FuelCellsWorks

World’s best* power density realizes more than 50% size reduction

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. today released its Next Generation Fuel Cell Stack (2011 Model) for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV). The latest technology development is part of the company’s continuing efforts towards the realization of a Zero Emission society.

Through improvements to the MEA (Membrane Electrode Assembly) and the separator flow path, which make up the structure of Fuel Cell, Nissan significantly improved the power density of Fuel Cell Stack to 2.5 times greater than its 2005 model and realized a world’s best* 2.5 kW per liter.

Furthermore, molding the supporting frame of the MEA integrally with the MEA enabled stable, single-row lamination of the Fuel Cell, thereby significantly reducing its overall size by more than half compared to conventional models. Additionally, compared with the 2005 model, both the usage of platinum and parts variation has been reduced to one quarter, thereby reducing cost of the Next Generation Fuel Cell Stack to one-sixth of the 2005 model.

Nissan continues to work on the development of practical applications of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles to realize a Zero Emission society.

* Among auto manufactures

By Alison Hewitt

UCLA received four Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid (FCHV-adv) vehicles for the project.

by Kerry-Ann Adamson

The first part of this blog on South Africa looked at the country’s changing attitude to energy and the move to diversify its portfolio of energy generation technologies. Part 2 looks at the South African economy and the government’s drive to expand and diversify.

According to the South African government it has three key economic drivers: the processing and use of domestic raw materials for the benefit of the national economy; the movement of the economy toward knowledge-based industries; and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), whereby previously disadvantaged groups are provided with economic opportunities. The government is aiming for a 6 percent annual growth in GDP from these shifts.

Looking at the current economic situation in South Africa, it’s clear that the biggest assets are the country’s abundance of raw materials, including 80 percent of the world’s precious group metals (platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium) plus chromium, in just one vast deposit known as the Bushveld Complex. These resources, along with South Africa’s large deposits of gold and coal, provide the country’s main source of employment and 8 percent of its annual GDP.

Developing an Indigenous South African Fuel Cell Industry

Beneficiation, a term derived from the processing of raw ore in the mining industry, refers to the addition of value to an economy from the processing and manufacture of goods from local resources. This is going to be a key to the South African economy. For this to happen, precious group metals, primarily platinum, will increasingly be processed and used in some form of manufacturing locally.

As an emerging market for platinum, fuel cell technology will have a large role to play in this effort. In 2007 the South African government produced its National Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Technologies Research, Development and Innovation Strategy” (not publicly available online), which centered around three core themes: fuel cell catalysis, systems analysis and technology validation and hydrogen infrastructure. A key target is to supply 25 percent of the global fuel cell market with catalysts by 2018. (For more, see the Hydrogen South Africa Web site.)

A quick note on fuel cell catalysts: fuel cells operate by separating out electron and ions at a catalyst layer on the anode and combining the ions with oxygen molecules at the cathode. The anode catalyst layer on low-temperature fuel cells is platinum-based, whilst the catalyst on the cathode can be a mixture of precious or base metals.

As Pike Research forecasts show, the fuel cell industry is predicted to reach over $150 billion by 2018. Supplying 20 percent of this market with fuel cell catalysts would be worth many millions of dollars annually to the South African economy.

To do this, though, the country will need to either attract the current fuel cell catalyst companies to relocate some of their manufacturing facilities to South Africa, or create companies from scratch. In reality the way forward will likely be a mixture of the two, with some companies relocating, attracted by generous labour subsidies, and some forming locally.

Over the next decade the South African economy and the growth of the fuel cell economy could become intrinsically linked. Whether this will be a good or a bad thing is debatable. What’s clear is that South Africa is a country in transition that, with the global growth of the cleantech sector, could become a major adopter and producer over the next decade. If that happens it could help seed a clean energy revolution across Africa – and that would surely be no bad thing.

Photo by Randy OHC/flickr/Creative Commons

Kerry-Ann Adamson is a research director for Pike Research with a focus on fuel cells.

Some of the UK’s leading Government Ministers met with Intelligent Energy at this week’s Conservative Party Conference in Manchester. Intelligent Energy joined Air Product’s exhibit “Hydrogen fuel: the low carbon transport solution for the UK”.

Intelligent Energy exhibitied the zero emission ENV motorcycle, to show that hydrogen fuel cell technology is ready for commercialisation.

Rt Hon David Willets MP – Secretary of State for Universities and Science

Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP – Secretary of State for DEFRA

Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP – Secretary of State for Transport

Rt Hon Greg Barker MP – Minister for Climate Change and Energy

Mike Penning MP – Minister for Transport

Excess Renewable Energy to be Stored as Hydrogen for Later Use

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario– Hydrogenics Corporation (Nasdaq:HYGS) (TSX:HYG), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, today announced that the company has been selected by the City of Herten, Germany to provide a wind-hydrogen energy storage solution. Located in North Rhine Westphalia, Herten is recognized as a major German hydrogen cluster for electro-mobility as well as renewable energy projects.

Renewable wind energy is an ideal source of power for communities to offset the demand traditionally served by electricity from fossil fuels. Wind energy is also considered to have significant potential as part of Germany’s announced commitment to phase out all nuclear power by 2020. By incorporating a hydrogen energy storage system, excess wind power can be stored and redeployed when the wind is not blowing, ultimately supplying a greater percentage of the community’s overall power requirements with improved stability and reliability. This is accomplished with zero carbon emissions.

To meet the project requirements, Hydrogenics will provide one HySTAT™30 hydrogen generation unit and a HyPM^TM 50 kW fuel cell power system, to the City of Herten in 2012. This combination will demonstrate the distinct advantage of hydrogen energy storage with its ability to be highly scalable and capable of storing significant amounts of energy for long periods of time with negligible loss. From storage, the energy will be redeployed through fuel cells as electricity to the grid, or be used to fuel zero carbon emission vehicles and other devices such as industrial equipment.

“Electrolyzing water into hydrogen using excess intermittent renewable energy is the optimal clean pathway to smart grid stabilization and energy storage capacity. It has real advantages over alternative energy storage solutions,” said Daryl Wilson, President and CEO of Hydrogenics. ”We are very pleased that such a globally recognized hydrogen cluster as the City of Herten has awarded us the opportunity to demonstrate this capability.”

ABOUT HYDROGENICS

Hydrogenics Corporation (www.hydrogenics.com) is a globally recognized developer and provider of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products and services, serving the growing industrial and clean energy markets of today and tomorrow. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Hydrogenics has operations in North America and Europe.

