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SFC launches EFOY Comfort series of fuel cell generators
NEWS foundations for helping electricity consumers to reduce their carbon footprint, cut energy use, and save money. CFCL is also supplying BlueGen units in Australia, for installation in homes in Newcastle, New South Wales as part of Ausgrid’s ‘Smart Grid, Smart City’ project [see page 4]. Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd, Noble Park, Victoria, Australia. Tel: +61 3 9554 2300, www.cfcl.com.au Ceramic Fuel Cells (Europe) Ltd, Bromborough, Wirral, UK. Tel: +44 151 334 8880, Email: [email protected] RES Group: www.res-group.com UK Microgeneration Certification Scheme: www.microgenerationcertification.org CE Electric UK: www.ce-electricuk.com
SFC launches EFOY Comfort series of fuel cell generators
G
erman-based SFC Energy is introducing a new, further optimized series of its power generator for mobile homes, sailing yachts, and holiday cabins. The latest products utilize the company’s direct methanol fuel cell technology, now even quieter and proven for year-round service. The new onboard power supply for recreational applications is available in three performance classes. The EFOY Comfort units offer a charge capacity of 80, 140 or 210 Ah per day, enabling customers to select the most appropriate energy supply for their individual power needs – which can be identified with the aid of a simple test on the SFC website. The three new EFOY Comfort models replace the previous EFOY series of five models throughout Europe. The new models are also available to retail customers through authorized dealers. In addition to a 15% increase in performance, the new series is now even quieter, through the intelligent utilization of vibrationabsorbing attenuators from the automobile industry. Operation has also been further optimized. The new units have intuitive, userfriendly menu navigation, a larger display for easier reading, and with an ‘expert’ mode to help first-time users configure individual settings, such as adjusting threshold levels. SFC Energy is a market leader in DMFC technologies for mobile and off-grid power applications serving the leisure, industrial, and defense markets. The company has sold more
June 2011
than 21 000 of its power generators to industrial and private end-users around the world, and has created an extensive fuel cartridge supply infrastructure. SFC Energy AG, Brunnthal-Nord, Germany. Tel: +49 89 673 5920, www.sfc.com or www.efoy.com
AFC, N2telligence looking at fuel cells in fire protection
A
lkaline fuel cell developer AFC Energy in the UK has signed an agreement with German-based N2telligence GmbH, relating to the use of alkaline fuel cells for fire protection. Under the terms of a binding Heads of Terms agreement, AFC Energy and N2telligence will work together on an exclusive basis. AFC Energy will supply the exhaust air from its alkaline fuel cell systems to N2telligence for fire protection and lowoxygen environments, while N2telligence will source exhaust air from AFC Energy’s alkaline fuel cell systems for these applications. N2telligence has licensed patents from Airbus in order to develop fire protection systems that use the exhaust air from fuel cell systems to create low-oxygen environments. The N2telligence system creates a low-oxygen environment in a room, to a level at which the air is still breathable, but an open fire cannot spread. Both parties believe that as this method of fire protection becomes more widespread, it is likely to be actively supported by insurance companies. The ability to reduce fire risk while simultaneously generating onsite, clean electricity would be attractive for use in data centers, archive stores, hazardous materials stores, telecom equipment rooms, vaults, museums, and boiler rooms. Such areas require a failsafe solution that protects against fire without impeding safe access for personnel. ‘The innovation at N2telligence opens up another avenue for AFC Energy’s fuel cells,’ comments Ian Balchin, deputy chairman of AFC Energy. In addition to electric power, heat, and water outputs, ‘now there are applications for the exhaust air, and through N2telligence all of these have a commercial value,’ he adds. In other news, AFC Energy has raised £3.95 million (US$6.3 million) in a share placing, most of which will be used to ramp up testing of its commercial fuel cell systems, including the expansion of operating premises. The move was supported by AFC’s industry partner, Australian-based Linc Energy. Linc has been granted first refusal in its operating territories,
for all applications combining AFC’s fuel cell technology with hydrogen derived from coal. The news was offset by the announcement that managing director Edward Wilson has resigned, due to differences in opinion regarding the strategic direction of the company. AFC Energy Plc, Cranleigh, Surrey, UK. Tel: +44 1483 276726, www.afcenergy.com N2telligence GmbH, Hamburg, Germany. Tel: +49 3841 758 4500, www.n2telligence.com
Neah Power focusing on sensors with Exigent acquisition
I
n the US, Neah Power Systems in Bothell, Washington has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire Illinois-based Exigent Security Products. The companies will focus on developing sensors for homeland security and grid-independent power, combining ESP’s advanced sensor technology with silicon-based fuel cell systems from Neah Power. Privately held ESP develops and markets advanced radiation sensors for use by medical, homeland security, defense, and other industries. The company has also begun introducing its radiation detector products in Japan and other regions where concerns with radiation have risen recently. ESP has sold products to government and security agencies, self-storage facilities, and hospitals across the US. Its radiation detection systems integrate networks of sensors controlled by web-enabled management and messaging systems. The company believes that joining with Neah Power will enable it to combine offerings of fuel cell and radiation detector products, to provide power for remote and continuous sensor applications. ‘We believe that a product offering that combines networks of security sensors with reliable, continuous fuel cell power will provide further differentiation to our products, and additional opportunities in the market place,’ says Frank O’Connor, CEO of ESP. Neah Power is developing a silicon-based design for its micro fuel cells that enables higher power densities, lower cost, and compact form-factors. Its micro fuel cell technology can run in aerobic and anaerobic modes. Neah Power Systems Inc, Bothell, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 425 424 3324, www.neahpower.com Exigent Security Products Inc, North Barrington, Illinois, USA. Tel: +1 224 633 1261, www.espsensors.com
