- Email: [email protected]
Greenlight acquisition launches automated assembly test division
NEWS
Greenlight acquisition launches automated assembly test division
Adelan PowerCell for clean mobile energy using micro SOFC
B
C-based Greenlight Innovation has announced the acquisition of Commonwealth Automation Technologies Inc (CATI), a leading supplier of manufacturing equipment to the fuel cell and battery industries. The agreement combines the manufacturing automation experience of CATI with Greenlight’s global presence in test equipment. This alliance will be the foundation for Greenlight’s newly created Automation Division, which will offer turnkey automated assembly and testing solutions to customers in the fuel cell, battery, and manufacturing industries. The Automation Division will serve these industries by implementing advanced manufacturing production processes, allowing customers to reduce manufacturing costs and improve quality control. ‘This strengthens Greenlight’s position as a world leading supplier of advanced testing and assembly solutions for the alternative energy industry,’ says its president, Ross Bailey. ‘As our customers evolve from R&D to production, we can provide them tailored solutions to meet their manufacturing requirements.’ Greenlight Automation Division’s products will include leak testing fixtures, electrode testing equipment, optical inspection and measuring stations, pick-and-place assembly equipment, electrode cutting and measuring equipment, winders, laser and resistance welders, fixturing and tooling including progressive dies, cap crimping machines, electrolyte wetting machines, conveyors, handling machinery, cell testers, pack testers, laminators, slitters/rewinders, coating machines, data collection systems, and equipment for every facet of lithium cell production. Greenlight Innovation is a leading global supplier of testing and diagnostic equipment to the fuel cell, hydrogen, and battery industries, with sales and service throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. The company designs and manufactures automated test equipment for low- and high-temperature fuel cells, reformers, electrolysers, fuel cell systems as well as electric vehicle and hybrid EV batteries. Its line of equipment for electrochemical cell and fuel cell stack testing ranges in power from 5 W to 250 kW.
U
Greenlight Innovation, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 676 4000, www.greenlightinnovation.com
European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking: www.fch-ju.eu
CATI: www.comautotech.com
SAPIENS project: www.sapiens-project.eu
April 2014
K-based Adelan has launched its PowerCell mobile fuel cell product, which can provide power for vehicles, offices, homes, and even smartphones. The company’s microtubular solid oxide fuel cell (mSOFC) technology runs on LPG (propane), liquefied natural gas (LNG) or methane, and can provide more than 3000 h of power generation at up to 300 W. ‘Typically, government and military have been key early adopters for mobile energy technologies – but with growing environmental, regulatory and energy security concerns, commercial organisations are increasingly seeing the opportunities presented by portable power,’ explains Dr Michaela Kendall, research scientist at Adelan. ‘Unmanned airborne vehicles (UAVs), recreational vehicles (RVs), and micro combined heat and power (mCHP) have all emerged in recent years as key niche markets.’ The PowerCell was launched at the recent 10th International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Conference in Birmingham. Adelan was established by Michaela Kendall and Professor Kevin Kendall, to develop and commercialise the patented mSOFC technology. The company has partnerships with industrial, academic and government customers such as the University of Birmingham, UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the International Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies (UNIDO-ICHET) in Turkey, and the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. It is now collecting data on system lifetimes in the field and making progressive product improvements. Adelan is coordinating the FCH JU-funded SAPIENS project (SOFC Auxiliary Power In Emissions/Noise Solutions), to design and build mSOFC stacks for integration into hybrid power systems comprising a fuel cell, battery, and appliances in a recreational vehicle. These run on propane, which has superior energy density to hydrogen and methanol, and is the preferred fuel for RV auxiliary systems such as cookers, refrigerators, and water heaters.
