MYRTE platform aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a solar energy storage solution using hydrogen technologies to mitigate the fluctuations of solar power generation, and contribute to securing Corsica’s power grid.

After more than two and a half years of work, the 560 kWc photovoltaic power plant was connected to an innovative energy storage system developed by AREVA, made of an electrolyzer, hydrogen and oxygen reserves, and a fuel cell.

MYRTE has been running connected to the Corsican electrical grid since December 16, 2011: a first in Europe and worldwide in this power range.

“The MYRTE platform allows us to get out of the laboratory and test our technology in a real environment. It is our first installation at this maturity level, connected to the electricity network. This day is the beginning of a new chapter for the BU: we will now on be in operational exploitation of such systems.” says Jérôme Gosset, Vice President of the H&ES BU, “

The H&ES BU objective is now to work out progressively the most successful operation modes to integrate decentralized renewable electricity into insular grids, while contributing to secure them.

AREVA will continue investing in MYRTE: The Hydrogen & Energy Storage activity  will install by 2013, within the framework of MYRTE phase 2, the next generation of hydrogen systems to increase the current platform hydrogen system power: the Greenergy Box a containerized integrated hydrogen system, based on hydrogen technologies currently implemented in MYRTE.

The MYRTE platform based on hydrogen technologies fits perfectly with the group strategy which is to provide electrical production technologies, nuclear and renewables, with extremely low CO₂ emissions.

A technique for creating a new molecule that structurally and chemically replicates the active part of the widely used industrial catalyst molybdenite has been developed by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). This technique holds promise for the creation of catalytic materials that can serve as effective low-cost alternatives to platinum for generating hydrogen gas from water that is acidic.

Christopher Chang and Jeffrey Long, chemists who hold joint appointments with Berkeley Lab and the University of California (UC) Berkeley, led a research team that synthesized a molecule to mimic the triangle-shaped molybdenum disulfide units along the edges of molybdenite crystals, which is where almost all of the catalytic activity takes place. Since the bulk of molybdenite crystalline material is relatively inert from a catalytic standpoint, molecular analogs of the catalytically active edge sites could be used to make new materials that are much more efficient and cost-effective catalysts.

“Using molecular chemistry, we’ve been able to capture the functional essence of molybdenite and synthesize the smallest possible unit of its proposed catalytic active site,” says Chang, who is also an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). “It should now be possible to design new catalysts that have a high density of active sites so we get the same catalytic activity with much less material.”

Says Long, “Inorganic solids, such as molybdenite, are an important class of catalysts that often derive their activity from sparse active edge sites, which are structurally distinct from the inactive bulk of the molecular solid. We’ve demonstrated that it is possible to create catalytically active molecular analogs of these sites that are tailored for a specific purpose. This represents a conceptual path forward to improving future catalytic materials.”

From left, Jeffrey Long, Christopher Chang and Hemamala Karunadasa are paving the way for the creation of catalytic materials that can serve as effective low-cost alternatives to platinum for generating hydrogen gas from water. (Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt, Berkeley Lab Public Affairs)

Chang and Long are the corresponding authors of a paper in the journal Science describing this research titled “A Molecular MoS₂ Edge Site Mimic for Catalytic Hydrogen Generation.” Other authors are Hemamala Karunadasa, Elizabeth Montalvo, Yujie Sun and Marcin Majda.

Molybdenite is the crystalline sulfide of molybdenum and the principal mineral from which molybdenum metal is extracted. Although commonly thought of as a lubricant, molybdenite is the standard catalyst used to remove sulfur from petroleum and natural gas for the reduction of sulfur dioxide emissions when those fuels are burned. Recent studies have shown that in its nanoparticle form, molybdenite also holds promise for catalyzing the electrochemical and photochemical generation of hydrogen from water. Hydrogen could play a key role in future renewable energy technologies if a relatively cheap, efficient and carbon-neutral means of producing it can be developed.

Currently, the best available technique for producing hydrogen is to split water molecules into molecules of hydrogen and oxygen using platinum as the catalyst. However, with platinum going for more than $2,000 an ounce, the market is wide open for a low cost alternative catalyst. Molybdenite is far more plentiful and about 1/70^th the cost of platinum, but poses other problems.

“Molybdenite has a layered structure with multiple microdomains, most of which are chemically inert,” Chang says. “High-resolution scanning tunneling microscopy studies and theoretical calculations have identified the triangular molybdenum disulfide edges as the active sites for catalysis; however, preparing molybdenite with a high density of functional edge sites in a predictable manner is extremely challenging.”

Chang, Long and their research team met this challenge using a pentapyridyl ligand known as PY5Me₂ to create a molybdenum disulfide molecule that, while not found in nature, is stable and structurally identical to the proposed triangular edge sites of molybdenite. It was shown that these synthesized molecules can form a layer of material that is analogous to constructing a sulfide edge of molybdenite.

“The electronic structure of our molecular analog can be adjusted through ligand modifications,” Long says. “This suggests we should be able to tailor the material’s activity, stability and required over-potential for proton reduction to improve its performance.”

In 2010, Chang and Long and Hemamala Karunadasa, who is the lead author on this new Science paper, used the PY5Me₂ ligand to create a molybdenum-oxo complex that can effectively and efficiently catalyze the generation of hydrogen from neutral buffered water or even sea water. Molybdenite complexes synthesized from this new molecular analog can just as effectively and efficiently catalyze hydrogen gas from acidic water.

“We’re now looking to develop molecular analogs of active sites in other catalytic materials that will work over a range of pH conditions, as well as extend this work to photocatalytic systems” Chang says.

Adds Long, “Our molecular analog for the molybdenite active site might not be a replacement for any existing catalytic materials but it does provide a way to increase the density of active sites in inorganic solid catalytic materials and thereby allow us to do more with less.”

This research was supported by the DOE Office of Science, in part through the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, a DOE Energy Innovation Hub.

Port Washington, N.Y. — WATT Fuel Cell, a developer of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems, has raised $2.9 million in venture capital, while planning to eventually raise a total of $8 million in the deal.

WATT Fuel Cell recently commenced operations and is building a pilot production line and has recently set up the fuel cell processing equipment and operations within the Port Washington facility. The location also offers expansion capabilities to fill the entire building of 33,000 square feet, according to the company.

The company says its SOFC systems will operate on many readily available hydrocarbon fuels such as natural gas, propane, JP-8, diesel, and various renewable fuels, providing energy for a range of applications in the portable power and distributed-generation energy markets.

Last year, WATT signed an agreement granting it an exclusive worldwide license to fuel cell technology intellectual property developed at NanoDynamics Energy. As part of the agreement, WATT Fuel Cell has established a joint venture with Solar Acquisitions Corp. to form Evolution Fuel Cell Inc., an entity licensed to develop the IP for applications up to 500 watts.

Photo credit: WATT Fuel Cell

Start Date: 28 February, 2012 End Date: 28 February, 2012
Location: European Parliament, 60 Rue Wiertz, Brussels 1047
Daimler will host an informative debate  on the Future of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Commercialisation on 28 February 2012 at the European Parliament.  The debate will be chaired  by Professor Vladko Panayotov MEP with guest speaker Dr Jorg Wind, Strategic Energys Project and Market Development , Daimler AG.

The debate will be moderated by Ian Williamson, president of the European Hydrogen Association (EHA).

The event will take place in the Members Salon from 12.30-2.30pm

One position is available in the Fuel Cell Technologies Program in the area of Systems Analysis. Application forms are now available and are due May 1, 2012. Applicants must have U.S. citizenship or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status by September 30, 2012.

Get more information and apply.

Industrial gases and engineering business BOC has launched the Hymera DC, a hydrogen-powered fuel cell system capable of delivering 150W of DC power in off-grid and remote locations.

The new system from BOC, a member of The Linde Group, is ideal for powering a wide range of applications, particularly monitoring. The Hymera DC incorporates an automatic battery charger, so that power can be maintained in locations where changing batteries is not practicable. In many applications it is a silent, cheaper and much cleaner alternative to diesel and petrol generators.

Morgan Sindall, a leading UK construction and regeneration group, has been using the Hymera DC on its Pudding Mill Lane contract for the London Crossrail project. It was recently recognised in the Innovation category of Crossrail’s Green Line Environmental awards.

