- Email: [email protected]
Intelligent Energy, Brookstone partner for US launch of Upp
NEWS Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd. ‘Our relationship leverages AFC Energy’s unique fuel cell technology with our proven technical expertise and project delivery capabilities in power generation and hydrogen production.’ AFC Energy, Cranleigh, Surrey, UK. Tel: +44 1483 276726, www.afcenergy.com Foster Wheeler, Global Engineering and Construction Group: www.fwc.com/who-we-are/Global-E-C-Group.aspx Power Up project: www.afcenergy.com/projects/powerup.aspx European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking: www.fch-ju.eu
available to military, government, and corporate clients [FCB, October 2012, p7]. ‘We have an outsourced manufacturing model for our technology, so the PowerChip product can be manufactured by fully depreciated, eight-to-10 generation old computer chip factories – so we could go to any of these older factories and have them manufacture our products,’ CEO Dr Chris D’Couto told The Wall Street Transcript. Neah Power Systems, Bothell, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 425 424 3324, www.neahpower.com BuzzBar: www.neahpower.com/buzzbar.html BuzzCell: www.neahpower.com/buzzcell.html
PORTABLE & MICRO
Neah Power launches BuzzBar and BuzzCell consumer chargers
Intelligent Energy, Brookstone partner for US launch of Upp
U
U
S-based Neah Power Systems has launched its new BuzzBar™ and BuzzCell™ products worldwide, available through its new website. These pocket-sized fuel cell power packs can recharge the batteries in consumer portable devices such as smart phones. The BuzzBar enables off-the-grid recharging of mobile consumer electronics using proprietary fuel cell (BuzzCell) technology. The BuzzCell incorporates key elements of recently acquired assets from Clean Tech Investors [FCB, December 2013, p8]. The BuzzBar can be recharged from a wall socket, another USB port, using a BuzzCell, or with the forthcoming BuzzBatt™ large stackable charger or BuzzSol™ solar charger devices. Consumers have access to a limited run of 500 first-generation BuzzBars on a first come, first served basis for $39.99. The BuzzCell is currently only available for evaluation, and Neah Power is running a contest via Twitter for 20 lucky technology enthusiasts to be the first to evaluate the new technology. The BuzzCell is expected to retail for $79.99 (including two cartridges), with additional cartridges purchased separately or via a subscription. Neah Power Systems is developing innovative power solutions for the military, transportation, and portable electronics industries. The company’s long-lasting, efficient, and safe solutions include silicon-based micro direct methanol fuel cells that enable higher power densities in compact form-factors at a lower cost, and that run in aerobic and anaerobic modes. Its PowerChip® products are primarily
January 2014
K-based Intelligent Energy partnered with the US retailer and product development company Brookstone to launch the Upp™ personal energy device at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The Upp is based on Intelligent Energy’s innovative PEM fuel cell technology, which is being commercialised across a wide range of mobile, stationary, and portable applications [see the Intelligent Energy feature in FCB, August 2009]. Intelligent Energy says that the new Upp platform represents a new category of device able to power USB-compatible portable electronic devices, such as smartphones, feature phones, e-readers, tablets, portable gaming consoles and digital cameras, providing consumers with the freedom to stay connected and powered up. From a single hydrogen fuel cartridge, Upp delivers at least one week of charge even to the most demanding, power-hungry smartphones. It also comes with an app, which provides users with fuel prediction capability, shows the nearest fuel cartridge exchange locations and personal usage statistics, FAQs and overall customer support. The free app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or from Google Play for Android devices. Intelligent Energy’s strategic alliance with Brookstone follows many months of successful consumer trials in some of the most demanding regions in Africa, leading to the launch of Upp at the AfricaCom exhibition in Cape Town last November [FCB, December 2013, p7]. The companies will work together to distribute Upp within the US from early 2014, retailing for $199.
