Platinum today: News/Fuel Cell

Fuel Cell Roundup February 2011

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Tata Motors unveils three new vehicles at Auto Expo 2012 (05/01/12)

The Tata Starbus Fuel Cell has been unveiled among a host of new vehicles launched by the Indian firm.

Developed with support from the Indian government's Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, the bus features a fuel cell with gross peak power of 114HP, coupled with a motor with the peak power output of 250HP

ClearEdge Power Signs Market-Defining $500 Million Multi-Phase Agreement to Deliver 50 Megawatts of Clean Energy to Güssing Renewable Energy (10/01/12)

ClearEdge has been chosen by Gussing Renewable Energy to provide 50MW of clean energy from fuel cells in Austria by 2020.

As part of the $500 million agreement, ClearEdge will deliver 8.5 MW of energy over the next 36 months.

"This is a very significant milestone for both ClearEdge Power and the stationary fuel cell market," said ClearEdge Power president and chief executive officer Russell Ford.

Fuel Cell Buses Becoming One Popular Ride (10/01/12)

A number of recent purchases have thrown fuel cell technology further into the US energy mix.

Ballard Power Systems received several big orders to supply its FCvelocity HD6 fuel cell power modules to fleets, while UTC Power's latest generation PureMotion System Model 120 fuel cell power plant for hybrid-electric transit buses surpassed 10,000 operating hours.

In Canada, BC Transit's fleet of 20 buses powered by Ballard Power Systems' fuel cell modules recently surpassed one million miles.

Hydrogenics Wins Electrolyzer Contract for Netherlands Hydrogen Fueling Station (11/01/12)

Fuel cell provider Hydrogenics Corporation has announced a contract with Ballast Nedam IPM to supply a HySTAT30 electrolyzer for integration into a hydrogen fuelling station in the Netherlands.

The fuelling station will be owned by Waterstofnet, a non-profit organisation financed by the Flemish and Dutch governments.

"Our success in supplying electrolyser-based hydrogen fuelling stations is directly linked to our vast experience in industrial hydrogen markets. Over the past ten years, Hydrogenics has added over 200 HySTAT industrial installations worldwide to its 1,800 install-base," said Daryl Wilson, Hydrogenics president and Cchief executive officer.

Walmart Saves Through Fuel Cells (13/01/12)

Energy savings from fuel cell technology could help Walmart Canada make close to $5 million in savings by 2015.

The firm's investment in a fleet of Crown Equipment Corp PC4500 pallet trucks utilising Plug Power Inc GenDrive-brand hydrogen fuel cells will pay off in the long run, says Andrew Ellis, senior vice-president of supply chain and logistics.

Hydrogen Refuelling Station for Arctic Driving Centre (16/01/12)

H2 Logic A/S has supplied a hydrogen refuelling station at the Arctic Driving Centre in Finland.

Based on H2Station technology, the station provides three minutes fast fill of hydrogen at 700 bar for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV) being tested by car manufacturers under extreme cold climate conditions.

UTC Power Fuel Cell Arrives at New Haven City Hall, Connecticut (17/01/12)

A UTC Power PureCell 400 has been delivered to New Haven City Hall in Connecticut, the fifth fuel cell to be installed in the city.

The majority of electricity demand at City Hall and the Hall of Records will be met by the phosphoric acid fuel cell.

It will also provide 60 per cent of the heat and 30 per cent of the cooling required by the two buildings.

Automakers call for renewed US help on fuel-cell vehicles (25/01/12)

Carmakers are optimistic about the future for fuel cell vehicles and have called on the US government to do more to support the technology.

"I am bullish on fuel cells," says Mike Stanton, president of GlobalAutomakers, an association of 15 major foreign automakers including Honda, Toyota Ferrari and Kia.

"The technology is coming along rapidly. Our members think [there is promise in] fuel cells, but you've got to have the hydrogen infrastructure, and that is where we have to work together."

Council backs major hydrogen transport project (25/01/12)

Aberdeen City Council will support a multi-million pound to introduce Scotland's first fuel cell buses to the north-east.

