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fUelCELLS

BULLETIN

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ISSN 1464-2859 February


October2015
2010

European 3Emotion fuel cell buses consortium

he Belgian bus-builder Van Hool


is leading a European consortium
across six EU member states, to deliver
21 hydrogen fuel cell buses by 2019.
The 3Emotion project will deploy
buses in London (UK), Rome (Italy),
Rotterdam and the Province of ZuidHolland (Netherlands), Cherbourg
(France), and Flanders (Belgium), as
well as two new hydrogen fueling
stations in Rome and Cherbourg.
The five-year 3Emotion project
(Environmentally Friendly, Efficient, Electric
Motion) has a total budget of E41.8 million
(US$47.4 million), with E15 million ($17 million) from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint
Undertaking (FCH JU). Flanders-based Van
Hool is responsible for overall project coordination, including research, the development and
manufacture of the buses, and the hydrogen
station infrastructure. The project includes
three articulated buses for Antwerp in Flanders,
joining the five Van Hool fuel cell buses delivered to transit operator De Lijn in December.

The other consortium partners are Dantherm


Power in Denmark; Air Liquide Advanced
Technologies, Communaut urbaine de
Cherbourg [municipality], and the CEA Atomic
Energy and Alternative Energies Commission in
France; bus operator Cotral SpA, Regione Lazio,
and FIT Consulting SRL in Italy; the European
Association for Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and
Electro-Mobility in European Regions (HyER),
De Lijn, and the WaterstofNet cross-border
hydrogen initiative in Belgium; the Province of
Zuid-Holland and Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram
NV in the Netherlands; and London Bus Service
Ltd in the UK.
Van Hool is also finalising a supply agreement
with Canadian-based Ballard Power Systems for
21 next-generation FCvelocity-HD7 fuel cell
modules, for delivery in 20152016.

NEWS
European 3Emotion fuel cell buses consortium
Japan automakers boost hydrogen station rollout

1
1

ROAD VEHICLES
Hyundai joins HyTEC as project adds Norway
Symbio FCell delivers first vans to French region
New ToyotaHino fuel cell bus in Toyota City

2
2
3

MOBILE APPLICATIONS
Fraunhofer IKTS eneramic SOFC in traffic sign

SMALL STATIONARY
Scotland hits fuel poverty in first funded rollout
Intelligent Energy on Indian telecom deployment
Long-running Axane telecom unit proves reliable
PowerCell modular unit, powers Africa telecoms

4
4
4
5

LARGE STATIONARY
Doosan FC restarts full stack production in spring
FuelCell Energys Bridgeport fuel cell park year
AFC Energy doubles stack size in German trial

5
6
6

PORTABLE & MICRO

Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking:


www.fch-ju.eu

eZelleron funds on Kickstarter for kraftwerk unit


Neah Power PowerChip testing at Indian DRDO

Van Hool, hybrid fuel cell buses:


http://tinyurl.com/vanhool-h2

FUELING

Ballard Power Systems: www.ballard.com

Air Liquide stations for Japan, French council


Linde to build its first Sweden hydrogen station
Cal State LA station first certified for public sale

Japan automakers boost hydrogen station rollout


oyota, Nissan, and Honda are
collaborating to help accelerate
the development of hydrogen station
infrastructure for fuel cell electric
vehicles. The automakers will give careful
consideration to concrete initiatives, such
as partly underwriting the expenses of
operating hydrogen stations.
For hydrogen-fueled FCEVs to gain popularity,
the development of a hydrogen station
infrastructure is as vital as attractive products. At
present, infrastructure companies face difficulties
in installing and operating hydrogen stations while
FCEVs are not common.
Following the formulation of its Strategic
Road Map for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells last
summer [FCB, July 2014, p9], the Japanese
government has highlighted the importance
of quickly developing hydrogen station

Contents
Contents

infrastructure. The government is subsidising


the installation of hydrogen stations, and will
also introduce additional policies to promote
activities that generate new demand for FCEVs.
Last autumn Toyota launched its Mirai fuel
cell saloon and Honda unveiled its FCV Concept
[FCB, November 2014, p1], while Nissan is
collaborating with Daimler and Ford to develop
an affordable FCEV system [FCB, February
2013, p2]. And Tokyo recently announced major
spending plans for FCEV subsidies and hydrogen
refueling stations for the 2020 Summer Olympics
[FCB, January 2015, p1].
Toyota, Fuel Cell Vehicle: http://tinyurl.com/toyota-fcevs
Honda, FCEV: http://world.honda.com/FuelCell
Nissan, FCEVs: http://tinyurl.com/nissan-fuelcell
METI, Strategic Road Map for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells:
www.meti.go.jp/english/press/2014/0624_04.html

6
7

7
7
8

ENERGY STORAGE
ITM readies enhanced product range for P2G
Proton MW-scale electrolyser for energy storage
Hydrogenics 1 MW PEM electrolyser for Europe

8
8
9

COMMERCIALISATION
Ballard stops Chinese licensing deals with Azure
ITM expands manufacturing, testing, site power
Italian firm Electro Power Systems now in France
TFP, Johnson Matthey low-cost GDL electrode

9
9
10
10

RESEARCH
DOE for catalysts, hydrogen contamination R&D
FuelCon, Fraunhofer ISE test PEMFC start-stop

11
11

FEATURE
Viessmann installs first fuel cell CHP system
in UK home, ahead of 2016 market rollout

1214

REGULARS
Editorial
News In Brief
Research Trends
Patents
Events Calendar

3
5, 11
15
1619
20

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NEWS
ROAD VEHICLES
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Fuel Cells Bulletin

Hyundai joins HyTEC


consortium as project
expands to Norway

he Hydrogen Transport in European


Cities (HyTEC) consortium is
creating a third hydrogen passenger
vehicle deployment centre, in Oslo
in Norway, to join London and
Copenhagen. Hyundai Motor Europe is
a new project partner, and will deliver
eight Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell cars to the
Norwegian capital during 2015.
The HyTEC consortium, led by Air
Products, comprises companies with expertise
in hydrogen transport infrastructure and
operation. Hyundai Motor Europe will deliver
eight of its flagship hydrogen ix35 Fuel Cell
electric vehicles to Oslo this year, where they
will utilise the citys hydrogen fueling network.
The vehicles will complement the
consortiums existing activities in Copenhagen
[FCB, June 2013, p2] and London [FCB,
November 2011, p7 and May 2014, p6], where
fueling stations and fleets of passenger cars and
taxis have already been deployed to demonstrate
the viability of hydrogen technology as a
low-carbon transport solution. The HyTEC
consortium will gather operational data
from these fleets and stations, with the data
disseminated to other European cities interested
in implementing hydrogen transport for urban
mobility.
Hyundai is the worlds first manufacturer
to mass-produce hydrogen-powered vehicles,
and is already selling cars globally, including
11 European markets, says Frank Meijer, head
of FCEV & infrastructure development at
Hyundai Motor Europe.
The HyTEC initiative is co-funded by
transport and infrastructure companies, and by
the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking
(FCH JU). It brings together 16 partners from
five EU member states (UK, Denmark, Belgium,
Germany, Spain) plus non-EU Norway.
London, Copenhagen, and Oslo are each
adopting a different approach to hydrogen
vehicle demonstration, through trialing
different vehicle types and approaches to
the rollout of refueling infrastructure. In
Copenhagen, 15 hydrogen cars are being
used by different city services and companies
alongside refueling facilities that dispense
sustainably produced hydrogen, while Oslo will
deploy hydrogen passenger cars, making use of
its existing refueling infrastructure
[FCB, November 2011, p1].

HyTEC project: www.hy-tec.eu


Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking:
www.fch-ju.eu
Air Products, Hydrogen Energy:
www.airproducts.co.uk/h2energy
Hyundai ix35 Fuel Cell:
http://tinyurl.com/hyundai-ix35FC

Symbio FCell delivers


first fuel cell utility
vans to French region

ymbio FCell has delivered the first


five Renault Kangoo ZE-H2 light
commercial vehicles (LCVs, i.e. small
vans) powered by its 5 kW hydrogen
fuel cell range-extender, as part of
a fleet of 40 vehicles in a project
led by the Conseil Gnral de la
Manche (Manche regional council) in
northwestern France.
The Manche council aims to put into
service a total of 40 hydrogen-powered Renault
Kangoo utility vehicles equiped with the
Symbio FCell range-extender. This technology
recharges the battery when it drops below a
certain level, and permits the vehicle to be
refueled with 1.8 kg of hydrogen. The rangeextender offers almost double the daily range
of battery-powered vehicles, a significant
improvement that makes hydrogen-powered
electric vehicles more competitive.
This project will demonstrate the reliability
of Symbio FCells fuel cell range-extender
system. The company provides mobility
solutions utilising its hydrogen PEM fuel
cell systems, which can be supplied with
power outputs from 5 kW to 300 kW. These
solutions can be integrated in a large range
of applications, and are well adapted to road
vehicles, river boats, and other platforms with
intensive usage in urban areas.
The range-extender increases both driving
range and availability of electric vehicles
for commercial usage, while reducing the
investment in battery recharging infrastructure
for a large fleet, says Fabio Ferrari, CEO of
Symbio FCell. Closer to a traditional ICE
[internal combustion engine] vehicle, this
ensures seamless operations for professional
intensive urban usages, as demonstrated in
previous experimentations such as La Poste.
La Poste (the French postal service) has been
testing these vehicles in the Franche-Comt
region in eastern France for more than a year
[FCB, December 2013, p1]. And shortly the
HyWay project in France will roll out a fleet
of 50 Kangoo ZE-H2 utility vehicles, and

February 2015

NEWS / EDITORIAL
construct two hydrogen fueling stations in Lyon
and Grenoble [FCB, November 2014, p4].
La Manche is the first department in France
to own a hydrogen fueling station, located in
the city of Saint-L, to serve these five plugin hybrid battery fuel cell light vehicles [see
page 7]. The station, installed by Air Liquide,
will also refuel 30 more of these vehicles from
partnering communities, and buses.
Symbio FCell, Grenoble, France. Tel: +33 1 5679 1506,
www.symbiofcell.com

New ToyotaHino fuel


cell bus enters service
in Toyota City

n Japan, Toyota Motor Corporation


and Hino Motors Ltd have jointly
developed a new bus equipped with
the Toyota Fuel Cell System, which
went into service with Meitetsu Bus
Company on the Toyota Oiden bus
route in Toyota City in early January.
The fuel cell bus, based on a Hino hybrid
non-step route bus, is equipped with the
Toyota Fuel Cell System developed for the
Mirai fuel cell car [FCB, November 2014,
p1], which integrates fuel cell and hybrid
vehicle technologies. The new fuel cell bus is
equipped with two 114 kW Toyota FC Stacks
and two motors to provide increased output,
as well as eight 700 bar hydrogen tanks. The
bus also features a system for supplying electric
power to buildings and other facilities during
emergencies, which was enhanced through
rigorous verification testing beginning in
November 2013 [FCB, September 2012, p2].
Toyota and Hino will verify the feasibility and
effectiveness of the fuel cell bus through testing
that involves commercial operation on regular
routes on public roads. Hydrogen refueling
will be carried out at Toyota Ecoful Town,
under a New Energy and Industrial Technology
Development Organization (NEDO) project.
The verification testing is being conducted
in cooperation with Toyota City, as part of
public fuel cell bus road trials and emergency
external power supply testing that began in 2010
under the Toyota City Low-Carbon Verification
Project. This has been selected as one of the
Next-Generation Energy and Social System
Demonstration Projects being promoted by the
ministry of economy, trade and industry (METI).

Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicle: www.toyota.com/fuelcell


Hino, Fuel Cell Bus:
www.hino.com.au/news/hino-helps-develop-fuel-cell-bus
Toyota Ecoful Town:
http://toyota-ecofultown.com/english

February 2015

MOBILE APPLICATIONS

Fraunhofer IKTS trials


eneramic SOFC unit in
roadside traffic sign

yellow LED traffic display in the


Groen Garten (Great Garden) in
Dresden, Germany is being powered
by an eneramic solid oxide fuel cell
system, in a six-month continuous
field test to demonstrate its market
readiness under real environmental
conditions.
The eneramic mobile power generator
is being trialed in a modern traffic control
system by the traffic engineering company BAS
Verkehrstechnik AG and the citys highways
& civil engineering office (Straen- und
Tiefbauamt Dresden). The eneramic system,
developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for
Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS in
Dresden [FCB, March 2012, p7], runs on LPG
and has an electrical power output of 100 W.
Jens Baade is leading the Fraunhofer IKTS
team that aims to validate the technical
maturity of the system in real-world conditions.
Under the eneramic brand, we have in the
last few years created a complete SOFCbased technology platform for robust off-grid
power generation, explains Baade, that is
designed from the start as a battery hybrid for
industrial and recreational applications, as an
efficient, durable alternative to conventional
technologies.
A major advantage of the technology is
improved road safety for workers, says Werner
Grossmann, BAS branch manager in Dresden.
The operation of LED panels in off-grid
locations, for example on motorways, is greatly
simplified by eneramic, he explains. Currently,
the batteries need to be changed twice a week.
The fuel cell system supplied with standard
propane gas provides power for up to three
weeks. The reduced exchange effort represents a
significant reduction in the risk exposure when
working directly on the highway.
The eneramic product will be commercially
available in 2015. Fraunhofer IKTS is
presenting the system at the FC EXPO in
Tokyo, Japan at the end of this month, and at
the Hannover Messe in Hannover, Germany in
mid-April [see the Events Calendar on p20].
Contact: Dipl.-Ing. Jens Baade, System Integration
and Technology Transfer Department,
Fraunhofer IKTS, Dresden, Germany.
Tel: +49 351 2553 7338,
Email: jens.baade@ikts.fraunhofer.de,
Web: http://tinyurl.com/ikts-validation

EDITORIAL

lectrolysers are getting bigger and bigger,


and MW-scale systems will play a key role in
the wider use of hydrogen-based energy storage,
producing hydrogen for fuel cells and for Powerto-Gas (P2G) applications, as well as for other
industrial processes that utilise hydrogen.
As we report in this issue, at least three
companies are targeting this large-scale market.
UK-based ITM Power is launching an enhanced
product range at the Hannover Messe in
Germany in April, based on a higher current
density that produces 50% more hydrogen for
the same stack volume [see page 8]. The company
has developed a new 350 kW PEM single stack,
and will exhibit a three-stack 1 MW system
in Hannover. The larger cell area and more
cells per stack result in plant simplification
while facilitating multi-MW installations for
both energy storage and hydrogen refueling
applications to occupy smaller sites.
In addition, US-based Proton OnSite has
announced the commercial launch of its 1 MW
and 2 MW M Series hydrogen generation
systems, featuring the companys PEM water
electrolyser technology [see pages 89]. The
new systems are targeted at the industrial-scale
storage of energy for use in chemical processes,
fuel cell electric vehicles, biogas production, and
natural gas pipeline injection.
And
Canadian-based
Hydrogenics
is supplying a 1 MW electrolyser to a
consortium of European companies working
on the MefCO2 project in Germany [see page
9]. This novel application will take excess
electricity from intermittent renewable energy
sources, generate green hydrogen, and then
create methanol using a low-carbon-footprint
production plant and CO2 emissions from an
existing coal-fired power plant.
We have reported previously on other large
electrolysers, such as the 500 kW alkaline
system supplied by French-based McPhy
Energy for the H2BER project in Germany,
which produces hydrogen for the Total vehicle
fueling station at the new Berlin Brandenburg
Airport in Germany [FCB, May 2014, p1].
The feature article in this issue [see pages
1214] reports on the first mass-produced
fuel cell combined heat and power (CHP)
system installed by German-based heating
systems company Viessmann in a UK home.
The Vitovalor 300-P domestic fuel cell system,
which features a 0.75 kW PEM fuel cell unit
manufactured by Panasonic in Japan, has been
installed in a family home in Wolverhampton.
The system is expected to provide a significant
financial benefit for the homeowner who by
complete coincidence is the technical director
of Viessmann UK. The company launched the
product in Germany last April, and is starting
to roll it out to selected European markets.

