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The news letter of HyWeb and the German Hydrogen Association (DWV) · 2nd Quarter 2002 – 6th Year ã L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH
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HyWeb-Pro - European Centers of Excellence Projects Database
HyWeb, 02-06-18: HyWeb has launched HyWeb-Pro - the European Centers of Excellence Projects Database displaying information on hydrogen and fuel cell related projects in Europe. At present, HyWeb-Pro contains some 366 project descriptions.All stakeholders active in this field are welcome to include their project data in the database free of charge in order to allow users from all over the world to find the Centers of Excellence in Europe.
Until the end of July, HyWeb-Pro will be continuously improved, including more and better serach functions etc.
The development of HyWeb-Pro has been funded by the European Commission in the framework of the FHIRST project.
To enter HyWeb-Pro, please click www.HyWeb.de/pro.
MA
Project "Cryoplane" continued
HyWeb, 02-06-18: A passenger aircraft operated on liquid hydrogen fuel is technically and economically feasible. This is the result of a large study project on a "Cryoplane", which has been carried out under the 5th framework program of the European Union and which has been finished at a meeting in Ispra, Italy, end of Mai. Also the safety level would not be lower than that of conventional aircraft, rather, it would be higher.
Model for a liquid hydrogen aircraft. The tanks are placed on top of the aircraft body. (Photo: DWV)
Project coordinator Airbus Deutschland told the project members that the management has decided to cary on the work and to take the lead in Europe. Project proposals will be filed under the 6th framework program. In parallel, an academic network shall be established in order to gather all research partners already active in the project just finished.
DWV/MA
First International Workshop on Oil Depletion (IWOOD 2002) in Uppsala
HyWeb, 02-06-18: In Uppsala, Sweden, the First International Workshop on Oil Depletion (IWOOD 2002) has taken place on Mai 24 and 25. The Geologist Colin Campbell and Professor Kjell Aleklett of Uppsala University had organised the workshop and invited experts from all over the world. A total of 60 experts from Australia, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Iran, Iraq, Portugal, Sweden, Russia and the USA attended the workshop. The abstracts, presentations and manuscripts can be viewed at www.isv.uu.se/iwood2002.The conference was internationally recognized, not the least because of participant Matthew Simmons from the USA. Simmons is an important consultant to President Bush on energy matters. Another well-known attendee was Ali Bakhtiari, Senior Advisor of the National Iranian Oil Company.
The subject of the "close maximum of oil production" has globally reached a broad audience and has gained credibility in the public, independently of the question of what to do to solve the coming massive energy problems.
More information on shortages of fossil energies can be found at www.energycrisis.com.
WZ/MA
Hydrogen Expo in Hamburg CO2 neutral
HyWeb, 02-06-18: The second Hydrogen Expo to take place in Hamburg, Germany, in October will be 30% bigger than the previous fair. In 2001, 5000 visitors saw 80 exhibitors on 4000 m² floor space. This year, the organizers Freesen & Partner GmbH expect 120 exhibitors on 6000 m², with 7000 visitors. For this event, the organizers have established a new company H2 Expo GmbH.The fair does not only display environmentally sound technologies, it is itself CO2 neutral. HEW, the Hamburg electric utility, offers a new kind of certified emission trading. On the basis of the number of visitors, the installations and other parameters, HEW calculates the energy consumption of the fair. To account for the CO2 emissions from this energy consumption, HEW purchases emission certificates. This means that at other places the same amount of CO2 emissions is reduced, so that as a net effect, the H2 Expo does not emit any climate changing CO2. H2 Expo receives a certificate on this from HEW.
DWV/MA
"Growing traffic, increasing fuel demand and thereby incresing global emissions of carbon dioxide call for innovative solutions in order to secure mobility in the future."
Kurt Bodewig, German Federal Minister of Transport, Building and Housing, Press Release of the German Federal Government, June 4, 2002
The topical quotation
"I want that the 'zero emission car' everybody talks about will go into large series production in Germany first." [...]
In view of the fact that traffic is increasing nationally and globally and in view of the increasing shortages of oil and gas reserves hydrogen fuel use in fuel cell or internal combustion engine vehicles can become an economically and ecologically highly attractive alternative to present day motors, the Minster of State said.
