HyWeb - Gazette
The news letter of HyWeb and the German Hydrogen Association (DWV) · 3rd Quarter 2000 – 4th Year ã L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH
The topical quotation (00-09-20)
Clinton supports Schrempp for development of fuel cell vehicles (00-09-20)
Mexican Hydrogen Society established (00-09-20)
IFC forms Japanese joint venture with Toshiba (00-09-20)
IFC forms joint venture with Shell Hydrogen for fuel processors (00-09-20)
Voices from the Hyforum in Munich (00-09-14)
Hamburg and Milan work on joint hydrogen projects (00-09-14)
BMW and German Greens jointly call for starting the solar hydrogen age (00-09-13)
Green the future: German Green Party organizes technology and innovation congress (00-09-13)
Industry group studies introduction of methanol for fuel cell vehicles (00-09-13)
CARB maintains ZEV mandate for 2003 (00-09-13)
World-wide CO2 emissions decreased in 1999 (00-09-13)
HyWeb link: Innovation Brennstoffzelle/innovation fuel cell (00-09-13)
The topical quotation (00-09-06)
Scientific press conference "Hydrogen -- Energy technology for the future?" (00-09-06)
SensoTech delivers fuel cell test bench (00-09-06)
HyWeb link: The Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Investor (00-09-06)
The topical quotation (00-08-30)
Norway: National Feasibility Study Hydrogen (00-08-30)
Stuart Energy: AustralAsia joint venture, purchase order from Ford, IPO (00-08-30)
Esso presents "Oeldorado 2000" report in Germany (00-08-30)
HyWeb link: Energiekrise/energy crisis (30.08.00)
Correction: Innogy -- Regenesys (HyWeb, 00-08-23) (00-08-30)
Europe's first hydrogen boat running (00-08-25)
Bicycle with hydrogen and fuel cell (00-08-25)
The topical quotations (00-08-23)
Innogy commercialises fuel cell energy storage system (00-08-23)
UK Hydrogen Energy Network founded (00-08-23)
BP: "Taking you beyond petroleum" (00-08-23)
ExxonMobil and GM develop gasoline reformer for fuel cell vehicles (00-08-23)
HyWeb link: California Hydrogen Business Council (00-08-23)
The topical quotation (00-08-03)
Alternative universal filling station for Las Vegas (00-08-03)
Gaz de France to distribute Californian hydrogen technology in Europe (00-08-03)
The topical quotation (00-07-18)
Hydrogen filling stations in Japan by autumn 2001 (00-07-18)
How the fuel cell will affect OPEC (00-07-18)
Fuel cell bus demonstration project in Vancouver finished successfully (00-07-18)
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"A Fuel Cell Primer" for Investors and "Powering the Future" -- two highly recommended publications
HyWeb, 00-09-21: Tom Koppel, the author of the successful book on the story of the Ballard company titled "Powering the Future", and Jay Reynolds have written a comprehensive 30-page "Fuel Cell Primer" for investors interested in considering putting money into some of the smaller, publicly traded fuel cell companies. It's very much an introduction, both to the technologies and what the various companies are doing, and therefore only covers the technical basics.
The report can be purchased and downloaded from the author's homepage at www.tomkoppel.com . It will be frequently updated, at no additional cost to purchasers, to keep readers informed on the rapid changes in the fuel cell industry.
At this site you can also find a link to the book "Powering the Future - The Ballard Fuel Cell and the Race to Change the World" (John Wiley & Sons, 1999).
Tom Koppel has closely watched the Ballard story for more than a decade. The book is a must for all who are interested in the success of Ballard Power Systems, which started as a tiny laboratory with a few employees and became one of the world's leading fuel cell companies. Beginning in the 1970s, it tells how Geoffrey Ballard's ideas on alternative energy originated. Then come the difficulties involved in maintaining a small-scale research lab and staffing it with highly talented and motivated people. There are the various milestones on the long road to the successful development of fuel cell technology. Finally, the book details the critical "precommercial" phase, when new investors put money into the company and new management propelled it to where it is today.
"Powering the Future" was named one of the ten best business books of 1999 by Amazon.com and has been translated into Japanese for publication there this Fall. It is being considered by publishers for a German language edition.
We highly recommend the book and wish the authors equal success with the new report, "A Fuel Cell Primer".
WZ
"It must be in the interest of all nations to realize the transition from the oil to the hydrogen age as quickly as possible."
Joschka Fischer, German Federal Foreign Minister, Speach in front of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York on September 14, 2000; translation: LBST
Clinton supports Schrempp for development of fuel cell vehicles
HyWeb, 00-09-20: In a letter to Jürgen Schrempp, CEO of DaimlerChrysler, US President Bill Clinton expresses his satisfaction about the fact that DaimlerChrysler will soon market the first vehicles with the new fuel cell technology, reports the German newspaper Frankfurter Rundschau on September 15. Clinton promises strong support by the US government as the fuel cell not only "promises to have a large potential in securing energy supply and to be a protective shield against the dramatic oil price jumps." Clinton also sees the political opportunity to reconcile the business with "the challenges of environmental protection such as air pollution and the greenhouse effect."
VB/MA
Mexican Hydrogen Society established
HyWeb, 00-09-20: The Mexican Hydrogen Society (Sociedad Mexicana del Hidrógeno -- SMH2) has been established. Basic information (in Spanish language) can be found on the SMH2's homepage under www.iie.org.mx/mproquim/Hidrogeno/smh2.htm . SMH2 has been primarily established by Mexican researchers interested in the use of hydrogen, and is open to everyone. SMH2 has the primary goal to foster the use of hydrogen as energy carrier and to support interested parties.
MA
IFC forms Japanese joint venture with Toshiba
HyWeb, 00-09-20: International Fuel Cells (IFC), an 88% UTC and 12% Toshiba unit, and Toshiba Corp. on September 19 announced plans to form a joint venture to develop and market stationary fuel cell technology in Japan.
