- Email: [email protected]
First UAV test flight with Cella solid-state hydrogen storage
NEWS enough to generate power for about 14 h of continuous use. It means that onboard batteries last longer because they are never deeply discharged. The Oorja fuel cells keep the batteries well charged, and forklifts can easily finish an entire shift at full speed, resulting in substantially improved productivity for warehouse operations. Oorja says that the Model 3 typically offers a return-on-investment (ROI) in less than 24 months. ‘They keep our pallet jacks running at top speed for an entire shift, and we do not have to swap batteries in mid-shift anymore; this has translated into greater productivity for us,’ says Manny Lopes, director of operations at Baldor Specialty Foods, serving Boston, New York, and Washington, DC [FCB, December 2011, p2]. Oorja is commercialising DMFCs for materials handling, telecoms, transportation, distributed energy, and microgrids [see the Oorja feature in FCB, March 2012]. Last summer Shoto Group signed a deal to resell its DMFC power solutions for the cellular telecoms market in China [FCB, August 2015, p4]. In 2014 it conducted a feasibility study for powering telecom towers in South Africa [FCB, June 2014, p1], and signed a licensing agreement with Los Alamos National Laboratory in the US to deploy two technologies that improve efficiency and reduce cost [FCB, June 2014, p10].
a wide variety of applications, with more than 34 000 fuel cells sold to date [see the SFC feature in FCB, January 2013]. It unveiled the EFOY Go! in 2014, as an innovative ‘mobile socket’ for leisure and outdoor activities [FCB, September 2014, p7], with sales beginning the following summer [FCB, September 2015, p5]. SFC recently received an order for EFOY Pro fuel cells to power surveillance systems used by the French Ministry of Defence [FCB, January 2016, p1], and EFOY Pro fuel cells are also being integrated into autonomous energy systems developed by Gazprom Georesource for geophysical services across Russia [FCB, November 2015, p4]. SFC is also partnering with ZephIR Lidar in the UK to serve the wind energy industry [FCB, August 2015, p10].
Oorja Fuel Cells, Fremont, California, USA. Tel: +1 510 659 1899, www.oorjafuelcells.com
T
Thermoprodukter now selling SFC’s EFOY for Swedish caravans
G
erman-based SFC Energy has expanded its long-running distribution partnership with Thermoprodukter AB, the Swedish market leader for marine and caravan equipment. Building on the success of the EFOY Comfort product in the boating segment, Thermoprodukter will now offer the full range of EFOY Comfort and EFOY Go! direct methanol fuel cell products to the entire Swedish consumer market, including its significant motor home market. Thermoprodukter is well established in selling SFC Energy’s EFOY fuel cells to Swedish boat owners and operators [FCB, June 2010, p8]. The company operates an experienced network of dealers throughout Sweden, where consumers can buy the full range of SFC Energy’s products, including EFOY fuel cartridges. SFC Energy offers a portfolio of portable, mobile, stationary, and vehicle-based fuel cells for 4
Fuel Cells Bulletin
SFC Energy Group, Brunnthal/Munich, Germany. Tel: +49 89 673 5920, www.sfc.com, www.efoy-comfort.com or www.efoy-go.com Thermoprodukter AB, Kalmar, Sweden. Tel: +46 480 425880, www.thermoprodukter.se (in Swedish)
easyJet, Cranfield to trial fuel cell auxiliary power in hybrid plane he UK-based airline easyJet has unveiled plans for a zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell system for its aircraft, which could save around 50 000 tonnes of fuel per annum and associated CO2 emissions. The low-cost airline aims to trial the technology later this year. The inspiration for the hybrid plane concept comes from students at Cranfield University, who considered what air travel might look like in 20 years’ time, as part of a competition to celebrate easyJet’s 20th birthday. Last year Cranfield and easyJet signed a threeyear strategic partnership agreement to share innovation and knowledge. A hydrogen fuel cell in the hold allows energy to be captured as the aircraft applies its brakes on landing, and is used to charge the system’s lightweight batteries when the aircraft is on the ground (much like the Kinetic Energy Recovery System in Formula 1 cars). The energy can then be used by the aircraft – for example when taxiing – without needing to use its jet engines. The high frequency and short sector lengths of easyJet’s operations mean that around 4% of total fuel consumption is when aircraft are taxiing – averaging 20 minutes of taxi time per flight. The pure by-product water could be used to refill the aircraft’s water system during the flight, and used as drinking water for passengers or to flush the toilets.
