This development represents a global first for Intelligent Energy, successfully converting FT diesel into hydrogen in order to generate heat and electricity in a real-world application.  This serves to illustrate the transitional possibilities between the use of conventional fuels and a more sustainable long-term hydrogen economy.

Intelligent Energy’s Hestia technology platform is scalable and fuel-flexible.  In this instance it has run on Sasol’s ultra-clean, low-sulphur FT diesel fuel (produced from coal or natural gas).  However, it can also use many other fuels to produce its high-purity hydrogen product gas, meaning that the platform is capable of serving a broad range of future markets and applications.  The hydrogen generated by the system is sufficient to produce 10kW of electricity, when used with Intelligent Energy’s own stationary CHP (combined heat and power) fuel cell systems.  The Hestia platform could also possibly be used for transportation applications (as a refuelling station for hydrogen-fuelled vehicles, for example).  With safe, low-pressure metal hydride storage technology integrated into the process, Intelligent Energy has demonstrated near-instantaneous fuel cell system start-up and smooth load-following capabilities.

Background:
The Sasol / Intelligent Energy collaboration began when the two companies were first introduced in South Africa in 2001.  Sasol generates FT fuels from coal or natural gas.  Intelligent Energy’s hydrogen-generation technology was ideally configured to develop a microreformer fuelled by liquid hydrocarbons and to demonstrate the use of the hydrogen in a fuel cell.  Sasol’s FT fuel cells are particularly advantageous in microreformer/fuel cell applications because they contain almost zero sulphur and have a low aromatics content and high paraffinics content.  The high reformability of Sasol’s FT fuels has been tested and proven by the very successful results of this programme, using Intelligent Energy’s technical expertise and experience.

Conclusion:
‘We believe’, commented Hazen Burford, Vice-President of Intelligent Energy Long Beach, ‘that this project has accelerated opportunities for the whole hydrogen economy.  We have demonstrated the ability to generate hydrogen efficiently to produce heat and electricity at this scale using Sasol’s liquid fuels.  In doing so, we have enabled a unique and diverse range of clean energy solutions for the world’s energy needs.  This collaboration between a major fuel supplier and a technology company also sets an excellent example of industry progressing technologies towards commercial viability.’

About Hestia:

Intelligent Energy’s Hestia hydrogen generation technology is a highly efficient system, comprised of a catalysed reformer system and micro pressure-swing absorption hydrogen purification system.  The entire prototype unit measures just 28 inches wide, 18 inches deep, and 60 inches tall, taking in liquid fuel and delivering high purity hydrogen.  While continuously producing 10kW (electrical equivalent) of 99.99% pure hydrogen, Hestia only requires 500W of electricity to operate its pumps, blowers, and controls.  With a goal of 70% pure hydrogen efficiency (LHVbasis), the prototype system has now achieved an operating efficiency of greater than 65%, with fuel conversion exceeding 92%.  The Hestia unit is currently capable of converting low-sulphur liquid fuels like biodiesel, ethanol, synthetic diesel (Fischer-Tropsch process), and gaseous fuels like natural gas into high purity hydrogen.  Further developments are focused on higher sulphur fuels, size and cost reduction, with improved reliability.  
 
About Intelligent Energy:

Intelligent Energy is a world-leading fuel cell and hydrogen generation development company, creating and implementing new energy technologies and power delivery services for its business partners.  The company is above all 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 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.  Intelligent Energy also 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.
www.intelligent-energy.com

About Sasol:

Sasol is an integrated oil and gas company with substantial chemical interests.  Based in South Africa and operating worldwide, Sasol is listed on the NYSE and JSE stock exchanges.  We are the leading provider of liquid fuels in South Africa and a major international producer of chemicals.  Sasol used proprietary Fischer-Tropsch technologies for the commercial production of synthetic fuels and chemicals from low-grade coal and natural gas.  We manufacture more than 200 fuel and chemical products that are sold worldwide.  In South Africa, we also operate coal mines to provide feedstock for our synthetic fuels plants.  Sasol operates the only inland crude oil refinery in South Africa.  The group produces crude oil in offshore Gabon, supplies Mozambican natural gas to end-user customers and petrochemical plants in South Africa and, with partners, is developing gas-to-liquids fuel joint ventures in Qatar and Nigeria.
www.sasol.com

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