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ReliOn unveils Eco-200 for small-scale backup power
NEWS technology license agreement with California-based Hobie Cat Company, a leading manufacturer of sail and fishing boats, to jointly explore utilizing Neah’s patented, silicon-based fuel cells to power Hobie Cat’s various boat products using renewable, costefficient methanol. The unique anaerobic operation of Neah’s fuel cells minimizes or eliminates the impact of air quality, which is of particular relevance to the water-based environment in which Hobie’s products are used. Doug Skidmore, president of Hobie Cat, comments that when Neah’s fuel cells become operational in the company’s boats, it will open up new doors for the business, which includes its eponymous surfboards, sailboats, kayaks, fishing boats and peripheral products, which are sold around the world. Neah Power Systems is developing long-lasting, efficient and safe power solutions for the military and for portable electronic devices. The company uses a unique, patented, silicon-based design for its micro fuel cells to offer higher power densities, lower cost and compact formfactors. The company’s micro fuel cell system can run in aerobic and anaerobic modes. Contact: Neah Power Systems Inc, Bothell, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 425 424 3324, www.neahpower.com-
SMALL STATIONARY
Heliocentris launches new industrial systems at Hannover
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erman-based system integrator Heliocentris Fuel Cells launched three new industrial fuel cell systems at the recent Hannover Messe trade show. The new systems, designed for OEM customers, target different power classes and cooling systems. The systems integrate fuel cells from strategic partners Ballard Power Systems in Canada and Schunk Group in Germany. These fuel cell systems are based on Heliocentris’ in-house development, except the fuel cells themselves. The company aims to design generic systems for use in a broad range of industrial settings, with a focus on size and technical requirements. These latest product launches see Heliocentris further strengthen its technological reputation and expand its position within the fuel cell value chain. The company is also further building on its lead as a system integrator in the international fuel cell market. 4
Fuel Cells Bulletin
At the Hannover show Heliocentris presented two systems equipped with Ballard’s air-cooled PEM fuel cells as examples of industrial applications. One system supplies 350 W of backup power, and is applied as an extension to an existing photovoltaic emergency power supply, shown in collaboration with SMA Technologie AG. The other system is a complete, self-contained 1.2 kW power generation unit including hydrogen generation (electrolyzer) and storage. The installation is an example of a stand-alone grid-independent energy system. In addition to these air-cooled systems, Heliocentris showed a water-cooled system platform using Schunk PEM fuel cells. This compact system allows the use of ‘waste’ heat for heating purposes, for example, increasing the system’s overall efficiency. ‘This campaign strengthens Heliocentris’ position as a leading system integrator for fuel cells and hydrogen applications,’ says Dr Henrik Colell, CEO of Heliocentris Fuel Cells. ‘With these flexible fuel cell systems we can now easily adapt to our customer specific needs and requirements. The new systems allow us to now serve the demands of the market for industrial applications with its multitude of opportunities.’ Contact: Heliocentris Fuel Cells AG, Berlin, Germany. Tel: +49 30 6392 6325, www.heliocentris.com Or contact: Heliocentris Energy Systems Inc, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 684 3546. Or contact: Ballard Power Systems Inc, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com Or contact: Schunk Bahn- und Industrietechnik GmbH, Wettenberg, Germany. Tel: +49 641 8030, www.schunk-fuelcells.com
ReliOn unveils Eco-200 for small-scale backup power
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pokane, Washington-based ReliOn has launched the Eco-200™ fuel cell system, designed around the company’s patented Modular Cartridge Technology® and providing high-reliability power for smaller-scale backup power applications. The Eco-200 is a compact complete PEM fuel cell system housed in a 2U rack-mountable package. Like all of ReliOn’s fuel cell products, emissions are limited to warm air and a small amount of water, and the Eco-200 is exempt from the most stringent air quality standards, such as those set by the California Air Resources Board. Designed to be an economi-
cal, small-scale backup power solution, the Eco200 can affordably provide hundreds of hours of runtime and many years of service for critical equipment. The product will be commercially available in the fourth quarter of 2009. The Eco-200 joins ReliOn’s current product line – the T-1000® and T-2000® – which provide backup power solutions between 500 W and 12 kW. The company has delivered in excess of 2 MW worth of products at more than 600 commercial customer sites in 18 countries. While many of ReliOn’s customers are wireless telecoms providers, the company also serves markets including wireline telecoms, government, security, and utility communications and transportation networks. The firm’s products can be used for backup power and site-hardening in both traditional configurations and as part of a clean technology system integrated with solar and wind power. ‘The Eco-200 provides a solution for our customers with lower-power applications requiring high reliability and long runtime,’ says Joe Blanchard, the company’s VP of product line management. ‘For key applications including remote backhaul sites, microwave repeaters and security and sensor sites, this product provides an ideal solution that allows customers to meet their critical backup power requirements, while supporting their corporate sustainability goals.’ Contact: ReliOn Inc, Spokane, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 509 228 6500, www.relion-inc.com
Nuon cancels microgen project with CFCL
A