Hans Martin Bury, German Minister of State at the Federal Chancellery, Press Release of the German Federal Government, June 4, 2002
Addition: General Motors/Opel presents Well-to-Wheel study
HyWeb, 02-06-05: The presentation of the Well-to-Wheel study (HyWeb, 02-05-28) is available under www.lbst.de/gm-wtw.MA
Clean Energy Partnership Berlin announced
HyWeb, 02-06-04: The Clean Energy Partnership Berlin is to be formalized with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the next few days. This was announced by the participating companies Aral, BMW, BVG, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GHW, Linde, MAN and Opel today at an infomal meeting with members of the German Parliament in Berlin. It is the goal of CEP to demonstrate that hydrogen is a viable fuel for everyday life. Optionally, methanol and synthetic diesel could be included in the project in the future. In Berlin, an Aral fueling station will be established where hydrogen will be produced on-site in an electrolyser, and which will be supplied with liquid cryogenic hydrogen. Vehicles with modified internal combustion engines or fuel cells will be refueled with these alternative fuels.CEP is projected for a five year period and is part of the German national strategy for sustainability. It is supported by the German Federal Government. The project will be managed by the German Energy Agency (Deutsche Energie Agentur). The national strategy for sustainability shall demonstrate innovative technologies and shall identify the technical and economic prerequisites for the establishment of alternative fuels in road transportation. A fundamental point is the demonstration of the positive environmental effects. Therefore, the hydrogen shall be produced from renewable sources of energy as far as possible, e.g. from hydroge power or wind electricity. This way, no undesirable or detrimental emissions would be produced from "well to wheel".
In the framework of CEP, the automotive partners will operate a test fleet of up to around 30 vehicles starting in 2003. After an initial trial phase, the cars shall be running in "near-everyday" operation. Further objective of CEP are to demonstrate that hydrogen is a viable fuel in everyday life, and that customers will accept the new refueling technologies. Subsequent to CEP, the partners intend to agree on the next steps on the basis of the experience gained. As an example, the commercialization of the project may be envisaged. CEP is open to new partners also from other branches like banks or insurances.
MA
General Motors/Opel presents Well-to-Wheel study
HyWeb, 02-05-28: General Motors Corp. with input from various energy companies and a leading independent research institute, recently presented initial results from a comprehensive study assessing the effect of greenhouse gas emissions at a leading fuels conference.The study, released at the Hart World Fuel Conference, assessed fuel sources, processing techniques and propulsion systems. A total of 36 fuel pathways and 18 propulsion concepts examined for the 2010 timeframe, from conventional engines to advanced concepts, were analyzed under European driving conditions. (The study assessed energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions, but not costs.) Experts examined the complete chain, from the production of fuels from their basic feedstock components to the actual consumption of the fuel in the car, what scientists call "well-to-wheel" analysis.
L-B-Systemtechnik (LBST), strategy and technology consultants of Ottobrunn, Germany (near Munich) acted as a scientific advisor and consultant. BP, ExxonMobil, Shell and TotalFinaElf energy companies provided additional data and analysis.
A principal finding of the study was that fuel cell vehicles using hydrogen produced from natural gas could be attractive in terms of well-to-wheel gas emission depending on the source of the natural gas. However, optimum results are realized when renewable energies such as biomass or wind power are used to produce the hydrogen. (For purposes of this study, biomass is fuel generated from trees, sugar beets and oil seeds and did not include garbage.)
This project is a sequel to the North American Well-to-Wheels study published by GM, BP, ExxonMobil, Shell and Argonne National Labs last year analyzing the impact of energy sources and alternative propulsion systems in North America. In that study, a Chevrolet Silverado pickup was used as a reference vehicle.
That study reached similar conclusions and is now regarded as a reference work in worldwide discussions on transport-related greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption. In the new study, the original methodology was applied in a European context for both fuel and vehicle.
"We based our additional research work, which took over a year, on the Opel Zafira minivan, European driving conditions, and our understanding of the European energy supply situation," explained Raj Choudhury, project manager for the study at a GM research center in Mainz-Kastel, Germany. The vehicle data for the European study was compiled by GM scientist, Trudy Weber: "The Zafira proved to be the ideal reference vehicle, since it already exists with gasoline, diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG) and fuel cell propulsion systems. We forecasted the powertrain system characteristics for the 2010 time frame and imposed the constraint that all 18 vehicle variants examined be able to meet the same set of stringent, customer-based performance criteria over the European drive cycle (EDC).
