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IdaTech order adds to Indonesia telecoms backup
fUelCELLS BULLETIN
www.fuelcellsbulletin.com
ISSN 1464-2859 August 2010
Horizon goes commercial with fuel cell for UAVs
S
ingapore-based Horizon Energy Systems has begun commercial sales of its new Aeropak™ hydrogen fuel cell power system, with shipments to some of the world’s leading manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The PEM fuel cell unit is designed to triple flight durations compared with existing battery-operated 5–10 kg class mini-UAVs. Horizon Energy Systems has made a significant leap forward by turning its ultralight PEM fuel cell system technologies into a practical and commercial product ready for use in UAVs. Battery-powered electric motors only allow mini-UAVs to stay airborne for an hour or two, but Horizon’s Aeropak technology enables the same mini-UAVs to stay airborne for 8–10 h at a time, without increasing takeoff weight. This capability offers the possibility of conducting multiple missions in a single takeoff, which offers significant savings on logistical and operational costs. ‘The Aeropak is no longer a proof of concept, a benchtop demonstrator, or a one-off working prototype,’ says Gareth Tang, MD of
Horizon Energy Systems. ‘It is a field-tested airborne system with a high degree of reliability, and we are already taking orders from a number of world-leading UAV market participants.’ The Aeropak integrates Horizon’s advanced fuel cell technology with easy to use, dry-fuel chemical hydride cartridges. Storing 900 Wh of usable electrical energy and weighing just 2 kg (4.4 lb), the all-inclusive Aeropak is simple, reliable, and can be fully operational within minutes. Prior to the completion of the commercial Aeropak, Horizon demonstrated its capabilities through a series of pioneering fuel cell flights, which included HyFish, a 1 kW fuel cell powered jetwing UAV integrated by the DLR German Aerospace Center [FCB, December 2007], and the Pterosoar development which set a distance world record in late 2007 [FCB, January 2008]. Last fall BlueBird Aero Systems unveiled the first commercial fuel cell UAV, the Boomerang, powered by a Horizon PEM fuel cell [FCB, October 2009]. Horizon will officially unveil the commercial Aeropak at AUVSI, the world’s largest UAV trade show, in Denver, Colorado in late August. Horizon Energy Systems, Singapore. Tel: +65 6872 9588, www.hes.sg
IdaTech order adds to Indonesia telecoms backup
U
S-based IdaTech has received a further order for its PEM fuel cell systems for use in backup power applications in Indonesia. As part of this Phase III rollout, IdaTech has received an order for 154 ElectraGen™ fuel cell systems from its local partner, Cascadiant. Solutions integrator Cascadiant has been awarded the Phase III expansion contract to install and support the ElectraGen fuel cell systems. Cascadiant has successfully installed more than 100 fuel cell systems with several wireless operators across Indonesia. IdaTech will supply systems for deployment on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Lombok. The initial ElectraGen fuel cell installations have already demonstrated a significant increase
in network availability and performance [FCB, May 2010]. These latest deployments are a continuation of Cascadiant’s objective to install fuel cells on wireless networks, increasing availability in regions with unreliable or limited grid power while reducing the industry’s carbon footprint. ‘Fuel cells are becoming increasingly popular among network operators, because they are significantly cleaner and quieter than diesel generators, reduce the number of batteries required at telecom sites, and are less likely to be involved in theft,’ explains Marshall Towe, president/CEO of Cascadiant. IdaTech LLC, Bend, Oregon, USA. Tel: +1 541 383 3390, www.idatech.com Cascadiant: www.cascadiant.com
Contents NEWS
Horizon’s commercial fuel cell for UAVs IdaTech boosts Indonesia telecoms backup
1 1
ROAD VEHICLES
UTC Power bus system proves durability NTU, Tsinghua for Singapore hybrid bus
2 2
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
Oorja powers US Foodservice pallet jacks Plug, Ballard extend supply forklift deal IRD, AVL to develop 500 W mini APU
3 3 3
SMALL STATIONARY
Harvey Norman to sell CFCL’s BlueGen Ceres continues CHP progress, field trials Afrox, Diverse Energy for Africa telecoms AFC, Linc deploy Australian alkaline unit Helion improves PEMFCs for renewables Fuel cell power for Latitude, Glastonbury
4 4 5 5 6 6
LARGE STATIONARY
Chattanooga unveils 100 kW Bloom Box Air Products, AFC plan waste-to-energy
6 7
PORTABLE & MICRO
UltraCell ships Snorkel unit to US military UNF gets $9m for laptop DMFC research
7 7
FUELING
Air Products for dual-pressure mobile H2 Acta for Italian service station hydrogen
8 8
COMMERCIALIZATION
CFCL licenses coatings tech to NexTech SFC EFOY available from Arcona Yachts McPhy gets funding for hydrogen storage Hydrogenics for Ontario grid stabilization UK fuel cell, hydrogen associations merge SOFC with heated plates for rapid startup
9 9 9 10 10 10
RESEARCH
Topsoe, Risø DTU grant for SOFC project 10 US academies support continuing research 11 FEATURE
Associations provide industry coordination and outreach in North America 12–15 REGULARS
Editorial News In Brief Research Trends Patents Events Calendar