The joint venture will incorporate Toshiba's fuel cell development activities in Japan and will focus on accelerating development of PEM fuel cell technologies and on increasing sales of the 200 kW PAFC fuel cell power system (PC25 by ONSI). Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed among Toshiba, IFC and UTC, Toshiba would transfer all its current fuel cell operations into the joint venture. It would also conduct all business regarding fuel cells for stationary and portable power applications through the joint venture.
Toshiba has worked to develop fuel cell technology since 1978. This year, Toshiba has manufactured 30 kW and 1 kW PEM fuel cell test plants.
Toshiba will hold a 51% stake in the venture; IFC will hold the remaining 49% stake. The joint venture will focus on development and sales of commercial and residential fuel cells in Japan and will employ some 100 workers, mainly engineers.
MA
IFC forms joint venture with Shell Hydrogen for fuel processors
HyWeb, 00-09-20: Shell Hydrogen US and International Fuel Cells (IFC), an 88% UTC and 12% Toshiba unit, on September 19 announced their intent to establish a 50-50 joint venture company to develop, manufacture and sell fuel processors for converting fossil fuels such as gasoline or natural gas for the emerging fuel cell and hydrogen fuel markets.
Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed between Shell and UTC, the joint venture will target reformers at fuel cells in automobiles, buses, power generators and at distributed hydrogen fueling applications (such as at retail or commercial filling stations, convenience stores and residences).
The joint venture will market to a wide range of customers, including automotive manufacturers and fuel cell power plant manufacturers (such as IFC). Additionally, as part of a broader strategic business relationship between Shell Hydrogen and UTC in the emerging fuel cell and hydrogen business, Shell will market IFC fuel cell power systems for certain stationary power applications.
"Shell Hydrogen is committed to hydrogen as the fuel of choice and to delivering hydrogen fuel on a commercial basis," said Don Huberts, CEO of Shell Hydrogen. "Fuel processors provide a practical and critical bridge between today's technology and tomorrow's by providing hydrogen from safe, inexpensive and readily available sources."
MA
HyWeb, 00-09-20: Under www.ush2.com the United States Hydrogen & American Hydrogen Association -- Midwest Division -- operate what they claim to become "the best hydrogen site on the web".
General judgement: still a long way to go!
MA
Voices from the Hyforum in Munich
HyWeb, 00-09-14: More than 600 attendees from 31 countries discussed the future role of hydrogen on the Hyforum 2000 in Munich during the last four days (HyWeb, 00-06-09). Hyforum not only brought together developers and scientists, but also financing institutions and politics on the subject of hydrogen. Some voices show the unique atmosphere on the Hyforum:
Werner Müller, Federal Economics minister, Germany:
Germany is extremely dependant of crude oil imports. But you cannot expect the oil producing countries to give thier oil away for nothing. If the consuming countries reduce their demand by higher energy efficiency an oil price of $25 to $30 will result.
"What I am missing in the present discussion on gasoline prices is the consciousness that we need to save energy!"
"If fuel cells should be established successfully on the market, they could lead to a revolution in energy supply structures."
The introduction of a hydrogen infrastructure is no fundamental problem.
Jürgen Zech, CEO, Gerling Versicherungs-Beteiligungs AG, Germany:
Gerling will invest in solar hydrogen generation facilities it this promises a good return on investment.
Hans Spitzner, Secretary of State, Bavarian Economics Ministry:
The need for information on hydrogen is enormous.
Mark Moody-Stuart, Chairman, Royal Dutch / Shell Group:
The acceptance of new technologies by the population can never be taken for granted. A dialog has to be initiated and maintained on hydrogen between governments, customers, NGOs etc.
It is a commonly accepted goal to introduce hydrogen into the market. Differences in opinion exist in the transition to this common goal.
There are two critical technologies in the hydrogen area: fuel cells and hydrogen storage. Storage technologies lag far behind fuel cells!
The building up of a hydrogen infrastructure contains a high risk and needs high investments.
How do we get to the long-term solution hydrogen? Shell's favourite answer is to use the existing fossil infrastructure and convert the fossil fuels as close to use as possible, i.e. on-board the vehicle. A viable hydrogen storage technology would make it the better solution to do the conversion at the filling station and store the hydrogen directly on-board the vehicle.
Robert Priddle, Executive Director, International Energy Agency:
There will be no problems in the supply of crude oil for the next 50 years.
Peter Knoedel, Board Member, BP Germany:
BP does not see hydrogen as a threat. To a large extent, hydrogen will be the business of mineral oil and gas companies.
Mineral oil industry is very reluctant to invest in something that is economic only because of subsidies.
We need a consensus for one alternative fuel.
There is no resources problem in crude oil supply. The strong concentration of resources in Arabia and the Kaspian See is the only potential problem.
Alan Lloyd, Chairman, California Air Resources Board:
"We are hanging on the lips of OPEC. Again. We do not seem to learn the lesson."
see also HyWeb, 00-09-13 for statements on maintaining the ZEV requirement in California.
Walter Heuer (DaimlerChrysler) and Christoph Huss (BMW), chairmen of the Transport Energy Strategy, Germany:
The Transport Energy Strategy (TES, HyWeb, 00-02-01) has the objective to chose one additional fuel for transportation and to develop a concept for the establishment and a strategy for the implementation of a new infrastructure. At present, the integration of TES on European level is being prepared.
In the short or mid-term we will experience severe problems in the supply of crude oil (HyWeb, 00-07-18). Therefore, the new fuel must reduce the dependence on oil imports.
Kazuo Tomita, Project General Manager, Toyota, Japan:
Hydrogen is the ultimate fuel for fuel cell vehicles.
Around 2003, Toyota plans to produce a small series of fuel cell vehicles. It is unclear as to yet whether this goal can be met.
The Strategic Research Committee for Fuel Cells is a public activity in Japan, which aims at, among other things, chosing a fuel for fuel cell vehicles. The first meeting has been held in December 1999. A final decision on the future fuel may be taken by November 2000 when the final meeting will be held.
Yoshitaka Tokushita, Director General, NEDO, Japan:
Hydrogen will have a share of 10% of energy supply in Japan in 2100.
