GM opens new FC research site in New York

Hydrogen from the sun

Hydrogen from rust

Delphi uses hydrogen to make petrol engine cleaner

Hydrogen iniativies in Rheinland-Pfalz and Hessen

Fuel cell busses for Australia

MTU fuel cell supplies clinic with heat

This time with Ralf Dunker, Chief Editor, BZM Brennstoffzellen-Magazin

Hydrogen Expo is CO2-neutral

CUTE project to meet during the exhibition

US pavilion and NHA

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General Motors just released plans to build a new 80.000 square foot (7.200 square meter) research facility in upstate New York. The site is designed to help GM determine the materials and processes necessary to manufacture fuel cells on a large scale. Says Byron McCormick, head of the automaker's FC development and commercialization: "We're creating an industry that doesn't exist. Now we've got to start saying if we want to make hundreds or thousands or millions of these things, what are the implications of these choices? How do the materials degrade?" According to him, GM expects the first fuel cell applications outside the automotive industry. Last fall, for example, his company closed a deal with Nextel Communications for the installation of FC backup power units for cellular phone towers to test their durability in harsh conditions. The first GM cars and trucks powered by fuel cells are anticipated to be on the retail market by 2010. In McCormick's view the key to commercialization lies in working with the suppliers. They needed to know what materials to use and which parts of the stack or fuel reformer they had to work on. The New York research facility is said to create between 50 and 100 new jobs, thereby raising the number of GM workers focusing on this evolving market to over 600.

A company from the UK recently announced that they want to introduce a new cost-effective system for phovoltaic H2 production to the market soon. The system combines the generation of electricity from sunlight with the electrolysis of water to separate hydrogen and oxygen in a single process. According to the Hydrogen Solar Production Company (H2SPC), the new technology is simpler and less expensive than conventional silicon solar cells. With this, it was possible to produce hydrogen onsite on a sufficient scale to meet the needs of an individual car, thereby avoiding the costs and challenges relating to the transportation of the gas. The process relied on nanocrystalline semiconductor materials whose molecular structure gave them an enormous internal surface area. Oxides of titanium, zinc, tin or niobium were used which formed crystalline arrays. The minute pores between the crystals were then filled with a semiconducting or conducting medium. As a result an extremely fine network was formed, providing for the substances' conductivity. Dye could then be absorbed into the structure to enhance the range of light wavelengths which can be "harvested". H2SPC says they are working with a "tandem cell" approach, using two thin layers of different metal oxides for the two electrodes of the cell. This helped to further enhance the range of wavelengths absorbed. The front cell intercepted at the blue end of the spectrum, setting up the voltage. The green and read part of the spectrum were intercepted by a second cell which is placed behind the first one, making the electrones for H2 generation available. H2SPC believes to be able to demonstrate the process on a commercial scale within the next six months. The company holds the rights to this technology which was developed by Prof. Michael Graetzel from EPFL in Lausanne.

Japanese scientists from the Toyko Institute of Technology claim to have found a way to produce hyodrgen fuel onboard cars by accelerating a process similar to rusting. According to Prof. Kiyoshi Otsuka of the Applied Chemistry Department, the augmentation of the natural rusting process with high temperatures and catalysts bore the potential for a simple, safe and environmentally benign technology for H2 storage and on-board supply. "The iron and iron oxide are non-toxic and quite cheap materials", says Otsuka. "As the fuel is water, there is no danger of explosion when vehicles collide." The technology was based on a reduction-oxidation reaction of magnetite. Iron pellets from this reaction could be packed into cassettes which were mounted to the vehicles. By adding water vapour to the cassettes hydrogen was produced. The iron oxide remaining in the cassettes could be exchanged for recycling at the fuel station. As explained by Prof. Otsuka, it was possible to operate the reaction at a temperature of 300 degress Celsius. 48g hydrogen were then produced from 1kg of iron. The Tokyo Institute works with industry partner Uchiya Thermostat to make the technology ready for commercialization. They are currently focusing on developing more efficient materials based on iron oxides as well as a unit apparatus and water injection equipment.

US-American automotive component supplier Delphi, who are also working with BMW and Renault to develop an FC auxiliary unit to power onboard vehicle electronics, introduced a new technology to reduce emissions from internal combustion engines. Hydrogen enriched fuel for a normal petrol engine was employed in this process to significantly reduce emissions of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. Delphi says they are currently developing a microreformer to generate H2 by partial oxidation of the fossil energy source. According to Jean Botti, chief technologist at the auto supplier's dynamics and propulsion innovation center, the hydrogen enrichment allows the precious metal content of exhaust catalysts to be reduced by almost 50%. At the same time, this technology made it possible to avoid a dramatic increase in the size of catalysts, which in compliance with future emission legislation would otherwise be necessary. In addition to reducing emissions, the enriched fuel enabled the catalyst to reach its optimum operating temperature sooner.