"For the first time, this provided us with a realistic and comparable basis for energy use and net greenhouse gas emissions in a European context," Weber said. On the fuel side, a variety of different pathways were considered. They can be put into four basic groups, based on their source of feedstock: crude oil, natural gas, electricity - from both traditional power stations and renewable sources - and biomass.
Results to emerge from the study included:
On a well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions basis, the best use for natural gas was to reform it to obtain hydrogen for use in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
To a lesser extent, natural gas offered improvements relative to conventional gasoline and diesel systems when used to fuel compressed natural gas vehicles.
The use of hydrogen from natural gas in internal combustion engines actually produces poorer well-to-wheel results than do conventional gasoline engines.
When natural gas was used to produce methanol for an on-board reformer fuel cell vehicle, no well-to-wheel benefits were seen relative to conventional gasoline or diesel internal combustion engine vehicles or gasoline reformer fuel cell vehicles.
"The best alternative, however, is to produce hydrogen from renewably generated electricity - e.g. wind power - and use it in a fuel cell. This will essentially eliminate well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions," says Dr. Erhard Schubert, Co-director of GM's Fuel Cell Activities.
The complete study will be concluded and published this summer. The focus for the GM team now turns to addressing commercialization challenges faced by fuel cell vehicles and the hydrogen infrastructure, including cost and availability issues.
"It's clear fuel cells have much more promise than any other propulsion option, especially if renewable energy is used in the production of hydrogen as a suitable infrastructure becomes available," says GM Vice President Larry Burns, responsible for research & development and planning at General Motors. "That is why we intend to do everything we can to produce a fuel cell car that is both affordable for the customer and economically viable for us by the end of this decade."
GM has more than 400 scientists and engineers working globally on fuel cell propulsion systems and their commercialization with research facilities in Honeoye Falls, NY; Mainz-Kastel, Germany and Warren, Mich.
MA
Lincoln Composites presents 70 MPa CGH2 tanks
HyWeb, 02-05-28: Advanced Technical Products, Inc. announced on May 21, that its Lincoln Composites division has successfully tested a TUFFSHELL hydrogen fuel tank with an operating pressure of 10,000-psi (70 MPa - 700 bar) and a burst pressure of 25,000-psi (175 MPa - 1750 bar). The 10,000-psi tank was displayed at the California Fuel Cell Partnership meeting in Sacramento, California, USA.Lincoln Composites designed this cost-effective product to meet all requirements of the Draft ISO 15869 standard for hydrogen fuel tanks, which requires the same burst pressure ratio as the draft regulations developed by the European Integrated Hydrogen Project (EIHP).
MA
More German states establish hydrogen and fuel cell initiatives
DWV, 02-05-23: On 26. April 2002 a competence network "Future Technology Fuel Cell Rhineland Palatinate" was created in Mainz, the capital of the German state of Rhineland Palatinate. The network will be a forum for the parties active in the state in this field, and it is a continuation of the former efforts towards sustainable energy generation with low emissions. The driving force for the initiative was the ministry for environment. The ministries for science and the ministry for economy and transport support it. The German Hydrogen Association has been an expert partner for the environment ministry for a long while.A hydrogen and fuel cell initiative for the state of Hesse was founded on 30. April 2002 at Frankfurt-Hoechst. The German Hydrogen Association has a coordination function in the initiative, while the company Infraserv Hoechst, located in the industrial area of Frankfurt-Hoechst, supports it and the state ministries for environment and economy accompany it. TechnologieStiftung Hessen (www.hessen-umwelttech.de) will publish a "Competency Map Fuel Cell Hesse“ in the summer which shows the fields of activity and the resources of the parties in the state of Hesse.
