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SFC commercial order for military fuel cells
NEWS Under the agreement, the companies will collaborate on the production of SOFC components – in particular anode-supported cells. CFCL will license its relevant intellectual property to CeramTec and provide ongoing assistance to optimize the performance of the cell against CFCL’s rigorous specifications. Both firms will also collaborate to continually improve cell performance and manufacturing processes, and reduce unit costs. CFCL recently signed a similar agreement with H.C. Starck in Germany, also to secure a high-volume supply of fuel cell components [FCB, March 2008]. CFCL’s operations – including its powder production plant in Merseyside, UK – will also supply CeramTec with a range of high-quality ceramic powders. The company will use these to make fuel cell components which it will supply to CFCL and potentially other customers. Once optimized, CeramTec will supply fuel cells to CFCL at pre-agreed prices until December 2011, securing long-term ‘cost visibility’. It is expected to start shipping products during the second half of 2008, with increases in forecast volumes for 2009. CFCL will continue to produce fuel cells at its R&D and pilot manufacturing facility in Melbourne. CeramTec manufactures fuel cells at its plant in Marktredwitz, Germany and says that it is planning to invest in new equipment to increase capacity to 400 000 fuel cells per annum from 2009. Contact: Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd, Noble Park, Victoria, Australia. Tel: +61 3 9554 2300, www.cfcl.com.au Or contact: Ceramic Fuel Cells (Europe) Ltd, Bromborough, Wirral, UK. Tel: +44 151 334 8880, Email: [email protected] Or contact: CeramTec AG, Plochingen, Germany. Tel: +49 7153 6110, www.ceramtec.com
SFC commercial order for military fuel cells
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erman-based SFC Smart Fuel Cell has been awarded another commercial order for its portable direct methanol fuel cells, this time for a defense application. The company says that this new 350 000 order builds on the success of its products in international tests. The deal includes SFC’s portable Jenny fuel cells and Power Manager units, for use in an international peace-keeping mission. Carried on a person’s body, SFC’s portable fuel cells are compact and provide reliable, autonomous power anytime and anywhere, so
April 2008
that soldiers will always have enough power for their devices, even in difficult terrain and in challenging environmental and weather conditions. The lightweight fuel cell system reduces the load carried by a soldier by more than 80%, compared with conventional lithium batteries. The Power Manager allows almost any device used during the mission to be supplied with electricity by the fuel cell or any other available power source. Current and voltage are automatically adapted, ensuring that key devices, such as radio and communication systems, operate reliably and for longer periods than when powered by batteries. ‘This order once more proves our competitive edge and the technical maturity of our fuel cells and power management products. It also shows that our successful international field and product tests are now leading to first commercial orders,’ says Dr Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC. ‘Thus, the extensive qualification programs our products undergo even in extreme conditions in the field continue to bear fruit.’ Contact: SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG, Brunnthal-Nord, Germany. Tel: +49 89 673 5920, www.sfc.com
PFCE relocates R&D, wins purchase order
I
n the US, Pacific Fuel Cell Corporation is relocating its membrane-electrode assembly R&D facility from Riverside, California to its plant in Willoughby, Ohio. The company reports that it has also secured a one-year purchase order from ‘a leading fuel cell company’. ‘We are centralizing our products at one facility to take advantage of our existing manufacturing structure,’ explains president/CEO George Suzuki. ‘The relocation of our laboratory to Willoughby paves the way for the company to move from the research phase of nanoMEA technology to the production phase. This move provides us with greater opportunities to introduce our nano-MEA platform to new and existing BPP [bipolar plate] manufacturing customers, and prepares us for future growth opportunities.’ The company’s chief scientific advisor and director, Dr Yushan Yan, will remain at the University of California, Riverside where he is a professor of chemical engineering. In other news, Pacific Fuel Cell has received a mold-to-size purchase order from a major, unidentified fuel cell company. Covering the calendar year 2008, molding runs will occur at predetermined intervals throughout the twelvemonth period.
