- Email: [email protected]
Toyota opens up its patents to boost FCEV industry collaboration
NEWS the plant with a two-year warranty, and with three years of after-sales support. In other news, ITM has secured a second commercial contract from AMEC Foster Wheeler and National Grid in the UK, to create the business case for widespread deployment of P2G energy storage technology to reduce energy losses in the gas network. This follow-on project will build on the technical feasibility first phase, and identify specific sites on the gas network where Powerto-Gas can be most advantageously deployed [FCB, February 2014, p10]. This will reduce energy losses and increase system efficiency for the UK gas network. AMEC will lead the project and continue to provide a third-party assessment of the benefits. ‘We are all very encouraged by the project findings so far, and the objective now is to identify the sites best suited to installing Power-to-Gas equipment,’ says Dr Graham Cooley, CEO of ITM Power. ‘We are solving a problem common with all gas networks, and there is very significant market potential in the UK and worldwide.’ ITM Power, Sheffield, UK. Tel: +44 114 244 5111, www.itm-power.com RWE Deutschland: www.rwe.com/web/cms/de/499916/ rwe-deutschland-ag [in German] AMEC Foster Wheeler: www.amecfw.com National Grid UK: www.nationalgrid.com
DNV GL project urges natural gas industry to be ready for hydrogen
T
he international classification society DNV GL has initiated a global joint industry project (JIP) that will develop guidelines to prepare natural gas networks for the injection of hydrogen produced from renewable sources. The HYREADY initiative will encourage the industry to ‘be ready for hydrogen’ by developing practical processes and procedures for the introduction of hydrogen to the grid. Transmission and distribution system operators (TSOs and DSOs) in the natural gas sector are under increasing pressure to reduce CO2 emissions and increase access to the natural gas infrastructure for renewably sourced gases. To successfully introduce pure hydrogen (e.g. from Power-to-Gas, P2G) and hydrogen-containing mixtures (e.g. syngas) into natural gas grids, the impact and acceptability need to be assessed, to evaluate factors such as performance and safety of end-user appliances,
January 2015
system integrity and integrity management, energy transport capacity, and compression efficiency. ‘We have seen an increasing number of projects needing access to natural gas infrastructure for renewable gases,’ says DNV GL project manager Onno Florisson. ‘With multiple organisations having the same objective, our industry guidelines will address the ‘how-to’ questions for gas system operators, so that they can be confident both in preparing their natural gas grids for the accommodation of hydrogen, and in the consequences related to hydrogen injection.’ The project partners will work together to deliver a broadly accepted methodological description of the steps and aspects to be considered by TSOs and DSOs worldwide on the measures they could take to prepare natural gas grids for hydrogen injection with acceptable consequences. Stakeholders from the natural gas value chain, including natural gas TSOs and DSOs, have already signed up, as well as technology providers. The project remains open for other participants to join. The two-year project is split into four work packages: transmission systems, distribution systems, end-user infrastructure and appliances (both domestic and industrial), and the design of a hydrogen injection facility. The impact of hydrogen on the natural gas system will be addressed at both component and system level. HYREADY will be based on existing knowledge; no experimental work is anticipated in the framework of this project. The project will take on board the outcomes of European projects like NaturalHY, Hydrogen in Pipeline Systems (HIPS), and many others. Contact: Onno Florisson, JIP Project Manager, DNV GL Oil & Gas, Groningen, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 50 700 9723, Email: [email protected], Web: www.dnvgl.com/oilgas
COMMERCIALISATION
Toyota opens up its patents to boost FCEV industry collaboration
T
oyota is making nearly 5700 hydrogen fuel cell patents available royalty-free, to accelerate the global development and introduction of fuel cell technologies. The patents include critical technologies developed for the new Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle [FCB, November 2014, p1].
