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Fuel cell mobile lighting system at final Space Shuttle launch
NEWS / EDITORIAL The highǦprofile eco-vehicle event took place in early July at the F1 circuit in Sepang, Malaysia, and brought together 94 student teams from 12 Asian countries. The competition challenges young people to design and build energy-efficient vehicles that travel the farthest distance using the least amount of fuel. The EǦMobility Class Hydrogen Award was won by Ngee Ann Polytechnic in the Prototype category, and by the National University of Singapore in the Urban Concept category. The NPǦDistanza Proto team from Ngee Ann Polytechnic set a new record in its class of 84.9 km/kWh. The winning teams this year experimented with Horizon’s new 1 kW hydrogen power solution, a highly efficient, compact PEM fuel cell system that weighs only 3.6 kg. Similar power systems can be designed into zero-emission, hydrogenǦelectric vehicles of the future, and Horizon is encouraging an innovation movement in the region. The SingaporeǦdesigned, awardǦwinning hydrogen vehicles will be featured and on display at the Clean Energy Expo Asia, which takes place in November as part of the Energy Week in Singapore.
saving Light Emitting Plasma™ (LEP) lighting system and additional auxiliary power up to 2.5 kW, which allows other equipment – such as power tools, public address systems, or security metal detectors – to be powered by the unit at the same time as providing illumination. In addition to DOE sponsorship and Sandia’s design and technical management role, the industry partners on the project include Boeing, Multiquip, Altergy Systems, Luxim, Lumenworks, Stray Light Optical Technologies, Golden State Energy, and Ovonic Hydrogen Solutions. The California Fuel Cell Partnership has provided support on hydrogen fueling for several deployments. Earlier this year power generator and lighting manufacturer Multiquip unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell powered mobile lighting tower, the H2LT Light Tower. The lighting tower utilizes the Earthsmart™ PEM fuel cell from Altergy Systems, and has been used at events including the Golden Globe Awards ceremony in Beverly Hills [FCB, February 2011].
Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies Pte Ltd, Singapore. Tel: +65 6872 9588, www.horizonfuelcell.com
Altergy Systems: www.altergy.com
Sandia National Laboratories, Metal Hydride Center of Excellence: www.sandia.gov/MHCoE Multiquip: www.multiquip.com
SMALL STATIONARY
Fuel cell mobile lighting system at final CFCL signs German, Dutch distributors, Space Shuttle launch BlueGen units order fuel cell powered lighting system
A
was deployed at the final Space Shuttle launch in early July. The unit provided lighting in the international press area, and its auxiliary power output was used to recharge camera battery packs for photographers. The NASA deployment is the latest in a series of high-profile test sites where the lighting system has been utilized. The development of the hydrogen fuel cellpowered mobile lighting system has been sponsored by the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) in conjunction with Boeing, and developed by Sandia National Laboratories with several industry partners, including Multiquip and PEM fuel cell manufacturer Altergy Systems. The hydrogen fuel cell-powered mobile lighting system is a clean, quiet and efficient alternative to traditional technologies powered by diesel fueled generators. [Also check out the BOC Hymera feature on pages 12–14]. The fuel cell produces electricity for an advanced, power-
August 2011
A
ustralian-based Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd has signed a distribution agreement with sanevo Lizenz-GmbH to market, sell, install and service BlueGen solid oxide fuel cell products in regions of Germany and Austria. CFCL has also signed a distribution agreement with Zestiq BV, to market and sell BlueGen products in the Netherlands. German-based sanevo has placed an initial order for 100 BlueGen units to be delivered in the first year, with a target minimum order of 500 units for delivery in the second year, and a target of 2000 units over years three and four. As long as sanevo orders these agreed minimum numbers of BlueGen units in the 2012–2014 timeframe, the company has exclusive rights to distribute BlueGen to commercial and residential customers in the German states of BadenWürttemberg and Bavaria, and in Austria. Ceramic Fuel Cells retains full rights to sell BlueGen units to utilities and energy service companies.
EDITORIAL
F
uel cells aren’t being developed in a vacuum, of course, and there is a huge range of R&D making progress in other technologies. Sometimes these technological advances lead to combinations that can take advantage of the benefits offered by both innovations. An excellent example of this synergy is the combination of fuel cells for power sources being used with LED lighting. As this month’s feature explains, diesel and gasoline generators may be a mature, low-cost technology, but they are also energy-inefficient, in particular at lower powers. For example, a small gasoline engine generator will be less than 5% efficient at 100 W, and only about 2% efficient at 50 W, says BOC’s Stewart Dow in his feature article. Fuel cells, on the other hand, maintain a high level of efficiency pretty much across their entire operating range. And while incandescent lamps are well established, most of the energy is converted into heat rather than light. Emerging highefficiency LED (light-emitting diode) technologies do a much better job, and the cost is coming down. When used in combination, LED lighting needs a much smaller power fuel cell for the same light output – and the very high efficiency allows very long runtimes on a modest fuel supply. The feature [see pages 12–14] talks about the development of BOC’s Hymera portable hydrogen fuel cell generator, and its use in commercial products from Arcola Energy and White Light in the UK. But BOC isn’t alone in working along these lines. As we report in the news section [see page 3], a collaboration in the US is demonstrating a larger mobile lighting unit powered using a fuel cell. Sandia National Labs has been leading a DOE-funded project to develop a mobile lighting system powered by a PEM fuel cell supplied by California-based Altergy Systems. The hydrogen fuel cell produces electricity for an advanced, power-saving Light Emitting Plasma™ (LEP) lighting system, as well as providing additional auxiliary power up to 2.5 kW. This auxiliary output allows other equipment – such as power tools, PA systems, or security metal detectors – to be powered by the unit at the same time as providing illumination. Project participant Multiquip, which manufactures and supplies power generators and lighting equipment, has turned this into a commercial product. Earlier this year the company unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell powered mobile lighting tower, the H2LT Light Tower, which utilizes the Earthsmart™ PEM fuel cell from Altergy Systems.
