- Email: [email protected]
Thermoprodukter now selling SFC's EFOY for Swedish caravans
NEWS enough to generate power for about 14 h of continuous use. It means that onboard batteries last longer because they are never deeply discharged. The Oorja fuel cells keep the batteries well charged, and forklifts can easily finish an entire shift at full speed, resulting in substantially improved productivity for warehouse operations. Oorja says that the Model 3 typically offers a return-on-investment (ROI) in less than 24 months. ‘They keep our pallet jacks running at top speed for an entire shift, and we do not have to swap batteries in mid-shift anymore; this has translated into greater productivity for us,’ says Manny Lopes, director of operations at Baldor Specialty Foods, serving Boston, New York, and Washington, DC [FCB, December 2011, p2]. Oorja is commercialising DMFCs for materials handling, telecoms, transportation, distributed energy, and microgrids [see the Oorja feature in FCB, March 2012]. Last summer Shoto Group signed a deal to resell its DMFC power solutions for the cellular telecoms market in China [FCB, August 2015, p4]. In 2014 it conducted a feasibility study for powering telecom towers in South Africa [FCB, June 2014, p1], and signed a licensing agreement with Los Alamos National Laboratory in the US to deploy two technologies that improve efficiency and reduce cost [FCB, June 2014, p10].
a wide variety of applications, with more than 34 000 fuel cells sold to date [see the SFC feature in FCB, January 2013]. It unveiled the EFOY Go! in 2014, as an innovative ‘mobile socket’ for leisure and outdoor activities [FCB, September 2014, p7], with sales beginning the following summer [FCB, September 2015, p5]. SFC recently received an order for EFOY Pro fuel cells to power surveillance systems used by the French Ministry of Defence [FCB, January 2016, p1], and EFOY Pro fuel cells are also being integrated into autonomous energy systems developed by Gazprom Georesource for geophysical services across Russia [FCB, November 2015, p4]. SFC is also partnering with ZephIR Lidar in the UK to serve the wind energy industry [FCB, August 2015, p10].
Oorja Fuel Cells, Fremont, California, USA. Tel: +1 510 659 1899, www.oorjafuelcells.com
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Thermoprodukter now selling SFC’s EFOY for Swedish caravans
G
erman-based SFC Energy has expanded its long-running distribution partnership with Thermoprodukter AB, the Swedish market leader for marine and caravan equipment. Building on the success of the EFOY Comfort product in the boating segment, Thermoprodukter will now offer the full range of EFOY Comfort and EFOY Go! direct methanol fuel cell products to the entire Swedish consumer market, including its significant motor home market. Thermoprodukter is well established in selling SFC Energy’s EFOY fuel cells to Swedish boat owners and operators [FCB, June 2010, p8]. The company operates an experienced network of dealers throughout Sweden, where consumers can buy the full range of SFC Energy’s products, including EFOY fuel cartridges. SFC Energy offers a portfolio of portable, mobile, stationary, and vehicle-based fuel cells for 4
Fuel Cells Bulletin
SFC Energy Group, Brunnthal/Munich, Germany. Tel: +49 89 673 5920, www.sfc.com, www.efoy-comfort.com or www.efoy-go.com Thermoprodukter AB, Kalmar, Sweden. Tel: +46 480 425880, www.thermoprodukter.se (in Swedish)
easyJet, Cranfield to trial fuel cell auxiliary power in hybrid plane he UK-based airline easyJet has unveiled plans for a zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell system for its aircraft, which could save around 50 000 tonnes of fuel per annum and associated CO2 emissions. The low-cost airline aims to trial the technology later this year. The inspiration for the hybrid plane concept comes from students at Cranfield University, who considered what air travel might look like in 20 years’ time, as part of a competition to celebrate easyJet’s 20th birthday. Last year Cranfield and easyJet signed a threeyear strategic partnership agreement to share innovation and knowledge. A hydrogen fuel cell in the hold allows energy to be captured as the aircraft applies its brakes on landing, and is used to charge the system’s lightweight batteries when the aircraft is on the ground (much like the Kinetic Energy Recovery System in Formula 1 cars). The energy can then be used by the aircraft – for example when taxiing – without needing to use its jet engines. The high frequency and short sector lengths of easyJet’s operations mean that around 4% of total fuel consumption is when aircraft are taxiing – averaging 20 minutes of taxi time per flight. The pure by-product water could be used to refill the aircraft’s water system during the flight, and used as drinking water for passengers or to flush the toilets.