HAWTHORNE, Calif.– OSI Systems, Inc. OSIS , a vertically-integrated provider of specialized electronic products for critical applications in the Security and Healthcare industries, today announced that OSI Electronics, a business within its Optoelectronics and Manufacturing division, has received orders for components valued at approximately $1.6 million from a leading fuel cell technology provider that delivers energy solutions for material handling equipment, which is heavily utilized at high-throughput retail distribution centers and large manufacturing facilities.

OSI Systems Chief Executive Officer, Deepak Chopra commented, “We are excited about the opportunity to work with this major OEM that develops cost-effective power solutions that increase productivity, lower operating costs and reduce carbon footprints of its customers.”

About OSI Systems, Inc.

OSI Systems, Inc. is a vertically integrated designer and manufacturer of specialized electronic systems and components for critical applications. The Company sells its products in diversified markets, including homeland security, healthcare, defense and aerospace. The Company has more than 30 years of experience in electronics engineering and manufacturing and maintains offices and production facilities located in more than a dozen countries. It implements a strategy of expansion by leveraging its electronics and contract manufacturing capabilities into selective end product markets through organic growth and acquisitions. For more information on OSI Systems, Inc. or any of its subsidiary companies, visit www.osi-systems.com

On Friday, Nuvera refueled a fuel cell-powered Chevy Equinox at our PowerTap Hydrogen Station in Billerica as part of the General Motors Northeast Hydrogen Infrastructure Rally.

“We look forward to every opportunity to refuel FCVs at our headquarters in Billerica, and to  bringing our PowerTap product line of on-site hydrogen generators and hydrogen refuelers to existing gasoline filling stations throughout the nation.” commented Prabhu Rao, Vice President of Operations at Nuvera Fuel Cells.

Our PowerTap station, while initially designed for industrial forklift refueling, is also capable of fueling cars.  One of Nuvera’s long-term market goals is the installation of these PowerTap units into existing gasoline filling stations to provide cost-effective hydrogen for the public.

To see more photos from the rally, click here.

To see an interview with Eric Rotbard, a Project Driveway driver, visit our Youtube channel.

ITM Power (AIM: ITM), the energy storage and clean fuel company, is pleased to announce its cooperation with Dutch Fuel Cell consortium (DFC) for the development of hydrogen energy systems projects for clean fuel and energy storage applications.

DFC has developed an extensive network of technology and marketing partners in the Benelux countries and is engaged in the development, implementation and exploitation of energy systems based on fuel cells and alternative energy technologies. By bringing together consortiums of experienced partners, DFC has become a National leader in the deployment of renewable generation and the introduction of zero-emission transportation in cities using highly innovative, but proven technology.

Current projects include:

• city buses and hydrogen refuelling stations
• renewable energy supply of mobile telecom base stations
• energy storage for renewable energy sites

ITM Power will provide hydrogen generation, storage and dispensing technology through its HFuel technology platform and hydrogen energy system expertise for integrating electrolysers and fuel cells.

Commenting for ITM Power, Graham Cooley, CEO, said: “Partnering with DFC for the development of hydrogen energy projects is a very exciting step for ITM Power; renewable energy policies are well developed in the Benelux countries and the deployment of hydrogen as a clean fuel is gaining momentum.”

Commenting for DFC, Theo Hendriks, Managing Director, said: We have been impressed with the HOST trials developed by ITM Power in the UK and with the HFuel refuelling station technology. Partnering with ITM Power provides the opportunity to introduce their technology to the rapidly expanding alternative energy market in the Benelux countries.”

ITM is attending Intelec 2011International Telecommunications Energy Conference in Amsterdam on the 9th to the 13th October 2011 and ITM Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Simon Bourne will be presenting at the conference. DFC will be present at the ITM stand on Wednesday the 12th October 2011.

Further details of the conference can be seen at the following URL: http://intelec2011.org/

Air Liquide Chairman and CEO Benoit Potier is interviewed at the hydrogen vehicle demonstration event in Paris while Intelligent Energy’s fuel cell Black Cab is refuelled with hydrogen

PARIS, FRANCE– Intelligent Energy, the global clean power systems company, has participated alongside some of the world’s biggest automotive manufacturers at an event in Paris hosted by Air Liquide, the world leader in gases for industry, health and the environment. The event showcased an unprecedented array of cutting-edge hydrogen mobility technology from the likes of Daimler, Honda, Hyundai, Michelin and Toyota, including a Fuel Cell Black Cab and Suzuki Fuel Cell Scooter, both powered by Intelligent Energy clean fuel cell engines.

Held in Marcoussis (south of Paris), Air Liquide invited public authorities and journalists to discover the technology’s high safety standards, maturity and efficiency. Attendees were given the opportunity to discuss hydrogen infrastructure roll-out readiness and to ride in vehicles, including the Fuel Cell Black Cab, to experience ‘real life’ driving conditions. For Air Liquide, the event was an opportunity to raise public awareness of the uses of hydrogen as a clean new energy carrier in order to enable the development of this field for sustainable mobility in France.

“Hydrogen technologies are already available, safe and efficient”, explained Pierre-Etienne Franc, VP Technologies of Future. “It is potentially a colossal market, thus it is worth committing early. A global automotive market share of 1 percent for fuel-cell-powered cars would represent 15 billion euros in sales for the industrial-gas industry.”

Intelligent Energy recently worked with PSA Peugeot Citroën in France to develop the H2Origin light urban delivery vehicles, which addressed issues associated with range limitations and extended recharging times of battery electric vehicles. Intelligent Energy has a number of Blue Chip partners including Scottish & Southern Energy and the Suzuki Motor Corporation. It has also demonstrated its zero emissions Fuel Cell Black Cab to London Mayor, Boris Johnson, with the Mayor commenting that the hydrogen taxi was a “shining example of British ingenuity”.

“Historically, infrastructure limitations and technology readiness had been perceived to be key factors behind some manufacturers’ reticence to deploy fuel cell cars on a wide scale. However, with programmes such as Germany’s H2Mobility and other similar work in Japan and South Korea focused on market deployment from 2015, combined with significant investments in infrastructure and fuel cell electric commercial readiness, these cars will start to become increasingly prevalent on the streets over the next few years,” said Dr. Henri Winand, CEO, Intelligent Energy. “Events such as the one organised by Air Liquide are important to assist with the deployment of fuel cell electric vehicles in France where, to date, there has been a lack of impetus. It is occasion to demonstrate the maturity of fuel cell electric vehicles and infrastructure to public authority figures and the media.”