IN BRIEF ITRI, UL plan fuel cell test lab in Taiwan The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI, www.itri.org.tw/eng) in Taiwan is partnering with US-based Underwriters Laboratories (UL, www.ul.com) to establish a fuel cell testing laboratory in Taiwan. The international certification lab will provide testing services to make it easier for hydrogen energy and fuel cell manufacturers in Taiwan to obtain UL certification. In addition, ITRI will set up a zone to demonstrate hydrogen production and storage facilities adjacent to the lab, according to DigiTimes.com. Ulsan aims for first hydrogen community City government officials and leaders of local companies in the southeastern Korean city of Ulsan have agreed to create a hydrogen economy, according to the Korea Economic Daily. They will also establish the Korea Hydrogen Industry Association, which will comprise as many as 300 companies, including Hyundai Motor Company, SK Energy, S-Oil, Samsung BP, Kolon Industries, and Korea PTG. Ulsan City is blazing a trail in creating a hydrogen ecosystem, since the city accounts for about 60% of the 1.5 million tonnes per annum of hydrogen produced in Korea, mainly for refineries. Last summer the ‘Green Hydrogen Town’ – a community of 140 families using hydrogen for their energy needs – was opened in the city’s Ulju district. In addition, early last year Hyundai’s Ulsan plant inaugurated a massproduction line for its Tucson (or ix35) Fuel Cell car, where it plans to manufacture up to 1000 of these vehicles by 2015 [FCB, March 2013, p2, and see page 2 in this issue]. N2telligence sees 40 000 operating hours Just before Christmas the German company N2telligence GmbH (www.n2telligence.com) reported that its four 100 kW systems in Germany had accumulated a total of 40 000 hours in operation. ‘This is a significant milestone in the development and market introduction of our unique technology with the combination of decentralised energy production and fire protection,’ says managing director Andreas Exler. ‘This underlines the high reliability of the systems installed in Germany.’ N2telligence integrates fuel cell systems for combined energy production and fire protection, with its four operational systems in Germany based on 100 kW phosphoric acid fuel cell systems supplied by Fuji Electric in Japan. Last summer it commissioned a fuel cell power plant at the Equinix data centre in Frankfurt am Main [FCB, July 2013, p1], and the previous summer it installed a system at the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Hamburg [FCB, September 2012, p7].
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7
NEWS ‘Upp provides consumers with portable energy wherever and whenever they need it, and we are really excited to bring such an innovative product to the US market,’ says Steven Schwartz, VP of merchandising & product development at Brookstone. ‘We see Upp as a real game-changer to meet the needs of a growing user base of power-hungry, portable electronic devices.’ Brookstone is a US-wide specialty retailer offering an assortment of consumer products. It partnered with Massachusetts-based Lilliputian Systems at last year’s CES to launch the latter’s Nectar™ Mobile Power System [FCB, February 2013, p8]. This is based on Lilliputian’s micro solid oxide fuel cell technology combined with MEMS wafer fabrication, and is fueled by recyclable butane cartridges. Intelligent Energy, Loughborough, UK. Tel: +44 1509 271271, www.intelligent-energy.com or www.beupp.com Brookstone: www.brookstone.com
FUELING
incorporating an energy power plant where the only interface to the vehicle is a 600 Vdc cable connector and a vehicle communication port. Hydrogenics’ Power Systems division designed and supplied the energy power plant which includes a 99 kW HyPM™ HD90 fuel cell power module. The unit can be deployed in standard, articulated, and double-articulated buses. HyPM HD products make integration into existing electric drive platforms simple and straightforward. The fuel cell power system has several technical advantages, such as industryleading power density, unlimited starts and stops, complete fully integrated controls, and simple integration interfaces. All HyPM HD products have freeze-start capability, and the fuel cell’s ability to operate on unhumidified air and at low pressure eliminates expensive, proneto-failure components. Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com Hydrogenics Europe – Electrolysers, Oevel, Belgium. Tel: +32 14 462110. VDL Bus & Coach: www.vdlbuscoach.com
