fUelCELLS

BULLETIN

www.fuelcellsbulletin.com

ISSN 1464-2859 May

October
2015 2010

Uline is new GenKey customer for Plug Power

n the US, Plug Power has announced

Wisconsin-based Uline Inc as a new
customer for its GenKey turnkey
package of fuel cell systems, hydrogen
fueling infrastructure, and aftermarket
service and support.
The initial deployment of GenDrive fuel
cell units will power the forklift fleet at one of
Ulines distribution centres in Pleasant Prairie,
Wisconsin. Uline will also deploy a second fleet
of GenDrive-powered lift trucks in a newly
constructed facility in the coming months.
Uline will operate more than 130 GenDrive
units between the two facilities. In addition,
Plug Power will expand the existing GenFuel
liquid system used for the currently operational
pilot project in Pleasant Prairie, into a full
liquid system including eight dispensers.
This infrastructure leverages Plug Powers
new GenFuel construction process, where
a significant portion of the hydrogen

infrastructure is built onsite at its facility, then

shipped to the customers site for installation.
By building the equipment in-house, Plug
Power can deliver these systems more costeffectively and with short lead times.
Family-owned Uline is a leading distributor
of shipping, industrial and packaging materials
to businesses, from 12 branches across the US,
Canada, and Mexico.
Plug Power recently won a contract for its fullservice GenKey solution for the FreezPak Logistics
cold storage distribution centre freezer warehouse
currently under construction in Carteret, New
Jersey [FCB, April 2015, p4]. Plug Power has also
just rolled out its first hydrogen fuel cell ground
support equipment, at Memphis International
Airport in Tennessee [see page 2, and the Plug
Power feature in FCB, December 2011].

NEWS
Uline is new GenKey customer for Plug Power
FuelCell Energy completes trigeneration project

1
1

ROAD VEHICLES
Ballard modules for China buses, UC Irvine bus

MOBILE APPLICATIONS
Plug Power, FedEx for fuel cell airport tractors
SFC adds onboard power in German toll vehicles

2
3

SMALL STATIONARY
SOLIDpower system for European micro CHP
Ballard initial Indian order for 100 backup units
Cascadiant for Telkomsel fuel cells in Indonesia
Ceres 40% increase in Steel Cell power output
Convion SOFC with Fraunhofer IKTS, Plansee

3
4
4
5
5

LARGE STATIONARY
AFC for 300 MW in Dubai, 10 MW in Thailand
Comcast, CenturyLink use Bloom Energy power
Pepperidge Farm has second MW-class FCE unit

6
6
6

PORTABLE & MICRO

SFC EFOY ProTrailer for mobile hybrid power

Plug Power: www.plugpower.com

Uline: www.uline.com

FuelCell Energy completes trigeneration project

onnecticut-based FuelCell Energy
recently completed an industrialscale combined heat, power and
hydrogen (trigeneration) project at its
manufacturing plant in Torrington, in a
partnership with the US Department of
Energys Advanced Manufacturing Office
[FCB, April 2014, p7].
In addition to the generation of heat and power
this sub-MW system also provides a stream of
high-purity hydrogen for use in manufacturing
operations. Hydrogen-rich gas mixtures are
commonly used to protect metal surfaces during
manufacturing. The Direct FuelCell molten
carbonate power plant uses natural gas to generate
electricity and process heat for manufacturing, and
provides facility heat and hot water, as well as the
hydrogen needed to make a protective atmosphere
for subsequent fuel cell manufacturing.
This learn by making and using approach
is a great example of public/private partnering
that will result in real-world benefits, says

Contents
Contents

FUELING
Quantum, Linde dispensers in California network
Teesing demonstrates 700 bar hydrogen refueling
H2USA new tools push hydrogen infrastructure

7
8
8

ENERGY STORAGE

AMO director Mark Johnson. The tri-gen

technology demonstrates efficient power and
heat production combined with onsite hydrogen
production, and has the potential to find
applications in many process industries that use a
reducing atmosphere for manufacturing.
FuelCell Energy has been operating a 250
kW DFC-H2 project at the Orange County
Sanitation District in Fountain Valley,
California, converting renewable biogas into
hydrogen for vehicle fueling [FCB, August
2011, p1]. And it is participating in the first
renewable energy quad-generation installation,
which in addition produces food-grade CO2 for
greenhouses in British Columbia [FCB, April
2014, p5]. FuelCell Energy is also installing a
1.4 MW power plant at the Pepperidge Farm
bakery in Bloomfield, Connecticut [see page 5].

ITM 500 kW electrolyser for tidal energy storage

First P2G projects in US use Proton electrolysers

FuelCell Energy: www.fuelcellenergy.com

News In Brief

DOE, Advanced Manufacturing Office:

http://energy.gov/eere/amo

8
9

COMMERCIALISATION
Heliocentris has Inabata as Asia, US sales partner
Intelligent Energy wraps Bic deal, adds carmaker
PowerCell launches S2 next-generation stack
Simark, GPT for EFOY Pro remote US power

9
9
10
10

RESEARCH
Toshiba new group hydrogen energy R&D centre
DOE pushes hydrogen storage materials, systems

11
11

NEWS FEATURES
SOFC electrolyte with higher oxygen
ionic conductivity
PNNL method creates alloy particles
to replace Pt catalysts
Proton Motor focuses on cleantech
competence

12
13
1415

REGULARS
Editorial 3
2015 Fuel Cell Seminar Call for Abstracts

5
11

Patents 1519
Events Calendar

20

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NEWS
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Fuel Cells Bulletin

Ballard modules for

eight buses in China,
powers UC Irvine bus

anadian-based Ballard Power

Systems has received an order from
a Chinese customer, to supply its nextgeneration FCvelocity-HD7 PEM fuel
cell power modules for eight buses to
be deployed in several Chinese cities.
And the first fuel cell bus in service
with the University of California, Irvine
transit system has been unveiled.
Ballard expects to ship the modules to the
unnamed customer in China by year-end.
Ballard recently terminated licensing deals for
bus and telecom backup power with Azure
Hydrogen in Beijing [FCB, February 2015,
p9], but more positively, it supplied a module
for the fuel cell-powered fixed rail electric tram
recently unveiled by CSR Sifang in Qingdao
[FCB, April 2015, p5].
We are now beginning to see meaningful
evidence of growing demand for clean energy
mass transportation alternatives in China,
including both buses and trams, says Randy
MacEwen, president and CEO of Ballard. This
demand is being driven by a pressing need to
address Chinas challenging air quality issues,
for which fuel cell technology is seen as an
emerging option.
The Chinese government is investing heavily
in the renewable energy industry and on saving
energy and reducing emissions. A new energy
programme, launched in 2011 and involving
48 cities, aims to expand public transit while
reducing the number of vehicles. One of its
specific goals is to deploy more than 1000 clean
energy buses in each of its participating cities,
taking advantage of government subsidies to
facilitate this expansion. Electric and fuel cell
buses are eligible for a US$150000 subsidy,
while hydrogen fueling stations are eligible for a
further $650000 subsidy.
The UC Irvine bus, which will operate
on the Anteater Express service, is the fifth
American Fuel Cell Bus (AFCB) configuration
delivered in California, starting with SunLine
Transit in 2011 [FCB, December 2011, p2].
The AFCB configuration utilises Ballards
FCvelocity-HD6 module to provide
primary power, in combination with BAE
Systems HybriDrive propulsion and power
management systems, deployed in an ElDorado
National 40 ft (12m) Axes heavy-duty transit
bus. The California Energy Commission
provided project funding, administered through

the Calstart nonprofit clean transportation

consortium.
This bus programme builds on UC
Irvines expertise with hydrogen technologies,
complementing existing research and utilising
the established hydrogen fueling infrastructure.
UC Irvine is home to the National Fuel Cell
Research Center (NFCRC), and the Anteater
Express/NFCRC collaborative will allow
hands-on research and education in hydrogenpowered vehicle technologies for the UC Irvine
community.
Ballard also expects to supply bus fuel cell
modules as part of two projects in California
and Ohio recently awarded funding by the
Federal Transit Administration, again working
with BAE Systems and ElDorado National
[FCB, March 2015, p3].
Ballard Power Systems, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com
National Fuel Cell Research Center, UC Irvine:
www.nfcrc.uci.edu
Calstart, National Fuel Cell Bus Program:
http://tinyurl.com/calstart-fcbuses

mobile applications

Plug Power, FedEx

project rolls out fuel
cell airport tractors

edEx Corporation, in collaboration

with the US Department of Energy,
Plug Power, and Charlatte America,
has rolled out what it calls the worlds
first zero-emissions, hydrogen fuel
cell ground support equipment (GSE).
Under a $2.5 million DOE grant, FedEx
is operating 15 fuel cell-powered
Charlatte GSE units and a Plug Power
hydrogen fueling station at the FedEx
World Hub at Memphis International
Airport in Tennessee.
The 15 fuel cell powered GSE cargo tractors
are now part of a fleet of more than 1500 gas,
diesel, and electric cargo tractors at the FedEx
World Hub. The units are fueled by hydrogen,
dispensed directly into the fuel cell systems by
the driver from a 15000 US gallon (57000
litre) liquid hydrogen fueling infrastructure
located on the airport ramp.
While these hydrogen fuel cell powered
cargo tractors may not look big, they are
capable of pulling 40000 lb [18 tonnes] of
cargo on airport dollies in even the harshest
weather conditions, says John Dunavant, VP of
the FedEx Express World Hub in Memphis.
With strategic expansion in mind, Plug
Power has developed products for GSE

May 2015

NEWS / editorial
applications, starting with the airport baggage
tuggers used by FedEx in Memphis. Plug Power
installed the GenFuel hydrogen fueling station
[FCB, December 2014, p4], and retrofitted the
Charlatte GSEs for GenDrive fuel cell power
[see the Plug Power feature in FCB, December
2011]. This is not the only project that FedEx
has worked on with Plug Power and DOE;
they recently collaborated to install and test
GenDrive fuel cells in 35 forklifts at a FedEx
Freight facility in Springfield, Missouri.
Plug Power, Latham, New York, USA.
Tel: +1 518 782 7700, www.plugpower.com
Charlatte America: www.charlatteamerica.com

SFC follow-up order

for onboard power in
German toll vehicles

n Germany, SFC Energy has received

a substantial follow-up order, to
equip a further 306 Volkswagen T5
Transporter light commercial vehicles
with EFOY Pro fuel cells. The Federal
Office for Goods Transport (BAG) uses
the vans for toll inspection purposes
across Germany. SFC shipped 266 of
its EFOY Pro fuel cells during Q4 of
2014, with the remaining 40 devices
delivered in Q1 of 2015.
The EFOY Pro direct methanol fuel cell
is a convenient, lightweight power generator.
It automatically produces power for electric
measuring and surveillance devices and office
equipment onboard the vehicle. As the devices
are operated continuously for 8h or more
each day, batteries alone cannot supply enough
power, so the EFOY fuel cell is used to recharge
the onboard batteries while the vehicle is
stationary.
Our toll inspection officers have been
convinced users of the EFOY Pro fuel cells
for several years now [FCB, May 2009, p3
and July 2012, p2], says BAG fleet manager
Ralf Muelhausen. The fuel cell offers them
important logistic advantages.
Before, they had to drive their vehicle to the
grid for recharging their batteries, or they had
to idle the vehicles engine for a considerable
amount of time, generating noise and emissions,
explains Muelhausen. With the EFOY Pro they
do not have to worry about power any more;
the energy from the fuel cell is as silent and
convenient as energy from the grid.
For the BAG we have successfully established
a voucher infrastructure for fuel cartridge
logistics, which is very convenient and efficient
for operators as well as drivers, says Dr Peter

May 2015

Podesser, CEO of SFC Energy. We regard the

fact that Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has
installed our fuel cells for already five years now
as a strong confirmation of our high product
and service quality.
SFC Energy is a leading provider of hybrid
stationary and portable power solutions [see
the SFC feature in FCB, January 2013], and
has sold more than 33000 DMFC products
worldwide into the oil & gas [FCB, July
2014, p4], security and industry [FCB, March
2015, p1], military [FCB, April 2014, p7],
and consumer markets [FCB, May 2013,
p3]. The company recently unveiled a trailerbased hybrid power solution [see page 7], and
its Canadian subsidiary Simark Controls has
announced new sales agreements for the US
and Canada [see page 10].
SFC Energy, Brunnthal/Munich, Germany.
Tel: +49 89 673 5920, www.sfc.com or
www.efoy-pro.com
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles:
www.volkswagen-nutzfahrzeuge.de (in German)
Federal Office for Goods Transport:
www.bag.bund.de (in German)

small stationary

SOLIDpower unveils
system for European
micro CHP market

he SOLIDpower Group, an
experienced developer of solid oxide
fuel cell (SOFC) based systems, displayed
its new EnGen 2500 micro combined
heat and power (CHP) appliance for
home and industry at the recent
Hannover Messe trade fair in Germany.
In our development of energy cell
technology, we have succeeded in bringing
down the operating temperature to around
700C, which means that we can work
with less heat generation for the current we
produce, explains Guido Gummert, CEO
of SOLIDpower GmbH. Our objective has
been to achieve the highest possible electrical
efficiency, but without compromising the total
efficiency of the system. With an electrical
efficiency of 50% and a total efficiency of 90%
[LHV], we are right out in front.
The EnGen 2500 appliance, with 2.5 kW
electrical output and 2 kW thermal output,
can operate on natural gas and biogas. It has
been granted the coveted A++ classification
under the European ERP (Energy Related
Products) Directive, certifying a high level
of electrical efficiency with maximum micro