Fuel Cells Bulletin
9
SFC launches EFOY Comfort series of fuel cell generators
G
erman-based SFC Energy is introducing a new, further optimized series of its power generator for mobile homes, sailing yachts, and holiday cabins. The latest products utilize the company’s direct methanol fuel cell technology, now even quieter and proven for year-round service. The new onboard power supply for recreational applications is available in three performance classes. The EFOY Comfort units offer a charge capacity of 80, 140 or 210 Ah per day, enabling customers to select the most appropriate energy supply for their individual power needs – which can be identified with the aid of a simple test on the SFC website. The three new EFOY Comfort models replace the previous EFOY series of five models throughout Europe. The new models are also available to retail customers through authorized dealers. In addition to a 15% increase in performance, the new series is now even quieter, through the intelligent utilization of vibrationabsorbing attenuators from the automobile industry. Operation has also been further optimized. The new units have intuitive, userfriendly menu navigation, a larger display for easier reading, and with an ‘expert’ mode to help first-time users configure individual settings, such as adjusting threshold levels. SFC Energy is a market leader in DMFC technologies for mobile and off-grid power applications serving the leisure, industrial, and defense markets. The company has sold more
June 2011
than 21 000 of its power generators to industrial and private end-users around the world, and has created an extensive fuel cartridge supply infrastructure. SFC Energy AG, Brunnthal-Nord, Germany. Tel: +49 89 673 5920, www.sfc.com or www.efoy.com
AFC, N2telligence looking at fuel cells in fire protection
A
lkaline fuel cell developer AFC Energy in the UK has signed an agreement with German-based N2telligence GmbH, relating to the use of alkaline fuel cells for fire protection. Under the terms of a binding Heads of Terms agreement, AFC Energy and N2telligence will work together on an exclusive basis. AFC Energy will supply the exhaust air from its alkaline fuel cell systems to N2telligence for fire protection and lowoxygen environments, while N2telligence will source exhaust air from AFC Energy’s alkaline fuel cell systems for these applications. N2telligence has licensed patents from Airbus in order to develop fire protection systems that use the exhaust air from fuel cell systems to create low-oxygen environments. The N2telligence system creates a low-oxygen environment in a room, to a level at which the air is still breathable, but an open fire cannot spread. Both parties believe that as this method of fire protection becomes more widespread, it is likely to be actively supported by insurance companies. The ability to reduce fire risk while simultaneously generating onsite, clean electricity would be attractive for use in data centers, archive stores, hazardous materials stores, telecom equipment rooms, vaults, museums, and boiler rooms. Such areas require a failsafe solution that protects against fire without impeding safe access for personnel. ‘The innovation at N2telligence opens up another avenue for AFC Energy’s fuel cells,’ comments Ian Balchin, deputy chairman of AFC Energy. In addition to electric power, heat, and water outputs, ‘now there are applications for the exhaust air, and through N2telligence all of these have a commercial value,’ he adds. In other news, AFC Energy has raised £3.95 million (US$6.3 million) in a share placing, most of which will be used to ramp up testing of its commercial fuel cell systems, including the expansion of operating premises. The move was supported by AFC’s industry partner, Australian-based Linc Energy. Linc has been granted first refusal in its operating territories,
for all applications combining AFC’s fuel cell technology with hydrogen derived from coal. The news was offset by the announcement that managing director Edward Wilson has resigned, due to differences in opinion regarding the strategic direction of the company. AFC Energy Plc, Cranleigh, Surrey, UK. Tel: +44 1483 276726, www.afcenergy.com N2telligence GmbH, Hamburg, Germany. Tel: +49 3841 758 4500, www.n2telligence.com
Neah Power focusing on sensors with Exigent acquisition
I
n the US, Neah Power Systems in Bothell, Washington has signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire Illinois-based Exigent Security Products. The companies will focus on developing sensors for homeland security and grid-independent power, combining ESP’s advanced sensor technology with silicon-based fuel cell systems from Neah Power. Privately held ESP develops and markets advanced radiation sensors for use by medical, homeland security, defense, and other industries. The company has also begun introducing its radiation detector products in Japan and other regions where concerns with radiation have risen recently. ESP has sold products to government and security agencies, self-storage facilities, and hospitals across the US. Its radiation detection systems integrate networks of sensors controlled by web-enabled management and messaging systems. The company believes that joining with Neah Power will enable it to combine offerings of fuel cell and radiation detector products, to provide power for remote and continuous sensor applications. ‘We believe that a product offering that combines networks of security sensors with reliable, continuous fuel cell power will provide further differentiation to our products, and additional opportunities in the market place,’ says Frank O’Connor, CEO of ESP. Neah Power is developing a silicon-based design for its micro fuel cells that enables higher power densities, lower cost, and compact form-factors. Its micro fuel cell technology can run in aerobic and anaerobic modes. Neah Power Systems Inc, Bothell, Washington, USA. Tel: +1 425 424 3324, www.neahpower.com Exigent Security Products Inc, North Barrington, Illinois, USA. Tel: +1 224 633 1261, www.espsensors.com
Fuel Cells Bulletin
9