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FuelCell Energy takes MTU fuel cell assets, prepares venture with Fraunhofer IKTS
fUelCELLS BULLETIN
www.fuelcellsbulletin.com
ISSN 1464-2859 May October 20122010
FuelCell Energy acquires MTU fuel cell assets, prepares joint venture with Fraunhofer IKTS
U
S-based FuelCell Energy is acquiring the fuel cell component inventory and fuel cell manufacturing equipment of the former MTU Onsite Energy GmbH in Germany. FuelCell Energy is also working to finalise the establishment of its European joint venture with the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) by the end of June [FCB, February 2012, p1]. FuelCell Energy’s German subsidiary, FuelCell Energy Solutions GmbH, is acquiring selected assets from MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH, a subsidiary of Tognum AG. The specified assets include the fuel cell component inventory and fuel cell manufacturing equipment of the former MTU Onsite Energy GmbH Fuel Cell Systems subsidiary in Ottobrunn, which was merged with MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH [FCB, January 2011, p1]. Parties to the agreement include FuelCell Energy Inc in Connecticut, FuelCell Energy Solutions GmbH, MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH, and Fraunhofer IKTS. Under the agreement, MTU will contribute fuel cell related intellectual property to Fraunhofer IKTS, which will become a minority owner in FuelCell Energy Solutions (FCES) by 30 June. FCES, based in Germany, will develop the market for stationary fuel cell power plants in Europe for commercial, industrial, and utilityscale applications. ‘This agreement and the ramp-up of FCES will enable cost effective large-scale fuel cell technology to become available today, for commercial applications throughout Europe,’ says Chip Bottone, president and CEO of FuelCell Energy. ‘We are building on the strength and leadership shown by the vision of the German government, and bringing the experience which comes from over 180 MW of commercial installations and order backlog worldwide.’ The scope of FuelCell Energy Solutions GmbH will include the continuation of research to further enhance carbonate fuel cell technology.
This will combine the strength of FCE’s Direct FuelCell power plants and the carbonate ‘EuroCell’ technology of MTU, which will be licensed into FCES by Fraunhofer IKTS. Local manufacturing capacity will be established at a facility formerly leased by MTU in Ottobrunn, near Munich, thus keeping advanced technology fuel cell power plant manufacturing in Germany. In addition, FuelCell Energy will execute its business activities for the larger European Served Area from the FCES base of operations in Dresden and Ottobrunn, utilising locally hired sales, service, engineering, and manufacturing personnel. It is anticipated that FuelCell Energy Solutions will enter into service agreements with existing MTU fuel cell customers. Fraunhofer IKTS will contribute certain assets to the joint venture, including the use of intellectual property as well as its expertise and extensive R&D capabilities with fuel cells and materials science. MTU and FuelCell Energy have previously maintained various license agreements relating to fuel cell technology, including a two-way license related to balance-of-plant technology, and a license from FCE to MTU related to core fuel cell technology. MTU developed and sold stationary fuel cell power plants in Europe utilising Direct FuelCell (DFC®) carbonate technology and DFC components manufactured by FuelCell Energy at its plant in Torrington, Connecticut. MTU assembled and stacked the DFC components and added the mechanical and electrical balance-ofplant. The agreements expired at the end of 2009. DFC power plants – installed in more than 50 locations worldwide – are fuel-flexible, capable of operating on natural gas or renewable biogas. An overall system efficiency of up to 90% can be achieved when the DFC plant is configured for combined heat and power (CHP) applications. FuelCell Energy: www.fuelcellenergy.com MTU Onsite Energy: www.mtu-online.com/mtuonsiteenergy