EDITORIAL

00 issues of the Fuel Cells Bulletin

the time has certainly flown
by quickly, and plenty of companies
have come and gone in that time
Looking back at issue 100 in January 2007,
the front page highlights contrasting fortunes,
with The Linde Group [see page 7 in this issue]
and FuelCell Energy [see pages 1 and 6] still
very active. Not so good for Millennium Cell,
which had announced its acquisition of Gecko
Energy Technologies, only to cease trading the
following summer [FCB, July 2008, p7].
The news pages in that issue reported on
developments that suffered mixed fortunes
subsequently, with continuing activity
at least in some form at ElectroChem,
Precision Combustion Inc, Honda,
Hydrogenics, DuPont, SFC, ReliOn (now part
of Plug Power), ENrG, Nuvera, Mesoscopic
Devices (acquired by Protonex Technology),
Donaldson, ClearEdge Power (acquired by
Doosan), Power+Energy, and Hy9. Those that
have fallen by the wayside include GenCell,
NanoDynamics, the SOFC activities of
Siemens, PolyFuel, and MTI MicroFuel Cells.
The feature article in that 2007 issue, by
our occasional North American contributor
Vicki McConnell, focused on the downsized
footprint and material changes for General
Motors fourth-generation fuel cell technology.
GM has certainly maintained a significant
level of fuel cell activity, although it closed its
renowned fuel cell facility in Honeoye Falls,
New York and relocated this work to Pontiac,
Michigan in 2013 [FCB, November 2013, p2].
Last summer GMs fleet of fuel cell electric
vehicles passed the remarkable cumulative
milestone of 3 million miles [FCB, June 2014,
p2], but the automaker has now conceded its
FCEV leadership to the likes of Hyundai [FCB,
March 2013, p2], Toyota and Honda [FCB,
November 2014, p1]. We await GMs next
move with a keen sense of anticipation
Bringing us back to 2015, we have three
news features in this issue. In the first, we report
on work at the University of South Carolina
and Clemson University to improve oxygen
ionic conductivity in gadolinium-doped ceria
(GDC), which is currently in use as an
electrolyte in solid oxide fuel cells [page 12]. In
the second, researchers at Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory in the US have
developed a method to create nanoparticles
that could replace expensive platinum in fuel
cell catalysts, which includes placing them on
a surface using ion soft landing techniques
devised at PNNL [page 13]. The third feature
reports on German-based Proton Motor Fuel
Cell GmbH, and highlights the wide variety
of application areas for its cleantech products
and activities [pages 1415].
Steve Barrett

Fuel Cells Bulletin

NEWS
CHP efficiency. The development of a Europewide service network and the training of
selected local installation companies working
in partnership will ensure rapid entry into the
market, which is planned for the end of 2016.
We have grown beyond the development
stage of the EnGen 2500 and, with the help
and support of the ene.field promotion
programme [FCB, October 2012, p4], we are
in the process of getting the mature technology
ready for the forthcoming entry into the
market, says Gummert.
The technology also offers the ability to
combine up to six EnGen 2500 appliances in
series. This is targeted at end-users with larger
electricity and heat requirements, such as small
and medium-sized businesses, or groups of
several office units within a building.
The first to benefit from this technology
in Germany is the utility Stadtwerke
Augsburg Energie GmbH, where the first two
SOLIDpower appliances will be put through
their real-world paces starting this summer.
SOLIDpower SA in Switzerland originally
as HTceramix [FCB, April 2007, p6]
developed the groups own SOFC stack,
while SOLIDpower SpA in Italy developed
the appliance technology, and SOLIDpower
GmbH is building a sales and service network
in Germany and Italy.
The technology has been field-tested in Italy
with the Rete Crisalide and ene.field projects.
Stack assembly is now almost fully automated
at its factory in Mezzolombardo in northern
Italy, with a capacity of 1000 stacks per annum.
SOLIDpower SpA, Mezzolombardo (Trentino), Italy. Tel:
+39 0461 1755 068, www.solidpower.com

Ballard wins initial

Indian order for 100
backup power units

anadian-based Ballard Power Systems

has received a purchase order from
Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd (RJIL) in India,
for 100 ElectraGen-ME fuel cell backup
power systems to be deployed in its
wireless telecom network. Shipment of
these initial 100 systems is expected to
be completed this year.
The order follows successful completion
of a 12-month trial by RJIL of fuel cell
systems from various vendors, with Ballards
ElectraGen-ME methanol-fueled system
ultimately having been selected for use in
backup power applications. This order is the
first of a series of planned deployments in
RJILs Indian network.
4

Fuel Cells Bulletin

This is an important commercial milestone

for our telecom backup power growth strategy
in a major emerging market, says Ballards
chief commercial officer, Steve Karaffa. Based
on the performance and value demonstrated by
our systems throughout the trial, we are now
advancing to extensive commercial deployments
with a major telecom service provider.
RJIL is a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Ltd,
Indias largest private sector company, with a
strong presence in the rapidly expanding telecom
sector. It is currently building out a new 4G
telecom network, which requires the acquisition
of hundreds of new base station towers.
India is one of the fastest growing telecom
markets, with more than 10 million new
subscribers added each month, according
to the GSMA mobile operators association.
This growing demand for telecom services is
also driving increased energy consumption, a
challenge given the poor quality of Indias electric
grid. There is therefore an acute need for reliable
and cost-effective extended-duration backup
power solutions such as the ElectraGen-ME
fuel cell system at telecom base station sites.
To limit the environmental impact, Indias
Department of Telecommunications has
mandated that tower companies reduce their
dependence on diesel generators, by powering
at least 50% of rural towers and 20% of urban
towers with clean energy systems by 2015.
Increasingly, telecom network operators in
India are considering fuel cell technology as
an extended-duration solution that effectively
addresses this clean energy requirement.
In late 2013 Ballard supplied ElectraGen-ME
systems for a pilot project in the telecom network
of Idea Cellular, Indias third-largest mobile
services operator [FCB, December 2013, p1].
The fuel cell systems were utilised in combination
with solar technology to generate continuous
power at five wireless base stations. Before that,
Idea Cellular powered telecom base stations with
Ballards ElectraGen-H2 direct hydrogen systems,
using by-product hydrogen from a nearby
chemical plant [FCB, March 2012, p3].
Ballard Power Systems, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com
Reliance Industries Ltd: www.ril.com

Cascadiant to deploy,
manage fuel cells for
Indonesian Telkomsel

ingapore-based Cascadiant has been

awarded a contract to deploy its
clean energy solutions on the island of
Sumatra by Indonesias largest mobile

operator, Telkomsel. The fuel cells will

supply critical backup power to some of
Telkomsels most important sites.
This agreement sees Cascadiant continue
to expand deployment of its Managed Energy
Service (MESSM), which offers an immediate
reduction in an operators carbon footprint while
cutting operating costs and greatly increasing site
availability and performance. Cascadiants MES
solution combines the use of the latest clean
technologies such as fuel cells, Li-ion batteries,
hybrid generator technology, solar and wind, with
a full turnkey approach to end-to-end service.
As part of the deal with Telkomsel, Cascadiant
will integrate its IntelSite monitoring platform
to fully manage all aspects of the energy network
on a 24/7 basis via its Network Operations
Center in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Indonesia has the ability to use domestically
produced clean energy for commercial backup
applications, and lead ASEAN [Association of
Southeast Asian Nations] in the adoption of a
hydrogen economy, says Marshall Towe, CEO
of Cascadiant. Operators are finally waking up
to the fact that Cascadiant can eliminate their
diesel generators and not only reduce CO2, but
to stop them from being held hostage to the
ever fluctuating price of oil.
Over 80% of network outages experienced by
mobile operators are power-related. Cascadiants
solution, at above 99% availability, is far more
reliable and provides mobile operators with
much greater network availability and, most
importantly, increased revenue generation.
The city of Medan is a particularly challenging
power environment. Telkomsel believes that
Cascadiant has proven its capability, and is
looking forward to implementing the solution
and seeing significant benefits.
Cascadiant fuel cell deployments with
telecom operators in Indonesia include
Hutchison CP Telecommunications [FCB,
November 2012, p4] and XL Axiata and
Telkom International [FCB, February
2013, p5]. Cascadiant recently expanded its
agreement with the Indonesian Agency for the
Assessment and Application of Technology,
including deployment of the agencys first
hydrogen fuel cell as backup power for its data
centre [FCB, March 2015, p4].
Cascadiants Managed Energy Solution is built
around the advanced ElectraGen PEM fuel
cell technology originally developed by IdaTech
in the US, now part of Canadian-based Ballard
Power Systems [FCB, August 2012, p10].
Cascadiant Singapore. Tel: +65 6220 6418,
Email: singapore.sales@cascadiant.com,
Web: www.cascadiant.com/fuelcell.html
Cascadiant Indonesia. Tel: +62 21 522 5466,
Email: indonesia.sales@cascadiant.com

May 2015

NEWS / CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Ceres Power reports

Convion SOFC relies
40% increase in power on Fraunhofer IKTS,
output of its Steel Cell Plansee innovations

K-based Ceres Power says that

early test results show an increase
of more than 40% in the overall power
density of its Steel Cell technology,
through a variety of material and
mechanical improvements to cell
and stack design. This milestone has
been achieved against the companys
internal roadmap, and further
validates the route to affordable
products based on its unique
intermediate-temperature solid oxide
fuel cell (IT-SOFC) technology.
Ceres expects these improvements to be
brought forward from R&D to customer
programmes later this year, resulting in lower
product costs and accelerating the adoption
of end-user products using the technology.
The company is working with leading
power systems companies to develop and
commercialise power products.
Considerable technical progress has been
made in the past six months, and all of the key
technical performance milestones have been
met, with net electrical efficiency increased to
47%. Ceres says that this is equivalent to the
highest performance achieved for SOFCs in
the Japanese market, and is superior to existing
offerings from PEM fuel cell technology
providers.
The target for the next period is to
demonstrate that the Steel Cell technology can
enable a net efficiency exceeding 50%. This
would enhance the already significant benefit to
the residential consumer in terms of economic
payback, and widen the potential of the
technology to other markets, such as prime and
backup power applications for businesses.
The impact of this performance
improvement is potentially a 40% reduction
in stack cost, and in the region of a 20%
reduction in overall system cost, says CTO
Mark Selby. We have a number of exciting
technology development programmes, like
this one, that will translate into a sustained
competitive advantage.
Last autumn Ceres signed a next-stage joint
development agreement with a leading global
Japanese power systems company, following
extensive testing of Ceres IT-SOFC technology
in the UK and Japan [FCB, November 2014,
p6].

Ceres Power, Horsham, West Sussex, UK.

Tel: +44 1403 273463, www.cerespower.com

May 2015

ore details have emerged of the

collaborative effort behind the
recent launch of Convions C50 solid
oxide fuel cell product for distributed
power generation [FCB, April 2015, p6].
This features an innovative SOFC stack
design jointly developed by Fraunhofer
Institute for Ceramic Technologies and
Systems IKTS in Germany and Austrian
metal components specialist Plansee.
In February Convion started operation of its
innovative C50 SOFC cogeneration system,
using MK351 stacks produced by Fraunhofer
IKTS. Manufacturing of the product has been
successfully finalised, and validation has begun
at 20 kW net power. Convion is seeking to
commercialise the new product, bringing it to
market with interested partners and showcasing
the future of distributed power generation.
The MK351 stack design was jointly
developed by Fraunhofer IKTS and Plansee.
It comprises only a few component parts,
allowing simple and automated assembly. All
the stack components can withstand high
temperatures, and system and temperature
cycles. Careful matching of components allows
the desired high power density of the cell and
the required cycle stability. Currently, the
performance degradation of a stack integrated
in a hot box is <0.7 %/1000h, confirmed by
several experiments including a long-term test
with over 18000h of operation.
Fraunhofer IKTS and Plansee are offering
licences for the latest background technology
and intellectual property (IP) for the MK351
stack design, so that interested companies can
start commercial stack production.
The interconnects in the stack are made
using CFY, a chromium-base alloy containing
5wt% iron plus traces of yttrium. CFYs
physical properties make it ideal for use in
SOFCs. The coefficient of thermal expansion is
adapted to match that of the high-performance
electrolyte, based on stabilised zirconium
oxide, for example 10ScSZ (10 mol% scandiastabilised zirconia) or 8YSZ (8 mol% yttrriastabilised zirconia).
Plansee CFY interconnects are based on a
scalable, cost-effective powder-metallurgical
net-shape production, which significantly
reduces production costs through a high
degree of automation and high material yields,
explains Professor Dr Lorenz Sigl, head of
innovation services at Plansee. The company

2015 Fuel Cell Seminar &

Energy Exposition
The 2015 Fuel Cell Seminar & Energy
Exposition will take place 1619 November at
the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown
Los Angeles, California.
This years event will bring together more
than 1000 delegates from around the world
and representing the entire global fuel cell
industry supply chain.
Call for Abstracts
The Call for Abstracts is now open, as the
organisers seek abstracts for session speakers
and poster presentations from academics,
industry, and government professionals to be
featured during the conference. Abstracts must
be submitted online via the website, with the
submission deadline of Friday 29 May.
The topic areas (and sub-topics) for the
2015 Fuel Cell Seminar Call for Abstracts are:
Fuels and Renewable Energy: hydrogen
production & storage; renewable energy fuel
generation; hydrocarbon fuel processing,
conversion, handling, and utilisation by fuel
cells; fuel safety & training.
Fuel Cell Industry Status & Analysis: fuel
cell industry status & forecasts; fuel cell
commercialisation, trends, new markets,
scale-up and cost analysis; application
market economics, value propositions,
financing and customers; industry, academic
and public partnerships; public involvement,
investment or promotion of fuel cell and
related energy industries, government policy.
Fuel Cell Applications: automotive, bus and
other motive applications; emerging market
applications (including materials handling
equipment, telecom backup power, ground
support equipment); stationary (primary
and backup distributed generation, CHP,
trigeneration, micro and smart grids,
renewable energy/fuel cell hybrid systems);
auxiliary power units (terrestrial, aviation,
maritime); military; and portable.
Fuel Cell Technology Development:
PEM, alkaline exchange membrane,
molten carbonate and phosphoric acid,
solid oxide, other fuel cell technology,
balance of plant, and advancements in
manufacturing and assembly.
Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Related Technologies
for Energy Storage: reversible fuel cells;
flow batteries; and technology validation
(demonstrations, cost analysis, market
economics).
Fuel Cell Education & Training: fuel cell
and energy curriculum development; and
student and general public outreach.
More information:
www.fuelcellseminar.com/abstracts