Each aircraft would have motors in its main wheels, and electronics and system controllers would give pilots total control of the aircraft’s speed, direction, and braking during taxi operations. The system would therefore reduce or even eliminate the need for tugs to manoeuvre aircraft in and out of stands, delivering more efficient turnaround times and increased on-time performance. The concept has been developed by easyJet’s engineering director Ian Davies and his team. ‘The hybrid plane concept we are announcing today is both a vision of the future, and a challenge to our partners and suppliers to continue to push the boundaries towards reducing our carbon emissions,’ he says. ‘Our students have showcased some exciting ideas for the 2035 vision of the airline industry through The Future of Flight competition, presenting environmental solutions, operational improvements, and ideas to enhance the customer experience,’ adds Dr Craig Lawson, lecturer in the Centre for Aeronautics at Cranfield University. ‘We’re looking forward to developing this concept further.’ easyJet: www.easyjet.com Cranfield University, Centre for Aeronautics: http://tinyurl.com/cranfield-aeronautics
First UAV test flight with Cella solid-state hydrogen storage
T
he Scottish Association for Marine Science recently completed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) test flight using a hydrogen-based power system developed by Cella Energy. The complete system, comprising a Cella hydrogen gas generator with a PEM fuel cell supplied and integrated by Arcola Energy, is considerably lighter than the original lithium-ion battery. The system is based on Cella’s solid-state hydrogen storage material, which can release large quantities of hydrogen when heated. Cella has now designed and built a gas generator using this material. ‘This flight used a small prototype system, and we were pleased with the initial flight, with another flight scheduled to take place in the near future,’ says Professor Stephen Bennington, managing director of Cella Energy. ‘The larger versions of this system that we are already designing will have three times the energy of a lithium-ion battery of the same weight.’ The work was funded by a grant from Innovate UK, and has enabled Cella and Arcola to design and build a power system
March 2016
NEWS for integration into the Raptor E1, built and designed by Scottish UAV developer RaptorUAS. (RaptorUAS had planned to fly a UAV powered by a fuel cell from Singaporebased Horizon Energy Systems across the North Sea last summer, but this didn’t work out [FCB, September 2015, p3].) ‘Clean and dependable power in a UAV, such as this hydrogen-electric system, is essential for a range of environmental and climate monitoring, from methane sampling over tundra to CO2 exchange with the oceans,’ says Dr Phil Anderson, head of marine technology at SAMS. Cella’s solid, uncompressed hydrogen storage material is stable in air and at temperatures below 500°C. Cella is also working on aerospace systems with Safran’s Herakles division, which is soon to become part of the Airbus-Safran Launchers joint venture [FCB, October 2014, p3 and January 2016, p11]. They have constructed a working system, and are making good progress towards understanding the many safety, performance, and certification requirements. Cella Energy, Harwell, Didcot, UK. Tel: +44 1235 437740, www.cellaenergy.com Cella Energy US Inc, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. Tel: +1 321 261 3671. Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, Argyll, Scotland, UK. Tel: +44 1631 559000, www.sams.ac.uk RaptorUAS, Scotland, UK. Tel: +44 785 555 9196, www.raptoruas.com Arcola Energy, London, UK. Tel: +44 20 7503 1386, www.arcolaenergy.com
so far highlights a positive response to these units in operation. ‘This joint EU–industry funded project is an important next step for the industry in understanding and preparing the homes market for coming innovation. The challenge ahead is for the industry to expand the market, and use volume to lower the cost of units,’ says project coordinator Dr Fiona Riddoch, managing director of COGEN Europe, who presented the early feedback at the recent Fuel Cells for Stationary Power Applications Conference in London. ‘Stationary fuel cells are recognised in the new [EU] Strategy on Heating and Cooling as highly efficient technologies quickly approaching market readiness,’ she continues. ‘The European Union and member states should work jointly to create a favourable policy environment to encourage support for innovative technologies moving to volume production.’ The five-year ene.field project is Europe’s single largest deployment of residential fuel cell micro CHP units [FCB, October 2012, p4 and September 2015, p1]. It has already placed nearly 400 units in homes in eight EU member states, and plans extensive further installations in 2016, towards its target of 1000 units. It is also analysing a range of market, policy, and performance questions. The project is co-funded by 24 industry partners and the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. The project partners include Elcore [FCB, September 2013, p5], GDF Suez [FCB, June 2014, p5], Baxi Innotech [FCB, September 2014, p5], Buderus [FCB, November 2014, p11], and SOLIDpower [FCB, May 2015, p3]. ene-field project: www.enefield.eu