DWV
Hydrogen in Berlin transport
DWV, 02-05-23: Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), the biggest German urban transport utility, and the French oil company TotalFinaElf have made an agreement on joint research on hydrogen on 7. May in Berlin. Starting in autumn BVG will operate a fuel cell bus in public transportation in Berlin in the framework of a research project supported by the European Commission. Until 2005 five to ten buses which use this technology will be running in Berlin. A hydrogen competence center with filling station and maintenance workshop will be established on one of the bus yards of BVG. The Berlin model project is related to similar projects, also EU funded, in Lisbon and Copenhagen.DWV
8th Ulm ElectroChemical Talks (UECT)
HyWeb, 02-05-21: ZSW together with DaimlerChrysler and the University of Ulm organizes the 8th Ulm ElectroChemical Talks in Neu-Ulm, Germany, on June 20/21. The second day has an attractive program on fuel cells with a focus on aging mechanisms and lifetime in the various fuel cell types. More information can be obtained from juergen.garche@zsw-bw.de or under www.zsw-bw.de/docs/info/UECT/index.html.MA
Siemens SOFC 3: SOFC microturbine plant unveiled
HyWeb, 02-05-21: In March, Siemens Westinghouse Power and Southern California Edison unveiled a combination fuel cell and microturbine power generation unit in Irvine, California, USA, reports eyeforfuelcells.com.The hybrid generator consists of a Siemens Westinghouse solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) mated with a pair of Ingersoll Rand microturbines. In an SOFC-turbine hybrid, air is pressurized and heated prior to going into the SOFC, which increases the unit’s output. The exhaust from the fuel cell is then used to drive the turbine generator. Both the fuel cell and the turbines generate power using the same fuel and airflow. The hybrid generating system unveiled in Irvine is operating at nearly 53 percent efficiency with an output power of 190 kW.
In March, a similar project of Siemens in the 1 MW range in Germany was reported to be delayed by 1 year because the required micro gas turbine is not available commercially (HyWeb, 02-03-18).
MA
HyNet offers assistance in the solicitation process for the EoI pre-call for the EC’s 6th Framework Programme
HyWeb, 02-05-06: On Friday 7th June the European Commission (EC) expects to receive Expressions of Interest (EoI) in preparation of the first call for EC‘s 6th Framework Programme to officially start end of 2002. In FP6 the EC plans to spend 810 million Euro for the research on sustainable energy systems and 610 million Euro on sustainable surface transport, with hydrogen and fuel cells belonging to the focal areas.As a first step, the European Hydrogen Thematic Network (HyNet), which has recently been established under FP5, has decided to assist all interested companies, institutes and other institutions throughout Europe in the preparation and harmonisation of EoIs. The idea is to develop a common European roadmap for the introduction of a medium to long term hydrogen infrastructure for mobile and stationary use, and thus create a hydrogen energy backbone to help improve the impact of European research and development activities in industry and institutes.
For this purpose, HyNet will prepare an "umbrella EoI" as an Integrated Project (IP) pointing to other EoIs (Integrated Projects or Networks of Excellence) interested in linking with a stronger common activity in their own interest. On the other side, the interest of individual EoIs on hydrogen energy to become part of the network will be expressed by a pointer to HyNet’s umbrella EoI. The network participation does not oblige interested parties to establish firm bonds with HyNet as an organisation. Further information about HyNet and how to actively participate in the common EoI solicitation can be found at www.HyNet.info.
HyNet’s further steps in this process are to create a common discussion basis to bring as many proposals as possible in line with the roadmap to be developed. In the endeavor to create a transparent decision finding process, thematic workshops will be organised in the coming 3 years which will assist in joining interests of potential partners, and prepare the coming EC calls. HyNet will thus contribute to align the European hydrogen research and development efforts with the political and industrial needs to create a European Research Area (ERA), reduce unemployment, mitigation of the greenhousegas effect and increase the share of renewable energies.
UB
Hannover Fair 2002
DWV, 02-05-06: The joint presentation „Hydrogen and Fuel Cells“ in the framework of the Hannover Fair was bigger and better than the former ones in every respect. The area was 1650 m2 (2001: 902), there were 90 (70) exhibitors from 10 (9) countries, and 22 (18) of these were from the USA or Canada.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (Social Democrats, left) and Arno A. Evers (FAIR-PR, right), impressed by the strong growth of the joint exhibit hydrogen & fuel cells since 1995 (Photo: FAIR-PR)More and more politicians see it as their duty to visit the presentation. Federal Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was interested in small fuel cells for homes. Juergen Trittin, federal minister for the environment, wanted to see clean cars; DaimlerChrysler, BMW, and General Motors showed what they had. Wolfgang Clement, prime minister of North Rhine-Westfalia, and his minister for economy, Ernst Schwanhold, were informed on high temperature fuel cells. Another guest was Sigmar Gabriel, prime minister of Lower Saxony, because „... the fuel cell is definitely one of the most exciting and promising new technologies.“
German Federal Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin (the Greens) visiting the hydrogen BMW (Photo: DWV)While cars are usually the greatest attraction the exhibits in the field of stationary and portable applications are no less important. General Motors showed both: on their stand they had not only the prototype car „HydroGen 3“, but also a stationary system comprising an electrolyser and a fuel cell. MTU presented a „Hot Module“, the core of the company's molten carbonate fuel cells.
With respect to the portable applications, Smart Fuel Cells from Brunnthal (near Munich) for the first time publicly presented a small generator running on methanol. The Fraunhofer Insitute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) showed a laptop powered by a fuel cell which is entirely integrated in the normal battery compartment. This is the result of a two-year cooperation with the Korean electronics company LG.
An interesting feature this year was to which extent the utilities showed their involvement in hydrogen and fuel cell projects, quite independently of the dedicated hydrogen show. Even Ruhrkohle AG, the company running the coal mines in the Ruhr area, presented projects and ideas in this area.
The 2003 Hanover Fair with the group exhibit hydrogen & fuel cells will take place from April 7 to 12. For more information visit www.fair-pr.com.
DWV
Fuel cells to keep the telephone running
DWV, 02-05-06: There are about 2700 diesel generators with a total output of about 750 MW distributed all over Germany to keep telephone and Internet alive even if the normal power grid should fail. DeTe Immobilien, infrastructure subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, intends to replace them by fuel cells. A first plant will start operating in September in Munich. It is a molten carbonate cell by MTU with an electrical output of 250 kW. The plant will operate in cogeneration mode in order to provide a particularly high efficiency. „In the long run we intend to install about 100 fuel cells, which would save us a total of 60.000 t CO2 per year“, a company spokesman said. The federal ministry of economical affairs supports the project financially.DWV
Stationary fuel cell running on fuel oil
DWV, 02-05-06: Stationary fuel cells usually are connected to the natural gas grid and generate hydrogen internally. Sulzer Hexis and Aral on the Hannover fair presented their plans for a fuel cell running on oil. The first prototype will be ready by summer of this year to undergo an extended test phase.DWV
GM develops fuel cell vehicle in China
HyWeb, 02-05-02: U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Donald Evans recently visited China for a demonstration of a fuel cell vehicle, called the Phoenix, developed by a vehicle engineering joint venture of General Motors Corp. in China.
The test drive was part of an exhibition arranged in conjunction with Earth Day to showcase Sino-US cooperation in the development of clean energy technology to improve the environment in Beijing and all of China.
"Fuel cells and hydrogen-based technology represent the future of transportation," said Tim Stratford, Vice Chairman of the General Motors China Group. "[...] There is great potential for a country like China to adopt hydrogen as a fuel. However, this requires the growth of a hydrogen infrastructure and the full cooperation of government and industry through projects such as this."
The zero-emission fuel cell Phoenix is based on a Buick GL8 from Shanghai GM, GM's vehicle assembly joint venture in China. PATAC (Pan Asia Automotive Technology Center), a joint venture of GM and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, took the lead on the project, integrating the fuel cell system into the vehicle, using a fuel cell stack developed by GM. Scientists and engineers at GM's Global Alternative Propulsion Center in the United States and Germany provided fuel cell system, components and technical support. GM for the Phoenix supplied a portable hydrogen refueling station designed to be compatible with hydrogen sources in China also.
MA
Honda crash-tests fuel cell cars
HyWeb, 02-05-02: Based upon Japanese press, fuel cell today reports that Honda has started to subject its fuel cell vehicles to front and rear collision tests. Using an unspecified number of its FCX-V5 prototype, the tests were conducted at a speed of 55 km/h.The tests confirmed high passenger protection safety during front tests and there was no hydrogen leakage from the high pressure tank. Honda announced that even more stringent crash tests will follow. The FCX-V5 will be subjected to side collision and front offset collision tests.
Honda's 2003 FCV, which is due to be sold in limited numbers, will be subjected to a front offset collision test at a speed of 64 km/h, even though this type of test is not obligatory. However, it is included in assessment tests by Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and European and US assessment tests also contain front offset tests.
