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Aberdeen Mechanical Society
(Instituted 1888)
Minutes of Joint Meeting with IMechE & IEE
Date:- 16th March 2005
Venue:- Business School, Robert Gordon University, Garthdee
Chair:- Andrew Dobson, IMechE
Present:- Society members plus other institutions and guests
Fuel Cells – From Hype to Happening, Dave McGrath, MD, siGen Limited
Andrew Dobson introduced the Dave, who is an RGU electronics graduate. He moved into fuel cell work in 2000, after working on ROV engineering. He founded siGen in 2002.
Dave opened by stating that his presentation purpose is not technical, but to explore if fuel cell technology is happening. The drivers include global warming, oil and gas supply / demand insecurity, global economics at $50/bbl, and electricity grid insecurity. Fuel cells and hydrogen will be part of the solution. The G8 forum is now discussing fuel requirements, and there are many new developments in fuel cell technologies (as per previous emerging technologies) producing a frenzy of inventions and patents over the last 5 years. Hydrocarbons (used more efficiently), biogases and hydrogen are the primary energy sources. Fuel cells can replace all combustion and 80-90% of batteries. They are in use now, and early markets are portable and stationary, transport and domestic CHP. There are now 5 times the number of conferences there were 5 years ago, with fuel cells becoming mainstream in renewable energy conferences and breaking into conventional energy conferences.
UK universities are amongst the best in the world at R&D along with electrochemistry. Fuel cell funding in the UK is the lowest in the developed world. The USA has the greatest skill legacy from the 1950’s from space exploration, based on UK inventions. It is followed by Japan, Canada and Germany. US corporations are now picking up SMEs as the debate moves on from how it will work, to driving down costs.
Fuel cells range from 500 mW – 250 kW. Products are now at the marketable stage, and vehicles will be available in the UK this year from scooters to buses. Oil companies are starting to participate including BP, ChevronTexaco and Shell. Industry, politicians, NGOs and the public are all demanding fuel cells.
The energy demand in the UK is 780 TWh from all forms and most renewable energy in the UK is in the North of Scotland. We can use the renewable energy to manufacture hydrogen as the energy storage medium. The North of Scotland communities are vulnerable to energy price. They now have the potential to meet their own demands and retain wealth in their communities instead of exporting it in exchange for energy. A clear energy strategy is required for balancing all sources: renewable, hydrocarbon and nuclear. More emphasis is needed on self-determination, self-reliance and the need for energy education from primary to university level. Business opportunities exist for hydrogen production and trading as well as for fuel cell manufacturing, hydrogen transport and combustion systems.
The question and answer session that followed the presentation demonstrated a mix of views from those present, and provided Dave the opportunity to provide further information. 60% of the world’s population lives in remote communities. 80% of the world’s energy is consumed by 20% of the population. Some solutions are appropriate for smaller communities, e.g. Stronsay is only 12-15 miles long and can generate more power than the grid can take, so electric cars are ideally suited! Wind power and hydrogen refuelling has zero variable cost and the opportunity cost of not selling the power is less than the cost of importing hydrocarbon fuel. Local solutions keep people in communities with work and lower costs of living. This does not work for big metropolitan communities.
20% of oil production comes from 14 fields in Saudi Arabia, which are up to 60years old. New discoveries are less than consumption, and production capacity is choked. Economic growth underpins Western economies and energy underpins growth. The electricity grid in the UK has been under-invested, and there is a gas supply shortage. Is this leading to the perfect storm? The Icelandic government’s strategy for 2050 is 94% non-hydrocarbon (e.g. geothermal and hydrogen) leaving 6% fuel for the fishing fleet. Their target for 2020 is 85% non-hydrocarbon. Dave recommended looking at the Forum for Renewable Energy Development Scotland (FREDS).
Dr John Reid, President Aberdeen Mechanical Society, proposed the vote of thanks, commending the speaker for his vision, which stimulated an excellent contribution from the audience.
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