Steve Barrett

Fuel Cells Bulletin

NEWS
SMALL STATIONARY

Scotland targets fuel


poverty in UKs first
funded fuel cell rollout

he low-carbon developer and


social enterprise iPower has
launched the UKs first funded fuel
cell programme to help combat fuel
poverty in Scotland, with a 1 million
(US$1.5 million) investment from the
Social Growth Fund. The investment
will enable iPower to roll out BlueGen
micro combined heat and power
(mCHP) solid oxide fuel cell systems,
manufactured by Ceramic Fuel Cells
Ltd, to a number of properties across
Scotland. CFCL has also reported
significantly lower degradation rates in
ongoing stack testing.
The deal to support iPower is the first
investment to be made from the 16 million
($24.4 million) Social Growth Fund, which
opened for applications in May 2014. Managed
by Social Investment Scotland, a leading lender
to charities and social enterprises (the third
sector), the fund brings together 8 million
from the Scottish government and 8 million
from Big Society Capital, the independent
financial institution set up to develop and share a
sustainable social investment market in the UK.
iPower will target a range of sites including
schools, universities, social housing, council
buildings, and private care homes with a view
to installing the technology for free. Site owners
will only pay for the fuel they use and an
annual service payment, without being liable
for the upfront expenditure for purchasing
and installing the equipment [FCB, December
2014, p6]. The free BlueGEN model has
already been piloted with Edinburgh Napier
University, where visitors can see it in action at
its Merchiston Campus.
The first installation under this contract was
expected in January, with a target of 55 units
installed by 30 June, and the remainder by 30
September. Around 70 sites will be supported
in the first phase, and iPower plans to add a
further 350 sites in the coming year.
The development stage of the project for
a total 100 kW of installed capacity has
previously received funding support from
the Scottish EDGE, a funding competition
delivered by Scottish Enterprise in partnership
with other public and private sector
organisations. iPower also works closely with
the Waste and Resources Action Programme
(WRAP)s Resource Efficient Business Models
4

Fuel Cells Bulletin

(REBus) scheme, which is working with sites


to help them develop their business models to
achieve energy efficiency.
Meanwhile, CFCL reports that its stack
testing has completed a further six months of
operation, with significantly lower degradation
rates. A linear extrapolation of the degradation
rates indicates that the anticipated stack life is
approximately 60 000 h (nearly seven years),
which is 35% longer than anticipated last June
[FCB, July 2014, p6]. The ultimate target is a
10-year stack life.
iPower Ltd, Bridge of Allan, Stirling, Scotland, UK.
Tel: +44 7123 456789, www.ipoweruk.com/micro-chp
Social Investment Scotland:
www.socialinvestmentscotland.com
Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd, Noble Park, Victoria, Australia.
Tel: +61 3 9554 2300, www.cfcl.com.au,
www.ceramicfuelcells.co.uk, or www.bluegen.info

reveal that over six months to December


2014, Essential Energy improved site power
availability significantly while reducing fuel
usage by 18%. Consistent power supply is
crucial in a country with more than 935
million mobile phone users, and where the
number of telecom towers is expected to
increase significantly from the current 400 000.
Intelligent Energy is also collaborating in
India with Welsh company Hydro Industries, to
support commercialisation of Hydros electrobased water purification technology across India
[FCB, March 2014, p1]. The partnership could
result in Hydros technology being powered by
IE fuel cells, and deployed at thousands of sites
over the next five years [see the Intelligent Energy
feature in FCB, August 2009].
Intelligent Energy, Loughborough, UK.
Tel: +44 1509 271271, www.intelligent-energy.com
Essential Energy, Bangalore, India.
Tel: +91 80 6715 5500, www.e2-india.com

Intelligent Energy hits Ascend Telecom: www.ascendtele.com


target for deployment
at Indian telecom sites Long-running Axane
telecom fuel cell unit
K-based Intelligent Energy reports
Uthat the latest generation of its proves reliable power
hydrogen PEM fuel cell power unit
has been successfully operated at a
mobile telecom tower site in India. This
milestone represents the first phase
of a commercial rollout of fuel cell
units which will eventually power a
portfolio of telecom towers where IEs
subsidiary, Essential Energy India, is
providing power management services.
The fuel cell unit was installed at a telecom
tower owned and operated by Ascend Telecom
in Uttar Pradesh West, with a remote location
and regular grid outages [FCB, February 2014,
p5]. Ascend already uses Essential Energys
energy management services at a number of
sites powered by diesel generators and batteries
when the grid is down. Following this phase,
Essential Energy expects most of the telecom
tower sites within its estate to be capable of the
transition from traditional power to hydrogen
fuel cell based solutions.
Despite the recent halving of wholesale oil
prices, hydrogen fuel cell installations across a
majority of telecom tower sites still offer a more
economical power supply than diesel generators,
representing a significant potential cost saving for
customers. Essential Energy currently has more
than 10 000 towers under contract since it began
acquiring customers in 2014, representing a 100
MW installed power estate.
Data taken from telecom sites by Intelligent
Energy and ratified by Ascend Telecom,

rench fuel cell company Axane


reports that its Energy 21 container
has set a new operating record, running
for a cumulative total of 14 100 hours
while being stopped and started
590 times. The record is especially
meaningful since a few years ago, this
type of equipment would normally
expect to run for 15002000 hours.
The Energy 21 container utilises a hydrogen
PEM fuel cell to provide electricity for
equipment located far away from the power
grid or awaiting connection. This particular
container has supplied a total energy output
of 11.7 MWh at three different telecom sites
over a two-year period. The highly reliable
unit is still in operation, and was only stopped
because the site has been connected to the EDF
electricity network.
This stationary longevity record was achieved
in particular thanks to the research completed
through the framework of the French Horizon
Hydrogen Energy (H2E) Program on fuel
cell internal components. The expertise of
the Axane team, which helped to optimise
the operating parameters of the Energy 21
container in accordance with the clients needs,
was also a key input.
Axane, the Air Liquide subsidiary dedicated
to developing fuel cells, has deployed more than
200 of its fuel cell units worldwide so far [e.g.

February 2015

NEWS / IN BRIEF
FCB, December 2012, p11 and April 2013, p1].
Axane is also in the HyPulsion joint venture with
US-based Plug Power, to develop, manufacture
and market a range of fuel cells for forklift trucks
in Europe [FCB, November 2011, p3].
Axane Fuel Cell Systems, Air Liquide Advanced
Business, Sassenage, France. Tel: +33 4 7643 6821,
http://tinyurl.com/airliquide-axane
Horizon Hydrogen Energy (H2E) Program:
www.horizonhydrogeneenergie.com/index-gb.cfm

PowerCell to develop
modular static unit,
power Africa telecoms

ordic fuel cell developer PowerCell


Sweden has been awarded SEK5
million (US$595 000) by the Swedish
Energy Agency to develop a modular
system for stationary applications.
PowerCell has also signed a Letter
of Intent with Mitochondria Energy
Company in South Africa, to collaborate
on developing diesel-fueled power
solutions for African telecom towers.
PowerCell has interest from several potential
customers for stationary systems in different sizes
based on its PEM fuel cell technology. Supported
by the new grant, the company will develop and
demonstrate a modular fuel cell for stationary
systems based on 20 kW modules with its S2
fuel cell stack [FCB, March 2014, p2].
The company has identified several
applications that can be addressed using systems
based on this reformate-capable module, such
as storage of energy from fluctuating renewable
sources like solar and wind. Other potential
applications include larger standby generators,
and electricity generation from excess hydrogen
in the process industry.
Based on the range extender system that
PowerCell has developed, the company plans
to develop stationary fuel cell systems in the
20120 kW range for applications in several
market segments [FCB, November 2014, p4].
PowerCell is also coordinating the European
Biogas2PEMFC project, to develop technology
to convert toxic waste from olive oil production
into electricity [FCB, January 2015, p5].
In other news, PowerCell and Johannesburgbased Mitochondria Energy will develop dieselfed fuel cell power solutions for the African
market, based on PowerCells PowerPac power
supply unit, currently under development.
Power-as-a-service company Mitochondria will
be involved in the pre-production development
and testing processes to ensure the end product
meets customer requirements.

February 2015

The PowerPac fuel cell/reformer system uses


widely available road diesel to generate costeffective electricity for remote or bad-grid sites
with an average power demand of 16 kW.
PowerPac requires minimal onsite maintenance,
and is operated and monitored remotely
through the cellular data network. The nextgeneration PowerPac is now being assembled,
and will be deployed for testing in South Africa
and Sweden in 2015.
We see in PowerCells PowerPac the potential
to address these needs for multiple customers and
customer applications, says Anthea Bath, CEO at
Mitochondria. We are pleased to be engaged with
them at this stage of their development cycle, so
we can shape the product requirements to meet
the holistic solution specification.
PowerCell Sweden AB, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Tel: +46 31 720 3620, www.powercell.se
Mitochondria Energy Company: www.mitochondria.co.za

LARGE STATIONARY

Doosan FC America
to restart full stack
production this spring

onnecticut-based Doosan Fuel


Cell America has expanded from
30 employees to 180 in the last six
months, and its factory in South
Windsor has already produced seven
stacks, with expectations to reach full
manufacturing capacity by the spring.
Doosan Fuel Cell America Inc (Doosan
FC) came into existence last summer [FCB,
August 2014, p1], as a new subsidiary of
the Korean-based industrial conglomerate
Doosan Corporation following its acquisition
of ClearEdge Power in July [FCB, July 2014,
p5]. The company is focusing primarily on
the 400 kW stationary phosphoric acid fuel
cell products (PureCell Model 400) that
ClearEdge Power acquired from UTC Power in
early 2013 [FCB, January 2013, p8].
Due to the commitment of employees and
strategic partners, the factory has restarted, fuel
cell stacks are being built, all the equipment
is operational, and well be completely up and
running in a few months, says manufacturing VP
Jim Dayton. Doosan is not well known in the
US though it owns other US companies such as
[construction equipment supplier] Bobcat but
theyre financially strong, innovative, and building
for the future by leveraging its strengths today.
The 60 000 sq ft (5600 m2) manufacturing
plant is producing fuel cell stacks using
current inventory, as suppliers prepare for

IN BRIEF
International workshop on renewable
energy in Norway and hydrogen export
The International Workshop on Renewable
Energy and Hydrogen Export being held
in Trondheim, Norway on 24 March 2015
(http://tinyurl.com/re-h2-export-workshop)
will focus on global perspectives and Norwegian
opportunities for stakeholders to engage in
the transition from a fossil-based to a more
sustainable energy economy.
The energy system of the future will have to
rely on renewable energy sources, and Norway
has a vast potential of these. Over the coming
decades, these may replace the substantial fossil
energy exports that have been pivotal to Norways
strong economy and high living standard.
This workshop provides an opportunity for
key players and early movers to discuss these
new opportunities in a geopolitical context. The
political framework and market potential will be
discussed, and how obstacles may be overcome.
The draft programme includes presentations
by clean energy consultancy LBST and Siemens
in Germany, research manager Technova and
Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan, and
Norwegian organisations such as the clean energy
agency Enova, research organisation SINTEF,
hydroelectric association Smkraftforeninga, the
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
(NTNU), electrolyser manufacturer NEL
Hydrogen, and classification society DNV GL.
Call for abstracts for European Fuel Cell
Technology & Applications Piero Lunghi
The European Fuel Cell Technology &
Applications Piero Lunghi Conference (EFC15,
www.europeanfuelcell.it) will celebrate its 6th
anniversary on 1618 December in Naples.
This international conference offers three full
days with prominent academics, researchers,
students, politicians and entrepreneurs working
in the fuel cell field. The EFC15 programme
has been enriched by new thematic areas and
further collateral events in collaboration with
major international institutions involved in fuel
cell research. Selected papers will be published
in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
The conference will focus on the following
topics: Materials, Modeling, Lab tests, System
design, Fuels and decarbonising society, Fuel
cell applications, Fuel cells operated in reversed
mode, Marketing and policy pathways to full
commercialisation of fuel cells, Cross-cutting
issues, and New ideas and bad ideas in fuel cells.
A series of special sessions in parallel with the
core event will cover Safety, Regulations, codes
& standards in fuel cells; Microbial fuel cells; and
Dissemination of European projects on fuel cells
and hydrogen. The event also offers opportunities
for promoting products and activities, with
sponsorship information on the website.
The abstract deadline is Friday 27 March.

