European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Projects

PROJECT SYNOPSES

2002-2006

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Cover photos: Courtesy of DaimlerChrysler AG and MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG

European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Projects

2002-2006

2006

Directorate-General for Research Sustainable Energy Systems

EUR 22398

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword List of acronyms Research objectives in FP6 (2002-2006) FP6 Project portfolio analysis Hydrogen production and distribution Hydrogen storage Fuel Cells basic research Stationary and portable applications Transport applications (including hybrid vehicles) Pathways and socio-economic analysis Technology validation and demonstration Safety, regulations, codes and standards Developing a European Strategy The European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform (HFP) Future perspectives Research on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Seventh Framework Programme Projects funded under the Sixth Framework Programme (2002-2006) References 27 28 186 26 5 6 7 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24

FOREWORD
training actions, and international co-operation. They are a testament to our balanced approach to fundamental and applied research and demonstration. The projects tackle hydrogen production, distribution and storage and the development of fuel cell components and systems for portable, stationary and transport applications. They address strategic planning and assessment of the energy, economic and environmental impact of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell technologies. Such projects also contribute to better coordination among national and regional research programmes. Through FP6 the European Commission also supported the creation of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform. This industry-led body, bringing together all those with a stake in the development of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells technologies, has developed a Strategic Research Agenda and a Deployment Strategy and is currently working on an Implementation Plan. These projects and the strategy being developed by the Technology Platform give inputs to the research and demonstration actions that will be financed in the Seventh Framework Programme for Research (FP7), due to start in 2007. We are also considering the creation of a European private-public partnership led by industry and bringing together all possible sources of expertise and financing for the development of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell technologies. This booklet is a useful guide to the objectives, technical content and project partners involved in this field, as well as activities undertaken inside the Commission by DG Joint Research Centre I commend these to you and encourage researchers from all over Europe and beyond to use these examples as inspiration for future actions under FP7.

Energy is currently uppermost in everyones minds. Recent price hikes for domestic gas and electricity, coupled with fluctuating oil prices, concerns about where our future energy will come from and the impact of energy use on climate change have all brought energy policy to the top of the political agenda. The European Commission believes that sustainable energy systems are fundamental to our objective for sustainable development. Sustainable energy systems require the right balance of appropriate policies with appropriate, well-targeted research and technology development. This research must cover conventional and innovative energy production and conversion technologies, including Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. EU support for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells has successively doubled over the last four multiannual Framework Programmes for Research. The most recent policy initiative the Green Paper setting out A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy is proof of the European Commissions continuing commitment to forward-looking energy technologies, with its proposal for a strategic plan for the development and promotion of such technologies. This booklet contains summaries of research, development, demonstration projects and actions funded by the European Commission under several parts of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6 2002-2006). The actions in this booklet amount to some 300 M, covering fields such as energy systems, surface transport and aeronautics, materials, SMEs, new and emerging science and technology,

Janez Potonik
Commissioner for Science and Research

LIST OF ACRONYMS
APU CHP EC ERA ERA-NET FC FP HFP HLG ICE IGCC INCO IPHE JRC JTI MCFC MEA NEST NMP Auxiliary Power Unit Combined Heat and Power European Commission European Research Area Support for the Co-ordination of Activities Programme Fuel Cell European Framework Programme for RTD The European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform High Level Group on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Internal Combustion Engine Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle Specific Measures for International Cooperation Programme International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy Joint Research Centre Joint Technology Initiative Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Membrane Electrode Assembly New and Emerging Science and Technologies Programme Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional Materials, new Production processes and devices Thematic Priority Area PEFC PEM PSA R&D RCS RTD&D SOFC SME Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Proton Exchange Membrane Pressure Swing Adsorption Research and Development Regulations, Codes and Standards Research, Technological Development and Demonstration Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Small and Medium Enterprise

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES IN FP6 (2002-2006)

Europes energy supply is characterised today by structural weaknesses and geopolitical, social and environmental shortcomings, particularly as regards security of supply and climate change. Whilst energy remains a major component of economic growth, such deficiencies can have a direct impact on EU growth, stability and the well being of Europes citizens. These three elements provide the main drivers for energy research, within the context of sustainable development, a high-level EU objective. For hydrogen, several strategic topics for research have been pursued in FP6: clean production (development and techno-socioeconomic assessment of cost-effective pathways for hydrogen production from existing and novel processes), storage (exploration of innovative methods, including hybrid storage systems, which could lead to breakthrough solutions), basic materials (functional materials for electrolysers and fuel processors, novel materials for hydrogen storage and hydrogen separation and purification), safety (pre-normative RTD required for the preparation of regulations and safety standards at EU and global level), and preparing the transition to a hydrogen energy economy (support the consolidation of current EU efforts on hydrogen pathway analysis and road mapping).