About Intelligent Energy
Intelligent Energy is a global clean power systems company, with a range of leading fuel cell and hydrogen generation technologies. The company partners with leading global companies in the transportation, oil and gas, aerospace, defence, distributed generation and portable power markets. Current partners and customers include Scottish & Southern Energy plc and The Suzuki Motor Corporation, with whom Intelligent Energy built the Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter, a recent recipient of European Whole Vehicle Type Approval, which qualifies the scooter as safe to use on EU public roads. Other successes include developing the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell motorbike and supplying the fuel cell system to Boeing which powered the world’s first manned fuel cell aircraft.

OTHELL, WA — NEAH Power Systems, Inc., NPWZ announced it has been issued another patent from the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patent, titled “Liquid-liquid fuel cell systems having flow-through anodes and flow-by cathodes” (USPTO #7,968,248), further solidifies Neah’s presence and leadership in alternative energy. With this patent issuance, Neah has a total of twelve issued patents in the U.S. This patent relates to the unique anaerobic (non air-breathing) capability of the Neah fuel cell. This patent further covers Neah’s proprietary architecture whereby a liquid fuel and a liquid oxidant run the fuel cell independent of the environment of operation.

Neah Power CEO, Dr. Chris D’Couto, stated, “This additional patent further solidifies our IP portfolio and demonstrates the underlying validity of our proprietary technology. We believe that our novel fuel cell technology enables us to offer differentiated and competitive products for a variety of possible applications that were previously considered unsuitable for fuel cells. We believe this is why companies like The Boeing Company, the large US defense supplier we previously announced, and other parties are showing interest in our products.”

More information about this patent, as well as our patent portfolio, can be downloaded directly from the USPTO website, located at http://patft.uspto.gov/

About Neah Power Neah Power Systems, Inc. is developing long-lasting, efficient and safe power solutions for the military, transportation, and for portable electronics applications. We use a unique, patented, award winning, silicon-based design for our Powerchip(TM) micro fuel cells that enable higher power densities, lower cost and compact form-factors, and that can run in aerobic and anaerobic modes.

Neah Power is headquartered in Bothell, Washington, and its common stock trades on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol “NPWZ.” Further company information can be found at www.neahpower.com .

          --  Libra Group's North American Renewable Energy Division, Greenwood
              Energy, to Own Power Plant and Sell Power under Long Term Power Purchase
              Agreement
          --  Central Connecticut State University to Achieve Major Objectives of its
              Sustainability Program with Fuel Cells

DANBURY, Conn.– FuelCell Energy, Inc. FCEL , a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power plants, today announced the sale of a 1.4 megawatt (MW) Direct FuelCell(R) power plant to Greenwood Energy, the North American renewable energy division of global conglomerate the Libra Group. The power plant will be located on the campus of Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Connecticut and the ultra-clean electricity and steam generated by the plant will be sold to the University under a long term power purchase agreement. FuelCell Energy will maintain the plant under a multi-year service agreement and the plant is expected to be operational by December, 2011.

“The economics and clean, baseload distributed generation attributes of fuel cell power plants are quite compelling and we are pleased to be adding this fuel cell project to our global portfolio of power generation assets,” said Camilo Patrignani, Head of Americas at the Libra Group. “We see this as an excellent initial project in the deployment of FuelCell Energy’s ultra-clean and efficient fuel cell power plants.”

“We are pleased to be working with the Libra Group for financing of fuel cell projects such as this university installation,” said Chip Bottone, President and Chief Executive Officer, FuelCell Energy, Inc. “This project represents our ninth university installation. Universities are an ideal market for our ultra-clean and efficient fuel cell power plants due to their power usage profile that requires baseload power, their desire for sustainable and environmentally friendly power generation, their need for energy security, and the energy reliability that on-site power generation provides.”

The fuel cell power plant will reduce power costs for the University due to the high efficiency of the power generation process and help the University attain its sustainability goals. The fuel cell power generation process is highly efficient, generating more power from a given unit of fuel, and lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to combustion based power sources in a similar size range. The plant will use natural gas for fuel to generate ultra-clean electricity via an electrochemical reaction. Due to the absence of combustion, virtually zero pollutants are emitted such as NOx, SOx or particulate matter.

“Fuel cells address the needs of our university communities with ultra clean and efficient power that is generated continuously,” said Keith Epstein, AIA, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Planning and Technical Services, Connecticut State University System. “We continue to see opportunities to incorporate fuel cells into our power and sustainability planning across our campuses.”

“This fuel cell power plant represents a significant step towards CCSU achieving its aggressive goals for greenhouse gas reduction and improving energy efficiency,” said Jack Miller, President, Central Connecticut State University, whose Sustainability Initiative was responsible, in part, for the University’s selection as an “exemplary Green institution” by the Princeton Review. “By providing both electricity and steam in such a clean and efficient manner, the fuel cell plant will decrease our carbon emissions.”

The power plant will be configured to utilize the high quality heat created by the power generation process in a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) mode to generate steam for heating and cooling campus buildings. This CHP configuration will assist the University with reducing its carbon footprint and emission of pollutants by lessening reliance on an existing combustion based boiler.

This project represents the initial collaboration between Greenwood Energy and FuelCell Energy. Greenwood’s other renewable energy interests include biofuel manufacturing plants in North America. The Connecticut Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority provided a grant to the project, in connection with the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund On-Site Renewable Distributed Generation Program.

About Greenwood Energy

Greenwood Energy is the North American renewable energy division of the Libra Group, a privately owned global conglomerate that spans 18 locations across four continents. Created in 2003, the Libra Group is predominantly focused on five core sectors: shipping, aviation, real estate, hospitality and energy. In addition to Greenwood’s fuel cell ownership and biofuel manufacturing interests in the U.S., Libra Group companies own and operate solar and wind parks in the Mediterranean and biogas facilities in Northern Europe.

About Central Connecticut State University

Central Connecticut State University (CCSU) is a regional, comprehensive public university. Comprising five schools, CCSU offers undergraduate and graduate programs. More than 85 percent of CCSU graduates remain in Connecticut, contributing to the intellectual, cultural, and economic health of the state. Founded in 1849, CCSU is Connecticut’s oldest publicly supported institution of higher education. The largest of four comprehensive universities within the Connecticut State University System, CCSU — New Britain serves nearly 12,500 students.