Fuel Cells Bulletin

NEWS
restarted production. The next phase will focus
on achieving full capacity by mid-year and
expanding the manufacturing capabilities, with
the goal of 300 employees by year-end.
Doosan Fuel Cell America is the US arm
of the Doosan Fuel Cell Business Group, and
focuses on 400 kW phosphoric acid fuel cells
for supplying combined heat and power to
building and utility systems. The group also
includes FuelCellPower, a leading Korean
manufacturer of PEM fuel cells for residential
use and small- and mid-sized buildings [FCB,
July 2014, p5].
Meanwhile, Doosan FC recently installed a
PureCell Model 400 power plant at the former
Hartford National Bank building on 777 Main
Street in downtown Hartford, Connecticut.
The tower is being converted into a green
mixed-use apartment community by sustainable
development and architectural firm Becker +
Becker, which has previously installed two
PureCell power plants [FCB, June 2011, p5].
Doosan Fuel Cell America, South Windsor, Connecticut,
USA. Tel: +1 860 727 2200, www.doosanfuelcell.com
Becker + Becker: beckerandbecker.com

FuelCell Energys fuel


cell park in Bridgeport
on year of clean power

distributed power generation and enhanced


grid resiliency, and is receiving tax revenue from
what was previously a vacant lot.
This fuel cell park is generating worldwide
interest from utilities and policy decision
makers, hosting visitors from other US states
and countries including Japan, Germany,
Spain, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and
South Korea as well as senior officials from the
US Environmental Protection Agency and the
Department of Energy, says Chip Bottone,
president and CEO of FuelCell Energy.
The worlds largest fuel cell park, utilising fuel
cells manufactured by FuelCell Energy, is located
in Hwasung City, South Korea and has been fully
operational since January 2014 [FCB, March
2014, p6]. The facility comprises 21 DFC3000
power plants, rated at 2.8 MW each, requiring
only about 5.1 acres (2 ha) of land. The fuel cell
park provides continuous baseload electricity to
the Korean electric grid and high-quality heat
for a district heating system. FCEs Asian partner
POSCO Energy commenced construction on
this project in November 2012 and finished in
only 14 months, illustrating the ability to rapidly
construct multi-MW fuel cell installations that
enhance grid resiliency.
FuelCell Energy, Danbury, Connecticut, USA.
Tel: +1 203 825 6000, www.fuelcellenergy.com
Dominion, Bridgeport Fuel Cell Park:
http://tinyurl.com/dom-bridgeport
POSCO Energy: http://eng.poscoenergy.com

n Connecticut, the 14.9 MW fuel cell


park in Bridgeport has reached its first
anniversary of going into service, with an
operational availability above 95%. The
fuel cell park, owned by utility Dominion,
consists of five Direct FuelCell molten
carbonate power plants from Danburybased FuelCell Energy.
The DFC power plants in Bridgeport
supply Class I renewable power to the electric
grid under a 15-year energy purchase agreement
[FCB, January 2014, p6]. In addition, the
heat is recovered and converted into additional
electricity, increasing overall efficiency. FuelCell
Energy operates and maintains the plants under
a long-term service agreement.
In addition to consistently meeting power
output requirements since its operation date,
the installation continues to achieve availability
that is comparable to the best performing units
in our power generation fleet, including our
Millstone nuclear power station in Waterford,
Connecticut, says John Smatlak, VP of power
generation technical services for Dominion.
The project is located on a remediated
brownfield site in an industrial area of
Bridgeport, occupying only 1.5 acres (0.6
ha) of land. The city benefits through clean
6

Fuel Cells Bulletin

AFC Energy doubles


alkaline stack size in
German industrial trial

Traditionally, as in other solid membrane


electrolyte fuel cell types, scaling-up of the
cartridge needs extra heat management strategies,
such as incorporating additional coolant circuits
within the stack. This 51-cell trial has confirmed
the ability of the liquid electrolyte in AFCs
alkaline fuel cell to act in a dual function ionic
transport and heat management carrier which
simplifies the overall design and lowers cost
without adding complexity. Utilising AFCs selfheating strategy, the heat-up time for the fuel
cell from ambient temperature has been further
shortened in this trial, to approximately 4 h. It
is expected that further increases in power will
shorten this even more.
Achievement of the 51-fuel-cell stack,
which is now only half of the commercial-scale
101-fuel-cell cartridge designed for the KORE, is
a massive step forward in the commercialisation
of AFCs leading fuel cell technology, says CEO
Adam Bond. We are continuing to assess the
results of this trial, and incorporate the learnings
into the next phase of the 101-cell stack
scheduled for FebruaryMarch.
The Power-Up project funded through
the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint
Undertaking (FCH JU) will demonstrate AFCs
500 kW alkaline fuel cell power plant in Stade,
northern Germany, where Air Products operates
an industrial gas processing plant that sources
hydrogen from an adjoining major chemicals
complex operated by Dow Chemical [FCB,
November 2013, p6 and September 2014, p6, and
see the AFC Energy feature in FCB, November 2011].
AFC Energy, Cranleigh, Surrey, UK.
Tel: +44 1483 276726, www.afcenergy.com
Power-Up project: www.project-power-up.eu
Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking: www.fch-ju.eu

K-based AFC Energy successfully


trialed its first 51-cell stack cartridge
during January at an industrial gas
facility in Germany. The test achieved the
operational baseline performance of the
larger stack in the Beta cartridge, and
also reached its operating temperature in
just 4 h, well within the 12 h target.
The successful 51-cell stack trial marks the
third milestone in the Power-Up programme
for 2015 [FCB, January 2015, p6]. AFC is
therefore confident of meeting the fast-track
execution timetable for delivery of the 240 kW
KORE alkaline fuel cell system scheduled for
the second half of 2015.
The trial, which operated continuously for
approximately two weeks, focused on the major
challenge of scaling-up the stack (from 25 to 51
cells), and in particular managing the additional
heat generated, to avoid thermal over-run of
the cell.

PORTABLE & MICRO

eZelleron builds funds


on Kickstarter to prep
kraftwerk charger unit

he German fuel cell developer


eZelleron GmbH through its US
subsidiary eZelleron Inc is collecting
crowd-funding via Kickstarter.com to
prepare for its first series production
of the companys kraftwerk portable
charger. By mid-February the company
had reached US$1.2 million in pledges
(from 9200 backers), more than double
its goal of $500 000 well before the 5
March deadline.
The kraftwerk portable charger the size of
a pack of cigarettes, and weighing just 200 g

February 2015

NEWS
restarted production. The next phase will focus
on achieving full capacity by mid-year and
expanding the manufacturing capabilities, with
the goal of 300 employees by year-end.
Doosan Fuel Cell America is the US arm
of the Doosan Fuel Cell Business Group, and
focuses on 400 kW phosphoric acid fuel cells
for supplying combined heat and power to
building and utility systems. The group also
includes FuelCellPower, a leading Korean
manufacturer of PEM fuel cells for residential
use and small- and mid-sized buildings [FCB,
July 2014, p5].
Meanwhile, Doosan FC recently installed a
PureCell Model 400 power plant at the former
Hartford National Bank building on 777 Main
Street in downtown Hartford, Connecticut.
The tower is being converted into a green
mixed-use apartment community by sustainable
development and architectural firm Becker +
Becker, which has previously installed two
PureCell power plants [FCB, June 2011, p5].
Doosan Fuel Cell America, South Windsor, Connecticut,
USA. Tel: +1 860 727 2200, www.doosanfuelcell.com
Becker + Becker: beckerandbecker.com

FuelCell Energys fuel


cell park in Bridgeport
on year of clean power

distributed power generation and enhanced


grid resiliency, and is receiving tax revenue from
what was previously a vacant lot.
This fuel cell park is generating worldwide
interest from utilities and policy decision
makers, hosting visitors from other US states
and countries including Japan, Germany,
Spain, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and
South Korea as well as senior officials from the
US Environmental Protection Agency and the
Department of Energy, says Chip Bottone,
president and CEO of FuelCell Energy.
The worlds largest fuel cell park, utilising fuel
cells manufactured by FuelCell Energy, is located
in Hwasung City, South Korea and has been fully
operational since January 2014 [FCB, March
2014, p6]. The facility comprises 21 DFC3000
power plants, rated at 2.8 MW each, requiring
only about 5.1 acres (2 ha) of land. The fuel cell
park provides continuous baseload electricity to
the Korean electric grid and high-quality heat
for a district heating system. FCEs Asian partner
POSCO Energy commenced construction on
this project in November 2012 and finished in
only 14 months, illustrating the ability to rapidly
construct multi-MW fuel cell installations that
enhance grid resiliency.
FuelCell Energy, Danbury, Connecticut, USA.
Tel: +1 203 825 6000, www.fuelcellenergy.com
Dominion, Bridgeport Fuel Cell Park:
http://tinyurl.com/dom-bridgeport
POSCO Energy: http://eng.poscoenergy.com

n Connecticut, the 14.9 MW fuel cell


park in Bridgeport has reached its first
anniversary of going into service, with an
operational availability above 95%. The
fuel cell park, owned by utility Dominion,
consists of five Direct FuelCell molten
carbonate power plants from Danburybased FuelCell Energy.
The DFC power plants in Bridgeport
supply Class I renewable power to the electric
grid under a 15-year energy purchase agreement
[FCB, January 2014, p6]. In addition, the
heat is recovered and converted into additional
electricity, increasing overall efficiency. FuelCell
Energy operates and maintains the plants under
a long-term service agreement.
In addition to consistently meeting power
output requirements since its operation date,
the installation continues to achieve availability
that is comparable to the best performing units
in our power generation fleet, including our
Millstone nuclear power station in Waterford,
Connecticut, says John Smatlak, VP of power
generation technical services for Dominion.
The project is located on a remediated
brownfield site in an industrial area of
Bridgeport, occupying only 1.5 acres (0.6
ha) of land. The city benefits through clean
6

Fuel Cells Bulletin

AFC Energy doubles


alkaline stack size in
German industrial trial

Traditionally, as in other solid membrane


electrolyte fuel cell types, scaling-up of the
cartridge needs extra heat management strategies,
such as incorporating additional coolant circuits
within the stack. This 51-cell trial has confirmed
the ability of the liquid electrolyte in AFCs
alkaline fuel cell to act in a dual function ionic
transport and heat management carrier which
simplifies the overall design and lowers cost
without adding complexity. Utilising AFCs selfheating strategy, the heat-up time for the fuel
cell from ambient temperature has been further
shortened in this trial, to approximately 4 h. It
is expected that further increases in power will
shorten this even more.
Achievement of the 51-fuel-cell stack,
which is now only half of the commercial-scale
101-fuel-cell cartridge designed for the KORE, is
a massive step forward in the commercialisation
of AFCs leading fuel cell technology, says CEO
Adam Bond. We are continuing to assess the
results of this trial, and incorporate the learnings
into the next phase of the 101-cell stack
scheduled for FebruaryMarch.
The Power-Up project funded through
the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint
Undertaking (FCH JU) will demonstrate AFCs
500 kW alkaline fuel cell power plant in Stade,
northern Germany, where Air Products operates
an industrial gas processing plant that sources
hydrogen from an adjoining major chemicals
complex operated by Dow Chemical [FCB,
November 2013, p6 and September 2014, p6, and
see the AFC Energy feature in FCB, November 2011].
AFC Energy, Cranleigh, Surrey, UK.
Tel: +44 1483 276726, www.afcenergy.com
Power-Up project: www.project-power-up.eu
Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking: www.fch-ju.eu

K-based AFC Energy successfully


trialed its first 51-cell stack cartridge
during January at an industrial gas
facility in Germany. The test achieved the
operational baseline performance of the
larger stack in the Beta cartridge, and
also reached its operating temperature in
just 4 h, well within the 12 h target.
The successful 51-cell stack trial marks the
third milestone in the Power-Up programme
for 2015 [FCB, January 2015, p6]. AFC is
therefore confident of meeting the fast-track
execution timetable for delivery of the 240 kW
KORE alkaline fuel cell system scheduled for
the second half of 2015.
The trial, which operated continuously for
approximately two weeks, focused on the major
challenge of scaling-up the stack (from 25 to 51
cells), and in particular managing the additional
heat generated, to avoid thermal over-run of
the cell.