SMALL STATIONARY
European customers like idea of ene.field home energy solutions
O
ne of the preliminary results of the ene.field project, Europe’s largest fuel cell micro combined heat and power (CHP) deployment, is that more than 75% of participating householders are attracted by the idea of a home energy solution that provides both heat and power. The main customer findings, based on participating customer questionnaires, will be published at the end of 2016. However, preliminary data are becoming available, i.e. the extent of types of dwellings favoured, and elements of user preference are emerging. Product performance data should be available in 2017, but experience of fuel cell micro CHP
March 2016
COGEN Europe: www.cogeneurope.eu
Oorja unveils DMFC solution for telecom, stationary markets
D
irect methanol fuel cell developer Oorja Protonics in California has announced its new Oorja Model T-1 fuel cell system, designed to provide a ‘green’ backup power solution for cellular telecom towers. The Oorja Model T-1 is a DMFC system that provides backup power, or primary power, for a variety of applications, mostly stationary, such as cellular towers, oil & gas pipeline monitoring and valve control, and military communications. It works in conjunction with a set of batteries that it keeps in a high state-of-charge. The Model T-1 fuel cell provides 1.1 kW of net power at 24 or 48 V, and operates with an external fuel tank
IN BRIEF Altergy fuel cells help power Super Bowl California-based Altergy Systems (www. altergy.com) donated several Freedom Power™ hydrogen PEM fuel cell powered generators to light the streets and stages of Super Bowl City in Santa Clara, which hosted Super Bowl 50 in early February. Altergy’s generators supplied a large percentage of the hydrogen fuel cell power for Super Bowl City. The generators were placed near crowds of people, who didn’t notice their presence because of their near-silent operation and zero emissions, compared to traditional generators running on diesel. ‘While traditional diesel-powered light towers provide ample lighting, they are noisy, and are not something we can place near to food and beverage areas,’ says Jude Freeman, who managed event logistics for Siteline Productions. ‘The generators powered by Altergy’s fuel cells gave us the opportunity to place power sources and area lighting as close as possible, with minimal to zero impact on the area closest to the generators.’ The many applications of Altergy’s fuel cells include telecoms, military and homeland security, public safety, and data centres. Its systems provided more reliable telecom backup power than conventional systems when Hurricane Joaquin caused devastation in the Caribbean last October [FCB, December 2015, p4]. NEL, Uno-X in hydrogen station network In Norway, NEL Fuel AS (a subsidiary of NEL ASA) has entered into a final agreement with Uno-X Gruppen AS (part of Reitangruppen), for the rollout of at least 20 hydrogen refueling stations in all of the major Norwegian cities by 2020. The agreement finalises the Letter of Intent the companies signed last autumn [FCB, December 2015, p1]. Following the agreement, NEL (www.nelasa.com) and Uno-X (www.unox.no) have established the Uno-X Hydrogen AS joint venture, owned by Uno-X and NEL with 51% and 49%, respectively. Uno-X will be the main brand of the joint venture, while NEL will provide the technology for hydrogen production and hydrogen refueling stations. The joint venture will build a network of hydrogen refueling stations with onsite hydrogen production, so that fuel cell electric vehicles can operate in and between all the major cities in Norway. The stations will be deployed in cities like Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, and Kristiansand, and along the main connecting roads. NEL recently took full control of Hyme AS [FCB, December 2015, p8], which provides design and technical solutions for hydrogen refueling stations, following its earlier acquisition of H2 Logic in Denmark [FCB, June 2015, p8].
