- Email: [email protected]
Osaka Gas, H Power agreement for next-generation systems
August FCB.qxd
8/6/02
12:00 PM
Page 5
NEWS Contact: Sulzer Hexis AG, Hegifeldstrasse 30, Postfach 65, CH-8404 Winterthur, Switzerland. Tel: +41 52 262 6311, Fax: +41 52 262 6333, www.hexis.com Or contact: Dr C.A.M. van der Klein, Netherlands Energy Research Foundation ECN, PO Box 1, NL-1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 224 564572, Fax: +31 224 563489, Email: [email protected]
Osaka Gas, H Power agreement for nextgeneration systems New Jersey-based H Power has signed a third joint study agreement with Osaka Gas, a natural gas utility serving more than 6m customers in the Kansai region of Japan. The agreement calls for the delivery of eight 500 We PEM residential cogeneration fuel cell systems for in-house and field beta testing for the Japanese residential market. The companies also agreed to examine ways to expand the presence of these next-generation units both within and beyond Japan. H Power has completed deliveries of the firstgeneration systems for alpha testing under a previously announced agreement between H Power, Mitsui (H Power’s marketing partner in Japan) and Osaka Gas. Osaka Gas has been alpha testing an earlier version of the system since January. The next-generation system includes design improvements based on data and feedback from the alpha tests. H Power will deliver two units to Osaka Gas by the last quarter of 2002, with the remaining units being shipped by the first quarter of 2003. The 500 We system combines H Power’s proprietary fuel cell stack with Osaka Gas’ proprietary steam reformer. The system provides primary power and hot water for a residence, and can provide power at either 250 or 500 We. In addition to operating at a constant output, it can also function in a load-following mode, in which the unit reacts continuously to changes in a residence’s power and heating requirements. The unit is connected to the grid, and is capable of automatic startup and shutdown. Meanwhile, H Power has recently consolidated its two New Jersey offices, and is now located at the address listed below. Contact: H Power Corporation, 60 Montgomery Street, Belleville, NJ 07109, USA. Tel: +1 973 450 4400, Fax: +1 973 450 9850, www.hpower.com Or contact: Fuel Cell Project Research & Development Department, Osaka Gas Co Ltd, 6-19-9 Torishima, Konohana-ku, Osaka 554-0051, Japan. Tel: +81 6 6464 2059, Fax: +81 6 6464 2102.
August 2002
Astris launches test product, ongoing talks After two years of beta testing its Testmaster family of test loads, test cells and control software, Ontario-based alkaline fuel cell developer Astris Energi has introduced its new model TL4A Test Load for fuel cells and batteries. The company has also reported that discussions are under way with nine foreign fuel cell prospects for joint venture partners or customers. The TL4A Test Load has evolved from the model TL4, which was extensively tested and evaluated in five R&D labs in North America and Europe. It is an electronic load with microprocessor intelligence, that has the ability to operate under either manual or remote control and communicate with a computer over a serial link, and offers state-of-the-art features such as electrode and temperature sensor inputs. The new test loads were first deployed in Astris’ own labs in Mississauga and in Benesov, Czech Republic. The Testmaster program, which controls data acquisistion and graphical presentation, runs on a PC using Windows. Meanwhile, Astris has announced that discussions are continuing with nine potential joint venture partners or customers in six countries, most of which were former partners with ZeTek Power in the UK, which recently declared bankruptcy. ‘All these concerns – in England, Scotland, Norway, Italy and New Zealand – are committed to alkaline technology and have developed systems that were to be powered by ZeTek fuel cells,’ said Jiri K. Nor, president of Astris. He added that another foreign prospect, a major industrial concern in India, has been in contact with Astris for several months. Contact: Astris Energi Inc, 2175-6 Dunwin Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1X2, Canada. Tel: +1 905 608 2000, Fax: +1 905 608 8222, www.astrisfuelcell.com
In Brief Hitachi focuses nanotechnology R&D on micro fuel cells The Japanese industrial giant Hitachi Ltd – along with 10 group companies – is focusing its short-term nanotechnology R&D efforts on four themes, with the aim of turning the work into commercial products or at least practical technologies within two years. According to the Nikkei Business Daily, one of the key themes is small fuel cells for cell phones and notebook computers, in addition to a special resin with high thermal conductivity for use as a circuit board substrate, bendable sheetlike displays, and system-in-package electronic components. To select the research themes, Hitachi set up a nanotechnology center, bringing together the R&D chiefs of 10 Hitachi group firms. The company also intends to promote more research collaborations with academic institutions, increasing by an order of magnitude the scale of matching funds it provides for such collaborative research – to tens of millions of yen (hundreds of thousands of dollars) per university. US Fuel Cell Council elects new leadership The US Fuel Cell Council’s board of directors has elected its new officers, at its Annual Spring Meeting. The USFCC serves as the trade association dedicated to the commercialization of fuel cell technologies in the US. George A. Earle III of Plug Power was elected president, the treasurer is Jim Stike of Porvair Fuel Cell Technologies, and the secretary is Eric Simpkins of IdaTech. Also approved at the meeting were members of the Executive Committee and the Policy Committee, chaired by Rhett Ross of Teledyne Fuel Cell Systems. The USFCC was formed in 1998 and is open to anyone who shares its goal of fuel cell commercialization in the US. Its members include fuel cell producers as well as major suppliers, fuel providers, government agencies and customers. For more information, go to: www.usfcc.com
Renault partners with Nuvera, 3M, TotalFinaElf US/Italian Nuvera Fuel Cells has reached a multi-year agreement with French automaker Renault to pursue research and product development into multi-fuel processing technologies for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). The automaker is also working with US-based materials company 3M on membrane-electrode assemblies, and with European oil giant TotalFinaElf to investigate which fuel is best suited to FCVs.
HyFuSyS1 event cancelled The HyFuSyS1 International Commercial Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Fair planned for 9–12 September in Fort Lauderdale, Florida has been cancelled. Apparently too few exhibitors signed up to participate to make the event worthwhile. The organizer, Arno Evers, said that ‘probably we were too far ahead of our time’. Nevertheless, he aims to organize the event for 2003, with sufficient time to bring in a large number of exhibitors. For more information, go to: www.live-fair.com/lauderdale
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5
8/6/02
12:00 PM
Page 5
NEWS Contact: Sulzer Hexis AG, Hegifeldstrasse 30, Postfach 65, CH-8404 Winterthur, Switzerland. Tel: +41 52 262 6311, Fax: +41 52 262 6333, www.hexis.com Or contact: Dr C.A.M. van der Klein, Netherlands Energy Research Foundation ECN, PO Box 1, NL-1755 ZG Petten, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 224 564572, Fax: +31 224 563489, Email: [email protected]
Osaka Gas, H Power agreement for nextgeneration systems New Jersey-based H Power has signed a third joint study agreement with Osaka Gas, a natural gas utility serving more than 6m customers in the Kansai region of Japan. The agreement calls for the delivery of eight 500 We PEM residential cogeneration fuel cell systems for in-house and field beta testing for the Japanese residential market. The companies also agreed to examine ways to expand the presence of these next-generation units both within and beyond Japan. H Power has completed deliveries of the firstgeneration systems for alpha testing under a previously announced agreement between H Power, Mitsui (H Power’s marketing partner in Japan) and Osaka Gas. Osaka Gas has been alpha testing an earlier version of the system since January. The next-generation system includes design improvements based on data and feedback from the alpha tests. H Power will deliver two units to Osaka Gas by the last quarter of 2002, with the remaining units being shipped by the first quarter of 2003. The 500 We system combines H Power’s proprietary fuel cell stack with Osaka Gas’ proprietary steam reformer. The system provides primary power and hot water for a residence, and can provide power at either 250 or 500 We. In addition to operating at a constant output, it can also function in a load-following mode, in which the unit reacts continuously to changes in a residence’s power and heating requirements. The unit is connected to the grid, and is capable of automatic startup and shutdown. Meanwhile, H Power has recently consolidated its two New Jersey offices, and is now located at the address listed below. Contact: H Power Corporation, 60 Montgomery Street, Belleville, NJ 07109, USA. Tel: +1 973 450 4400, Fax: +1 973 450 9850, www.hpower.com Or contact: Fuel Cell Project Research & Development Department, Osaka Gas Co Ltd, 6-19-9 Torishima, Konohana-ku, Osaka 554-0051, Japan. Tel: +81 6 6464 2059, Fax: +81 6 6464 2102.
August 2002
Astris launches test product, ongoing talks After two years of beta testing its Testmaster family of test loads, test cells and control software, Ontario-based alkaline fuel cell developer Astris Energi has introduced its new model TL4A Test Load for fuel cells and batteries. The company has also reported that discussions are under way with nine foreign fuel cell prospects for joint venture partners or customers. The TL4A Test Load has evolved from the model TL4, which was extensively tested and evaluated in five R&D labs in North America and Europe. It is an electronic load with microprocessor intelligence, that has the ability to operate under either manual or remote control and communicate with a computer over a serial link, and offers state-of-the-art features such as electrode and temperature sensor inputs. The new test loads were first deployed in Astris’ own labs in Mississauga and in Benesov, Czech Republic. The Testmaster program, which controls data acquisistion and graphical presentation, runs on a PC using Windows. Meanwhile, Astris has announced that discussions are continuing with nine potential joint venture partners or customers in six countries, most of which were former partners with ZeTek Power in the UK, which recently declared bankruptcy. ‘All these concerns – in England, Scotland, Norway, Italy and New Zealand – are committed to alkaline technology and have developed systems that were to be powered by ZeTek fuel cells,’ said Jiri K. Nor, president of Astris. He added that another foreign prospect, a major industrial concern in India, has been in contact with Astris for several months. Contact: Astris Energi Inc, 2175-6 Dunwin Drive, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1X2, Canada. Tel: +1 905 608 2000, Fax: +1 905 608 8222, www.astrisfuelcell.com
In Brief Hitachi focuses nanotechnology R&D on micro fuel cells The Japanese industrial giant Hitachi Ltd – along with 10 group companies – is focusing its short-term nanotechnology R&D efforts on four themes, with the aim of turning the work into commercial products or at least practical technologies within two years. According to the Nikkei Business Daily, one of the key themes is small fuel cells for cell phones and notebook computers, in addition to a special resin with high thermal conductivity for use as a circuit board substrate, bendable sheetlike displays, and system-in-package electronic components. To select the research themes, Hitachi set up a nanotechnology center, bringing together the R&D chiefs of 10 Hitachi group firms. The company also intends to promote more research collaborations with academic institutions, increasing by an order of magnitude the scale of matching funds it provides for such collaborative research – to tens of millions of yen (hundreds of thousands of dollars) per university. US Fuel Cell Council elects new leadership The US Fuel Cell Council’s board of directors has elected its new officers, at its Annual Spring Meeting. The USFCC serves as the trade association dedicated to the commercialization of fuel cell technologies in the US. George A. Earle III of Plug Power was elected president, the treasurer is Jim Stike of Porvair Fuel Cell Technologies, and the secretary is Eric Simpkins of IdaTech. Also approved at the meeting were members of the Executive Committee and the Policy Committee, chaired by Rhett Ross of Teledyne Fuel Cell Systems. The USFCC was formed in 1998 and is open to anyone who shares its goal of fuel cell commercialization in the US. Its members include fuel cell producers as well as major suppliers, fuel providers, government agencies and customers. For more information, go to: www.usfcc.com
Renault partners with Nuvera, 3M, TotalFinaElf US/Italian Nuvera Fuel Cells has reached a multi-year agreement with French automaker Renault to pursue research and product development into multi-fuel processing technologies for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). The automaker is also working with US-based materials company 3M on membrane-electrode assemblies, and with European oil giant TotalFinaElf to investigate which fuel is best suited to FCVs.
HyFuSyS1 event cancelled The HyFuSyS1 International Commercial Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Fair planned for 9–12 September in Fort Lauderdale, Florida has been cancelled. Apparently too few exhibitors signed up to participate to make the event worthwhile. The organizer, Arno Evers, said that ‘probably we were too far ahead of our time’. Nevertheless, he aims to organize the event for 2003, with sufficient time to bring in a large number of exhibitors. For more information, go to: www.live-fair.com/lauderdale
Fuel Cells Bulletin
5