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Protonex acquires Mesoscopic Devices
NEWS 16.3 m (53.5 feet), the airplane will be able to cruise at approximately 100 km/h (62 mph) using fuel cell-provided power. The Madrid-based avionics group Aerlyper performed airframe modifications, as well as the mounting and wiring of all components, while Air Liquide Spain performed the detailed design and assembly of the onboard fuel system and the refueling station. SAFT France designed and assembled the auxiliary batteries and the backup battery. The Electronic Engineering Division of the Polytechnic University of Madrid collaborated in the design and construction of the power management and distribution box, while its Institute for Automotive Research (INSIA) is conducting post-integration bench testing. Madrid-based SENASA will provide a test pilot and facilities for flight tests. Other suppliers include US-based UQM Technologies, MT Propeller and W.L. Gore in Germany, and Tecnicas Aeronauticas de Madrid, Ingenieria de Instrumentacion y Control, Indra and Inventia in Spain. Contact: Francisco Escarti, Boeing Research & Technology – Europe, Madrid, Spain. Tel: +34 91 768 8400, Email: [email protected], www.boeing.com/phantom
Protonex acquires Mesoscopic Devices
M
assachusetts-based PEM fuel cell developer Protonex Technology has entered into an agreement, worth $12.4 million, to acquire Mesoscopic Devices in Colorado, an industry leader in solid oxide fuel cell technology, fuel reforming and desulfurization systems. Mesoscopic Devices has developed two platforms of fully integrated power systems at the 10 W to 1 kW scale based on SOFC and direct methanol fuel cell technologies, including one of the first portable SOFCs operating on liquid fuels. The acquisition represents Protonex’s first strategic investment since its admission to the Alternative Investment Market in London last July. Its directors believe that the proposed acquisition will deliver considerable short- and long-term synergies and benefits, including: • Fuel diversity: SOFC technology enables the utilization of propane, gasoline, diesel and JP8 as input fuels for future Protonex fuel cell systems. These fuels are widely available and optimal for certain commercial, consumer and other applications. • Broader markets: Based on the relative merits (operating characteristics, input fuels, power
May 2007
density and efficiency) of PEM and SOFC technologies, Protonex believes that products based on both will co-exist in the market. • Expanded intellectual property portfolio: Mesoscopic Devices expands Protonex’s technology and IP portfolio with complementary SOFC and DMFC systems, as well as key reformer and balance-of-plant components currently utilized across the fuel cell industry. Once the deal is completed, Protonex will focus the Mesoscopic Devices team primarily on the development of several SOFC-based product platforms. The first SOFC platform fueled by propane is currently at the functional prototype stage. Additional SOFC platforms fueled by gasoline, diesel and JP8 are already in advanced development, and will be accelerated with additional resources from Protonex. Protonex anticipated introducing a new 250 W methanol-fueled PEM fuel cell power system at the recent Hannover Fair in Germany. Contact: Protonex Technology Corporation, Southborough, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 508 490 9960, www.protonex.com Or contact: Mesoscopic Devices LLC, Broomfield, Colorado, USA. Tel: +1 303 466 6968, www.mesoscopic.com
Voller to trial yacht generator, shows automatic operation
T
he first installation of UK-based Voller Energy’s 1 kW generator will be on a Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 411 cruising sailboat. The company has also demonstrated fully automatic operation of a completely self-contained 1 kW class auxiliary power unit, marking another key step towards commercialization this year. The company will be sea-trialing its fuel cell generator on-board its own Solent-based Beneteau Oceanis 411, called Emerald Emerald. Using this popular design of family sailing yacht will allow Voller to demonstrate the benefits and practicalities of the fuel cell generator under typical usage, as well as showing its potential to the retro-fit market. Quick and easy to install, the fuel cell system can be fitted to the existing wiring in the boat, and operates from the Calor Gas, LPG or propane that is already on board for cooking. The fuel cell generator works by automatically monitoring battery voltage; when the voltage falls, it automatically switches itself on and recharges the batteries. Once the batteries are fully charged the fuel cell switches itself off, to conserve fuel.
