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PowerCell unveils new MS-100 system for land, sea applications
NEWS
FuelCell Energy agrees new $200m strategic corporate loan facility
C
onnecticut-based FuelCell Energy has announced a new eight-year, $200 million strategic corporate loan facility with Orion Energy Partners, and subsequently completed an initial $80 million draw. The $120 million balance will be available over the next 18 months to invest in strategic growth, providing working capital as needed. This corporate and construction finance facility with Orion Energy will first be deployed towards current construction and engineering costs associated with several in-flight projects. These are the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC) molten carbonate fuel cell plant for the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut [FCB, November 2017, p7 and April 2019, p7]; final construction costs associated with the Tulare BioMAT project in California [July 2017, p6], which will be commercially operable in mid-December; and the 5 MW unit for Bolthouse Farms in California [March 2018, p1]. The facility will also be used for future growth, including commencing construction of the first of three projects with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) [August 2017, p6]. In other news, FuelCell Energy has ended its engagement with Huron in respect of restructuring services and contingency planning initiatives the latter has provided [July 2019, p12]. FuelCell Energy has also recently signed an expanded joint development agreement with ExxonMobil, to further enhance MCFC technology for the large-scale capture of CO2 from industrial facilities such as refineries and chemical plants [see page 7]. FuelCell Energy: www.fuelcellenergy.com Orion Energy Partners: www.orionenergypartners.com
Plug Power expands hydrogen supply chain in Spain with CLH
U
S-based Plug Power has announced a new agreement with Spanish hydrogen production and distributor Compañía Logística
December 2019
de Hidrocarburos. CLH will develop hydrogen production assets and downstream markets in Spain, and in the industrial, mobility and power production & storage sectors for distribution to Plug Power customers throughout Europe. The CLH Group is a leading company for the transport and storage of fuel products in Europe. Through hydrogen fuel cell system applications commercialised by Plug Power, including industrial materials handling, on-road commercial fleet vehicles and port applications (air, marine, and rail), where CLH has a strong presence, the partners expect to impact the growth of the renewable hydrogen market in Spain and Europe. The agreement provides scope for both companies to identify opportunities and customers in the market space. ‘Finding and accelerating adoption opportunities in the Spanish materials handling market is pivotal to the greater success of adopting clean energy mobility solutions,’ says Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power. ‘Our partnership is already providing fruitful work, and we look forward to finding areas of collaboration in the future.’ Plug Power – already a leader in fuel cell deployment and hydrogen dispensing in the US, where its customers are currently the largest users of liquid hydrogen – expects its European business to grow by more than 60% per annum for the next five years. CLH has an international presence in logistics, fuel storage and delivery in markets including motor, aviation, and marine. Plug Power and CLH will also explore other potential areas of collaboration related to the development of hydrogen solutions for airports, goods transportation, and delivery networks – markets where high-asset utilisation is important, and the value proposition of fuel cells makes great sense. Plug Power’s hydrogen PEM fuel cells are widely used in materials handling [see the feature in FCB, December 2011], and it is expanding into the on-road vehicle market with the ProGen platform of modular fuel cell engines [April 2019, p14]. The company recently signed a global agreement with French electric utility Engie to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen and fuel cell systems in end-uses such as distribution centres, manufacturing facilities, and logistic equipment and vehicles for ports and airports [October 2019, p15], and is expanding its US hydrogen supply chain partner network with United Hydrogen Group. Plug Power: www.plugpower.com
PowerCell unveils new MS-100 system for land, sea applications
P
owerCell Sweden has developed a new and improved version of its MS-100 fuel cell system, which it showcased at the recent US Fuel Cell Seminar & Energy Exposition in Long Beach, California. The new version is 30% more compact and has improved operating lifetime, as well as greater robustness for demanding applications on land and at sea. The MS-100 hydrogen PEM fuel cell system has been developed for marine applications [FCB, June 2018, p1, and see also page 4 in this issue], as well as off-road applications such as construction and materials handling equipment [February 2019, p4], which demand reliable operation, high power output, and flexibility. The new version is designed to withstand vibrations to ensure a long service life while providing quick and smooth startup regardless of environmental conditions. It offers a maximum power output of 100 kW, and systems can be connected in series to achieve MW power levels. The MS-100 system is based on the PowerCell S3 fuel cell stack, with its industry leading power density [February 2016, p10]. The S3 stack technology features compact metallic bipolar plates with large active area and state-ofthe-art membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs), to deliver a minimum operating lifetime of 20 000 h. The compact design – and a volume of only 276 litres (9.75 ft3) – allows the system to be easily integrated and used in a wide range of applications. It is available in both vertical and horizontal positioning, which facilitates installation when space is limited. In other news, German company Robert Bosch GmbH has acquired all of Midroc New Technology’s shares in PowerCell, a total of 5.8 million shares, representing 11.3% of the votes and capital in PowerCell. Venture capital company Midroc New Technology has had a stake in PowerCell since it was spun out of the Volvo Group in 2008 [July 2009, p1], but has reduced its investment over the last couple of years. Earlier this year Bosch and PowerCell signed a joint development and licensing agreement in respect of the S3 stack for the automotive segment [May 2019, p13, and October 2019, p15]. PowerCell Sweden: www.powercell.se Robert Bosch GmbH: www.bosch.com