EU-funded research in the area of fuel cell systems is aimed at reducing the cost and improving the performance, durability and safety of fuel cell systems for stationary and transport applications, to enable them to compete with conventional combustion technologies. This will include materials and process development, optimisation and simplification of fuel cell components and sub-systems as well as modelling, testing and characterisation protocols. EU-funded research in Hydrogen and Fuel Cells also includes validation and demonstration activities to gain experience that is fed back into technology development and deployment, as well as providing first-hand training to stakeholders and end users. The long term goal is to achieve commercial viability by 2020 for many applications.

The EU Research Framework Programme

The main EU funding mechanism for research, technological development and demonstration (RTD&D) is the Framework Programme (FP), which is mostly implemented through calls for proposals. Based on the Treaty establishing the European Union, the Framework Programme has to serve two main strategic objectives: strengthening the scientific and technological bases of industry and encouraging its international competitiveness while promoting research activities in support of other EU policies The current Sixth Research Framework Programme (FP6) runs from 2002 to 2006. The main objective of FP6 is to contribute to the creation of a true European Research Area (ERA). ERA is a vision for the future of research in Europe, an internal market for science and technology. It fosters scientific excellence, competitiveness and innovation through the promotion of better co-operation and co-ordination between relevant actors at all levels. The aim is to assemble a critical mass of resources, to integrate research and related efforts by pulling them together in larger, more strategic projects, and to make this research more coherent at a European scale. The main instruments (actions) to implement FP6 are Integrated Projects (IPs), Network of Excellence, which are driven by the concept of the ERA and are characterized by the structuring and integrating effect that they can have on European Research. There are also other instruments for multipartner collaborative research activities, such as Specific Targeted Research Projects (STREPs), individual and host-driven mobility schemes for researchers, special projects for SMEs, etc. Usually, for medium-to-long term research actions, EC funds up to 50% of the total costs, while for medium-to-short research actions EC funds up to 35% of the total costs.

FP6 PROJECT PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS

The strategic approach in FP6 has been to support a number of key fuel cell and hydrogen technologies across the spectrum of research, development and demonstration. The FP6 projects range from basic research on materials, components for fuel cells, fuel processors, hydrogen production and storage through system integration for stationary, portable and transport applications to demonstration projects aiming at verifying technology under actual operational conditions. The Commission also funds projects on cross cutting issues (including socioeconomic research, prenormative research, pathways and roadmaps and coordination of EU activities with national and regional programmes).

Around 75% of the Hydrogen and Fuel cell research projects are funded under the Thematic Priority 6.1 Sustainable energy systems (both medium-to long term research and short-to-medium term); however, Hydrogen and Fuel Cells research cuts across a number of the Thematic Priority Areas, such as: Priority 6.2 Sustainable Surface Transport Priority 4 Aeronautics and Space and Priority 3 Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials, new production processes and devices (NMP) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell projects are also funded under the FP6 programmes: Horizontal research activities involving SMEs New and emerging science and technologies (NEST) Support for the co-ordination of activities (ERA-NET) Training and Mobility of Researchers (Marie Curie actions) Specific Measures for International Cooperation (INCO)

NEST activities 1%

ERA-NET support activities 1%

Training and mobility (Marie Curie) 1% International Cooperation (INCO) 1%

SMEs research activities 1%

Materials research (NMP) 5%

Transport, including Aeronautics 14%

Energy Short-Medium Term 18%

Energy Medium-Long Term 57%

Figure 1 EC funding distribution by programme area (%)

The FP6 projects under Hydrogen and Fuel Cells are classified in the following main research areas: Hydrogen production and distribution Hydrogen storage Fuel Cell basic research (low & high temperature technology) Stationary and portable applications Transport applications (including hybrid vehicles) Safety, regulations, codes and standards Pathways and socio-economic analysis Technology validation and demonstration Figure 2 shows the increasing trend in EU funding to Hydrogen and Fuel Cell research over successive FPs. Whilst the EC contribution to Hydrogen and Fuel Cell research within the previous FP5(1999-2002), was of the order of 145 M, around 300 M of EU funding, matched by an equivalent amount of participating stakeholder investment, has been awarded to research and demonstration projects for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in FP6 (Note: Additional funds for JRC direct actions on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells are not included). The portfolio of projects includes the new instruments of FP6, Integrated Projects (IPs) and Networks of Excellence (NoE), as well as actions based on the more traditional type of instrument, such as STREPs (Specific Targeted Research Projects), SSA (Specific Support Actions), and CA (Coordination Actions), