- Email: [email protected]
Singapore, BP first to provide H2 at existing fueling station
NEWS Stuart Energy has installed a number of its SES-f stations at customer sites in California, providing an embryonic fueling infrastructure between Chula Vista in the south [FCB, August 2002] to Richmond in the north. The SES-f systems are scalable in size to support a range of fueling requirements, from one car to fleets of vehicles. Based on the company’s proprietary Vandenborre IMET® cell stack and intelligent fuel station technology, the full SES product line is a modular system consisting of hydrogen generation, compression, storage, power and fuel dispenser modules, configurable for small to very large hydrogen infrastructure applications. Stuart’s vehicle is the 19th Toyota FCHV on the roads in the US and Japan, following the recent vehicle delivery to the University of California, Irvine [FCB, May]. The vehicle is based on the Highlander mid-sized SUV, and contains a Toyota-developed proprietary PEM fuel cell system with four 5000 psi (350 bar) hydrogen fuel tanks. Contact: Stuart Energy Systems Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 905 282 7700, www.stuartenergy.com Or contact: Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc, Torrance, California, USA. Tel: +1 310 468 5084, www.toyota.com/environment/technology
Singapore, BP first to provide H2 at existing fueling station
B
P has added fueling facilities to provide hydrogen on a trial basis at one of its Singapore retail filling stations, becoming the world’s first to supply the ‘green’ fuel alongside conventional fuels at an existing retail site. The pilot project, with support from the Economic Development Board of Singapore, is part of a two-year test-bed project to evaluate the possible application of hydrogen fuel cell technology and infrastructure for transport across the world. The hydrogen refueling facility, in the urban east area of Singapore at Upper East Coast Road, has received its Certificate of Statutory Completion to operate. Initially, it will provide fuel to six cars supplied by DaimlerChrysler in May, but it has capacity to dispense 70 kg of hydrogen per day, enough to fuel 35 cars. The hydrogen will be produced from natural gas at the local Jurong Island refinery. The BP hydrogen station is the inaugural project under the Singapore Initiative for New Energy Technology (SINERGY) program, part of the Singaporean government’s effort to promote R&D and test-bedding activities in clean 4
Fuel Cells Bulletin
energy for automotive and stationary power applications. [More details on SINERGY can be found in the feature article, ‘Fuel cell research, development and demonstration activities in Singapore’ in the June issue of FCB.] BP is now assessing options for a possible second station in Singapore before the end of 2004. The company recently announced its participation in further hydrogen refueling demonstrations projects in the US [FCB, June] and the People’s Republic of China. Contact: Carol Battershell, Director – Alternative Fuels, BP Plc, London, UK. Tel: +44 20 7579 7962, Email: [email protected], www.bp.com/hydrogen For more information on SINERGY, go to: www.ntu.edu.sg/mpe/Research/Programmes/Fuelcell/ SINERGY brochure.pdf
Renault, Nuvera strengthen ties
U
S/Italian-based Nuvera Fuel Cells has reached agreement with French automaker Renault to strengthen their partnership and continue their collaborative efforts in fuel cell R&D. The deal gives Renault an equity stake in Nuvera, sets out the terms of a new research contract, and licenses Renault to use technology developed by Nuvera. Under the agreement, Renault will acquire a 10% equity stake in Nuvera by contributing to Nuvera’s capital increase. Nuvera’s other shareholders are integrated energy company Amerada Hess Corporation, headquartered in New York, and Italian electrochemistry company Gruppo De Nora. In addition, Renault and Nuvera agreed terms on a new four-year R&D contract, whereby Nuvera grants Renault a license to use its technology for automobiles and light-duty vehicles. This contract extends an earlier deal signed in summer 2002 [FCB, August 2002] to develop a hydrocarbon reformer for automotive use. The on-board reformer converts gasoline to hydrogen, which is used to power the fuel cell driving the vehicle. The initial contract is due to end later this year, when Nuvera supplies Renault with a prototype unit. ‘The [new] agreement will enable us to play an active role in the development of fuel cells powered by reformed hydrogen,’ says Pierre-Alain de Smedt, Renault’s executive VP for industry & technology. Adding Renault as a strategic shareholder securely positions Nuvera for the challenges ahead in executing its business plan for the next four years. The company is committed to advancing the commercialization of hydrogen
fuel cell power modules for industrial vehicles and equipment and stationary applications by 2006, natural gas fuel cell power systems for cogeneration applications by 2007, and onboard gasoline fuel processors and fuel cell stacks for automotive applications by 2010. Contact: Nuvera Fuel Cells, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 617 245 7500, www.nuvera.com Or contact: Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe Srl, Milan, Italy. Tel: +39 02 2129 2212. Or contact: Christophe Garnier, Research Manager – Energy Materials Processing, Renault, Guyancourt, France. Tel: +33 1 3495 7585, Email: [email protected], www.renault.com
ReliOn Independence completes NEBS Level 3 compliance testing
T
he Independence 1000™ backup power solution and outdoor enclosure from Spokane, Washington-based ReliOn have successfully completed Network Equipment Building Systems (NEBS) Level 3 compliance testing. The testing was developed by the telecoms industry to qualify equipment under extreme environmental conditions, and is often required prior to installation of equipment at telecoms sites. Compliance testing was provided by Intertek, which tested the ReliOn fuel cell system against all applicable criteria in NEBS Level 3. In achieving this compliance, ReliOn joins Plug Power, which recently became the first fuel cell company to reach this milestone [FCB, May]. The successful completion of NEBS testing positions ReliOn well for rolling out its PEM fuel cell products into the wireline telecoms industry. The company’s products are available to provide backup for sites needing power between 500 We and 5 kWe. In other company news, ReliOn’s chief technical officer Mike Davis has been elected chairman of the board of directors of the National Hydrogen Association (NHA), for which he will serve a term of two years. Founded in 1989, the NHA is the premier industry trade association in the US dedicated to developing commercialization pathways and removing the barriers to implementation of hydrogen technologies. Membership has grown to more than 90 members, including representatives from the automotive and aerospace industries, federal, state and local government, energy providers, fuel cell manufacturers and other stakeholders.
