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Dantherm Power fuel cell system for Anglo American in S. Africa
NEWS level of confidence in the ability of its technology to meet the efficiency requirements of nearly all stationary and automotive applications, while delivering a substantially higher level of durability than conventional fuel cells. ‘We have shown that this new low-cost and durable fuel cell technology can be packaged and operated in a form suitable for nearly all stationary power applications,’ says Dr SB Cha, the firm’s CEO. ‘To have broken new performance records at the same time is a very promising sign that we can also make this technology suitable for automotive applications.’ ACAL Energy’s proprietary technology replaces the platinum catalyst on the cathode in a PEM fuel cell with a low-cost, durable liquid chemical. This greatly reduces the total platinum content, since much of the platinum in conventional PEM fuel cells is used in the cathode [check out the feature on ACAL Energy in our April 2011 issue]. ACAL Energy Ltd, Runcorn, Cheshire, UK. Tel: +44 1928 511581, www.acalenergy.co.uk Solvay Group: www.solvay.com Technology Strategy Board: www.innovateuk.org The Carbon Trust: www.carbontrust.co.uk The Carbon Trust, Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge: http://ow.ly/7CXHh
LARGE STATIONARY
Dantherm Power fuel cell system for Anglo American in S. Africa
D
antherm Power is to supply 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. The Dantherm Power fuel cell generator, based on its DBX5000 fuel cell backup power system, utilizes PEM fuel cell stacks supplied by Canadian-based Ballard Power Systems. Dantherm Power – Ballard’s backup power systems company – also recently received an initial order to install 30 backup power systems at telecom sites in India [see page 4]. The fuel cell generator will be delivered before the end of the year, for deployment at one of Anglo American Platinum’s mining operations in South Africa. The fuel cell system will be powered by hydrogen generated in South Africa.
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Fuel Cells Bulletin
‘This deployment is an opportunity to demonstrate the readiness and benefits of fuel cell power systems in new vertical market applications,’ says John Sheridan, president and CEO of Ballard. ‘Anglo American operations will gain first-hand experience regarding the ability for a fuel cell generator to provide clean and reliable power on a relatively large scale at a mining site.’ Ballard Power Systems acquired a controlling interest in Dantherm Power nearly two years ago, in a partnership with Danish coinvestors Danfoss A/S and Dantherm A/S [FCB, February 2010]. The joint investment and partnering support is expected to result in accelerated development of fuel cell backup power applications. Dantherm Power A/S, Hobro, Denmark. Tel: +45 8843 5500, www.dantherm-power.com Ballard Power Systems: www.ballard.com Anglo American Platinum: www.angloamericanplatinum.com
PureCell systems for East Conn university, UTC Power HQ
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astern Connecticut State University is working with nearby UTC Power to install a 400 kW PureCell Model 400 combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cell system on its campus in Willimantic. UTC Power has also recently commissioned a PureCell Model 400 at its own headquarters in South Windsor. UTC Power will furnish and install the PureCell Class I combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cell system at Eastern under a 10-year Energy Services Agreement (ESA). The PureCell Model 400 is a stationary phosphoric acid fuel cell power plant that is capable of generating 400 kW of continuous, reliable electric power while also producing usable ‘waste’ heat. (Meanwhile, Central Connecticut State University is installing a 1.4 MW Direct FuelCell® power plant supplied by FuelCell Energy [see below].) The fuel cell CHP system, which is expected to be operational next April, will be installed on the west side of the university’s Science Building. The electrical output from the fuel cell will be routed to the main electric room in the building. Eastern Connecticut State University will use 100% of the energy produced by the fuel cell system, to provide most of the power required for the Science Building, while maximizing the
use of the heat output available from the plant. Supplemental heat generated by the operation of the fuel cell will be utilized by Eastern’s infrastructure. With effective utilization of the thermal output, overall system efficiencies of up to 90% are possible – more than double that of traditional power sources. Eastern is home to the Institute for Sustainable Energy, which is recognized throughout New England as an invaluable resource for supporting sustainable energy conservation efforts in municipalities and public schools. The PureCell Model 400 at UTC Power’s headquarters is prominently located at the main entrance, and delivers up to 50% of the building’s electricity needs. The company installed the system in the summer, replacing an earliergeneration PureCell unit the company had used since the mid-1990s. The new fuel cell is capable of load-following, i.e. it automatically adjusts its power output based on the draw from the building. Byproduct thermal energy from the unit – about 500 kW – will be harnessed to provide employees with domestic hot water and heating for the building’s shop areas. The fleet of PureCell Model 400 installations is steadily expanding, with units in operation or on order with a wide variety of end-users – from Cox Communications in San Diego [FCB, February 2011] to The Octagon luxury apartment community on Roosevelt Island in New York City [FCB, June 2011], and at several supermarkets in California [FCB, September 2010], New York [FCB, February 2010], and Massachusetts [FCB, June 2009]. UTC Power, South Windsor, Connecticut, USA. Tel: +1 860 727 2200, www.utcpower.com Eastern Connecticut State University, Institute for Sustainable Energy: www.easternct.edu/sustainenergy
FCE supplies 1.4 MW power plant to Central Conn State University
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uelCell Energy has sold a 1.4 MW Direct FuelCell® power plant to Greenwood Energy, for location on the campus of Central Connecticut State University in New Britain. The ultraclean electricity and steam generated by the molten carbonate system will be sold to the university under a longterm power purchase agreement. The power plant will also be configured to utilize the high-quality heat created by the power generation process in a combined heat
November 2011
LARGE STATIONARY
Dantherm Power fuel cell system for Anglo American in S. Africa
D
antherm Power is to supply 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. The Dantherm Power fuel cell generator, based on its DBX5000 fuel cell backup power system, utilizes PEM fuel cell stacks supplied by Canadian-based Ballard Power Systems. Dantherm Power – Ballard’s backup power systems company – also recently received an initial order to install 30 backup power systems at telecom sites in India [see page 4]. The fuel cell generator will be delivered before the end of the year, for deployment at one of Anglo American Platinum’s mining operations in South Africa. The fuel cell system will be powered by hydrogen generated in South Africa.
