systems – supplied by Toshiba – to investigate high-efficiency energy use at the facility. Toyota aims to completely eliminate CO2 emissions at the recently constructed facility, through energy-saving measures and the use of renewable and hydrogen-based energy. For renewable energy to be utilised at the plant, hydrogen fuel cells with a rated power output of 3.5 kW have been installed. These fuel cells are a newly developed Toshiba model for use in small offices; this project is their first operational start in a commercial environment. The Toshiba energy management system combines solar power generation with storage batteries made by recycling used batteries from Prius hybrid vehicles. The system predicts the energy demand, and an efficient energy supply is realised mainly through the fuel cells. These are supplemented by solar power, which generates a variable power supply, in combination with storage batteries. The excess thermal energy generated by the fuel cells is used for air-conditioning. Toshiba has been developing hydrogen fuel cells in a collaborative project with Yamaguchi Liquid Hydrogen Corporation, Chofukosan Co Ltd, and Iwatani Corporation since 2014. The company will continue to develop value-added systems, including a system that combines a fuel cell system and hot-water storage unit incorporating a pure hydrogen boiler. Toyota and Toshiba are already participating in a project to evaluate an end-to-end, lowcarbon hydrogen supply chain in the Tokyo Bay area [see the News Feature in FCB, April 2016], and are part of an initiative to trial a carbon-neutral hydrogen supply chain powered
by renewable wind energy near Yokohama and Kawasaki [FCB, October 2015, p10]. Toshiba is also part of a consortium that will investigate the configuration and specifications of a large hydrogen energy system for deployment in Fukushima Prefecture by 2020 [see page 9]. Toshiba will supply a 100 kW hydrogen fuel cell to Tokuyama next year [September 2016, p7], and has also commissioned several units of its H2One™ hydrogen-based autonomous energy supply system [e.g. May 2016, p6]. Toshiba, Hydrogen Energy: https://www.toshiba-newenergy.com/en
Oorja receives CSA certification, partners with Ensol in Canada
C
alifornia-based Oorja Protonics has announced that its Model-T direct methanol fuel cell for telecom and stationary applications has received CSA certification, and listing to the ANSI/CSA Americas FC-1 standard. Oorja has also signed an exclusive distributorship agreement with Ensol Systems to resell methanol-fed fuel cell solutions for remote, off-grid applications in Canada. CSA certification assures major retailers, distributors, regulators and consumers that the Model-T fuel cell has undergone rigorous testing to meet the US and Canadian industry standards for safety and performance [see also page 7]. Oorja Fuel Cells worked closely with CSA, a leading global testing, inspection and certification organisation, in a formal process involving examination, testing, and follow-up examination. The Model-T is now entitled to bear the CSA mark, and will be listed on CSA International’s website. Meanwhile, Oorja will work closely with BC-based Ensol Systems to create hybrid solutions for reliable power in the Canadian market. Using Oorja’s DMFC technology will offer an environmentally friendly solution for reliable, off-grid power. Ensol’s power packages are built for harsh Canadian winters, tested to –40°C, and offer a compact, lightweight design. With simple integration into new or existing sites, they are designed to operate autonomously and with zero emissions. This partnership will help Oorja to leverage Ensol’s expertise in fabricating, manufacturing, and electrical design. Oorja launched the Model T-1 fuel cell system earlier this year, to provide a ‘green’ backup power solution for cellular telecom
October 2016
Ceres Power to trial SOFC home power in UK as part of ene.field
U
K-based solid oxide fuel cell developer Ceres Power will begin trials of its prototype home power systems in the UK later this year. This will be supported by E600 000 (US$670 000) of European funding, as it joins the ene.field residential fuel cell demonstration programme, the largest of its kind in Europe. Ceres Power’s micro combined heat and power (mCHP) systems generate around 80% of a typical UK home’s power needs, and all of its hot water heating. The system uses Ceres’ unique Steel Cell intermediatetemperature SOFC technology, which works with a conventional gas connection, but is fuel-flexible and could use biofuels or hydrogen in the future. The compact wallmounted system can be easily integrated to run in conjunction with the home’s existing heating system. Ceres Power will be part of ene.field, the largest European demonstration of residential fuel cell mCHP systems. These trials – which are being conducted with British Gas [FCB, September 2012, p11] in the UK – will provide Ceres Power and its system development partners with valuable insight into product requirements for the European market. These trials will complement the company’s ongoing testing and development programmes in Japan, South Korea, and the US. The ene.field project is the largest European demonstration of fuel cell mCHP systems, in up to 1000 households in 11 European countries [FCB, March 2016, p5]. The project is co-funded by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), and brings together 26 partners, including nine European manufacturers. In 2013 Ceres signed a commercial and technical partnership with South Korean boiler manufacturer KyungDong Navien [FCB, August 2013, p4]. The company has also been exploring other applications, including power generators with Honda [January 2016, p1] and