Toyota will invite royalty-free use of approximately 5680 fuel cell related patents it holds globally. The list includes 1970 patents related to fuel cell stacks, 290 associated with high-pressure hydrogen tanks, 3350 related to fuel cell system software control, and 70 related to hydrogen production and supply. Toyota announced the initiative at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. ‘The first-generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, launched between 2015 and 2020, will be critical, requiring a concerted effort and unconventional collaboration between automakers, government regulators, academia, and energy providers,’ says Bob Carter, senior VP of automotive operations at Toyota Motor Sales USA. ‘By eliminating traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the development of new technologies and move into the future of mobility more quickly, effectively, and economically.’ Toyota has previously opened up its intellectual property through collaboration, facilitating the widespread adoption of hybrid vehicles by licensing related patents. But this announcement represents the first time that Toyota has made its patents available free of charge, and reflects its keen support for developing a hydrogen-based society. Honda previously had a partnership deal with General Motors to share FCEV patents, but that was only between the two automakers. This Toyota initiative builds on previous commitments, including financial support to develop a hydrogen fueling infrastructure in California and the northeastern US. Last May, Toyota announced a $7.3 million loan to FirstElement Fuel to support the operation and maintenance of 19 hydrogen stations across California [FCB, June 2014, p6]. In November, Toyota announced a collaboration with Air Liquide to develop and supply a network of 12 state-of-the-art hydrogen stations for New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island [FCB, December 2014, p8]. The hydrogen fuel cell patents will be made available to automakers who will produce and sell FCEVs, as well as to fuel cell parts suppliers and energy companies who establish and operate fueling stations, through the initial market introduction period, anticipated to last until 2020. Companies working to develop and introduce fuel cell buses and industrial equipment, such as forklifts, are also covered. Requests from parts suppliers and companies looking to adapt fuel cell technology outside of the transportation sector will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
9
NEWS The announcement covers only fuel cellrelated patents wholly owned by Toyota; it excludes patents belonging to Toyota Group parts makers. Patents related to FCEVs will be available for royalty-free licenses until the end of 2020, while patents for hydrogen production and supply will remain open for an unlimited duration. As part of the licensing agreements, Toyota will request (but not require) that other companies share their fuel cell-related patents with Toyota for similar royalty-free use. Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicle: www.toyota.com/fuelcell CES 2015: www.cesweb.org
DOE funds hydrogen, fuel cell supply chain, manufacturing studies
T
he US Department of Energy has selected three projects to receive up to $2 million in new funding for analysis of the hydrogen and fuel cells domestic supply chain and manufacturing competitiveness. Funded in part by the Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative, this supports DOE’s broader effort to boost manufacturing competitiveness. The projects selected support activities that facilitate the development and expansion of the domestic supply chain of components and systems necessary for the manufacturing and scale-up of hydrogen and fuel cell systems in the US. The awardees will also conduct competitive analysis of global hydrogen and fuel cell manufacturing, to quantify trade patterns and identify key drivers of US competitiveness. GLWN – part of the Westside Industrial Retention & Expansion Network (WIRENet) – in Cleveland, Ohio will receive $695 000 to complete detailed manufacturing analysis of fuel cell systems (automotive and stationary), high-pressure hydrogen storage systems, and key high-value subsystems and components. The analysis will span systems and components manufactured in the US, Europe, and Asia to determine the global cost leaders, best current manufacturing processes, key competitiveness factors, and potential for cost reduction. GLWN will work closely with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to ensure that its analysis is aligned with prior competitive analyses in other renewable energy sectors such as solar, photovoltaic, wind, and electric vehicle batteries. 10
Fuel Cells Bulletin
Virginia Clean Cities at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia will receive $450 000 to develop a nationwide Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Opportunity Center, consisting of an innovative internetbased resource to grow the domestic fuel cell and hydrogen industry. The project will develop a communications database with a comprehensive national supplier list, and which identifies new suppliers and encourages them to engage with the hydrogen and fuel cell industry. The database will allow for the release and maintenance of a directory tool for public interaction with the data. The Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition (OFCC) in Elyria, Ohio will receive $450 000 to develop a robust supply chain for fuel cell and hydrogen systems that will accelerate mass production, reduce cost, and improve performance and durability. OFCC plans to establish an integrated network of four Regional Technical Exchange Centers, to increase communication between OEMs and hydrogen and fuel cell component suppliers. It will also establish a nationwide, web-accessible database containing inputs from suppliers and OEMs, along with a supplier contact list. OFCC will also assemble a working group to tackle component and subsystem standardisation. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hydrogen & Fuel Cells: http://energy.gov/eere/transportation/hydrogen-andfuel-cells DOE, Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative: http://energy.gov/eere/cemi/clean-energymanufacturing-initiative GLWN: www.glwn.org Virginia Clean Cities: www.vacleancities.org Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition: www.fuelcellcorridor.com
German VariPrüfBZ project to compare fuel cell test variability
T
he VariPrüfBZ project in Germany will assess the observed variability in the interpretation and implementation of fuel cell test standards, in particular comparing performance testing of fuel cell modules. The project is being coordinated by the Centre for Fuel Cell Technology ZBT GmbH, working with EWE Research NEXT ENERGY and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE.