PORTABLE & MICRO

eZelleron builds funds


on Kickstarter to prep
kraftwerk charger unit

he German fuel cell developer


eZelleron GmbH through its US
subsidiary eZelleron Inc is collecting
crowd-funding via Kickstarter.com to
prepare for its first series production
of the companys kraftwerk portable
charger. By mid-February the company
had reached US$1.2 million in pledges
(from 9200 backers), more than double
its goal of $500 000 well before the 5
March deadline.
The kraftwerk portable charger the size of
a pack of cigarettes, and weighing just 200 g

February 2015

NEWS
(7 oz) utilises microtubular solid oxide fuel
cell technology to generate power from widely
available lighter fuel (butane) or camping gas
(butane/propane). The company says that a
single refill can provide sufficient energy to
recharge an Apple iPhone 11 times.
We have experienced a huge rush since our
technology was first launched, says Dr Sascha
Khn, president and founder of eZelleron. We
have met with Samsung to explore possible
cooperation. Apple and other big companies in
the technology and automotive sectors have also
made inquiries.
eZelleron GmbH aims to ship the kraftwerk
device, which has already been produced in a
range of successful functional prototypes, at the
end of 2015. The company has received more
than 6000 pre-orders (with pricing from $99) in
the US, Europe, and Asia. After quickly reaching
its first funding goal, eZelleron plans to use the
extra funding to develop a particularly robust
outdoor version, and a luxury version.
Fuel cell developers have had mixed fortunes
with crowd-funding so far. Last year Neah
Power Systems launched a successful Indiegogo
campaign for its BuzzBar Suite of handheld
device charging products [FCB, October
2014, p6], but in 2013 California-based Point
Source Power was well short of its Kickstarter
target to commercialise its HALO Fuel Cell
power source for the outdoor enthusiast and
emergency markets [FCB, July 2013, p7].
eZelleron GmbH, Dresden, Germany.
Tel: +49 351 250 88780, www.ezelleron.eu
eZelleron Inc, Wilmington, Delaware, USA.
Tel: +1 860 341 5558, www.hellokraftwerk.com
kraftwerk on Kickstarter:
http://tinyurl.com/kick-kraftwerk

Neah Power completes


PowerChip testing at
DRDO in India

S-based Neah Power Systems has


successfully completed testing
of its PowerChip units at an Indian
Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) facility. The
company has also signed a definitive
agreement to merge with Californiabased Shorai Inc, a leading provider
of lithium ion-based power sports
and starter battery solutions for the
consumer and motorsport markets.
The successful PowerChip testing at
DRDO is a critical milestone in completing
the licensing agreement with the Indian
government agency, which is responsible for

February 2015

the development of technology for use by the


military [FCB, December 2013, p8]. Neah
Power has received payment of approximately
$165 000 for these initial test units.
This further substantiates the value
proposition of the PowerChip fuel cell in
terms of differentiated performance from other
fuel cells, including non-air operation and
semiconductor-based manufacturing, as well as
the ability to meet the needs of mission-critical
applications, says Dr Chris DCouto, CEO of
Neah Power. He expects that completion of the
licensing agreement will lead to a significant
contract, and enable further adoption of the
technology for a variety of applications in the
industries that Neah is targeting.
Neah Power says that the acquisition of
Shorai is intended to deliver a comprehensive
suite of customer-focused alternative energy
power generation and storage solutions,
through a diverse portfolio of proprietary
technologies. Shorai is a well known producer
of lightweight, efficient and high-performance
lithium-ion starter batteries for motorcycles, allterrain and utility vehicles, lawnmowers etc.
Our customers, whether defence,
commercial or consumer, want to see
integrated power solutions that use best-ofbreed technologies in order to meet their
mission-critical needs, says Chris DCouto.
Completing this merger allows us to create
product, operational, and marketing synergies
to meet these customer needs.
Neah Powers core solutions have a small formfactor, recharge instantly, and can be operated
in air and non-air (anaerobic) environments,
providing a longer life with lower total cost
of ownership. The companys offerings also
include the Formira Hydrogen on Demand
(HOD) formic acid reformer technology [FCB,
November 2014, p6] and the BuzzBar Suite
of handheld device charging products [FCB,
September 2014, p7].
Neah Power Systems, Bothell, Washington, USA.
Tel: +1 425 424 3324, www.neahpower.com
Shorai Inc: www.shoraipower.com

FUELING

cell electric vehicles in central Nagoya


and in Toyota City. Air Liquide has
also inaugurated a hydrogen station
in the city of Saint-L in the Manche
department in northwestern France.
The new stations in Japan, which began
construction last autumn [FCB, October 2014,
p7], were developed by Nagoya-based Toyotsu Air
Liquide Hydrogen Energy Corporation, the joint
venture between Air Liquide Japan and Toyota
Tsusho Corporation, [FCB, November 2013, p8].
Air Liquide Japan was in charge of the design
and installation of these stations, which were
designed using the expertise the Air Liquide
group has acquired from installing more than
60 hydrogen stations around the world. Air
Liquide has already built three hydrogen
stations in Japan in Tokyo, in neighbouring
Kawasaki City, and in Saga on the southern
island of Kyushu.
Closer to home, Air Liquide has inaugurated
a hydrogen refueling station in Saint-L, for
the first regional authority in France to have a
hydrogen station for its vehicles. The Conseil
Gnral de la Manche (Manche regional council)
is keen to develop the hydrogen energy industry,
and play a pioneering role in this field.
The station will initially refuel the communitys
10 Renault Kangoo Maxi ZE electric vehicles,
which utilise a hydrogen fuel cell range-extender
supplied by Symbio FCell [see page 2]. In a
second stage, 30 more vehicles from partnering
communities and buses will use the station.
Air Liquide already operates publicly accessible
hydrogen stations in Europe, including Rotterdam
in the Netherlands [FCB, October 2014, p7]
and Dsseldorf in Germany. Last summer the
company announced the installation of four
new hydrogen stations in Denmark [FCB, July
2014, p8], part of the first national hydrogen
infrastructure network in Europe, and in the
autumn it announced plans to develop and supply
an integrated hydrogen fueling infrastructure in
the northeastern US, in collaboration with Toyota
Motor Sales USA [FCB, December 2014, p8].
Air Liquide, Hydrogen Filling Station:
http://tinyurl.com/airliquide-h2filling
Air Liquide Japan: www.jp.airliquide.com/en/welcome.html
Toyota Tsusho Corporation:
www.toyota-tsusho.com/english

Air Liquide hydrogen


stations for Japan,
Linde to build its first
French regional council hydrogen fueling
ndustrial gases giant Air Liquide
station in Sweden

recently completed two hydrogen


fueling stations in Aichi Prefecture in
Japan. These two stations are the first
public-use hydrogen stations for fuel

he Linde Group, via its


Scandinavian business branch AGA,
is building its first hydrogen refueling

Fuel Cells Bulletin

NEWS
station in Sweden, at Stockholm
Arlanda Airport. The new station will
be the countrys largest so far, and
accompanies the introduction of seriesproduction fuel cell electric vehicles by
several car manufacturers.
The green hydrogen will be produced by
electrolysers running on renewable electricity
from hydroelectric power in AGAs new
production plant in Sandviken, about 180 km
(110 miles) north of Stockholm. The stations
core components, based on Lindes proprietary
ionic compressor technology, are designed and
assembled in Lindes small-series manufacturing
facility in Vienna, Austria [FCB, July 2014, p1].
The new station will be operated by AGA,
and is envisaged to become part of a larger
network with links to similar infrastructure
initiatives in Norway, Denmark, and Germany.
Built with EU funding support, the Arlanda
facility located next to a recently acquired
biogas station is planned to go in operation in
September. The station will be a full size unit,
with a maximum capacity of 180 fillings per
day. Normal refueling at a pressure of 700 bar
(10 000 psi) will take only about three minutes.
Linde is one of the worlds largest
manufacturers of hydrogen plants, and a pioneer
in the hydrogen mobility sector, covering the
technology spectrum from hydrogen generation to
refueling [see the Linde feature in FCB, September
2014]. The company has equipped more than 90
fueling stations in 15 countries with innovative
hydrogen refueling technology, supporting fuel
cell cars, buses, and forklift trucks.
Lindes US operation recently completed
its first retail hydrogen station in the US,
at a multi-fuel facility in West Sacramento,
California [FCB, November 2014, p9], and
signed a Cooperative Research & Development
Agreement with Sandia National Laboratories
that will focus on performance-based design
approaches to commercial hydrogen fueling
stations [FCB, January 2015, p7].

the public. The facility recently passed a


rigorous state performance evaluation,
and can now begin selling hydrogen by
the kilogramme to drivers of fuel cell
electric vehicles.
Opened last May, the fueling station at Cal
State LA is the largest such facility on a university
campus in the US [FCB, June 2014, p7]. The
station produces hydrogen onsite, and is capable
of using renewable sources such as solar and wind
power for hydrogen production. The facility
uses a HySTAT-30 alkaline water electrolyser,
supplied by Canadian-based Hydrogenics, which
provides 65 kg/day of hydrogen.
Last year Hydrogenics secured contracts for
nine hydrogen fueling stations, including two
700 bar (10 000 psi) facilities. The company
is now involved in the building and servicing
of more than 10 hydrogen refueling stations
in California, and more than 50 stations
worldwide [FCB, January 2015, p7].
The hydrogen facility provides key research
data on fueling performance and station
operations to the Department of Energy and
national laboratories, as well as to state agencies
such as the California Energy Commission
and California Air Resources Board. Honda,
Hyundai, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz
(Daimler), Audi and Volkswagen [FCB,
December 2014, p2] have all fueled prototype
hydrogen vehicles at the Cal State LA station.
California Governor Jerry Browns office
informed the university that the fueling facility
had received the certification, known as California
Type Approval. The state is leading the effort to
develop such facilities, and has allocated $200
million over the next decade to further the
construction of a hydrogen fueling network across
California [FCB, October 2013, p6].
Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario,
Canada. Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com
Cal State LA, Hydrogen Station:
www.calstatela.edu/ecst/h2station

The Linde Group, Hydrogen Energy:


http://tinyurl.com/linde-hydrogen-energy
AGA Gas AB, Liding, Sweden. Tel: +46 8 706 9500,
www.aga.com

Cal State LA station


first in state certified to
sell hydrogen to public

he Hydrogen Research and Fueling


Facility at California State University,
Los Angeles (Cal State LA) has become
the first hydrogen station in California
to be certified to sell the clean fuel to
8

Fuel Cells Bulletin

ENERGY STORAGE

ITM readies enhanced


product range for
Power-to-Gas market

K-based ITM Power will launch an


enhanced product range, based on
a higher current density that produces
50% more hydrogen for the same
stack volume, at the Hannover Messe,
Group Exhibit Hydrogen + Fuel Cells
in Germany in April [see the Events
Calendar on p20]. The company will

also be launching its new 350 kW


single stack, with a three-stack 1 MW
system on show and for sale.
ITM recognises the market pull for ever
larger electrolyser systems for Power-to-Gas
(P2G) energy storage, and has brought to
fruition two key technical initiatives in order
to better meet the requirements of widespread
uptake [see also page 9]. The first is an ability to
generate up to 50% more hydrogen from the
existing self-pressurising HGas stack platform.
This is achieved by utilising a higher current
density, the key parameter in PEM stack
cost reduction, helping to reduce electrolyser
capacity cost significantly.
The second initiative is a larger stack module
capable of absorbing up to 350 kW of power. The
larger cell area, coupled with 25% more cells per
stack, represents beneficial plant simplification
while permitting multi-MW installations to
occupy smaller sites. The dramatically reduced
footprint helps alleviate siting challenges, where
space is highly valued, for both energy storage and
hydrogen refueling applications.
ITM Power also reports two new reference
plant sales to technical universities in Germany,
both of which are based on the HPac platform
for use in Power-to-Gas applications. Reference
plants are particularly important for ITM
Power in the German market, and with
those organisations which advise the German
energy ministry. The new orders mean that
the company will have four reference plant
installations in Germany.
This is an important step in developing
our German business, given the close tripartite
collaboration that exists in Germany between
academia, the federal and state governments,
and industry, explains Phil Doran, managing
director of German subsidiary ITM Power
GmbH. These sales and the Hannover launch
will further highlight ITM Powers technology
as being more than capable of meeting the needs
of the Energiewende [energy transition], and of
ITM Powers growing presence in Germany.
ITM now has 8.7 million ($13.4 million)
of projects under contract, and a further 2.5
million ($3.9 million) of new projects subject
to final contract negotiation.
ITM Power, Sheffield, UK. Tel: +44 114 244 5111,
www.itm-power.com

Proton launches PEM


MW-scale electrolyser
for energy storage

onnecticut-based Proton OnSite


has announced the commercial
launch of its 1 MW and 2 MW M Series

February 2015

NEWS
hydrogen generation systems,
featuring the companys protonexchange membrane (PEM) water
electrolyser technology. The new
systems are particularly targeted at the
growing global energy storage market.
The growth of renewable energy has created a
need for large-scale energy storage [see the Proton
OnSite feature in FCB, September 2013]. The
new M Series addresses this by offering scalable,
cost-effective conversion of excess, stranded
or curtailed power to hydrogen, presenting a
carbon-free solution for the industrial-scale
storage of energy for use in chemical processes,
fuel cell electric vehicles, biogas production, and
natural gas pipeline injection.
At the 2 MW level, the new M Series
provides a 13 increase in hydrogen production
compared to other commercial PEM systems.
In combination with greater production
capacity, the M Series halves the capital cost per
kW of producing hydrogen.
Its important to understand that a
functioning PEM electrolyser is not overly
complicated to build, but the real challenge
comes in making systems rugged and reliable
for real industry applications, says Robert
Friedland, president and CEO of Proton
OnSite. Proton is the only PEM electrolyser
company that has the installed base, experience,
and time in the market. This experience has
been a key leverage point for us in introducing
this system [FCB, December 2012, p9 and
May 2013, p8].
The company says that the ability of PEM
technology to respond rapidly to renewable
energy inputs makes it the preferred electrolysis
method, and annual maintenance costs are
significantly less than traditional alkaline
electrolysis technologies. The M Series also
offers a highly cost-effective approach for
Power-to-Gas (P2G) applications, and an
economical alternative to delivered hydrogen
in many industrial, food, and pharmaceutical
markets. The modular design of the M Series
enables solutions for an almost unlimited range
of project sizes.
Proton OnSite, Wallingford, Connecticut, USA.
Tel: +1 203 678 2000, www.ProtonOnSite.com

Hydrogenics 1 MW
PEM electrolyser for
European consortium

anadian-based Hydrogenics is
supplying a 1 MW electrolyser and
providing engineering expertise to a
consortium of European companies
working on the MefCO2 project in