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Fuel Cells Bulletin
electric vehicle range-extenders with Nissan [July 2016, p4]. In other news, Ceres Power has raised approximately £20 million (US$25.3 million, before expenses) by means of a conditional placing with new and existing investors in the UK. Ceres Power, Horsham, West Sussex, UK. Tel: +44 1403 273463, www.cerespower.com ene.field project: www.enefield.eu
Toyota zero-emissions building at Honsha Plant using fuel cells
J
apanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation has installed and commissioned stationary hydrogen fuel cells in the new energy management facility at its Honsha Plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. Toyota will use the 3.5 kW systems – supplied by Toshiba – to investigate high-efficiency energy use at the facility. Toyota aims to completely eliminate CO2 emissions at the recently constructed facility, through energy-saving measures and the use of renewable and hydrogen-based energy. For renewable energy to be utilised at the plant, hydrogen fuel cells with a rated power output of 3.5 kW have been installed. These fuel cells are a newly developed Toshiba model for use in small offices; this project is their first operational start in a commercial environment. The Toshiba energy management system combines solar power generation with storage batteries made by recycling used batteries from Prius hybrid vehicles. The system predicts the energy demand, and an efficient energy supply is realised mainly through the fuel cells. These are supplemented by solar power, which generates a variable power supply, in combination with storage batteries. The excess thermal energy generated by the fuel cells is used for air-conditioning. Toshiba has been developing hydrogen fuel cells in a collaborative project with Yamaguchi Liquid Hydrogen Corporation, Chofukosan Co Ltd, and Iwatani Corporation since 2014. The company will continue to develop value-added systems, including a system that combines a fuel cell system and hot-water storage unit incorporating a pure hydrogen boiler. Toyota and Toshiba are already participating in a project to evaluate an end-to-end, lowcarbon hydrogen supply chain in the Tokyo Bay area [see the News Feature in FCB, April 2016], and are part of an initiative to trial a carbon-neutral hydrogen supply chain powered
by renewable wind energy near Yokohama and Kawasaki [FCB, October 2015, p10]. Toshiba is also part of a consortium that will investigate the configuration and specifications of a large hydrogen energy system for deployment in Fukushima Prefecture by 2020 [see page 9]. Toshiba will supply a 100 kW hydrogen fuel cell to Tokuyama next year [September 2016, p7], and has also commissioned several units of its H2One™ hydrogen-based autonomous energy supply system [e.g. May 2016, p6]. Toshiba, Hydrogen Energy: https://www.toshiba-newenergy.com/en
Oorja receives CSA certification, partners with Ensol in Canada
C
alifornia-based Oorja Protonics has announced that its Model-T direct methanol fuel cell for telecom and stationary applications has received CSA certification, and listing to the ANSI/CSA Americas FC-1 standard. Oorja has also signed an exclusive distributorship agreement with Ensol Systems to resell methanol-fed fuel cell solutions for remote, off-grid applications in Canada. CSA certification assures major retailers, distributors, regulators and consumers that the Model-T fuel cell has undergone rigorous testing to meet the US and Canadian industry standards for safety and performance [see also page 7]. Oorja Fuel Cells worked closely with CSA, a leading global testing, inspection and certification organisation, in a formal process involving examination, testing, and follow-up examination. The Model-T is now entitled to bear the CSA mark, and will be listed on CSA International’s website. Meanwhile, Oorja will work closely with BC-based Ensol Systems to create hybrid solutions for reliable power in the Canadian market. Using Oorja’s DMFC technology will offer an environmentally friendly solution for reliable, off-grid power. Ensol’s power packages are built for harsh Canadian winters, tested to –40°C, and offer a compact, lightweight design. With simple integration into new or existing sites, they are designed to operate autonomously and with zero emissions. This partnership will help Oorja to leverage Ensol’s expertise in fabricating, manufacturing, and electrical design. Oorja launched the Model T-1 fuel cell system earlier this year, to provide a ‘green’ backup power solution for cellular telecom
October 2016