Background:

In 2003, the Business Linkages Challenge Fund (BCLF), and the British Government’s DFID (Department for International Development), requested initiatives that would benefit the rural poor within a number of designated regions. Intelligent Energy responded to a request for a South African initiative and received successful part-sponsorship (50%), with the remaining funds provided by Intelligent Energy and local partner Afrox (African Oxygen Limited: a subsidiary of BOC). The project, centering on the installation of Intelligent Energy’s PEM hydrogen fuel cells in three different rural applications completed this month.

Medical application - safeguarding vaccines:

The first showcasing of the technology was in Bisho, the capital of Eastern Cape (Nelson Mandela’s traditional homeland), where the traditional electrical grid is very unstable. Frontline medical clinics in this region keep vaccines in simple domestic fridges, which are susceptible to fairly frequent electrical grid failure. In such circumstances, the efficacy of the vaccines is compromised. Intelligent Energy installed a fuel cell in one frontline clinic to provide back-up power to a special vaccine fridge (manufactured by Cape Town company Minus 40), ensuring constant temperature regulation and maximum vaccine protection, whatever the vagaries of the grid.
Remote telemetry - controlling reservoir levels:

The second application was in the Newlands area of Durban in KwaZulu Natal. Durban Metro Water is responsible for water supply to the city and the surrounding areas. Controlling the complex system of reservoirs depends upon real time knowledge of water levels at all times, so that valves can be remotely opened wherever necessary to safeguard supplies and deliver water where needed. This information comes via telemetry equipment, powered either by the grid or by solar panels.

In response to grid and solar intermittency, Intelligent Energy approached Durban Metro Water and asked to install and demonstrate a fuel cell to help power the telemetry equipment. The fuel cell-based generator powered the equipment for a period of four months, before being used in a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) mode to back up the mains grid in case of failure. The fuel cell was protected with extra security equipment (using custom-made GF Louw Engineering explosion-proof battery boxes, more normally used for mining applications) to ensure the fuel cell and hydrogen are fully protected.

Back-up power:

The third showcase site was in Mzuke, also in KwaZulu Natal, where partner Nuon RAPS (NuRa) provides an integrated energy service to remote rural areas. Although NuRa currently uses photovoltaic modules to power more than 10,000 Solar Home Systems in the region, the company is interested in exploring other energy sources, as it seeks to optimise the match between technology and energy service need. NuRa were therefore enthusiastic to participate in rural trials, when Intelligent Energy offered to provide the fuel cell systems. Two 100W fuel cell systems were used in a UPS configuration for a critical energy supply application, to power a computer and security lighting, whereby the fuel cells and associated batteries would take over, should the grid fail. 

Summary:

‘In total, the showcase units have run for a total of 17,000 hours to date’, commented Dr Sakib Khan, Managing Director of Intelligent Energy South Africa. ‘We believe that these three showcase applications have successfully shown the potential of our fuel cell systems to be of real use to many of the world’s rural and remote populations, as a source of non-grid electricity. If the fuel cells can cope with the harsh extremes of the African bush, then their robustness is now firmly established.’

All fuel cells involved in the projects have been fuelled by hydrogen from pressurised bottles supplied by Intelligent Energy’s partner Afrox. In the future, it is envisaged that Afrox LPG (liquid petroleum gas), which is widely available in many rural areas, may be used to power Intelligent Energy’s fuel cells via reforming technology that has been explored between Intelligent Energy, Afrox and Afrox’s parent company, BOC.

About Intelligent Energy:

Intelligent Energy is a fuel cell and hydrogen generation development company, creating and implementing new energy technologies and power delivery services for its business partners. The company is an intellectual property and know-how led business, focused on commercialising its fuel cell and hydrogen generation technologies and providing solutions for global applications in the motive, distributed energy, military and portable power markets. Intelligent Energy hit the world’s headlines in March 2005, when it launched ENV: the world’s first purpose-built hydrogen fuel cell bike (or Emissions Neutral Vehicle). The bike went on to win a Popular Science ‘Best of What’s New Award’ and was recently named as one of the ‘Greatest Innovations of 2005’ by TIME Magazine. Intelligent Energy has received high-level public recognition for its portfolio of innovative technologies, first by winning the Sunday Times Microsoft Tech Track Research and Development Award and secondly, in December 2005, being named as one of only 36 companies worldwide to be nominated as a Technology Pioneer 2006 by The World Economic Forum. 

For further information please contact Caroline Collett of Caroline Collett PR for Intelligent Energy on: T/F: + 44 (0)1297 444179 M: + 44 (0)7801 270598 or  
E: carolinecollett@supanet.com