The topical quotation
Image: GM |
"We want to be the first automaker to produce a million fuel cell vehicles, and be profitable doing so." |
Elizabeth Lowery, GM vice president, to Reuters on 14 November 2007 in Shanghai when presenting the fuel cell-powered Chevrolet Equinox among others
London orders ten ISE hydrogen buses / Hydrogen Bus Alliance lays out Industry Dialogue Roadmap
HyWeb, 2007-12-05: Ten new hydrogen powered buses will join London's bus fleet by 2010. Transport for London has signed a contract with the US-company ISE for five hydrogen fuel cell buses and five hydrogen internal combustion engine buses. ISE will be working with a number of sub-contractors, including The Wright Group, a bus manufacturer based in Northern Ireland, and Ballard, a fuel cell manufacturer based in Canada. The vehicles will be operated by First on behalf of Transport for London (TfL). Procurement of a hydrogen refuelling station is underway and TfL expects a decision early in 2008.
The contract signed with ISE has a volume of £9.65 million and includes specialist maintenance and replacement parts over a five year period after delivery. The Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform has provided a grant of £2.6 million to TfL.
The deal is part of the London Hydrogen Partnership's Transport Action Plan. The programme aims to introduce 70 new hydrogen vehicles into London, thereof 10 buses, with a view of reducing local CO2 emissions and inner-city pollution. Beginning of 2006, London mayor Ken Livingstone has set the goal of having 5% of all public sector fleet vehicles powered by hydrogen by 2015.
Link: www.london.gov.uk/lhp
The London project compliments the activities of the Hydrogen Bus Alliance comprising representatives from the public transport authorities of international cities and regions that have demonstrated a clear commitment to hydrogen technology. Current members are:
• Amsterdam (GVB)
• Barcelona (TNB)
• Berlin (BVG)
• British Columbia (BC Transit)
• Cologne (Regionalverkehr Köln)
• Hamburg (Hamburger Hochbahn)
• London (TfL)
• South Tyrol
• Western Australia (Public Transport Authority of Western Australia)
The Hydrogen Bus Alliance aims at creating a genuine market for hydrogen powered buses. Each member of the Alliance has committed to buy at least five new hydrogen buses to begin operating between 2008 and 2012.
Links:
• www.hydrogenbusalliance.org
• Hydrogen Bus Alliance Industry Dialogue Roadmap, 26 September 2007
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Japan: Nippon Oil and Sanyo to form joint-venture / 830 residential fuel cell systems already operating
HyWeb, 2007-12-04: Nippon Oil Corp. has reached a basic agreement with Sanyo Electric Co. to acquire the electronics maker's fuel cell operations. According to informed sources, among other options Sanyo plans to spin off its fuel cell business to form a new company on 1 April 2008, with Nippon Oil acquiring an 81% equity stake therein.
Sanyo aims to cut research and development expenditures by selling the fuel cell operations, while Nippon Oil aims to reduce manufacturing costs through the acquisition of Sanyo's business. Following the deal, Sanyo will provide support for the new firm in development, maintenance and production. The new firm is expected to start mass production of fuel cell systems for household use by 2011.
Sanyo and Nippon Oil have already been partnering, co-developing small liquefied petroleum gas-based fuel cell systems in 2005.
Nippon Oil is the biggest supplier of household-use fuel cell systems under a government-sponsored demonstration project launched in fiscal year 2005, with around 830 systems being installed by the company by the end of fiscal year 2007.
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HyNor to run 30-40 Mazda RX-8 Hydrogen RE from mid 2008
HyWeb, 2007-12-04: Norwegian joint industry initiative HyNor signed a memorandum of understanding with Mazda Motor Corporation in Tokyo. The memorandum provides for Mazda’s delivery of 30 to 40 RX-8 sports car models equipped with internal combustion engines fuelled by hydrogen from summer 2008 for an initial three-year period with options to continue. For Mazda, these will be the first hydrogen vehicles sold outside of Japan.
Image: David Burke
HyNor is to implement a hydrogen energy infrastructure along a route of 580 km from Oslo to Stavanger in Norway. HyNor currently employs 13 Toyota Prius hybrid models modified to run on hydrogen. HyNor has plans to start operating four hydrogen-fuelled buses in Oslo and another two in Stavanger by early 2009. HyNor is supported in part by the Research Council of Norway and the Norwegian Ministry of Transport.
