NEWS

May 2013 Fuel Cells Bulletin7

Berkeley Lab startup brings cheap SOFCs to developing world

California-based Point Source Power – a startup company spun off to

commercialise solid oxide fuel cell technology developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) – has created a simple, inexpensive device to provide electricity to people in developing nations.

Point Source Power’s VOTO low-cost, biomass-fuelled cellphone charger and LED light is based on a solid oxide fuel cell that is powered by burning charcoal, wood, or other types of biomass (even cow dung) – the types of fuel that many in the developing world use for cooking. The fuel cell sits in the fire and is attached to circuitry in a handle that is charged as the fuel cell heats up to 700–800°C. The handle, which contains an LED bulb, can then be detached and used for lighting or to charge a phone.

‘In the developing world, 2.5 billion people cook with solid fuels every day. We decided to piggyback on that ritual,’ says Craig Jacobson, CEO and co-founder of Point Source Power. ‘Our fuel cell is made from low-cost materials and is very tolerant of contaminants, things like sulfur and carbon, which would kill most other fuel cells.’

Jacobson co-invented the fuel cell in his 13 years as a materials scientist at Berkeley Lab. Working with Steve Visco and Lutgard DeJonghe – both still affiliated with Berkeley Lab – they found a way to replace most of the ceramics in the fuel cell with far cheaper and more durable stainless steel. They eliminated 90% of the ceramics, keeping only a very thin (50 μm) functional layer to serve as the electrolyte. Point Source Power’s fuel cell is rugged, able to withstand welding and thermal shock, which makes it cheaper to manufacture. It can also start and stop in a few seconds.

Point Source Power is licensing a portfolio of more than 130 patents from Berkeley Lab. The company is now starting manufacturing in preparation for commercial release of the VOTO system in Kenya this year. The handle will retail for about US$17 and the fuel cell for about $7. Like all fuel cells, the main limitation is its lifetime – it will last only three or four months in regular use. But given that families spend $8 to $12 a month on kerosene, Jacobson explains, ‘within less than two months they’ll get their money back, and also get more convenience and save time.’

Later this year Point Source Power plans to release a version of the VOTO for the US outdoors and camping market, which will also allow charging of rechargeable batteries. The company may eventually go into the backup power market, developing the fuel cell for natural disaster situations or larger-scale off-grid systems, such as in agriculture.

Point Source Power, Alameda, California, USA. Tel: +1 510 814 4545, www.pointsourcepower.com

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Materials Sciences Division: www.lbl.gov/msd

DOE launches H2USA to deploy hydrogen infrastructure faster

The US Department of Energy has launched the H2USA public-private

partnership, focused on advancing hydrogen infrastructure to support more transportation energy options for US consumers, including fuel cell electric vehicles.

The H2USA partnership brings together automakers, government agencies, gas suppliers, and the hydrogen and fuel cell industries to coordinate research and identify cost-effective solutions to deploy infrastructure that can deliver affordable, clean hydrogen fuel in the US.

H2USA members include the American Gas Association, Association of Global Automakers, California Fuel Cell Partnership, Electric Drive Transportation Association, Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Association, Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition, Hyundai Motor America, Mercedes-Benz USA, Nissan North America Research & Development, Toyota Motor North America, Proton OnSite – which is making progress on reducing hydrogen energy storage costs [see page 8] – and UK-based ITM Power, which is already involved in hydrogen infrastructure projects such as the EcoIsland project in the Isle of Wight [see the ITM feature in FCB, January 2012].

Recent development of the tremendous shale gas resources in the US has not only helped directly cut electricity and transportation costs for consumers and businesses, but is also helping to reduce the costs of producing hydrogen and operating hydrogen fuel cells.

While American automakers and private industry have made significant progress, H2USA will bring experts together to identify and solve key infrastructure challenges, including leveraging low-cost natural gas resources. H2USA

will allow industry and government partners to focus on identifying actions to encourage early adopters of FCEVs, conduct coordinated technical and market analysis, and evaluate alternative fuelling infrastructure that can enable cost reductions and economies of scale.

For example, infrastructure being developed for alternative fuels such as natural gas, as well as fuel cell applications including trigeneration that produce heat, power and hydrogen from natural gas or biogas, may also provide low-cost hydrogen for vehicles.

In addition, increased fuel cell deployment [FCB, September 2012, p8] for combined heat and power (CHP), backup power systems, and fuel cell powered materials handling vehicles such as forklifts can help pave the way for a mainstream hydrogen vehicle infrastructure.

With support from DOE through its Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program, private industry and DOE’s national laboratories have already achieved significant advances in fuel cell and hydrogen technologies to reduce costs and improve performance. These R&D efforts have helped reduce automotive fuel cell costs by more than 35% since 2008, and by more than 80% since 2002. At the same time, fuel cell durability has doubled, and the amount of expensive platinum needed in fuel cells has fallen by 80% since 2005.

DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program: www.hydrogen.energy.gov

California Fuel Cell Partnership: www.cafcp.org

Electric Drive Transportation Association: www.electricdrive.org

Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association: www.fchea.org

Massachusetts Hydrogen Coalition: www.massh2.org

Mercedes-Benz USA, Fuel Cell Drive Technology: www.mbusa.com/mercedes/benz/green#module-7

Toyota FCEV: http://tinyurl.com/toyota-fcevs

Proton OnSite: www.protononsite.com

ITM Power: www.itm-power.com

Online map of UK hydrogen capabilities

A collaborative British network has launched the first UK Hydrogen

Capabilities Online Map. The map showcases the breadth of hydrogen infrastructure and associated activities, and will develop and grow as infrastructure and capability evolve.

