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letter of L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH (LBST) and the German Hydrogen Association
(DWV) · 3rd Quarter 2004 – 8th Year
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Interesting Projects HyNet - the European Thematic Network on Hydrogen European Integrated Hydrogen Project - EIHP
www.fuelcellpark.com
Introductory information on energy, hydrogen and fuel cells (website of the Bewag Fuel Cell Innovation Park, implemented by HyWeb)www.h2guide.de
Guide of German hydrogen projects by the German Hydrogen Association (in German language)Fuel cell drive project for municipal commercial vehicles – Bavarian fuel cell bus project
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Impressum
Editor Matthias Altmann, L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH (LBST), webmaster@HyWeb.de Articles AFH - Association Française de l'Hydrogène
DWV - German Hydrogen Association (DWV)
MA - Matthias Altmann, LBST
JS - Jörg Schindler, LBST
RW - Reinhold Wurster, LBST
VB - Volker Blandow, LBST
WW - Werner Weindorf, LBST
WZ - Werner Zittel, LBST
UB - Ulrich Bünger, LBSTAddress see HyWeb Impressum
other News Letters The Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Letter Clean Fuels and Electric Vehicles Report
Monthly Technology Updates by Fuel Cells 2000
Interview question: Meanwhile, Toyota manufactures the latest technology diesel engines and scores with series-production hybrid vehicles.
"May I formulate it differently: We are astonished and perhaps not prepared for the technological spearhead Toyota has developed. You have mentioned diesel and hybrid, but what is worse: If you look into fuel cells you will notice that almost the entire technology is protected by Toyota patents. That means: Toyota have their sights set firmly on the future."
Jürgen Stockmar, former board member responsible for technology at Opel, Technology Review December 2004, and Spiegel online 7 December 2004; translation: LBST
German Government presents transport fuel strategy
HyWeb, 2004-12-21: In close cooperation with industry and research, the German Federal Government has developed a transport fuel strategy in line with European and international strategies. The overview given below is based on a manuscript of Dr. Martina Hinricher, head of the transport policy department of the German Federal Transport Ministry of November 4, 2004. The Internet pages of the Transport Ministry contain the detailed results of the working process „transport fuel matrix“ and the respective conclusions drawn in the full report of the expert group to the matrix process and in the matruces for 2010 and 2020. The transport fuel strategy is part of the report "Progress Report 2004: Perspectives for Germany - Our strategy for a sustainable development" of the German Federal Government (pdf, 0.8 MB, in German language; an English version is in preparation).Key Challenges
- Securing our energy supply given a world-wide increase in oil demand already resulting in significantly increasing prices – diversification of fuel supply as keyword.
- Securing our international competitiveness.
- Necessity of a significant contribution of the transport sector to climate protection.
Objectives of the transport fuel strategy
- Consumption of fossil fuels is to be reduced, thereby reducing the dependency on oil (security of energy supply).
- The emissions of climate gases are to be reduced (climate protection).
- The promising alternative fuels and propulsion technologies having a high quantitative potential are to be identified (innovation and competitiveness).
- The required actions necessary for bringing the economically promising alternatives forward are to be identified and are to be compiled in a list of measures (implementation).
Working process „transport fuel matrix“
- Analysis of status-quo
- Assessment and evaluation of alternatives
- Identification of promising alternatives
- Required actions and program of measures
The expert group “transport fuel matrix” comprises the relevant industry in the form of the members of the Transport Energy Strategy (TES) as well as a number of associations, government agencies, research institutes and the relevant Federal Ministries.
Evaluation criteria
- Climate relevance
- Availability / Security of energy supply
- Economics
Results
Potentials of fuels and propulsion systems until 2010:
- Until 2010, efficiency increases in diesel and spark ignition engines as well as innovative propulsion systems are clearly the main focus.
- The structure of the transport fuel market will essentially remain the same. The further optimization of fuel qualities will leas to further fuel consumption reductions.
- Natural gas fuel (CNG) and to a lesser extent LPG will find a smaller market potential.
- The conventional biofuels such as biodiesel (RME/FAME) and bioethanol will especially play an important role as admixtures to diesel and gasoline, respectively.
- For biomass-to-liquids (BTL) fuels it is not to be expected that larger production capacities will be established in the short-term. The same holds true for gas-to-liquids (GTL). Depending on the construction of capacities on an industrial scale these fuels will thus have a slowly increasing relevance in the transport fuel market during the coming years.