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Toyota: 7-day fuel cell hybrid road test covers 3,680 km
HyWeb, 2007-12-04: Toyota successfully completed a 3,680-kilometre run from Alaska's Fairbanks to the Canadian city of Vancouver. For this a fuel cell hybrid vehicle based on the Highlander sport utility vehicle was used. During its seven-day trek, the vehicle ran a distance of more than 480 km with a full tank of compressed gas hydrogen storing 5kg hydrogen at 70 MPa (700 bar). Powertech Labs from Canada did the refuelling of the vehicle during the trip.
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Let there be light – UK lighthouse powered by fuel cell
HyWeb, 2007-12-04: A hydrogen fuel cell has been successfully powering the South Gare lighthouse in the UK for several months now. The historic South Gare lighthouse at the mouth of the River Tees leads to one of UK’s busiest ports with 6,000 ship arrivals each year and handling 50 million tonnes of cargo. The lighthouse was built 1884 and is an exposed and hostile location for a fuel cell. The fuel cell is housed in a cabinet attached to the lighthouse.
Image: CPI
The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), based at Wilton on Teesside, has worked in collaboration with PD Ports – which runs Teesport –, marine engineering company Pelangi – who maintain the lighthouse and its systems –, Schunk – who manufacture the fuel cell stack –, and Air Products – a producer of hydrogen and hydrogen energy applications.
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The topical quotation
Image: Honda |
"I would say there's no future for the auto industry without fuel cell cars. […] We are making significant efforts in the development of fuel cell cars. […] We tried mass production three years ago of a battery vehicle, on which we made significant technological progress from a model 10 years ago. Yet that level wasn't at all enough to realise a battery vehicle. That's why we're doing fuel cell." |
Takeo Fukui, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co. Ltd., at a conference on the auto industry, 23 October 2007 in Tokyo (Source: AFP)
Honda unveils FCX Clarity
HyWeb, 2007-11-15: Honda yesterday unveiled the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle at the Los Angeles International Auto Show, announcing plans to begin limited retail marketing of the vehicle in summer 2008.
The FCX Clarity is a next-generation, hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle based on a new Honda V Flow fuel cell platform, featuring improvements to driving range, power, weight and efficiency.
Motor |
Max. output |
100 kW |
Max. torque |
256 Nm |
Type |
AC synchronous electric motor
(permanent magnet) |
Fuel cell stack |
Type |
PEMFC
(Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell) |
Max. output |
100 kW |
Fuel |
Type |
Compressed hydrogen gas |
Storage |
High-pressure hydrogen tank |
Tank capacity |
171 litre |
Vehicle weight |
1625 kg |
Maximum speed |
160 km/h |
Complementary energy storage |
Lithium ion battery |
Honda plans to lease the FCX Clarity to a limited number of retail consumers in Southern California, U.S., with the first delivery taking place in summer 2008 for a three-year lease term with a price of $600 per month, including maintenance and collision insurance.
The name "Clarity" was purposefully chosen and shall demonstrate Honda's commitment to sustainable mobility and fuel cell vehicles (see also today's "Topical Quotation").
Link: www.H2mobility.org
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Daimler and Ford to acquire Ballard's automotive branch
HyWeb, 2007-11-08: Yesterday, Ballard announced that it has agreed to sell the company's automotive fuel cell assets to a joint venture of Daimler and Ford and will now concentrate on stationary applications.
The new company will carry the name Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation. Ballard will transfer its automotive intellectual property, 113 employees primarily from the research and technology development areas (equivalent to 20% of Ballard's workforce), as well as certain test equipment and inventory (book value of $6 million). Payment for these assets will consist of all 34.3 million Ballard shares held by Daimler and Ford. These shares will be cancelled. Ballard expects to record an estimated gain on the transaction of $95-to-$105 million.
The ownership structure of the new private company will be 50.1% Daimler, 30% Ford and 19.9% Ballard. The new company is headed by Andreas Truckenbrodt, formerly executive director of Daimler's Hybrid Development Center.
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Proton Motor presents triple hybrid fuel cell forklift truck
HyWeb, 2007-11-08: During the inauguration celebration of the new facility in Puchheim near Munich, Proton Motor has presented the world´s first triple hybrid fuel cell forklift truck.