Fuel Cells Bulletin

NEWS
produces several CFY interconnect designs for
customers worldwide with pilot and industrial
production lines.
Convion Ltd, Espoo, Finland. Tel: +358 10 328 7370,
www.convion.fi
Fraunhofer IKTS, Energy Systems Materials and
Components:
http://tinyurl.com/ikts-energy-systems-materials
Plansee, SOFC interconnects:
http://tinyurl.com/plansee-sofc-interconnects

large stationary

AFC deals to deploy

300MW in Dubai,
10MW in Thailand

K-based AFC Energy has signed a

Memorandum of Understanding
with Dubai Carbon Centre of
Excellence, to assess the potential
deployment of 300 MW of alkaline
fuel cell generation capacity in Dubai
by 2020, in what would be the worlds
largest single fuel cell deployment.
AFC has also executed its first Heads
of Agreement in Thailand, to initiate
a programme of commercial fuel cell
deployment with Bangkok Industrial
Gas (BIG).
The landmark deal with Dubai Carbon
will see the partners working in collaboration with some of Dubais leading companies.
Dubai Carbon and AFC will initially assess
the potential for fuel cell deployment within
projects such as Dubai Expo 2020, The World
by Nakheel, and major infrastructure projects
including Al Maktoum International Airport.
Dubai Carbon and AFC will now commence
initial pre-feasibility studies across these
and other near-term opportunities. Once
development projects are identified, Dubai
Carbon and AFC will form a joint venture
for delivery. The JV would look to operate
the projects, and dispatch power and water.
The deployment offers a significant economic
opportunity to monetise not only energy
generated by the fuel cell power plants, but
uniquely also from the sale of water by-product
from the catalytic process.
The JV will work closely with Dubai
Electricity and Water Authority, Emirates
National Oil Company, and Dubai Aluminium
Company which together own Dubai Carbon
in assessing these opportunities, and with
local funding sources to support the equity and
debt financing arrangements for the commercial
projects. Dubai Carbon and AFC will engage
6

Fuel Cells Bulletin

with Dubai-based clean energy funds to finance

projects as they are taken forward.
The deal with BIG in Thailand will look
to assess and deploy an initial 10 MW of fuel
cell capacity, utilising surplus hydrogen from
BIG-owned hydrogen pipelines and related
facilities in energy-hungry Rayong Province.
The next step is initial techno-economic
feasibility studies, before committing any
capital expenditure.
BIG and AFC have agreed a three-phase
deployment programme, with 2 MW scheduled
to be operational by the end of 2016, a total
of 5 MW by the end of 2017, and reaching
10 MW by the end of 2018. BIG and AFC
will then assess a number of other fuel cell
deployment opportunities across Thailand.
The country has long been identified as an
important location for AFC, both in terms of
the market for fuel cells [FCB, March 2014,
p7], but also as a possible location for long-term
manufacturing and fabrication, says Adam
Bond, CEO of AFC. Our collaboration with
BIG is a further important statement of intent to
focus our business on short-term industrial fuel
cell deployment, particularly in Asia.
AFC Energy recently signed a deal to
deploy an initial 50 MW of alkaline fuel cell
generation capacity in Korea [FCB, March
2015, p1]. And in Europe, the AFC-led
Power-Up project is preparing to demonstrate
the companys alkaline fuel cell system at
Air Products industrial gas plant in Stade,
Germany [FCB, March 2015, p5, and see the
AFC Energy feature in FCB, November 2011].
AFC Energy, Cranleigh, Surrey, UK. Tel: +44 1483
276726, www.afcenergy.com
Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence: www.dcce.ae
Bangkok Industrial Gas: www.bigth.com

Comcast, CenturyLink
mark Earth Day with
Bloom Energy power

n the US, broadcasting giant Comcast

has started up Bloom Energy solid
oxide fuel cell systems to power the
companys Western New England
regional headquarters in Berlin,
Connecticut. And telecoms company
CenturyLink has installed Bloom
Energy fuel cells in the sustainable
power infrastructure for its Irvine,
California data centre. The new
installations were announced to mark
Earth Day (22 April), when events take
place around the world to demonstrate
support for environmental protection.

The Comcast facility serves as its regional

headquarters for five New England states,
and is the master facility for receiving and
processing TV signals for distribution on the
Comcast network. The 400 kW SOFC system
will provide up to 80% of the facilitys total
energy load. The Bloom Energy Servers are
installed with uninterruptible power modules
(UPMs), and will enable the Comcast facilitys
headend to maintain operations during grid
outages. The project will also help Comcast to
reduce the facilitys annual CO2 emissions by
an estimated 875 tonnes.
Meanwhile in California, CenturyLink
has installed 500 kW of Bloom Energy
SOFC power plants at its data centre in
Irvine; this is Blooms first data centre
deployment in southern California. This
CenturyLink project demonstrates that data
centres and cloud service providers now
have alternative solutions that will meet
both their reliability and sustainability
goals, says Peter Gross, VP of missioncritical systems at Bloom Energy.
Synchronising the fully commissioned
Bloom Energy fuel cells to our electrical
infrastructure supports the escalating power
demands for network and IT infrastructure
in an environmentally sustainable way, adds
David Meredith, senior VP at CenturyLink.
Businesses that use multi-tenant data centres
and cloud-based solutions, like those offered
by CenturyLink, are contributing to a better
environment, which is further enhanced by
technologies such as Bloom Energy.
Bloom Energy Servers produce more
than 150 MW for major companies and
organisations in the US and Japan [FCB, April
2015, p7], including a 6MW deployment at
an eBay data centre in Utah [FCB, October
2013, p3], and installations in Japan through
its joint venture with SoftBank [FCB, July
2014, p6]. The company provides gridindependent power for critical loads in data
centres and manufacturing through its Mission
Critical Systems practice.
Bloom Energy Corporation, Sunnyvale, California, USA.
Tel: +1 408 543 1500, www.bloomenergy.com
Comcast Cable: www.comcastcorporation.com
CenturyLink: www.centurylink.com

Pepperidge Farm adds

second MW-class FCE
unit to flagship bakery

n Connecticut, Danbury-based
FuelCell Energy is installing a 1.4 MW
Direct FuelCell power plant at the

May 2015

NEWS
Pepperidge Farm bakery in Bloomfield.
The new system joins an existing
MW-class DFC system, installed in
2008; the two molten carbonate fuel
cell systems, in combination with a
solar array, will provide all of the
facilitys power needs.
FuelCell Energy will manufacture, install
and service the power plant, work on which
has already commenced. Pepperidge Farm a
brand of Campbell Soup Company will pay
for power under a power purchase agreement
(PPA). This new unit will supplement
the existing 1.2 MW DFC power plant,
installed in 2008 [FCB, October 2007, p5].
The agreement also includes the multi-year
extension of the service contract for the
existing DFC system. FuelCell Energy is
developing this project, and expects to finalise
permanent financing by the time the power
plant enters commercial operation, with
commissioning expected by year-end.
Pepperidge Farms Bloomfield bakery
installed its first FuelCell Energy power
plant in 2005, a 250 kW DFC300A system
deployed with FCEs distribution partner PPL
EnergyPlus [FCB, May 2005, p5].
Pepperidge Farm is a great example of a
customer that has experienced significant
savings in power costs and dramatically
reduced pollutant and carbon emissions,
while improving energy security and power
reliability, says Chip Bottone, CEO of
FuelCell Energy. Our ultra-clean and
affordable power plants add value for food
and beverage processors such as Pepperidge
Farm, and repeat orders like this validate our
solutions and customer service commitment.
The scalable DFC power plants support
the incremental addition of units to
meet growing power needs, such as this
commercial bakery project. The new 1.4
MW power plant will be installed adjacent
to the existing fuel cell system, and together
they will meet the entire energy needs of the
facility, with an onsite solar array supporting
peak power needs. The high-quality, ultraclean heat produced by the fuel cell power
generation process is key to an innovative
two-stage heat recovery that includes steam
generation for use in the baking process,
followed by secondary heat recovery in which
excess heat is used to preheat air supplied
to the thermal oxidiser used for odour
destruction. The heat will be an integral part
of an ammonia-based chilling system that
will also be installed.
FuelCell Energy, Danbury, Connecticut, USA.
Tel: +1 203 825 6000, www.fuelcellenergy.com
Pepperidge Farm: www.pepperidgefarm.com

May 2015

portable & micro

SFC launches EFOY

ProTrailer series for
mobile hybrid power

erman-based SFC Energy has

unveiled a new trailer-based
hybrid power solution for security &
surveillance, communication, oil & gas,
and traffic management applications.
SFC introduced the EFOY ProTrailer
series at last months ISC West security
industry trade show in Las Vegas,
Nevada.
The EFOY ProTrailer integrates SFCs
popular EFOY Pro direct methanol fuel cells
with up to four solar modules for optimum
power flexibility. The cost-effective fuel cell/
solar combination provides two complementary
power sources: when the sun is shining, the
required power is produced exclusively by the
solar modules, with zero fuel consumption. Only
when the solar modules cannot deliver enough
power e.g. when in shadow, in bad weather, or
at night the fuel cells will automatically start
operation and fill the power gap.
The EFOY ProTrailer provides extremely long
power autonomy without any user attendance. It
comes fully equipped with an EFOY Pro 2400
Duo fuel cell, two or four fuel cartridges, up to
four solar panels generating up to 1000 Wp total
power, two or four batteries, and a 60A solar
charger, enabling maximum power flexibility as
required in the individual application.
The new trailer was developed by SFC
subsidiary Simark Controls [FCB, August 2013,
p8], with initial sales beginning last November
into security applications for the Canadian oil &
gas industry. Further EFOY ProTrailers are on
order from various customers for delivery now.
EFOY ProTrailer versions are available
configured to match the specifications and
power requirements of individual installations.
For example, for security applications the
EFOY ProTrailer can be equipped with cameras
with a total continuous load of 70W, the
EFOY Pro 2400 Duo, four 28 litre M28 fuel
cartridges, and 560 Wp of solar. The annual
fuel requirement for this trailer version is
about 140 litres (five fuel cartridges), so that
this trailer will operate for almost a full year
without requiring any user attendance.
SFC Energy is a leading provider of hybrid
stationary and portable power solutions [see the
SFC feature in FCB, January 2013], serving in
particular the oil & gas [FCB, July 2014, p4],
security and industry [FCB, March 2015, p1],
military [FCB, April 2014, p7], and consumer

markets [FCB, May 2013, p3]. The company

recently won a large order to equip Volkswagen
vans with EFOY Pro fuel cells [see page 3], and
its Canadian subsidiary Simark Controls has
announced new sales agreements for the US
and Canada [see page 10].
SFC Energy, Brunnthal/Munich, Germany.
Tel: +49 89 673 5920, www.sfc.com or
www.efoy-pro.com
Simark Controls, Calgary, Canada:
www.simarkcontrols.com

fueling

Quantum, Linde for

hydrogen dispensers
in California network

alifornia-based Quantum Fuel

Systems Technologies Worldwide
has received multiple orders from
Linde North America, to develop and
manufacture additional retail hydrogen
fueling dispensers for the further
development of hydrogen fueling
infrastructure in California.
Two years ago Quantum Technologies
received an initial purchase order from Linde
LLC for gaseous hydrogen refueling systems,
the first under a three-year partnership [FCB,
February 2013, p9]. The newly ordered
hydrogen dispensers will be delivered to and
commissioned by Linde North America a
member of The Linde Group around the
fourth quarter of 2015.
These hydrogen dispensers will incorporate
new enhancements to the software and
hardware, for a more user-friendly experience
while continuing to enhance accuracy and
performance. These dispensers will meet
the revised SAE specifications [FCB, August
2014, p7] and OEM expectations for fast-fill
performance and accuracy for measuring the
flow of hydrogen to the vehicle.
The [California] hydrogen infrastructure is
being built in key areas, with multiple phases
expected to follow, says Brian Olson, president
and CEO of Quantum Technologies. There
is a growing network of hydrogen stations
supporting the new fuel cell electric vehicles
coming to California from multiple OEMs
[FCB, June 2014, p6].
Quantum Technologies portfolio includes
natural gas and hydrogen storage and metering
systems, electronic and software controls,
hybrid electric drive systems, and other
alternative fuel technologies and solutions for
natural gas and hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric

Fuel Cells Bulletin

NEWS
and FCEVs, as well as modular, transportable
hydrogen refueling stations.
Last autumn Linde completed the first retail
hydrogen fueling station it will operate in
the US, installed at the Ramos Oil Company
multi-fuel facility in West Sacramento,
California, which retails a range of conventional
and specialist fuels [FCB, November 2014,
p9]. The station features the Linde IC 90 ionic
compressor, which enables higher throughput
and enhanced back-to-back fueling [see the
Linde feature in FCB, September 2014].
Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide,
Lake Forest, California, USA. Tel: +1 949 930 3400,
www.qtww.com
Linde US Industrial Gases, Hydrogen Fueling
Technologies: http://tinyurl.com/linde-us-h2fueling

Teesing demonstrates
700 bar hydrogen
refueling technique

he Dutch company Teesing has

developed a sustainable 700 bar
(10000 psi) refueling technique for
hydrogen vehicles, which the company
demonstrated in the recently completed
PusH project by filling cylinders quickly
and efficiently with hydrogen.
Various companies in the Netherlands
want to facilitate the rollout of hydrogen
powered vehicles, and are working hard on the
development of fuel cells and the production,
storage, and distribution of hydrogen. Teesing
has spent several years optimising the critical
processes to ensure that such vehicles will be
practical and sustainable in the future.
Hydrogen has only one-third of the energy
content of natural gas, which means that the
same volume contains less energy. Refueling
with hydrogen at a higher pressure (e.g. 700 bar)
supplies enough energy to give a hydrogen vehicle
a respectable range. The widely accepted target for
end-user acceptance is that a vehicles hydrogen
tank will have to be filled at 700 bar within 3 min.
However, the crux of the problem with
rapidly filling cylinders with hydrogen is that
the gas expands when it becomes hot. Currently
the solution for this problem is to pre-cool the
hydrogen, but this inefficient method results in
unnecessary energy losses.
Teesing has developed a system which
counteracts this expansion. The cylinder is first
filled with water at a pressure of 700 bar, which
is then displaced by introducing hydrogen gas
into the cylinder at 700 bar. The prototypes
have been successfully tested, and a patent has
already been issued for the PusH principle.