Toshiichi Takematsu, Assistant Director, Iwatani International, Japan:
Hydrogen from soda and other industries in Japan is able to supply hydrogen vehicles for the next 10 years.
Detlef Frank, Senior Vice President Science and Traffic, BMW, Germany:
Solar hydrogen is the final goal as hydrogen from renewable energies is the only sustainable fuel.
A hydrogen infrastructure is required. For this, partners in industry and politics are needed.
BMW has investigated the safety issues related to hydrogen very thoroughly; BMW has crashed several hydrogen vehicles for safety testing.
Ferdinand Panik, Vice-President, DaimlerChrysler, Germany:
Energy supply is a big business issue. Fuel cells hold great potential for new business opportunities.
DaimlerChrysler is working on Necar 4 adv with compressed hydrogen storage and on Necar 5 running on methanol, which will be presented publicly in the very near future.
Joachim Milberg, Vorstandsvorsitzender, BMW, Deutschland:
We are facing important decisions. The focus of the near future will be the implementation of a hydrogen infrastructure. No matter whether you prefer the internal combustion engine or the fuel cell, this challenge has to be tackled jointly.
Dr. Otto Wiesheu, Wirtschaftsminister, Bayern:
Market decides how quickly new energies are established.
Not long ago people said it would take 30 to 50 years before hydrogen comes. These voices have become silent. We are experiencing a very dynamic development.
Bavaria will continue to fund hydrogen technologies.
Carl-Jochen Winter, Hyforum Science Programme Chair:
There are two areas where a lot more work is needed: hydrogen storage and the CO2-free production of hydrogen.
unknown person in the audience, venture capital company, North America:
"What I am missing here is an point - aim - shoot mentality. Why don't you find your goal and really go for it?"
Equipping all of the 100.000 filling stations in the USA with a hydrogen outlet would require a capital investment of $20 billion. In one year alone, some $30 billion have been invested in .com companies in the US.
MA
Hamburg and Milan work on joint hydrogen projects
DWV, 00-09-14: A symposium on the progress of the cooperation between Hamburg and Milan in the field of hydrogen was held on 28. July at Pallanza (Lago Maggiore, Italy). Among the participants was Rolf Ewald, chairman of the German Hydrogen Association and president of the European Hydrogen Association.
Joachim Gretz, chairman of the Hamburg Hydrogen Society, mentioned that major oil companies as Shell, BP, and Texaco have a positive attitude towards hydrogen. Herbert Flohr, Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, said that car manufacturers have adopted this technology with great determination during the last ten years. According to Corrado Clini, general director in the Italian ministry for the envirionment, hydrogen and fuel cells are important for the achievement of the Kyoto objectives. Nobel award laureate Carlo Rubbia, president of the Italian national environment agency ENEA, put it on a global level: we will have to use the fossil energies still for a while to come, but we will use them in a more intelligent way (hydrogen generation, fuel cell, etc.). The increase of population in China and elsewhere will force us to use coal increasingly, but doing so under consideration of the indirect costs (health). Since at the same time humanity must reduce its CO2 emissions, CO2 sequestration will be an important part of future human activities.
BMW had sent a vehicle of its LH2 fleet to Pallanza. The use of such vehicles for demonstration purposes is intended in Milan and Hamburg, with Linde doing the fuel supply. Further projects in both cities are being discusses. Another partner in the team might be Munich.
DWV
BMW and German Greens jointly call for starting the solar hydrogen age
HyWeb, 00-09-13: In a joint press conference on September 5, the BMW Group and the Bavarian Green Party called hydrogen the energy carrier of the 21st century. As energy from fossil energy carriers such as mineral oil is threatening the earth's climate and the resources will become scarce in the foreseeable future, hydrogen is the best option as the fuel for the future. Precondition for an overall positive environmental assessment is the production of hydrogen from renewable energy sources.
Margarete Bause, head of the Bavarian Green Party, sees in hydrogen the chance of coming to a zero emission vehicle protecting the earth's climate. She emphasized that more fuel efficient motor vehicles are important to develop and market until hydrogen is established. The reduction of traffic and the shift towards public transport still have highest priority (see also HyWeb, 00-05-29).
Albert Schmidt, speaker for transport of the Green Party in the German Federal Parliament, called for a rapid consensus of all political and industrial stakeholders on hydrogen as future technology.
Thomas Gubitz of the BMW Group said that the technical problems were solved to a large extent and that now strategic decisions had to be taken to clear the way.
MA
Green the future: German Green Party organizes technology and innovation congress
HyWeb, 00-09-13: On July 27, the Green Party in Germany has announced to make politics for technology and innovation a focus of their work. "If politics gives the right incentives, three goals can be achieved simultaneously: to act environmentally, to foster technological development and to create new jobs," said Margarete Bause, head of the Bavarian Green Party.
On October 7 and 8, the Green Party will discuss in a congress the political challenges caused by new technological and scientific developments with representatives from industry, science and politics. The public congress under the motto "green the future" is held in the framework of the elaboration of a new basic program for the Green Party to be finished by spring 2002.
Two of the six subject areas of the congress are energy and mobility. Hydrogen and fuel cells will play a major role in these discussions.
More information can be found under www.green-the-future.de (in German language only).
MA
Industry group studies introduction of methanol for fuel cell vehicles
HyWeb, 00-09-13: BASF (Germany), BP (UK), DaimlerChrysler (Germany), Methanex (Canada), Statoil (Norway) and XCELLSIS (Germany) have entered into a co-operation agreement to evaluate what would be needed to facilitate the introduction and commercialization of methanol fuel cell vehicles as announced by the companies on September 12. In November 1999, Methanex and Statoil had announced a collaboration on the subject (HyWeb, 99-11-23).
The goal is to establish a joint position after examinig any health, safety, environmental and infrastructure issues associated with the use and introduction of methanol fuel cell vehicles. This position will be documented and published for the benefit of all fuel cell industry stakeholders. The parties also expect to implement their findings in a real world application in the near future.