July 2004
Singapore, BP first to provide H2 at existing fueling station
B
P has added fueling facilities to provide hydrogen on a trial basis at one of its Singapore retail filling stations, becoming the world’s first to supply the ‘green’ fuel alongside conventional fuels at an existing retail site. The pilot project, with support from the Economic Development Board of Singapore, is part of a two-year test-bed project to evaluate the possible application of hydrogen fuel cell technology and infrastructure for transport across the world. The hydrogen refueling facility, in the urban east area of Singapore at Upper East Coast Road, has received its Certificate of Statutory Completion to operate. Initially, it will provide fuel to six cars supplied by DaimlerChrysler in May, but it has capacity to dispense 70 kg of hydrogen per day, enough to fuel 35 cars. The hydrogen will be produced from natural gas at the local Jurong Island refinery. The BP hydrogen station is the inaugural project under the Singapore Initiative for New Energy Technology (SINERGY) program, part of the Singaporean government’s effort to promote R&D and test-bedding activities in clean 4
Fuel Cells Bulletin
energy for automotive and stationary power applications. [More details on SINERGY can be found in the feature article, ‘Fuel cell research, development and demonstration activities in Singapore’ in the June issue of FCB.] BP is now assessing options for a possible second station in Singapore before the end of 2004. The company recently announced its participation in further hydrogen refueling demonstrations projects in the US [FCB, June] and the People’s Republic of China. Contact: Carol Battershell, Director – Alternative Fuels, BP Plc, London, UK. Tel: +44 20 7579 7962, Email: [email protected], www.bp.com/hydrogen For more information on SINERGY, go to: www.ntu.edu.sg/mpe/Research/Programmes/Fuelcell/ SINERGY brochure.pdf
Renault, Nuvera strengthen ties
U
S/Italian-based Nuvera Fuel Cells has reached agreement with French automaker Renault to strengthen their partnership and continue their collaborative efforts in fuel cell R&D. The deal gives Renault an equity stake in Nuvera, sets out the terms of a new research contract, and licenses Renault to use technology developed by Nuvera. Under the agreement, Renault will acquire a 10% equity stake in Nuvera by contributing to Nuvera’s capital increase. Nuvera’s other shareholders are integrated energy company Amerada Hess Corporation, headquartered in New York, and Italian electrochemistry company Gruppo De Nora. In addition, Renault and Nuvera agreed terms on a new four-year R&D contract, whereby Nuvera grants Renault a license to use its technology for automobiles and light-duty vehicles. This contract extends an earlier deal signed in summer 2002 [FCB, August 2002] to develop a hydrocarbon reformer for automotive use. The on-board reformer converts gasoline to hydrogen, which is used to power the fuel cell driving the vehicle. The initial contract is due to end later this year, when Nuvera supplies Renault with a prototype unit. ‘The [new] agreement will enable us to play an active role in the development of fuel cells powered by reformed hydrogen,’ says Pierre-Alain de Smedt, Renault’s executive VP for industry & technology. Adding Renault as a strategic shareholder securely positions Nuvera for the challenges ahead in executing its business plan for the next four years. The company is committed to advancing the commercialization of hydrogen
fuel cell power modules for industrial vehicles and equipment and stationary applications by 2006, natural gas fuel cell power systems for cogeneration applications by 2007, and onboard gasoline fuel processors and fuel cell stacks for automotive applications by 2010. Contact: Nuvera Fuel Cells, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 617 245 7500, www.nuvera.com Or contact: Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe Srl, Milan, Italy. Tel: +39 02 2129 2212. Or contact: Christophe Garnier, Research Manager – Energy Materials Processing, Renault, Guyancourt, France. Tel: +33 1 3495 7585, Email: [email protected], www.renault.com
ReliOn Independence completes NEBS Level 3 compliance testing
T
he Independence 1000™ backup power solution and outdoor enclosure from Spokane, Washington-based ReliOn have successfully completed Network Equipment Building Systems (NEBS) Level 3 compliance testing. The testing was developed by the telecoms industry to qualify equipment under extreme environmental conditions, and is often required prior to installation of equipment at telecoms sites. Compliance testing was provided by Intertek, which tested the ReliOn fuel cell system against all applicable criteria in NEBS Level 3. In achieving this compliance, ReliOn joins Plug Power, which recently became the first fuel cell company to reach this milestone [FCB, May]. The successful completion of NEBS testing positions ReliOn well for rolling out its PEM fuel cell products into the wireline telecoms industry. The company’s products are available to provide backup for sites needing power between 500 We and 5 kWe. In other company news, ReliOn’s chief technical officer Mike Davis has been elected chairman of the board of directors of the National Hydrogen Association (NHA), for which he will serve a term of two years. Founded in 1989, the NHA is the premier industry trade association in the US dedicated to developing commercialization pathways and removing the barriers to implementation of hydrogen technologies. Membership has grown to more than 90 members, including representatives from the automotive and aerospace industries, federal, state and local government, energy providers, fuel cell manufacturers and other stakeholders.
July 2004