FuelCellsWorks

Proton Power Systems plc (AIM: PPS), a leading designer, developer and producer of fuel cells and fuel cell electric hybrid systems, is pleased to announce that the world’s first fuel-cell driven street cleaning vehicle, equipped with a fuel cell system from the Group’s wholly owned subsidiary Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH (“Proton Motor”), has been delivered to the city of Basle, Switzerland. This innovative municipal vehicle has been developed as part of a Swiss consortium, hy.muve (hydrogen-driven municipal vehicle).

The vehicle was delivered for testing to its first operator, the Civil Engineering Office in Basle, which is responsible for street cleaning across the city. In the next phase, the vehicle will undergo extensive field testing, both in Basle and in a range of other Swiss cities.

The compact sweeper vehicle has been supported by funds from Switzerland and is the result of a cooperation agreement between Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH and consortium companies including: Bucher Schörling; the Swiss materials testing and research institution Empa; Messer Schweiz AG; and Brusa Elektronik AG; along with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI). Bucher Schörling, a globally renowned manufacturer of municipal street cleaning vehicles, was responsible for the vehicle and system integration, while the project was headed by Empa, which also provided designs for the electrical propulsion system.

Under the project, Proton Motor’s system has been integrated into a compact street sweeper measuring 3.78 metres in length and 1.28 metres in width, with a maximum permitted laden weight of 4.5 tonnes. The fuel cell’s nominal output is 20 kW (27 HP), providing a maximum speed of 40 km/hour, with an operational range of more than seven hours on a full tank (6.5 kg of gaseous hydrogen at 350 bar). It takes less than 10 minutes to fill the tank, which consists of pressure vessels stowed behind the driver’s cab.

The propulsion concept entails replacing the conventional diesel engine with a fuel cell / battery system, and the hydraulic power train with electric drives. The hybrid fuel cell propulsion system combines a fuel cell with a lithium polymer battery. At the application’s core is Proton Motor’s 20 kW PM Basic A 20 fuel cell system. This emission-free and highly efficient hybrid technology enables energy savings of around 50 per cent compared to the conventional diesel propulsion system.

Commenting on Proton Motor’s significant project involvement, Thomas Melczer, CEO of Proton Power Systems plc, says: “Our involvement in the hy.muve project is a testament to the strong relationships we have grown with our project partners, in particular with Bucher Schörling whom we have known since 2006. We are especially delighted to be playing a leading role in this project so shortly after the recent launch of the CityBus with Skoda Electric, which is running on our triple hybrid system.

“The hy.muve project is an excellent platform for Proton Power to showcase our technology leadership in fuel cell and hybrid systems. Our participation also demonstrates the Group’s leading role in the implementation of customised solutions for all manner of applications, including both vehicle power and stationary back-up solutions.”

As a typical back-to-base application, municipal vehicles can be refuelled effectively with just a single local hydrogen filling station.

Calculations show that fuel-cell- powered municipal vehicles require only half as much energy as current diesel-powered ones. Their operation is also completely emission-free. Unlike conventionally powered vehicles the fuel cell vehicle emits absolutely no harmful substances, making it ideal for use in sensitive areas such as pedestrian zones or in enclosed spaces such as in train stations, airports or trade fair halls.

The hy.muve joint project aims to take fuel cell technology from the laboratory to the street. During the field trials in Switzerland, the vehicle’s operating performance, range and robustness will be tested under everyday conditions. The project is intended to make the new technology a reality and to encourage the planning and implementation of further hydrogen-fuelled applications.

London– The board of Waste2Tricity is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Ian Arbon, CEng, CEnv as Chairman. Professor Arbon’s appointment coincides with the news of a proposed joint venture to bring together the most efficient technology to convert coal into electricity combining new generation fuel cells with underground coal gasification (UCG).

Professor Arbon previously served as Chairman of the Energy, Environment & Sustainability Group at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). He is also a Visiting Professor in Alternative Energy at Newcastle University.

Peter Jones, Director of Waste2Tricity says: “The appointment is further acknowledgement of the potential of Waste2Tricity’s technologies, in attracting a person of his experience and gravitas in the energy from waste arena.”

In a bid to bring to market an ultra low carbon emission technology to convert coal into electricity, Thornton New Energy Ltd and Waste2Tricity Ltd have signed a memorandum of understanding. Also allowing for the capture of carbon dioxide as part of the process, the proposed joint venture is the UK’s first commercial application to generate clean electricity from coal, combining new generation AFC Energy fuel cells with UCG and other proven technologies. The gasification of coal underground generates a fuel with a low emissions profile and the potential for complete carbon capture and storage (CCS) at low energy and financial costs.