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5
a wide variety of applications, with more than 34 000 fuel cells sold to date [see the SFC feature in FCB, January 2013]. It unveiled the EFOY Go! in 2014, as an innovative ‘mobile socket’ for leisure and outdoor activities [FCB, September 2014, p7], with sales beginning the following summer [FCB, September 2015, p5]. SFC recently received an order for EFOY Pro fuel cells to power surveillance systems used by the French Ministry of Defence [FCB, January 2016, p1], and EFOY Pro fuel cells are also being integrated into autonomous energy systems developed by Gazprom Georesource for geophysical services across Russia [FCB, November 2015, p4]. SFC is also partnering with ZephIR Lidar in the UK to serve the wind energy industry [FCB, August 2015, p10].
Oorja Fuel Cells, Fremont, California, USA. Tel: +1 510 659 1899, www.oorjafuelcells.com
T
Thermoprodukter now selling SFC’s EFOY for Swedish caravans
G
erman-based SFC Energy has expanded its long-running distribution partnership with Thermoprodukter AB, the Swedish market leader for marine and caravan equipment. Building on the success of the EFOY Comfort product in the boating segment, Thermoprodukter will now offer the full range of EFOY Comfort and EFOY Go! direct methanol fuel cell products to the entire Swedish consumer market, including its significant motor home market. Thermoprodukter is well established in selling SFC Energy’s EFOY fuel cells to Swedish boat owners and operators [FCB, June 2010, p8]. The company operates an experienced network of dealers throughout Sweden, where consumers can buy the full range of SFC Energy’s products, including EFOY fuel cartridges. SFC Energy offers a portfolio of portable, mobile, stationary, and vehicle-based fuel cells for 4
Fuel Cells Bulletin
SFC Energy Group, Brunnthal/Munich, Germany. Tel: +49 89 673 5920, www.sfc.com, www.efoy-comfort.com or www.efoy-go.com Thermoprodukter AB, Kalmar, Sweden. Tel: +46 480 425880, www.thermoprodukter.se (in Swedish)
easyJet, Cranfield to trial fuel cell auxiliary power in hybrid plane he UK-based airline easyJet has unveiled plans for a zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell system for its aircraft, which could save around 50 000 tonnes of fuel per annum and associated CO2 emissions. The low-cost airline aims to trial the technology later this year. The inspiration for the hybrid plane concept comes from students at Cranfield University, who considered what air travel might look like in 20 years’ time, as part of a competition to celebrate easyJet’s 20th birthday. Last year Cranfield and easyJet signed a threeyear strategic partnership agreement to share innovation and knowledge. A hydrogen fuel cell in the hold allows energy to be captured as the aircraft applies its brakes on landing, and is used to charge the system’s lightweight batteries when the aircraft is on the ground (much like the Kinetic Energy Recovery System in Formula 1 cars). The energy can then be used by the aircraft – for example when taxiing – without needing to use its jet engines. The high frequency and short sector lengths of easyJet’s operations mean that around 4% of total fuel consumption is when aircraft are taxiing – averaging 20 minutes of taxi time per flight. The pure by-product water could be used to refill the aircraft’s water system during the flight, and used as drinking water for passengers or to flush the toilets.