Potentials of fuels and propulsion systems until 2020:
- In the timeframe until 2020 efficiency increases of diesel and spark ignition engines will still play a key role.
- Natural gas (CNG) and to a lesser extent LPG will continue to gain market shares in the transport fuel market up to a combined 5%. The potential to reduce climate gas emissions until 2020 is estimated to be up to 2%.
- Compressed methane gas (CMG) from biogas can complement or substitute the availability of natural gas fuel. The transport fuel matrix displays a market potential of 2 to 4%.
- Fuels based on biomass shall achieve up to 8% of volumes according to the goals set by the EU. In order to achieve this goal, synthetic biofuels (BTL) will have to gain increasing market shares in addition to the conventional biofuels. Depending on the available biomass especially BTL fuels have a high potential. It is expected that an increasing market share of BTL fuels will lead to a decrease of biodiesel and bioethanol consumption.
- The world-wide capacities for the production of synthetic fuels from natural gas (GTL fuel) will be continued to be expanded - estimates are around 10 million tons per year. Colncerning greenhouse gases this fuel is disadvantageous compared to gasoline and diesel fuels.
- Hybrid power trains (e.g. brake energy recovery and reuse for acceleration) will step by step conquer the market.
- After 2020, hydrogen fuel will increasingly gain importance. A market share of 2% (equivalent to about 1 million cars) is seen as the critical threshold for the start of market penetration. In order to enable and accelerate the build-up of the required infrastructure, hydrogen can be used in internal combustion engines more economically than in fuel cells, which on the other hand promise higher efficiencies in the long-term. Both technologies require significant further development efforts in order to be establish in the market and contribute through the use of renewable hydrogen to climate protection and security of energy supply.
Key elements of the “transport fuel strategy”
- Increased efficiency of gasoline and diesel engines
- Synthetic fuels from biomass (BTL)
- Combined power trains (hybrid)
- Hydrogen (combustion engine and fuel cell).
MA
German Fuel Cell Alliance calls on government for implementation of market introduction strategy
HyWeb, 2004-12-21: The German Fuel Cell Alliance has presented a market introduction strategy in the Niedersachsen Representation in Berlin on 14 December 2004. In a press round, the economic, social and environmental implications of fuel cell technology were discussed with members of the German Parliament Mrs. Kopp (Liberals), Mr. Fell (Greens) and Mr. Bülow (Social Democrats) as well as with representatives of indutry and the press. The 21 members of the German Fuel Cell Alliance, associations and initiatives, used the event to set a first concerted stimulus on national level for the key technology fuel cell in Germany.Further information (in German language) such as the market introduction strategy of the German Fuel Cell Alliance is available under www.brennstoffzelle-nds.de/BZ_Buendnis_Deutschland.html
MA
Fuel Cell developments in Northrhine-Westfalia
HyWeb, 2004-12-21: The German State of Northrhine Westfalia (NRW) will collaborate closely with the State of California (USA) and the Canadian province of British Columbia. NRW Infrastructure Minister Dr. Horstmann signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the California Enviromental Protection Agency in Sacramento and with the Ministry of Energy and Mining British Columbia in Vancouver, which covers intensive information exchange, better networking and a close alignement of developments and strategies. The cooperation shall be the basis for increased exchanges between industry and research. This is the result of a one-week trip to the USA and Canada of the Minister and a 10 person industry and research delegation.
First concrete agreements have already been signed:
- Close collaboration between Fuel Cells Canada (FCC) and the competence network fuel cells and hydrogen NRW initiated by the NRW government.
- Close collaboration between the Fuel Cell Innovation Center in Vancouver and the Zentrum für BrennstoffzellenTechnik (Center for fuel cell technology) in Duisburg
- 3M Deutschland GmbH in Neuss, subsidiary of 3M in St.Paul (Minnesota/USA) will increase its efforts in fuel cell technology significantly and will collaborate with the NRW competence network
- IdaTech LLC of Bend (Oregon/USA) has announced the establishment of its European subsidiary IdaTech Fuel Cells GmbH at a location in NRW.
- Reasons for this decision are the close contacts to their developments partners in NRW and the very good research and industry climate in NRW as well as the clear and strong engagement of the NRW government fpr hydrogen and fuel cells.
- At the soccer world championship 2006 in Germany, small fuel cell powered buses shall provide shuttle services at the three NRW locations Gelsenkirchen, Dortmund and Cologne. The 30 passenger buses will be developed by Hydrogenics Enkat GmbH of Gelsenkirchen, a subsidiary of the Canadian Hydrogenics Corporation. NRW funds the development with 566,000 Euro.