Each aircraft would have motors in its main wheels, and electronics and system controllers would give pilots total control of the aircraft’s speed, direction, and braking during taxi operations. The system would therefore reduce or even eliminate the need for tugs to manoeuvre aircraft in and out of stands, delivering more efficient turnaround times and increased on-time performance. The concept has been developed by easyJet’s engineering director Ian Davies and his team. ‘The hybrid plane concept we are announcing today is both a vision of the future, and a challenge to our partners and suppliers to continue to push the boundaries towards reducing our carbon emissions,’ he says. ‘Our students have showcased some exciting ideas for the 2035 vision of the airline industry through The Future of Flight competition, presenting environmental solutions, operational improvements, and ideas to enhance the customer experience,’ adds Dr Craig Lawson, lecturer in the Centre for Aeronautics at Cranfield University. ‘We’re looking forward to developing this concept further.’ easyJet: www.easyjet.com Cranfield University, Centre for Aeronautics: http://tinyurl.com/cranfield-aeronautics
First UAV test flight with Cella solid-state hydrogen storage
T
he Scottish Association for Marine Science recently completed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) test flight using a hydrogen-based power system developed by Cella Energy. The complete system, comprising a Cella hydrogen gas generator with a PEM fuel cell supplied and integrated by Arcola Energy, is considerably lighter than the original lithium-ion battery. The system is based on Cella’s solid-state hydrogen storage material, which can release large quantities of hydrogen when heated. Cella has now designed and built a gas generator using this material. ‘This flight used a small prototype system, and we were pleased with the initial flight, with another flight scheduled to take place in the near future,’ says Professor Stephen Bennington, managing director of Cella Energy. ‘The larger versions of this system that we are already designing will have three times the energy of a lithium-ion battery of the same weight.’ The work was funded by a grant from Innovate UK, and has enabled Cella and Arcola to design and build a power system
March 2016
a wide variety of applications, with more than 34 000 fuel cells sold to date [see the SFC feature in FCB, January 2013]. It unveiled the EFOY Go! in 2014, as an innovative ‘mobile socket’ for leisure and outdoor activities [FCB, September 2014, p7], with sales beginning the following summer [FCB, September 2015, p5]. SFC recently received an order for EFOY Pro fuel cells to power surveillance systems used by the French Ministry of Defence [FCB, January 2016, p1], and EFOY Pro fuel cells are also being integrated into autonomous energy systems developed by Gazprom Georesource for geophysical services across Russia [FCB, November 2015, p4]. SFC is also partnering with ZephIR Lidar in the UK to serve the wind energy industry [FCB, August 2015, p10].
Oorja Fuel Cells, Fremont, California, USA. Tel: +1 510 659 1899, www.oorjafuelcells.com
T
Thermoprodukter now selling SFC’s EFOY for Swedish caravans
G
erman-based SFC Energy has expanded its long-running distribution partnership with Thermoprodukter AB, the Swedish market leader for marine and caravan equipment. Building on the success of the EFOY Comfort product in the boating segment, Thermoprodukter will now offer the full range of EFOY Comfort and EFOY Go! direct methanol fuel cell products to the entire Swedish consumer market, including its significant motor home market. Thermoprodukter is well established in selling SFC Energy’s EFOY fuel cells to Swedish boat owners and operators [FCB, June 2010, p8]. The company operates an experienced network of dealers throughout Sweden, where consumers can buy the full range of SFC Energy’s products, including EFOY fuel cartridges. SFC Energy offers a portfolio of portable, mobile, stationary, and vehicle-based fuel cells for 4
Fuel Cells Bulletin
SFC Energy Group, Brunnthal/Munich, Germany. Tel: +49 89 673 5920, www.sfc.com, www.efoy-comfort.com or www.efoy-go.com Thermoprodukter AB, Kalmar, Sweden. Tel: +46 480 425880, www.thermoprodukter.se (in Swedish)
easyJet, Cranfield to trial fuel cell auxiliary power in hybrid plane he UK-based airline easyJet has unveiled plans for a zero-emissions hydrogen fuel cell system for its aircraft, which could save around 50 000 tonnes of fuel per annum and associated CO2 emissions. The low-cost airline aims to trial the technology later this year. The inspiration for the hybrid plane concept comes from students at Cranfield University, who considered what air travel might look like in 20 years’ time, as part of a competition to celebrate easyJet’s 20th birthday. Last year Cranfield and easyJet signed a threeyear strategic partnership agreement to share innovation and knowledge. A hydrogen fuel cell in the hold allows energy to be captured as the aircraft applies its brakes on landing, and is used to charge the system’s lightweight batteries when the aircraft is on the ground (much like the Kinetic Energy Recovery System in Formula 1 cars). The energy can then be used by the aircraft – for example when taxiing – without needing to use its jet engines. The high frequency and short sector lengths of easyJet’s operations mean that around 4% of total fuel consumption is when aircraft are taxiing – averaging 20 minutes of taxi time per flight. The pure by-product water could be used to refill the aircraft’s water system during the flight, and used as drinking water for passengers or to flush the toilets.
Each aircraft would have motors in its main wheels, and electronics and system controllers would give pilots total control of the aircraft’s speed, direction, and braking during taxi operations. The system would therefore reduce or even eliminate the need for tugs to manoeuvre aircraft in and out of stands, delivering more efficient turnaround times and increased on-time performance. The concept has been developed by easyJet’s engineering director Ian Davies and his team. ‘The hybrid plane concept we are announcing today is both a vision of the future, and a challenge to our partners and suppliers to continue to push the boundaries towards reducing our carbon emissions,’ he says. ‘Our students have showcased some exciting ideas for the 2035 vision of the airline industry through The Future of Flight competition, presenting environmental solutions, operational improvements, and ideas to enhance the customer experience,’ adds Dr Craig Lawson, lecturer in the Centre for Aeronautics at Cranfield University. ‘We’re looking forward to developing this concept further.’ easyJet: www.easyjet.com Cranfield University, Centre for Aeronautics: http://tinyurl.com/cranfield-aeronautics
First UAV test flight with Cella solid-state hydrogen storage
T
he Scottish Association for Marine Science recently completed an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) test flight using a hydrogen-based power system developed by Cella Energy. The complete system, comprising a Cella hydrogen gas generator with a PEM fuel cell supplied and integrated by Arcola Energy, is considerably lighter than the original lithium-ion battery. The system is based on Cella’s solid-state hydrogen storage material, which can release large quantities of hydrogen when heated. Cella has now designed and built a gas generator using this material. ‘This flight used a small prototype system, and we were pleased with the initial flight, with another flight scheduled to take place in the near future,’ says Professor Stephen Bennington, managing director of Cella Energy. ‘The larger versions of this system that we are already designing will have three times the energy of a lithium-ion battery of the same weight.’ The work was funded by a grant from Innovate UK, and has enabled Cella and Arcola to design and build a power system
March 2016