Each partner brings extensive know-how in working with methanol into the co-operation: BP, Methanex and Statoil have experience in methanol production and distribution. BP and Statoil will also contribute their competence in fuel retailing. BASF will contribute its experience in innovative catalyst technology as well as its knowledge about hte handling and processing of methanol. DaimlerChrysler and XCELLSIS will provide expertise on the promising vehicle technology.
Peter Histon, BP's Senior Advisor Transportation and Fuels believes that many of the most extreme concernes around the use of methanol as a transport fuel are unfounded and hopes that this study will demystify these concerns. "It will allow us to make well-informed decisions about the potential use of methanol as a transport fuel and help us shape our overall thoughts around the future role methanol may have within BP."
MA
CARB maintains ZEV mandate for 2003
HyWeb, 00-09-13: The California Air Resources Board (CARB) holds fast to its mandate requiring automakers to market around 22,000 zero emission vehicles (ZEV) per year in the state of California starting in 2003. The 11-member board, after listening to testimony Thursday and Friday, September 7 and 8, unanimously decided to keep the ZEV mandate in place.
CARB Chairman Dr. Alan Lloyd said, "We have to think not just of 2003 but also of protecting the state's air quality far into the future." He said California could lose the battle against air pollution unless its motor vehicle fleet moves towards zero emissions.
On the occasion of the Hyforum conference in Munich, September 11 to 14, Dr Alan Lloyd indicated that CARB was working with car industry to create incentives for the introduction of ZEVs in order to improve economics.
MA
World-wide CO2 emissions decreased in 1999
HyWeb, 00-09-13: Just before the next interim round of the UN climate negotiations from September 11 to 15 in Lyon, France, Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik (LBST), Germany and GERMANWATCH present a working paper on the development of global carbon dioxide emissions.
"The positive development showing a slight reduction of CO2 emissions from energy use in the year 1999 compared to 1998 in spite of economic growth is mainly a result of the courageous energy politics in China where during the last years subsidies for coal have been reduced massively", Dr. Werner Zittel of LBST summarized the main result of the paper. In 1990, China was the world's largest consumer of coal. By 1999, the USA have taken this place, displaying the highes absolute growth in coal consumption.
The reduction of CO2 emissions in the industrialized world is mainly due to the development in the middle and eastern European countries.
An (electronc) copy of the working paper can be ordered from:
Dr. Werner Zittel, Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik GmbH, Ottobrunn, Tel. +49/89/608110-20, Fax +49/89/6099731, zittel@lbst.de
Christoph Bals, Klaus Milke, Dr. Manfred Treber, GERMANWATCH e.V., Bonn, Tel. +49/228/60492-14, Fax +49/228/60492-19MA
HyWeb link: Innovation Brennstoffzelle/innovation fuel cell
HyWeb, 00-09-05: Under www.innovation-brennstoffzelle.de, L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH has developed a website for Berlin utility Bewag, that is probably the best introduction into the subject in German language on the web. Clear and comprehensive presentations of the basic principle, the different technologies, the state-of-the-art as well as the perspectives are given. The website accompanies the exhibition "innovation park fuel cell" (HyWeb, 00-06-06).
General judgement: Highly recommended, not only for beginners (so far in German language only).
MA
"From the point of view of an energy utility, the question 'Hydrogen -- Energy carrier for the future?' is presumably to be answered with a 'yes'. The fuel cell technology and the role of hydrogen in it are the decisive factors in such an assessment."
Dr. Jörg Heinen, RWE AG Konzernentwicklung, Bereich Brennstoffzellen, Wissenschafts-Pressekonferenz "Wasserstoff -- Energietechnologie für die Zukunft?", Bonn, September 05, 2000; Translation: LBST
Scientific press conference "Hydrogen -- Energy technology for the future?"
HyWeb, 00-09-06: On September 5, a scientific press conference on the subject "Hydrogen -- Energy technology for the future?" took place in Bonn, Germany. Dr. Rolf Ewald, Chair of the German Hydrogen Association (DWV), Dr. Jörg Heinen of the large German utility RWE AG, Kai Klinder, product manager fuel cell of the German heating systems manufacturer Vaillant and Prof. Dr. Carl-Jochen Winter, Energon and Science Programme Chair of Hyforum (Munich) presented their views on the subject to the press (see also HyWeb, 99-06-07 for a similar event last year).
The statements in brief:
Dr. Rolf Ewald, DWV:
- The depletion of the fossil ressources is within sight.
- Hydrogen is required for the storage and transport of renewable energies.
- Vehicles need hydrogen as fuel.
- Fuel cells help to use fossil energies more efficiently.
- Industry world-wide is working intensively on hydrogen vehicles and stationary fuel cell applications.
- Industry, politics and society have to accompany and support the introduction of hydrogen and prepare the market.
Dr. Jörg Heinen, RWE:
- "From the point of view of an energy utility, the question 'Hydrogen -- Energy carrier for the future?' is presumably to be answered with a 'yes'. The fuel cell technology and the role of hydrogen in it are the decisive factors in such an assessment."
- The present state-of-the-art: not yet economical, market entry of residential fuel cell systems not before 2003/4, in a first step operation on natural gas.
- RWE is active partner in field tests.
- "The fasciantion of fuel cells is the parallel production of electricity and heat. In addition, they are almost emission and noise free, require almost no maintenance, they are modular and reach very high efficiency values."
- The grouping of individual units for maintenance, supervision and load management as well as the supply of fuel (natural gas in a first step) by a utility could be a system solution serving the customer, which would go in line with the Multi-Utility-Strategy of RWE,
- Fuel cell technology needs favorable political boundary conditions.
Kai Klinder, Vaillant:
- Residential fuel cell systems save up to 50% CO2 compared to the separate production of electricity today.
- The residential fuel cell can directly replace a conventional heating system.
- Each innovative fuel cell replacing an old heating system makes the virtual power plant grow in small steps.
- Vaillant estimates its market for systems for single and multiple family houses to be at least 100,000 units in 2010, on European level the market will be 250,000.
- A large number of decentralized fuel cells make the electricity supply system more redundant and more reliable.
- The fuel cell will create new jobs in the crafts and will require new qualifications.
- Just as the personal computer has revolutionized the information technology world, the fuel cell will revolutionize electricity supply and make it more democratic in the long-term.
- Today, fuel cells operate on natural gas, in the future renewable hydrogen will provide the energy.
Prof. Dr. Carl-Jochen Winter, Energon:
- The 21st century will be the century of energy efficiency, the second solar civilization and hydrogen.
- De-carbonization, hydrogenization are in full progress.
- Energy politics will become technology politics; primary energy consumption will decrease, the technology of energy and material transformation will dominate.
- Successful climate politics can only be implemented using hydrogen.
- A sustainable mobility requires hydrogen fuel.
- Fuel cell and hydrogen storage have to be developed further intensively in order to exploit their full potential.
- It is open as to yet how the introduction of hydrogen fuel will take place. There are several different options, fossil versus renewable, centralized versus decentralized etc.
MA
Hyforum in Munich next week: first world-wide hydrogen conference for industry and poilitics
HyWeb, 00-09-06: Experts from all over the world will discuss the future of our energy supply in Munich, Germany, from September 11 to 15, 2000. They want to replace coal and oil as soon as possible by hydrogen. The necessary technology is available according to the organizers of Hyforum 2000. Under the partonage of Romano Prodi, President of the Commission of the European Union, Gerhard Schröder; German Chancellor, and Edmund Stoiber, Bavarian Prime Minister, industry and politics will work jointly to make this environmentally benign future energy become reality soon.
More information under www.hyforum2000.de .
MA
SensoTech delivers fuel cell test bench
HyWeb, 00-09-06: On July 19, SensoTech of Magdeburg, Germany, delivered a test bench for testing of direct methanol fuel cells to the Max-Planck-Insitut für Dynamik komplexer technischer Systeme (Insitute on the dynamics of complex technical systems). The main tasks to be performed are dynamic behavior tests, while the test benches delivered earlier by SensoTech concentrated on solving problems such as general gas and reformate handling including humidification, controlling methanol concentration and the continuous evaporation of mixtures of liquids, according announcements of SensoTech in August.
Extensive experience of SensoTech in the realization of fuel cell test benches for the autobile industry made it possible to realize the present test bench within five months from planning to delivery. Since its creation in 1990, SensoTech works on planning and realizing innovative test bench concepts, including systems for fuel cell systems since around four years.
Strategically, SensoTech plans to develop standard test benches in the power range up to 35 kWel useful for testing and optimization of the fuel cell itself as well as the entire periphery system and components around it.
MA
HyWeb link: The Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Investor
HyWeb, 00-09-06: www.h2fc.com presents detailed, up-to-date and reliable information for people who want to become "rich and happy" on hydrogen and fuel cell stocks. A charged news letter completes the service.
General judgement: A Must for all investors, who don't want to miss the boom in energy technologies.
MA
"It's time for Japan to get serious about its energy security. Japan's goal of self-sufficiency in crude (oil, the editor) supply is an endless dream."
Noboru Kuroyanagi, Executive vice president of Chubu Electric Power Co., Bloomberg Energy, June 19, 2000
Norway: National Feasibility Study Hydrogen
HyWeb, 00-08-30: A national feasibility study has been conducted into hydrogen as a future environmentally friendly energy carrier (see www.energy.sintef.no/Hydrogen/Prosjekt-1/no_index.htm in Norwegian language; the English summary can be found under www.energy.sintef.no/Hydrogen/Prosjekt-1/PDF-filer/Anbefalinger_engv.pdf). The report has identified the expertise found at research institutes and universities, within Norwegian business and industry, along with possible technological and commercial priority areas on an international basis.
The project has been conducted in co-operation with the Foundation for Scientific and Industrial research at the Norwegian Institute of Technology (SINTEF), the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), the Institute for Energy Research (IFE) and the University of Oslo (UiO). The information has basically been collected through arrangements at a workshop with nearly 100 Norwegian participants as well as three invited foreign lecturers (Ulrich Bünger of L-B-Systemtechnik, Germany, David Hart of Imperial College, England and Bragi Arnason of University of Reykjavik, Iceland). A local workshop has also been arranged to discuss the form and content of the report. The report was written by representatives from each of the four groups.
This report shows that Norway is especially well disposed for industrial development related to hydrogen as an energy carrier, partly because it is a natural gas producer, but also due to its expertise in industry and at universities and research institutes in the production of hydrogen by electrolysis. Future industrial development in this area depends on the amount of public-sector research, but the potential is considerable. Norwegian R&D in this area should concentrate its research as recommended in this report suggests. A summary of these recommendations is given in the table below:
Priority Activities with potential for a rapid development of business activities (10 years) Basic research with long-term goals (30 years) Intensified R&D Production of hydrogen from natural gas with CO2 capture and sequestering PEM fuel cells and PEM fuel cell systems
Production of hydrogen by water electrolysis Storage of hydrogen in solid materials
Materials technology research relevant for hydrogen systems
Moderate R&D Integrated process systems Storage of liquid hydrogen carriers
Combustion technology for hydrogen and hydrogen-enriched mixtures
Energy systems and demonstration models and plants
Production of hydrogen by biophotolysis Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC)
Technology monitoring Storage of compressed gas Production of hydrogen by photoelectrolysis and by gasification of biomass MA
Stuart Energy: AustralAsia joint venture, purchase order from Ford, IPO
HyWeb, 00-08-30: On August 22, Stuart Energy Systems Corporation of Canada announced to have reached an agreement with Cheung Kong Infrastructure (Holdings) Limited (CKI) of Hong Kong to form a commercial joint venture in connection with hydrogen fuel equipment sales and service in AustralAsia (HyWeb, 99-12-21). The purpose of the new entity is to distribute Stuart products and enable CKI to implement a hydrogen fuel infrastructure for the coming generation of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the territory of AustralAsia. Stuart Energy and CKI have committed to channel all commercial activities related to hydrogen fuel technology in AustralAsia through the new joint venture, Stuart CKI Corporation. Stuart Energy will hold 60% and CKI 40%.
