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Haldor Topsoe plans to close Topsoe Fuel Cell
fUelCELLS BULLETIN
www.fuelcellsbulletin.com
ISSN 1464-2859 August October 2014 2010
Haldor Topsoe plans to close Topsoe Fuel Cell
D
anish catalysis group Haldor Topsoe has announced that it will close Topsoe Fuel Cell (TOFC), a subsidiary focused on the development and commercialisation of components and technology for solid oxide fuel cells. Haldor Topsoe will put all development of its SOFC technology on hold, and focus on the development of selected applications in solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) development. Activities related to this specific area will be moved to Haldor Topsoe during the second half of 2014. ‘We believe focusing on SOEC and merging the activities with the extensive competencies of the mother company is the right path forward, with the prospect of commercialising concrete products within a relatively short time frame,’ explains Bjerne S. Clausen, CEO of Haldor Topsoe. ‘By narrowing our focus and integrating the knowhow in the two companies, we can leverage the technology and knowledge gained through decades of fuel cell research – however, with a significant scale-down of the investment level needed.’ Haldor Topsoe expects that the closure will make 90 of the 117 employees at TOFC redundant. Mandatory negotiations around the redundancies have begun between management and TOFC employee representatives. ‘Over the years we have invested close to DKK1.5 billion (E200 million, US$270 million) in commercialising our technology,
but the route to market has proven far more challenging and time-consuming than anticipated,’ says Clausen. ‘As the sole owner of Topsoe Fuel Cell, we can no longer justify the investments and risk needed to move the company forward. SOFC remains a challenging technology, and significant additional investments are needed. In addition, future success is highly dependent on the evolution of regulation, energy costs, and markets.’ Ironically, Topsoe Fuel Cell recently announced that it has installed its first micro combined heat and power (CHP) unit, and brought it into operation under field conditions in the southern part of Jutland. TOFC provided its PowerCore system, comprising the SOFC stack and fuel processing components, with Dantherm Power – the Danish subsidiary of Ballard Power Systems – responsible for integration and final systems design, as well as operation and maintenance. This installation was under the Danish micro CHP project, which aims to demonstrate the technology outside the lab and involve real consumers, under real field conditions. It is unclear what will happen next with this field trial.
NEWS
Topsoe Fuel Cell, Lyngby, Denmark. Tel: +45 4527 2000, www.topsoefuelcell.com Haldor Topsoe: www.topsoe.com
oosan Fuel Cell America Inc (Doosan FC), the new subsidiary of the Korean-based industrial conglomerate Doosan Corporation following its acquisition of ClearEdge Power last month [FCB, July 2014, p5], has confirmed that it is establishing its headquarters in South Windsor, Connecticut. The company will focus primarily on the 400 kW stationary phosphoric acid fuel cell products (PureCell Model 400) that ClearEdge Power acquired from UTC Power in
Haldor Topsoe plans to close Topsoe Fuel Cell
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1
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ENERGY STORAGE Hydrogenics 2 MW Ontario energy storage unit
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Dantherm Power: www.dantherm-power.com Danish micro CHP project: www.dmkv.dk (in Danish)
Doosan FC targets success from Connecticut HQ
D
Contents Contents
early 2013 [FCB, January 2013, p8]. According to Jeff Chung, CEO of the newly formed Doosan Fuel Cell Group, Doosan FC plans to add hundreds of employees to its Connecticut-based operation. Doosan FC – which also includes Korean-based FuelCellPower – will focus on the fast-growing market for stationary fuel cells for residential and commercial building applications. Chung will drive the Doosan fuel cell operations in the US and Korea from the Connecticut facility. Doosan Fuel Cell America: www.doosanfuelcellamerica.com
COMMERCIALISATION Intelligent Energy fuel cell engine tech for OEM
9
ElringKlinger controls New Enerday for SOFCs
10
Mitsubishi Hitachi, NGK to produce SOFC stacks
10
RESEARCH European FCH 2 JU launched, 2014 projects call
10
Rochester funding for prototype residential unit
11
FEATURE Towards 40 000 hours of operation for Nedstack’s FCS XXL PEM fuel cell stacks
12–15
REGULARS Editorial News In Brief Patents Events Calendar
3 5, 11 16–19 20
ISSN 1464-2859/14 1464-2859/10 © 2014 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 August October 2014 2010
Haldor Topsoe plans to close Topsoe Fuel Cell
D