Contents Contents NEWS FuelCell Energy takes MTU fuel cell assets, prepares venture with Fraunhofer IKTS
1
ROAD VEHICLES FTA’s $13m for US fuel cell bus projects
2
Proterra fuel cell bus arrives in Austin
3
MOBILE APPLICATIONS DOE funds fuel cell airport baggage trucks
3
Crown builds on fuel cell forklift initiatives
4
DESTA project for Euro SOFC truck APU
4
Ultra Electronics AMI for TARDEC UGVs
4
Insitu flies fuel cell ScanEagle UAV
5
SMALL STATIONARY Ceramic Fuel Cells products pass 1m hours
5
Ceres, Itho-Daalderop for Benelux market
6
ZBT evaluates JX home SOFC for Germany
6
Tropical natural gas home systems to Aspate
6
ClearEdge unit in renovated San Diego hotel
7
CFCL applauds German mCHP subsidy
7
Ballard, IdaTech for telecom stack supply
7
Milestones for VN Tech’s backup power
8
SFC Energy, Rittal for integrated solutions
8
LARGE STATIONARY POSCO Energy completes FuelCell Energy deal
8
Bloom gets East Coast expansion under way
9
UTC PureCell powers News Corp, UConn
9
FUELLING ReliOn, Hy9 work on methanol processor ITM approval for HFuel, HBox Solar
9 10
COMMERCIALISATION Ballard, Anglo American push SA fuel cells
10
Hydrogenics HyPM HD90 heavy-duty unit
10
ZBT, Fraunhofer, Next Energy certification
11
RESEARCH Panasonic European fuel cell R&D in Cardiff
11
NEWS FEATURES Anglo American fuel cell mine locomotive in South Africa
12
AC Transit unveils Linde solar hydrogen fuelling in California
13
Wind-hydrogen used for first time at vehicle fuelling station in Germany
14
REGULARS Editorial News In Brief Research Trends Patents Events Calendar
3 5, 11 15 16–19 20
ISSN 1464-2859/12 1464-2859/10 © 2012 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by Elsevier Ltd, and the following terms and conditions apply to their use: Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying, including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Special rates are available for educational institutions that wish to make photocopies for non-profit educational classroom use.
www.fuelcellsbulletin.com
ISSN 1464-2859 May October 20122010
FuelCell Energy acquires MTU fuel cell assets, prepares joint venture with Fraunhofer IKTS
U
S-based FuelCell Energy is acquiring the fuel cell component inventory and fuel cell manufacturing equipment of the former MTU Onsite Energy GmbH in Germany. FuelCell Energy is also working to finalise the establishment of its European joint venture with the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) by the end of June [FCB, February 2012, p1]. FuelCell Energy’s German subsidiary, FuelCell Energy Solutions GmbH, is acquiring selected assets from MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH, a subsidiary of Tognum AG. The specified assets include the fuel cell component inventory and fuel cell manufacturing equipment of the former MTU Onsite Energy GmbH Fuel Cell Systems subsidiary in Ottobrunn, which was merged with MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH [FCB, January 2011, p1]. Parties to the agreement include FuelCell Energy Inc in Connecticut, FuelCell Energy Solutions GmbH, MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH, and Fraunhofer IKTS. Under the agreement, MTU will contribute fuel cell related intellectual property to Fraunhofer IKTS, which will become a minority owner in FuelCell Energy Solutions (FCES) by 30 June. FCES, based in Germany, will develop the market for stationary fuel cell power plants in Europe for commercial, industrial, and utilityscale applications. ‘This agreement and the ramp-up of FCES will enable cost effective large-scale fuel cell technology to become available today, for commercial applications throughout Europe,’ says Chip Bottone, president and CEO of FuelCell Energy. ‘We are building on the strength and leadership shown by the vision of the German government, and bringing the experience which comes from over 180 MW of commercial installations and order backlog worldwide.’ The scope of FuelCell Energy Solutions GmbH will include the continuation of research to further enhance carbonate fuel cell technology.