"Fill'er up with hydrogen" at the
National Hydrogen Association ConferencePersonal™ Fuel Appliance: new design. Photos: Stuart Energy On August 24, Stuart announced that Ford Motor Company has issued a purchase order to test and evaluate a series of Stuart Personal™ Fuel Appliances over the next two years. Ford is scheduled to receive the first Stuart Energy prototype this year. Ford will conduct evaluations and provide information on usability and performance. The data will be incorporated into subsequent prototypes to be delivered to the automaker over the two year period. Stuart Energy has been collaborating with Ford since 1995, when the company was contracted by Ford in a study to evaluate a gaseous hydrogen fuel infrastructure option.
Stuart Energy lately announced the filing of a preliminary prospectus (amended and restated on August 24 including details on the joint venture with CKI) relating to its initial public offering of common shares.
MA
Esso presents "Oeldorado 2000" report in Germany
HyWeb, 00-08-30: At the end of July, Esso, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil, presented its Oeldorado 2000 report in Germany (see www.esso.de/infoservice/downloads/index.html#oeldorado for the report in German language). The report tries to present and explain the development of world oil markets in 1999. It finds mainly two reasons for the rise in world market prices from around US-$10 to over US-$25 per barrel: On the one hand, oil production has been reduced by OPEC countries resulting in a reduction of crude production by 3.7%. On the other hand, the world-wide consumption has risen by 3.1%, as reported by the German Süddeutsche Zeitung on Juli 24.
The most important oil consumers are the USA, followed by Japan, the People's Republik of China including Hong Kong and Germany. The consumption in the Russian Federation was lower than one third of the 1985 level. The European consumption was reduced by 1% compared to the previous year, while the consumption rose by 5% in Asia.
According to Oeldorado 2000, the confirmed reserves decreased for the first time in many years. Esso explains this fact with the reduction in exploration activities because of the low prices. On the other hand, the confirmed reserves include all those deposits, "that have been confirmed by drilling and can be exploitet economically using today's technology", as Mr. Schult-Bornemann put it during the presentation of the report in Stuttgart. The question remained open, why an increase of the oil price level by a factor of 2.5 to 3 did not bring a large number of deposits into an economically exploitable range increasing reserves drastically. On the contrary, especially the Mexican reserves were reevaluated by state-owned Pemex reducing reserves by 2.6 billion tons.
MA
HyWeb link: Energiekrise/energy crisis
HyWeb, 00-08-30: Under www.energiekrise.de, L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH operates a website in German language, that presents the problem of finite fossil resources and expected shortages in a very detailed fashion. For concrete examples, existing data are analysed neutrally, especially as far as reliability and the underlying assessment are concerned. As one example, the situation of crude oil in the North Sea (UK and Norway) where extensive data are publicly available, is presented. Also, the situation in Texas is analysed in detail.The website enables every user to make his/her own judgement of the supply and ressources situation of crude oil and natural gas.
General judgement: best website in German language on this topic -- might be worth learning German (as best website in English language, www.oilcrisis.com is recommended).
MA
Correction: Innogy -- Regenesys (HyWeb, 00-08-23)
HyWeb, 00-08-30: The Regenesys technolgy by Innogy, reported in HyWeb, 00-08-23, is NOT a PEM fuel cell system. It is a system with "regenerative fuel cell modules" according to Innogy nomenclature. These modules are similar to PEM fuel cells in that they separate the electrolytes by a proton exchange membrane. But they are not working on hydrogen and air, but on two liquid electrolytes. These electrolytes are pumped through the modules and stored in separate tanks so that energy storage capacity and system power are decoupled. See www.national-power.com/regenesys for some more details.
MA
Europe's first hydrogen boat running
DWV, 00-08-25: Europe's first boat running on hydrogen and fuel cells only was baptized on June 19 in Bonn (photo) with mayor Dieckmann present. The boat is named "Hydra" and has an alkaline fuel cell by Zetek with an output of 5 kW. It is supplied from a hydride tank for 32 std. m3 hydrogen.
This is the first fuel cell system in Germany which was designed particularly for marine applications and which was fitted in a leisure boat. It is a fruit of much work done by the etaing engineering office. After three weeks at Bonn it was brought to its nominal place of service in Leipzig, where it is now running. The boat can be chartered. And it is for sale. Price: 0,55 MEuro.
DWV
Bicycle with hydrogen and fuel cell
DWV, 00-08-25: During a conference in Lucerne in July a bicycle was presented which is equipped with a hydrogen tank and a fuel cell. The prototype is from Manhattan Scientifics (photo), the electrical equipment was made by its affiliate NovArs at Passau (Germany).
The two-wheeler makes between 70 and 100 km on plain ground with a maximum speed of 30 km/h. The hydrogen is carried as compressed gas in a composite vessel behind the saddle. For serial production it could be stored in the frame. The PEM stack weighs 780 g and delivers 670 W for the hub motor. The developers aim particularly at the Asian markets, where motor cycles are an important part fo the traffic. Their two-stroke engines, however, contribute significantly to the emission of noise and air pollutants.
DWV
"We will spend a few years fussing with methanol converters, and if we aren't careful, we will waste a lot of money and energy on reforming larger hydrocarbon chains."
Geoffrey Ballard, in Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Letter, July 2000
"Five, six years ago we had hydrogen groupies. Now we're in board rooms, and people ride in hydrogen buses. We've got huge opportunities, we can accomplish a lot, and it's happening."
Alan Lloyd, chairman of the California Air Resources Board, in Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Letter, July 2000
"For me, hydrogen is the most promising option in 20 to 30 years; of course only if hydrogen is then produced from renewable energies."
Peter Hennicke, Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie, in taz, July 29/30, 2000
"Under market conditions, zero emission driving will only be possible at fuel prices that today could only be imagined accepting a general revolution under the population. Therefore, it is much more ecological to reduce CO2 in the power and heat markets, instead of calling for renewable fuels. The motto should be: more environmental and climate protection for our money!"