Thornton New Energy, a subsidiary of BCG Energy Ltd, was in January 2009 awarded the first UK licence to carry out UCG and develop deep, previously un-mineable coal reserves under the Firth of Forth, Scotland. Waste2Tricity has exclusive rights for the application of AFC Energy fuel cells with any gasification technology within the UK, including energy from waste.

Thornton New Energy’s director of surface facilities, Alan Borrowman, says: “When combined with UCG, the hydrogen fuel cells enable a higher efficiency conversion of the energy in coal to electricity. We were very keen to partner with Waste2Tricity in order to utilise AFC Energy’s new generation fuel cells and create the first clean coal electricity model that outperforms conventional coal power stations in terms of net energy generated from coal, the low cost opportunity to eliminate CO2 emissions, and even the potential to eliminate the need for conventional coal mining activities.

“We are highly impressed with AFC’s fuel cell system which has successfully completed initial field trials in the Chlor-alkali industry. Furthermore, the technology is anticipated for full scale roll out on a timescale compatible with the Firth of Forth UCG opportunity.”

Professor Ian Arbon, chairman of Waste2Tricity comments: “This is a major breakthrough in the future utilisation of coal for electricity generation and could have a significant impact worldwide in eliminating greenhouse gasses produced from coal. In the UK and abroad, fossil fuels such as coal will continue to play a significant role in the foreseeable future. The benefits of ultra-low carbon technologies, such as UCG, combined with high efficiency AFC Energy fuel cells, not only help with energy security but also in substantially reducing emissions from fossil fuels. This is one of the few technologies available to us which will actually help us to meet the UK’s ambitious 2020 emissions commitments.”

The production of hydrogen from UCG, combined with efficient conversion of hydrogen into electricity through the fuel cells, will offer significant environmental and business benefits. Other CCS systems have the unfortunate side-effect of reducing the overall efficiency of conventional coal-fired power stations, whereas this technology significantly increases the ‘fuel-to-busbar’ efficiency while also maximising carbon capture.

In contrast to conventional coal-fired power stations, lower capital and operating costs per megawatt are required. Because UCG takes place underground, normal coal extraction processes are eliminated, reducing noise and visual impact and the technology can be incorporated on existing coal mines. The technology also lends itself ideally to Decentralised Energy production which minimises transmission losses via a centralised grid.

The process:
The technology can revolutionise the whole approach to generating electricity from coal, especially from brown coal, which has a lower energy content than black coal and is less economic to mine in poorly accessible sites. The process minimises environmental impact as gasification takes place underground and there is no coal extraction or transport process. The inherent cleanup process of the technology results in elimination or control of traditional environmentally-impacting by-products of electricity generation from coal.

Once the coal is gasified, it is maintained by continuous oxidant flow which converts it into syngas, a combustible hydrogen-rich synthetic gas. The syngas is piped to the surface and undergoes a number of cleaning processes before going through a water gas shift reaction to enrich the hydrogen content of the gas stream. The hydrogen is then extracted from the resultant gas by pressure swing absorption (PSA), separating the gas into two streams, one pure hydrogen and the other pure CO2. The hydrogen stream will feed the high efficiency AFC Energy fuel cells, generating electricity with water as a by-product. By requiring the output energy gases to be converted to obtain hydrogen, a by-product of this process is the free capture of CO2, usually the most expensive component of CCS. At least 99% of the carbon present in the syngas can be captured in this process and is then available for storage.

In terms of market size, well over 600 billion tons of coal suitable for UCG production is available globally. Relative to global reserves, the main UCG markets include the US (27%), China (13%) and India (10%). In the UK, the British Geological Survey found that the coal resource potentially suitable for UCG was an extra 17 billion tonnes or 300 years at current consumption.

Generation by this system will also make a significant contribution to UK electricity supply. The UK is entering into a period of criticality for electrical energy supply. With 35% of baseload generation capacity coming off line by 2015, due to emissions regulations and nuclear de-commissioning and the inability of renewable resources to make up the shortfall in time, more sustainable ways of using existing fossil fuel reserves will be essential over the next few years.