Image: Proton Motor
The system combines the three components fuel cell, battery and supercapacitors to form an efficient propulsion system. Storage and fuel cells can be constructed in a compact and cost-efficient manner, as all components are used in their optimal operation range. The supercapacitors are able to manage the spurts of peak demand during operations such as accelerating and lifting heavy loads. Thus, all in all, the system can provide more than over 30 kW of peak power. The battery takes on energy buffering over longer peak demand times. This combination offers over 50% energy savings compared with diesel engine forklifts.
The system is devised as a plug-and-drive, replacing the standard battery package for the Class 1 forklift with an 80V/700 Ah battery without additional adaptation effort. The 10 kW fuel cell delivers sufficient energy to allow the triple forklift truck to work for an eight-hour shift. Hydrogen can be refuelled in just one minute.
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Shanghai to deploy hydrogen bus demonstration project – Tender call still in 2007
HyWeb, 2007-11-08: Shanghai residents will be able to ride in the city's first hydrogen-powered buses in the framework of a demonstration project. Six of these buses will appear late next year or early in 2009 in the Jiading District where the city's first hydrogen refueling station has already been built. More buses powered by hydrogen-based fuel cells are being planned for the city over the next few years as more refueling stations are built downtown. Fuel cell buses will play a key role within the site of the World Expo 2010 together with other zero-emission vehicles.
The Shanghai demo is one of the country's two pilot hydrogen-based vehicle projects funded from a grant of 300 million yuan (US$ 40 million) provided by the city government, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the United Nations. For the other project, three hydrogen-based fuel cell buses have been working in Beijing's public transport for more than a year.
The Shanghai project will ask overseas companies to submit tenders for the buses still this year.
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Dynetek provides 45 MPa hydrogen tube trailer to Canadian demonstration project
HyWeb, 2007-11-06: Dynetek has completed the delivery of a 450 bar Hydrogen Tube Trailer System to the Canadian Integrated Waste Hydrogen Utilization Project (IWHUP). The hydrogen supply system utilises removable modules – so called PowerCubes. These modules are a key link between the hydrogen production (by-product hydrogen which would otherwise be vented) and the various usage points along British Columbia’s Hydrogen Highway. Dynetek is collaborating with Westport Innovations and Sacré-Davey Engineering. In Canada over 50,000,000 kg of hydrogen is vented annually, thereof some 1,000 kg/h in North Vancouver alone.
Image: Dynetek
The five-year and CAN$ 18 million integrated demonstration project has over 20 partners and will operate eight light-duty trucks, hydrogen fuel cell cars, and a hydrogen stationary power fuel cell.
Technical specifications hydrogen tube trailer:
- 45 MPa compressed hydrogen distribution system
- Transport Canada approved aluminum - carbon-fibre cylinders
- 89 kg of hydrogen per rig (in total 6 on trailer)
- Self Load/Unload forklift on back of trailer
Link: IWHUP
Japan: Hydrogen to lower CO2 emissions from steelmakers
HyWeb, 2007-11-06: Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) plans to launch a project with Nippon Steel Corp, JFE Steel Corp and others to develop a new type of blast furnace that emits about 30% less CO2 than existing furnaces, the Nikkei reported on Monday according to newsagent AFX. The ministry plans to spend a total of yen 25 billion (~ EUR 150 million) starting this year until March 2009 to commercialise the technology in 10 years. In addition to developing a new method of using hydrogen (instead of coke) to operate blast furnaces, the project aims at developing ways to utilise waste heat from the furnaces and a mean to capture CO2 from blast furnace emissions. The steel industry is the biggest CO2 emitter accounting for 41.2% of the industrial and energy sector's emissions or 13% of Japan’s emissions.
Similar R&D activities have already been undertaken by Siemens in cooperation with Korean steel producer Posco (see article).
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Scotland: Green Energy Partnership for 'Hydrogen Houses Unplugged'
HyWeb, 2007-11-06: A Green Energy Partnership was formed to develop energy supply solutions to off-grid housing schemes. It consists of the Shetland Islands-based PURE Energy Centre (a UK company in renewable hydrogen systems), Fuel Cell Scotland and Hjaltland Housing Association (owner of an unplugged housing scheme). The project will address some of the environmental, electrical and heat supply issues found in many off-grid housing schemes around the world.
The first stage of the project involves building two hydrogen fuel cell combined heat and power systems to supply two off-grid houses in Northmavine on the Shetland Islands. The second stage of the project will see the development of a renewable hydrogen scheme at the house site. The final stage foresees the development of a renewable hydrogen refuelling station, which will be used in conjunction with a set of unique hydrogen cars. If the project proves successful, the partners hope to drive down system costs in less than five years.