Dr. Gerd Eisenbeiß, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Letter to the editor, in vdi nachrichten July 28, 2000
Innogy commercialises fuel cell energy storage system
HyWeb, 00-08-23: Innogy, the soon to be demerged UK business of National Power announced on August 21 to be commercialising its energy storage technology known as Regenesys®. Regenesys is based on a regenerative PEM electrolyser/fuel cell. It is capable of storing electricity in the form of hydrogen during low consumption and provides peak power during high consumption periods.
Innogy expects to provide the UK's first fuel cell energy storage capability. It has also signed an initial agreement with US utility Tennessee Valley Authority that could lead to the construction of the first Regenesys plant in North America. The UK plant shall be located at Little Barford, Cambridgeshire adjacent to Innogy's combined cycle gas-fired power plant, and will take 18 months to construct. Regenesys has been tested at Innogy's Aberthaw power station in South Wales since 1996.
The plant is designed to be capable of storing 120 MWh of electricity and will be able to speedily provide 15 MW of electric power. It will enable Little Barford power station to provide a black start capability to the grid system.
The Regenesys plant will be a "UK shop window" to market the technology to power companies and large industries across the globe.
MA
See correction: HyWeb, 00-08-30
UK Hydrogen Energy Network founded
HyWeb, 00-08-23: On April 1, the "UK Hydrogen Energy Network" (H2NET) has been established in the framework of the "Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council". The official start of activities took place on July 12. The Network's objectives are to enhance the current profile of hydrogen energy research in the UK by:
- identifying research requirements and facilitating the development of academic/industrial collaborations in the UK;
- providing a forum for the discussion of research, development, and implementation issues related to hydrogen energy exploitation;
- disseminating informationrelating to state of the art research in the hydrogen energy economy.
The Network is being administered by the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. Contact:
Dr. R. Brownsword, Network Co-ordinator
Building R63,
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory,
Cilton, Didcot, Oxon
OX11 0QX
UK
Tel. 01235/446134
Fax 01235/446863
e-mail r.brownsword@rl.ac.uk .MA
BP: "Taking you beyond petroleum"
HyWeb, 00-08-23: At the end of July, BP Amoco ARCO, which has been formed by mergers during the last years, announced to be trading under the new brand BP. The announcement stood under the motto "taking you beyond petroleum"; among others BP is the world's largest manufacturer of solar power panels. The new flower like BP logo in the colors white, yellow and green is called "Helios" after the ancient Greek sungod.
MA
ExxonMobil and GM develop gasoline reformer for fuel cell vehicles
HyWeb, 00-08-23: Together with General Motors, ExxonMobil on August 10 announced the development of gasoline processors for fuel cell vehicles. The companies have developed a highly-efficient gasoline fuel processor, which they regard as a major breakthrough. The three-year collaboration has allowed GM and ExxonMobil engineers to design, develop, build and run a gasoline processor that exceeds 80% efficiency, according to the press release.
No further details were presented on the performance of the system and its technical data. Specifications of the "gasoline" used in the reformer were not given either.
By the end of this year, the companies plan to demonstrate in a laboratory an integrated system with an advanced version of the processor and a GM fuel cell stack producing 25 kW electric power. GM selected the 25 kW system as a learning platform. GM plans a vehicle demonstration using gasoline reforming technology within 18 months.
"Continuing to improve the performance of hydrocarbons in vehicle transportation systems is one of ExxonMobil's major business strategies and priorities," says Bill Innes, President of ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company.
"The gasoline processor could be the bridge between today's conventional vehicles and tomorrows hydrogen fuel cell vehicles," says Harry J. Pearce, GM Vice Chairman. "While we view hydrogen as the future fuel for automotive applications, we have significant commercial challenges, such as designing and building a large number of hydrogen refueling stations, developing feasible on-board fuel tanks and agreeing to industry-wide specifications."
MA
HyWeb link: California Hydrogen Business Council
HyWeb, 00-08-23: Under www.ch2bc.org, the California Hydrogen Business Council operates a comprehensive and informative website about hydrogen and fuel cells in english language. Particularly worth mentioning is the daily news service.
General judgement: highly recommended.
MA
"The time of large power plants is perhaps over. We are currently working very intensively on natural gas powered fuel cells."
Dietmar Kuhnt, Vorstandsvorsitzender (chairman of the board) of RWE, Germany, in Financial Times Deutschland, June 16, 2000; translation: LBST
Alternative universal filling station for Las Vegas
DWV, 00-08-03: A filling station for alternative vehicles of various kinds is to be built in Las Vegas (Nevada, USA) according to Electric Net of 28. Juli. It will produce electricity, hydrogen, and hydrogen enriched natural gas from natural gas. The project will be run by the US energy department (DoE) and the gas and chemicals company Air Products and Chemicals, who will share the investment of 11,8 M$. The DoE will also fund the conversion of vehicles. Plug Power will be a member of the Air Products team. A DoE spokeswoman said that the project be a model for the introduction of hydrogen fuel at reasonable costs. Senator Harry Reid, who represents the state of Nevada in congress, applauded the institution as a commercial demonstration of hydrogen as a safe and clean energy alternative.
DWV
Gaz de France to distribute Californian hydrogen technology in Europe
DWV, 00-08-03: Gaz de France (GdF), France's largest natural gas supplier, has made an agreement with the Californian Hydrogen Burner Technology (HBT) during the recent Fuel Cell 2000 conference in Lucerne. GdF will distribute HBT's hydrogen generating devices together with spare parts and service all over Europe. GdF has also acquired a share of HBT, the amount of which was not disclosed. The agreement is targeted at industrial customers for which the price for conventional hydrogen supply by the gas companies is too expensive. GdF hopes also to equip hydrogen filling stations and thus get a foothold in the transportation market.
DWV
"Shortages of oil in about 10 to 15 years will pose the energy question with full power at the end of the decade. In the developed world as well as in the developing world. Therefore, I plead for answering the question earlier, and the research of DaimlerChrysler is proof of this, because changes will require a lot of time and capital.
I hope that humans will tackle a global question that touches our very existence for the first time in a joint fashion: using all available technological expertise. Using the best, directest and fastest communication, the Internet.
This vision requires a 'hand in hand of all humans carrying responsability in our societies [...]."