About FuelCell Energy

Direct FuelCell(R) power plants are generating ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power at more than 50 locations worldwide. The Company’s power plants have generated over 850 million kWh of power using a variety of fuels including renewable biogas from wastewater treatment and food processing, as well as clean natural gas. With over 180 megawatts of power generation capacity installed or in backlog, FuelCell Energy is a global leader in providing ultra-clean baseload distributed generation to utilities, industrial operations, universities, municipal water treatment facilities, government installations and other clients around the world. For more information please visit our website at www.fuelcellenergy.com

The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) received today a hydrogen- powered fuel cell car on lease, which will serve to demonstrate the readiness of this technology to EU policy makers and citizens. The car will be available for testing by Members of the European Parliament, Commissioners, EU Officials and other policy makers.

Fuel cells and hydrogen technologies are bringing a step change towards green mobility, notably in urban environments: these vehicles do not produce any emissions, in addition to being a quasi- silent drive.

Bert De Colvenaer, Executive Director of the FCH Joint Undertaking, underlines: “It is very important for us to show the technology we are supporting since years is becoming reality today. It is equally important to offer to people the opportunity to experience for themselves such an innovative car as “seeing is believing”.

The main constraint we are facing here in Brussels is to refuel the car with hydrogen. In that respect, we are working in close cooperation with WaterstofNet to ensure access to hydrogen on a permanent basis. WaterstofNet works together with industrial partners to provide sustainable hydrogen production and applications in Flanders and South-Netherlands,”

Chang Kyun Han, President of Hyundai Motor Europe, said: “We are delighted that the Hyundai ix35 FCEV has been chosen by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking as its European demonstration vehicle. Hyundai has become a world-leader in the development of hydrogen powered technology since the introduction our first FCEV in 2000, and we operate a dedicated fuel cell research centre in Korea. We fully support the FCH JU’s efforts to promote the benefits of hydrogen and fuel cell technology to leading policymakers and opinion formers”.

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Early production stage hydrogen generation company AlumiFuel Power, Inc. (”API”), the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania-based wholly owned operating subsidiary of AlumiFuel Power Corporation AFPW (the “Company”), announced today it has made further important technology upgrades to its advanced portable power system (see API news release of June 14, 2011 on the development of a single hydrogen generator unit combining the AlumiFuel cartridge with the reactor vessel, which significantly reduces weight and increases the energy density or runtime, all at very low pressure). The system is being designed for a 25W – 100W power level and is expected to have energy densities exceeding 400Whr/kg, offering higher energy density at lower cost than lithium ion battery-powered systems.

The overall global market for man-portable power (generator and battery replacement) is nearly $8 billion annually, including $4.75 billion for portable systems (100W-500W) and $3.13 billion for mobile systems (25W-100W). The bulk of this market is in the U.S. and Europe, and encompasses military applications powering battlefield electronics, sensors, and munitions; first responder/emergency preparedness applications powering radios and other electronic and medical devices for Homeland Security & Disaster Relief; and commercial applications such as shoulder-mounted video cameras.

API’s new cartridge/reactor design has been tailored to generate sufficient hydrogen flow to power a 25W-100W PEM fuel cell. API is now in the process of fully integrating a PEM fuel cell with this new hydrogen generation technology into a small light weight portable power generator that can replace lithium ion batteries and small gasoline/or methanol-fueled generators. The generated hydrogen has been analyzed by a New Jersey-based laboratory, which has certified that the hydrogen gas is 99.99+% pure, making it suitable for PEM fuel cells according to SAE standards.

The system is built upon the 200W man-portable power source developed with API’s portable power partner, Ingenium Technologies, which first proved the ability to achieve a sustained controlled AlumiFuel reaction. The new cartridge packaging and powder mixes produce high yield reactions at ambient pressure. Moreover, API has now fully automated the system by developing a new algorithm that generates hydrogen at a very controllable rate, allowing quick and easy throttling. This automated system can be integrated with a fuel cell as a portable power product, and API and Ingenium are in active discussions with potential fuel cell company partners. The new automated unit is also ready to be used as a standalone system to fill metal hydride cylinders already in the field in many military and commercial applications.

API’s Director of Engineering, Mr. Sean McIntosh, said: “We have overcome the most difficult hurdles in the development of our new portable power system. It is now a matter of integrating all of our working components into a compact user-friendly package, and we are very confident in being able to penetrate this large target market.”

Protonex Technology reverses decision to go public, and changes its focus

By Jon Towne  Telegram.com CORRESPONDENT

SOUTHBORO —  For one local high-tech firm, the decision to go public in 2006 was unavoidable: It needed more capital if it wanted to grow, and selling public shares seemed logical.

So Protonex Technology Corp., which had never made a profit, had itself listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.

The company’s product, fuel cells, generate electricity through a chemical reaction. They are different from batteries in that they create electricity by using chemicals such as hydrogen, alcohol or natural gas. There seemed to be a lot of interest in the commercial market, especially in recreational vehicle sales, for the product.

Four years after going public, a lot had gone wrong. The recession had clobbered the company’s opportunities in the consumer market. Investors were pressing, asking when they were going to see profits. The administrative costs of being publicly listed were in the millions. Finally, the stock dropped to about 37 cents a share.

Last year, the company decided to delist from London’s Alternative Investment Market. In the process, it also laid off one-third of its employees and closed a Colorado facility.

With the change, the company has freed itself of many problems it had experienced as a public company, including the need to often explain to investors what fuel cells are, and reassure them the company had the potential to make a profit.

Streamlined focus: Despite those dismal developments, Protonex has found its footing as a private company, shuttering its commercial products line and focusing exclusively on producing for the military.
Today, Protonex still isn’t making money, but its chief executive officer, Paul Osenar, says its products — power management and fuel cell hardware — are in demand with the military and defense contractors. “It is still early in the days of fuel cells in terms of practical applications. There is not a huge market as of yet, but we feel we have a great position and there is plenty of potential,” said Mr. Osenar, company co-founder and CEO since last November.

The switch back to private and associated cutbacks were painful, he said.

“We went back to the board and to the investors and said, ‘We think it makes more sense for Protonex to operate as a private entity’ and proactively de-listed,” he said. Despite continuing questions over investment liquidity, about 90 percent of shareholders voted in favor, he said.

The company now has 50 employees. “We made some pretty significant cuts in the management team,” the CEO said.

Market change: A key factor in the decision to go private again was the collapse of the recreational vehicle market, which was the core of its commercial business.