About Waste2Tricity
Waste2Tricity is a new British venture established to make energy conversion viable, efficient and economical – by implementing a unique combination of new generation alkaline fuel cells with plasma gasification and other existing proven technologies. The system will therefore have significant environmental and cost benefits over other methods of electricity generation. For more information, visit Waste2Tricity at http://waste2tricity.com

For enquiries, please contact:
Claudia Kellermann/Sheila Gimson
Portfolio Communications Ltd.
Tel: 020 7240 6959
waste2tricity@portfoliocomms.com

About Thornton New Energy
Thornton New Energy Ltd, a subsidiary of BCG Energy Ltd, brings together skills from the oil and gas, petrochemical and coal industries to achieve an environmentally sustainable fuel source from untapped coal resources. Earlier this year Thornton New Energy was awarded the UK’s first underground coal gasification license to develop a major coal resource located deep beneath the Firth of Forth. Applying cutting edge oil and gas technology to the coal field allows the company to exploit coal resources that otherwise would be to deep, difficult or expensive to recover. The company is focused on energy generation with minimal environmental impact, and is working with international partners to speed the introduction of low emission power, fuels and chemicals together with carbon capture and sequestration. For more information, visit http://www.bcgenergy.co.uk

For enquiries, please contact:
Alan Borrowman
Thornton New Energy Ltd
Tel: 01224 620000
Mob: 07736 921069
aborrowman@bcgenergy.co.uk

Jamica, New York : Shell today opened its second hydrogen filling station in the greater New York City area, providing improved access to hydrogen for drivers of fuel cell Chevrolet Equinoxes participating in Project Driveway.

Project Driveway selects consumers who sign up on the Internet in the greater New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. to participate for two months at a time in the demonstration. Chevy.com/fuelsolutions

Shell will open a third third station this summer in the Bronx in conjunction with the New York City Department of Sanitation.

Shell hydrogen station in White Plains has been operating there for more than a year, making up Shell’s first cluster of hydrogen filling stations.

The station opening Tuesday at JFK International Airport is a partnership between Shell, General Motors Co., the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the US Department of Energy.

“These partnerships are critical to building the infrastructure that will make hydrogen a relevant alternative fuel in the future as well as a key to the ongoing success of Project Driveway,” said Larry Burns, GM vice president of R&D and Strategic Planning.

The cluster of stations that will provide New York drivers of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles with greater flexibility and convenience is a significant step on from stand-alone, demonstration stations and is part of Shell’s strategy to build expertise in the distribution and dispensing of hydrogen.

“The prospects for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles are strong in the longer-term”, said Duncan Macleod, Shell vice president of Hydrogen. “This first cluster is an important step as we continue to build capability in retailing hydrogen fuel, in line with the auto makers’ plans to develop hydrogen vehicles.”

About General Motors: General Motors Company, one of the world’s largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908. With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 235,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 140 countries. GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 34 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Germany. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. General Motors Company acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation. More information on the new General Motors Company can be found at www.gm.com.

Many countries around the world are working to build a clean and secure energy future. Stakeholders of a global hydrogen economy need to understand the developments related to hydrogen energy and current events that are shaping the process. The Partnership for Advancing the Transition to Hydrogen (PATH) has begun to facilitate such an understanding by producing “PATHways: Assessing Progress in the Global Hydrogen Industry.”

A report by the Stockholm Environment Institute, entitled ‘A European Eco-efficient Economy’, will provide a basis for discussions during an informal meeting of energy and environment ministers in Åre on 23-25 July. Thus, Sweden, which took over the EU’s rotating Presidency on July 1^st, has pledged to put energy efficiency high on its agenda. One of its priorities is to lead a shift to an eco-efficient economy where economic growth and climate-friendly policies go hand-in-hand.

The report argues that Europe’s leadership is “primarily evident” in its climate change commitments, but in order to continue attracting investment and businesses, greater efforts must be made to promote innovation and energy efficiency. Crucially, the report urges the EU to step up programmed interventions, alongside more generic policies, to induce development and diffusion of eco-efficient technologies such as hydrogen. Due to the lack of support system, EU has so far lagged behind main competitors such as the US and Japan. The importance of a strong domestic market to nurture the growth of new industries is well known but the potential of Europe becoming a lead market for new technologies is partly unfulfilled today. The report suggests that one example to learn from is the approach in renewable electricity: supporting early-stage technologies through fixing prices and guaranteeing market access, and letting more mature technologies compete with each other under a quota system or other pricing mechanism.

To download the report please click here