To determine fuel cell module properties, manufacturers can currently examine their products according to DIN EN IEC 622822. But the question of comparability of test methods led to the launch of the VariPrüfBZ project last September, to investigate the variability of test methods and boundary conditions for the comparability of results from fuel cell tests according to DIN EN IEC 62282-2. The two-year project is funded by the federal ministry of economics and technology (BMWi) under the funding measure ‘R&D transfer through standardisation’. In the current DIN test method, the key safety requirements for fuel cell modules are first defined. However, the description of the verification is kept relatively open, so the results allow some room for interpretation. The VariPrüfBZ project will therefore develop a test matrix within which commercially available fuel cell modules will be tested in the coming months. ‘We will repeat this analysis in a round robin test as far as possible on the test stands of all the project partners, so that we can then compare the results directly with each other,’ explains Dr Corinna Harms, VariPrüfBZ project manager at NEXT ENERGY. ‘This allows us to determine the reproducibility of the procedure. At the same time, we will obtain evidence of dependencies between parameters’ [see the NEXT ENERGY feature in FCB, April 2014]. The researchers will collect data on various influencing factors, such as measurement inaccuracies, laboratory conditions, transportation, air and hydrogen quality, and the measurement environment. ‘Thus we not only achieve more transparency and comparability in the field of standardised testing of fuel cells,’ says project coordinator Joachim Jungsbluth, ‘but also give an impetus to the development of a new draft standard, specifically aligned to performance testing of fuel cell modules.’ An appropriate recommendation for extending the DIN EN IEC 62282 series to performance testing would be in accordance with DIN EN IEC 62282-3-200 for stationary fuel cell systems. The results from the final phase of the project will be discussed in a series of ZBT workshops on Admission–Certification– Standardisation in early 2016. ZBT GmbH, Quality Assurance & Testing: http://tinyurl.com/zbt-qa-testing NEXT ENERGY, Fuel Cells: www.next-energy.de/fuelcells.html Fraunhofer ISE, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology: http://tinyurl.com/ise-h2fuelcell
January 2015
DNV GL project urges natural gas industry to be ready for hydrogen
T
he international classification society DNV GL has initiated a global joint industry project (JIP) that will develop guidelines to prepare natural gas networks for the injection of hydrogen produced from renewable sources. The HYREADY initiative will encourage the industry to ‘be ready for hydrogen’ by developing practical processes and procedures for the introduction of hydrogen to the grid. Transmission and distribution system operators (TSOs and DSOs) in the natural gas sector are under increasing pressure to reduce CO2 emissions and increase access to the natural gas infrastructure for renewably sourced gases. To successfully introduce pure hydrogen (e.g. from Power-to-Gas, P2G) and hydrogen-containing mixtures (e.g. syngas) into natural gas grids, the impact and acceptability need to be assessed, to evaluate factors such as performance and safety of end-user appliances,
January 2015
system integrity and integrity management, energy transport capacity, and compression efficiency. ‘We have seen an increasing number of projects needing access to natural gas infrastructure for renewable gases,’ says DNV GL project manager Onno Florisson. ‘With multiple organisations having the same objective, our industry guidelines will address the ‘how-to’ questions for gas system operators, so that they can be confident both in preparing their natural gas grids for the accommodation of hydrogen, and in the consequences related to hydrogen injection.’ The project partners will work together to deliver a broadly accepted methodological description of the steps and aspects to be considered by TSOs and DSOs worldwide on the measures they could take to prepare natural gas grids for hydrogen injection with acceptable consequences. Stakeholders from the natural gas value chain, including natural gas TSOs and DSOs, have already signed up, as well as technology providers. The project remains open for other participants to join. The two-year project is split into four work packages: transmission systems, distribution systems, end-user infrastructure and appliances (both domestic and industrial), and the design of a hydrogen injection facility. The impact of hydrogen on the natural gas system will be addressed at both component and system level. HYREADY will be based on existing knowledge; no experimental work is anticipated in the framework of this project. The project will take on board the outcomes of European projects like NaturalHY, Hydrogen in Pipeline Systems (HIPS), and many others. Contact: Onno Florisson, JIP Project Manager, DNV GL Oil & Gas, Groningen, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 50 700 9723, Email: [email protected], Web: www.dnvgl.com/oilgas
COMMERCIALISATION
Toyota opens up its patents to boost FCEV industry collaboration
T
oyota is making nearly 5700 hydrogen fuel cell patents available royalty-free, to accelerate the global development and introduction of fuel cell technologies. The patents include critical technologies developed for the new Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle [FCB, November 2014, p1].