“The primary commercial market we had been looking at vaporized. The recession by some estimates took 70 percent of the RV market away.” The power unit sold for RVs was popular because it replaced noisy generators, but was “relatively expensive,” he said.

Mr. Osenar is confident that the Defense Department and defense contracts will remain steady for Protonex, despite declining military budgets, because its products save money. By reducing the need for batteries and by better coordinating energy needs, they help the armed forces do more with less.

“The modern soldier carries all sorts of devices — GPS, radios, night vision goggles, heads-up displays. All these things require power, and soldiers have to figure out how they are going to support all these devices with batteries and still have water, food and bullets also,” he said.

VANCOUVER, CANADA— Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD) (NASDAQ: BLDP) announced that it is the recipient of Frost & Sullivan’s “2011 New Product Innovation Award” in the North American Stationary Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell category for the Company’s unique CLEARgen™ multi-megawatt distributed power generation system.

“This award recognizes Ballard’s technological leadership and strong market position in the commercialization of PEM fuel cells for distributed energy generation,” said Tomasz Kaminski, Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst. “Ballard’s solution surpasses the competition in terms of fuel cell durability, product cost and load-following capability, all keys to commercially viable grid-scale solutions.”

The New Product Innovation Award is presented to the company that has excelled relative to the following criteria: innovative elements of the product; leveraging leading edge technologies in the product; value added features/benefits of the product; increased customer ROI; and customer acquisition/penetration potential.

John Sheridan, Ballard President and CEO said, “With the CLEARgen™ system, our customers can produce clean, reliable power and reduce their demand for grid electricity. This can create significant cost savings, while simultaneously reducing customers’ environmental footprint.”

Powered by Ballard’s proprietary FCgen™-1300 proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, the CLEARgen™ system is a complete solution designed to generate clean energy from hydrogen. Modular 500 kilowatt (kW) PowerBanks are combined to produce multiple megawatts (MW’s) of zero-emission electricity, with heat created by the system also providing the opportunity for hot water and space heating. The system can operate continuously to meet baseload power needs, or intermittently to provide peak power during times of high demand.

Ballard’s early work with CLEARgen™ has led to a number of notable contracts, including:

• A 1MW CLEARgen™ system, the largest PEM fuel cell system in North America, has been installed at FirstEnergy Corp.’s Eastlake plant, near Cleveland, Ohio for use in a utility load management demonstration project. FirstEnergy Corp. activates the hydrogen-fuelled generator during periods of peak demand, taking strain off the power grid and ensuring uninterrupted power to customers. Results during the first year of operation have been positive.
• Next year, K2 Pure Solutions will deploy a CLEARgen™ system at its bleach plant in Pittsburg, California. The system will convert by-product hydrogen into clean load-following electricity that will partially offset power demand at the state-of-the-art facility.
• Also in 2012, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. will site a 1MW CLEARgen™ system at its sales and marketing headquarters in Torrance, California. The system will provide peak electrical power and heat to a number of locations on Toyota’s multi-building campus, utilizing hydrogen produced by steam-reformation of renewable bio-gas generated at a landfill.

Commercialization of the CLEARgen™ system is being supported by extending operating life and lowering product cost through a project funded by Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), an arm’s-length, not-for-profit corporation created by the Government of Canada.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.

About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD) (NASDAQ: BLDP) provides clean energy fuel cell products enabling optimized power systems for a range of applications. Products are based on proprietary esencia™ technology, ensuring incomparable performance, durability and versatility. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.

About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company’s Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO’s Growth Team with disciplined research and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages 50 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 40 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com.

Berlin– Heliocentris Energy Solutions AG, a specialist in energy-efficiency and autonomous power solutions, has acquired an order from Qatar University. The company has been asked to supply a complete laboratory – the “New Energy Lab” ¬– perspectively in October. This product is a complete energy system for conveying practical knowledge in the fields of energy generation, storage and management. The system combines energy generation from solar, wind and fuel cells with energy storage in batteries and hydrogen technology to simulate an autonomous hybrid energy system for our clients. The price of the system is in excess of €100 thousand.

Qatar University is the largest and most famous higher education institution in Qatar. The order was commissioned by the Mechanical Engineering department at the university as part of setting up a complete research laboratory for renewable energies. The set up of complex renewable energy labs is currently emerging as a global trend and Heliocentris, with its Didactic business unit and more than 10 years of experience in the field, is internationally one of the leading companies in this segment. The Didactic business unit has an extensive portfolio of training and research systems for fuel cells and hydrogen as well as other renewable energy technologies.

“We already have clients in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Yemen who can vouch for the quality of our products and technology. This new order for Qatar will enable us to further expand our position in the Middle East”, explains Dr Andras Gosztonyi, CFO of Heliocentris Energy Solutions AG. “A decisive step towards our expansion drive in the Middle East was undoubtedly the equity participation of National Technology Enterprises Company (NTEC), a fully owned subsidiary of Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) into Heliocentris.” In order to be able to efficiently implement larger projects in the region, particularly in the energy efficiency and autonomous power business, Heliocentris is currently setting up an office in Dubai. Dr Gosztonyi is adamant about this: “These facilities will strengthen our presence and ability to implement projects in the region and thereby form the basis for further business expansion in all our three business units, especially since we have good cause to hope for larger orders here in the near future”.

BOULDER, Colo. — For the passenger car market, fuel cells offer the benefits of zero-emissions operation without the range and charging limitations of pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs). While the market for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) has been slower to develop than many anticipated a few years ago, major automakers including Toyota, Daimler, GM, Honda, and Hyundai have all publicly stated that fuel cells are a critical piece of a complete clean vehicle portfolio. Commercialization is expected to accelerate beginning in 2015. According to a recent report from Pike Research, cumulative commercial sales of FCVs will surpass 1 million by the end of this decade, generating $16.9 billion in annual revenue by 2020.

The largest market for FCVs will be the Asia Pacific region, which will account for more than half of total worldwide sales in 2020. The most rapid growth, however, will come in Western Europe, where sales with increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 53%.

“The limiting factor for the FCV market will be the availability of hydrogen infrastructure,” says senior analyst Lisa Jerram. “If current plans for station construction are delayed or abandoned, the rollout of FCVs will be similarly pushed back.”

While these latest figures represent a downgrade from Pike Research’s previous FCV forecasts, published in the first quarter of 2010, the cleantech market intelligence firm expects a step change in FCV production levels to occur in 2015. After a five-year ramp-up period, production from top automakers will likely reach just under 58,000 in that year and accelerate rapidly from there. Early sales will be focused on areas where infrastructure investments have been or are being made, such as the United States (primarily California and the New York City region); Germany; Scandinavia; Japan (mainly Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka); South Korea (primarily around Seoul); and Shanghai, China.