Up to a dozen buses will operate in central Aberdeen, making it the biggest fleet of its kind in Europe.

It is hoped that the Strategic European Hydrogen Transport Projects will stimulate investment and innovation around hydrogen technology in Europe's oil capital.

U.S. Auto Parts pays $233,000 for air quality infractions (11/01/12)

The California Air Resources Board fined US Auto Parts $233,000 for selling illegal catalytic converters for use on passenger vehicles.

Investigators documented the sales of 932 illegal catalytic converters by the company.

"Catalytic converters are integral to reducing smog-forming emissions from motor vehicles," said ARB enforcement chief James Ryden.

"When the equipment doesn't comply with California standards, the health of the public is compromised."

Ballard Signs MOU With Tata Motors To Power Clean Fuel Cell Bus Demonstrations In India (27/01/12)

Ballard Power Systems has signed a deal with Tata Motors to supply the automaker with 12 FCvelocity 1110 fuel cell stacks for use in demonstration buses in various Indian cities.

The stacks will be delivered in 2012 and 2013 to the firm, which has just unveiled the first fuel cell-powered bus built in India.

"Working with technology companies such as Ballard only strengthens our ability to design and market the wheels of a greener world here in India," said Mr. P.M. Telang, managing director (India Operations) for Tata.

Hydrogenics Awarded Contract by US Hybrid Corporation to Deliver Five HyPM(TM)HD Series Power Modules for Heavy Duty Mobility (27/01/12)

Hydrogenics Corporation has received orders for the delivery of five new generation HyPM HD Series Fuel Cell Power Modules from US Hybrid of Torrance, California.

US Hybrid specialises in manufacturing power conversion systems for medium and heavy duty electric, hybrid and fuel cell commercial buses and trucks.

Call for proposals under the Implementation Plan of Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (31/01/12)

The European Commission is calling for ideas on how to further improve fuel cells and their adoption, as it says the technology will be vital for the continent to hits its 2020 emissions targets.

It is inviting proposals on transportation and refuelling infrastructure, hydrogen production and distribution, stationary power generation and combined heat and power, and cross-cutting issues.

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Fuel cells to play greater role in South Africa platinum industry

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Fuel cells are to play an ever-greater role in South Africa's platinum mining industry as firms look to alternative forms of energy.

Marco Biffi, who is the principal engineer for ventilation and occupational environment at Anglo American subsidiary Anglo Operations, believes these will prove increasingly important in meeting small to medium power requirements.

"They are ideal for the provision of standby power, and can easily be used underground as backup power for communication systems, without the problems associated with conventional emergency power sources," he told Mining Weekly.

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) plans to test a fuel cell-powered mine locomotive at its Dishaba operation in March or April of this year.

Mr Biffi also said larger alternative energy projects that reduce platinum miners' reliance on traditional electricity providers will be needed in future.

Unreliable supplies and higher costs mean platinum mining companies should look to on-demand mine cooling strategies to ensure production projects are not delayed, he told the publication.

"Projects that have not requested an electricity supply allocation from power utility Eskom will struggle with energy supply in the next two years," he explained.

Solar power is one option platinum miners may consider to reduce reliance on the state utility provider.

Sources:

Evolving platinum projects to focus on energy efficiency (03/02/12)

Amplats to test fuel-cell powered mine loco March/April (16/01/12)

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New Report on Fuel Cells and Hydrogen in China

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Fuel cells are not a new technology to China. Its universities have been developing the technology for many years and the country hosts a number of well-established commercial fuel cell companies. The opportunities for fuel cells to contribute to a low carbon economy in the country are clear. China relies heavily upon coal-fired power for electricity generation; is the leading emitter of greenhouse gases (measured in absolute terms); has the largest domestic automobile manufacturing industry in the world; and is home to the largest and most rapidly expanding mobile telecommunications network on the planet. Financial support from the Chinese government is strong and fuel cells are identified as a key future technology and funded accordingly.