6
Fuel Cells Bulletin
‘This deployment is an opportunity to demonstrate the readiness and benefits of fuel cell power systems in new vertical market applications,’ says John Sheridan, president and CEO of Ballard. ‘Anglo American operations will gain first-hand experience regarding the ability for a fuel cell generator to provide clean and reliable power on a relatively large scale at a mining site.’ Ballard Power Systems acquired a controlling interest in Dantherm Power nearly two years ago, in a partnership with Danish coinvestors Danfoss A/S and Dantherm A/S [FCB, February 2010]. The joint investment and partnering support is expected to result in accelerated development of fuel cell backup power applications. Dantherm Power A/S, Hobro, Denmark. Tel: +45 8843 5500, www.dantherm-power.com Ballard Power Systems: www.ballard.com Anglo American Platinum: www.angloamericanplatinum.com
PureCell systems for East Conn university, UTC Power HQ
E
astern Connecticut State University is working with nearby UTC Power to install a 400 kW PureCell Model 400 combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cell system on its campus in Willimantic. UTC Power has also recently commissioned a PureCell Model 400 at its own headquarters in South Windsor. UTC Power will furnish and install the PureCell Class I combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cell system at Eastern under a 10-year Energy Services Agreement (ESA). The PureCell Model 400 is a stationary phosphoric acid fuel cell power plant that is capable of generating 400 kW of continuous, reliable electric power while also producing usable ‘waste’ heat. (Meanwhile, Central Connecticut State University is installing a 1.4 MW Direct FuelCell® power plant supplied by FuelCell Energy [see below].) The fuel cell CHP system, which is expected to be operational next April, will be installed on the west side of the university’s Science Building. The electrical output from the fuel cell will be routed to the main electric room in the building. Eastern Connecticut State University will use 100% of the energy produced by the fuel cell system, to provide most of the power required for the Science Building, while maximizing the
use of the heat output available from the plant. Supplemental heat generated by the operation of the fuel cell will be utilized by Eastern’s infrastructure. With effective utilization of the thermal output, overall system efficiencies of up to 90% are possible – more than double that of traditional power sources. Eastern is home to the Institute for Sustainable Energy, which is recognized throughout New England as an invaluable resource for supporting sustainable energy conservation efforts in municipalities and public schools. The PureCell Model 400 at UTC Power’s headquarters is prominently located at the main entrance, and delivers up to 50% of the building’s electricity needs. The company installed the system in the summer, replacing an earliergeneration PureCell unit the company had used since the mid-1990s. The new fuel cell is capable of load-following, i.e. it automatically adjusts its power output based on the draw from the building. Byproduct thermal energy from the unit – about 500 kW – will be harnessed to provide employees with domestic hot water and heating for the building’s shop areas. The fleet of PureCell Model 400 installations is steadily expanding, with units in operation or on order with a wide variety of end-users – from Cox Communications in San Diego [FCB, February 2011] to The Octagon luxury apartment community on Roosevelt Island in New York City [FCB, June 2011], and at several supermarkets in California [FCB, September 2010], New York [FCB, February 2010], and Massachusetts [FCB, June 2009]. UTC Power, South Windsor, Connecticut, USA. Tel: +1 860 727 2200, www.utcpower.com Eastern Connecticut State University, Institute for Sustainable Energy: www.easternct.edu/sustainenergy
FCE supplies 1.4 MW power plant to Central Conn State University
F
uelCell Energy has sold a 1.4 MW Direct FuelCell® power plant to Greenwood Energy, for location on the campus of Central Connecticut State University in New Britain. The ultraclean electricity and steam generated by the molten carbonate system will be sold to the university under a longterm power purchase agreement. The power plant will also be configured to utilize the high-quality heat created by the power generation process in a combined heat
November 2011