Casey Fleming, Morgan Sindall’s environmental manager said: “The Hymera hydrogen fuel cell’s innovative qualities helped us solve a difficult project conundrum. The cell has now successfully powered a remote noise monitor for eight weeks, the location of which was proving difficult to supply with conventional power. We needed it to operate silently, which was impossible with traditional power generators.”

When used in conjunction with BOC’s 54ZH portable hydrogen fuel cylinder, the Hymera DC can provide 2-3 kWh of electrical energy. Depending on conditions, this is equivalent to around 75kg of lead-acid batteries.

The 54ZH is a user-friendly integrated ‘energy source’ which removes the need for pressure regulators and uses easy hand-operated connections. A single cylinder will keep a 3W average load powered for almost one month, or a 20W security camera powered for approximately five days.

For loads up to 50W, it has a substantially lower cost of ownership compared to diesel or petrol generators. With recent developments in lighting, computing and display technology, 50W goes a long way. For instance, 50W could light a small house with the latest generation DC LED technology.

The Hymera DC is also ideal for providing power in hard-to-reach places. Advanced Monitoring, a CCTV and access control security group with offices in Limerick and Dublin, has been using the Hymera DC to provide discreet and zero-emissions power for its security cameras since May 2011. Previously, the group had to change the batteries on their CCTV solutions every four to five days.

“You can imagine how disruptive that can be to a covert operation,” said Tom Ryan, Business Development Manager at Advanced Monitoring. “Using the BOC Hymera DC, our CCTV solutions can operate for around three weeks without interruption. Because it is silent and doesn’t require changing, no one is alerted to the presence of a camera.”

“This is a product that will make a big impact, not only in the security industry but for any application that requires an unobtrusive, long-lasting and energy efficient power source.”

“The type of capability the Hymera DC offers is increasingly crucial in the portable power market,” said Stewart Dow, Packaged Energy Manager at BOC. “Businesses sometimes believe that cutting costs and carbon emissions are two conflicting goals, but with the family of Hymera products, this needn’t to be the case. With its high performance and low cost, the Hymera DC is now opening up a whole new range of exciting applications and opportunities.”

Product specifications:

• The Hymera DC is clean, silent and highly portable.
• It has minimal service requirements.
• It is ideally suited to today’s high-efficiency electrical applications such as LED lights.
• It is well suited to low power, long duration loads such as remote monitoring, control and surveillance.
• For loads of up to 50W, it has a lower cost of ownership than comparable diesel or petrol generators.

ClearEdge Power, a manufacturer of scalable, continuous onsite power systems, today announced that its outdoor ClearEdge5 system has received CSA certification and listing to ANSI/CSA Americas FC-1. The CSA certification mark assures major retailers, distributors, regulators and consumers that the ClearEdge5 underwent rigorous testing to meet the U.S. and Canadian industry standards for safety and performance.

“The globally recognized CSA certification mark is another validation of the performance, safety and reliability of our products,” said Mike Upp, vice president of marketing at ClearEdge Power. “ClearEdge Power is focused on driving broad market acceptance of stationary fuel cells and this certification is another important milestone in the process.”

To obtain CSA certification, ClearEdge Power worked closely with CSA International, a leading global testing, inspection and certification organization and was evaluated by a formal process involving examination, testing and follow-up examination to obtain the valued certification and listing. Additionally, the ClearEdge5 will now be listed on CSA International’s webpage along with other CSA listed products, and is now entitled to bear the CSA Blue Star and the CSA mark.

The CSA certification builds on ClearEdge Power’s forward momentum seen in the past year. Recent highlights include a record-setting agreement with Güssing Renewable Energy and the expansion of ClearEdge Power’s portfolio of continuous onsite power systems, including industry-first innovations in areas such as reliability, scalability and flexibility. In addition, ClearEdge Power has continued to see strong customer adoption in a variety of industries, including multi-tenant housing, hospitality, education, utility, public sector and residential.

About ClearEdge Power

ClearEdge Power provides distributed energy generation solutions to commercial, institutional and residential customers. The company designs, manufactures and sells a family of continuous onsite power systems that uses fuel cell technology to efficiently deliver predictable, clean and cost-effective power and heat. This enables customers to increase independence from the electricity grid, save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.