Jürgen E. Schrempp, Chairman of the Board of Management of DaimlerChrysler AG, Opening Speech of the World Engineers Day in Hanover, Germany, on June 19, 2000, quotation from VDI nachrichten, June 23, 2000; translations: LBST
Hydrogen filling stations in Japan by autumn 2001
HyWeb, 00-07-18: As announced by the Japanese WE-NET program on May 24, two hydrogen filling stations will come into operation in autumn 2001 and continue until the end of 2003.
One filling station will have an on-site natural gas reformer. It will be located in Osaka and will be operated by Osaka Gas Co. The other station will have an on-site PEM electrolyser. It will be located in Takamatsu and will be operated by the Shikoku Research Institute.
Both filling stations will have dispensers for filling compressed hydrogen as well as metal hydride vehicle tanks. The low pressure hydrogen gas dispenser for metal hydride filling will include a coooling system for quick refueling within 10 minutes. The high pressure hydrogen gas dispensers will deliver gas for 25 MPa and 35 MPa vehicle tanks. The on-site generation units will have a production capacity of 30 Nm³/h.
Fuel cell vehicles which have the approval of the Japanese Ministry of Transportation for being operated in the city can take part in the demonstration project.
According to a presentation of Iwatani Internation Corp. at the 13th World Hydrogen Energy Conference in Beijing, China, June 12-15 this year, the further project partners are: Iwatani International, Japan Metals & Chemicals, Iwatani Gases, Nippon Sanso, Mitsubushi Heavy Industries and Japan Steelsworks.
According to a Calstart News Note of April 25, the Japanese government is planning to standardize hydrogen refueling equipment by its fiscal year 2002 in order to avoid the emergence of a variety of incompatible systems. Automakers such as DaimlerChrysler and General Motors are said to be submitting data to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in response to a request for information on the performance of their prototype fuel cell vehicles.
MA
How the fuel cell will affect OPEC
DWV, 00-07-18: In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph of 25. June the former Saudi Arabian oil minister Ahmed Jamani made some comments about the effect which the trend towards renewable energies, fuel cells, and hydrogen will have on the oil producing countries. Jamani held his office from 1962 to 1986; from 1973 onwards he was the driving force in the OPEC price policy which fundamentally changed the global economy.
While he sees no decrease of the oil price for the near future, he expects that in about five years there will be a sharp drop and some time in the future a crash of it. This will be due to important new discoveries and technical progress in the production on the one hand, but also due to demand decreasing new technologies on the other hand. Among these he mentioned hybrid engines and other methods for lower consumption, but in particular the fuel cell, which he expects to have a dramatic impact. "This is coming before the end of the decade and will cut gasoline consumption by almost 100 %. Imagine a country like the United States, the largest consuming nation, where more than 50 % of their consumption is gasoline. If you eliminate that, what will happen?" Saudi Arabia, he says, "will have serious economic difficulties". "Thirty years from now there will be a huge amount of oil - and no buyers. Thirty years from now, there is no problem with oil. Oil will be left in the ground. The Stone Age came to an end not because we had lack of stones, and the oil age will come to an end not because we have lack of oil."
Various countries whose economy is today dominated by oil export invest considerable funds in renewable energies, and not just since recently. The reason for this was mainly the foreseeable depletion of the ressources. While Saudi Arabia is the country with the greatest reserves, there was under the name "Hysolar" a project with German partners which investigated the use of solar energy and hydrogen. Russia, particularly affected as far as oil is concerned, investigates the introduction of hydrogen or natural gas, respectively, as fuel for aviation in a joint work with German and other European partners (project "Cryoplane"). The developments mentioned by Jamani may accelerate the trend.
DWV
Fuel cell bus demonstration project in Vancouver finished successfully
DWV, 00-07-18: The fuel cell bus demonstration project in Vancouver has been finished successfully in early July. Three buses were running for two years in normal scheduled service (HyWeb, 98-12-14). The parallel project in Chicago had been finished in March (HyWeb, 00-03-30). While the buses were more or less the same the difference was the filling station. In Chicago the tanks were filled with hydrogen gas from the evaporation of the liquid phase within half an hour. In Vancouver there was a unit from Stuart Energy comprising an electrolyzer filling the bus tanks over night.
As before in Chicago all participants were very satisfied about the results. Ths buses made 67,000 km with 110,000 passengers, and there were no incidents. Ballard and XCELLSIS now plan for the next projects which will be made in California. Within the next two years 25 buses will be delivered, the first to Palm Springs and Oakland.
DWV
IFC joins California Partnership
DWV, 00-07-18: Fuel cell manufacturer International Fuel Cells (IFC) has joined the California Fuel Cell Partnership. IFC, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, is active in the sector since many years, initially as NASA supplier, then in connection with the ONSI power stations. The company aims at the mobile market as well and works together with BMW and with the Korean car maker Hyundai (HyWeb, 00-06-19). The latter company recently also joined the California Fuel Cell Partnership.
DWV
Accident at natural gas filling station
DWV, 00-07-18: A serious accident happened on 6. July at a natural gas filling station at Recklinghausen (Germany). The key factor was a car which had been converted to LPG operation (LPG: mixtures of propane and butane, liquefied under pressure at ambient temperture, tank pressure maximum 30 bar). The owner filled the vehicle with natural gas (tank pressure 200 bar). While the connections are so different that this principally can not happen, the owner had for reasons of his own mounted a natural gas filling connection to the tank tube. During filling the tank burst. The car owner was killed, an employee of the filling station was seriously and four other persons were lightly hurt. The damage was considerable.
A quite similar accident which hurt two people had happened on 8. February at Emmendingen (Germany). Language problems might have contributed in this case, the car coming from Latvia, but in any case the filling connection had been altered such that it fitted for natural gas.
Considering the introduction of hydrogen as fuel it is compelling to come to an agreement on unified filling connections. Apart from simple handling and tightness this must include the non-interchangeability with the connections for other fuels. Manipulations as in the Recklinghausen case, of course, can not be avoided by technical means.
DWV