Each aircraft would have motors in its main wheels, and electronics and system controllers would give pilots total control of the aircraft’s speed, direction, and braking during taxi operations. The system would therefore reduce or even eliminate the need for tugs to manoeuvre aircraft in and out of stands, delivering more efficient turnaround times and increased on-time performance. The concept has been developed by easyJet’s engineering director Ian Davies and his team. ‘The hybrid plane concept we are announcing today is both a vision of the future, and a challenge to our partners and suppliers to continue to push the boundaries towards reducing our carbon emissions,’ he says. ‘Our students have showcased some exciting ideas for the 2035 vision of the airline industry through The Future of Flight competition, presenting environmental solutions, operational improvements, and ideas to enhance the customer experience,’ adds Dr Craig Lawson, lecturer in the Centre for Aeronautics at Cranfield University. ‘We’re looking forward to developing this concept further.’ easyJet: www.easyjet.com Cranfield University, Centre for Aeronautics: http://tinyurl.com/cranfield-aeronautics
First UAV test flight with Cella solid-state hydrogen storage
T
he Scottish Association for Marine Science recently completed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) test flight using a hydrogen-based power system developed by Cella Energy. The complete system, comprising a Cella hydrogen gas generator with a PEM fuel cell supplied and integrated by Arcola Energy, is considerably lighter than the original lithium-ion battery. The system is based on Cella’s solid-state hydrogen storage material, which can release large quantities of hydrogen when heated. Cella has now designed and built a gas generator using this material. ‘This flight used a small prototype system, and we were pleased with the initial flight, with another flight scheduled to take place in the near future,’ says Professor Stephen Bennington, managing director of Cella Energy. ‘The larger versions of this system that we are already designing will have three times the energy of a lithium-ion battery of the same weight.’ The work was funded by a grant from Innovate UK, and has enabled Cella and Arcola to design and build a power system
March 2016
NEWS for integration into the Raptor E1, built and designed by Scottish UAV developer RaptorUAS. (RaptorUAS had planned to fly a UAV powered by a fuel cell from Singaporebased Horizon Energy Systems across the North Sea last summer, but this didn’t work out [FCB, September 2015, p3].) ‘Clean and dependable power in a UAV, such as this hydrogen-electric system, is essential for a range of environmental and climate monitoring, from methane sampling over tundra to CO2 exchange with the oceans,’ says Dr Phil Anderson, head of marine technology at SAMS. Cella’s solid, uncompressed hydrogen storage material is stable in air and at temperatures below 500°C. Cella is also working on aerospace systems with Safran’s Herakles division, which is soon to become part of the Airbus-Safran Launchers joint venture [FCB, October 2014, p3 and January 2016, p11]. They have constructed a working system, and are making good progress towards understanding the many safety, performance, and certification requirements. Cella Energy, Harwell, Didcot, UK. Tel: +44 1235 437740, www.cellaenergy.com Cella Energy US Inc, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA. Tel: +1 321 261 3671. Scottish Association for Marine Science, Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, Argyll, Scotland, UK. Tel: +44 1631 559000, www.sams.ac.uk RaptorUAS, Scotland, UK. Tel: +44 785 555 9196, www.raptoruas.com Arcola Energy, London, UK. Tel: +44 20 7503 1386, www.arcolaenergy.com
so far highlights a positive response to these units in operation. ‘This joint EU–industry funded project is an important next step for the industry in understanding and preparing the homes market for coming innovation. The challenge ahead is for the industry to expand the market, and use volume to lower the cost of units,’ says project coordinator Dr Fiona Riddoch, managing director of COGEN Europe, who presented the early feedback at the recent Fuel Cells for Stationary Power Applications Conference in London. ‘Stationary fuel cells are recognised in the new [EU] Strategy on Heating and Cooling as highly efficient technologies quickly approaching market readiness,’ she continues. ‘The European Union and member states should work jointly to create a favourable policy environment to encourage support for innovative technologies moving to volume production.’ The five-year ene.field project is Europe’s single largest deployment of residential fuel cell micro CHP units [FCB, October 2012, p4 and September 2015, p1]. It has already placed nearly 400 units in homes in eight EU member states, and plans extensive further installations in 2016, towards its target of 1000 units. It is also analysing a range of market, policy, and performance questions. The project is co-funded by 24 industry partners and the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. The project partners include Elcore [FCB, September 2013, p5], GDF Suez [FCB, June 2014, p5], Baxi Innotech [FCB, September 2014, p5], Buderus [FCB, November 2014, p11], and SOLIDpower [FCB, May 2015, p3]. ene-field project: www.enefield.eu