February 2015

Germany. The application will take


excess electricity from intermittent
renewable energy sources, generate
green hydrogen, and then create
methanol using a low-carbon-footprint
production plant and CO2 emissions
from an existing coal-fired power plant.
This project will use our most advanced
PEM technology, developed specifically for
utility-scale Power-to-Gas [P2G] applications,
and turn carbon dioxide into energy,
says Daryl Wilson, CEO of Hydrogenics.
Methanol production from green hydrogen
represents a very promising way to
decarbonise parts of the traditional fuel
industry as well as the chemical sector.
The facility will capture CO2 from the
emissions of a coal-fired power plant in Essen,
Germany owned by STEAG GmbH, which
operates a number of regional power plants and
distributed energy facilities. Hydrogenics will
provide a 1 MW electrolyser that, powered by
intermittent renewable energy, will produce 200
m3/h of hydrogen. The hydrogen and captured
CO2 will then be catalytically converted into
methanol, a common chemical feedstock used in
gasoline blending, biodiesel production, and the
manufacture of chemical derivatives.
The MefCO2 consortium also includes
Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Europe, the
Laboratory of Catalysis and Reaction Engineering
of the National Institute of Chemistry Slovenia,
the Cardiff Catalysis Institute in Wales, Icelandbased Carbon Recycling International, the
University of Genoa in Italy, the University of
Duisburg-Essen in Germany, and the Spanish
technology broker i-deals.
The project has a budget of E11 million
(US$12.5 million), partially funded by a
grant from the EUs Horizon 2020 research
programme, and managed by the SPIRE2 public-private partnership (Sustainable
Process Industry through Resource and Energy
Efficiency). The project will last three to four
years, and involves the design, building, and
testing of systems to demonstrate the utilisation
of surplus and intermittent renewable energy
sources and waste CO2 for the production of
methanol.
A year ago Hydrogenics announced an order
for a 1 MW electrolyser unit for the Power-toGas Biological Catalysis (P2G-BioCat) project
in Denmark, which will use hydrogen produced
using excess wind power to convert biogas
from sewage sludge into methane that can
be injected into the local gas network [FCB,
March 2014, p8].
Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com
SPIRE partnership: www.spire2030.eu

COMMERCIALISATION

Ballard terminates two


licensing agreements
with Azure in China

anadian-based Ballard Power


Systems has given termination
notice on two licensing agreements
in the China market, as a result of
material breaches of these agreements
by Beijing-based Azure Hydrogen.
The first licence agreement, originally
announced in September 2013, relates to the
assembly of Ballards FCvelocity-HD7 fuel cell
bus power modules in China for the Chinese
market [FCB, October 2013, p2]. The second
licence agreement, announced in June 2014, is
related to the assembly of Ballards ElectraGen
telecom backup power systems in China for the
Chinese market [FCB, July 2014, p5].
Ballard says that it tried to reach a settlement,
but as a result of Azures breaches under both
contracts, it has provided notice of termination
of both contracts and will consider its legal
remedies. Azures breaches and the resultant
contract terminations will negatively impact
Ballards 2014 financial performance. Ballard had
expected to collect approximately US$4.5 million
in cash from Azure in Q4 of 2014, and recognise
additional revenue of more than $3 million under
the Azure contracts in that quarter.
Randy MacEwen, president and CEO of
Ballard, remains upbeat. While we are clearly
disappointed with this outcome with Azure
and the negative impact on our 2014 financial
results, we remain confident in the long-term
attractiveness of the Chinese market for our
fuel cell solutions, he says.
Ballard has better news in the bus market
it is currently finalising an equipment supply
agreement with Belgian bus-builder Van Hool,
to supply power modules for 21 fuel cell buses
over the next two years [see page 1].
Ballard Power Systems, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com

ITM Power expands


manufacturing, testing
and site power supply

K-based ITM Power has begun


a significant expansion of the
manufacturing facilities at its main Atlas
Way site in Sheffield. The expansion
includes two new test bays for

Fuel Cells Bulletin

NEWS
acceptance testing of HGas Power-toGas (P2G) units, and the provision of a
new 1 MW substation.
ITM Power is optimising its existing facility
to meet the increasing production demands of
items under contract and in negotiation [see page
8]. In the past six months, it has completed a
series of improvements to the production process
to meet anticipated growing demand. The
manufacturing facility, plus the use of a number
of accredited local subcontractors, can currently
handle a product turnover of approximately
100 million (US$154 million) per annum. The
additional facilities are to provide power for the
acceptance testing of 1 MW units.
ITM has identified a potential bottleneck
of factory acceptance testing (FAT) in its
production planning, which is being resolved
by the provision of two new FAT test bays.
The enclosed external bays allow for three 20 ft
(6 m) ISO containers to be simultaneously
tested. FAT is an important part of the
manufacturing process before products are
shipped to site for commissioning. The testing
includes periods of operation at full load, and
it is therefore important that the capacity for
this procedure grows in step with product build
capacity and increasing orders.
In addition, Northern Powergrid will install a
1 MW transformer, with the option to increase the
supply agreement when required. ITM has also
identified a site where electrolysers of up to 5 MW
can be tested, adding further expansion potential.
Products above 5 MW in capacity would undergo
final acceptance testing at the customers site.
Standardisation of ITMs products has enabled
streamlined manufacturing. All products are
designed in a modular way, allowing multiple
units to be assembled simultaneously and
providing maximum flexibility to the build
schedule. As the companys manufacturing
schedule fills up, it has been important to ensure
that capacity can match demand. A series of
sub-assemblies have been designed, and a series
of accredited subcontractors have been identified
and are increasingly being used as part of the
manufacturing process. Delivery timescales have
also been significantly reduced.
ITM Power, Sheffield, UK. Tel: +44 114 244 5111,
www.itm-power.com

Italian firm Electro


Power Systems
switches HQ to France

lectro Power Systems (EPS), which


is developing smart hydrogenbased systems for energy storage,
has established its new headquarters
10

Fuel Cells Bulletin

in the French capital, Paris. EPS


was founded in Italy in 2005, as a
spinout from the Politecnico di Torino
(Polytechnic University of Turin).
France is leading the Energy Transition
in Europe and globally, explains Carlalberto
Guglielminotti, CEO of Electro Power
Systems. Its environment for innovative energy
companies is very dynamic, especially for a
growing energy company specialised in hydrogen
storage technologies, our core expertise.
Since 2007, EPS has developed hydrogenbased power systems to provide backup power
solutions, mission-critical applications, and
to compensate for primary power outages. In
2012, the group launched its updated selfrecharging ElectroSelf backup power system,
which vertically integrates the hydrogen fuel
cell power system, energy management, and
onsite generation of hydrogen and oxygen
[FCB, March 2012, p3]. This innovative
hydrogen-based system, entirely developed
and manufactured by EPS, integrates a highpressure electrolyser through smart electronics
into a patented open architecture.
The ElectroSelf system, with its unique
self-recharging, modular and closed-loop
technology, allows end-users to go off-grid,
and its open architecture means that it can
also be easily coupled with other batterybased technologies to increase their storage
capacity and reduce the overall plant cost and
footprint the company calls this the HyESS
Hybrid Energy Storage System. The group will
pursue future development and growth with
ElectroSelf and HyESS, including off-grid
distributed generation and grid-scale energy
storage systems and, in particular, integration
with renewable sources and smart grids.
Electro Power Systems has facilities in
Moncalieri (Turin) and Aosta in Italy, and in
the US in partnership with BNC Corporation
in Brighton, Michigan. Last spring EPS agreed
an exclusive partnership with McPhy Energy, a
French specialist in industrial hydrogen energy
storage solutions, whereby McPhy will be the
exclusive manufacturer of the new electrolysis
stack developed by EPS for the ElectroSelf
[FCB, April 2014, p10].
Electro Power Systems SA, Paris, France.
Tel: +33 1 7118 2912, www.electropowersystems.com

TFP, Johnson Matthey


unveil new electrode
for low-cost GDLs

n a collaborative UK project,
Technical Fibre Products Ltd (TFP)
and Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells

(JMFC) have developed a novel and


commercially ready electrode substrate
for use in PEM and direct methanol
fuel cells. The substrate addresses
the market need for a lower-cost
alternative to currently available gas
diffusion layer (GDL) materials.
The innovation is the output from the project
Fuel Cells Incorporating Nanomaterials in
Electrode Substrates (FINESSE), co-funded by
the Innovate UK innovation agency (formerly the
Technology Strategy Board). The projects primary
objective was to develop a novel membraneelectrode assembly (MEA) for stationary PEM
and portable DMFC applications, which
delivers similar performance to the current
state-of-the-art but at reduced cost. The project
incorporated a number of development strands,
with TFP leading on GDL substrate design and
manufacture, and JMFC leading on coating,
MEA consolidation, and in-cell testing.
Technical Fibre Products part of luxury
papermaker James Cropper Plc, and based
in Englands Lake District is a leading
manufacturer of advanced nonwovens. The
company has extensive experience in developing
novel materials to meet specific performance
requirements in industries including aerospace,
defence, energy, and construction. The
companys technologists combine an in-depth
understanding of the nonwoven forming
process with the knowledge and experience to
work with a range of fibres, particulates, and
binders. The application of this expertise has
enabled the development of a GDL electrode
material which offers comparable properties
and performance to the current state-of-the-art,
but without the associated high-temperature
heat treatment techniques which increase cost.
JMFC is a global business dedicated to the
supply of high-quality fuel cell components.
The Swindon-based company designs and
manufactures MEAs and their sub-components
for use in both automotive and stationary fuel
cell applications, including catalysts for fuel
cells and fuel processors (reformers).
As part of the FINESSE project, the partners
have developed an optimal MEA design which
both incorporates the new low-cost GDL
substrate and simultaneously delivers additional
cost savings. This development of a lower-cost
electrode substrate and consolidated MEA
supports the market need for cost reduction in
fuel cell systems as a whole. Ultimately, this will
help make fuel cells a more economically viable
green energy source, and potentially help to
accelerate their market penetration.
The two companies also recently collaborated
in a pioneering project to develop a recycling
process to recover high-value materials from
waste fuel cells [FCB, January 2015, p1].

February 2015

NEWS / IN BRIEF
Technical Fibre Products Ltd, Kendal, Cumbria, UK.
Tel: +44 1539 818220, www.tfpglobal.com
Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Ltd, Swindon, UK.
Tel: +44 1793 755600, www.jmfuelcells.com
Innovate UK: www.innovateuk.org

RESEARCH

DOE funds fuel cell


catalysts, hydrogen
contamination R&D

he US Department of Energy has


announced the 2015 Small Business
Innovation Research and Small Business
Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase
I Release 1 Awards, including projects
focusing on non-platinum catalysts for
fuel cells and detection of contaminants
in hydrogen.
DOEs key hydrogen objectives are to reduce
the cost of producing and delivering hydrogen
to less than $4 per gallon of gasoline equivalent
(gge), to enable fuel cell electric vehicles to be
competitive with gasoline vehicles. Key fuel cell
objectives are to reduce system cost to $40/kW
and improve durability to 5000 h (equivalent
to 150 000 miles or 240 000 km of driving) for
automotive fuel cell systems by 2020.
The projects on non-platinum group metal
(PGM) catalysts for fuel cells that were selected
for negotiation are:
U Proton OnSite (www.protononsite.com)
of Wallingford, Connecticut will develop a
non-precious metal catalyst based on doped
cobalt oxides [see also page 8].
U pH Matter LLC (www.phmatter.com) of
Columbus, Ohio will develop a non-precious metal catalyst based on phosphorusdoped carbon-nitrogen materials.
Both of these projects will use the novel
catalysts to prepare high-performance oxygen
electrodes, enabling production of reversible
alkaline membrane fuel cells with better
performance and lower cost than current
technology.
The two projects on detection of
contaminants in hydrogen are:
U Southwest Sciences Inc (www.swsciences.
com) of Santa Fe, New Mexico will develop
a diode laser sensor for detection of typical
impurities found in hydrogen fuel at the
refueling station.
U Sustainable Innovations LLC (www.
sustainableinnov.com) of East Hartford,
Connecticut has teamed with the
University of Connecticut to develop an

February 2015

innovative multichannel hydrogen fuel


quality monitor, to detect multiple hydrogen impurities at the refueling station.
DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: www.energy.gov/eere/
transportation/hydrogen-and-fuel-cells

FuelCon, Fraunhofer
ISE testing PEMFC
start-stop phenomena

n Germany, FuelCon AG and the


Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy
Systems ISE are developing a testing
station for analysing start-stop cycles
in PEM fuel cells. The work is part of
the three-year Stress project funded
by the federal ministry for economic
affairs and energy (BMWi), which runs
to the end of March.
PEM fuel cells are mostly stressed by
electrical load changes and start-stop processes,
with the latter mainly occurring in mobile
applications. Irreversible corrosion processes
at the electrodes result in greater degradation
of the individual cells. Therefore the Stress
project aims to develop an application-oriented
test system, including the necessary testing
environment for the evaluation of these
processes, focusing on automotive and mobile
applications. The implemented fuel cell testing
environment should allow both practical
adjustment and the simulation of operational
conditions, and the testing method itself should
be adapted for different applications.
As part of the project, Fraunhofer ISE
organised a workshop on Start-Stop Phenomena
and Strategies for PEM Fuel Cells in December,
where FuelCons Mathias Bode gave a
presentation on suitable test environments
and methods. Bode explains that the test
environment for analysing start-stop phenomena
is a significant project milestone. Working
with researchers at Fraunhofer ISE, FuelCon
succeeded in developing a testing environment
that is practicable for PEM single cells as well as
stacks, and ensures high process reproducibility.
Fuel cell testing systems in FuelCons
Evaluator series can be equipped with several
extensions, one of which is the Start-StopExtension allowing the simulation of start-stop
cycles for accelerated degradation of the cell.
The start-stop extension includes the necessary
process engineering as well as testing scripts and
an enhanced safety concept.
FuelCon AG, Magdeburg-Barleben, Germany.
Tel: +49 39203 514400, www.fuelcon.com
Fraunhofer ISE, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology:
http://tinyurl.com/ise-h2fuelcell

IN BRIEF
Sales of Ene-Farm residential fuel cell
systems in Japan pass 100 000 milestone
Cumulative sales of Ene-Farm, which became
the worlds first commercial residential fuel
cell system when it was released in Japan in
May 2009 [FCB, March 2009, p11], surpassed
100 000 units in September 2014, according to
the Japan Gas Association (www.gas.or.jp/en).
The Ene-Farm line initially comprised
PEM fuel cell based systems from several
manufacturers, and was later expanded to
include models using solid oxide fuel cells,
which have higher generation efficiency than
PEMFCs [FCB, April 2012, p4], as well as
stand-alone units that continue operating
during power outages, and models that can
be installed in apartment building pipe shafts
[FCB, November 2013, p4]. Ene-Farm is a
frontrunner in Japans planned hydrogen energy
society, because it generates power using city
(natural) gas modified with hydrogen.
The Strategic Energy Plan adopted by the
Japanese government sets Ene-Farm targets of 1.4
million units by 2020, and 5.3 million units (10%
of all households) by 2030. Japans gas industry
will work closely with Ene-Farm manufacturers,
the housing sector, and the energy industry to
further expand Ene-Farm installations.
FCHEA study on US state policy, funding
The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association
(FCHEA, www.fchea.org) in the US has released
a new report, 2014 State Policy Activity WrapUp Fuel Cells & Hydrogen. This annual report
aggregates recent state-level policies and funding
opportunities that support the development
and deployment of fuel cell and hydrogen
technologies in a range of applications.
While federal funding has supported fuel
cell and hydrogen R&D and demonstration
for more than a decade, many states have also
stepped up support for these technologies to
reduce emissions, increase energy efficiency,
and improve power reliability. The latest report
highlights activities in 18 states, and shows a
significant increase in the number of policies and
incentives compared to 2013, while the number
of states covered in the report has doubled.
Policies and incentives reported in the study
include fuel cell electric vehicles, with eight
states developing networks of hydrogen fueling
stations to support growing numbers of FCEVs
on their roads; power generation, with a number
of states offering funding to help businesses
and municipalities deploy stationary fuel cells
for distributed (onsite) power generation; and
economic stimulus, with several states developing
fuel cell manufacturing and supply chains to help
build state economies and create jobs.
Download the free report:
http://tinyurl.com/fchea-states-2014

Fuel Cells Bulletin

11

FEATURE

Viessmann installs first fuel


cell CHP system in UK home,
ahead of 2016 market rollout
The first mass-produced domestic fuel cell system commercially available in the
UK, the Vitovalor 300-P from Viessmann, has been installed in a family home
in Wolverhampton. The installation of this innovative clean energy technology
will see the homeowner some 1000 (US$1540) per annum better off, and cut
their carbon footprint in half.