The Green Energy Partnership is being supported by the Scottish Executive Renewable Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Scheme and is working on the backdrop of political aspirations of zero carbon footprints and the reduction of fuel poverty in off-grid places.
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Boeing tests hydrogen propulsion system using Ford engine
HyWeb, 2007-10-31: The Boeing Company has successfully tested a hydrogen powered internal combustion engine (ICE) in its High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) unmanned aircraft. HALE is designed to stay aloft for more than seven days and carry payloads weighing up to 2,000 pounds. Boeing, as HALE's system designer and integrator, is working closely with Aurora Flight Sciences and Ford to develop the aircraft's propulsion system. The propeller engine applied for this test was developed by Ford Motor Company.
Image: Boeing
During the test, the four-cylinder multi-stage turbocharged engine ran for nearly four days in a climate chamber including a total of three days that simulated conditions at 65,000 feet. The propulsion system included a multi-stage turbocharged internal combustion engine and its associated subsystems. The Ford engine earned better than expected fuel economy while demonstrating complete airflow and torque control across the engine's operating range.
According to Boeing, the test demonstrated the technical readiness of the hydrogen engine system and confirmed the capability breakthrough in flight endurance and altitude.
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Hytruck fuel cell hybrid distribution vehicle wins award
HyWeb, 2007-10-31: Recently founded Dutch company Hytruck BV has presented a distribution truck of the same name that comprises a hydrogen/electric hybrid drive-train. The Hytruck has received the European Road Transport Innovation Award 2007 granted by the jury of the RAI Association. The Hytruck has been build with financial support of the Dutch Government, amongst others. NedStack, Dutch producer of PEM fuel cells and systems and partner of Hytruck BV, has developed and manufactured the 16 kW fuel cell system. Three additional fuel cell systems are in the order books.
Image: Hytruck
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European Commission adopts two seminal proposals
HyWeb, 2007-10-30: The European Commission has adopted two landmark proposals that shall foster the development and deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell applications.
One proposal is aiming at introducing hydrogen vehicles in the type-approval framework. This means that hydrogen vehicles will be treated the same way as conventional vehicles and a single approval will be sufficient for the entire European Union. More hydrogen cars will benefit citizens through reduced health impacts of transport. Common standards for hydrogen storage will guarantee the safety of the general public. The proposal has been developed involving extensive stakeholder discussion and has also been subject to an internet consultation. The proposal will now be considered by the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers.
Link: EC Memo on Clean and Safe Hydrogen Vehicles
Commissioner Janez Potočnik, ReviewDays'07 (Image: PS/HFP)
The other proposal was announced by Commissioner Janez Potočnik in the course of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Review Days, October 10 in Brussels, Belgium. The proposal deals with the establishment of the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative (FCH-JTI). This Joint Technology Initiative is destined to provide an innovative, long term public-private partnership for the deployment of world-class, competitive technologies in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells, and thus contributing to the European Union’s objectives for addressing the critical challenges of climate change, energy security and competitiveness.
Link: EC Memo on Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative
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LBST Analysis
Photovoltaics and wind produce 10 times more fuel per hectare than biofuels
HyWeb, 2007-10-10: In the current discussion surrounding the expansion of biofuel use, the general public is becoming increasingly aware of the limits of this strategy. Scientific proof is furnished by detailed analyses prepared by Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik GmbH, which show that when farmland is used to produce hydrogen from photovoltaics or wind power instead of biofuel, the same area generates ten times more fuel. Combined with the significantly lower fuel consumption of cars powered by fuel-cells, the energy produced will fuel 20 times more vehicles.
“Power-generating technical systems such as photovoltaics and wind power provide significantly more energy than biofuels that depend on photosynthesis-driven plant growth. This explains why a limited area falls well short of providing sufficient quantities of biofuel, but the amount of renewable power needed for hydrogen generation can be produced“, says Dr Ulrich Bünger, Senior Project Manager of LBST. The results of these analyses have been confirmed by Prof. Hartmut Graßl, former director of the Max-Planck Institute of Meteorology in Hamburg. At the fuel-cell conference in Stuttgart, he appealed for continued support of wind power and photovoltaics.