This will combine the strength of FCE’s Direct FuelCell power plants and the carbonate ‘EuroCell’ technology of MTU, which will be licensed into FCES by Fraunhofer IKTS. Local manufacturing capacity will be established at a facility formerly leased by MTU in Ottobrunn, near Munich, thus keeping advanced technology fuel cell power plant manufacturing in Germany. In addition, FuelCell Energy will execute its business activities for the larger European Served Area from the FCES base of operations in Dresden and Ottobrunn, utilising locally hired sales, service, engineering, and manufacturing personnel. It is anticipated that FuelCell Energy Solutions will enter into service agreements with existing MTU fuel cell customers. Fraunhofer IKTS will contribute certain assets to the joint venture, including the use of intellectual property as well as its expertise and extensive R&D capabilities with fuel cells and materials science. MTU and FuelCell Energy have previously maintained various license agreements relating to fuel cell technology, including a two-way license related to balance-of-plant technology, and a license from FCE to MTU related to core fuel cell technology. MTU developed and sold stationary fuel cell power plants in Europe utilising Direct FuelCell (DFC®) carbonate technology and DFC components manufactured by FuelCell Energy at its plant in Torrington, Connecticut. MTU assembled and stacked the DFC components and added the mechanical and electrical balance-ofplant. The agreements expired at the end of 2009. DFC power plants – installed in more than 50 locations worldwide – are fuel-flexible, capable of operating on natural gas or renewable biogas. An overall system efficiency of up to 90% can be achieved when the DFC plant is configured for combined heat and power (CHP) applications. FuelCell Energy: www.fuelcellenergy.com MTU Onsite Energy: www.mtu-online.com/mtuonsiteenergy
Contents Contents NEWS FuelCell Energy takes MTU fuel cell assets, prepares venture with Fraunhofer IKTS
1
ROAD VEHICLES FTA’s $13m for US fuel cell bus projects
2
Proterra fuel cell bus arrives in Austin
3
MOBILE APPLICATIONS DOE funds fuel cell airport baggage trucks
3
Crown builds on fuel cell forklift initiatives
4
DESTA project for Euro SOFC truck APU
4
Ultra Electronics AMI for TARDEC UGVs
4
Insitu flies fuel cell ScanEagle UAV
5
SMALL STATIONARY Ceramic Fuel Cells products pass 1m hours
5
Ceres, Itho-Daalderop for Benelux market
6
ZBT evaluates JX home SOFC for Germany
6
Tropical natural gas home systems to Aspate
6
ClearEdge unit in renovated San Diego hotel
7
CFCL applauds German mCHP subsidy
7
Ballard, IdaTech for telecom stack supply
7
Milestones for VN Tech’s backup power
8
SFC Energy, Rittal for integrated solutions
8
LARGE STATIONARY POSCO Energy completes FuelCell Energy deal
8
Bloom gets East Coast expansion under way
9
UTC PureCell powers News Corp, UConn
9
FUELLING ReliOn, Hy9 work on methanol processor ITM approval for HFuel, HBox Solar
9 10
COMMERCIALISATION Ballard, Anglo American push SA fuel cells
10
Hydrogenics HyPM HD90 heavy-duty unit
10
ZBT, Fraunhofer, Next Energy certification
11
RESEARCH Panasonic European fuel cell R&D in Cardiff
11
NEWS FEATURES Anglo American fuel cell mine locomotive in South Africa
12
AC Transit unveils Linde solar hydrogen fuelling in California
13
Wind-hydrogen used for first time at vehicle fuelling station in Germany
14
REGULARS Editorial News In Brief Research Trends Patents Events Calendar
3 5, 11 15 16–19 20
ISSN 1464-2859/12 1464-2859/10 © 2012 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved This journal and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by Elsevier Ltd, and the following terms and conditions apply to their use: Photocopying Single photocopies of single articles may be made for personal use as allowed by national copyright laws. Permission of the publisher and payment of a fee is required for all other photocopying, including multiple or systematic copying, copying for advertising or promotional purposes, resale, and all forms of document delivery. Special rates are available for educational institutions that wish to make photocopies for non-profit educational classroom use.