Pike Research’s report, “Fuel Cell Vehicles”, analyzes opportunities and challenges in the development of commercially viable fuel cell cars, buses, and trucks. The report provides an examination of the key market drivers and barriers for FCV development in the face of competition from incumbent internal combustion engine vehicles and new plug-in electric vehicles. The report includes a status update on the progress of fuel cell R&D toward meeting commercial technical and cost targets for cars and buses. The report also covers key countries’ policies promoting development and adoption of FCVs, strategies and plans of major industry players, and discussion of the vehicle segments and drivetrain configurations under development. The report forecasts global pre-commercial deployments of LDVs and buses through 2014, global commercial sales of LDVs and buses from 2015 through 2020, and potential revenue from fuel cell LDVs from 2015 through 2020. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website.

Pike Research is a market research and consulting firm that provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The company’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Smart Grid, Smart Transportation, Smart Industry, and Smart Buildings sectors. For more information, visit www.pikeresearch.com or call +1.303.997.7609.

SOURCE: Pike Research

DANBURY, Conn. — FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL), a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power plants, today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded approximately $1.0 million to FuelCell Energy, Inc. to further develop and demonstrate a highly efficient and reliable method for simultaneously separating and compressing hydrogen for multiple applications utilizing its solid-state electrochemical hydrogen separation and compression (EHSC) technology. Combining both separation and compression simplifies the process of hydrogen production and reduces energy consumption, leading to lower cost hydrogen production. The EHSC technology expands the hydrogen production capability of FuelCell Energy’s Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plants making them suitable for applications that use hydrogen including industrial uses and vehicle fueling applications, while simultaneously providing ultra-clean on-site power.

“We have already demonstrated hydrogen production from a DFC power plant operating on renewable biogas and using conventional hydrogen separation and compression technology,” said Tony Leo, Vice President Applications Engineering and New Technology, FuelCell Energy, Inc. ”This program will develop and demonstrate our technology to use electrochemical processes to separate and compress the hydrogen which is produced as a byproduct of power production in our DFC power plants. Replacing conventional mechanical processes with our EHSC electrochemical process for hydrogen separation and compression is expected to increase system efficiency and reduce operating costs by about 50 percent compared to existing technology.”

DFC power plants generate three value streams including ultra-clean electricity, high quality heat, and hydrogen suitable for vehicle fueling or industrial uses. DFC plants can be sited at the point of use for the hydrogen and the ultra-clean electricity and heat used on-site or the electricity can be supplied to the electric grid. The benefit of the EHSC technology is the ability to separate and compress the hydrogen produced by the fuel cell for on-site storage and use at a later time. DFC plants produce ultra-clean power in a highly efficient and continuous manner using a non-combustion electrochemical process. Due to the absence of combustion, virtually no pollutants are emitted.

This award funds a two year project to develop scalable and durable EHSC capability that can operate on a variety of fuel inputs including natural gas or renewable biogas. The compression target for this program is 300 psig (pounds-force per square inch gauge). Integrating the EHSC technology with FuelCell Energy’s existing fuel cell technology targets the production and compression of hydrogen at pressures of 3,000 to 12,000 psig. The ability to efficiently and cost effectively produce and compress large volumes of hydrogen to 3,000 psig is attractive to  industrial users that currently use multi-stage mechanical compressors and compression to 12,000 psig targets hydrogen vehicle fueling.

The DOE Fuel Cell Technologies Program fosters the development and enhancement of technologies to expand the market for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for both transportation and stationary power generation. Hydrogen is generally produced at a location different from where it is used, resulting in the need for transportation and storage. High compression storage is an important component for expanding the use of hydrogen, particularly for vehicle fueling.

About FuelCell Energy

Direct FuelCell® power plants are generating ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power at more than 50 locations worldwide. The Company’s power plants have generated over 850 million kWh of power using a variety of fuels including renewable biogas from wastewater treatment and food processing, as well as clean natural gas. With over 180 megawatts of power generation capacity installed or in backlog, FuelCell Energy is a global leader in providing ultra-clean baseload distributed generation to utilities, industrial operations, universities, municipal water treatment facilities, government installations and other clients around the world.  For more information please visit our website at www.fuelcellenergy.com

Air Force Award Validates Company’s Unique Technology

A Midlands eco-car company has said it will run a trial of hydrogen-powered cars in Shropshire and Herefordshire.

Riversimple, based in Ludlow, south Shropshire, said the 12-month trial would start towards the end of 2012.

About 30 vehicles would be leased under the arrangement, with the company gathering data from on-board computers.

It said it was sourcing funding to set up a £20m plant for production of the two-seater cars, which do the equivalent of 300 miles per gallon.

The cars would cost drivers about £250 per month, including fuel.

The vehicles, made of lightweight composites, have a maximum speed of 50mph and a range of more than 200 miles.

Hydrogen ‘pioneers’

The company said it was now looking at where to site filling stations as part of the trial, although Shrewsbury and Hereford were “obvious candidates”.

Designed by Herefordshire-based Hugo Spowers, just two prototypes of the car currently exist, one of which is at the London Science Museum.

Mr Spowers said: “Like it or not the age of the fossil fuelled car is nearing its end, and for places like Herefordshire and Shropshire to be pioneers as we look to the future is gratifying.”

The trial, along with a previously announced urban equivalent in Leicester, will depend on small-scale production of the vehicles.

The project’s backers include the family of Ernst Piech, part of the Porsche dynasty.

Last year, Riversimple also announced that its car would be redesigned by Chris Reitz, who was responsible for the Fiat 500.

CHILLIWACK, British Columbia–IMW Industries announced today that it has signed a long-term agreement with UTC Power, a unit of United Technologies Corp., to be the exclusive provider of natural gas reforming and CSA cooling modules for its PureCell® Model 400 stationary fuel cell production. No contract value was disclosed for the agreement, which lasts through the end of 2014.

“We have worked with UTC Power to provide best-in-class natural gas processing technology for its stationary fuel cells and are pleased to be chosen as sole supplier for its market-leading system,” said Brad Miller, president and CEO of IMW. “This agreement complements our growth in the expanding market for natural gas compression equipment for fueling transportation in North America and worldwide.”