IN BRIEF FuelCell Energy to invest $100m in India US-based Fuel Cell Energy is apparently planning to invest $100 million in an operation in India. According to a Rediff.com report, FCE is in talks with several Indian firms for possible tie-ups to set up the first unit in Gujarat. ‘Although in the US the production cost comes to around $3000 per kW, we expect it to be as low as $1000 in India, given the low-cost components available here,’ says Pinakin Patel, FCE’s director of special systems and research. He adds that the firm would begin at a lower level of capacity, 10–100 MW, to reduce the risk. Patel says that the company would not be setting up its own subsidiary in India, but would instead look for private partners. ‘We are in talks with companies like Reliance, L&T and Kirloskar, especially in Gujarat, since we would want to begin our operations in India from here,’ says Patel. FCE plans to commence operations in India in phases, beginning by the end of 2007 or early 2008. ‘Initially we will be sourcing fuel cells from our US units for power generation in India,’ says Patel. ‘After that we will begin R&D for possibilities of fuel cell production here, and later we will begin producing fuel cells too from India.’ European firms join forces to progress joint technology initiative Forty-five companies from across Europe have joined forces in a new international not-forprofit association, as the first step to create a European public-private partnership – a Joint Technology Initiative – for fuel cells and hydrogen. This association, called the JTI Industry Grouping, will be the key interlocutor and partner of the European Commission to create the Joint Technology Initiative (JTI). The 45 members of the JTI Industry Grouping are now calling on the European Commission to accelerate the process, and adopt a proposal for the creation of the JTI on fuel cells and hydrogen as soon as possible. ‘If Europe is serious about addressing climate change, security of energy supply and competitiveness in new technologies, we must unite forces and have a strong public-private partnership to accelerate the wide-scale market introduction of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies,’ says Herbert Kohler, chairman of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform (www.hfpeurope.org). ‘The establishment of a JTI for fuel cells and hydrogen needs to occur without further delay.’ The Industry Grouping is chaired by Shell’s Gijs Van Breda, with vice-chairs Herbert Wancura (ALPPS Fuel Cell Systems, Austria) and Herbert Kohler of DaimlerChrysler. The other board members are Jonathan Lewis (Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems, UK), Augustin Escardino (NTDA Energia, Spain), and Alberto Ravagni (SOFCpower (SOFCpower power,, Italy).
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3
Protonex acquires Mesoscopic Devices
M
assachusetts-based PEM fuel cell developer Protonex Technology has entered into an agreement, worth $12.4 million, to acquire Mesoscopic Devices in Colorado, an industry leader in solid oxide fuel cell technology, fuel reforming and desulfurization systems. Mesoscopic Devices has developed two platforms of fully integrated power systems at the 10 W to 1 kW scale based on SOFC and direct methanol fuel cell technologies, including one of the first portable SOFCs operating on liquid fuels. The acquisition represents Protonex’s first strategic investment since its admission to the Alternative Investment Market in London last July. Its directors believe that the proposed acquisition will deliver considerable short- and long-term synergies and benefits, including: • Fuel diversity: SOFC technology enables the utilization of propane, gasoline, diesel and JP8 as input fuels for future Protonex fuel cell systems. These fuels are widely available and optimal for certain commercial, consumer and other applications. • Broader markets: Based on the relative merits (operating characteristics, input fuels, power
May 2007
