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Fuel cell scooters, solar hydrogen station launched in Hawaii
NEWS station through 155 refuellings between November 2011 and April 2012, mainly for vehicles from Daimler and Hyundai. The station was available 96% of the time, with 65% of all downtime situations solved within 30 min and 92% within one day. No incidents affecting the safety of the station operations were experienced during the operational period. The performance results show important progress on the ‘must-win battles’ that H2 Logic has defined for the continuing R&D effort on its H2Station product. These are to enable the same fast refuelling and long range as gasoline; a hydrogen pump price competitive to gasoline; a commercial payback for the station owner/operator; and close to 100% refuelling availability in networks. H2moves is co-financed by the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), the Transnova programme in Norway, and the Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program (EUDP) in Denmark. H2 Logic A/S, Herning, Denmark. Tel: +45 9627 5600, www.h2logic.com H2 Logic 700 bar refuelling performance presentation: http://tinyurl.com/cbrjvwy H2moves Scandinavia: www.scandinavianhydrogen.org/h2moves H2moves Scandinavia report: http://tinyurl.com/wp7-report European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking: www.fch-ju.eu Transnova, Norway: www.transnova.no/english Danish Energy Agency: www.ens.dk/en-US
hydrogen refuelling system for APFCT’s fuel cell scooters. Acta’s proprietary electrolyser technology significantly reduces the cost of small-scale hydrogen generation, and can be powered directly from solar panels without losing energy in power conversion or hydrogen compression [see the feature on Acta in this issue]. Each scooter has two cartridges that store hydrogen in metal hydride form at low pressure, and can take the scooter 90 km (56 miles), with a 1.2 kW fuel cell that gives a top speed of 35 mph (55 kph). The fuel cell scooters are expected to be on Honolulu roads early in 2013, according to Honolulu Civil Beat. Guy Toyama, CEO of H2 Technologies, says that the initial plan is to begin offering the scooters as rentals for the tourist market, to build an economy of scale that will drive down the price – currently about $3500. APFCT is gearing up production of its fuel cell scooters [FCB, August 2012, p5]. The company’s scooters have been undergoing extensive road testing in Taiwan – at the end of last year it announced that two of the 10 scooters in its fleet field trial in Taiwan had reached 15 000 km of on-road driving [FCB, January 2012, p11]. Just before that, the company signed an agreement with Acta for the development and supply of refuelling stations for fuel cell light electric vehicles using Acta’s hydrogen generation technology [FCB, December 2011, p1]. H2 Technologies Inc: www.h2-techs.com Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies: www.apfct.com Acta SpA: www.actagroup.it
Hydrogen Project HyNor: www.hynor.no/en Scandinavian Hydrogen Highway Partnership: www.scandinavianhydrogen.org
Fuel cell scooters, solar hydrogen station launched in Hawaii
H
awaii-based Aloha Motor Company, a joint venture between H2 Technologies in Hawaii and Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies (APFCT) in Taiwan, has launched what it says is the world’s first commercial off-grid solar hydrogen refuelling station in Honolulu. The hydrogen station uses solar power to drive the electrolysis of water, generating hydrogen. The 200 litre/h electrolyser was supplied by Italian-based Acta SpA, which is working closely with APFCT and H2 Technologies to implement a convenient
September 2012
GMI Energy, ITM to offer integrated green power, hydrogen fuel
I
n the UK, ITM Power has signed an agreement with GMI Renewable Energy Group to offer integrated renewable power generation and hydrogen production for backup power, industrial processes, and refuelling solutions for materials handling equipment in commercial buildings. The agreement will offer renewable power coupled to hydrogen generation as a totally zero-carbon process. GMI Energy will offer its existing and potential new customers the alternative of hydrogen generation as a use of their renewable power generated onsite. ITM Power will provide the hydrogen generation and refuelling equipment and, if required, the fuel
IN BRIEF Altergy for US, India telecom networks California-based Altergy Systems (www. altergy.com) has received an order for 1000 of its 7.5 kW Freedom Power™ hydrogen PEM fuel cell systems, to power a major upgrade to a large wireless telecom carrier in the US. The systems will house the carrier’s transceiver stations, DC plant, fuel cell system, thermal management, and enough fuel for 8–24 h of runtime, in an integrated, compact package. Altergy has also commenced a second deployment of its Freedom Power systems for MetroPCS, a US mobile phone service provider. The first deployment was in Florida, while the new rollout is in California. These fuel cell systems replace batteries and generators to assure continuous communication capability. In addition, Altergy’s Freedom Power systems have been selected to power telecom sites in India, running for between 4 and 20 h per day. Altergy will build and deliver 2.5 and 5 kW fuel cell power systems, while German-based industrial gases giant Linde will provide the hydrogen. Altergy will transition the fabrication and assembly of its fuel cells to a strategic partner in India as country volume increases. The strategic partner will also install, commission, and service products across the region. Fuji unit powers Hamburg car showroom The Mercedes-Benz dealership in Hamburg, Germany is now being powered by a fuel cell power plant, supplied by Fuji Electric in Japan. The phosphoric acid fuel cell system provides 100 kW of electric power and 120 kW of thermal energy, operating on natural gas, and will cut the dealership’s CO2 emissions by up to 60%. The power plant is expected to pay back the -1 million (US$1.3 million) investment within six or seven years. The purchase and installation was managed by N2telligence GmbH (www.n2telligence.com), which specialises in sustainable energy and fire protection solutions [FCB, June 2011, p9]. Fuji Electric (www.fujielectric.com) is targeting fuel cell sales of ¥1 billion ($12 million) in Europe within two years [FCB, March 2012, p6]. Initially the company will assemble the products in Japan, but it aims to increase the procurement of foreign-made parts, and eventually begin manufacturing outside Japan. The company also plans to expand sales of a fuel cell system that would provide electric power to hospitals or data centres under emergency conditions. The ¥65 million ($840 000) system usually operates on city (natural) gas, but can switch in just 30 s to propane if the city gas supply is cut.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7