Fuel Cells Bulletin
13
FuelCell Energy agrees new $200m strategic corporate loan facility
C
onnecticut-based FuelCell Energy has announced a new eight-year, $200 million strategic corporate loan facility with Orion Energy Partners, and subsequently completed an initial $80 million draw. The $120 million balance will be available over the next 18 months to invest in strategic growth, providing working capital as needed. This corporate and construction finance facility with Orion Energy will first be deployed towards current construction and engineering costs associated with several in-flight projects. These are the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC) molten carbonate fuel cell plant for the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut [FCB, November 2017, p7 and April 2019, p7]; final construction costs associated with the Tulare BioMAT project in California [July 2017, p6], which will be commercially operable in mid-December; and the 5 MW unit for Bolthouse Farms in California [March 2018, p1]. The facility will also be used for future growth, including commencing construction of the first of three projects with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) [August 2017, p6]. In other news, FuelCell Energy has ended its engagement with Huron in respect of restructuring services and contingency planning initiatives the latter has provided [July 2019, p12]. FuelCell Energy has also recently signed an expanded joint development agreement with ExxonMobil, to further enhance MCFC technology for the large-scale capture of CO2 from industrial facilities such as refineries and chemical plants [see page 7]. FuelCell Energy: www.fuelcellenergy.com Orion Energy Partners: www.orionenergypartners.com
Plug Power expands hydrogen supply chain in Spain with CLH
U
S-based Plug Power has announced a new agreement with Spanish hydrogen production and distributor Compañía Logística
December 2019
de Hidrocarburos. CLH will develop hydrogen production assets and downstream markets in Spain, and in the industrial, mobility and power production & storage sectors for distribution to Plug Power customers throughout Europe. The CLH Group is a leading company for the transport and storage of fuel products in Europe. Through hydrogen fuel cell system applications commercialised by Plug Power, including industrial materials handling, on-road commercial fleet vehicles and port applications (air, marine, and rail), where CLH has a strong presence, the partners expect to impact the growth of the renewable hydrogen market in Spain and Europe. The agreement provides scope for both companies to identify opportunities and customers in the market space. ‘Finding and accelerating adoption opportunities in the Spanish materials handling market is pivotal to the greater success of adopting clean energy mobility solutions,’ says Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power. ‘Our partnership is already providing fruitful work, and we look forward to finding areas of collaboration in the future.’ Plug Power – already a leader in fuel cell deployment and hydrogen dispensing in the US, where its customers are currently the largest users of liquid hydrogen – expects its European business to grow by more than 60% per annum for the next five years. CLH has an international presence in logistics, fuel storage and delivery in markets including motor, aviation, and marine. Plug Power and CLH will also explore other potential areas of collaboration related to the development of hydrogen solutions for airports, goods transportation, and delivery networks – markets where high-asset utilisation is important, and the value proposition of fuel cells makes great sense. Plug Power’s hydrogen PEM fuel cells are widely used in materials handling [see the feature in FCB, December 2011], and it is expanding into the on-road vehicle market with the ProGen platform of modular fuel cell engines [April 2019, p14]. The company recently signed a global agreement with French electric utility Engie to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen and fuel cell systems in end-uses such as distribution centres, manufacturing facilities, and logistic equipment and vehicles for ports and airports [October 2019, p15], and is expanding its US hydrogen supply chain partner network with United Hydrogen Group. Plug Power: www.plugpower.com
PowerCell unveils new MS-100 system for land, sea applications
P
owerCell Sweden has developed a new and improved version of its MS-100 fuel cell system, which it showcased at the recent US Fuel Cell Seminar & Energy Exposition in Long Beach, California. The new version is 30% more compact and has improved operating lifetime, as well as greater robustness for demanding applications on land and at sea. The MS-100 hydrogen PEM fuel cell system has been developed for marine applications [FCB, June 2018, p1, and see also page 4 in this issue], as well as off-road applications such as construction and materials handling equipment [February 2019, p4], which demand reliable operation, high power output, and flexibility. The new version is designed to withstand vibrations to ensure a long service life while providing quick and smooth startup regardless of environmental conditions. It offers a maximum power output of 100 kW, and systems can be connected in series to achieve MW power levels. The MS-100 system is based on the PowerCell S3 fuel cell stack, with its industry leading power density [February 2016, p10]. The S3 stack technology features compact metallic bipolar plates with large active area and state-ofthe-art membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs), to deliver a minimum operating lifetime of 20 000 h. The compact design – and a volume of only 276 litres (9.75 ft3) – allows the system to be easily integrated and used in a wide range of applications. It is available in both vertical and horizontal positioning, which facilitates installation when space is limited. In other news, German company Robert Bosch GmbH has acquired all of Midroc New Technology’s shares in PowerCell, a total of 5.8 million shares, representing 11.3% of the votes and capital in PowerCell. Venture capital company Midroc New Technology has had a stake in PowerCell since it was spun out of the Volvo Group in 2008 [July 2009, p1], but has reduced its investment over the last couple of years. Earlier this year Bosch and PowerCell signed a joint development and licensing agreement in respect of the S3 stack for the automotive segment [May 2019, p13, and October 2019, p15]. PowerCell Sweden: www.powercell.se Robert Bosch GmbH: www.bosch.com
Fuel Cells Bulletin
13