FUEL CELL
POWER
No. 22 Autumn 2005
At this autumn’s Grove Symposium, Dr Alan Lloyd was awarded the Grove Medal for his pioneering work in California, which was
a catalyst for fuel cell development.
THE GROVE SYMPOSIUM
This autumn the Grove symposium, the bi-annual meeting of international fuel cell scientists, brought together a wealth of new ideas and innovations and showed progress towards the commercialization of fuel cell technologies. Fuel Cell Power can only touch upon the main themes running through the three day event. In this issue we examine the reasons for introducing fuel cell technologies, the so called ‘drivers’ of rising energy demand, air pollution and climate change and show how fuel cells can contribute to reducing these problems. PART II will explore potential markets for different types of fuel cells.
Conference Chairman, Prof Lars Sjunesson, welcomed over 500 delegates from all parts of the world. His own Company is now part of the large E.ON Group, a sister company to E.ON UK and he hopes they will be strong drivers for fuel cells. He introduced the UK’s Chief Scientist, Sir David King, who opened the proceedings.
Sir David King said that climate change is a big driver for low carbon fuel technologies.
For at least eight hundred thousand years the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has fluctuated between 180 and 270 parts per million (ppm). The evidence from two separate sources, deep sea cores and ice cores, shows similar fluctuations in the cycle of atmospheric carbon dioxide, but if we take no action we could reach 1000 ppm this century. We would probably have to go back 50 million years to find 1,000 ppm and at that time the sea level was 120 metres higher.
There have always been extreme weather events, but they are now beginning to occur on a rising baseline. The inertia in the climate system means that even if we stopped CO2 emissions now the effects will continue for 20 to 30 years. The Government is acting on two fronts, to mitigate C02 emissions with low carbon technologies and adapting where possible to avoid the worst damage. The Energy White Paper outlines their commitment to reduce emissions on a straight path, up to a 60% reduction on 1990 levels by 2050.
Presentation of Grove Medal
Dr Alan Lloyd, Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, was presented with the Grove Medal for his role in creating the first markets for fuel cells. Alan Lloyd expressed his appreciation of joining the elite group of Grove Medallists and explained that he had been born in Aberystwyth, close to where Sir William Grove had lived. As Chief Scientist of the South Coast Air Quality Management District from 1988 to 1996 he wanted to change the world and initiated clean air legislation which specified obligatory proportions of low and zero emission vehicles.
Alan Lloyd is now Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency which is aiming for 30% C02 reduction by 2015 as well as working to reduce ozone and particulate emissions. They want more fuel cells in combined heat and power (CHP) units, more buses powered by fuel cells and they will encourage the move to larger scale production methods. Their objective is 50 to 100 hydrogen filling stations by 2020, with most of the hydrogen obtained from renewable sources. Switching to hydrogen costs no more than extending conventional filling stations. London has a great opportunity at the 2012 Olympics to create our own hydrogen highway!
Japanese solutions
Yuji Kawaguchi of Honda said that they are developing fuel cells because of problems with atmospheric pollution, global warming and energy supply issues. The Honda fuel cell is designed for volume production, it is compact and gives a maximum of 86kW in vehicles. S Adachi of Yamaha Motor Co Ltd added that there is huge volume potential for motorbikes, especially in Asia. If motor bikes were fuel cell powered they could reduce the total world C02 annual emissions of 24 billion tonnes by 150million tonnes.
Twenty-two fuel cell vehicles are being evaluated in Japan from a variety of Japanese and overseas manufacturers explained Shoji Tange of the Japan Automobile Research Institute. They have two to three times better energy consumption per vehicle weight than conventional vehicles. A full report on the ‘well to wheel’ efficiency will be published next spring. So far 12 hydrogen refuelling stations have been built using different sources of energy.
Views from Germany
Dr Werner Tilmetz of ZSW said that fuel cells can help counter many problems, the increasing demand on oil supplies, with consequent price volatility, and problems of air pollution and climate change. Fuel cells have been proven to be more efficient than petrol or diesel engines, steam or gas turbines. Residential 1- 5kW combined heat and power (CHP) units are in operation with over 80% efficiency. Large units powered by molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) have electrical efficiency over 50% and total efficiency of 90% and waste heat can be used in the summer to provide cooling. These can be powered by biogas, which it is envisaged, could provide 12% of the E.U.’s energy.
