2010 Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Global Commercialization & Development Update International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies offer a pathway to enable the use of clean energy sys- tems to reduce emissions, enhance energy security, and stimulate the global economy. As part of a portfolio of clean energy technologies, including energy efficiency, renewable ener- gy and fuels, and battery-electric vehicles, employing hydrogen and fuel cells in the economy will help us to achieve these goals. A decade of sustained global research, development and demonstration (RD&D) is now producing the necessary technological breakthroughs for hydro- gen and fuel cells to compete in the market. This report offers examples of real-world applica- tions around the world and technical progress of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, includ- ing policies adopted by countries to increase technology development and commercialization. Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies can use diverse do- Benefits of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells as Part of a mestic renewable and low-carbon resources and address Portfolio of Clean Energy Technologies multiple applications across stationary, transportation, and portable power sectors. The challenges facing full • Hydrogen is a clean fuel. When used in fuel cells, the only byproducts are water and heat. commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cell technolo- • Clean hydrogen technology has the potential to gies can be addressed through both, policy mechanisms strengthen national economies and create high-quali- and technology improvements, which requires consistent ty jobs in industries such as fuel cell manufacturing. and focused international collaboration to increase the • Hydrogen can be derived from renewable sources and is fully interchangeable with electricity – hydrogen can incorporation of these technologies in the global energy be used to generate electricity, while electricity can portfolio. be used to produce hydrogen. • Over 100 years of safe production, transportation and use of hydrogen shows that it carries no more risk COMMERCIAL ActIVITIES than natural gas or gasoline. • Hydrogen can be produced from diverse domestic In 2009, Fuel Cell Today estimated more than 22,000 sources and processes, freeing it from the political worldwide shipments of fuel cell units, an increase of instabilities that affect the world’s oil and gas supplies. more than 40% compared to 2008. Increasing perfor- • Fuel cells have more than double the energy-efficien- cy of internal combustion engines. mance and decreasing costs, combined with government • Fuel cells have no moving parts – they are silent, incentives, are enabling hydrogen and fuel cells to com- vibration-free, and require little to no maintenance. pete successfully with traditional technology areas such • Fuel cells provide high-quality, direct-current power as power generation, combined heat and power, materials that is ideal for many advanced electrical and elec- tronic devices. handling, and backup power. • Fuel cells do not require time-consuming recharging and thus have much lower down-time and refueling Power Generation & Electric Grid Support requirements compared to battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). The demand for multi-megawatt (MW) fuel cell systems • Fuel cells can provide energy at all scales, ranging for power generation and utility grid support applica- from micro power sources for small consumer devices to multi-MW power plants. tions is on the rise. • In Korea, POSCO Power has installed 24 of the installation provides feeder peak management, defers planned 68 MW of molten carbonate fuel cells from distribution system asset upgrades, delivers zero local Fuel Cell Energy (FCE) and Samsung installed 4.8 MW CO2 emissions, and provides power conditioning for of UTC fuel cells at a power plant outside Seoul. high quality power. • In the United States, the State of Ohio utility, First • Russia has designed and tested 5 MW hydrogen-oxy- Energy, purchased a 1 MW, polymer electrolyte gen steam combustors for demonstration by the Joint membrane (PEM) utility-scale distributed generation Institute for High Temperature and the company JSC fuel cell system from Ballard Power Systems Inc. The “Chemical Automatics Design Bureau.” November 2010 1 • An innovative hydrogen-fuelled combined cycle Retail and manufacturing companies see value in CHP plant launched by Enel in July, 2010 in Fusina, Italy is benefits provided by fuel cell systems. the first industrial-scale facility of its kind. The 16MW • Multiple companies in the United States, including power plant has zero emissions and an overall ef- Whole Foods, Coca-Cola, and Price Chopper, have ficiency of approximately 42%. installed large systems (up to 400 kW) to provide heat • In Canada, Enbridge Inc. and FuelCell Energy Inc. and power to their commercial properties. are demonstrating a Hybrid FuelCell power plant - a • In Australia, the SOFC company CFCL is selling to design specifically for gas utility pressure reduction global users. Their