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Nissan awards new contract to Hoku Scientific
fUelCELLS An International Newsletter
BULLETIN
www.fuelcellsbulletin.com
ISSN 1464-2859 March 2006
FCE selected to develop coal-based multi-MW SOFC
C
onnecticut-based FuelCell Energy has been selected by the Department of Energy as the prime contractor in a third project team to develop a coal-based multi-MW solid oxide fuel cell system. The total project award for the 10-year, three-phase Fuel Cell Coal-Based System program is approximately $85m. The program’s goal is to develop an SOFC system, 100 MW and larger, with at least 50% overall efficiency in converting energy contained in coal to grid electrical power, compared with 35% for today’s average coal-based power plants. Other program goals include capturing 90% or more of the system’s CO2 emissions and meeting a cost of $400/kW (exclusive of coal gasification unit and CO2 separation subsystems). FCE was selected as prime contractor for this program based on its high-temperature fuel cell expertise, which includes progress on its SOFC development in Phase I of the SECA Program, development and commercialization of sub-MW and multi-MW carbonate Direct FuelCell® power plants, previous experience with operating DFC power plants on coal gases, and success with its Direct FuelCell/ Turbine® combinedcycle product in DOE’s Vision 21 Program. FuelCell Energy will be responsible for overall systems development of its coal-based multiMW SOFC/T power plant. Other team members include Versa Power Systems in Colorado,
providing state-of-the-art SOFC stack technology development (scaling-up its 5–10 kW stack), the Gas Technology Institute in Illinois providing fuel cell pressurization tests, and coal gasification expertise from California-based Nexant. The objective of Phase I, a three-year, $10.5m program, is to focus on the design, cost analysis, fabrication and testing of large-scale SOFC stacks amenable for incorporation into 100 MW systems. Phases II and III will focus on fabricating and aggregating larger SOFC systems, as well as proof-of-concept systems to be field-tested for a minimum of 25 000 h. Coal is America’s most abundant fossil fuel, with some 250 years of reserves. Improving the ability to use this domestic energy supply will reduce US dependence on foreign markets and increase energy security. Advances made under the Fuel Cell Coal-Based Systems program are expected to become key enabling technologies for FutureGen, a planned DOE demonstration of advanced power systems that emit near-zero emissions, have double today’s electric generating efficiency, co-produce hydrogen, and sequester CO2. The other project teams – led by GE Hybrid Power Generation Systems [FCB, October] and Siemens Power Generation [FCB, December] – will leverage knowledge gained in the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) Program, and extend coal-based SOFC technology to large central power generation stations.
Nissan awards new contract to Hoku Scientific
H
awaii-based Hoku Scientific has been awarded a new contract by Nissan Motor Company in Japan, under which Hoku is developing advanced hydrocarbon-based membranes and membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) for Nissan’s fuel cell cars and trucks. Although the contract was signed in February, Hoku and Nissan have been working together to meet the contract goals since the turn of the year. The companies will conduct joint testing of newer versions of the Hoku
Membrane and Hoku MEA at Hoku’s facility in Kapolei and at Nissan’s facility in Oppama, Japan until the end of September. ‘This new contract demonstrates the strength of our continuing relationship with Nissan,’ comments Dustin Shindo, chairman, president and CEO of Hoku Scientific. ‘We have successfully worked together since March 2004, meeting all technical goals on time, on budget and as expected. We are excited by this next step towards integrating Hoku MEA into Nissan’s fuel cell cars and trucks.’
Contents NEWS Ion Power installs fuel cell in Delaware 2 FuelCon test station delivered to Hawaii 2 MTI Micro deals with military OEM, satellite communications firm 2 Automotive stack from PSA Peugeot Citroën, CEA 3 USAF contract for Protonex UAV power 3 Sandia, Sharp collaborate on alternative energy tech 3 GTI operates SOFC on military logistics fuel 4 Matsushita Battery develops micro DMFC 4 UTC stationary fuel cell meets stringent standard 4 DMFCC begins cartridge sampling with clients 4 First 1 MWe DFC power plant in Japan 5 Quantum programs win Defense funding 5 Agni invests in European manufacturing facility 6 Franklin wins grant from Pennsylvania energy developer 6 Astris collaborates with Canadian universities, delivers Italian order 6 Air Products grant for NTDA Energia 6 DOE commits $119m in FCV funding, unveils draft roadmap 7 AIST develops SOFC that operates at below 600°C 7 FCT reorganizes, wins Siemens order 7 US Army contracts Genesis Fueltech for portable fuel cell 7 Medis ships power packs to GDC4S for testing 8 Honda plans production of next-gen FCX 8 Applied Ventures invests in ClearEdge Power 8 Phenomena controlling PEMFC performance analyzed at Sandia 8 Protonex, partners win additional military funds 9 Intelligent Energy, PSA Peugeot Citroën to develop fuel cell technology 9 DMFCC option for Caltech, USC patents 10 Kuraray DMFC membrane uses carbon hydride derived polymer 10 LG Chem, SFC link to commercialize DMFCs for consumer electronics 10 P+E hydrogen separators for fuel cell applications 11 SC hydrogen and fuel cell alliance 11 FEATURE Microstructural control of Ni–YSZ cermet anode for planar thin-film SOFCs 12–15 REGULARS In Brief Research Trends Patents Events Calendar
3, 5, 9, 11 15–16 16–19 20
ISSN 1464-2859/06 © 2006 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.