Stefan Rolf of MTU CFC Solutions GmbH discussed the use of a variety of gaseous and liquid feed gases in order to reduce dependence on fossil energy sources and to cut C02 emissions. Their Hot Module has 47% efficiency and 98% availability. It produces 220kW electricity and 180kW heat and can be fitted with adsorption chillers to provide cooling in summer. The installation in a hospital at Magdeburg has so far operated for 24,500 hours.
Thomas Klinge of RWE Fuel Cells, described the molten carbonate fuel cell which is powered by anaerobic digester gas in the City of Ahlen. In order to meet the target for C02 reductions specified in the Kyoto Protocol it is necessary to extend the use of renewable fuels and increase energy efficiency. The City of Ahlen was using gas engines to produce combined heat and power from anaerobic digester gas, but due to poor electrical efficiency, high maintenance costs and local emissions of noise and exhaust, it was decided to look for alternatives. Electrical efficiency improved from 20% up to 45% with the fuel cell and they also obtain high temperature heat. Availability is 98% and emissions are extremely low.
Andrew Docter of DaimlerChrysler reported on development of the PEM fuel cell which gave the potential of more than 45% efficiency compared with petrol engines below 20%. The experience and feedback from the operation of 30 buses in 10 European cities under the E.U. sponsored programme is extraordinarily positive. Including cars powered by PEM fuel cells, the range achieved by all the vehicles was 750,000 kms at the end of 2004. The data collected is enabling the Fuel Cell Alliance of DaimlerChrysler, Ford and Ballard to accelerate fuel cell developments.
Fuel Cell challenges in the USA and Canada
Vairi Lightner of the U.S. Department of Energy outlined the challenges for fuel cells and hydrogen in the United States. They are developing technologies to obtain hydrogen from renewables, or from coal with C02 sequestration, for high temperature fuel cells. They have a $1.2bn budget for hydrogen and fuel cell R & D. The President has said that the first car driven by a child born today will be hydrogen powered! Security of energy supply is important, as they already import 55% of the 20 million barrels of oil they use each day, two thirds of which is for transport.
Paul B Scott of I.S.E. Corporation said that with the bus operator Sunline, they have pioneered the first large wind-hydrogen system which provides more than enough hydrogen to fuel a fleet of hybrid hydrogen internal combustion engine (HHICE) buses. A 200kW wind farm provides sufficient fuel for a fleet of 50 buses in windy locations. They are also planning to use energy from waste. Their latest hybrid electric fuel cell bus is powered by a 120 kW fuel cell from the United Technology Corporation and is expected to set a new standard of attractive transport and reliable operation with miserly energy usage. The combination of hybrid electric hydrogen buses and ‘green’ hydrogen makes possible a much more attractive public transportation operation, where clean, quiet and environmentally responsible buses offer convenient transport and civic pride.
Dr Hugo Vandenborre of Hydrogenicsgave the Canadian perspective. 80 Canadian companies, driven by the threat of global warming as well as the prospects for export markets, are involved in 262 demonstrations with hydrogen and fuel cells. There is a hydrogen village in Toronto, where 41 companies and other organizations are involved with all aspects of the supply chain, from wind energy to vehicle applications. Vancouver has four Ford Focus vehicles in a fuel cell programme. There is a hydrogen highway in British Columbia where they are developing mobile, stationary and micro fuel cell applications, as well as the infrastructure, in advance of the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. There is a project to produce hydrogen from wind on Prince Edward Island.
European Commitments
“Europe already imports 50% of its energy and by 2030 we will import 70% if we take no action” said P Fernandez Ruizof the European Commission “There is also the global battle against climate change. We must make a more drastic reduction from the 550 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which has been agreed in principle, down to 450 ppm. The High Level Hydrogen Group carried out a strategic overview in March 2005 and the Joint Technology Initiative will cover four main themes: fuel cells, hydrogen, ‘lighthouse’ projects for larger scale demonstration, and market framework preparation. The first calls for funding under the new framework programme, FP7, will start in late 2006 and, in order to provide continuity, will go through till 2013.”
UK Proposals
Alan Spangler of Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems Ltd (RRFCS) said that heat engines have dominated power production for two centuries and RRFCS is creating the first cost competitive technology to effectively challenge them! They are using ceramic solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) tubes which are much more efficient than conventional systems at around 55% compared with 25 - 40% for the latter. The turbocharged fuel cell system is even more efficient, at circa 70% and has very low environmental impact. The high efficiency means that operators will not be so affected by increasing fuel prices and they will also be prepared for rising emission standards.