Fuel Cells Bulletin

This method has the additional advantage

that no extra action is required to moisten the
hydrogen: fuel cells function more efficiently if
the hydrogen has been humidified.
The now completed PusH project also
involved Itensify BV in the Netherlands,
which focused on high-pressure and flow
control systems; WEH GmbH in Germany,
for hydrogen refueling components; and Tongji
University in Shanghai, China. Teesing wants
to follow up the commercial feasibility of this
system, and is considering and looking for
funding for a demonstration project in which
Tongji University can continue its involvement.
Teesing BV, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
Tel: +31 70 413 0700, www.teesing.nl/en
Itensify BV, The Netherlands: www.itensify.eu
WEH GmbH, Germany:
www.weh.com/refuelling-systems-hydrogen.html

H2USA develops new

tools to push hydrogen
infrastructure forward

he US Department of Energy
recently announced new tools
developed in support of the H2USA
public-private partnership, focused on
hydrogen fueling infrastructure analysis
and cost-effective development.
The new analysis tools were developed to
help address technical and financial barriers to
hydrogen fueling infrastructure deployment:
The Hydrogen Refueling Stations Analysis Model
(HRSAM) will help to assess the impact of
station design on station economics. The
model, developed by Argonne National
Laboratory, optimises station component size
to meet demand while minimising cost. It
estimates capital and operating cost based on
design variables such as station capacity and
hydrogen delivery mode.
The Hydrogen Financial Analysis Tool
(H2FAST) provides in-depth financial
analysis, including cashflow and return-oninvestment for hydrogen fueling stations
based on financial inputs such as station
capital cost, operating cost, and financing
mechanisms. This tool was developed by the
National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
DOE, along with automakers and other
stakeholders, founded H2USA two years ago
to address the key challenges of hydrogen
infrastructure [FCB, May 2013, p7]. Its mission
is to promote the introduction and widespread
adoption of fuel cell electric vehicles across the
US. A year later, DOE launched the Hydrogen

Fueling Infrastructure Research and Station

Technology project (H2FIRST), to leverage
capabilities at the national laboratories to address
the technology challenges related to hydrogen
refueling stations [FCB, May 2014, p7].
H2USA jointly led by Sandia National
Laboratories and NREL is a prime example of
DOEs efforts to bring national lab capabilities
and facilities together to address immediate and
mid-term challenges faced by the industry.
Two H2FIRST project task reports have
been published:
The Reference Station Design report details
engineering models and economic analyses
of five hydrogen refueling station templates
that can meet near-term market needs. The
authors evaluated station economics using
HRSAM, and prepared detailed designs
which include piping, instrumentation,
and bills of materials. These references
are meant to help stakeholders evaluate
station configurations, and to encourage
standardisation of station components.
The Hydrogen Contaminant Detector report
describes the current commercial state-of-theart technologies in contamination detection.
It also identifies primary requirements for
implementing a hydrogen detection device at
a station, and provides a gap analysis.
H2USA: www.h2usa.org
Hydrogen Refueling Stations Analysis Model:
www.hydrogen.energy.gov/h2a_delivery.html
Hydrogen Financial Analysis Tool:
www.nrel.gov/hydrogen/h2fast
H2FIRST: http://energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/h2first
Reference Station Design report:
www.nrel.gov/docs/fy15osti/64107.pdf
Hydrogen Contaminant Detection report:
www.nrel.gov/docs/fy15osti/64063.pdf
DOE Fuel Cell Technologies Office:
www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells

energy storage

ITM Power sells 500

kW electrolyser for
tidal energy storage

n the UK, ITM Power has won a

contract to supply an integrated
hydrogen system for use at the
European Marine Energy Centre
(EMEC) tidal test site on Eday, Orkney
in Scotland. The systems principal
component is a 0.5 MW polymer
electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyser
with integrated compression and up to

May 2015

NEWS
500 kg of storage.
This HGas electrolyser will be used to absorb
excess power generated by the tidal turbines being
tested at EMEC. The hydrogen generated will
be compressed and stored, with some being used
in an optional fuel cell to provide backup power
to critical EMEC systems. The remainder of the
hydrogen will be used off-site by a further project
being developed separately, which plans to absorb
the output of a local community wind turbine
operated by Eday Renewable Energy Ltd.
ITM will supply, integrate, commission and
maintain all parts of this system. The rapidresponse, CE-compliant electrolyser will be
packaged in a standard 20 ft (6.1 m) and a 10
ft (3m) ISO container, and provide up to 220
kg/day of hydrogen generation capacity with
self-pressurisation up to 20 bar (290 psi), with
hydrogen purity satisfying ISO 14687.
ITM has also offered an additional
maintenance contract alongside the integrated
system, as well as a PEM fuel cell for local
backup power. The total contracted value of the
project is 1.8 million (US$2.8 million).
This is an innovative way to tackle the
shortcomings of the local grid, which is holding
back marine energy in Orkney, says EMEC
managing director Neil Kermode. It will allow
us to not only pilot the production of hydrogen
fuel from tidal energy, but will allow surplus
renewable energy on the island to be used
without having to rely on the inadequate grid.
ITM Powers PEM electrolysers are perfect for
island deployment, given the logistics of power
distribution and fuel supply, adds Dr Graham
Cooley, CEO of ITM Power. This application
by EMEC is a fantastic example as to how the
rapid-response functionality of ITMs systems
offer freedom from the grid constraints of
distributed and remote renewable energy.
ITM recently delivered a Power-to-Gas
(P2G) electrolyser system to RWE Deutschland
in Germany [FCB, March 2015, p9], and was
also awarded UK government funding to build
two new hydrogen vehicle refueling stations in
London, and upgrade four existing stations in
Sheffield and London [FCB, April 2015, p9].
ITM Power, Sheffield, UK. Tel: +44 114 244 5111,
www.itm-power.com
European Marine Energy Centre:
www.emec.org.uk

First Power-to-Gas
projects in US feature
Proton electrolysers

outhern California Gas (SoCalGas)

has joined with the National

May 2015

Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

in Colorado and the National Fuel
Cell Research Center (NFCRC) at the
University of California, Irvine to
launch the first demonstration projects
in the US to create and test a zerocarbon Power-to-Gas (P2G) system.
The project will involve testing two PEM
electrolysers supplied by Connecticut-based
Proton OnSite, nominally rated for 7 kW and
60 kW of input power, to generate hydrogen
from a local solar photovoltaic (PV) source.
The produced hydrogen will then be injected
into a simulated natural gas pipeline system at
the NFCRC.
Located at the NFCRC at UC Irvine and
NRELs laboratories in Golden, Colorado, the
P2G demonstrations will assess the feasibility
and potential benefits of using the natural gas
pipeline system to store PV and wind-produced
energy. The project is expected to provide
valuable data on the dynamics of hydrogen
production in a renewable energy system, with
initial project results expected by year-end.
The Power-to-Gas concept uses electricity
from renewable sources to make hydrogen. This
can then be converted to synthetic methane (i.e.
natural gas) and stored in existing natural gas
pipelines to meet future demand. Alternatively,
the hydrogen or natural gas can be used in
vehicles, microturbines, fuel cells, or other
equipment.
Commercial-scale P2G systems are already
in use in Germany e.g. ITM Power
[FCB, March 2015, p9], McPhy Energy
[FCB, March 2015, p9], and Hydrogenics
[FCB, February 2015, p9] and are being
explored globally as a means to convert and
store increasing levels of wind and solar
power during times of excess supply. Such a
commercial system could enable natural gas
utilities across North America to use their
existing pipeline infrastructure for largescale, cost-effective storage, and deliver clean,
renewable energy on demand.
Proton OnSite recently launched a new
commercial MW-scale electrolyser platform, the
M-Series, to address large-scale energy storage
requirements worldwide [FCB, February 2015,
p8, and see the Proton OnSite feature in FCB,
September 2013].
Proton OnSite, Wallingford, Connecticut,
USA. Tel: +1 203 678 2000,
www.ProtonOnSite.com
National Fuel Cell Research Center, UC Irvine:
www.nfcrc.uci.edu
NREL, Energy Systems Integration:
www.nrel.gov/esi
Southern California Gas: www.socalgas.com

commercialisation

Heliocentris signs up
Inabata in Japan as
Asia, US sales partner

erman-based Heliocentris Energy

Solutions has signed a strategic
partnership with Inabata Europe GmbH,
a subsidiary of the Japanese trading
company Inabata & Co Ltd. The alliance
will give Heliocentris access to the
Japanese, Korean and US markets, and
Inabata will provide E1 million (US$1.1
million) in fresh capital funding.
The agreement initially for a five-year term
grants Inabata exclusive distribution rights to
all Heliocentris products in Japan, and also in
Korea and the US for applications which are
not target applications for Heliocentris itself. In
return, Inabata undertakes to buy products and
solutions such as those offered from Heliocentris
exclusively from the German company, and
expects to become an important supplier to
Heliocentris for certain strategic components.
Inabata has subscribed to debentures of the
existing 2014/2017 convertible bond with a
total nominal value of E1.0 million, in a private
placement, to be repaid in January 2017.
Heliocentris is a leading provider of energy
efficiency solutions and services in distributed
power for global customers in information and
communication technology, education, and
applied research. Last year it acquired FutureE
Fuel Cell Solutions GmbH, to create a new
market leader in Germany for fuel cell-based
energy solutions [FCB, June 2014, p1].

Heliocentris Energy Solutions AG, Berlin, Germany.

Tel: +49 30 340 601500, www.heliocentris.com
Inabata Group: www.inabata.co.jp/english

Intelligent Energy
closes Bic acquisition,
adds Asian automaker

K-based Intelligent Energy has

completed its acquisition of the
portable fuel cell and disposable fuel
cartridge assets of Socit Bic [FCB,
March 2015, p6]. The acquisition
is a key step in realising IEs vision
for embedded hydrogen fuel cell
technology for universal wireless
power. And in its latest business
update, IE confirmed that it has
entered into a new Joint Development

Fuel Cells Bulletin

news
Agreement with a further, significant
Asian vehicle manufacturer.
The Bic acquisition, combined with
Intelligent Energys advanced PEM fuel cell
technology, is a significant step towards the
mass-market availability of embedded hydrogen
fuel cell technology to power consumer
electronic devices. Bic itself acquired the assets
of Canadian-based Angstrom Power in 2011,
to complement its own R&D on fuel cartridges
[FCB, December 2011, p6].
Intelligent Energy acquired Bics fuel cell and
disposable cartridge technology for US$13 million
on completion, and $2 million to be paid once
transition services are completed. The agreement
includes a potential earn-out up to $7 million.
Bics embedded fuel cell technology
complements Intelligent Energys existing
technology, as it provides additional intellectual
property (IP) assets relating to the volume
production of planar 2D fuel cells and
disposable fuel cartridges, that can be deployed
in line with IEs contract manufacturing model.
This will allow IE to reduce the time and
cost of developing and deploying productionready embedded fuel cells and fuel cartridges,
and strengthen relationships with its current
Consumer Electronics partners.
Intelligent Energy also revealed in its latest
business update that its Motive division has
entered into a Joint Development Agreement
with a new Asian mainstream vehicle
manufacturer, which was not named but
described as significant. This means that IE
now has four automotive OEM customers, for
which it recently unveiled a high-performance
100 kW automotive fuel cell architecture [FCB,
April 2015, p4].
Intelligent Energy, Loughborough, UK.
Tel: +44 1509 271271, www.intelligent-energy.com
Bic: www.bicworld.com

PowerCell launches S2
next-generation stack
at Hannover Messe

ordic fuel cell developer PowerCell

Sweden officially launched its S2
next-generation PEM fuel cell stack at the
Hannover Messe trade fair in Germany
last month. This new-generation PEM
fuel cell stack will allow the company to
target additional applications and expand
its market potential.
PowerCells S2 stack is designed to work
in auxiliary power units (APUs) on reformate
gas, as well as in a variety of systems running
on pure hydrogen, for both automotive and
10