Hydrogenics for Dutch hydrogen station, new fuel cell bus concept
C
anadian-based Hydrogenics has provided the hydrogen fueling station for a new facility in the Netherlands, where it also unveiled a new hydrogen bus concept using its PEM fuel cell technology. The new station – the third hydrogen station in the Netherlands – is part of the AutomotiveCampusNL at Brainport in Helmond, and owned by WaterstofNet with support from the European Interreg IV Flanders-Netherlands programme [FCB, August 2013, p6]. The hydrogen station, built by Ballast Nedam, features a Hydrogenics HySTAT™ electrolysis system designed and manufactured by its On-Site Generation division in Belgium. The station consists of a 20 ft (6 m) containerised water electrolyser that includes a water treatment system, gas purification, cooling system, and a 350 bar (5000 psi) dispenser to supply up to 65 kg/day of clean hydrogen. The station will be used to refuel new prototypes of hydrogen buses and a small fleet of hydrogen powered garbage trucks. Within the next few months the station will be expanded to include a 700 bar (10 000 psi) dispenser to make it suitable for passenger cars. At the station’s opening, the Dutch bus manufacturer VDL Bus & Coach demonstrated a new concept for electrified bus platforms, 8
Fuel Cells Bulletin
WaterstofNet: www.waterstofnet.eu/english.html Ballast Nedam: www.ballast-nedam.nl Brainport: www.brainport.nl/en
AngloAmerican helps HySA electrochemical hydrogen compression
I
n South Africa, Anglo American Platinum has signed a deal with North West University (NWU) to support the development of electrochemical hydrogen compression and separation (EHC&S) technologies at the Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) Infrastructure Centre of Competence, which has its main facility at the NWU campus in Potchefstroom. Anglo American is providing US$400 000 towards the EHC&S project at HySA Infrastructure, which will run until 2016. The EHC&S technology uses platinum-based components and advanced membranes, since the overall HySA programme aims to make greater economic benefit from the country’s enormous platinum group metal resources [see the HySA Infrastructure feature in FCB, June 2013]. The project aims to develop and demonstrate technology as well as generate local expertise and know-how. There is still plenty of room for development of EHC&S technology for fuel cell applications and hydrogenrelated technologies, according to Dr Dmitri
Bessarabov, director of HySA Infrastructure. Hydrogen compression is still very expensive, so the development of this technology offers significant potential to lower costs. AngloAmerican is already working with Canadian-based Ballard Power Systems and the South African government, on initial field trials of a new methanol-fueled home generator prototype for off-grid residential applications [FCB, July 2013, p6]. Contact: Dr Dmitri Bessarabov, Director – HySA Infrastructure Centre of Competence, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Tel: +27 18 299 1366, Email: [email protected], Web: www.hysainfrastructure.org Anglo American Platinum: www.angloplatinum.com
ENERGY STORAGE
ITM electrolyser adds first P2G hydrogen to German gas grid
U
K-based ITM Power, working with its German partners Mainova and NRM Netzdienste Rhein-Main, has injected hydrogen into the German gas distribution network for the first time. ITM’s rapid response electrolyser plant was delivered and commissioned ahead of schedule, and the compliance and permitting work has been completed to enable the incorporation of hydrogen via the compliant mixing plant. The ITM electrolyser is operating in the Thüga Group’s Power-to-Gas (P2G) demonstration plant in Frankfurt am Main [FCB, August 2013, p7]. During the current commissioning phase, the system injected the first ever electrolytically generated hydrogen into the Frankfurt gas distribution network, and indeed into the German gas network. ‘The system worked as planned – so much so that we will go into trial operation in the very near future, ahead of final commissioning at the start of 2014,’ says Thüga board member Michael Riechel. By the end of 2016, the partners will have gained experience of how the system works under real-world conditions. The operational phase will be accompanied by scientific partners, whose involvement is being funded by the Hessen ministry for the environment, energy, agriculture and consumer protection. The core of the compact system is an ITM Power PEM electrolyser [see the ITM Power feature in FCB, January 2012]. A gas mixing