MA
Japan to bet on residential fuel cell systems
HyWeb, 2004-12-21: Recently, announcements from Japanese companies are following suit in the field of fuel cell based residential power and heating (CHP) supply systems.
Nippon Oil this week unveiled plans to begin selling a residential cogeneration system to households in Tokyo and its surrounding prefectures in the fiscal year starting April 2005 using fuel-cell technology to generate electricity and heat from liquefied petroleum gas. From 2006, systems shall be marketed throughout Japan. Nippon Oil, the largest oil refiner in Japan, expects its sales volume to reach 100,000 units in 2013 up from 150 units which are expected to be leased for 60,000 Yen per year (approx. 450 EUR/a) in 2005.Tokyo Gas, Matsushita Electric Industrial and Ebara Ballard Corporation announced to soon start leasing of residential fuel cell cogeneration systems, however, at first on a limited scale. By the end of 2005, 200 PEM fuel cell systems with 1 kW electrical each shall be installed in the Tokyo Gas supply areas, where appropriate maintenance capabilities are provided. Starting January, 2005, Tokyo Gas customers may apply for an FC Partnership agreement. This covers a leasing contract (1 Million Yen – approx. 7,200 Euros – for 10 years) and allows the participating companies to collect operational data and gain feedback from the customers which is fed into the further development of residential fuel cell CHP systems. On this occasion, Tokyo Gas has introduced a new gas rate schedule for residential fuel cell cogeneration systems.
Tokyo Gas‘ announcement is following shortly afterwards an announcement made by Toshiba earlier in November. After acquiring UTC Fuel Cells‘ 49% stake in the Toshiba/UTC joint venture Toshiba International Fuel Cells (TIFC) on November 9 this year, the fuel cell businesses at Toshiba are now trading under the name Toshiba Fuel Cells Power Systems as a wholly owned subsidiary of Toshiba. Toshiba plans to build up production capacities of several hundred units of residential PEM fuel cell systems in the lower kW class. The ramp-up of production capacity shall reach 1,000 units/year by the year 2008.
Both Tokyo Gas and Toshiba expect a full-scale diffusion with thousands of units per year not bevor 2008+.
In the year 2005, the Japanese METI will start with a co-financing programme covering the installation and monitoring of up to 3,000 residential fuel cell system units. The programme is will run until 2008.
Photo: Tokyo Gas Co., Ltd.
PS
HyWeb, 2004-12-21: Officially launched on October 1, the hydrogen and fuel cell ERA-NET (HY-CO) will complement the activities of the European Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Technology Platform (HFP).
As with other ERA-NET initiatives, HY-CO aims to improve the coordination of national research and development (R&D) activities, in this case in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells, with the aim of establishing a durable European Research Area (ERA). The significance of achieving a better coordination of national research in this field can be seen in the fact that, despite increased EU resources for hydrogen and fuel cell activities in recent years, each euro spent at Community level is matched by four at national and regional level.
'Despite some high profile demonstration projects in Europe, such as the fuel cell busses, there is still a great deal of research to be done, much of which will happen at national level. It is worthwhile doing this in a coordinated way, and we first need to decide exactly what research needs to be done', says Dr Seitz, ERA-NET HY-CO coordinator from the Jülich Research Centre in Germany. To achieve this, the 21 HY-CO partners will begin with an exchange of information and best practice which will lead on to the identification of common strategic issues. ERA-NET will then try to encourage Member States to launch joint activities.
When asked what incentive there is for countries with a strong track record in hydrogen research to open up their programmes to international competition, Dr Seitz quickly responded: 'These countries understand the need to open up their activities – they realise that you can't build a hydrogen infrastructure on your own.’
More information: www.hy-co-era.net
PS
HyWeb, 2004-12-21: Christmas time – time to read good books in a cosy environment. If you still haven’t found a present for a person who feels concerned about the state of energy supply and usage, this is the book to give away: Rocky Mountains Institut – RMI (Ed.), Winning the Oil Endgame – American Innovation for Profits, Jobs, and Security, Snowmass/Colorado, USA, 2004, ISBN 1-881071-10-3. In the book, the authors charts a roadmap for getting the United States completely, attractively, and profitably off oil. The strategy integrates four technological ways to displace oil: using oil twice as efficiently, then substituting biofuels, saved natural gas, and, optionally, hydrogen.