Microgeneration on way
To continue to reduce CO2 emissions and
make ourselves, as a society, more energyefficient, we need to develop solutions for gas,
says Darren McMahon, marketing director for
Viessmann UK. Beside this, microgeneration
thats people generating their own electricity
onsite is about twice as efficient as relying on
centralised power stations.
Viessmann UK has installed its first Vitovalor
300-P in Wolverhampton, in the four-bedroom
home of the companys technical director.
This will ensure we can access the data and
monitor its performance, to provide real-life
running costs in a representative UK home,
continues McMahon. In terms of installs, we
will be looking to add further systems across
the country, assessing the suitability of any sites
as the opportunities arise.
Homeowner Christian Engelke is delighted
to be the guinea pig. In addition to being
able to do something for the environment,
this system will allow me to generate as much
electricity as I use, as well as guard against
perpetually rising utility costs, he says. As a
family, were really excited about monitoring
our energy use and production.

The financial benefits


The fuel cell system will supply the 1910built home with the energy it requires and
reduce CO2 by 50%, compared to the separate
generation of heat and power, says Viessmann
UK. The total annual spending on energy
utility bills will be cut by 36%, representing
approximately 400 (US$620), for the
Wolverhampton home, because of the onsite
generation of electricity. Any excess electric
power that is generated can be exported back
into the grid. Based on the UKs Feed-in-Tariff
(FiT) of 15p (23) per kWh, this is expected to
12

Fuel Cells Bulletin

provide the household with a return of more


than 600 ($925) per annum.
The cost of installation at the home in
Wolverhampton, including purchase of the
Vitovalor 300-P, removal of the previous
system, installation, and accessories was
22 000 ($34 000), says Darren McMahon.
With the estimated income from the FiT, as
well as the reduced consumption of electricity
from the grid, we expect the average home to
see a saving in the region of 1000 ($1540) a
year.
We are currently working towards lobbying
the government to implement a subsidy for fuel
cell systems, as they have adopted in Germany,
he continues. At the moment, we are targeting
this product at the early adopters, and are aware
that our biggest challenge is the high initial
installation costs. Like all new technology, as
production increases we will see the costs come
down in the coming years, in much the same as
we have seen with solar PV [photovoltaic].

(mCHP) system in collaboration with Japanese


electronics giant Panasonic.[13]
This partnership has taken the technology of
the Panasonic-developed hydrogen PEM fuel
cell, which has already been proven in thousands
of electricity-dependent homes in Japan through
the Ene-Farm programme,[4, 5] and adapted
it by combining it with Viessmanns heating
and control technology, to create a product
that meets the needs of the European market
for residential heat and power systems. The

Residential CHP system


The Vitovalor 300-P is intended for residential
domestic settings, and is therefore designed
to produce enough energy to cover the
average requirement for the home. The energy
produced by the system approximately
4500 kWh per annum is equivalent to that
generated by 30 m2 of solar PV panels. In
practice, solar PV would involve covering both
sides of a large roof in its entirety. Yet the fuel
cell unit only takes up the same space as a
fridge-freezer (with a footprint of just 0.65 m2
or 7 sq ft), without any impact on the external
aesthetics of the property.
Leading international heating systems
manufacturer Viessmann in Germany has
jointly developed the Vitovalor 300-P polymer
electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)based micro combined heat and power

The Vitovalor 300-P fuel cell heating appliance


is the UKs first mass-produced, commercially
available domestic fuel cell system. Key: (1)
gas condensing boiler for covering peak loads,
(2) domestic hot water (DHW) cylinder, (3)
Inox-Radial heat-exchanger made from stainless steel, (4) heating water buffer cylinder,
(5) reformer, (6) electricity meter/CHP unit, (7)
PEM fuel cell stack, (8) inverter.

February 2015

FEATURE

The Vitovalor 300-P features a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, which uses an
electrochemical reaction to convert hydrogen (reformed from natural gas, and fed to the anode)
and oxygen (from air at the cathode) into electric power and hot water.

Vitovalor 300-P fuel cell mCHP system has been


on sale in Europe since April 2014.

European market rollout


We have received a lot of interest from
end-users, installers and architects, who are
being added to the waiting list to purchase a
Vitovalor 300-P, says Darren McMahon. The
Vitovalor 300-P is commercially available in
Europe, and its a case of timings as to when
it will be available for purchase in individual
countries. The UK is part of this, and the
system will be available to order by the end of
this year, with the first customer installations
expected in early 2016.
We have seen the product making traction
in Germany, where the government has
adopted subsidies and incentives, continues
McMahon. It is a model that has worked well

in terms of incorporating the new technology


into homes, offering both economic and
environmental benefits. It is likely a practice
that will need to be replicated in other
countries, including the UK, to kickstart
uptake.
Viessmann has set out its plans to introduce
the fuel cell system in H Gas [high calorific
value] markets first and then in L Gas [low
calorific value] regions in Germany, the UK,
France, and Germanys neighbours, with the
objective of expanding to all European regions
in the future.

Clean use of natural gas


The unit doesnt require a specific quality
of natural gas, but its output does depend
on the quality of the gas and the percentage
of methane it contains. The purer the gas
in terms of methane content, the better the

Sized for family homes


The Vitovalor 300-P fuel cell heating
appliance comprises a PEM fuel cell unit
(manufactured in Japan by Panasonic), a peak
load boiler with a 170 litre heating water

The UKs first mass-produced, commercially available domestic fuel cell system, the Vitovalor 300-P
from Viessmann, has been successfully installed in a four-bedroom family home in Wolverhampton.

February 2015

buffer cylinder (for use on only the coldest


days of the year), and a 46 litre domestic hot
water (DHW) tank. The electrical efficiency
of the fuel cell module is 37%, with an overall
efficiency of 90%.
The system delivers 19 kW of peak load
thermal output, which is sufficient to cover
the majority of the heat demand of a detached
house year-round in the UK, while the 15
kWh daily power output covers the base
electric power demand in the average domestic
household. The integral gas condensing boiler
starts automatically when the heat from the
fuel cell module is insufficient, such as at peak
times or when a lot of hot water is required
for a brief period, for example.
The appliance is as easy to retrofit into
homes as it is to install in new-builds. It
requires the same connections as a gas boiler:
natural gas, electric power, hot and cold
water feeds, and a balanced flue system that
utilises the natural draught created by the hot
exhaust. The system is approved under the
UKs Microgeneration Certification Scheme
(MCS), after rigorous testing to show that it
complies with industry standards.

The Vitovalor 300-P domestic fuel cell system


installed in Wolverhampton takes up the space
of a fridge-freezer, with a footprint of just
0.65 m2 (7 sq ft).

Fuel Cells Bulletin

13

FEATURE
Vitovalor 300-P performs: 8090% methane
content is fine for the product, says Christian
Engelke. Gas quality from the grid in the
UK is very good, and the Vitovalor 300-P
is optimised for the gas formulation within
the UK.
He continues: The results we have seen in
the Wolverhampton home have been fantastic,
and there have been no issues at all since the
installation has taken place.
The integrated fuel processor (reformer)
separates out the small proportion of sulfur
compounds in the natural gas supply, then
an upstream reformer converts the natural
gas into hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2)
using a catalyst. Any carbon monoxide (CO)
present or produced is converted to CO2 in a
downstream gas cleaning unit, before external
release through the flue.
The Vitovalor 300-P has an electrical output
of 0.75 kW and a thermal output of 1 kW. The
heat-led system is designed so that the primary
focus is to cover the entire heating demand
(domestic hot water and central heating) of a
dwelling, while also providing the majority of a
homes electricity requirements.
At the moment there are no plans to
develop a larger output system, says Engelke.
Viessmann does however offer a number of
[conventional and renewable energy] CHP
solutions that are already available for a
commercial setting.

App for remote control


The Vitotrol App allows the homeowner to
remotely operate the fuel cell mCHP system
indeed, this works for any Viessmann
heating system installed since 2004. The

The Vitotrol App allows the homeowner to remotely operate the fuel cell CHP system, using a
smartphone or tablet.

app can also allow heating contractors to


connect to the system in order to offer their
customers additional service and maintenance
facilities.
The homeowner can use the app to
control the heating circuits operating
condition, change room temperature, and
timing programmes remotely, explains
Darren McMahon. They can also select
special party and ECO functions, the latter
of which can generate further savings by
lowering operation to a set point, for a set
period.
In addition, the homeowner can use the
app to monitor energy savings, as well as
the income generated by FiT payments in
real time. The app can be downloaded from
the Apple App Store for iPhones and iPads,
or from the Google Play store for Android
smartphones and tablets.

Heat and power systems


Viessmann Ltd is part of the Germanbased Viessmann Group, one of the leading
international manufacturers of heating
systems. The Groups comprehensive
product range encompasses all fuel types
and applications, allowing it to deliver
high-quality, efficient, and fully integrated
solutions. With an output range from 1.5 kW
to 120 MW, Viessmann offers oil- and gasfired boilers, solar thermal and photovoltaic
systems, combined heat and power (CHP)
modules, biomass boilers, and ground, air and
water source heat pumps.

References
1. Viessmann buys into SOFC developer Hexis,
links with Panasonic, Fuel Cells Bulletin
(November 2012) 3.
2. Panasonic, Viessmann for European
home cogen, Fuel Cells Bulletin
(September 2013) 1.
3. Viessmann residential CHP fuel cell system
launches in Europe, Fuel Cells Bulletin
(April 2014) 5.
4. Tokyo Gas, Panasonic launch new
Ene-Farm residential fuel cell, Fuel
Cells Bulletin (March 2011) 4.
5. Panasonic, Tokyo Gas update Ene-Farm
product, Fuel Cells Bulletin (January 2013) 1.
For more information, contact: Darren McMahon,
Marketing Director UK, Viessmann Ltd, Hortonwood
30, Telford TF1 7YP, UK. Tel: +44 1952 675000,
Email: info-uk@viessmann.com,
Web: www.viessmann.co.uk
Vitovalor 300-P fuel cell based micro CHP systems:
www.viessmann.co.uk/en/information/architects/
Vitovalor_300-P.html

The Vitovalor 300-P fuel cell micro CHP system offers energy savings of up to 36%, and dramatically
reduces CO2 emissions. (All values refer to the net calorific value, i.e. lower heating value or LHV.)