Fuel Cells Bulletin

stationary applications. It uses thin metal

bipolar plates and state-of-the-art membraneelectrode assemblies (MEAs) to give a robust
and high-performance design that is prepared
for serial production from the start.
The S2 platform will complement the
companys S1 first-generation stack, which has
a power output of 15 kW, as it covers a larger
power range up to 25 kW, while still offering
the same tolerance of CO and reformate gas.
The PEM-based S2 technology is designed
for a low pressure drop, and is the choice for
automotive applications.
Another feature of the S2 stack platform is
the capability for repeated start/stop cycles,
which means that the battery buffer can be
minimised. A major benefit of the S2 stack is
its high CO tolerance, which is a key factor to
allow operation on reformate gas. This feature
has been proven in extensive testing in the
lab, as well as in connection with PowerCell
reformers in the complete PowerPac system.
The interest from the transport, telecom,
and other sectors is huge, given these industries
need to reduce operating expenses while at the
same time find power solutions that are clean,
sustainable, and compliant with ever-stricter
environmental legislation, says Andreas Bodn,
the companys marketing and sales manager.
PowerCell a spinout from the Volvo Group
[FCB, July 2005, p1] has combined its
PEM fuel cell and autothermal reactor (ATR)
reforming technology to develop a fuel cell
system that converts diesel fuel to electricity
in an energy-efficient and environmentally
friendly manner, with minimal emissions and
quiet operation. The company is collaborating
in a new Norwegian project that aims to
greatly reduce diesel consumption for electricity
generation during vehicle loading and unloading
at a grocery distributor, utilising the PowerPac
generator, which combines a diesel reformer with
a PEM fuel cell [FCB, April 2015, p3].
PowerCell Sweden AB, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Tel: +46 31 720 3620, www.powercell.se

Simark, GPT in sales

agreement for EFOY
Pro remote US power

anadian company Simark Controls,

a subsidiary of German-based SFC
Energy, has announced a new sales
agreement with Gentherm Global
Power Technologies (GPT), under which
GPT will sell SFCs EFOY Pro portfolio
of fuel cell based off-grid and remote
power solutions into the US remote
power market.

GPT formerly known as Global

Thermoelectric is a leading provider of remote
off-grid power solutions to the global oil &
gas market, with a worldwide distribution and
partner network and more than 30000 remote
power systems deployed in 50+ countries. In
the framework of the new agreement, GPT will
sell EFOY Pro direct methanol fuel cell off-grid
and remote power solutions into the US remote
power market. In a second step, GPT plans
expansion of EFOY Pro sales activities into its
international customer base, including Asia and
South America.
We have selected the EFOY Pro
power supplies because they are a perfect
complementary solution for applications
where thermoelectric generators (TEGs), solar
modules, or batteries alone are not the right
fit, says GPT president James Bolen.
GPTs TEGs, which convert heat produced
by a gas burner directly into power, provide
very reliable power for a wide variety of off-grid
scenarios. GPT offers TEGs in output sizes
from 50 to 500 W for applications requiring
power up to 5kW.
GPTs decision to include our EFOY Pro
Energy Solutions into their sales portfolio
is a major milestone for us, says Dr Peter
Podesser, CEO of SFC Energy. We believe that
GPTs worldwide sales presence, reputation,
and expertise in off-grid power solutions will
create wider visibility in explaining the value
proposition provided by our EFOY Pro fuel
cells in the US market.
In other news, Simark Controls has
announced that it will sell and service
Schneider Electrics Telemetry & Remote
SCADA Solutions (TRSS) products in British
Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba,
Yukon, and Northwest Territories. Simark and
SFC expect significant synergies to come from
this extension of the Simark product portfolio,
since TRSS systems require reliable off-grid
power, which can be provided by a range of
integrated, fully autonomous power supplies
based on SFCs EFOY Pro fuel cells.
SFC recently won a large follow-up order to
equip Volkswagen vans with EFOY Pro units
[see page 3], and unveiled a trailer-based hybrid
power solution [see page 7].
SFC Energy, Brunnthal/Munich, Germany.
Tel: +49 89 673 5920, www.sfc.com or
www.efoy-pro.com
Simark Controls, Calgary, Canada:
www.simarkcontrols.com
Gentherm Global Power Technologies:
www.genthermglobalpower.com
Schneider Electric, Telemetry & Remote
SCADA Solutions:
http://tinyurl.com/schneider-trss

May 2015

news / in brief
research

Toshiba launches new

group hydrogen energy
R&D centre in Japan

oshiba Groups new Hydrogen Energy

Research & Development Center
(HRDC) was recently opened at the
companys Fuchu Complex in western
Tokyo. The centre will concentrate groupwide initiatives to realise a hydrogen
economy, and will drive forward the
development and demonstration of
solutions that integrate hydrogen-related
energy technologies.
The HRDC will install a solid oxide electrolysis
cell (SOEC) being developed in a New Energy
and Industrial Technology Development
Organization (NEDO) project, and use it in
combination with solar photovoltaic (PV)
generation systems, fuel cells, and other apparatus
to carry out demonstration experiments.
The Toshiba Group has the essential
technologies including solar PV, wind,
hydroelectric and other renewable generation
systems, water electrolysis systems, and fuel
cells for achieving a hydrogen economy,
using hydrogen as a low-carbon energy source.
Toshiba will integrate these technologies in
end-to-end solutions, extending from hydrogen
production to utilisation. The Group aims to
increase hydrogen-related sales to 100 billion
(US$830 million) by 2020.
The company is working towards realising
local energy production for local consumption.
To this end, it will develop a practical energy
supply system that utilises renewable energy to
power hydrogen-producing water electrolysis
systems, and then uses fuel cells to convert the
hydrogen to electricity as and when needed.
The system will be deployed in locations where
electricity generation and transmission costs are
high, such as isolated islands and remote places.
Toshiba also aims to establish a hydrogen
supply chain by 2025. For example, hydrogen
produced overseas at low cost, using large-scale
wind energy, could be used to generate zerocarbon electricity in hydrogen-fired gas turbine
power plants in Japan. This will allow large
amounts of hydrogen to be stored and supplied
without any need for transmission lines to
connect Japan to overseas power generation.
Toshiba recently began the H2One
demonstration in Kawasaki City, an
independent energy supply system based on
renewable energy and the use of hydrogen
for power generation [FCB, April 2015, p1].

May 2015

The company is also participating in the

Levenmouth project in Scotland, using solar
and wind energy to produce hydrogen for
buildings and vehicles [FCB, April 2015, p11].
Toshiba, Hydrogen Economy:
www.toshiba.co.jp/newenergy/en/index.htm

DOE awards $4.6m to

push hydrogen storage
materials, systems

he US Department of Energy has

announced up to $4.6 million in
funding, for four projects to develop
advanced hydrogen storage materials.
These have the potential to enable
longer vehicle driving range, and help
make fuel cell systems competitive for
different vehicle platforms and sizes.
Ames Laboratory in Iowa (www.ameslab.gov/
dmse/fwp/complex-hydrides) will receive up
to $1.2 million to investigate the development
of novel high-capacity, silicon-based
borohydride/graphene composite hydrogen
storage materials produced through mechanochemical processes. This project is expected
to develop reversible, high-capacity hydrogen
storage materials with sorption kinetics
sufficient to achieve DOE system targets.
The California Institute of Technology in
Pasadena (www.caltech.edu) will receive up
to $1 million to develop novel high-capacity
hydrogen sorbents based on high-surface-area
graphene. Improved sorbents with higher
volumetric capacity will allow for more
optimal system design and improve total
performance over current materials, making
hydrogen sorbent systems a more viable
option for practical applications.
Texas A&M University (www.chem.tamu.
edu/rgroup/zhou) will receive up to $1.2
million to develop new low-cost hydrogen
sorbents that have high hydrogen sorption
capacities that exceed the Chahine rule or
the expected hydrogen adsorption per unit of
surface area. Improved sorbents with higher
volumetric capacity and improved thermal
conductivity will allow for more optimal
system design and improve total performance
over current materials, making hydrogen
sorbent systems a more viable option for
practical applications, and to meet DOE
onboard storage system targets.
The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor
(http://tinyurl.com/umich-ESMS) will
receive up to $1.2 million to develop bestin-class hydrogen sorbent materials, with
a focus on simultaneously achieving high
volumetric and high gravimetric densities.

DOE Fuel Cell Technologies Office:

www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells

IN BRIEF
Competition open for f-cell award 2015
Entries are being invited for the 15th f-cell
award for innovative fuel cell technology,
which will be presented at the f-cell 2015
conference and trade fair, taking place 1214
October in Stuttgart, Germany.
This year, the f-cell award is offered in the
categories Products & Market and Research &
Development, with the latter aimed in particular
at universities, research institutions, and
companies conducting R&D. The competition
is open to companies, scientific institutions and
institutes, and private individuals from all over
Europe. The closing date for applications is 27
July: www.f-cell.de/english/award
The cash prizes total E25 000, with
the jury able to grant special prizes and
acknowledgments for outstanding entries
which have not won an award.
The f-cell conference and trade fair runs
alongside the Battery+Storage and e-mobility
solutions events, which together comprise the
World of Energy Solutions: www.world-ofenergy-solutions.com
Japanese project to produce hydrogen
from wind power off Nagasaki coast
The Japanese Environment Ministry and
construction giant Toda Corporation are
conducting an experiment to generate hydrogen
from wind power, which is stored for later use.
The project is under way at a wind power
facility about 1 km (0.6 miles) off Kabajima,
one of the Goto Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture,
according to a report in The Asahi Shimbun.
Using 80 m-diameter wind turbines, the
offshore power plant has an electrical power
output of 2 MW. It transmits electricity through
a seabed cable to Kabajima, where Kyushu
Electrics power grid supplies 100 households.
This Power-to-Gas (P2G) project can now
use excess wind-generated electricity to extract
hydrogen from water. The hydrogen produced
will be stored in liquid form as methylcyclohexane
(C7H14), obtained by reacting hydrogen and
toluene. The project trials in early April produced
hydrogen and stored it as methylcyclohexane,
from which hydrogen was successfully extracted
using heat and a catalyst. The experiments will
continue until March 2016.
H2 Refuel H-Prize tech data requirements
The Hydrogen Education Foundation in
the US has announced the technical testing
specifications for the $1 million H2 Refuel
H-Prize competition (www.hydrogenprize.
org). Potential contestants are encouraged
to review the specifications in detail prior to
submitting their designs by 29 October.
Finalist entries to the H2 Refuel H-Prize
competition will be evaluated on technical and
financial criteria [FCB, November 2014, p11].

Fuel Cells Bulletin

11

news feature

SOFC electrolyte with higher

oxygen ionic conductivity
Scientists from the University of South Carolina and Clemson University in
South Carolina have found a way to improve oxygen ionic conductivity in
gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC), which is currently in use as an electrolyte in
solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs).

Improving oxygen ion

transport in GDC
The research, which was recently published in
Nature Communications, involves improving
the transport of oxygen ions, a key component
in converting chemical energy into electricity.
The team studied a well known material,
gadolinium-doped ceria (GDC, also referred
to as cerium-gadolinium oxide, CGO),
which transports oxygen ions and is used as
an SOFC electrolyte. Through the use of
additives and a smart chemical reaction, they
demonstrated a greatly enhanced conductivity
in GDC, resulting in a faster and more efficient
conversion into electricity.
This breakthrough will pave the path to
fabricate next-generation energy conversion
and storage devices with significantly enhanced
performance, increasing energy efficiency
and making energy environmentally benign
and sustainable, says Fanglin (Frank) Chen,
a mechanical engineering professor in the
College of Engineering and Computing at the
University of South Carolina.

effect. This built-in charge serves as a barrier

for ion transport at the interface. The challenge
is how to effectively avoid the segregation of
Gd in the grain boundary. The grain boundary
is extremely narrow, on the order of a few nm,
so it is extremely difficult to characterise and
rationally control the amount of Gd in such a
narrow region.
In order to make clean grain boundaries
and avoid the segregation of Gd at the
interface, we have added an electronic
conductor cobalt iron spinel [CoFe2O4, known
as CFO], resulting in a composite structure,
adds co-author Kyle Brinkman, a materials
science and engineering professor at Clemson
University. The CFO reacts with the excess Gd
present in the grain boundary of GDC, to form
a third [ternary] phase [Figure1].
It was found that this new phase could also
serve as an excellent oxygen ionic conductor.
The team further investigated the atomic
microstructure around the grain boundary,
through a series of high-resolution characterisation
techniques. They found that Gd segregation in
the grain boundary had been eliminated, leading
to dramatic improvement in the grain boundary
oxygen ionic conductivity of GDC.

Segregation of Gd in the
grain boundary
Oxygen permeation
Chen explains that the origin of the low
demonstration
grain boundary conductivity is known to be
segregation of gadolinium (Gd) in the grain
boundary, which leads to a built-in charge at
the interface, referred to as the space charge
Figure 1. (a) Traditional
dual-phase mixed ionic
electronic conductors
(DP-MIECs) without formation of the third phase,
and (bd) novel ternaryphase MIECs (TP-MIECs).
The latter are shown as
(b) CGOCFO (50:50), (c)
CGOCFO (60:40), and (d)
CGOCFO (80:20) in this
work.