MA
Manhattan Scientifics and Aprilia unveil new fuel cell powered concept scooter
HyWeb, 02-05-02: Manhattan Scientifics, Inc. and Aprilia, Europe's second largest two wheel vehicle manufacturer, recently unveiled a new fuel cell powered scooter at the International Paris Fair.
The scooter is an environmentally friendly electric concept vehicle called "MOJITO FC". It is powered by the new 3 kW fuel cell developed by Manhattan Scientifics' German unit, NovArs GmbH. The fuel cell is a hydrogen/air system using advanced materials and unique technologies to minimize size and weight. The system operates under ambient conditions without additional ancillary equipment such as pumps or special cooling. The fuel cell system, including all electronics, valves and fans, weighs slightly less than 6 kg. The weight of the fuel vessel is 4.3 kg.
Fueled by hydrogen, future production models should be capable of covering 190 kilometers with a single fueling at a top speed of at least 55 km/h.
The MOJITO FC is the second Aprilia fuel cell powered concept vehicle developed with Manhattan Scientifics/NovArs. The two companies previously developed the Aprilia ENJOY FC.
MA
Four fuel cell buses to be bought
HyWeb, 02-05-02: The board of Alameda-Contra Costa Transit, California, USA, voted unanimously to buy four compressed hydrogen fuel cell buses, with three to be operated by AC and the fourth to go to Southern California's SunLine. The decision is believed to presage the first-ever transit agency purchase of a warranted fuel cell bus, according to www.fleetsandfuels.com. The 30 fuel cell buses of DaimlerChrysler's CUTE project (HyWeb, 02-01-30) are fully warranted and bought be the bus operators as well, the project being funded by the European Commission, though.The vehicles are to have drivetrain integration, with regenerative braking, by San Diego's ISE Research-ThunderVolt, with the fuel cells themselves supplied by UTC Fuel Cells, USA. Belgium's Van Hool is the likely supplier of the base vehicle.
MA
UPS to test fuel cell delivery vehicle
HyWeb, 02-05-02: United Parcel Service (UPS) has announced plans to test a cargo van powered by a fuel cell stack on one of its Northeast delivery routes in the USA, reports Calstart News Notes. According to a UPS alternative vehicle fleet representative, the fuel cell is being supplied by UTC Fuel Cells, and will be fitted into one of UPS's 1,000 cubic foot cargo vans.The DaimlerChrysler fuel cell delivery van developed for Hermes Versand, a German delivery company belonging to the Otto mail order house, is presently being operated in the Stuttgart, Germany, area (HyWeb, 01-09-12).
MA
California Fuel Cell Partnership openes methanol fueling station
HyWeb, 02-05-02: The California Fuel Cell Partnership has opened a methanol fueling station, signaling arrival of the second of three planned fuels for fuel cell vehicle demonstrations to take place by 2003. The station is located at the CaFCP's West Sacramento, California, USA, fuel cell vehicle demonstration center. The first methanol vehicle to be made available to the CaFCP is the DaimlerChrysler NECAR 5.
Photo: Methanex
The station was designed and built by the Methanol Fuel Cell Alliance, an industry group including CaFCP members Methanex, DaimlerChrysler, BP and Ballard Power Systems along with Statoil ASA and BASF AG.
The CaFCP has already been demonstrating hydrogen-fueled vehicles at its facility, and expects to demonstrate a cleaner form of gasoline fuel by 2003. All automakers in the partnership have agreed that the first fuel cell vehicles to be demonstrated in the marketplace will use direct hydrogen as their fuel source. However, members believe it is important to continue to research all available fuel sources, according to a CaFCP press release.