RMI’s book is the latest in a series of publications about oil dependency and oil decline. This softcover book can be bought for 40 US$ or downloaded free of charge.
PS
"Ultimately, we will have to design the car body around the fuel cell system, and not vice versa."
Rudolf J. Kunze, Chief Technical Officer, Product Development Europe, Ford Europe in the German edition of the Financial Times on the occasion of presenting the Focus FCEV Hybrid on November 11, 2004 in Hamburg
CEP hydrogen filling station opened in Berlin
HyWeb, 04-12-03 (minor corrections on 04-12-06): November 12, some 100 representatives of major automotive and energy companies as well as non-governmental organizations participated in the grand opening ceremony of the new hydrogen filling station in Berlin/Germany. Some 100 hydrogen cars can be refilled with liquid (LH2) and gaseous (CGH2) hydrogen alongside conventional transportation fuels Diesel and gasoline at this Aral station. It is thus probably the largest hydrogen filling station so far built worldwide.
The project is executed by the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), an international collaboration of automobile manufacturers (BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM/Opel), infrastructure companies (Aral/BP, BVG, Hydro/GHW, Linde und Vattenfall Europe) and the German Federal Government. CEP activities are part of the German Sustainability Strategy Plan. With this project, the participating companies aim at gaining valuable experience in the field of hydrogen production, transport, storage and dispensing under real-world conditions.
Core components of the hydrogen filling station comprise a stationary, super-insulated cryogenic hydrogen storage vessel which may provide up to 10,000 l LH2. LH2 is supplied by Linde via trailer. CGH2 is produced onsite by a Hydro/GHW electrolyzer. Renewable energy is applied for operating the filling station, for water electrolysis as well as for hydrogen liquefaction by means of green certificates. Each of the LH2 and CGH2 dispenser units allow fast filling (LH2 up to 3,000 l/h, CGH2 up to 1,200 Nm³/h @ 45 MPa). The CGH2 dispenser unit may be upgraded to 70 MPa if required.
The initial fleet comprise 16 hydrogen powered fuel cell and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles from BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ford and GM/Opel. Furthermore, the local public transport provider BVG operates a H2-ICE bus manufactured by MAN until end of 2004.
The total investment in the CEP project is approximately EUR 33 million up to the year 2007.
In February 2005, the Messedamm filling station will be complemented by a service workshop for hydrogen powered vehicles. This service workshop will be operated by BVG.
CEP
PS
GM/Dow entering phase II of world’s largest industrial fuel cell programme
HyWeb, 04-12-03: General Motors (GM) and Dow Chemical Company (Dow) recently launched the second phase of their joint project to prove the viability of hydrogen fuel cells for motor vehicles and possibly for distributed power generation. The project has now expanded from a single GM test fuel cell, installed in February 2004 (HyWeb, 03-05-23), to a multi-unit pilot plant at Dow’s Texas Operations in Freeport, Texas/USA.
Project phase one comprised a single 75 kW test fuel cell system from GM. Based on the outcomes of phase I, a fuel cell pilot plant will be integrated into Dow’s chemical and plastics production facility via the power distribution grid and Dow’s hydrogen clean-up and pipeline system. While generating real-world data to enable further development of the technology, these fuel cells will also supply up to 1 megawatt of energy for use in Dow’s Texas Operations.
Phase II objectives include demonstrating the viability of distributed generation, optimizing the reliability of power supply from fuel cells, investigating fuel cell waste heat recovery opportunities and understanding hydrogen purity requirements.
GM takes advantage of this real world setting to test various generations of their proprietary fuel cell technology in a controlled setting.
If Phase II proves successful, the project will transition to Phase III, large-scale commercialization by 2007. Ultimately, Dow and GM could install up to 400 fuel cells at Dow facilities to generate 35 megawatts of electricity.
PS
HyWeb, 04-12-03: The Australian Antarctica Division (AAD) has received a grant of half a million AUS$ from the Australian Greenhouse Office for erecting a wind hydrogen hybrid system. The project shall demonstrate the use of hydrogen generated by wind in Antarctica. The demonstration project at Mawson will research the safety and operational aspects of using hydrogen on station, as well as its viability as a major energy carrier.
Hydrogen will be generated using excess energy from the Mawson wind turbines, stored in high-pressure cylinders and eventually used in a fuel cell system – alternatively in an internal combustion engine – as well as fuel in a heater and in one of the station vehicles at the field camp on Bechervaise Island. The system will provide electricity and heat for the scientists involved in the local penguin monitoring program.The system will be installed and implemented during the 2005-06 season. The project shall provide sufficient information to be able to model a large-scale use of hydrogen to supplement energy requirements for remotely located scientific facilities.