14

Fuel Cells Bulletin

Fuel cell boiler Vitovalor 300-P (PDF):


http://tinyurl.com/viessmann-fuelcell-pdf

February 2015

RESEARCH TRENDS

Research Trends
Experimental investigation of
transport of ammonia as fuel
contaminant in PEMFCs
R.M. Jung et al.: J. Power Sources 275
(1 February 2015) 1421.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.11.009

Bi-doped Pr6O11 as fluorite oxide


cathode for all-fluorite SOFCs
T. Ishihara et al.: J. Power Sources 275
(1 February 2015) 167174.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.10.159

Pd and PdSn supported on MWNTs


or carbon for alkaline direct
ethanol fuel cell
A.N. Geraldes et al.: J. Power Sources 275
(1 February 2015) 189199.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.11.024

Fracture toughness and strength


distribution of zirconia tapes for
electrolyte-supported SOFCs
F. Fleischhauer et al.: J. Power Sources 275
(1 February 2015) 217226.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.10.083

Increased Pt performance in direct


alcohol fuel cells by modification
with group 15 metals (Bi, Sb)
M.C. Figueiredo et al.: J. Power Sources 275
(1 February 2015) 341350.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.11.034

Highly stable microtubular SOFCs


based on integrated electrolyte/
anode hollow fibres
X. Meng et al.: J. Power Sources 275
(1 February 2015) 362369.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.11.027

Startup and load-change behaviour


of catalytic burner for PEMFC-based
APU for diesel fuel
[European FCGEN project]

different Ni-YSZ anode functional


layer thicknesses

tolerance during operation on


hydrogen or biogas fuels

I. Kagomiya et al.: Fuel Cells 15(1) (February


2015) 9097.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fuce.201400138

A. Lima da Silva et al.: Int. J. Hydrogen Energy


40(5) (9 February 2015) 23342353.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.12.037

Electrochemical performance
of NdNiO cathode-supported
microtubular SOFCs

1,2-dimethylimidazoliumfunctionalised crosslinked alkaline


anion-exchange membranes for
alkaline DMFCs

M.A. Laguna-Bercero et al.: Fuel Cells 15(1)


(February 2015) 98104.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fuce.201400071

Moisture effect on LSM and LSCF


cathode behaviours in SOFCs
F. Shen et al.: Fuel Cells 15(1) (February 2015)
105114.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fuce.201400032

Effect of compression cycling


on PBI-based HT-PEMFCs
F.J. Pinar et al.: Fuel Cells 15(1) (February
2015) 140149.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fuce.201400136

2,5-pyridine-PBI copolymer
membranes with improved
compression, for HT-PEMFCs

C. Yang et al.: Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 40(5)


(9 February 2015) 23632370.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.12.050

Fabrication and performance of


LSCF infiltrated YSZ cathode on
anode-supported SOFC
D. Tang et al.: J. Fuel Cell Science & Technology
12(1) 011001 (February 2015).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.4028947

Vapour-feed air-breathing DMFC


assisted by catalytic combustor
W. Yuan et al.: J. Fuel Cell Science & Technology
12(1) 011002 (February 2015).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.4029071

M.A. Molleo et al.: Fuel Cells 15(1) (February


2015) 150155.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fuce.201400129

Evaluation of cathode air


flow transients in SOFC/gas
turbine hybrid system via
hardware-in-loop simulation

Review of hydrogen and fuel cell


technologies for heating

N. Zhou et al.: J. Fuel Cell Science & Technology


12(1) 011003 (February 2015).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.4028950

P.E. Dodds et al.: Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 40(5)


(9 February 2015) 20652083. [Open Access]
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.11.059

State-of-the-art of commercial
electrolysers and onsite hydrogen
generation for fuel cell powered
logistic vehicles at BMW factory
in South Carolina
M. Felgenhauer et al.: Int. J. Hydrogen Energy
40(5) (9 February 2015) 20842090.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.12.043

Passive DMFC using woven carbon


fibre fabric as mass transfer control
medium

Control impacts of cold-air bypass


on pressurised SOFC/gas turbine
hybrids [NETL HyPer project]
P. Pezzini et al.: J. Fuel Cell Science & Technology
12(1) 011006 (February 2015).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.4029083

Electrochemical characterisation
of synthesised NiCo and NiCoFe
electrodes for DMFC
S. Paul et al.: J. Fuel Cell Science & Technology
12(1) 011007 (February 2015).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.4029063

J. Meiner et al.: Fuel Cells 15(1) (February


2015) 1526. [Open Access]
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fuce.201400016

W. Yuan et al.: Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 40(5)


(9 February 2015) 23262333.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2014.12.055

Ambient-temperature
operation of Pt-free direct
formate fuel cell

Fabrication and power densities


of anode-supported SOFCs with

Oxide incorporation into Ni-based


SOFC anodes for enhanced sulfur

T.Q. Nguyen et al.: J. Fuel Cell Science &


Technology 12(1) 014501 (February 2015).
http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.4029072
15

February 2015

Fuel Cells Bulletin

PATENTS

Patents
SOFC electrode material containing
perovskite complex oxide and ZrO2,
inhibits electrode interface peeling
Assignee: NGK Insulators Ltd, Japan
Inventors: A. Kobayashi et al.
Patent number: US 8835077
Published: 16 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 19 July 2011)

Fabrication of proton-selective
membrane for PEMFC, utilising
template molecules and functional
monomers with crosslinking agent
Assignee/Inventor: Yanxiu Zhou, USA
Patent number: US 8835078
Published: 16 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 11 Feb. 2010)

Surface treatment of PEMFC


composite polymeric separator
plate by laser ablation, for reduced
contact resistance
Assignee: General Motors, USA
Inventors: D.A. Smiljanich et al.
Patent number: US 8835079
Published: 16 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 8 June 2007)

Fabrication method for SOFC


electrolyte membrane utilising two
electrolyte films with different
viscosities, and use in MEA
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan
Inventor: N. Ito
Patent number: US 8835080
Published: 16 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 26 Mar. 2009)

PEMFC non-PGM electrocatalysts


using metal organic framework
materials, and preparation method
Assignee: UChicago Argonne LLC, USA
[Argonne National Lab]
Inventors: D.-J. Liu et al.
Patent number: US 8835343
Published: 16 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 27 Sep. 2010)

PEMFC electrode with controlled


Pt loading and carbon nanofibres
as radical scavenger to maintain
durability, and MEA fabrication
Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company, Korea
Inventor: J.S. Lee
Patent number: US 8835344
Published: 16 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 5 May 2011)
16

Fuel Cells Bulletin

Liquid water protected, hydrogen


gas quality sensor in automotive
PEMFC exhaust system
Assignee: General Motors, USA
Inventor: O. Maier
Patent number: US 8839660
Published: 23 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 11 Nov. 2011)

Solid oxide electrolysis cell/SOFC


apparatus for production
of electricity and hydrogen
Assignee: LG Fuel Cell Systems, USA
[formerly Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems]
Inventors: C. Balestrino et al.
Patent number: US 8840764
Published: 23 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 28 May 2008)

Fe-coated Cr powders, fabrication


and use in SOFC interconnects with
uniform properties and structure
Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation, USA
Inventors: M. Janousek et al.
Patent number: US 8840833
Published: 23 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 21 Nov. 2011)

Microtubular SOFC system for


portable devices, with integral
burner for direct warming of cells
Assignee: eZelleron GmbH, Germany
Inventors: S. Kuehn et al.
Patent number: US 8841037
Published: 23 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 14 Dec. 2009)

PEMFC system with discharge


pipeline for unreacted hydrogen
gas from stack/humidifier
Assignee: Asia Pacific Fuel Cell
Technologies Ltd, Taiwan
Inventors: J.Y.S. Yang et al.
Patent number: US 8841038
Published: 23 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 4 May 2007)

Indirect internal reforming SOFC


with second, external reformer to
avoid need for hydrogen storage
for anode protection at startup
Assignee: Nippon Oil Corporation, Japan
[JX Nippon Oil & Energy]
Inventor: Y. Sugiura
Patent number: US 8841039
Published: 23 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 28 Dec. 2011)

Improved subzero cold-start of


(automotive) PEMFC system with
lower battery energy requirements
Assignee: NuCellSys, Germany [Daimler]

Inventor: U. Limbeck
Patent number: US 8841040
Published: 23 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 4 Feb. 2005)

Using PAFC waste heat to preheat


and evaporate working fluid in
integrated organic Rankine cycle
system for improved efficiencies
Assignee: United Technologies Corp, USA
Inventors: B.P. Biederman et al.
Patent number: US 8841041
Published: 23 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 29 Oct. 2007)

Compact series-connected SOFC


stack module assembly with simple
stack/system interface
Assignee: Topsoe Fuel Cell, Denmark
Inventors: N. Erikstrup et al.
Patent number: US 8841042
Published: 23 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 12 May 2010)

Cr-free SOFC interconnect material


chemically stable in oxidation and
reduction atmospheres, and cell
separation structure
Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co, Japan
Inventors: K. Takata et al.
Patent number: US 8841043
Published: 23 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 13 Jan. 2011)

Tubular SOFC with flexible metal


mesh support structure to improve
current collection resistance
Assignee:
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co, Korea
Inventors: J.H. Chung et al.
Patent number: US 8841044
Published: 23 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 29 Feb. 2012)

PEMFC bipolar plate fabrication to


minimise internal defects generated
when protective graphite film and
adhesive layer are formed
Assignee: Industrial Technology
Research Institute, Taiwan
Inventors: W.-L. Wang et al.
Patent number: US 8841045
Published: 23 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 30 Aug. 2013)

PEMFC control method that predicts


catalyst degradation using particle
size distribution model
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan
Inventors: H. Kimura et al.
Patent number: US 8843355
Published: 23 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 7 Jan. 2014)

February 2015

PATENTS
Mass-producing polyazole-based
proton-conducting membranes,
for MEAs for HT-PEMFCs (120C)

Reactive compressor surge


mitigation strategy for automotive
PEMFC system

Assignee: BASF, Germany


Inventor: K. Leitner
Patent number: US 8846133
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 5 Dec. 2009)

Assignee: General Motors, USA


Inventors: J. Mussro et al.
Patent number: US 8846262
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 25 Oct. 2012)

Direct or reformed methanol fuel


cells (e.g. UltraCell) as auxiliary
power for aircraft equipment

Mass-producible PEMFC stack


housing assembly with improved
stability, especially against torsion

Assignee: Honeywell International, USA


Inventor: T.D. Dineen
Patent number: US 8846255
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 20 Apr. 2007)

Assignee: Belenos Clean Power, Switzerland


Inventor: U. Hannesen
Patent number: US 8846263
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 9 July 2012)

Stable DMFC power by adjusting


fuel supply based on temperature
of power generation section

Robust automotive PEMFC MEA


with offset connection channels
and smaller resin frame members

Assignee: Sony, Japan


Inventors: J. Shimura et al.
Patent number: US 8846257
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 29 July 2009)

Assignee: Honda Motor Co, Japan


Inventors: K. Ishida et al.
Patent number: US 8846264
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 16 May 2012)

Safely, quickly raising operating


temperature of automotive PEMFC
system by low-efficiency operation

Unitised electrode assembly with


electrolyte membrane that has
optimised dimensions for increased
PEMFC robustness and reliability

Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan


Inventors: K. Manabe et al.
Patent number: US 8846258
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 22 Oct. 2007)

Method of controlling automotive


PEMFC system to optimise output
while suppressing deterioration
Assignee: Honda Motor Co, Japan
Inventors: S. Shimoda et al.
Patent number: US 8846259
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 30 Mar. 2010)

PEMFC stack with easy discharge of


air in coolant passages, to minimise
internal air retention
Assignee: Honda Motor Co, Japan
Inventors: H. Naito et al.
Patent number: US 8846260
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 4 June 2010)

Heat management system


to control internal operating
temperature in micro PEMFCs,
e.g. planar arrays
Assignee: Socit BIC, France
[Angstrom Power, Canada]
Inventors: J. Schrooten et al.
Patent number: US 8846261
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 28 June 2012)

February 2015

Assignee: General Motors, USA


Inventors: M.J. Beutel et al.
Patent number: US 8846265
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 5 Aug. 2013)

Flexible MEA comprising integral


assembly of electrode, catalyst and
ionomeric membrane, for PEM fuel
cell or electrolyser
Assignee: ITM Power, UK
Inventors: D.J. Highgate et al.
Patent number: US 8846267
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 27 June 2006)

HT-PEMFC with suppressed


membrane degradation operating
at high temperature and low
humidity
Assignee: Panasonic, Japan
Inventors: T. Okanishi et al.
Patent number: US 8846269
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 15 Mar. 2011)

SOFC interconnects comprising


doped alkaline earth metaltitanate
based perovskite, to minimise
lattice expansion problems
Assignee:

Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, USA


Inventor: Y. Narendar
Patent number: US 8846270
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 29 Aug. 2013)

PEMFC electrode material prevents


elution of metal (Pt catalyst)
particles, performance degradation
Assignees: Nissan Motor Co, Japan
and Kyushu University, Japan
Inventors: K. Oshihara et al.
Patent number: US 8846271
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 25 May 2007)

Direct oxidation fuel cell (DMFC)


anode catalyst layer with Pt-based
catalyst and CO oxidation catalyst
Assignee: Samsung SDI Co, Korea
Inventor: I.-H. Son
Patent number: US 8846272
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 19 Nov. 2007)

Sulfonated poly(arylenes), use in


polymer electrolyte membranes for
HT-PEMFCs, production methods
Assignee: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft,
Germany [Max Planck Institute
for Solid State Research]
Inventors: M. Schuster et al.
Patent number: US 8846854
Published: 30 Sep. 2014 (Filed: 16 Nov. 2012)

Managing DMFC operation in e.g.


cellphone, using desiccant to adjust
humidity or temperature at cathode
Assignee: BlackBerry Ltd, Canada
Inventors: D.G. Rich et al.
Patent number: US 8852819
Published: 7 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 5 June 2009)

SOFC stack module shell with


integrated heat-exchanger for
improved heat transfer between air
inlet and exhaust streams
Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation, USA
Inventors: M. Perry et al.
Patent number: US 8852820
Published: 7 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 14 Aug. 2008)

Reformer/SOFC system operation,


so no un-reformed gas is generated
on termination of power generation
Assignee: Nippon Oil Corporation, Japan
[JX Nippon Oil & Energy]
Inventor: T. Ishida
Patent number: US 8852822
Published: 7 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 8 Jan. 2014)

Fuel Cells Bulletin

17

PATENTS
Sodium stannate additive (i.e.
with tin) to improve durability of
electrolyte membrane for PEMFCs
Assignee: General Motors, USA
Inventors: T.J. Fuller et al.
Patent number: US 8852823
Published: 7 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 26 Aug. 2009)

Method to facilitate supervision


of hydrogen exhaust sensor in
automotive (PEM) fuel cell system
Assignee: General Motors, USA
Inventor: T. Weispfenning
Patent number: US 8852824
Published: 7 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 14 Nov. 2011)

Multilayer coating to prevent Mn


or Co diffusion, boost corrosion
resistance in SOFC electrolytes
Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation, USA
Inventors: E.E. Batawi et al.
Patent number: US 8852825
Published: 7 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 15 Nov. 2012)

Porous composite for production


of continuous-phase catalytic layer
on PEMFC electrodes
Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Italy
Inventors: R. Vecchione et al.
Patent number: US 8852826
Published: 7 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 23 May 2008)

Corrosion-resistant PEMFC metal


separator plate with coating layer
of carbon particles in binder resin

Inventors: P. Gade et al.