density and efficiency) of PEM and SOFC technologies, Protonex believes that products based on both will co-exist in the market. • Expanded intellectual property portfolio: Mesoscopic Devices expands Protonex’s technology and IP portfolio with complementary SOFC and DMFC systems, as well as key reformer and balance-of-plant components currently utilized across the fuel cell industry. Once the deal is completed, Protonex will focus the Mesoscopic Devices team primarily on the development of several SOFC-based product platforms. The first SOFC platform fueled by propane is currently at the functional prototype stage. Additional SOFC platforms fueled by gasoline, diesel and JP8 are already in advanced development, and will be accelerated with additional resources from Protonex. Protonex anticipated introducing a new 250 W methanol-fueled PEM fuel cell power system at the recent Hannover Fair in Germany. Contact: Protonex Technology Corporation, Southborough, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 508 490 9960, www.protonex.com Or contact: Mesoscopic Devices LLC, Broomfield, Colorado, USA. Tel: +1 303 466 6968, www.mesoscopic.com
Voller to trial yacht generator, shows automatic operation
T
he first installation of UK-based Voller Energy’s 1 kW generator will be on a Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 411 cruising sailboat. The company has also demonstrated fully automatic operation of a completely self-contained 1 kW class auxiliary power unit, marking another key step towards commercialization this year. The company will be sea-trialing its fuel cell generator on-board its own Solent-based Beneteau Oceanis 411, called Emerald Emerald. Using this popular design of family sailing yacht will allow Voller to demonstrate the benefits and practicalities of the fuel cell generator under typical usage, as well as showing its potential to the retro-fit market. Quick and easy to install, the fuel cell system can be fitted to the existing wiring in the boat, and operates from the Calor Gas, LPG or propane that is already on board for cooking. The fuel cell generator works by automatically monitoring battery voltage; when the voltage falls, it automatically switches itself on and recharges the batteries. Once the batteries are fully charged the fuel cell switches itself off, to conserve fuel.
IN BRIEF FuelCell Energy to invest $100m in India US-based Fuel Cell Energy is apparently planning to invest $100 million in an operation in India. According to a Rediff.com report, FCE is in talks with several Indian firms for possible tie-ups to set up the first unit in Gujarat. ‘Although in the US the production cost comes to around $3000 per kW, we expect it to be as low as $1000 in India, given the low-cost components available here,’ says Pinakin Patel, FCE’s director of special systems and research. He adds that the firm would begin at a lower level of capacity, 10–100 MW, to reduce the risk. Patel says that the company would not be setting up its own subsidiary in India, but would instead look for private partners. ‘We are in talks with companies like Reliance, L&T and Kirloskar, especially in Gujarat, since we would want to begin our operations in India from here,’ says Patel. FCE plans to commence operations in India in phases, beginning by the end of 2007 or early 2008. ‘Initially we will be sourcing fuel cells from our US units for power generation in India,’ says Patel. ‘After that we will begin R&D for possibilities of fuel cell production here, and later we will begin producing fuel cells too from India.’ European firms join forces to progress joint technology initiative Forty-five companies from across Europe have joined forces in a new international not-forprofit association, as the first step to create a European public-private partnership – a Joint Technology Initiative – for fuel cells and hydrogen. This association, called the JTI Industry Grouping, will be the key interlocutor and partner of the European Commission to create the Joint Technology Initiative (JTI). The 45 members of the JTI Industry Grouping are now calling on the European Commission to accelerate the process, and adopt a proposal for the creation of the JTI on fuel cells and hydrogen as soon as possible. ‘If Europe is serious about addressing climate change, security of energy supply and competitiveness in new technologies, we must unite forces and have a strong public-private partnership to accelerate the wide-scale market introduction of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies,’ says Herbert Kohler, chairman of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform (www.hfpeurope.org). ‘The establishment of a JTI for fuel cells and hydrogen needs to occur without further delay.’ The Industry Grouping is chaired by Shell’s Gijs Van Breda, with vice-chairs Herbert Wancura (ALPPS Fuel Cell Systems, Austria) and Herbert Kohler of DaimlerChrysler. The other board members are Jonathan Lewis (Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems, UK), Augustin Escardino (NTDA Energia, Spain), and Alberto Ravagni (SOFCpower (SOFCpower power,, Italy).
Fuel Cells Bulletin
3