MA
Cooperation between Air Liquide and Vandenborre Technologies
HyWeb, 02-05-02: Air Liquide, France, has announced the signing of a letter of intention to collaborate with Belgium’s Vandenborre Technologies, specialist in hydrogen electrolysers. The companies have agreed to combine Vandenborre Technologies’ innovation in the field of electrolysis with Air Liquide’s expertise in on-site industrial gas production services. This collaboration means that Air Liquide can offer a new range of on-site hydrogen production services: "Floxal Hydrogen".MA
NASA discovers hydrogen in Earth's crust
HyWeb, 02-05-02: The Telegraph reports that a NASA team of scientists has found hydrogen trapped in the earth's crust. The NASA team made its discovery while trying to explain how bacteria live many kilometers below the Earth's surface. Such bacteria have no access to sunlight, forcing them to rely on another source of energy for life. Scientists suspected that hydrogen was the source.According to Professor Friedemann Freund and colleagues at NASA's Ames Research Centre, in California, the gas is produced when water molecules trapped inside molten rock break down to release hydrogen. "In the top 20 km of the Earth's crust, the conditions are right to produce a nearly inexhaustible supply of hydrogen," said Prof Freund. Studies by the team of common rock types such as granite and olivine have revealed evidence for levels of trapped hydrogen as high as 1 cubic meter of hydrogen per cubic meter of rock.
The hydrogen reservoirs are as far as 20 km below the surface, the deepest borehole ever drilled going down to 13 km. This means that so far it is unclear whether "geological" hydrogen may ever be drilled technically and economically.
MA
UOP and Süd-Chemie form new company HyRadix
HyWeb, 02-05-02: UOP LLC, Des Plaines, Illinois, USA, and Süd-Chemie Inc., a subsidiary of Süd Chemie AG, Munich, Germany, announced that they have formed a new company, HyRadix Inc., to supply fuel processors for stationary fuel cells. The HyRadixTM hydrogen generation system is currently designed to convert natural gas into hydrogen for use in residential (<10 kW) and small commercial (10-100 kW) PEM fuel cells. HyRadix is also adapting the technology to produce up to 500 Nm3/h of high purity hydrogen for manufacturing and fueling station applications. HyRadix is based in Des Plaines, Illinois, USA.MA
ChevronTexaco acquires Dais-Analytic Corporation's fuel cell and fuel processing expertise
HyWeb, 02-05-02: ChevronTexaco Technology Ventures recently announced the acquisition of certain assets of Dais-Analytic Corporation's fuel processing and fuel cell group by one of its units, Analytic Energy Systems, LLC, a newly formed subsidiary of ChevronTexaco Corp. Financial terms were not disclosed.Under the agreement, ChevronTexaco will acquire Dais-Analytic's Woburn, Massachusetts, USA, facility and retain approximately 20 employees, which will continue to develop and commercialize fuel reforming technology and fuel cell systems integration technology as Analytic Energy Systems LLC.
MA
Hydrogenics acquires EnKAT and forms Hydrogenics Europe
HyWeb, 02-05-02: Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, recently announced the acquisition of EnKAT GmbH to form Hydrogenics Europe, the contracts being signed publicly on the joint presentation "hydrogen & fuel cells" at the Hanover Fair, Germany. EnKAT, a privately held company based in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, designs and manufactures test systems for fuel cells, reformers, and electrochemical engines. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but will be discussed in greater detail during Hydrogenics' first quarter 2002 earnings call.MA
London launches Hydrogen Partnership
HyWeb, 02-05-02: In April, the Greater London Authority announced the formation of a body called the Hydrogen Partnership to investigate the benefits of and uses for fuel cell technology in London.It includes BP, Evobus, BMW, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Merril Lynch, British Gas, the Energy Savings Trust, various London council boroughs and the Environment Agency.
It aims to improve London's infrastructure to accomodate the expansion of hydrogen fuel cell technology such as increasing the number of hydrogen refueling points, develop research and job opportunities in the industry, and increase the number of hydrogen fuel cells used in the capital.
"Hydrogen is the fuel of the future," said Deputy Mayor Nicky Gavron. "Hydrogen has a key role to play in cleaning up the capital's polluted air and reducing London's impact on climate change."
MA
"If the challenges of saving resources in a sustainable way, of ensuring an independent energy supply and of reducing greenhouse emissions are to be taken seriously, then we already have to make preparations regarding the availability of hydrogen in the transport sector today. Only then can we expect hydrogen fuel to be implemented during the next decade".
Christoph Huss, Head of Science and Transport Politics of the BMW Groups, BMW CleanEnergy World Tour, March 19, 2002
BMW CleanEnergy World Tour 2002
HyWeb, 02-04-04: The BMW CleanEnergy World Tour 2002 began on March 19th in California and was attended and supported by high-ranking guests from the world of politics, business and science.