The PureCell solution from UTC Power uses fuel cell technology to generate 400 kW of electric power using natural gas as input fuel. In a fuel cell, no fossil fuel combustion takes place. The only byproduct is heat that can be easily harnessed to provide space heating or domestic hot water, or with the addition of an optional absorption chiller, can produce cooling. More than half of the energy potential in traditional, centralized power generation goes up the stack as exhaust heat. UTC Power fuel cell systems convert heat exhaust into cooling and heating, turning potential waste into useable energy. While central powerplants achieve energy conversion percentages in the mid-30-percent range, the PureCell system can attain energy conversion efficiencies as high as 90 percent.

UTC Power is part of United Technologies Corp. (UTC), which provides energy-efficient products and services to the aerospace and building industries. UTC is a founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index each year since it was launched in 1999. Based in South Windsor, Conn., UTC Power is the world leader in developing and producing fuel cells that generate energy for buildings and for transportation, space and defense applications. For more information, please visit www.utcpower.com

IMW Industries manufactures and services advanced natural gas fueling compressors and related equipment that is sold to station operators and commercial fleets, and has provided more than 1,200 installations in 24 countries. The company operates a manufacturing facility at its headquarters near Vancouver, BC, Canada, a second manufacturing facility near Shanghai, China, and a third manufacturing facility near Ferndale, Washington, USA. IMW is a subsidiary of Clean Energy Fuels Corp. For more information, visit www.imw.ca

Clean Energy (Nasdaq: CLNE) is the largest provider of natural gas fuel for transportation in North America and a global leader in the expanding natural gas vehicle market. It has operations in CNG and LNG vehicle fueling, construction and operation of CNG and LNG fueling stations, biomethane production, vehicle conversion and compressor technology. For more information, visit www.cleanenergyfuels.com

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today applauded the commissioning of a combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cell system at Portland Community College in Oregon. The CHP fuel cell system will help Portland Community College save on its energy bills and help achieve its energy efficiency and sustainability goals. Students at the College will also learn about the fuel cell technology used in the project as part of a comprehensive alternative energy curriculum offered by the school.

“The benefits of a combined heat and power fuel cell system, coupled with the educational benefits of a living laboratory, not only advance clean energy technology, but help ensure that our nation remains competitive in the workforce of tomorrow,” said Secretary Chu. “Giving students hands-on, real-world experience working with clean energy technologies is critical to developing the skilled workforce we need to power our clean energy future.”

This is the first of ten CHP fuel cell systems that will go into operation on the West Coast as part of a $2.8 million combined industry and government award that includes $1.4 million of funding from the Department of Energy. In addition to providing electricity, the CHP fuel cell system captures the excess heat generated inside the fuel cell and releases it into the facility to provide space heating. The excess heat can also be used for hot water or other heating needs, while excess electricity produced but not consumed by the building can be sold back to a local utility company. DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and its Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) awarded $1.4 million to Oregon-based ClearEdge Power to install 38 CHP fuel cell systems at ten different west coast businesses under the initiative.

An event on September 29 at Portland Community College celebrated the completion of the first two 5 kW systems. The remaining 36 units will be installed at 9 additional locations and will be completed in the next few months.

To document and validate this innovative technology, PNNL will analyze the engineering, economic, and environmental performance of the two systems during the next five years. PNNL anticipates that this type of a system could reduce the fuel costs and carbon footprint of a commercial building by approximately 40%, compared with conventional electricity use.

DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy invests in clean energy technologies that strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and reduce dependence on foreign oil. Find out more about DOE’s support of research, development and deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

CLEVELAND, OH– To address the growing demand for energy efficient and sustainable products and services, CSA International, a leading testing and certification organization, today officially unveiled four new fully operational laboratories within its Cleveland, Ohio facility. The new labs are dedicated to providing a comprehensive suite of cost-effective third-party testing to help ensure appliances and components for hydrogen vehicles and fuelling stations meet advanced standards recognized worldwide.

“This lab will be one of the only facilities in North America to offer a testing and certification program for hydrogen products manufactured across the globe,” said Rich Weiser, vice president for U.S. and Mexico operations, CSA Group. “CSA has long been recognized as an industry leader in certifying compressed natural gas products. As the sustainable energy sector continues to grow, CSA will be able to draw on this proven and extensive expertise to help ensure our customers are successful and that consumers have confidence in these tested and certified fuel efficient and energy efficient products.”

The lab’s stringent testing processes are designed to meet nationally-recognized Hydrogen Vehicle Component and Infrastructure Standards. With estimates that 5,200 hydrogen fueling stations will be operational worldwide by 2012, CSA’s comprehensive testing methods will help alternative energy products come to market swiftly and cost-effectively.

In addition to the hydrogen components lab, CSA officially opened the doors on three other new in-house labs for the energy efficiency testing of ceiling fans, commercial and residential refrigerators, and fuel burning devices and products. The new the new ceiling fan testing lab is one of the only independent labs to measure ceiling fan airflow while the refrigerator lab provides independent third-party qualification and verification for all ENERGY STAR ^®-eligible refrigerators.

The 128,000 square foot, state-of-the-art Cleveland facility provides testing capabilities to help manufacturers produce reliable and safe alternative energy products and components for hydrogen vehicles and fuelling stations that are critically important in helping to address the growing demand for energy efficient products and alternative energy vehicles.

CSA has extensive experience in certifying components for alternative energy vehicles. In addition to testing of hydrogen components, CSA has also recently updated its compressed natural gas (CNG) lab in Cleveland in response to increased demand. Similar to hydrogen components, CSA tests and certifies globally sourced CNG components to recognized national standards

By Francois de Beaupuy

Oct. 4 (Bloomberg) — Air Liquide SA Chief Executive Officer Benoit Potier said demand for hydrogen used in fuel cells will probably rise as carmakers such as Daimler AG and Toyota Motor Corp. introduce models powered by the technology.

A global automotive market share of 1 percent for fuel- cell-powered cars would represent 15 billion euros ($19.8 billion) in sales for the industrial-gas industry, Potier told journalists today near Paris.

“Daimler, Opel, Toyota and Honda have announced launches on the market around 2015,” Potier said. “The U.S., Canada, Japan, South Korea and China have started refueling-station infrastructure programs, and Germany has taken a very strong lead in Europe.”

Air Liquide, the world’s biggest producer of industrial gases, generated 1.4 billion euros in hydrogen sales in 2010, mostly to oil refiners and chemicals producers, Potier said. Of that amount, only “a few million euros” came from hydrogen sales to users of fuel cells to power forklift trucks, buses and remote mobile-phone antennas.