This report reviews the key demonstration programmes to date and identifies the opportunities for fuel cells and hydrogen to contribute to a low carbon future in China.

Chinese companies throughout the supply chain from catalysts to membranes and system integrators to end users are all driving fuel cell adoption leading China to become an international competitor.

Click here to download the full report

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South Africa DTI 'considering platinum economic zone'

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

A dedicated Special Economic Zone (SEZ) for platinum development could be created in South Africa, it has been reported.

The country's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is looking at establishing a central "platinum hub", according to Mining Weekly.

"Some of the provinces and our local companies have been working on moving into the commercialisation of fuel-cell technology, so definitely this could be one area that we designate an SEZ," DTI director-general Lionel October told the publication.

The government is keen to support platinum and fuel cell development outside of areas that are the traditional industrial zones.

"There have been major developments in terms of diversifying the sources of demand for platinum, especially in the general area of energy and fuel cells," explained Mr October.

His comments come after the chief executive officer of mining giant Anglo American, Cynthia Carroll, told a United Nations convention that South Africa is ideally-placed to establish clean sources of electricity, as well as thousands of jobs, by developing fuel cell technology and infrastructure.

"With platinum at its heart, a fuel-cell industry would support South Africa's drive for jobs," she said.

Meanwhile, Anglo American's platinum mining arm Amplats has said it will trial a fuel cell-powered mine locomotive later this year.

Mr October believes that the time is right for the SEZ as fuel cells move from the research phase to commercial deployment on a wide scale

"We're at a nexus point that, if we do the right thing now, we can take fuel cells to a slightly higher level," he told Mining Weekly.

According to the news provider, South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has earmarked platinum for value-chain development, "backing up disparate research work for decades by the likes of platinum promoter Johnson Matthey".

It is thought that fuel cell technology presents South Africa with a huge manufacturing opportunity due its large reserves of platinum.

Last year, Amplats and US-based Altergy Systems announced a partnership with South Africa's Department of the Science and Technology (DST) to establish a new company, Clean Energy Incorporated, which would market and distribute fuel cells in South Africa.

Sources:

DTI mulling special economic zone for platinum (17/01/12)

Amplats to test fuel-cell powered mine loco March/April (16/01/12)

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Amplats planning fuel cell mine locomotive

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) plans to test a fuel cell-powered mine locomotive at its Dishaba operating this year.

"Hopefully by March/April, we'll have a loco on surface that will be fuel-cell based," Amplats market development and research head Anthea Bath told Mining Weekly.

While mine locomotives currently run off battery power, the test is designed to highlight the improved efficiency and productivity of fuel cell technology.

Amplats is the world's leading primary producer of platinum, a metal that is a key component in fuel cells.

South Africa is set to benefit from the expansion of fuel cell technology as the world's largest source of platinum.

In the UK, a new cross-industry scheme has been unveiled by the government to drive fuel cell adoption called UK H2 Mobility, while countries like Germany and Japan are pushing for greater commercialisation.

Ms Bath believes even a limited uptake of fuel cell technology in the energy market will spur platinum demand further.

Mining Weekly notes that Amplats is also looking at fuel cell systems for its own inter-mine communications and for miners' caplamps.

"We are working closely with the South African government to drive fuel cells as a beneficiation opportunity locally. The business case makes sense," she told the publication.

Source:

Amplats to test fuel-cell powered mine loco March/April (16/01/12)

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EFOY Comfort fuel cell wins iF product design award

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

The EFOY Comfort fuel cell has won the iF product design award 2012 in the leisure/lifestyle category.

Manufactured by SFC Energy AG, the fuel cell was praised for its design, workmanship, materials, innovation, functionality, ergonomics, intuitive use, safety, brand value and branding.

Launched in the early summer of 2011, the EFOY Comfort fuel cell is an autonomous power source for mobile homes, cabins and sailboats.

"We are excited about winning the iF product design award," said Dr Peter Podesser, chief executive officer of SFC Energy.

"We wanted the EFOY Comfort to feature not only even more functionality and enable even more independence for our customers, we also concentrated on an attractive design and on an appealing touch."