Adelan Ltd, Birmingham, UK. Tel: +44 121 427 8033, www.adelan.co.uk
IN BRIEF Hydrogenics powers Hawaii base outage A US Air Force Research Laboratory project demonstrated its capabilities during a power outage at Joint Air and Naval Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) in Hawaii in early December. A containerised 100 kW PEM fuel cell backup power solution commissioned by Hydrogenics (www.hydrogenics.com) quickly engaged to power designated areas during the outage, which lasted for nearly 12 h [FCB, November 2012, p6]. The system enabled continued operation of the Hickam Hydrogen Station, providing for the hydrogen vehicle fleet at JBPHH [FCB, March 2012, p2]. New Topsoe testing centre in operation Danish solid oxide fuel cell developer Topsoe Fuel Cell (TOFC, www.topsoefuelcell.com) recently opened the Topsoe Test Center (TTC). The 800 m2 (8600 sq ft) TTC was constructed over the last year in a building adjacent to the company’s existing production and development facilities on parent company Haldor Topsøe’s campus in Lyngby, near Copenhagen. Previously TOFC has utilised test units at different internal and external locations. The objective now is to group all R&D test equipment in one location. The DKK40 million (US$7.4 million) TTC, with the latest testing equipment technology, will also allocate sufficient space and installations for further expansion. The TTC will provide Topsoe with new opportunities for testing different configurations of its core products – SOFC stacks and stack modules – as well as the promising solid oxide electrolyser cell (SOEC) technology. FCH JU study on water electrolysis in EU The European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU, www.fch-ju.eu) has published a study on the development of water electrolysis in the European Union. The report, compiled by consultancies E4tech and Element Energy, aims to get a better understanding of the industrial perspectives on water electrolysis in Europe, and the role of public support. The study includes a critical analysis of data provided by the main electrolyser producers worldwide, and the perspectives of technological improvements for related technologies. This is coupled to a techno-economic analysis of two extreme situations at European scale with regard to electricity costs evolution and the contribution of renewable energy sources in the energy mix to 2030. The study also provides suggestions for preparing the 2014–2020 work programme for ‘FCH 2 JU’ under the EU’s Horizon 2020 research framework [FCB, August 2013, p10]. FCH JU water electrolysis report (PDF, 3.7 MB): http://tinyurl.com/fchju-electrolysis
Fuel Cells Bulletin
11
Greenlight acquisition launches automated assembly test division
Adelan PowerCell for clean mobile energy using micro SOFC
B
C-based Greenlight Innovation has announced the acquisition of Commonwealth Automation Technologies Inc (CATI), a leading supplier of manufacturing equipment to the fuel cell and battery industries. The agreement combines the manufacturing automation experience of CATI with Greenlight’s global presence in test equipment. This alliance will be the foundation for Greenlight’s newly created Automation Division, which will offer turnkey automated assembly and testing solutions to customers in the fuel cell, battery, and manufacturing industries. The Automation Division will serve these industries by implementing advanced manufacturing production processes, allowing customers to reduce manufacturing costs and improve quality control. ‘This strengthens Greenlight’s position as a world leading supplier of advanced testing and assembly solutions for the alternative energy industry,’ says its president, Ross Bailey. ‘As our customers evolve from R&D to production, we can provide them tailored solutions to meet their manufacturing requirements.’ Greenlight Automation Division’s products will include leak testing fixtures, electrode testing equipment, optical inspection and measuring stations, pick-and-place assembly equipment, electrode cutting and measuring equipment, winders, laser and resistance welders, fixturing and tooling including progressive dies, cap crimping machines, electrolyte wetting machines, conveyors, handling machinery, cell testers, pack testers, laminators, slitters/rewinders, coating machines, data collection systems, and equipment for every facet of lithium cell production. Greenlight Innovation is a leading global supplier of testing and diagnostic equipment to the fuel cell, hydrogen, and battery industries, with sales and service throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. The company designs and manufactures automated test equipment for low- and high-temperature fuel cells, reformers, electrolysers, fuel cell systems as well as electric vehicle and hybrid EV batteries. Its line of equipment for electrochemical cell and fuel cell stack testing ranges in power from 5 W to 250 kW.