January 2014
available to military, government, and corporate clients [FCB, October 2012, p7]. ‘We have an outsourced manufacturing model for our technology, so the PowerChip product can be manufactured by fully depreciated, eight-to-10 generation old computer chip factories – so we could go to any of these older factories and have them manufacture our products,’ CEO Dr Chris D’Couto told The Wall Street Transcript. Neah Power Systems, Bothell, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 425 424 3324, www.neahpower.com BuzzBar: www.neahpower.com/buzzbar.html BuzzCell: www.neahpower.com/buzzcell.html
PORTABLE & MICRO
Neah Power launches BuzzBar and BuzzCell consumer chargers
Intelligent Energy, Brookstone partner for US launch of Upp
U
U
S-based Neah Power Systems has launched its new BuzzBar™ and BuzzCell™ products worldwide, available through its new website. These pocket-sized fuel cell power packs can recharge the batteries in consumer portable devices such as smart phones. The BuzzBar enables off-the-grid recharging of mobile consumer electronics using proprietary fuel cell (BuzzCell) technology. The BuzzCell incorporates key elements of recently acquired assets from Clean Tech Investors [FCB, December 2013, p8]. The BuzzBar can be recharged from a wall socket, another USB port, using a BuzzCell, or with the forthcoming BuzzBatt™ large stackable charger or BuzzSol™ solar charger devices. Consumers have access to a limited run of 500 first-generation BuzzBars on a first come, first served basis for $39.99. The BuzzCell is currently only available for evaluation, and Neah Power is running a contest via Twitter for 20 lucky technology enthusiasts to be the first to evaluate the new technology. The BuzzCell is expected to retail for $79.99 (including two cartridges), with additional cartridges purchased separately or via a subscription. Neah Power Systems is developing innovative power solutions for the military, transportation, and portable electronics industries. The company’s long-lasting, efficient, and safe solutions include silicon-based micro direct methanol fuel cells that enable higher power densities in compact form-factors at a lower cost, and that run in aerobic and anaerobic modes. Its PowerChip® products are primarily
January 2014
K-based Intelligent Energy partnered with the US retailer and product development company Brookstone to launch the Upp™ personal energy device at the recent Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. The Upp is based on Intelligent Energy’s innovative PEM fuel cell technology, which is being commercialised across a wide range of mobile, stationary, and portable applications [see the Intelligent Energy feature in FCB, August 2009]. Intelligent Energy says that the new Upp platform represents a new category of device able to power USB-compatible portable electronic devices, such as smartphones, feature phones, e-readers, tablets, portable gaming consoles and digital cameras, providing consumers with the freedom to stay connected and powered up. From a single hydrogen fuel cartridge, Upp delivers at least one week of charge even to the most demanding, power-hungry smartphones. It also comes with an app, which provides users with fuel prediction capability, shows the nearest fuel cartridge exchange locations and personal usage statistics, FAQs and overall customer support. The free app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or from Google Play for Android devices. Intelligent Energy’s strategic alliance with Brookstone follows many months of successful consumer trials in some of the most demanding regions in Africa, leading to the launch of Upp at the AfricaCom exhibition in Cape Town last November [FCB, December 2013, p7]. The companies will work together to distribute Upp within the US from early 2014, retailing for $199.