Photo: BMW
At the event in the state capital, Sacramento, representatives of the BMW Group and the State Government of California discussed the future of hydrogen, which is viewed as the sustainable energy source of the future worldwide. The event was also attended by Winston Hickox, Head of the Californian Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA).
Since eight months BMW operates hydrogen powered cars in California. With the BMW CleanEnergy World Tour 2002, BMW is once again dedicating itself to introducing hydrogen as the fuel of the future worldwide.
MA
Kick-off Meeting of Task Group "Biogenuous Gases for Fuel Cells"
HyWeb, 02-04-04: The FEE Fördergesellschaft Erneuerbare Energien e.V. (Society for the Promotion of Renewable Energy) started a federal task group "Biogenuous Gases for Fuel Cells". The group is searching for possibilities to utilize gases and liquids from biomass for power and heat generation by fuel cells. The project is promoted by the German Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture and scientificly supported by Hahn-Meitner-Institute, Berlin, a basic research institute.The kick-off workshop was held on February 26, 2002 in Berlin. More than 60 managers, scientists and engineers from all over Germany came together in the Berlin Innovation Park to discuss and agree on subjects and methods of future co-operation.
The next meeting will be held at Greifswald in May. Further expert meetings are planned every four months. For additional information see www.fee-ev.de.
MA
HyFuSys1 – North American Fair and Conference on Commercial Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Systems
HyWeb, 02-04-04: HyFuSys1 - the 1st Annual North American conference on Commercial Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Systems For Stationary, Automotive And Portable Applications will be held September 9 - 12, 2002 at the International Fair and Conference Center in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA, organized by Arno A. Evers FAIR-PR. FAIR-PR has been bringing together leaders in the international hydrogen industry in conjunction with the HANOVER FAIR in Germany, since 1995 - the largest and longest running event of its kind for hydrogen technologies. More than 90 leaders from 10 countries present their products in Hall 13 (Energy) from April 15 to 20.Experts from academia will discuss their R&D efforts, government representatives will present policy/budget proposals for 2003, while small, medium and large international companies will exhibit their latest progress in hydrogen technologies and products. Arno A. Evers FAIR-PR expects 5000 visitors from the energy, automobil and supply industries as well as from the financing sector.
More information under www.fair-pr.com.
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Canada to spend an additional 20 million CAN-$ on fuel cell research
HyWeb, 02-04-04: On March 13, Allan Rock, the Canadian Minister of Industry, announced an additional CAN-$ 20-million in funding over the next five years for the National Research Council's fuel-cell development program. The new funding essentially doubles the budget for the NRC's Innovation Centre in Vancouver, where most of the fuel-cell work takes place, reports the National Post, Canada."With this $20-million we are going to create a national centre for fuel-cell research that will serve to strengthen a cluster [of fuel-cell technology companies] that is developing and rapidly becoming known," Mr. Rock said at a business and environment conference in Vancouver.
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Second Call for Abstracts of the French-German Fuel Cell Conference
HyWeb, 02-04-04: The France - Deutschland Fuel Cell Conference 2002, "Materials, Engineering, Systems, Applications", will take place at Forbach (France) - Saarbrücken (Germany) on October 7-10, 2002. Authors wishing to present papers at the conference must return a 250-word abstract (in English) before April 27, 2002 to FDFuelCell2002@clubpac.net.More information can be found under www.clubpac.net.
MA
H Power to deliver Fuel Cell System Environmental Information Center in Sweden
HyWeb, 02-04-04: In the first half of 2002, H Power Corp. (USA) will deliver a 4.0 kW cogeneration fuel cell system to Naps Systems Oy, a solar power system company based in Finland and a subsidiary of Fortum Corporation, Finland. This delivery will be under the previously announced distribution agreement between H Power and Naps.Naps will in turn deliver the cogeneration fuel cell system to Birka Energi, which has a cooperation project with the research and development department of ABB in Sweden to supply an energy system for an environmental information center in Hammarby Sjostad Stockholm, Sweden.
The cogeneration fuel cell system will be fueled by stored hydrogen produced through a photovoltaic solar cell system combined with an electrolyzer. A second source of hydrogen will be from biogas produced from municipal waste at a nearby plant, which will be fed to the fuel processor to produce high-quality hydrogen. The fuel cell system will feed excess electricity generated by the fuel cell system back into the power grid.
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