ustralian-based Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd, which is developing solid oxide fuel cell microgeneration products for residential applications, reports that the Dutch-based utility Nuon has cancelled its collaborative product development project for the Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) market. CFCL and Nuon recently completed a joint review of the project to develop micro combined heat and power (mCHP) products based on SOFC technology. During the project a semi-integrated mCHP unit was installed and operated. The unit comprised a CFCL NetGenPlus™ fuel cell unit connected to a boiler unit, and was installed last September. The mCHP unit met or exceeded all technical targets set by the partners, including power export, electrical efficiency, and lifetime, operating for at least 4600 h (as at 31 March). CFCL’s fuel cell unit exported electricity to the local
June 2009
SMALL STATIONARY
Heliocentris launches new industrial systems at Hannover
G
erman-based system integrator Heliocentris Fuel Cells launched three new industrial fuel cell systems at the recent Hannover Messe trade show. The new systems, designed for OEM customers, target different power classes and cooling systems. The systems integrate fuel cells from strategic partners Ballard Power Systems in Canada and Schunk Group in Germany. These fuel cell systems are based on Heliocentris’ in-house development, except the fuel cells themselves. The company aims to design generic systems for use in a broad range of industrial settings, with a focus on size and technical requirements. These latest product launches see Heliocentris further strengthen its technological reputation and expand its position within the fuel cell value chain. The company is also further building on its lead as a system integrator in the international fuel cell market. 4
Fuel Cells Bulletin
At the Hannover show Heliocentris presented two systems equipped with Ballard’s air-cooled PEM fuel cells as examples of industrial applications. One system supplies 350 W of backup power, and is applied as an extension to an existing photovoltaic emergency power supply, shown in collaboration with SMA Technologie AG. The other system is a complete, self-contained 1.2 kW power generation unit including hydrogen generation (electrolyzer) and storage. The installation is an example of a stand-alone grid-independent energy system. In addition to these air-cooled systems, Heliocentris showed a water-cooled system platform using Schunk PEM fuel cells. This compact system allows the use of ‘waste’ heat for heating purposes, for example, increasing the system’s overall efficiency. ‘This campaign strengthens Heliocentris’ position as a leading system integrator for fuel cells and hydrogen applications,’ says Dr Henrik Colell, CEO of Heliocentris Fuel Cells. ‘With these flexible fuel cell systems we can now easily adapt to our customer specific needs and requirements. The new systems allow us to now serve the demands of the market for industrial applications with its multitude of opportunities.’ Contact: Heliocentris Fuel Cells AG, Berlin, Germany. Tel: +49 30 6392 6325, www.heliocentris.com Or contact: Heliocentris Energy Systems Inc, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 684 3546. Or contact: Ballard Power Systems Inc, Burnaby, BC, Canada. Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com Or contact: Schunk Bahn- und Industrietechnik GmbH, Wettenberg, Germany. Tel: +49 641 8030, www.schunk-fuelcells.com
ReliOn unveils Eco-200 for small-scale backup power
S
pokane, Washington-based ReliOn has launched the Eco-200™ fuel cell system, designed around the company’s patented Modular Cartridge Technology® and providing high-reliability power for smaller-scale backup power applications. The Eco-200 is a compact complete PEM fuel cell system housed in a 2U rack-mountable package. Like all of ReliOn’s fuel cell products, emissions are limited to warm air and a small amount of water, and the Eco-200 is exempt from the most stringent air quality standards, such as those set by the California Air Resources Board. Designed to be an economi-
cal, small-scale backup power solution, the Eco200 can affordably provide hundreds of hours of runtime and many years of service for critical equipment. The product will be commercially available in the fourth quarter of 2009. The Eco-200 joins ReliOn’s current product line – the T-1000® and T-2000® – which provide backup power solutions between 500 W and 12 kW. The company has delivered in excess of 2 MW worth of products at more than 600 commercial customer sites in 18 countries. While many of ReliOn’s customers are wireless telecoms providers, the company also serves markets including wireline telecoms, government, security, and utility communications and transportation networks. The firm’s products can be used for backup power and site-hardening in both traditional configurations and as part of a clean technology system integrated with solar and wind power. ‘The Eco-200 provides a solution for our customers with lower-power applications requiring high reliability and long runtime,’ says Joe Blanchard, the company’s VP of product line management. ‘For key applications including remote backhaul sites, microwave repeaters and security and sensor sites, this product provides an ideal solution that allows customers to meet their critical backup power requirements, while supporting their corporate sustainability goals.’ Contact: ReliOn Inc, Spokane, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 509 228 6500, www.relion-inc.com
Nuon cancels microgen project with CFCL
A
ustralian-based Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd, which is developing solid oxide fuel cell microgeneration products for residential applications, reports that the Dutch-based utility Nuon has cancelled its collaborative product development project for the Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) market. CFCL and Nuon recently completed a joint review of the project to develop micro combined heat and power (mCHP) products based on SOFC technology. During the project a semi-integrated mCHP unit was installed and operated. The unit comprised a CFCL NetGenPlus™ fuel cell unit connected to a boiler unit, and was installed last September. The mCHP unit met or exceeded all technical targets set by the partners, including power export, electrical efficiency, and lifetime, operating for at least 4600 h (as at 31 March). CFCL’s fuel cell unit exported electricity to the local
June 2009