Patent number: US 8855942
Published: 7 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 15 June 2007)

Multilayer coating to protect


metals and alloys against oxidation
at high temperatures in SOFCs and
SOECs
Assignee: Technical University of Denmark,
Denmark [DTU Energy]
Inventors: P.V. Hendriksen et al.
Patent number: US 8859116
Published: 14 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 24 Apr. 2007)

Simple, compact automotive


SOFC system for easy maintenance
of components in casing
[two patents]
Assignee: Honda Motor Co, Japan
Inventors: K. Fujisawa et al.
Patent numbers: US 8859136 and 8859137
Published: 14 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 15 Mar. 2011)

Polyazole-based proton-conducting
membrane containing organic acid,
for MEA in HT-PEMFC (>120C)
Assignee: BASF Fuel Cell GmbH, Germany
Inventors: O. Uensal et al.
Patent number: US 8859150
Published: 14 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 30 Dec. 2004)

Operating method for residential


PEMFC/reformer system, limiting
operating times and number of
startups to extend overall lifetime

Assignee: Hyundai Hysco, Korea


Inventors: Y.S. Jeong et al.
Patent number: US 8852827
Published: 7 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 21 Jan. 2009)

Assignee: Panasonic, Japan


Inventors: M. Katou et al.
Patent number: US 8859155
Published: 14 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 21 Feb. 2011)

Electrolyte membrane chemically


bonded with ionic liquid, and use
in HT-PEMFC (120C)

SOFC system with fuel correction


circuit to adjust fuel supply to
reduce temperature, mitigate
degradation and extend lifetime

Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Korea


and POSTECH Academy-Industry
Foundation [Pohang University of
Science & Technology], Korea
Inventors: Y.T. Kim et al.
Patent number: US 8853285
Published: 7 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 28 Nov. 2012)

Anode bleed control strategy for


improved water management and
hydrogen utilisation in automotive
PEMFC system
Assignee: General Motors, USA
18

Fuel Cells Bulletin

Assignee: Toto Ltd, Japan


Inventors: T. Shigezumi et al.
Patent number: US 8859156
Published: 14 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 31 Mar. 2010)

Control of automotive PEMFC


system to produce sufficient
heat to maintain optimum
operating temperature, without
increasing size
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan
Inventors: K. Manabe et al.

Patent number: US 8859157


Published: 14 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 23 July 2008)

Monomers and polymers with


imidazole and benzimidazole
groups, use in proton-exchange
membranes for HT-PEMFCs
Assignees: Peugeot Citron Automobiles SA,
France and CNRS, France
Inventors: X. Glipa et al.
Patent number: US 8859160
Published: 14 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 29 May 2007)

Proton-conductive inorganic thin


film (e.g. Sn0.9In0.1P2O7, SIPO), for
electrolyte membrane in mediumtemperature (150400C) fuel cell
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co, Korea
Inventors: P.-W. Heo et al.
Patent number: US 8859161
Published: 14 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 12 July 2011)

SOFC module with improved


current collection by maximising
contact area, oxidation-resistant
coating for improved durability
Assignee:
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co, Korea
Inventors: J.H. Gil et al.
Patent number: US 8859162
Published: 14 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 27 Nov. 2012)

PEMFC stack inlet water regulation


system, to prevent water on inner
surface of fluid inlet entering cell
Assignee: General Motors, USA
Inventors: J.P. Owejan et al.
Patent number: US 8859163
Published: 14 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 15 Oct. 2009)

Bipolar plates with integral wires to


improve thermal conductivity and
uniform temperature distribution,
avoid hot spots in (PEMFC) MEA
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, USA
Inventor: A.P. Shirvanian
Patent number: US 8859164
Published: 14 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 15 Feb. 2011)

Electrode with catalyst on carbon


nanotube composite structure for
improved activity in PEMFC MEA
Assignees: Tsinghua University, China and
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co, Taiwan
Inventors: L.-N. Zhang et al.

February 2015

PATENTS
Patent number: US 8859165
Published: 14 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 9 Apr. 2009)

Fabricating fuel cell catalysts with


nano-scale core (Pd, Cu, Au and/or
Ir)-shell (Pt, Au and/or Ir) structure
without chemical or heat treatment
Assignee: Korea Institute of
Science & Technology, Korea
Inventors: S.J. Hwang et al.
Patent number: US 8859458
Published: 14 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 21 Sep. 2011)

Highly conductive composites for


PEM or DMFC flow-field plates
and bipolar plates
Assignee: Nanotek Instruments, USA
Inventors: B.Z. Jang et al.
Patent number: US 8865040
Published: 21 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 4 Feb. 2011)

MW-scale hybrid fuel cell/gas


turbine power plant using MCFC
(e.g. Direct FuelCell) or SOFC
Assignee: FuelCell Energy, USA
Inventors: G. Berntsen et al.
Patent number: US 8865356
Published: 21 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 11 Jan. 2012)

Automotive (PEM) fuel cell


system with reformer to convert
hydrocarbon fuel (e.g. diesel),
and recycle burner exhaust to
reformer
Assignee: Eberspcher Climate Control
Systems GmbH, Germany
Inventor: A. Kaupert
Patent number: US 8865357
Published: 21 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 5 June 2009)

Load-following operation of SOFC


(or MCFC) system with kerosene/
paraffin reformer, to prevent fuel
blockage and anode degradation
Assignee: JX Nippon Oil & Energy, Japan
Inventor: S. Hatada
Patent number: US 8865358
Published: 21 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 25 June 2010)

February 2015

Joint GDL/gas flow distribution


layer allows cathode catalyst layer
to operate hot enough to evaporate
water produced at PEMFC cathode

Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan


Inventors: Y. Otake et al.
Patent number: US 8865365
Published: 21 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 28 May 2010)

Assignee: General Motors, USA


Inventors: J.P. Owejan et al.
Patent number: US 8865359
Published: 21 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 27 July 2010)

Internal manifold PEMFC with


protruding GDL for simplified
assembly and effective sealing

Automotive PEMFC/reformer system


with improved efficiency to preheat
fuel cell system (for subzero
startup) and heat cabin
Assignee: Daimler, Germany
Inventor: G. Hornburg
Patent number: US 8865360
Published: 21 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 1 Feb. 2008)

PEMFC gaskets and bipolar plates,


with corrosion-resistant sealant to
efficiently seal PEMFC stack plates
Assignee: SerEnergy A/S, Denmark
Inventors: M. Bang et al.
Patent number: US 8865362
Published: 21 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 18 July 2008)

SOFC separator for thermally selfsustaining operation, and improved


durability and heat efficiency
Assignee: Honda Motor Co, Japan
Inventors: T. Ogawa et al.
Patent number: US 8865363
Published: 21 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 16 Mar. 2010)

Reduced gas leakage in SOFC, using


Ni- and ZrO2-free sealant between
chromite-based electrolyte layer
and interconnect
Assignee: NGK Insulators Ltd, Japan
Inventors: T. Yoshida et al.
Patent number: US 8865364
Published: 21 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 28 Oct. 2011)

PEMFC connector joint structure


formed in separators, to reduce
possibility of bad connections or
damage during connection

Assignee: Honda Motor Co, Japan


Inventors: N. Sugita et al.
Patent number: US 8865366
Published: 21 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 29 Mar. 2012)

New materials for SOFC electrode


(e.g. LaNiCuFeO) with appropriate
coefficient of thermal expansion,
and manufacturing method
Assignee: NGK Insulators Ltd, Japan
Inventors: M. Namba et al.
Patent number: US 8865368
Published: 21 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 24 Mar. 2011)

Anode exhaust gas recirculation in


automotive PEMFC, recirculation
blower and jet pump(s) operated by
hydrogen gas stream
Assignee: Daimler, Germany
Inventor: A. Lamm
Patent number: US 8865369
Published: 21 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 6 Aug. 2007)

Energy storage integrated


framework for portable electronic
devices with (e.g. PEM) fuel cell
Assignee: Socit BIC, France
[Angstrom Power, Canada]
Inventors: J. Zimmermann et al.
Patent number: US 8865370
Published: 21 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 5 Aug. 2009)

PEMFC MEA with grooved interface


between catalyst layer and
electrolyte membrane for improved
product water drainage
Assignee: Canon, Japan
Inventor: K. Yamada
Patent number: US 8865371
Published: 21 Oct. 2014 (Filed: 24 Oct. 2007)

Fuel Cells Bulletin

19

CALENDAR

EVENTS CALENDAR
911 March 2015
9th International Renewable Energy
Storage Conference & Exhibition,
IRES 2015

Glasgow, Scotland, UK
More information: www.all-energy.co.uk

More information:
www.next-energy.de/EMEA2015.html

2021 May 2015

30 June3 July 2015

Dsseldorf, Germany
More information: www.ires2015.org

5th Israeli Power Sources Conference:


Batteries, Fuel Cells, Storage for the
Grid and EVs

12 March 2015

Herzliya, Israel
More information:
www.sdle.co.il/default.asp?stype=0&pageid=70657

4th FuelCon SOFC Workshop


Magdeburg-Barleben, Germany
More information:
www.fuelcon.com/cms/index.php?id=workshops&L=1

17 March 2015
11th International Hydrogen and Fuel
Cell Conference, Partnering & Exhibition:
Delivering Hydrogen & Fuel Cells to
Market
NEC, Birmingham, UK
More information:
www.climate-change-solutions.co.uk

1922 March 2015


New Energy Husum 2015,
Exhibition & Congress
Husum, Germany
More information:
www.new-energy.de/new_energy/en

24 March 2015
International Workshop on Renewable
Energy and Hydrogen Export Global
Perspectives & Norwegian Opportunities
Trondheim, Norway
More information:
http://tinyurl.com/re-h2-export-workshop

1317 April 2015

2428 May 2015


227th Meeting of The Electrochemical
Society, including Symposia on
Crosscutting Metrics and Benchmarking
of Transformational Low-Carbon
Energy-Conversion Technologies,
Electrochemical Synthesis of Fuels,
Materials for Low Temperature
Electrochemical Systems, Solid-Gas
Electrochemical Interfaces, and a State
of the Art Tutorial on Diagnostics in Low
Temperature Fuel Cells
Chicago, Illinois, USA
More information:
www.electrochem.org/meetings/biannual/227

30 May3 June 2015


25th Annual Meeting of the North
American Membrane Society, NAMS
2015
Boston, Massachusetts, USA
More information: www.membranes.org/2015

31 May3 June 2015


17th Topical Meeting of the
International Society of
Electrochemistry: Multiscale Analysis of
Electrochemical Systems

21st Group Exhibit Hydrogen + Fuel Cells


+ Batteries, within Hannover Messe 2015

Saint-Malo, France
More information: http://topical17.ise-online.org

Hannover, Germany
More information: www.h2fc-fair.com

812 June 2015

2123 April 2015


SAE 2015 World Congress

2015 DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells


Program, Annual Merit Review and Peer
Evaluation Meeting

Detroit, Michigan, USA


More information: www.sae.org/congress

Arlington, Virginia, USA


More information:
www.annualmeritreview.energy.gov

2223 April 2015

1011 June 2015

Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint


Undertaking (FCH JU) First Smart
Specialisation Workshop on Fuel
Cells and Hydrogen
Lyon, France
More information:
http://tinyurl.com/smart-spec-fch2

2728 April 2015


HFC 2015, Hydrogen + Fuel Cells:
Vancouver Hydrogen + Fuel Cells
Summit
Vancouver, BC, Canada
More information: www.hfc2015.com

36 May 2015

Ohio Fuel Cell Symposium 2015


Elyria, Ohio, USA
More information: www.fuelcellcorridor.com

1419 June 2015


11th International Symposium on
Ceramic Materials & Components for
Energy & Environmental Applications
(11CMCEE), including Symposium
on High-temperature Fuel Cells &
Electrolysis

5th European PEFC & H2 Forum, with


Exhibition & Demonstration
Lucerne, Switzerland
More information: www.efcf.com

2631 July 2015


14th International Symposium on Solid
Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC-XIV), within ECS
Conference on Electrochemical Energy
Conversion & Storage
Glasgow, Scotland, UK
More information:
www.electrochem.org/meetings/satellite/glasgow

69 September 2015
H2YPOTHESIS XI Conference, Hydrogen
Power Theoretical and Engineering
Solutions International Symposium 2015
Toledo, Spain
More information: www.hypothesis.ws
Abstract deadline extended to: 20 March 2015

610 September 2015


Euromembrane 2015 Conference
RWTH, Aachen, Germany
More information:
www.euromembrane2015.com

910 September 2015


8th Annual Low Carbon Vehicle Event
(LCV2015), organised by UK Cenex
Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and
Fuel Cell Technologies
Millbrook, Bedfordshire, UK
More information: www.cenex-lcv.co.uk

49 October 2015
66th Annual Meeting of the
International Society of
Electrochemistry: Green Electrochemistry
for Tomorrows Society
Taipei, Taiwan
More information: http://annual66.ise-online.org

1114 October 2015


6th World Hydrogen Technologies
Convention, WHTC 2015
Sydney, NSW, Australia
More information: www.whtc2015.com

1214 October 2015


World of Energy Solutions 2015,
including 15th f-cell Forum for Producers
& Users (alongside Battery+Storage and
e-mobil BW Technologietag)
Stuttgart, Germany
More information:
www.world-of-energy-solutions.de

Vancouver, BC, Canada


More information: www.ceramics.org/11cmcee

1921 October 2015

1419 June 2015

International Conference on Hydrogen


Safety, ICHS 2015

20th International Conference on


Solid State Ionics, SSI-20

Yokohama, Japan
More information: www.ichs2015.com

Keystone, Colorado, USA


More information: www.mrs.org/ssi-20

Goyang, Korea
More information: www.evs28.org

1618 December 2015

2224 June 2015

Piero Lunghi European Fuel Cell


Conference & Exhibition, EFC15

67 May 2015

Workshop on Ion Exchange Membranes


for Energy Applications, EMEA 2015

All-Energy 2015 Exhibition & Conference

Bad Zwischenahn, Germany

EVS 28, 28th International Electric


Vehicle Symposium & Exhibition,
including Fuel Cells & Fuel Cell Systems

20

Fuel Cells Bulletin

Naples, Italy
More information: www.europeanfuelcell.it
Abstract deadline: 27 March 2015

February 2015

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