hydrogen refuelling system for APFCT’s fuel cell scooters. Acta’s proprietary electrolyser technology significantly reduces the cost of small-scale hydrogen generation, and can be powered directly from solar panels without losing energy in power conversion or hydrogen compression [see the feature on Acta in this issue]. Each scooter has two cartridges that store hydrogen in metal hydride form at low pressure, and can take the scooter 90 km (56 miles), with a 1.2 kW fuel cell that gives a top speed of 35 mph (55 kph). The fuel cell scooters are expected to be on Honolulu roads early in 2013, according to Honolulu Civil Beat. Guy Toyama, CEO of H2 Technologies, says that the initial plan is to begin offering the scooters as rentals for the tourist market, to build an economy of scale that will drive down the price – currently about $3500. APFCT is gearing up production of its fuel cell scooters [FCB, August 2012, p5]. The company’s scooters have been undergoing extensive road testing in Taiwan – at the end of last year it announced that two of the 10 scooters in its fleet field trial in Taiwan had reached 15 000 km of on-road driving [FCB, January 2012, p11]. Just before that, the company signed an agreement with Acta for the development and supply of refuelling stations for fuel cell light electric vehicles using Acta’s hydrogen generation technology [FCB, December 2011, p1]. H2 Technologies Inc: www.h2-techs.com Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies: www.apfct.com Acta SpA: www.actagroup.it
Hydrogen Project HyNor: www.hynor.no/en Scandinavian Hydrogen Highway Partnership: www.scandinavianhydrogen.org
Fuel cell scooters, solar hydrogen station launched in Hawaii
H
awaii-based Aloha Motor Company, a joint venture between H2 Technologies in Hawaii and Asia Pacific Fuel Cell Technologies (APFCT) in Taiwan, has launched what it says is the world’s first commercial off-grid solar hydrogen refuelling station in Honolulu. The hydrogen station uses solar power to drive the electrolysis of water, generating hydrogen. The 200 litre/h electrolyser was supplied by Italian-based Acta SpA, which is working closely with APFCT and H2 Technologies to implement a convenient
September 2012
GMI Energy, ITM to offer integrated green power, hydrogen fuel
I
n the UK, ITM Power has signed an agreement with GMI Renewable Energy Group to offer integrated renewable power generation and hydrogen production for backup power, industrial processes, and refuelling solutions for materials handling equipment in commercial buildings. The agreement will offer renewable power coupled to hydrogen generation as a totally zero-carbon process. GMI Energy will offer its existing and potential new customers the alternative of hydrogen generation as a use of their renewable power generated onsite. ITM Power will provide the hydrogen generation and refuelling equipment and, if required, the fuel
IN BRIEF Altergy for US, India telecom networks California-based Altergy Systems (www. altergy.com) has received an order for 1000 of its 7.5 kW Freedom Power™ hydrogen PEM fuel cell systems, to power a major upgrade to a large wireless telecom carrier in the US. The systems will house the carrier’s transceiver stations, DC plant, fuel cell system, thermal management, and enough fuel for 8–24 h of runtime, in an integrated, compact package. Altergy has also commenced a second deployment of its Freedom Power systems for MetroPCS, a US mobile phone service provider. The first deployment was in Florida, while the new rollout is in California. These fuel cell systems replace batteries and generators to assure continuous communication capability. In addition, Altergy’s Freedom Power systems have been selected to power telecom sites in India, running for between 4 and 20 h per day. Altergy will build and deliver 2.5 and 5 kW fuel cell power systems, while German-based industrial gases giant Linde will provide the hydrogen. Altergy will transition the fabrication and assembly of its fuel cells to a strategic partner in India as country volume increases. The strategic partner will also install, commission, and service products across the region. Fuji unit powers Hamburg car showroom The Mercedes-Benz dealership in Hamburg, Germany is now being powered by a fuel cell power plant, supplied by Fuji Electric in Japan. The phosphoric acid fuel cell system provides 100 kW of electric power and 120 kW of thermal energy, operating on natural gas, and will cut the dealership’s CO2 emissions by up to 60%. The power plant is expected to pay back the -1 million (US$1.3 million) investment within six or seven years. The purchase and installation was managed by N2telligence GmbH (www.n2telligence.com), which specialises in sustainable energy and fire protection solutions [FCB, June 2011, p9]. Fuji Electric (www.fujielectric.com) is targeting fuel cell sales of ¥1 billion ($12 million) in Europe within two years [FCB, March 2012, p6]. Initially the company will assemble the products in Japan, but it aims to increase the procurement of foreign-made parts, and eventually begin manufacturing outside Japan. The company also plans to expand sales of a fuel cell system that would provide electric power to hospitals or data centres under emergency conditions. The ¥65 million ($840 000) system usually operates on city (natural) gas, but can switch in just 30 s to propane if the city gas supply is cut.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7