BULLETIN
www.fuelcellsbulletin.com
ISSN 1464-2859 March 2006
FCE selected to develop coal-based multi-MW SOFC
C
onnecticut-based FuelCell Energy has been selected by the Department of Energy as the prime contractor in a third project team to develop a coal-based multi-MW solid oxide fuel cell system. The total project award for the 10-year, three-phase Fuel Cell Coal-Based System program is approximately $85m. The program’s goal is to develop an SOFC system, 100 MW and larger, with at least 50% overall efficiency in converting energy contained in coal to grid electrical power, compared with 35% for today’s average coal-based power plants. Other program goals include capturing 90% or more of the system’s CO2 emissions and meeting a cost of $400/kW (exclusive of coal gasification unit and CO2 separation subsystems). FCE was selected as prime contractor for this program based on its high-temperature fuel cell expertise, which includes progress on its SOFC development in Phase I of the SECA Program, development and commercialization of sub-MW and multi-MW carbonate Direct FuelCell® power plants, previous experience with operating DFC power plants on coal gases, and success with its Direct FuelCell/ Turbine® combinedcycle product in DOE’s Vision 21 Program. FuelCell Energy will be responsible for overall systems development of its coal-based multiMW SOFC/T power plant. Other team members include Versa Power Systems in Colorado,
providing state-of-the-art SOFC stack technology development (scaling-up its 5–10 kW stack), the Gas Technology Institute in Illinois providing fuel cell pressurization tests, and coal gasification expertise from California-based Nexant. The objective of Phase I, a three-year, $10.5m program, is to focus on the design, cost analysis, fabrication and testing of large-scale SOFC stacks amenable for incorporation into 100 MW systems. Phases II and III will focus on fabricating and aggregating larger SOFC systems, as well as proof-of-concept systems to be field-tested for a minimum of 25 000 h. Coal is America’s most abundant fossil fuel, with some 250 years of reserves. Improving the ability to use this domestic energy supply will reduce US dependence on foreign markets and increase energy security. Advances made under the Fuel Cell Coal-Based Systems program are expected to become key enabling technologies for FutureGen, a planned DOE demonstration of advanced power systems that emit near-zero emissions, have double today’s electric generating efficiency, co-produce hydrogen, and sequester CO2. The other project teams – led by GE Hybrid Power Generation Systems [FCB, October] and Siemens Power Generation [FCB, December] – will leverage knowledge gained in the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) Program, and extend coal-based SOFC technology to large central power generation stations.
Nissan awards new contract to Hoku Scientific
H
awaii-based Hoku Scientific has been awarded a new contract by Nissan Motor Company in Japan, under which Hoku is developing advanced hydrocarbon-based membranes and membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) for Nissan’s fuel cell cars and trucks. Although the contract was signed in February, Hoku and Nissan have been working together to meet the contract goals since the turn of the year. The companies will conduct joint testing of newer versions of the Hoku
Membrane and Hoku MEA at Hoku’s facility in Kapolei and at Nissan’s facility in Oppama, Japan until the end of September. ‘This new contract demonstrates the strength of our continuing relationship with Nissan,’ comments Dustin Shindo, chairman, president and CEO of Hoku Scientific. ‘We have successfully worked together since March 2004, meeting all technical goals on time, on budget and as expected. We are excited by this next step towards integrating Hoku MEA into Nissan’s fuel cell cars and trucks.’
Contents NEWS Ion Power installs fuel cell in Delaware 2 FuelCon test station delivered to Hawaii 2 MTI Micro deals with military OEM, satellite communications firm 2 Automotive stack from PSA Peugeot Citroën, CEA 3 USAF contract for Protonex UAV power 3 Sandia, Sharp collaborate on alternative energy tech 3 GTI operates SOFC on military logistics fuel 4 Matsushita Battery develops micro DMFC 4 UTC stationary fuel cell meets stringent standard 4 DMFCC begins cartridge sampling with clients 4 First 1 MWe DFC power plant in Japan 5 Quantum programs win Defense funding 5 Agni invests in European manufacturing facility 6 Franklin wins grant from Pennsylvania energy developer 6 Astris collaborates with Canadian universities, delivers Italian order 6 Air Products grant for NTDA Energia 6 DOE commits $119m in FCV funding, unveils draft roadmap 7 AIST develops SOFC that operates at below 600°C 7 FCT reorganizes, wins Siemens order 7 US Army contracts Genesis Fueltech for portable fuel cell 7 Medis ships power packs to GDC4S for testing 8 Honda plans production of next-gen FCX 8 Applied Ventures invests in ClearEdge Power 8 Phenomena controlling PEMFC performance analyzed at Sandia 8 Protonex, partners win additional military funds 9 Intelligent Energy, PSA Peugeot Citroën to develop fuel cell technology 9 DMFCC option for Caltech, USC patents 10 Kuraray DMFC membrane uses carbon hydride derived polymer 10 LG Chem, SFC link to commercialize DMFCs for consumer electronics 10 P+E hydrogen separators for fuel cell applications 11 SC hydrogen and fuel cell alliance 11 FEATURE Microstructural control of Ni–YSZ cermet anode for planar thin-film SOFCs 12–15 REGULARS In Brief Research Trends Patents Events Calendar
3, 5, 9, 11 15–16 16–19 20
ISSN 1464-2859/06 © 2006 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.