Toyota will invite royalty-free use of approximately 5680 fuel cell related patents it holds globally. The list includes 1970 patents related to fuel cell stacks, 290 associated with high-pressure hydrogen tanks, 3350 related to fuel cell system software control, and 70 related to hydrogen production and supply. Toyota announced the initiative at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. ‘The first-generation hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, launched between 2015 and 2020, will be critical, requiring a concerted effort and unconventional collaboration between automakers, government regulators, academia, and energy providers,’ says Bob Carter, senior VP of automotive operations at Toyota Motor Sales USA. ‘By eliminating traditional corporate boundaries, we can speed the development of new technologies and move into the future of mobility more quickly, effectively, and economically.’ Toyota has previously opened up its intellectual property through collaboration, facilitating the widespread adoption of hybrid vehicles by licensing related patents. But this announcement represents the first time that Toyota has made its patents available free of charge, and reflects its keen support for developing a hydrogen-based society. Honda previously had a partnership deal with General Motors to share FCEV patents, but that was only between the two automakers. This Toyota initiative builds on previous commitments, including financial support to develop a hydrogen fueling infrastructure in California and the northeastern US. Last May, Toyota announced a $7.3 million loan to FirstElement Fuel to support the operation and maintenance of 19 hydrogen stations across California [FCB, June 2014, p6]. In November, Toyota announced a collaboration with Air Liquide to develop and supply a network of 12 state-of-the-art hydrogen stations for New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island [FCB, December 2014, p8]. The hydrogen fuel cell patents will be made available to automakers who will produce and sell FCEVs, as well as to fuel cell parts suppliers and energy companies who establish and operate fueling stations, through the initial market introduction period, anticipated to last until 2020. Companies working to develop and introduce fuel cell buses and industrial equipment, such as forklifts, are also covered. Requests from parts suppliers and companies looking to adapt fuel cell technology outside of the transportation sector will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
9
NEWS The announcement covers only fuel cellrelated patents wholly owned by Toyota; it excludes patents belonging to Toyota Group parts makers. Patents related to FCEVs will be available for royalty-free licenses until the end of 2020, while patents for hydrogen production and supply will remain open for an unlimited duration. As part of the licensing agreements, Toyota will request (but not require) that other companies share their fuel cell-related patents with Toyota for similar royalty-free use. Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicle: www.toyota.com/fuelcell CES 2015: www.cesweb.org
DOE funds hydrogen, fuel cell supply chain, manufacturing studies
T
he US Department of Energy has selected three projects to receive up to $2 million in new funding for analysis of the hydrogen and fuel cells domestic supply chain and manufacturing competitiveness. Funded in part by the Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative, this supports DOE’s broader effort to boost manufacturing competitiveness. The projects selected support activities that facilitate the development and expansion of the domestic supply chain of components and systems necessary for the manufacturing and scale-up of hydrogen and fuel cell systems in the US. The awardees will also conduct competitive analysis of global hydrogen and fuel cell manufacturing, to quantify trade patterns and identify key drivers of US competitiveness. GLWN – part of the Westside Industrial Retention & Expansion Network (WIRENet) – in Cleveland, Ohio will receive $695 000 to complete detailed manufacturing analysis of fuel cell systems (automotive and stationary), high-pressure hydrogen storage systems, and key high-value subsystems and components. The analysis will span systems and components manufactured in the US, Europe, and Asia to determine the global cost leaders, best current manufacturing processes, key competitiveness factors, and potential for cost reduction. GLWN will work closely with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to ensure that its analysis is aligned with prior competitive analyses in other renewable energy sectors such as solar, photovoltaic, wind, and electric vehicle batteries. 10