“Biofuel outputs vary dramatically“, explains Werner Weindorf, in charge of the analyses at LBST. “The highest outputs were achieved with biogas methane followed by “BTL” fuels (“Biomass-to-Liquids”) and hydrogen from short rotation coppicing.” Photovoltaics and wind power clearly outperformed biomass, however, emphasizes Weindorf. This does not even take into account that photovoltaics and above all wind power plants allowed the farmland to be used for additional purposes or nature conservation assignments. Furthermore, explains Weindorf, photovoltaics in particular may also be installed on roofs and other building structures.
Figure 1: Biofuel output per hectare compared to the output of hydrogen generated from photovoltaics (PV) and wind power. Analysis: Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik
Figure 2: Number of hybrid cars that can be fuelled from one hectare of agricultural land. Analysis: Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik
Download: LBST Analysis: Yield of Biofuels versus
Hydrogen from Photovoltaics and Wind Power, 09 October 2007 [pdf, 160 kB]
MA
The topical quotation
"The Fuel Cell Activities (FCA) research division with over 600 employees is currently being integrated into regular series development, giving it key importance within the concern. We are thus preparing for the series production of fuel cell technology."
Carl-Peter Forster, President of GM Europe, Press Release, 3rd September 2007
New at H2Stations.org since 12 July 2007:
• Newly planned: Arnhem/Netherlands
• New entries: Skaramanga (Greece), South Windsor, Wallingford (CT, USA), Pico Truncado (Argentina)
• Entered into operation: Jamestown (Florida, USA), Selfridge (Michigan, USA), Minot (North Dakota, USA), Antwerpen (Belgium), Brussels (Belgium)
Currently there are 290 entries in the database.
Link: www.H2Stations.org
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hydrogen.tech 2007 – 200 Years Hydrogen Vehicles
HyWeb, 2007-09-20: HyWeb, 2007-09-19: This year's hydrogen.tech conference is taking place on the backdrop of 200 years of hydrogen vehicles.
Looking back, Swiss inventor François Isaac de Rivaz was granted a pantent and started building a demonstrator hydrogen vehicle as early as 1807. A test drive with the approximately 1 tonne Rivaz vehicle was successfully conducted in 1813 over a distance of some 100 meters with 25 ignitions in series (all hand triggered).
Image: Rivaz hydrogen vehicle (H2mobility.org / LBST)
Looking forward, hydrogen.tech 2007 will cover the latest progress on hydrogen technology. The conference will take place on 4-5 December in Munich, Germany. Organiser is TÜV SÜD in cooperation with Ludwig-Bölkow-Systemtechnik. Conference language is German with some presentations being held in English. Simultaneous translation will be provided.
Link: www.akd.tuev-sued.de
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DaimlerChrysler: Small-scale series production of B-Class F-Cell from 2010
HyWeb, 2007-09-20: Small-scale series production of the B-Class F-Cell will begin in early 2010, DaimlerChrysler said at the Frankfurt car show (IAA) as reported by news agent Reuters. DaimlerChrysler has not yet decided about how the cars will be provided to customers, probably on a lease basis. Costs of these cars will still significantly outstrip those of conventional ones, said Thomas Weber, the group's research head and development chief at Mercedes.
Image: DaimlerChrysler
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Air Products and HyGear co-operate on small-scale steam methane reformer
HyWeb, 2007-09-20: Air Products and HyGear have signed a co-operation agreement, which includes the sales and marketing of HyGear’s mini Steam Methane Reforming technology (5-10 Nm³/h) into various application areas including hydrogen fuelling stations. The first application under the Air Products / HyGear agreement is a fuelling station in Toulouse, France by the end of 2007. This station is to be built as part of the AltHyTude project, led by Gaz de France. The contract covers a phased deployment of HyGear’s products by Air Products at customers’ sites.
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Europe: HyPath to develop roadmap for hydrogen buses
HyWeb, 2007-09-20: The European project HyFLEET:CUTE announces the commencement of a year long process to develop a detailed roadmap for the commercialisation of hydrogen powered buses named “HyPath”. More than 300 of Europe's most senior decision makers will be personally invited to collaborate with other government, industry, customer and the Community members in developing this roadmap. HyPath shall guide specific actions in the post HyFLEET:CUTE time – i.e. from 2009 – in the context of a European Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) on Fuel Cells and Hydrogen and other national programs. For more information on the roadmap process and to register interest in participating:
http://www.global-hydrogen-bus-platform.com/hypath1/
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USA: Fuel cell buses to be deployed In Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York
HyWeb, 2007-09-19: The US Northeast Advanced Vehicle Consortium (NAVC) announced the start of six new projects with the signing of contracts with the Federal Transit Administration as part of the National Fuel Cell Bus Program. This program is dedicated to consolidate and accelerate the process of making hydrogen buses commercially feasible as cleaner, more energy-efficient alternatives.