anish catalysis group Haldor Topsoe has announced that it will close Topsoe Fuel Cell (TOFC), a subsidiary focused on the development and commercialisation of components and technology for solid oxide fuel cells. Haldor Topsoe will put all development of its SOFC technology on hold, and focus on the development of selected applications in solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) development. Activities related to this specific area will be moved to Haldor Topsoe during the second half of 2014. ‘We believe focusing on SOEC and merging the activities with the extensive competencies of the mother company is the right path forward, with the prospect of commercialising concrete products within a relatively short time frame,’ explains Bjerne S. Clausen, CEO of Haldor Topsoe. ‘By narrowing our focus and integrating the knowhow in the two companies, we can leverage the technology and knowledge gained through decades of fuel cell research – however, with a significant scale-down of the investment level needed.’ Haldor Topsoe expects that the closure will make 90 of the 117 employees at TOFC redundant. Mandatory negotiations around the redundancies have begun between management and TOFC employee representatives. ‘Over the years we have invested close to DKK1.5 billion (E200 million, US$270 million) in commercialising our technology,
but the route to market has proven far more challenging and time-consuming than anticipated,’ says Clausen. ‘As the sole owner of Topsoe Fuel Cell, we can no longer justify the investments and risk needed to move the company forward. SOFC remains a challenging technology, and significant additional investments are needed. In addition, future success is highly dependent on the evolution of regulation, energy costs, and markets.’ Ironically, Topsoe Fuel Cell recently announced that it has installed its first micro combined heat and power (CHP) unit, and brought it into operation under field conditions in the southern part of Jutland. TOFC provided its PowerCore system, comprising the SOFC stack and fuel processing components, with Dantherm Power – the Danish subsidiary of Ballard Power Systems – responsible for integration and final systems design, as well as operation and maintenance. This installation was under the Danish micro CHP project, which aims to demonstrate the technology outside the lab and involve real consumers, under real field conditions. It is unclear what will happen next with this field trial.
NEWS
Topsoe Fuel Cell, Lyngby, Denmark. Tel: +45 4527 2000, www.topsoefuelcell.com Haldor Topsoe: www.topsoe.com
oosan Fuel Cell America Inc (Doosan FC), the new subsidiary of the Korean-based industrial conglomerate Doosan Corporation following its acquisition of ClearEdge Power last month [FCB, July 2014, p5], has confirmed that it is establishing its headquarters in South Windsor, Connecticut. The company will focus primarily on the 400 kW stationary phosphoric acid fuel cell products (PureCell Model 400) that ClearEdge Power acquired from UTC Power in
Haldor Topsoe plans to close Topsoe Fuel Cell
1
Doosan Fuel Cell America plans big for success
1
ROAD VEHICLES Ballard module for bus at New Flyer Industries
2
MOBILE APPLICATIONS Plug Power orders from Walmart, Ace Hardware
2
SMALL STATIONARY Acta partnership with Dantherm, Australian sale
3
Ballard, Amplats trial home generator in rural SA
3
SFC’s EFOY Pro to power wind turbine lights
4
LARGE STATIONARY Germany funds FuelCell Energy Solutions R&D
4
AFC Energy deals for Korean stationary systems
5
Bloom, Exelon to finance 21 MW of projects
5
FCE second 2.8 MW site in CT, NRG financing
6
FUELING Air Liquide hydrogen station first for France region
6
Air Products expands trailer fleet, station upgrade
7
More California forecourts can provide hydrogen
7
SAE J2601 standard is FCEV fueling global basis
7
NIST prototype meter test for hydrogen stations
8
McPhy, GKN deploy solid-state hydrogen storage
8
Hy9 hydrogen generator for power on methanol
9
ENERGY STORAGE Hydrogenics 2 MW Ontario energy storage unit
9
Dantherm Power: www.dantherm-power.com Danish micro CHP project: www.dmkv.dk (in Danish)
Doosan FC targets success from Connecticut HQ
D
Contents Contents
early 2013 [FCB, January 2013, p8]. According to Jeff Chung, CEO of the newly formed Doosan Fuel Cell Group, Doosan FC plans to add hundreds of employees to its Connecticut-based operation. Doosan FC – which also includes Korean-based FuelCellPower – will focus on the fast-growing market for stationary fuel cells for residential and commercial building applications. Chung will drive the Doosan fuel cell operations in the US and Korea from the Connecticut facility. Doosan Fuel Cell America: www.doosanfuelcellamerica.com
COMMERCIALISATION Intelligent Energy fuel cell engine tech for OEM
9
ElringKlinger controls New Enerday for SOFCs
10
Mitsubishi Hitachi, NGK to produce SOFC stacks
10
RESEARCH European FCH 2 JU launched, 2014 projects call
10
Rochester funding for prototype residential unit
11
FEATURE Towards 40 000 hours of operation for Nedstack’s FCS XXL PEM fuel cell stacks
12–15
REGULARS Editorial News In Brief Patents Events Calendar
3 5, 11 16–19 20
ISSN 1464-2859/14 1464-2859/10 © 2014 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.