The ultimate aim is to be able to run the station and all the field camps without the use of any fossil fuels.
Meanwhile, hydrogen is already produced by means of an on-site electrolyzer. The hydrogen is used to supply daily weather balloon flights. Excess electricity from the wind turbines covers a share of the primary energy required from the electrolyzer.
PS
Austrian Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Initiative launched
HyWeb, 04-12-03: On November 17, the Austrian Council for Research and Technology Development decided to continue with the so-called „A3 Technology Programme“ with a focus on hydrogen and fuel cell issues. Furthermore, it was decided to launch the „Austrian Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Initiative“. The Federal Department of Transportation, Innovation and Technologie (BMVIT) aims at providing the Austrian research organisations with some 15 million Euros for the years 2005 to 2006 targeted for the development of innovative transportation technologies and fuels. Sustainable hydrogen production pathways shall also be part of the funding programme. Residential applications of hydrogen and fuel cell technology are not part of the funding scheme.The acronym A3 Technology Programme stands for „Austrian Advanced Automotive Technology“. This programme is designed for cooperative research projects, comprising the industry and public as well as private research bodies. It aims at fostering innovative technology developments within the Austrian automotive industry.
PS
Progress made in membrane development
HyWeb, 04-12-03: A couple of new membrane developments were recently made public.Asahi Glass
September 2004 Asahi Glass announced to have increased the durability of their company-own membrane electrode assembly (MEA). This MEA is based on a fluorinated, proton conducting polymer compound. According to Asahi Glass, the degradation rate could be lowered by a factor of 10 compared to state-of-the-art MEAs. The MEA has already proven more than 2000 operation hours at an operating temperature of 120°C.
PolyFuel
The Silicon Valley based startup company PolyFuel also aims at improving the performance of proton conducting polymer membranes. According to PolyFuel their hydrocarbon based membrane is more sturdy at lower manufacturing costs and provides 10-15% more power at real-world operating conditions compared to conventional, perfluorinated membranes.
Atofina et al.
In the framework of a DOE-funded R&D project Atofina, Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells, UTC Fuel Cells, Georgia Institute of Technology and University of Hawaii jointly are working on adapting the characteristics of the polyvinyle-fluoride (PVDF) to the requirements as membrane material. PVDF is a sturdy thermoplastic resin which is stable up to 120°C. According to Atofina, in conjunction with a non disclosed polyelectrolyte the hydrogen permeability is about one third of Nafion.
University of Tokyo / Japan Atomic Research Institute
The Japan Atomic Research Institute and the University of Tokyo jointly developed a membrane which operates at lower humidity and provides better ion conductivity at the same time. At an operating temperature of 80°C and a humidity of 70% the ion conductivity was measured as being some four times as good as conventional membranes. This new type of membrane is based on a fluor compound with an increased share of sulfones.
PS
Production of first Ford fuel cell Focus completed
HyWeb, 04-12-03: Ford Motor Company celebrated the production of a new Focus Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV), the first in a fleet of Focus FCVs that will be deployed in several countries worldwide. The Focus FCV is one of the industry's first hybridized fuel cell vehicles combining the improved range and performance of hybrid technology with the overall benefits of a fuel cell.
The fuel cell Focus looks and drives like other Focus sedans on the road today. However, under the hood is a sophisticated hybrid electric powertrain. Tucked under the floor pan is a hydrogen fuel cell and auxiliary energy system that supplies electricity to the powertrain. And in the trunk is a hydrogen tank that carries the car's renewable hydrogen fuel.
The Ford Focus FCV uses a fuel cell powertrain supplied by Ballard Power Systems. The FCV is hybridized with the addition of a nickel metal-hydride battery pack and a series regenerative braking system.
Ford is building an evaluation fleet of Focus FCVs for placement in demonstration programs in the United States, Canada, and Germany. Vehicles will be placed in Michigan, California, and Florida in response to the U.S. Department of Energy's solicitation, titled "Controlled Hydrogen Fleet and Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation Project." Additional vehicles will be placed in Vancouver, British Columbia and Berlin, Germany under programs sponsored by the Canadian and German governments. All of these programs are designed to promote development of hydrogen-based technologies.PS
20 new hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles have been included in www.h2cars.de including photos and technical data. h2cars.de now contains 199 vehicles.