The new projects under contract with NAVC are:
- Nuvera Fuel Cells will design a fuel cell power module for integration into one 40 foot, hydrogen powered bus and one natural gas based hydrogen refueling station for installation at the Logan International Airport in Boston Massachusetts. Total project volume is US$ 9,750,000.
- UTC Power will develop four fuel cell-powered hybrid electric buses using the most advanced technology from UTC Power and test them with partner CTTRANSIT. The buses also will be tested with other transit agencies in diverse areas across the nation as the program evolves over four years. Total project volume is US$ 16,710,000.
- GE will apply experience in controls development and optimization to existing hybrid technologies to bring higher efficiencies and lower costs to fuel cell bus propulsion systems. A new advanced lithium ion battery from A-123 will be demonstrated as part of the program as well as a lightweight bus body and fuel cell technology. Total project volume is US$ 13,390,000.
- The New York Power Authority (NYPA) will be the lead on the program, providing cost share, which includes a large hydrogen infrastructure program. NFTA will operate two fuel cell buses from New Flyer using Ballard and ISE’s most advanced technology in transit service at Niagara Falls. This program will utilize renewable hydropower from the NYPA owned Niagara Power Project to generate hydrogen through electrolysis for a true zero emission bus project. Total project volume is US$ 12,440,000.
- NAVC will continue to staff the FTA National Fuel Cell Working Group and the International Fuel Cell Bus Committees for US$ 900,000 for four years.
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BMW Hydrogen 7 closest to space a car can get
HyWeb, 2007-09-18: Beginning of August this year, BMW of North America and NASA announced the successful completion of an eight-week test period of the BMW Hydrogen 7. The test period, which was initiated under a Space Act Agreement between NASA and BMW, underscores the organizations' shared commitment to advancing hydrogen technologies and to exploring innovative transportation concepts and alternative energy sources. During the test period, NASA personnel had full access to the fleet of BMW Hydrogen 7s, which run on a form of liquid hydrogen similar to what NASA uses in its shuttles. Hence, the vehicles were conveniently refueled using the space center's liquid hydrogen fueling supply located on the space center's premises.
Image: BMW
One hundred BMW Hydrogen 7s have been built, and 25 are used in test programs in the US. The cars have already covered more than 1.3 million miles in test programs around the globe. BMW is currently the only car manufacturer using hydrogen stored in its liquid state.
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Germany: Linde starts operation of new hydrogen liquefier in Leuna
HyWeb, 2007-09-18: Beginning of September, Linde officially started operations at their second hydrogen liquefaction plant at the chemical site in Leuna, Germany. The investment volume for the liquefier is reportedly more than EUR 20 million. Until then, Germany's only hydrogen liquefier until now was in Ingolstadt, which is also run by Linde. Both liquefiers have a production capacity of some 3,000 litres of LH2 per hour each (equivalent to ~5t of LH2 per day). The feed gas is supplied via a pipeline from the neighbouring hydrogen production plant, is liquefied and trucked to customers by LH2 container vehicles.
Image: Linde
The company aims to satisfy the fuel demand of hydrogen-powered vehicles with sustainable production methods in the near future.
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Fuel cell to turn paint fumes to energy at Ford auto manufacturing plant
HyWeb, 2007-09-03: Ford Motor Co. will purchase a DFC300MA fuel cell of FuelCell Energy Inc. for its Oakville, Ontario, facility to reduce paint solvents emanating from automotive painting operations by turning fumes from those compounds into electricity. From Ford's Oakville painting process emanates enough volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to power the 300 kW fuel cell unit. Paint fumes were previously vented into the atmosphere. The system will be designed to switch over to another fuel source automatically if necessary.
The fuel cell power plant is being funded by Industry Canada, and the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade to assist in deploying alternative energy sources. The unit deployment in Oakville will be supported through the combined efforts of FuelCell Energy and its distribution partner, Enbridge. Installation and integration of the power plant with Ford's manufacturing facility will be managed by Arencibia Associates.
The fuel cell power plant is expected to be started up early in 2008 and over time, Ford and Detroit Edison, which jointly own the rights to the paint fume clean up and separation technology, could roll the system out to Ford's other plants, or license it to other manufacturers whose operations include similar uses of paint compounds.
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