The iF product design prize has been running for 58 years and this year 2,923 companies entered the competition.

Source:

EFOY fuel cell wins award (10/01/12)

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Fuel Cell Roundup January 2012

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 GMT

Energy Department Awards More Than $7 Million for Innovative Hydrogen Storage Technologies in Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (12/12/11)

Over $7 million has been set aside by the US Department of Energy to fund four projects in California, Washington and Oregon to advance hydrogen storage technologies for use in fuel cell electric vehicles.

Reducing costs and increasing performance of hydrogen storage systems by developing innovative materials and advanced tanks is the object of the three-year projects.

"Targeted investments in cutting-edge hydrogen storage technologies will spur American ingenuity, accelerate breakthroughs, and increase our competitiveness in the global clean energy economy," said energy secretary Steven Chu.

"As we focus on energy security, strengthening our portfolio to include domestically-produced hydrogen and American-made fuel cells for transportation and energy storage applications will create new jobs and reduce carbon pollution."

Ballard Signs Supply Agreement With A Major European OEM For Fuel Cell Bus Modules (14/12/11)

Ballard Power Systems has signed an equipment supply agreement with Van Hool NV for 21 of the company's latest-generation FCveolicity-HD6 fuel cell power modules.

The fuel cell modules will power zero-emission buses in a number of European cities, with the majority to be shipped in 2012.

Leopold Van Hool, managing director of Europe's fourth largest bus manufacturer, said: "We are very pleased to be utilising Ballard fuel cell modules, building on its proven track record of reliability and durability. These modules are compact and offer integration flexibility, while delivering the high performance required for heavy duty city buses."

The fuel cell module roll-out is being supported by European Joint Technology Initiative funding provided under the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking programme, part of Europe's Sustainable Energy Technology Plan.

Berlin Airports Test Opel HydroGen4 (13/12/11)

Germany's new Berlin Brandenburg Airport, set to replace the older Tegel and Schonefeld airports, is trialling a new Open HydroGen4 fuel cell vehicle.

"The vehicle, which has an emission free hydrogen propulsion, is supposed to give valuable further insights into the everyday suitability of this futuristic technology as part of the Clean Energy Partnership," said Opel vice-president of government relations Volker Hoff.

Opel's HydroGen4 features a 73kW/100hp engine unit that delivers an acceleration rate of 0 to 100 km/h in 12 seconds with a top speed of 160 km/h.

It boasts a range of 320km and can be filled up in under three minutes.

Power+Energy Issues White Paper on Hydrogen Purification Technology (14/12/11)

Power+Energy has published a new study on recent innovations in palladium membrane technology and the impact on purifier performance and reliability.

The paper, entitled "A Durable Gas Purification Technology for High-flow Hydrogen in LED, Power Device and Photovoltaic Fabrication", is available on its website.

Ballard Clean Energy Fuel Cell Modules Power BC Transit Bus Fleet Thru 1-Million Miles of Service (20/12/11)

The 20-bus fleet operated by BC Transit in Whistler, British Columbia, which is powered by Ballard FCvelocity-HD6 fuel cell modules, has surpassed one million miles of revenue service.

It is the largest hydrogen fuel cell-powered bus fleet in operation in the world since entering service in January 2010 prior to the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver.

Paul Cass, Ballard vice-president of operations, said, "We are pleased with the continued improvement in overall bus fleet performance over time and are delighted with BC Transit's ongoing support of this important initiative.

"Many decision-makers in the global bus market are following the Whistler experience closely and will be interested in the results to date."

Acta signs letter of intent with Horizon (05/01/12)

Acta signed a letter of intent with Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies Pte for the evaluation, development and production of electrolyser systems incorporating Acta's award-winning hydrogen generating technology.

Horizon, which has sold hundreds of thousands of consumer fuel cell products over the past five years, has bought an EL100 electrolyser from Acta and aims to incorporate the firm's hydrogen generator stacks into its own electrolyser equipment.

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