Cars powered by fuel cells, which produce electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, will become more attractive because the vehicles can travel more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) between refuelings, which take three minutes, compared with several hours to recharge battery-powered cars with shorter ranges, he said.

–Editors: Tom Lavell, David Risser

ITM Power the energy storage and green fuel company, is pleased to announce the outcome of a recently completed nine month fuel cell project. The project focused on ITM Power’s proprietary hydrocarbon membrane materials and their evaluation in high power density hydrogen/air fuel cells and was supported by the Carbon Trust as part of the Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge. The project objectives, which were defined by automotive industry experts, were all achieved.

ITM Power is now engaging with automotive OEMs and key organisations in the fuel cell supply chain to undertake early stage qualification of its membrane materials as part of the Company’s Partner Evaluation Programme. The next phase of the process will involve accelerated acquisition of test data while undertaking full life cycle cost analysis via the Carbon Trust’s cost model.

Increasing power density is widely accepted as the single most important factor in reducing the cost of fuel cells. ITM Power’s materials have shown the ability to generate unprecedented power density when using either oxygen (>5.5W/cm²) or air (>2.1W/cm²). This project consolidated this capability by examining the impact of operating in environments and conditions required by the automotive industry. This included sensitivity to reduced catalyst loading, gas pressure, humidity, temperature and stoichiometry. In addition, longevity studies were initiated and benchmarking was carried out against industry standard materials.

The project was undertaken at a single test cell level and sought to reduce the technical risk presented by ITM Power’s materials as a new component.

Further information on evaluation programme results and ITM Power’s high power density fuel cell membrane technology

Power Density

During the course of the project, the fuel cell power density when using air has been increased by one order of magnitude. Catalyst loadings as low as 0.38mg/cm² have been successfully operated with dry gases down to 0.34bar (5psi) pressure. In addition, high power density has been developed at higher cell voltages providing higher overall conversion efficiency. Some notable results include:

• Power density of 1.5W/cm² at >600mV
• Power density of 1.0W/cm² at >700mV
• Membrane conductivity over three times that of industry standard membranes
• No irreversible degradation during short durability tests

The achievement of high power densities is of clear value. ITM Power’s materials retain this important benefit at the low catalyst loadings and reduced operating pressures that the automotive industry requires. This is in addition to the other positive attributes of ITM Power’s materials, including reduced cost and ease of manufacture.

Durability Results

Durability results are highly dependent on cell structure and flow field design. It has been a challenge to maintain the process conditions within the test cell using existing equipment to undertake extended durability tests. However, during the evaluation programme, no irreversible degradation was observed when comparing ITM Power’s MEA (membrane electrode assembly) performance before and after testing. While high MEA efficiencies are achieved, the unusually high current densities present new challenges in terms of flow field and electrode design.

An important challenge facing fuel cell membrane materials is the ability to maintain adequate water content for effective ionic conduction. This often necessitates the use of balance of plant to humidify input gas streams. One of the advantages offered by ITM Power’s fuel cell materials is an additional hydrophilic component which serves to hold water inside the polymer structure and rendering it extremely water attracting and less prone to drying. The key power density performance data presented was achieved with dry gases.

Mechanical Properties and Dimensional Stability

ITM Power’s materials are cross linked. This provides good dimensional stability and contributes to robust overall mechanical properties. In addition, the ITM Power material has an ionic conductivity over three times that of industry standard membranes. This allows comparatively thick membranes to be used adding further mechanical robustness. As the membrane material is cast from a liquid mixture, it is compatible with reinforcing structures such as webs, cloths or mats.

Demountable Structure and Catalyst Recycling

It is crucial for effective MEA function that the catalyst makes good interfacial contact with the membrane. The nature of ITM Power’s materials offers multiple convenient routes for achieving excellent contact. Firstly, the membrane material is very compliant and so enables a simple pressed contact within the cell to deliver exceptional performance without the need for a hot pressing stage. This in turn offers a way to reclaim catalyst easily at the end of MEA life. Furthermore, recycling hydrocarbon materials is much easier than for fluorocarbons as there is no release of fluorine or hydrofluoric acid.

Manufacturing routes

ITM Power’s materials are polymerized by ultraviolet light, a low cost process which is compatible with volume production techniques and well understood by industry. There is no requirement to add an additional hot pressing stage to MEA fabrication as catalyst coated electrodes make excellent contact in a simple pressed arrangement. Multiple routes for incorporating catalyst structures into the surface of the membrane during the polymerization process have been explored and shown to be viable. In addition, spraying an ink containing ITM Power’s ionomer onto a pre-cured membrane is possible. ITM Power is exploring partnering with large polymer processing companies.

Industry Performance Targets

The mass roll out of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles is scheduled to begin in 2015 and the industry has set a number of challenging performance and cost targets as guidelines for the Automotive Fuel Cell supply chain. One review, undertaken by NOW, identified a performance target of 1W/cm² at 670mV as being an aspiration for OEMs. The same report concluded that the performance was not currently achievable. ITM Power has exceeded this power density target.

Performance and Full Life Cost Modelling

The drivers for the adoption in automotive applications are a complex set of performance, reliability and cost criteria. However, the availability of high power density fuel cells at low cost would enable more compact integration of fuel cell drive trains into a variety of vehicle platforms and reduce vehicle weight per kW of power delivery. The results obtained by ITM Power’s materials will be independently analysed via a comprehensive cost model developed by the Carbon Trust. This will enable costs to be projected and described in $/kW. The outcome of these analyses will be made available once complete. Durability results will be the last step in understanding the full life cost advantages of the ITM Power membrane technology.

Commercialisation and Business Model

Commercialisation of ITM Power’s novel MEAs will be using a licensing business model. The Partner Evaluation Programme is the first step in the commercialization process. ITM Power intends to build on early relationships with potential end users and seek routes to jointly develop the materials with partners with skills and experience which could further accelerate progress.

Commenting for ITM Power, Graham Cooley, CEO, said: “The enthusiasm that has been shown by the automotive industry and fuel cell supply chain for the MEA developments has been very encouraging. We now move to OEM partner evaluation to demonstrate our MEA performance as a first step to commercialization.”

Commenting for the Carbon Trust, Robert Trezona, Technology Director, said: This project has been a huge success. The progress made by ITM Power over the course of 9 months is significant and is testament to the capability of its materials technology. The Carbon Trust is delighted to have assisted with this achievement and looks forward to providing further introductions and downstream industry cost analysis.