With the state of Rheinland-Pfalz and the state of Hessen, two further German provinces announced that they founded initiatives to support hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. In Mainz (capital of Rheinland-Pfalz), Environment Minister Margit Conrad welcomed the creation of the competence network "Future Technology Fuel Cell Rheinland-Pfalz". The initiative is also supported by the local Sciene and the Economics Ministries. The effort aims at supporting local, particularly mid-sized companies committed to FC development. Also, public education and specific training are high on the priority list. Almost simultaneously, in Frankfurt/Main (capital of Hessen) the "Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Initiative Hessen" was founded. Again, this collaboration of industry and research is designed to provide a competence network for the local actors and to create a basis for joint projects. The Environment and Economics Ministries of Hessen have high expectations with regards to the ecological and economical impact of these key technologies. Further German H2 and FC initiatives are already in place in Bavaria (south), Baden-Wuerttemberg (south), Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (east), Niedersachsen (north) and North-Rhine Westfalia (west).

Australia wants to be part of the global effort for clean propulsion, too, and just joined a bus project lead by DaimlerChrysler and BP which foresees the operation of 30 hydrogen fuel cell busses in public transport. In Perth the project partners, now including the Federal Government and the Governement of West Australia, signed a joint agreement. According to this agreement, West Australia is going to invest 6 million US dollars in the development and operation of three further busses in Perth. A DaimlerChrysler team of engineers will monitor the test and examine the day-to-day performance of the mini fleet. BP contributes high quality hydrogen and a filling station worth 1,5 million USD to the project. The Federal Government supports the test with further 2,5 million USD.

From fall 2002, the Otto-Guericke-University of Magdeburg will serve as the latest test ground for MTU Friedrichshafen's high temperature molten carbonate fuel cell "HotModule". The system will be installed on the site of local power plant operator IPF Heizkraftwerksbetriebsgesellschaft, and will feed the electricity generated into the public grid and supply the university clinic with heat. According to MTU the HotModule emits almost no pollutants and works much more efficiently than conventional power plants without a fuel cell. The MCFC operates with a unit capacity of 250kw electrical and provides an additional 170kw thermal energy. The resulting overall efficiency ratio was more than 90%. The amount of emission was so low that one could speak of exhaust air instead of exhaust gas. This exhaust air consisted mainly of hot air and water vapor. The plant emitted nitrous oxide and sulfur oxide in undetectable concentrations. After already having put this new technology to test in pilot plants in Dorsten, Bielefeld and Bad Neustadt (all in Germany), MTU expects the site in Magdeburg to perform at an electricty utilization factor of over 50%. This was a record figure in the 250kw class and could not be achieved using standard technologies.

This time with Ralf Dunker, Chief Editor, BZM Brennstoffzellen-Magazin (Fuel Cell Magazine)

H2 Report: "BZM Brennstoffzellen-Magazin" has been on the market for a year now. Are you satisfied with the introduction of this new product?

Ralf Dunker: Yes, we are more than satisfied. BZM was welcomed by our readers, and the many enquiries and letters we receive after the exhibitions and conferences where we showcase the magazine, reinforce this impression. I believe that our subscribers also honour the fact that we concentrate our focus on portable and stationary fuel cells and the hydrogen ecnomoy. This means that we look at topics that are not as well represented in the mainstream media as for example fuel cell vehicles. We want to prepare our readers in a responsible way for a technology which might be available tomorrow but which can become economically viable only later. Of course, we believe in the new energy area and in the future of the fuel cell. Otherwise we would never have published BZM in the first place. However, we are convinced that honest journalism is important here. I think our readers and our partners from the industry are behind us on this.

H2 Report: BZM is currently published as supplement to your magazine "Energie Spektrum". Do have any plans to offer BZM as a stand-alone proposition?

Ralf Dunker: At this point we distribute the magazine through two channels: for one, the readers of "Energie Spektrum" and part of the readers of "Gebäudetechnik & Handwerk" (Facility Management) receive BZM as a supplement. By this we reach decision-makers from the energy sector, co-generation sites operators, as well as planners and architects, among others. In addition to this, we distribute BZM at selected exhibitions and conferences such as Hydrogen Expo and maintain a specific reader list, including the first subscribers. Since the beginning of this year BZM has been available for individual subscription.

H2 Report: As a trade journalist you are a close observer of the hydrogen and fuel cell market. How do you see the development of the last 12 to 24 months?

Ralf Dunker: In my opinion, press coverage on fuel cells was too euphoric in the past. This is back to normal now, and the industry forecasts for example with regards to commercialization scenarios have become more tentative. This makes it easier for the whole hydrogen ecnomoy, because the market cannot develop under such extreme pressure. When the heat pump was introduced we saw what the negative impact of this could be. Another important development is that stationary, portable and mobile applications are looked at (more) independently now. In the past we often heard that the car will be the "motor of fuel cell technology". This would have meant that mobile and stationary applications were more or less based on the same technology. In the meantime, however, the ongoing projects are very focused on the individual scenario and on those technologies that seem promising for the specific requirements in each case. With regards to the hydrogen economy, expectations seem to be less high. Most people are aware that the idea of a clean energy supply with hydrogen only makes sense if hydrogen can be generated from renewables. But significant amounts of "green hydrogen" are still a way to go.

H2 Report: In your opinion, where does Germany stand with its H2 and FC research and development in a global comparison?

Ralf Dunker: Germany and Europe have assumed an important role in research. Although the US are often regarded as the leader here, one should not forget that both the motivation and the market are very different overseas. When we talk about fuel cell power appliances we think of heat supply for private households, whereas in the US the aspect of power generation is more important. This in itself results in different, however equally important R&D activities, in particular with applications-based projects. We are also looking at different approaches when it comes to hydrogen production. In Europe it will become possible to produce hydrogen cost-effectively from biomass gasification in a couple of years, while in the US the chances for photovoltaics are significantly better than here to deliver clean, viable energy for electrolysis.

H2 Report: How do you see the future of the hydrogen economy?

Ralf Dunker: I totally agree with Prof. Carl-Jochen Winter who says that energy takes time. One thing is for sure: without a turnaround in our energy sector the protection of our environment is simply not possible. You only have to think of the growing demand for energy in countries such as China or India and at the same time look at the industrial nations' CO2 reduction plans. But we need to be patient. The transition to the hydrogen economy will probably take as long as the utilization of nuclear energy, that is a couple of decades. A focused and cautious approach by the economy and politics is absolutely necessary for the substitution of fossil fuels. Hydrogen production, storage and transport are major issues in this context and have to be resolved sooner rather than later, which we have already started. And before we have any kind of infrastructure for regenerative hydrogen, natural gas can serve as an intermediary solution, be it in fuel cells or for inexpensive hydrogen production from steam reforming.

True to its own motto to provide the leading forum for the new energy era, Hydrogen Expo just had itself certified as a "Green Event". This makes the exhibition CO2-neutral, that is all carbon dioxide emissions caused by exhibitors and visitors with regards to the trade show will be compensated by power generated from renewables in the same amount. HEW (the Hamburg utilities company), who recently started to provide this service, certified Hydrogen Expo. Their new offering is designed to help companies which do not have the means to directly avoid pollution to make up for this in an environmentally conscious way. Says Ines Freesen of the organizer H2 Expo GmbH: "Being the ones who initiated this exhibition which aims at creating public awareness and developing the market for clean energy technolgies, we of course want to provide a good example." More information about the Green Event on: www.H2expo.com

This fall, Hydrogen Expo expects high-profile attendance from a meeting of the EU funded bus project named CUTE (Clean Urban Transportation for Europe). The mayors of the ten European cities, in each of which three fuel cells busses for public transport will be put onto the streets shortly, representatives of the companies involved, as well as members of the European Commission including the Vice President of the Energy and Transport Directorate Loyola de Palacio announced their coming to Hamburg on October 9 and 10. At the exhibition the CUTE project, which in Hamburg is lead by HEW, Hochbahn (Hamburg transport company), DaimlerChrysler and BP, will also be shown at the HEW/Hochbahn stand in hall 4. Further, one of the FC busses will be demonstrated in the outdoor area.

For the first time from October 10 to 12, 2002, there will be a US pavilion at Hydrogen Expo in Hamburg. Suppliers and research facilities from the United States can use this platform to showcase the state of H2 technologies in America. The joint participation is officially supported by the National Hydrogen Association (NHA), which will also be present at the show. In addition to the exhibits, there will be seminars focusing on various topcis including incentives for domestic and international companies locating in the US. The US pavilion offers different levels of marketing which are tailored to the individual requirements and budgets of the exhibitors. Organisations interested to participate can still apply at tel. (1) 207-2366196 (ask for Bruce Cole) or email bc@H2expo.com.