systems provide reliable, energy ef- stations. The plant converts unused pipeline energy, ficient, high quality, and low-emission electricity from a byproduct of distributing natural gas to customers, natural gas and renewable fuels. and produces enough ultra-clean electricity to serve about 1,700 Canadian homes. Transportation The commitment of global automakers to develop and market fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) continues to grow. • In 2009, seven automakers (Daimler, Ford, GM/Opel, Honda, Hyundai/KIA, Renault/Nissan, and Toyota) signed a letter of understanding to energy com- panies and government agencies affirming that a Fuel Cell Energy, United States “significant number” of hydrogen FCEVs could be Back-up and Remote Power Generation commercialized beginning in 2015 onward and urg- ing the development of a supporting hydrogen fuel Back-up and remote power applications provide an impor- infrastructure in focused markets like Europe (Ger- tant early market for fuel cell systems. many), the U.S., Japan, and South Korea. • Wireless TT Info Services Ltd, an arm of a major tele- • In 2009, leading auto and energy companies in com operator in India, contracted with Plug Power Germany joined with the government to form the for the purchase of 200 GenSys fuel cell systems to H2 Mobility Initiative. Between 2012 and 2015, this provide continuous power for off-grid cell towers. will develop a comprehensive nationwide hydrogen IdaTech and Ballard are also providing fuel cell systems fuelling network to support a complementary incen- to Acme Telepower in India. tive program to produce and sell more than 100,000 • Motorola announced that it will use Ballard fuel cells in battery and fuel cell electric cars annually. back-up power systems for 123 base stations in Den- • Also in 2009 in Japan, thirteen domestic oil and mark’s public safety communication network. gas companies announced a collaborative effort to • In the United States, companies such as Sprint and develop hydrogen vehicle fueling infrastructure by AT&T are deploying fuel cells for backup power at their 2015. A plan for 1,000 stations and 2 million FECVs cell phone towers. Most recently, he U.S. Department by 2025 was announced in 2010. of Energy’s (DOE) Recovery Act project deployed 24 fuel cells at cell phone tower sites as of September Combined Heat and Power (CHP) 2010. • Japan is rapidly adopting residential fuel cell systems In Germany, five fuel cell back-up power systems rang- to provide heat and power in homes. A government ing from 5 to 17 kW have been installed in the telecom- funded demonstration project installed over 5000 munications industry, including a project at Deutsche residential fuel cell units. With government incentives Telekom which uses 100% renewable hydrogen as fuel. and multiple manufacturers such as Panasonic, Toshiba • Beginning in late 2010 the Clean Power Net project in and Eneos now dedicated to supplying the commercial Germany will bring together fuel cell manufacturers market, thousands of residential fuel cell systems are be- and end users to further prepare the fuel cell back- ing sold in Japan. Also, Japan conducts demonstration of up power market by sharing knowledge, exchanging solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) units, provided by Toyota/Ai- information, identifying success factors, and working sin, Kyocera, JX Nippon Oil and Energy (formerly Nippon to jointly overcome common challenges. Oil), TOTO and GASTA/Rrinnai. • Ergon Energy, an Australian electricity distributor, is demonstrating fuel cell systems for distributed genera- tion for its customers in remote areas. November 2010 2 Material Handling Equipment Energy Storage Governments have emerged as a key early adopter and Hydrogen systems can serve as viable energy storage op- are helping to establish a clear business case for fuel tions. cell forklifts, and sales are rapidly expanding to com- • In Canada, a partnership between the Federal Govern- Compared with battery-powered fork- mercial facilities. ment, BC Hydro, Powertech, and G.E. is converting lifts, fuel cell forklifts have a greater range, take less time excess off-peak electricity and storing as hydrogen via to recharge and cool before use, are not prone to volt- an electrolyser, resulting in an estimated decrease in age drops as power discharges, and do not suffer from Bella Coola, B.C.’s diesel consumption by 200,000 L/ downtime due to battery change-outs. Fuel cell systems year and 600 tons of GHGs/year. also require less space for refueling. • Pilot project “Ikebana” in Russia is using hydrogen − In the United States, major companies such as for energy storage and aims to improve efficiency FedEx Freight, Coca-Cola, Sysco, and Weg- of power generation with a variety of power sources mans are now demonstrating hydrogen pow- including renewable energy. ered fuel cells in their fleets. • In Germany, there are several projects underway using − As of September 2010, the DOE’s Recovery hydrogen as an energy storage medium. Act projects have resulted in 276 fuel cell lift − Germany’s Enertrag AG, one of the world’s larg- trucks delivered to commercial users.