John Webster of Price Waterhouse Cooper said that they are working with fuel cell companies but technologies are only developed successfully if they meet an unfulfilled need or demand. The 1970s oil shock started the R & D, but the clean air legislation in California was the catalyst and countries, including Canada and Germany, followed. Tangible results were slow to emerge but it was a time of discovery. The UK Department of Environment has announced its climate change proposals and now we need to stimulate demand and improve quality while reducing costs and financing the supporting infrastructure. Government could help by following the Irish example and using fiscal policy to stimulate industry.
Selected technical papers covering advances in transportation, large and small scale power generation and micro fuel cells for consumer goods will be published in the Journal of Power Sources early in 2006.
NEWS
British Gas signs deal with Ceres Power
British Gas is to work on a commercial development programme with Ceres Power to provide domestic boilers that produce electricity as well as heat. Powered by fuel cells, the revolutionary new boilers have the potential to dramatically reduce household energy bills and cut carbon dioxide emissions. A cube of cells, each about the size of a CD case but wafer-thin, will form the heart of a new generation of home boilers. The two companies have signed heads of agreement to determine how the fuel cell developed by Ceres can be packaged into a complete combined heat and power unit that will provide household electricity as well as heat for hot water and central heating. The Ceres fuel cell will use natural gas already piped into the home.
Dominic Shorrocks, Director of New Growth, British Gas Home Services, said: “Making green energy a reality is a core part of our strategy. Fuel cell-powered boilers will make far more effective use of hydrocarbons than a conventional boiler and will help our customers save money.” Ceres Power Chief Executive, Peter Bance, responded: “The insight British Gas can provide into the requirements of home owners will be invaluable in helping us tailor the design for mass market application. This important commercial agreement brings together a world-leading, high-tech UK growth company and the country’s largest energy supplier. Our ultimate goal is to enable people to have a highly efficient, extremely safe and environmentally friendly miniature power station in their homes, saving them money on their energy bills and enhancing Britain’s energy security.” The technology uses low cost materials and existing mass production techniques and can run on natural gas and bottled gas as well as hydrogen.
Renewable hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro has announced a $750,000 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to Avālence LLC of Connecticut. The grant will provide funding to support Avālence’s development of electrolytic hydrogen generators that will culminate in the installation of a renewably powered hydrogen fuelling station for AC Transit. "Alternative energy is the key to reducing our nation's dependence on foreign oil," said DeLauro. "I am proud that Connecticut has made significant advancements to harness the power of hydrogen energy and increase the use of fuel cell technology.”
The Avālence Hydrofiller requires only power and water to produce gaseous hydrogen fuel and does not need a mechanical compressor to produce and deliver the hydrogen at the high pressures necessary for transportation applications, nor does it need power conditioning equipment when fed by renewable power. AC Transit is planning to install the hydrogen fuelling station at their transit depot in California, where it will be linked to a photovoltaic array to demonstrate the production of environmentally green hydrogen. The system will service several of the light-duty fuel cell vehicles that AC Transit will be operating.
Positive Planning for renewable energy
The Renewable Power Association reviewed progress with the positive planning policies pioneered by Merton and Croydon Borough Councils in an article for Planning Magazine. These policies typically require developers to use onsite renewable energy systems to reduce their buildings’ carbon emissions by at least 10%. The positive jobs and investment impact of the widespread take up of the “Merton model” on fledgling UK micro-renewable industries should not be underestimated. At least 60 other regional and local authorities are interested and Merton Council suggested that if 250 local authorities adopted their positive planning policy, this would create an annual market of over £750 million in solar thermal, solar photovoltaic and micro-wind technologies.
Building integrated projects typically offset the cost of traditional building materials, as well as providing a long-term income stream in the shape of Renewable Obligation Certificates, and a hedge against future inflation and rising energy costs. The payback is generally a few years and for developers, there is evidence that renewable energy can increase sales values. There is also recognition that this is the direction the industry is moving and it is in their interests to stay ahead of the game.
Nuclear “crowding out” renewables
A report from the new economics foundation finds that the potential for getting energy from a decentralised system of very small scale micro-generation powered by renewable energy has been critically overlooked. This could reduce the total supply capacity needed within electricity networks and reduce the need for peak provision. There would be major energy efficiency gains and the ability to adjust supply to demand would provide a better guarantee against blackouts. Diversity in terms of power and location would reduce the vulnerability of the system and increase security of supply.
Micro units can be installed far more quickly than a central station or transmission and distribution line and modular systems give great potential for scaling up. There is also a lower financial risk than for large stations and the renewables based mix gives protection against oil and gas price fluctuations. Micropower will provide local choice and control, giving the options of using local fuels and spurring community economic development.