Fuel Cells Bulletin
Virginia Clean Cities at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia will receive $450 000 to develop a nationwide Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Opportunity Center, consisting of an innovative internetbased resource to grow the domestic fuel cell and hydrogen industry. The project will develop a communications database with a comprehensive national supplier list, and which identifies new suppliers and encourages them to engage with the hydrogen and fuel cell industry. The database will allow for the release and maintenance of a directory tool for public interaction with the data. The Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition (OFCC) in Elyria, Ohio will receive $450 000 to develop a robust supply chain for fuel cell and hydrogen systems that will accelerate mass production, reduce cost, and improve performance and durability. OFCC plans to establish an integrated network of four Regional Technical Exchange Centers, to increase communication between OEMs and hydrogen and fuel cell component suppliers. It will also establish a nationwide, web-accessible database containing inputs from suppliers and OEMs, along with a supplier contact list. OFCC will also assemble a working group to tackle component and subsystem standardisation. DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hydrogen & Fuel Cells: http://energy.gov/eere/transportation/hydrogen-andfuel-cells DOE, Clean Energy Manufacturing Initiative: http://energy.gov/eere/cemi/clean-energymanufacturing-initiative GLWN: www.glwn.org Virginia Clean Cities: www.vacleancities.org Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition: www.fuelcellcorridor.com
German VariPrüfBZ project to compare fuel cell test variability
T
he VariPrüfBZ project in Germany will assess the observed variability in the interpretation and implementation of fuel cell test standards, in particular comparing performance testing of fuel cell modules. The project is being coordinated by the Centre for Fuel Cell Technology ZBT GmbH, working with EWE Research NEXT ENERGY and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE.
To determine fuel cell module properties, manufacturers can currently examine their products according to DIN EN IEC 622822. But the question of comparability of test methods led to the launch of the VariPrüfBZ project last September, to investigate the variability of test methods and boundary conditions for the comparability of results from fuel cell tests according to DIN EN IEC 62282-2. The two-year project is funded by the federal ministry of economics and technology (BMWi) under the funding measure ‘R&D transfer through standardisation’. In the current DIN test method, the key safety requirements for fuel cell modules are first defined. However, the description of the verification is kept relatively open, so the results allow some room for interpretation. The VariPrüfBZ project will therefore develop a test matrix within which commercially available fuel cell modules will be tested in the coming months. ‘We will repeat this analysis in a round robin test as far as possible on the test stands of all the project partners, so that we can then compare the results directly with each other,’ explains Dr Corinna Harms, VariPrüfBZ project manager at NEXT ENERGY. ‘This allows us to determine the reproducibility of the procedure. At the same time, we will obtain evidence of dependencies between parameters’ [see the NEXT ENERGY feature in FCB, April 2014]. The researchers will collect data on various influencing factors, such as measurement inaccuracies, laboratory conditions, transportation, air and hydrogen quality, and the measurement environment. ‘Thus we not only achieve more transparency and comparability in the field of standardised testing of fuel cells,’ says project coordinator Joachim Jungsbluth, ‘but also give an impetus to the development of a new draft standard, specifically aligned to performance testing of fuel cell modules.’ An appropriate recommendation for extending the DIN EN IEC 62282 series to performance testing would be in accordance with DIN EN IEC 62282-3-200 for stationary fuel cell systems. The results from the final phase of the project will be discussed in a series of ZBT workshops on Admission–Certification– Standardisation in early 2016. ZBT GmbH, Quality Assurance & Testing: http://tinyurl.com/zbt-qa-testing NEXT ENERGY, Fuel Cells: www.next-energy.de/fuelcells.html Fraunhofer ISE, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology: http://tinyurl.com/ise-h2fuelcell
January 2015