12

Fuel Cells Bulletin

The improved oxygen ionic conductivity of

GDC has been demonstrated in an oxygen
permeation experiment, where the elevated

oxygen ion transport was used to separate

pure oxygen from air at elevated temperatures.
The approach of targeting emergent phases,
resulting in clean interfaces, can be applied
to a number of essential materials for energy
conversion and storage devices used in
handheld electronics, vehicles, and power
plants, making them more cost-effective,
efficient, and environmentally friendly.
Ceramic composites consisting of ionic
and electronic conductive components
like those in this study are currently under
consideration for membrane separation
devices that provide oxygen for enhanced
conversion of coal and natural gas, as well
as for membrane reactors used in natural gas
conversion and recovery.
The other team members include Dr Ye Lin
and Dr Shumin Fang from the University of
South Carolina, and Dr Dong Su in the Center
for Functional Nanomaterials at Brookhaven
National Laboratory, who contributed to the
electron microscopy investigations.

Reference
Ye Lin, Shumin Fang, Dong Su, Kyle S.
Brinkman, Fanglin Chen: Enhancing grain
boundary ionic conductivity in mixed ionic
electronic conductors, Nature Communications
6 (10 April 2015), Article number 6824, http://
dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms7824 (Open Access).
Contact: Professor Frank Chen, Department of
Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
and Computing, University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208, USA. Tel: +1 803 777 4875,
Email: chenfa@cec.sc.edu,
Web: http://tinyurl.com/sc-mecheng
University of South Carolina, Solid Oxide Fuel Cell
Center: www.sofccenter.com
Or contact: Dr Kyle S. Brinkman, Department of
Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson
University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
Tel: +1 864 656 1405,
Email: ksbrink@clemson.edu,
Web: www.ces.clemson.edu/ceramicmaterials4energy
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Center for
Functional Nanomaterials: www.bnl.gov/cfn

May 2015

news feature

PNNL method creates alloy

particles to replace Pt catalysts
Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in the US
have developed a method to create nanoparticles with the potential to
replace expensive platinum (Pt) in fuel cell catalysts. The team created the
nanoparticles using magnetron sputtering and gas aggregation, and placed them
on a surface using ion soft landing techniques devised at PNNL.
Replacing expensive platinum with common
metals in a reactive, highly tunable nanoparticle
form may expand the use of fuel cells. Scientists
at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have
now made such metal nanoparticles, using a
new gas-based technique and ion soft landing
approach. As an added benefit, the particles are
bare, without a capping layer that coats their
surfaces and reduces their reactivity.
The PNNL study shows how to create
particles comprising abundant metals, but
with a similar reactivity to platinum. This
new preparation technique may also be used
to create alloy nanomaterials for solar cells,
heterogeneous catalysts for a variety of chemical
reactions, and energy storage devices.
The new method gives scientists fine control
over the composition and morphology of the alloy
nanoparticles on surfaces, says Dr Grant Johnson,
a PNNL physical chemist who led the study.
The team created the nanoparticles using
magnetron sputtering and gas aggregation.
They placed them on a surface using PNNLdeveloped ion soft landing techniques. The
result is a layer of bare nanoparticles, made
from two different metals, that is free of
capping layers, residual reactants, and solvent
molecules that are unavoidable with particles
synthesised in solution.
The process begins with loading 1 inchdiameter metal discs into an instrument

PNNL researchers created

metal alloy particles using
a technique that involves
magnetron sputtering and
gas aggregation, then
placed them on a surface
using ion soft landing
techniques. [Source:
Nanoscale, Royal Society
of Chemistry]

that combines particle formation and ion

deposition. Once the metals are locked into
a vacuum chamber in the aggregation region,
argon gas is introduced. The argon becomes
ionised in the presence of a high voltage,
and vaporises the metals through sputtering.
The metal ions travel through a cooled
region, where they collide with each other
and stick together. The result is bare ionic
metal nanoparticles that are about 410 nm
across. The mass spectrometer filters the ionic
particles, removing those that dont meet the
desired size. The filtered particles are then soft
landed onto a surface of choice, such as glassy
carbon, a commonly used electrode material.
Creating the alloy particles in the gas phase
provides numerous benefits. The conventional
solution-based approach often results in
clumps of the different metals, rather than
homogeneous nanoparticles with the desired
shape. Furthermore, the particles lack a capping
layer, which eliminates the need to remove
these layers and clean the particles, which
makes them more efficient to use.
An important benefit is that it allows us
to skirt certain thermodynamic limitations
that occur when the particles are created
in solution, says Johnson. This allows us
to create alloys with consistent elemental
constituents and conformation. Furthermore,
the kinetically limited gas-phase approach also

enables the deposition of intermediate species

that would react away in solution.
The coverage of the resulting surface is
controlled by how long the particles are aimed
at the surface, and the intensity of the ion
beam. At relatively short time frames on flat
surfaces, the nanoparticles bind randomly.
If the process is run for longer, a continuous
film forms. Stepped surfaces result in the
nanoparticles forming linear chains on the step
edges at low coverage. With longer times and
a surface with defects, the particles cluster on
the imperfections, providing a way to tailor
surfaces with particle-rich areas and adjacent
open spaces. The characterisation experiments
were done using atomic force microscopy,
scanning and transmission electron microscopy,
and other tools in PNNLs Environmental
Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL).
While this work focuses on single
nanoparticles, the final result is an extended
array with implications that stretch from the
atomic scale to the mesoscale. Mesoscale
research is about how things work together in
extended arrays, says Johnson. Thats exactly
what weve successfully built here.
The researchers are now exploring different
metal combinations with various platinum ratios to
get the desired characteristics for fuel cell catalysts.
They plan to study these particles further in the
new in situ transmission electron microscope,
planned to open in EMSL in 2015, to understand
how the particles evolve in reactive environments.

Reference
Grant E. Johnson, Robert Colby, Julia Laskin:
Soft landing of bare nanoparticles with
controlled size, composition, and morphology,
Nanoscale 7(8) (28 February 2015) 34913503,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c4nr06758d
Contact: Dr Grant E. Johnson, Chemical Physics &
Analysis Program, Physical Sciences Division,
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland,
WA 99352, USA. Tel: +1 509 371 6753,
Email: grant.johnson@pnnl.gov,
Web: www.pnnl.gov/psd
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Environmental
Molecular Sciences Laboratory: www.emsl.pnl.gov

May 2015

Fuel Cells Bulletin

13

feature

Proton Motor focuses on

cleantech competence
The maxim of Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH based in Puchheim, near
Munich in Germany is cleantech competence. The wide variety of
application areas for its products and activities are a consistent testimony to its
credentials as a cleantech business.
Proton Motor (PM) develops and manufactures
fuel cell systems for mobile, marine, and
stationary applications based on polymer
electrolyte membrane (PEM) technology. All
of its systems are modular and expandable.
The spectrum of supply options offered by PM
ranges from stacks developed and produced
in-house, right through to turnkey applications.
The companys competence and expertise
in the integration of fuel cell technology into
overall systems, means that PMs service goes
far beyond the system interfaces. To ensure

optimum system integration, PM accompanies

and supports its customers as a project partner
in both the planning and implementation
phases of design, testing, commissioning
and servicing, as well as in certification and
acceptance by third parties. PMs many years of
experience have resulted in highly serviceable
products, which guarantee effective operation.

House with autonomous

energy supply
The Blue Hamster [Figure1] is a long-term
energy storage system from Mossau Energy,
which is based on hydrogen and is being used
at Klar Energie in Dernbach. To allow the
energy stored in the form of hydrogen to be
used again, a central component of the Blue
Hamster system is the Proton Motor PM
Module S5 stationary fuel cell system.
A short-term battery storage unit is used
to ensure that the energy produced by a solar
photovoltaic (PV) system is available around
the clock, and allows the energy gained during
the day to be used in the evenings. A further
task of this storage unit is to compensate for
the changing energy needs of the building. The
battery storage unit also serves as an interface
for long-term storage.

Figure 1. The Blue Hamster system installed

at Klar Energie in Dernbach. [Source: Mossau
Energy]

14

Fuel Cells Bulletin

If the battery is fully charged and the energy

requirement of the house is covered, the excess
energy is converted via water electrolysis into
hydrogen. This can be permanently stored in
tanks, and converted by the fuel cell system
back into electrical energy when required. The
waste heat from the fuel cell is used for heating.

Clean auxiliary power

supply for substation
In the Neumarkt rural district in Oberpfalz,
a Proton Motor fuel cell system is now in
operation at the Bachhausen substation
[Figure2], to ensure the operation of technical
equipment during a power outage. Every
substation needs a grid-independent auxiliary
power supply [Figure3] with a minimum
of 10 hours of backup time, to carry out the
necessary switching tasks to re-establish the
power supply and until now, this has been
covered by conventional battery storage.
The use of fuel cells reduces the space
requirement of auxiliary systems, and provides
practically unlimited extension to the potential
bridging time during a power failure, due to
the option of also topping up the hydrogen.
By connecting a second tank cluster, the
backup time prior to refueling can be extended
to 72 hours. The application of hydrogen as

Figure 2. The Bachhausen substation, with the cluster of (red) hydrogen tanks at the front of the
house.

May 2015

feature / patents

Figure 4. The 7.5 tonne truck with a Proton Motor HyRange hybrid fuel cell/battery system, which
was driven from Munich to Berlin with zero emissions.

Figure 3. The system installed as a gridindependent auxiliary power supply at the

Bachhausen substation.

an energy carrier allows the majority of the

existing batteries to be dispensed with, so that
the use of the hazardous metals lead and nickel/
cadmium in auxiliary power systems can be
largely avoided.

Zero emissions to Berlin

Proton Motor recently set a world record with
its 7.5 tonne truck featuring an 8kW hybrid
fuel cell/battery system [Figure4], by being
the first to cover the route between Munich
and Berlin completely free of emissions [FCB,

Patents
PEMFC system with more accurate
estimation of residual water content
to accurately limit electric current

December 2014, p1]. The cold season, and

the limited availability of electric charging
and hydrogen refueling stations on the route,
presented major challenges. But with the
HyRange fuel cell system, the truck succeeded
in bridging even the most critical distances on
its own.
The record-breaking run ended in Berlin
at the CTI Symposium on automotive
transmissions and drives, where the fuel cell
system was presented to an international
audience. To conclude this demonstration,
further tests were carried out on the ADAC
automobile club test track in Linthe, to prove
the system as well as vehicle performance and
loading capacity.

Electric charging station

to provide clean energy
In a collaboration between the city
of Puchheim, local power company
KommEnergie and Proton Motor, a public
electric charging station is currently being
erected directly on the Proton Motor site.
It is powered by electricity from fuel cell

carbon support in cathode catalyst

when system is left unused
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan
Inventors: N. Orihashi et al.
Patent number: US 8916306
Published: 23 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 23 Mar. 2007)

Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan

Inventors: M. Okuyoshi et al.
Patent number: US 8916303
Published: 23 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 17 June 2011)

Accurate determination of dryness

in automotive PEMFC system, and
water recovery to increase catalyst
layer water content if required

Control of automotive PEMFC

system, to prevent oxidation of

Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan

Inventor: K. Suematsu et al.
Patent number: US 8916307

May 2015

test stands and a solar system. The core is

a solar/battery storage system supplied by
SPower, a sister brand to Proton Motor [FCB,
March 2013, p7]. This solar/battery storage
system also simultaneously supplies energy
to a second charging station on the noncommercial grid of the German e-mobility
network Drehstromnetz.
As a result, electrically powered cars, buses,
and commercial vehicles can be charged at the
two stations using energy produced with zero
emissions.
For more information, contact: Proton Motor Fuel
Cell GmbH, Benzstrasse 7, D-82178
Puchheim, Germany. Tel: +49 89 1276 2650,
Email: info@proton-motor.de,
Web: www.proton-motor.com/?lang=en
Mossau Energy, Blue Hamster:
www.mossau-energy.de/blue-hamster-englisch.html
Klar Energie:
www.klar-energie.de/energy-self-reliance.html
KommEnergie: www.kommenergie.de (in German)
SPower: www.spower-solar.de/main/index.
php?id=1&sprache=english
Drehstromnetz: www.drehstromnetz.de (in German)

Published: 23 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 5 Jan. 2010)

Automotive SOFC structure to

control gas flow and maintain
uniform temperature distribution,
thermally self-sustained operation
Assignee: Honda Motor Co, Japan
Inventors: K. Dan et al.
Patent number: US 8916308
Published: 23 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 14 Apr. 2009)

High-performance PEMFC with

GDL layers including polyurethane
matrix containing conductive fillers

Fuel Cells Bulletin

15

feature / patents

Figure 4. The 7.5 tonne truck with a Proton Motor HyRange hybrid fuel cell/battery system, which
was driven from Munich to Berlin with zero emissions.

Figure 3. The system installed as a gridindependent auxiliary power supply at the

Bachhausen substation.

an energy carrier allows the majority of the

existing batteries to be dispensed with, so that
the use of the hazardous metals lead and nickel/
cadmium in auxiliary power systems can be
largely avoided.

Zero emissions to Berlin

Proton Motor recently set a world record with
its 7.5 tonne truck featuring an 8kW hybrid
fuel cell/battery system [Figure4], by being
the first to cover the route between Munich
and Berlin completely free of emissions [FCB,

Patents
PEMFC system with more accurate
estimation of residual water content
to accurately limit electric current

December 2014, p1]. The cold season, and

the limited availability of electric charging
and hydrogen refueling stations on the route,
presented major challenges. But with the
HyRange fuel cell system, the truck succeeded
in bridging even the most critical distances on
its own.
The record-breaking run ended in Berlin
at the CTI Symposium on automotive
transmissions and drives, where the fuel cell
system was presented to an international
audience. To conclude this demonstration,
further tests were carried out on the ADAC
automobile club test track in Linthe, to prove
the system as well as vehicle performance and
loading capacity.