‘All the tooling necessary to achieve the molding is secured, and we will begin the pre-production process for this customer,’ comments Suzuki. ‘The mass production of fuel cells is now possible as our mold-to-size step provides our customers with BPPs that are cost-competitive.’ The company expects to achieve improved operating results through an increase in the hourly output and by lowering labor costs, among other factors, associated with its moldto-size program. Pacific Fuel Cell began manufacturing BPPs following the purchase of equipment and licensing material from German-based SGL Group in 2006. Its decision to expand its participation in the fuel cell supply-chain came about as it recognized that its nano-MEA and BPP customers are the same, and producing both products creates strong business synergies. In addition to being the exclusive molder of BPPs in the US using SGL’s Sigracet BBP4 compound material, the company has strong relationships with other leading graphite compound suppliers, including Bulk Molding Compounds Inc. Contact: Pacific Fuel Cell Corporation, Tustin, California, USA. Tel: +1 714 564 1693, www.pfce.net
CFCL invests in German facility, wins Nuon order
A
ustralian SOFC developer Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd is investing 12.4 million in the construction of a manufacturing plant in Heinsberg, Germany for the commercial production of its fuel cell systems. The move will help it fulfill a volume order from its regional partner Nuon, one of the largest energy companies in the Netherlands. CFCL will assemble its fuel cell systems at the Heinsberg facility on automated and semiautomated production lines in a staged scaleup operation. Initial capacity will be 10 000 units per annum, enough to fulfill the order. A second phase of the project will see an increase in capacity to 160 000 stacks per annum within the existing building. The companies have agreed on a set of performance targets for a commercial unit. Once CFCL achieves these targets, Nuon will order 50 000 fuel cell systems, to be delivered over a five-year period from June 2009. The order is expected to generate substantial revenue for CFCL. The fuel cell systems will be integrated into conventional boilers for use in the lowcarbon emission heating and power market.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
9
SFC commercial order for military fuel cells
G
erman-based SFC Smart Fuel Cell has been awarded another commercial order for its portable direct methanol fuel cells, this time for a defense application. The company says that this new 350 000 order builds on the success of its products in international tests. The deal includes SFC’s portable Jenny fuel cells and Power Manager units, for use in an international peace-keeping mission. Carried on a person’s body, SFC’s portable fuel cells are compact and provide reliable, autonomous power anytime and anywhere, so
April 2008
that soldiers will always have enough power for their devices, even in difficult terrain and in challenging environmental and weather conditions. The lightweight fuel cell system reduces the load carried by a soldier by more than 80%, compared with conventional lithium batteries. The Power Manager allows almost any device used during the mission to be supplied with electricity by the fuel cell or any other available power source. Current and voltage are automatically adapted, ensuring that key devices, such as radio and communication systems, operate reliably and for longer periods than when powered by batteries. ‘This order once more proves our competitive edge and the technical maturity of our fuel cells and power management products. It also shows that our successful international field and product tests are now leading to first commercial orders,’ says Dr Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC. ‘Thus, the extensive qualification programs our products undergo even in extreme conditions in the field continue to bear fruit.’ Contact: SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG, Brunnthal-Nord, Germany. Tel: +49 89 673 5920, www.sfc.com
PFCE relocates R&D, wins purchase order
I
n the US, Pacific Fuel Cell Corporation is relocating its membrane-electrode assembly R&D facility from Riverside, California to its plant in Willoughby, Ohio. The company reports that it has also secured a one-year purchase order from ‘a leading fuel cell company’. ‘We are centralizing our products at one facility to take advantage of our existing manufacturing structure,’ explains president/CEO George Suzuki. ‘The relocation of our laboratory to Willoughby paves the way for the company to move from the research phase of nanoMEA technology to the production phase. This move provides us with greater opportunities to introduce our nano-MEA platform to new and existing BPP [bipolar plate] manufacturing customers, and prepares us for future growth opportunities.’ The company’s chief scientific advisor and director, Dr Yushan Yan, will remain at the University of California, Riverside where he is a professor of chemical engineering. In other news, Pacific Fuel Cell has received a mold-to-size purchase order from a major, unidentified fuel cell company. Covering the calendar year 2008, molding runs will occur at predetermined intervals throughout the twelvemonth period.
‘All the tooling necessary to achieve the molding is secured, and we will begin the pre-production process for this customer,’ comments Suzuki. ‘The mass production of fuel cells is now possible as our mold-to-size step provides our customers with BPPs that are cost-competitive.’ The company expects to achieve improved operating results through an increase in the hourly output and by lowering labor costs, among other factors, associated with its moldto-size program. Pacific Fuel Cell began manufacturing BPPs following the purchase of equipment and licensing material from German-based SGL Group in 2006. Its decision to expand its participation in the fuel cell supply-chain came about as it recognized that its nano-MEA and BPP customers are the same, and producing both products creates strong business synergies. In addition to being the exclusive molder of BPPs in the US using SGL’s Sigracet BBP4 compound material, the company has strong relationships with other leading graphite compound suppliers, including Bulk Molding Compounds Inc. Contact: Pacific Fuel Cell Corporation, Tustin, California, USA. Tel: +1 714 564 1693, www.pfce.net
CFCL invests in German facility, wins Nuon order
A
ustralian SOFC developer Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd is investing 12.4 million in the construction of a manufacturing plant in Heinsberg, Germany for the commercial production of its fuel cell systems. The move will help it fulfill a volume order from its regional partner Nuon, one of the largest energy companies in the Netherlands. CFCL will assemble its fuel cell systems at the Heinsberg facility on automated and semiautomated production lines in a staged scaleup operation. Initial capacity will be 10 000 units per annum, enough to fulfill the order. A second phase of the project will see an increase in capacity to 160 000 stacks per annum within the existing building. The companies have agreed on a set of performance targets for a commercial unit. Once CFCL achieves these targets, Nuon will order 50 000 fuel cell systems, to be delivered over a five-year period from June 2009. The order is expected to generate substantial revenue for CFCL. The fuel cell systems will be integrated into conventional boilers for use in the lowcarbon emission heating and power market.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
9