IN BRIEF ITRI, UL plan fuel cell test lab in Taiwan The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI, www.itri.org.tw/eng) in Taiwan is partnering with US-based Underwriters Laboratories (UL, www.ul.com) to establish a fuel cell testing laboratory in Taiwan. The international certification lab will provide testing services to make it easier for hydrogen energy and fuel cell manufacturers in Taiwan to obtain UL certification. In addition, ITRI will set up a zone to demonstrate hydrogen production and storage facilities adjacent to the lab, according to DigiTimes.com. Ulsan aims for first hydrogen community City government officials and leaders of local companies in the southeastern Korean city of Ulsan have agreed to create a hydrogen economy, according to the Korea Economic Daily. They will also establish the Korea Hydrogen Industry Association, which will comprise as many as 300 companies, including Hyundai Motor Company, SK Energy, S-Oil, Samsung BP, Kolon Industries, and Korea PTG. Ulsan City is blazing a trail in creating a hydrogen ecosystem, since the city accounts for about 60% of the 1.5 million tonnes per annum of hydrogen produced in Korea, mainly for refineries. Last summer the ‘Green Hydrogen Town’ – a community of 140 families using hydrogen for their energy needs – was opened in the city’s Ulju district. In addition, early last year Hyundai’s Ulsan plant inaugurated a massproduction line for its Tucson (or ix35) Fuel Cell car, where it plans to manufacture up to 1000 of these vehicles by 2015 [FCB, March 2013, p2, and see page 2 in this issue]. N2telligence sees 40 000 operating hours Just before Christmas the German company N2telligence GmbH (www.n2telligence.com) reported that its four 100 kW systems in Germany had accumulated a total of 40 000 hours in operation. ‘This is a significant milestone in the development and market introduction of our unique technology with the combination of decentralised energy production and fire protection,’ says managing director Andreas Exler. ‘This underlines the high reliability of the systems installed in Germany.’ N2telligence integrates fuel cell systems for combined energy production and fire protection, with its four operational systems in Germany based on 100 kW phosphoric acid fuel cell systems supplied by Fuji Electric in Japan. Last summer it commissioned a fuel cell power plant at the Equinix data centre in Frankfurt am Main [FCB, July 2013, p1], and the previous summer it installed a system at the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Hamburg [FCB, September 2012, p7].
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7
NEWS ‘Upp provides consumers with portable energy wherever and whenever they need it, and we are really excited to bring such an innovative product to the US market,’ says Steven Schwartz, VP of merchandising & product development at Brookstone. ‘We see Upp as a real game-changer to meet the needs of a growing user base of power-hungry, portable electronic devices.’ Brookstone is a US-wide specialty retailer offering an assortment of consumer products. It partnered with Massachusetts-based Lilliputian Systems at last year’s CES to launch the latter’s Nectar™ Mobile Power System [FCB, February 2013, p8]. This is based on Lilliputian’s micro solid oxide fuel cell technology combined with MEMS wafer fabrication, and is fueled by recyclable butane cartridges. Intelligent Energy, Loughborough, UK. Tel: +44 1509 271271, www.intelligent-energy.com or www.beupp.com Brookstone: www.brookstone.com
FUELING
incorporating an energy power plant where the only interface to the vehicle is a 600 Vdc cable connector and a vehicle communication port. Hydrogenics’ Power Systems division designed and supplied the energy power plant which includes a 99 kW HyPM™ HD90 fuel cell power module. The unit can be deployed in standard, articulated, and double-articulated buses. HyPM HD products make integration into existing electric drive platforms simple and straightforward. The fuel cell power system has several technical advantages, such as industryleading power density, unlimited starts and stops, complete fully integrated controls, and simple integration interfaces. All HyPM HD products have freeze-start capability, and the fuel cell’s ability to operate on unhumidified air and at low pressure eliminates expensive, proneto-failure components. Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com Hydrogenics Europe – Electrolysers, Oevel, Belgium. Tel: +32 14 462110. VDL Bus & Coach: www.vdlbuscoach.com