Electric charging station

to provide clean energy
In a collaboration between the city
of Puchheim, local power company
KommEnergie and Proton Motor, a public
electric charging station is currently being
erected directly on the Proton Motor site.
It is powered by electricity from fuel cell

carbon support in cathode catalyst

when system is left unused
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan
Inventors: N. Orihashi et al.
Patent number: US 8916306
Published: 23 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 23 Mar. 2007)

Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan

Inventors: M. Okuyoshi et al.
Patent number: US 8916303
Published: 23 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 17 June 2011)

Accurate determination of dryness

in automotive PEMFC system, and
water recovery to increase catalyst
layer water content if required

Control of automotive PEMFC

system, to prevent oxidation of

Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan

Inventor: K. Suematsu et al.
Patent number: US 8916307

May 2015

test stands and a solar system. The core is

a solar/battery storage system supplied by
SPower, a sister brand to Proton Motor [FCB,
March 2013, p7]. This solar/battery storage
system also simultaneously supplies energy
to a second charging station on the noncommercial grid of the German e-mobility
network Drehstromnetz.
As a result, electrically powered cars, buses,
and commercial vehicles can be charged at the
two stations using energy produced with zero
emissions.
For more information, contact: Proton Motor Fuel
Cell GmbH, Benzstrasse 7, D-82178
Puchheim, Germany. Tel: +49 89 1276 2650,
Email: info@proton-motor.de,
Web: www.proton-motor.com/?lang=en
Mossau Energy, Blue Hamster:
www.mossau-energy.de/blue-hamster-englisch.html
Klar Energie:
www.klar-energie.de/energy-self-reliance.html
KommEnergie: www.kommenergie.de (in German)
SPower: www.spower-solar.de/main/index.
php?id=1&sprache=english
Drehstromnetz: www.drehstromnetz.de (in German)

Published: 23 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 5 Jan. 2010)

Automotive SOFC structure to

control gas flow and maintain
uniform temperature distribution,
thermally self-sustained operation
Assignee: Honda Motor Co, Japan
Inventors: K. Dan et al.
Patent number: US 8916308
Published: 23 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 14 Apr. 2009)

High-performance PEMFC with

GDL layers including polyurethane
matrix containing conductive fillers

Fuel Cells Bulletin

15

patents
Assignee: CEA, France
Inventors: R. Vincent et al.
Patent number: US 8916309
Published: 23 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 7 Feb. 2012)

Conductive sheet comprising

fluoroplastic fused to aromatic
polyamide pulp, PEMFC electrode
Assignee: Toho Tenax Co Ltd, Japan
Inventors: K. Kurokawa et al.
Patent number: US 8916310
Published: 23 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 24 Aug. 2011)

Synthesis of hydroxyapatite (HAP)

thin film on Pd, for intermediatetemperature (200600C) fuel cells
and PEMFCs
Assignee: University of Rochester, USA
Inventors: M. Yates et al.
Patent number: US 8916311
Published: 23 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 19 Aug. 2011)

PEMFC bipolar plate assembly with

thermoplastic sealant
Assignee: General Motors, USA
Inventor: X. Xiao
Patent number: US 8916312
Published: 23 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 20 Apr. 2010)

PEMFC plate in which blockage

causes pressure gradient
between coated flow-field
channels to drive gas convection
around obstruction
Assignee: Ford Motor Company, USA
Inventors: A.P. Shirvanian et al.
Patent number: US 8916313
Published: 23 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 16 July 2009)

Humidifier for automotive PEMFC

systems, with water-permeable
membranes between thin plates
Assignee: Dana Canada Corp, Canada
Inventors: D. Vanderwees et al.
Patent number: US 8919746
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 6 Sep. 2011)

Fabrication of sputter-deposited,
fully dense electrolyte layer in
high-performance SOFC MEA
Assignee: Institute of Nuclear
Energy Research, Taiwan
Inventors: T.-N. Lin et al.
Patent number: US 8920612
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 27 Dec. 2007)

16

Fuel Cells Bulletin

System, method for purging water

from automotive PEMFC stack
Assignee: Ford Motor Company, USA
Inventors: S.A. Janarthanam et al.
Patent number: US 8920984
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 19 Feb. 2008)

PEM or phosphoric acid fuel cell

with cathode catalyst comprising
Pt nanoparticles stabilised
using gold
Assignee: Ballard Power Systems, Canada
Inventors: M. Shao et al.
Patent number: US 8920985
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 4 Mar. 2013)

Automotive PEMFC system with

improved humidification by cooling
stack exhaust to increase humidity
Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company, Korea
Inventors: D.H. Lee et al.
Patent number: US 8920987
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 12 Nov. 2009)

Fuel cell with anode exhaust gas

recirculation using potential energy
from hydrogen tank in gas jet pump
Assignee: Daimler, Germany
Inventor: A. Knoop
Patent number: US 8920988
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 5 Nov. 2013)

Anode protection system for SOFC

shutdown, to prevent re-oxidation
of Ni in anode layer
Assignee: Delphi Technologies, USA
Inventors: B.X. Li et al.
Patent number: US 8920993
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 14 Dec. 2012)

Predicting polarisation curves in

automotive PEMFC system, for
increased stack efficiency
Assignee: General Motors, USA
Inventors: D.R. Lebzelter et al.
Patent number: US 8920995
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 15 Mar. 2013)

Systems and methods to regulate

PEMFC air flow during low-load or
cold-temperature operation
Assignee: DCNS, France
Inventor: D.W. Skinkle
Patent number: US 8920996
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 29 Apr. 2011)

SOFC with hybrid fuel heatexchanger/pre-reformer, providing

fuel flexibility for liquid, gas fuels
Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation, USA
Inventor: S. Venkataraman
Patent number: US 8920997
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 27 Sep. 2007)

Flexible fuel cell structures with

external support, providing design
flexibility in portable device power
Assignee: Socit Bic, France [Angstrom
Power, now Intelligent Energy]
Inventors: G.F. McLean et al.
Patent number: US 8920998
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 27 Feb. 2013)

Multiple injector and ejector array

for automotive PEMFC stack, to
support hydrogen recirculation and
maximise stack efficiency
Assignee: General Motors, USA
Inventors: R. Senner et al.
Patent number: US 8920999
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 14 Dec. 2007)

PEMFC anode separator with flow

channel structure to reduce water
clogging, improve power output
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan
Inventors: N. Takeshita et al.
Patent number: US 8921000
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 15 July 2010)

SOFC hermetic high-temperature

dielectric conduit assemblies
Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation, USA
Inventors: J. Huynh et al.
Patent number: US 8921001
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 26 Nov. 2013)

Manufacturing of PEM or DMFC

MEAs incorporating photocurable
cationic crosslinkable resin gasket
Assignee: 3M, USA
Inventors: M.A. Yandrasits et al.
Patent number: US 8921002
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 21 Mar. 2013)

IT-SOFC with nanostructured

electrode with metal support, using
tri-gas atmospheric plasma spray
Assignee: Institute of Nuclear
Energy Research, Taiwan
Inventors: C.-S. Hwang et al.
Patent number: US 8921003
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 3 July 2012)

May 2015

patents
Surface treatment for corrosionresistant PEMFC separator, using
less metal in metal coating

Patent number: US 8921260

Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 12 Feb. 2010)

Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan

Inventors: H. Onishiv et al.
Patent number: US 8921005
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 20 Oct. 2008)

Aircraft emergency system with

PEM or SOFC, to supply power and
inhibit fire using oxygen-depleted
air in fuel cell exhaust

SOFC current collector for shorter

electron paths between electrodes,
higher power generation efficiency

Assignee: Airbus Operations, Germany

Inventors: R.-H. Stolte et al.
Patent number: US 8925865
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 1 Feb. 2013)

Assignee: Toto Ltd, Japan

Inventors: N. Watanabe et al.
Patent number: US 8921006
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 31 Mar. 2010)

SOFC with improved YSZ powder

bonding layer between interconnect
layer and electrode layer
Assignee: Saint-Gobain
Ceramics & Plastics, USA
Inventors: G. Lin et al.
Patent number: US 8921007
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 14 Nov. 2012)

Automotive PEMFC separator

with integrally moulded gasket to
improve corrosion resistance
Assignees: Kia Motors Corporation, Korea
and Hyundai Motor Company, Korea
Inventors: S.H. Kim et al.
Patent number: US 8921008
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 18 Jan. 2011)

Improved manufacture of sealed

PEMFC stacks, with electrostatic
deposition on substrate surfaces
Assignee: Zephyros Inc, USA
Inventors: M. Czaplicki et al.
Patent number: US 8921009
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 30 July 2012)

Preparation of PEMFC unitised

electrode assembly by ultrasonic
welding, heating only outside edge
Assignee: Ballard Power Systems, Canada
Inventors: T. Skiba et al.
Patent number: US 8921010
Published: 30 Dec. 2014 (Filed: 16 Sep. 2013)

Pt monolayer on hollow,
porous alloy nanoparticles with
high surface area for PEMFC
electrocatalysts, and fabrication
Assignee: Ballard Power Systems, Canada
Inventors: M. Shao et al.

May 2015

Simple automotive PEMFC system

to efficiently increase pressure of
recirculated hydrogen-rich exhaust
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan
Inventor: T. Kobayashi
Patent number: US 8927161
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 19 May 2009)

SOFC system with different restart

operations depending on operating
temperature after cooling on stops
Assignee: Toto Ltd, Japan
Inventors: Y. Akagi et al.
Patent number: US 8927162
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 31 Mar. 2010)

Improved operation of portable fuel

cells, by determining stabilisation
state after initial operation by OCV
Assignee: Korea Institute of
Science and Technology, Korea
Inventors: J. Lee et al.
Patent number: US 8927163
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 8 Dec. 2006)

Control of purging on shutdown

of automotive PEMFC system, to
reduce purge battery power drain
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan
Inventor: S. Aso
Patent number: US 8927164
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 16 Oct. 2008)

Automotive PEMFC stack cathode

inlet relative humidity control
without RH sensor feedback
Assignee: General Motors, USA
Inventors: D. Chen et al.
Patent number: US 8927165
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 28 June 2010)

Shutting down an indirect internal

reforming SOFC, prevents oxidative
degradation of anode by reformate

Assignee: JX Nippon Oil & Energy, Japan

Inventor: S. Hatada
Patent number: US 8927166
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 14 Jan. 2009)

Long-life PEM or DMFC operation

by suppressing stack deterioration
and removing non-reactants
Assignee: Samsung SDI, Korea
Inventors: J.-Y. Park et al.
Patent number: US 8927167
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 13 Aug. 2009)

PEMFC system control to improve

stability during low-efficiency
operation, e.g. during warm-up
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan
Inventor: Y. Naganuma
Patent number: US 8927168
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 30 July 2009)

Preventing air supply cleanup unit

in automotive PEMFC system from
freezing in cold driving conditions
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan
Inventor: H. Yumiya
Patent number: US 8927169
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 18 Mar. 2008)

Flow-field plate for reduced coolant

pressure drop, to improve PEMFC
stack coolant flow sharing
Assignees: Daimler, Germany
and Ford Motor Co, USA
Inventors: S. Farrington et al.
Patent number: US 8927170
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 16 May 2011)

Flat-tubular SOFC or SOEC stack,

configured to minimise stress in
cell stack structure
Assignee: Korea Institute of
Energy Research, Korea
Inventors: S.-D. Kim et al.
Patent number: US 8927172
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 15 Dec. 2010)

Robust porous electrode substrate

and low-cost yet accurate
production method, PEMFC MEA
Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co, Japan
Inventors: K. Sumioka et al.
Patent number: US 8927173
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 13 May 2013)

PEMFC sealing structure in

which MEA is pinched by gaskets

Fuel Cells Bulletin

17

PATENTS
integrally formed on separators
Assignee: NOK Corporation, Japan
Inventors: S. Taguchi et al.
Patent number: US 8927174
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 27 Apr. 2010)

Lightweight current collector plates

in bulk-solidifying amorphous
alloys, for excellent chemical and
environmental resistance in PEMFC
Assignee: Crucible Intellectual Property,
USA [Liquidmetal Technologies Inc]
Inventor: T. Wende
Patent number: US 8927176
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 25 Apr. 2013)

Preparing carbon black sheet with

metallic nanoparticle thin layer
by electrophoretic deposition, for
PEMFC MEA
Assignee: Chonbuk National Univ, Korea
Inventor: Y.T. Yu
Patent number: US 8927177
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 21 July 2009)

Fabrication of gas-impermeable
composite fluoropolymer
membrane with ion-exchange
resin(s) coating, use in PEMFC
Assignee: Shandong Huaxia Shenzhou
New Material Co Ltd, China
Inventors: Y. Zhang et al.
Patent number: US 8927612
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 18 June 2010)

SOFC MEA testing device able to

determine overall performance of
operating cell, local characteristics
Assignee: Institute of Nuclear
Energy Research, Taiwan
Inventors: S.-W. Cheng et al.
Patent number: US 8928328
Published: 6 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 18 Jan. 2012)

Fabrication of polymer electrolyte

membrane with excellent proton
conductivity, for PEM or DMFC
Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation, Japan
Inventors: H. Miyachi et al.
Patent number: US 8932509
Published: 13 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 6 July 2006)

Simple SOFC design for low-cost

production and disassembly, and
increased product competitiveness
Assignee: Institute of Nuclear

18

Fuel Cells Bulletin

Energy Research, Taiwan

Inventors: D.-D. Yu et al.
Patent number: US 8932738
Published: 13 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 16 Oct. 2008)