U
Greenlight Innovation, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 676 4000, www.greenlightinnovation.com
European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking: www.fch-ju.eu
CATI: www.comautotech.com
SAPIENS project: www.sapiens-project.eu
April 2014
K-based Adelan has launched its PowerCell mobile fuel cell product, which can provide power for vehicles, offices, homes, and even smartphones. The company’s microtubular solid oxide fuel cell (mSOFC) technology runs on LPG (propane), liquefied natural gas (LNG) or methane, and can provide more than 3000 h of power generation at up to 300 W. ‘Typically, government and military have been key early adopters for mobile energy technologies – but with growing environmental, regulatory and energy security concerns, commercial organisations are increasingly seeing the opportunities presented by portable power,’ explains Dr Michaela Kendall, research scientist at Adelan. ‘Unmanned airborne vehicles (UAVs), recreational vehicles (RVs), and micro combined heat and power (mCHP) have all emerged in recent years as key niche markets.’ The PowerCell was launched at the recent 10th International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Conference in Birmingham. Adelan was established by Michaela Kendall and Professor Kevin Kendall, to develop and commercialise the patented mSOFC technology. The company has partnerships with industrial, academic and government customers such as the University of Birmingham, UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the International Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies (UNIDO-ICHET) in Turkey, and the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. It is now collecting data on system lifetimes in the field and making progressive product improvements. Adelan is coordinating the FCH JU-funded SAPIENS project (SOFC Auxiliary Power In Emissions/Noise Solutions), to design and build mSOFC stacks for integration into hybrid power systems comprising a fuel cell, battery, and appliances in a recreational vehicle. These run on propane, which has superior energy density to hydrogen and methanol, and is the preferred fuel for RV auxiliary systems such as cookers, refrigerators, and water heaters.
Adelan Ltd, Birmingham, UK. Tel: +44 121 427 8033, www.adelan.co.uk
IN BRIEF Hydrogenics powers Hawaii base outage A US Air Force Research Laboratory project demonstrated its capabilities during a power outage at Joint Air and Naval Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (JBPHH) in Hawaii in early December. A containerised 100 kW PEM fuel cell backup power solution commissioned by Hydrogenics (www.hydrogenics.com) quickly engaged to power designated areas during the outage, which lasted for nearly 12 h [FCB, November 2012, p6]. The system enabled continued operation of the Hickam Hydrogen Station, providing for the hydrogen vehicle fleet at JBPHH [FCB, March 2012, p2]. New Topsoe testing centre in operation Danish solid oxide fuel cell developer Topsoe Fuel Cell (TOFC, www.topsoefuelcell.com) recently opened the Topsoe Test Center (TTC). The 800 m2 (8600 sq ft) TTC was constructed over the last year in a building adjacent to the company’s existing production and development facilities on parent company Haldor Topsøe’s campus in Lyngby, near Copenhagen. Previously TOFC has utilised test units at different internal and external locations. The objective now is to group all R&D test equipment in one location. The DKK40 million (US$7.4 million) TTC, with the latest testing equipment technology, will also allocate sufficient space and installations for further expansion. The TTC will provide Topsoe with new opportunities for testing different configurations of its core products – SOFC stacks and stack modules – as well as the promising solid oxide electrolyser cell (SOEC) technology. FCH JU study on water electrolysis in EU The European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU, www.fch-ju.eu) has published a study on the development of water electrolysis in the European Union. The report, compiled by consultancies E4tech and Element Energy, aims to get a better understanding of the industrial perspectives on water electrolysis in Europe, and the role of public support. The study includes a critical analysis of data provided by the main electrolyser producers worldwide, and the perspectives of technological improvements for related technologies. This is coupled to a techno-economic analysis of two extreme situations at European scale with regard to electricity costs evolution and the contribution of renewable energy sources in the energy mix to 2030. The study also provides suggestions for preparing the 2014–2020 work programme for ‘FCH 2 JU’ under the EU’s Horizon 2020 research framework [FCB, August 2013, p10]. FCH JU water electrolysis report (PDF, 3.7 MB): http://tinyurl.com/fchju-electrolysis
Fuel Cells Bulletin
11