Hydrogenics for Dutch hydrogen station, new fuel cell bus concept
C
anadian-based Hydrogenics has provided the hydrogen fueling station for a new facility in the Netherlands, where it also unveiled a new hydrogen bus concept using its PEM fuel cell technology. The new station – the third hydrogen station in the Netherlands – is part of the AutomotiveCampusNL at Brainport in Helmond, and owned by WaterstofNet with support from the European Interreg IV Flanders-Netherlands programme [FCB, August 2013, p6]. The hydrogen station, built by Ballast Nedam, features a Hydrogenics HySTAT™ electrolysis system designed and manufactured by its On-Site Generation division in Belgium. The station consists of a 20 ft (6 m) containerised water electrolyser that includes a water treatment system, gas purification, cooling system, and a 350 bar (5000 psi) dispenser to supply up to 65 kg/day of clean hydrogen. The station will be used to refuel new prototypes of hydrogen buses and a small fleet of hydrogen powered garbage trucks. Within the next few months the station will be expanded to include a 700 bar (10 000 psi) dispenser to make it suitable for passenger cars. At the station’s opening, the Dutch bus manufacturer VDL Bus & Coach demonstrated a new concept for electrified bus platforms, 8
Fuel Cells Bulletin
WaterstofNet: www.waterstofnet.eu/english.html Ballast Nedam: www.ballast-nedam.nl Brainport: www.brainport.nl/en
AngloAmerican helps HySA electrochemical hydrogen compression
I
n South Africa, Anglo American Platinum has signed a deal with North West University (NWU) to support the development of electrochemical hydrogen compression and separation (EHC&S) technologies at the Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) Infrastructure Centre of Competence, which has its main facility at the NWU campus in Potchefstroom. Anglo American is providing US$400 000 towards the EHC&S project at HySA Infrastructure, which will run until 2016. The EHC&S technology uses platinum-based components and advanced membranes, since the overall HySA programme aims to make greater economic benefit from the country’s enormous platinum group metal resources [see the HySA Infrastructure feature in FCB, June 2013]. The project aims to develop and demonstrate technology as well as generate local expertise and know-how. There is still plenty of room for development of EHC&S technology for fuel cell applications and hydrogenrelated technologies, according to Dr Dmitri
Bessarabov, director of HySA Infrastructure. Hydrogen compression is still very expensive, so the development of this technology offers significant potential to lower costs. AngloAmerican is already working with Canadian-based Ballard Power Systems and the South African government, on initial field trials of a new methanol-fueled home generator prototype for off-grid residential applications [FCB, July 2013, p6]. Contact: Dr Dmitri Bessarabov, Director – HySA Infrastructure Centre of Competence, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa. Tel: +27 18 299 1366, Email: [email protected], Web: www.hysainfrastructure.org Anglo American Platinum: www.angloplatinum.com
ENERGY STORAGE
ITM electrolyser adds first P2G hydrogen to German gas grid
U
K-based ITM Power, working with its German partners Mainova and NRM Netzdienste Rhein-Main, has injected hydrogen into the German gas distribution network for the first time. ITM’s rapid response electrolyser plant was delivered and commissioned ahead of schedule, and the compliance and permitting work has been completed to enable the incorporation of hydrogen via the compliant mixing plant. The ITM electrolyser is operating in the Thüga Group’s Power-to-Gas (P2G) demonstration plant in Frankfurt am Main [FCB, August 2013, p7]. During the current commissioning phase, the system injected the first ever electrolytically generated hydrogen into the Frankfurt gas distribution network, and indeed into the German gas network. ‘The system worked as planned – so much so that we will go into trial operation in the very near future, ahead of final commissioning at the start of 2014,’ says Thüga board member Michael Riechel. By the end of 2016, the partners will have gained experience of how the system works under real-world conditions. The operational phase will be accompanied by scientific partners, whose involvement is being funded by the Hessen ministry for the environment, energy, agriculture and consumer protection. The core of the compact system is an ITM Power PEM electrolyser [see the ITM Power feature in FCB, January 2012]. A gas mixing
January 2014