SMALL STATIONARY
European customers like idea of ene.field home energy solutions
O
ne of the preliminary results of the ene.field project, Europe’s largest fuel cell micro combined heat and power (CHP) deployment, is that more than 75% of participating householders are attracted by the idea of a home energy solution that provides both heat and power. The main customer findings, based on participating customer questionnaires, will be published at the end of 2016. However, preliminary data are becoming available, i.e. the extent of types of dwellings favoured, and elements of user preference are emerging. Product performance data should be available in 2017, but experience of fuel cell micro CHP
March 2016
COGEN Europe: www.cogeneurope.eu
Oorja unveils DMFC solution for telecom, stationary markets
D
irect methanol fuel cell developer Oorja Protonics in California has announced its new Oorja Model T-1 fuel cell system, designed to provide a ‘green’ backup power solution for cellular telecom towers. The Oorja Model T-1 is a DMFC system that provides backup power, or primary power, for a variety of applications, mostly stationary, such as cellular towers, oil & gas pipeline monitoring and valve control, and military communications. It works in conjunction with a set of batteries that it keeps in a high state-of-charge. The Model T-1 fuel cell provides 1.1 kW of net power at 24 or 48 V, and operates with an external fuel tank
IN BRIEF Altergy fuel cells help power Super Bowl California-based Altergy Systems (www. altergy.com) donated several Freedom Power™ hydrogen PEM fuel cell powered generators to light the streets and stages of Super Bowl City in Santa Clara, which hosted Super Bowl 50 in early February. Altergy’s generators supplied a large percentage of the hydrogen fuel cell power for Super Bowl City. The generators were placed near crowds of people, who didn’t notice their presence because of their near-silent operation and zero emissions, compared to traditional generators running on diesel. ‘While traditional diesel-powered light towers provide ample lighting, they are noisy, and are not something we can place near to food and beverage areas,’ says Jude Freeman, who managed event logistics for Siteline Productions. ‘The generators powered by Altergy’s fuel cells gave us the opportunity to place power sources and area lighting as close as possible, with minimal to zero impact on the area closest to the generators.’ The many applications of Altergy’s fuel cells include telecoms, military and homeland security, public safety, and data centres. Its systems provided more reliable telecom backup power than conventional systems when Hurricane Joaquin caused devastation in the Caribbean last October [FCB, December 2015, p4]. NEL, Uno-X in hydrogen station network In Norway, NEL Fuel AS (a subsidiary of NEL ASA) has entered into a final agreement with Uno-X Gruppen AS (part of Reitangruppen), for the rollout of at least 20 hydrogen refueling stations in all of the major Norwegian cities by 2020. The agreement finalises the Letter of Intent the companies signed last autumn [FCB, December 2015, p1]. Following the agreement, NEL (www.nelasa.com) and Uno-X (www.unox.no) have established the Uno-X Hydrogen AS joint venture, owned by Uno-X and NEL with 51% and 49%, respectively. Uno-X will be the main brand of the joint venture, while NEL will provide the technology for hydrogen production and hydrogen refueling stations. The joint venture will build a network of hydrogen refueling stations with onsite hydrogen production, so that fuel cell electric vehicles can operate in and between all the major cities in Norway. The stations will be deployed in cities like Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, and Kristiansand, and along the main connecting roads. NEL recently took full control of Hyme AS [FCB, December 2015, p8], which provides design and technical solutions for hydrogen refueling stations, following its earlier acquisition of H2 Logic in Denmark [FCB, June 2015, p8].
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5