The online map of UK hydrogen capabilities has more than 70 data points, covering a range of hydrogen related activities in the UK:

FUELLING

NEWS

8Fuel Cells Bulletin May 2013

information on status, accessibility, station type, and manufacturer.

information on availability, process or source of hydrogen, and operator.

into five key areas of expertise: hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, hydrogen safety, scenarios & demonstrations, and hydrogen end-use.

Technology Strategy Board, with a brief summary of the five projects funded for the period 2012–2015 [FCB, July 2012, p1].

The online map is compiled by the Energy, Generation and Supply KTN (Knowledge Transfer Network), in collaboration with the government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, and the Transport KTN.

The map builds on the success of the first UK Hydrogen Capabilities Map, which was developed in January 2012 for the launch of the UKH2Mobility project [FCB, January 2012, p1]. This government and cross-industry programme aims to make hydrogen powered travel a reality in the UK [FCB, February 2013, p1].

UK Hydrogen Capabilities Online Map: http://tinyurl.com/uk-h2-map

Energy, Generation and Supply KTN: https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/energyktn

UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association: www.ukhfca.co.uk

Transport KTN: https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/transportktn

Technology Strategy Board: www.innovateuk.org

Euro cooperation for North Sea Power to Gas energy storage

A European consortium of 11 leading companies have

established the North Sea Power to Gas Platform, to further develop the concept of Power-to-Gas – the conversion of renewable electrical power into a gaseous energy carrier like hydrogen or methane.

Power-to-Gas (P2G) will play an increasingly important role in the future energy system, as it utilises temporary surpluses of renewable power by converting them into gases. P2G has considerable potential, as these gases

can be used for different purposes such as transportation, domestic heating, feedstock for the chemical industry, and in power generation.

‘The establishment of the North Sea Power to Gas Platform is an important step in the transition towards a sustainable energy system,’ says Lukas Grond, P2G expert at DNV KEMA and secretary of the Platform. ‘I am pleased that this group of reputed companies has joined forces to bring this technology a step further into the global energy market.’

The Platform is an initiative of the energy consulting and testing & certification company DNV KEMA, and includes Fluxys and Hydrogenics in Belgium; Energinet.dk and Maersk Oil in Denmark; Alliander, Gasunie and TenneT in the Netherlands; ITM Power and National Grid in the UK; and Open Grid Europe in Germany.

The share of electricity from renewable sources in the European electricity mix is increasing. As power generation from wind and solar fluctuates, the match between renewable power supply and demand is becoming more challenging. At the same time, there are additional challenges in transmitting the increasing amounts of renewable power from wind or solar farms to end-users. The existing gas infrastructure can accommodate large amounts of electricity from excess renewables converted into gas. Thus P2G enables an increased share of renewables in the energy mix, helping to achieve a carbon-neutral gas supply by 2050.

P2G is of particular interest for the North Sea region, since its onshore and offshore natural gas infrastructure is well developed. In addition, the combined generating capacity of offshore wind farms in the North Sea could reach around 100 GW by 2030. And the solar photovoltaic capacity installed in the countries surrounding the North Sea is expected to increase from 35 GW in 2012 to almost 60 GW in 2020.

The North Sea Power to Gas Platform is collaborating with the European Gas Research Group (GERG), the Mediterranean Power2Gas Platform (currently being established), as well as shipping companies, NGOs, utilities, energy technology providers, Transmission System Operators, and Distribution System Operators.

A year ago ITM Power announced the GridGas project, working with National Grid and others to investigate the feasibility of injecting hydrogen generated from electrolysis fed from excess renewables into the UK’s gas networks [FCB, April 2012, p1]. Elsewhere, Hydrogenics has delivered a 2 MW Power-to-Gas energy storage system to the German utility E.ON for an installation in Falkenhagen [FCB, January 2013, p7], and more recently won a

follow-up order for a 1 MW hydrogen energy storage system to be deployed in Hamburg [see page 9].

North Sea Power to Gas Platform: www.northseapowertogas.com

DNV KEMA Energy & Sustainability: www.dnvkema.com

Fluxys Belgium: www.fluxys.com/belgium

Hydrogenics: www.hydrogenics.com

Energinet.dk: www.energinet.dk/EN/Sider/default.aspx

Maersk Oil: www.maersk.com/Pages/default.aspx

Alliander: www.alliander.com/en/alliander/index.htm

Gasunie: www.gasunie.nl/en/startpagina

TenneT: www.tennet.eu/nl/en/home.html

ITM Power: www.itm-power.com

UK National Grid: www.nationalgrid.com/uk

Open Grid Europe: www.open-grid-europe.com

European Gas Research Group: www.gerg.eu

Proton OnSite cutting the cost of hydrogen energy storage tech

Connecticut-based Proton OnSite has reduced the cost of producing

water electrolysis stacks by 40% over the last five years, enabling the firm to begin producing a cost-effective multi-MW electrolyser for the emerging renewable energy markets.

Proton OnSite is a leading supplier of onsite gas generators utilising proton-exchange membrane (PEM) technology. The company has developed hydrogen generators for a variety of industries and applications including labs, semiconductor manufacturing, utilities, vehicle refuelling [FCB, June 2012, p10], and now energy storage [FCB, December 2012, p9]. The company is also a member of the US Department of Energy’s new H2USA partnership, to coordinate research and identify cost-effective solutions to deploy infrastructure that can deliver affordable, clean hydrogen fuel in the US [see page 7].

‘Today’s emerging energy markets need an energy storage solution that can handle the split-second response demand of intermittent renewable energy, without increasing energy prices,’ says Mark Schiller, VP of business development at Proton OnSite. ‘Hydrogen is a viable storage solution, and PEM electrolysis has proven to be the best electrolysis technology for the industry’s demands.’

Proton OnSite’s development efforts have reduced the number of parts and the amount

ENERGY STORAGE