3 5, 11 15 16–19 20
ISSN 1464-2859/10 © 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 2010
Horizon goes commercial with fuel cell for UAVs
S
ingapore-based Horizon Energy Systems has begun commercial sales of its new Aeropak™ hydrogen fuel cell power system, with shipments to some of the world’s leading manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The PEM fuel cell unit is designed to triple flight durations compared with existing battery-operated 5–10 kg class mini-UAVs. Horizon Energy Systems has made a significant leap forward by turning its ultralight PEM fuel cell system technologies into a practical and commercial product ready for use in UAVs. Battery-powered electric motors only allow mini-UAVs to stay airborne for an hour or two, but Horizon’s Aeropak technology enables the same mini-UAVs to stay airborne for 8–10 h at a time, without increasing takeoff weight. This capability offers the possibility of conducting multiple missions in a single takeoff, which offers significant savings on logistical and operational costs. ‘The Aeropak is no longer a proof of concept, a benchtop demonstrator, or a one-off working prototype,’ says Gareth Tang, MD of
Horizon Energy Systems. ‘It is a field-tested airborne system with a high degree of reliability, and we are already taking orders from a number of world-leading UAV market participants.’ The Aeropak integrates Horizon’s advanced fuel cell technology with easy to use, dry-fuel chemical hydride cartridges. Storing 900 Wh of usable electrical energy and weighing just 2 kg (4.4 lb), the all-inclusive Aeropak is simple, reliable, and can be fully operational within minutes. Prior to the completion of the commercial Aeropak, Horizon demonstrated its capabilities through a series of pioneering fuel cell flights, which included HyFish, a 1 kW fuel cell powered jetwing UAV integrated by the DLR German Aerospace Center [FCB, December 2007], and the Pterosoar development which set a distance world record in late 2007 [FCB, January 2008]. Last fall BlueBird Aero Systems unveiled the first commercial fuel cell UAV, the Boomerang, powered by a Horizon PEM fuel cell [FCB, October 2009]. Horizon will officially unveil the commercial Aeropak at AUVSI, the world’s largest UAV trade show, in Denver, Colorado in late August. Horizon Energy Systems, Singapore. Tel: +65 6872 9588, www.hes.sg
IdaTech order adds to Indonesia telecoms backup
U
S-based IdaTech has received a further order for its PEM fuel cell systems for use in backup power applications in Indonesia. As part of this Phase III rollout, IdaTech has received an order for 154 ElectraGen™ fuel cell systems from its local partner, Cascadiant. Solutions integrator Cascadiant has been awarded the Phase III expansion contract to install and support the ElectraGen fuel cell systems. Cascadiant has successfully installed more than 100 fuel cell systems with several wireless operators across Indonesia. IdaTech will supply systems for deployment on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Lombok. The initial ElectraGen fuel cell installations have already demonstrated a significant increase
in network availability and performance [FCB, May 2010]. These latest deployments are a continuation of Cascadiant’s objective to install fuel cells on wireless networks, increasing availability in regions with unreliable or limited grid power while reducing the industry’s carbon footprint. ‘Fuel cells are becoming increasingly popular among network operators, because they are significantly cleaner and quieter than diesel generators, reduce the number of batteries required at telecom sites, and are less likely to be involved in theft,’ explains Marshall Towe, president/CEO of Cascadiant. IdaTech LLC, Bend, Oregon, USA. Tel: +1 541 383 3390, www.idatech.com Cascadiant: www.cascadiant.com
Contents NEWS
Horizon’s commercial fuel cell for UAVs IdaTech boosts Indonesia telecoms backup
1 1
ROAD VEHICLES
UTC Power bus system proves durability NTU, Tsinghua for Singapore hybrid bus
2 2
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
Oorja powers US Foodservice pallet jacks Plug, Ballard extend supply forklift deal IRD, AVL to develop 500 W mini APU
3 3 3
SMALL STATIONARY
Harvey Norman to sell CFCL’s BlueGen Ceres continues CHP progress, field trials Afrox, Diverse Energy for Africa telecoms AFC, Linc deploy Australian alkaline unit Helion improves PEMFCs for renewables Fuel cell power for Latitude, Glastonbury
4 4 5 5 6 6
LARGE STATIONARY
Chattanooga unveils 100 kW Bloom Box Air Products, AFC plan waste-to-energy
6 7
PORTABLE & MICRO
UltraCell ships Snorkel unit to US military UNF gets $9m for laptop DMFC research
7 7
FUELING
Air Products for dual-pressure mobile H2 Acta for Italian service station hydrogen
8 8
COMMERCIALIZATION
CFCL licenses coatings tech to NexTech SFC EFOY available from Arcona Yachts McPhy gets funding for hydrogen storage Hydrogenics for Ontario grid stabilization UK fuel cell, hydrogen associations merge SOFC with heated plates for rapid startup
9 9 9 10 10 10
RESEARCH
Topsoe, Risø DTU grant for SOFC project 10 US academies support continuing research 11 FEATURE
Associations provide industry coordination and outreach in North America 12–15 REGULARS
Editorial News In Brief Research Trends Patents Events Calendar
3 5, 11 15 16–19 20
ISSN 1464-2859/10 © 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.