Steve Barrett
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3
saving Light Emitting Plasma™ (LEP) lighting system and additional auxiliary power up to 2.5 kW, which allows other equipment – such as power tools, public address systems, or security metal detectors – to be powered by the unit at the same time as providing illumination. In addition to DOE sponsorship and Sandia’s design and technical management role, the industry partners on the project include Boeing, Multiquip, Altergy Systems, Luxim, Lumenworks, Stray Light Optical Technologies, Golden State Energy, and Ovonic Hydrogen Solutions. The California Fuel Cell Partnership has provided support on hydrogen fueling for several deployments. Earlier this year power generator and lighting manufacturer Multiquip unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell powered mobile lighting tower, the H2LT Light Tower. The lighting tower utilizes the Earthsmart™ PEM fuel cell from Altergy Systems, and has been used at events including the Golden Globe Awards ceremony in Beverly Hills [FCB, February 2011].
Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies Pte Ltd, Singapore. Tel: +65 6872 9588, www.horizonfuelcell.com
Altergy Systems: www.altergy.com
Sandia National Laboratories, Metal Hydride Center of Excellence: www.sandia.gov/MHCoE Multiquip: www.multiquip.com
SMALL STATIONARY
Fuel cell mobile lighting system at final CFCL signs German, Dutch distributors, Space Shuttle launch BlueGen units order fuel cell powered lighting system
A
was deployed at the final Space Shuttle launch in early July. The unit provided lighting in the international press area, and its auxiliary power output was used to recharge camera battery packs for photographers. The NASA deployment is the latest in a series of high-profile test sites where the lighting system has been utilized. The development of the hydrogen fuel cellpowered mobile lighting system has been sponsored by the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) in conjunction with Boeing, and developed by Sandia National Laboratories with several industry partners, including Multiquip and PEM fuel cell manufacturer Altergy Systems. The hydrogen fuel cell-powered mobile lighting system is a clean, quiet and efficient alternative to traditional technologies powered by diesel fueled generators. [Also check out the BOC Hymera feature on pages 12–14]. The fuel cell produces electricity for an advanced, power-
August 2011
A
ustralian-based Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd has signed a distribution agreement with sanevo Lizenz-GmbH to market, sell, install and service BlueGen solid oxide fuel cell products in regions of Germany and Austria. CFCL has also signed a distribution agreement with Zestiq BV, to market and sell BlueGen products in the Netherlands. German-based sanevo has placed an initial order for 100 BlueGen units to be delivered in the first year, with a target minimum order of 500 units for delivery in the second year, and a target of 2000 units over years three and four. As long as sanevo orders these agreed minimum numbers of BlueGen units in the 2012–2014 timeframe, the company has exclusive rights to distribute BlueGen to commercial and residential customers in the German states of BadenWürttemberg and Bavaria, and in Austria. Ceramic Fuel Cells retains full rights to sell BlueGen units to utilities and energy service companies.
EDITORIAL
F
uel cells aren’t being developed in a vacuum, of course, and there is a huge range of R&D making progress in other technologies. Sometimes these technological advances lead to combinations that can take advantage of the benefits offered by both innovations. An excellent example of this synergy is the combination of fuel cells for power sources being used with LED lighting. As this month’s feature explains, diesel and gasoline generators may be a mature, low-cost technology, but they are also energy-inefficient, in particular at lower powers. For example, a small gasoline engine generator will be less than 5% efficient at 100 W, and only about 2% efficient at 50 W, says BOC’s Stewart Dow in his feature article. Fuel cells, on the other hand, maintain a high level of efficiency pretty much across their entire operating range. And while incandescent lamps are well established, most of the energy is converted into heat rather than light. Emerging highefficiency LED (light-emitting diode) technologies do a much better job, and the cost is coming down. When used in combination, LED lighting needs a much smaller power fuel cell for the same light output – and the very high efficiency allows very long runtimes on a modest fuel supply. The feature [see pages 12–14] talks about the development of BOC’s Hymera portable hydrogen fuel cell generator, and its use in commercial products from Arcola Energy and White Light in the UK. But BOC isn’t alone in working along these lines. As we report in the news section [see page 3], a collaboration in the US is demonstrating a larger mobile lighting unit powered using a fuel cell. Sandia National Labs has been leading a DOE-funded project to develop a mobile lighting system powered by a PEM fuel cell supplied by California-based Altergy Systems. The hydrogen fuel cell produces electricity for an advanced, power-saving Light Emitting Plasma™ (LEP) lighting system, as well as providing additional auxiliary power up to 2.5 kW. This auxiliary output allows other equipment – such as power tools, PA systems, or security metal detectors – to be powered by the unit at the same time as providing illumination. Project participant Multiquip, which manufactures and supplies power generators and lighting equipment, has turned this into a commercial product. Earlier this year the company unveiled a hydrogen fuel cell powered mobile lighting tower, the H2LT Light Tower, which utilizes the Earthsmart™ PEM fuel cell from Altergy Systems.
Steve Barrett
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3