Pre-stop process for automotive

PEMFC system, to prevent oxidation
of cathode catalyst
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan
Inventors: H. Kumei et al.
Patent number: US 8932772
Published: 13 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 7 Oct. 2009)

Controlling PEMFC operation by

increasing anode gas flow rate to
reduce cell resistance
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan
Inventors: S. Hamada et al.
Patent number: US 8932775
Published: 13 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 28 May 2010)

Multilayer monolithic SOFC in

spiral rolled structure or concentric
tubular device: SOFC Stick
Assignees/Inventors: A. Devoe and L. Devoe,
USA [Violet Fuel Cell Sticks]
Patent number: US 8932776
Published: 13 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 14 Sep. 2012)

Fuel supply system has compressed

gas and liquid fuel chambers for
sodium borohydride or DMFCs
Assignee: Socit Bic, France
[now Intelligent Energy]
Inventors: A.J. Curello et al.
Patent number: US 8932777
Published: 13 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 21 Aug. 2008)

Automotive planar SOFC with

fuel gas outlets for uniform
temperature distribution,
improved durability
Assignee: Honda Motor Co, Japan
Inventors: K. Dan et al.
Patent number: US 8932778
Published: 13 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 14 Apr. 2009)

SOFC/SOEC with integral current

collector and manifold, no need for
brazing or thermal bonding
Assignee: Korea Institute
of Energy Research, Korea
Inventors: S.-D. Kim et al.
Patent number: US 8932779
Published: 13 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 15 Aug. 2012)

Flexible PEMFC assembly that can

be rolled into tubular configuration,
suitable for handheld devices
Assignee: Honeywell International, USA
Inventor: S.J. Eickhoff
Patent number: US 8932780
Published: 13 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 12 Feb. 2010)

IT-SOFC anode comprising barium

zirconate-cerate co-doped with Y
and Yb, for enhanced tolerance to
sulfur poisoning and coking
Assignee: Georgia Tech, USA
Inventors: L. Yang et al.
Patent number: US 8932781
Published: 13 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 30 Oct. 2009)

Preparation of sol-gel modified

alternative Nafion-silica composite
membrane, in HT-PEMFC (150C)
Assignee: Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research, India [Central
Electrochemical Research Institute]
Inventors: A.K. Sahu et al.
Patent number: US 8932782
Published: 13 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 14 Nov. 2007)

SOFC comprising YSZ electrolyte

and LSCF cathode layers separated
by mixed-phase (zirconia, ceria)
reaction barrier layer
Assignee: Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd, Australia
Inventors: M.R. Watts et al.
Patent number: US 8932783
Published: 13 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 9 Oct. 2009)

PEMFC cathode with microporous

carbon as electric double layer, to
restrict reverse current at startup
Assignee: JX Nippon Oil & Energy, Japan
Inventors: K. Matsuoka et al.
Patent number: US 8932784
Published: 13 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 27 Mar. 2008)

Device and method for controlling

humidification in micro PEMFCs,
able to start when electrolyte is dry
Assignees: STMicroelectronics, France
and CEA, France
Inventors: N. Karst et al.
Patent number: US 8936884
Published: 20 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 24 Nov. 2009)

Automotive PEMFC which allows

ventilation of and suppresses static
electricity generation in chamber

May 2015

PATENTS
Assignee: Honda Motor Co, Japan
Inventors: M. Matsumoto et al.
Patent number: US 8936885
Published: 20 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 24 May 2012)

PAFC composite electrolyte

membrane with controlled ratio
of phosphoric acid-based material
retention, manufacturing method
Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co, Korea
Inventors: S.-W. Choi et al.
Patent number: US 8936887
Published: 20 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 3 Feb. 2012)

Tubular SOFC system with flame

protection member, controls flame
tip location at anode exhaust
Assignee: Adaptive Materials Inc, USA
[now Ultra Electronics AMI]
Inventors: A.T. Crumm et al.
Patent number: US 8936888
Published: 20 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 1 Feb. 2010)

Data centre using fuel cells running

on natural gas instead of diesel
generators for backup power
Assignee: Facebook, USA
Inventor: S.H. Park
Patent number: US 8937405
Published: 20 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 31 Dec. 2009)

SOFC with electrode sublayers

formed and dried before single
firing step, cuts anode delamination
Assignee: Bloom Energy Corporation, USA
Inventors: E.E. Batawi et al.
Patent number: US 8940112
Published: 27 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 24 Apr. 2013)

Enhanced heat-exchange in vehicle

PEMFC, prevents excessive cooling
of components, better stack cooling
Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan
Inventor: K. Ikeya
Patent number: US 8940448
Published: 27 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 13 July 2011)

PEMFC configuration for efficient

removal of unwanted liquid water

from power generation layer

Assignee: Canon, Japan
Inventors: A. Yoshizawa et al.
Patent number: US 8940449
Published: 27 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 1 Feb. 2007)

MEA with edge protective layer

between backing layer and
electrolyte membrane to prevent
pinholes, for PEM or DMFC
Assignee: Samsung SDI, Korea
Inventors: H.-T. Kim et al.
Patent number: US 8940450
Published: 27 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 28 July 2010)

Planar IT-SOFC with two-layer

electrolyte comprising scandiastabilised zirconia (ScSz) and YSZ
Assignee: Siemens, Germany
Inventors: R. Fleck et al.
Patent number: US 8940451
Published: 27 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 24 Sep. 2009)

PEMFC electrode catalyst substrate

with highly uniform loading, by
hydrophilising porous carbon film
Assignees: Toyota Motor Corporation,
Japan and Cataler Corporation, Japan
Inventors: K. Shinozaki et al.
Patent number: US 8940452
Published: 27 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 25 June 2008)

Fabrication of Pd-based catalyst on

complex metal oxide/carbon-based
support, PEM or DMFC electrode
Assignee: Samsung Electronics, Korea
Inventors: S.-A. Jin et al.
Patent number: US 8940453
Published: 27 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 9 Dec. 2010)

Direct carbon fuel cell (SOFC)

runs on coal, graphite and/or
biomass, with sulfur-resistant
anode catalyst
Assignee: University of Akron, USA
Inventor: S.S.C. Chuang
Patent number: US 8940454
Published: 27 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 15 Nov. 2004)

SOFC with barrier/buffer layers

between electrolyte and cathode,
to prevent cracks and delamination
Assignee: NGK Insulators, Japan
Inventors: A. Kobayashi et al.
Patent number: US 8940455
Published: 27 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 14 June 2011)

SOFC with effective brazing of cell

coupling and unit cell, to reduce
deterioration, improve durability
Assignee: Samsung SDI, Korea
Inventors: J.-D. Kim et al.
Patent number: US 8940456
Published: 27 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 9 Sep. 2011)

Corrosion-resistant, flexible
graphite/metal distribution plate
for PEMFC assembly
Assignees: Michelin, France and Michelin
Recherche et Technique SA, Switzerland
Inventors: A. Delfino et al.
Patent number: US 8940457
Published: 27 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 8 Jan. 2008)

Fuel supply containing both

reactants and waste products, for
PEMFC portable power source
Assignee: Intelligent Energy, UK
Inventors: D. Braithwaite et al.
Patent number: US 8940458
Published: 27 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 20 Oct. 2010)

AFC electrode catalyst comprising

particles containing Fe, Co and/or
Ni, and Pt and/or Ru, manufacture
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation, Japan
Inventors: H. Nakanishi et al.
Patent number: US 8940459
Published: 27 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 15 May 2008)

Catalyst ink for PEMFC electrode

fabrication, active layer formed by
spraying catalyst ink direct on GDL
Assignee: Nissan North America, USA
Inventors: N. Dale et al.
Patent number: US 8940460
Published: 27 Jan. 2015 (Filed: 14 Feb. 2011)

A SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES:
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Fuel Cells Bulletin

19

calendar

Events Calendar
812 June 2015

University of York, UK
More information:
http://tinyurl.com/rsc-fd-soe-2015

Arlington, Virginia, USA

More information:
www.annualmeritreview.energy.gov

2631 July 2015

2015 DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

Program, Annual Merit Review and Peer
Evaluation Meeting

912 June 2015

ees Europe 2015, International

Exhibition for Batteries, Energy Storage
Systems and Innovative Production
(in conjunction with Intersolar Europe)
Munich, Germany
More information: www.ees-europe.com

1011 June 2015

10th Annual Micro-CHP in Europe

Summit, Delta Energy & Environment
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
More information: www.delta-ee.com/
summits/10th-annual-micro-chp-summit

1419 June 2015

11th International Symposium on

Ceramic Materials & Components for
Energy & Environmental Applications
(11CMCEE), including Symposium
on High-temperature Fuel Cells &
Electrolysis
Vancouver, BC, Canada
More information: www.ceramics.org/11cmcee

1419 June 2015

20th International Conference on Solid

State Ionics, SSI-20
Keystone, Colorado, USA
More information: www.mrs.org/ssi-20

1516 June 2015

Ohio Fuel Cell Symposium 2015

Elyria, Ohio, USA

More information: www.fuelcellcorridor.com

2224 June 2015

Workshop on Ion Exchange Membranes

for Energy Applications, EMEA 2015
Bad Zwischenahn, Germany
More information:
www.next-energy.de/EMEA2015.html

14th International Symposium on Solid

Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC-XIV), within ECS
Conference on Electrochemical Energy
Conversion & Storage
Glasgow, Scotland, UK
More information:
www.electrochem.org/meetings/satellite/glasgow

1622 August 2015

2nd International Conference on

Electrochemical Energy Science and
Technology, EEST2015
Vancouver, BC, Canada
More information:
www.iaoees.org/events/EEST2015

30 August4 September 2015

16th International Conference on

Advanced Batteries, Accumulators and
Fuel Cells (16th ABAF)
Brno, Czech Republic
More information: www.aba-brno.cz

69 September 2015

H2YPOTHESIS XI Conference, Hydrogen

Power Theoretical and Engineering
Solutions International Symposium 2015
Toledo, Spain
More information: www.hypothesis.ws

610 September 2015

Euromembrane 2015 Conference

RWTH, Aachen, Germany
More information:
www.euromembrane2015.com

910 September 2015

8th Annual Low Carbon Vehicle Event

(LCV2015), organised by UK Cenex
Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and
Fuel Cell Technologies
Millbrook, Bedfordshire, UK
More information: www.cenex-lcv.co.uk

1316 September 2015

European Technical School on Hydrogen

and Fuel Cells 2015

2015 EFCD, Electrolysis & Fuel Cell

Discussions conference: Challenges
Towards Zero Platinum for Oxygen
Reduction (with Fuel Cell Fundamentals
Short Course on 13 September)

30 June3 July 2015

30 September2 October 2015

Lucerne, Switzerland
More information: www.efcf.com

Amsterdam & Friesland, The Netherlands

More information: www.plugboat.com
Call for papers deadline: 15 June 2015

2226 June 2015

Heraklion, Crete, Greece

More information: www./h2fc.eu/technicalschool

5th European PEFC & H2 Forum, with

Exhibition & Demonstration

610 July 2015

Journes dElectrochimie 2015,

Conference on Electrochemistry and its
Applications
University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy
More information: www.je2015.it/?lang=en

1315 July 2015

Royal Society of Chemistry Faraday

Discussion on Solid Oxide Electrolysis:
Fuels & Feedstocks from Water & Air

20

Fuel Cells Bulletin

La Grande Motte, France

More information: www.efcd2015.eu

PlugBoat 2015, 2nd World Electric &

Hybrid Boat Summit (including fuel cells)

13 October 2015

International Conference on New

Devices for Energy Conversion and
Storage

Hong Kong University of Science and

Technology, China
More information: ww.cbme.ust.hk/ISE2015HK

49 October 2015

66th Annual Meeting of the

International Society of
Electrochemistry: Green Electrochemistry
for Tomorrows Society
Taipei, Taiwan
More information: http://annual66.ise-online.org

1114 October 2015

6th World Hydrogen Technologies

Convention, WHTC 2015
Sydney, NSW, Australia
More information: www.whtc2015.com

1214 October 2015

World of Energy Solutions 2015,

including 15th f-cell Forum for
Producers & Users (alongside
Battery+Storage and e-mobil
BW Technologietag)
Stuttgart, Germany
More information:
www.world-of-energy-solutions.de

1921 October 2015

International Conference on Hydrogen

Safety, ICHS 2015
Yokohama, Japan
More information: www.ichs2015.com

811 November 2015

International Conference on Innovative

Electrochemical Energy Materials and
Technologies, EEMT2015
Nanning, China
More information: www.fuelcellscn.com/EEMT

1011 November 2015

3rd Dresden Conference on Energy in

Future: Materials for Energy
Dresden, Germany
More information:
www.zukunftenergie-dresden.de/en.html

1619 November 2015

2015 Fuel Cell Seminar & Energy

Exposition, Featuring Hydrogen Fuel
[see page 5]

Los Angeles, California, USA

More information: www.fuelcellseminar.com
Call for abstracts deadline: 29 May 2015

19 November 2015

15. Jahrestreffen des Netzwerks

Brennstoffzelle und Wasserstoff NRW
(15th Annual Meeting of the Hydrogen
and Fuel Cells Network North RhineWestfalia) [in German]
Dsseldorf, Germany
More information:
www.fuelcell-nrw.de/events/?no_cache=1&L=4

14 December 2015

European Battery, Hybrid and

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Congress,
EEVC-2015

Brussels, Belgium
More information: www.eevc.eu
Call for presentations deadline: 15 June 2015

1618 December 2015

Piero Lunghi European Fuel Cell

Conference & Exhibition, EFC15

Naples, Italy
More information: www.europeanfuelcell.it

May 2015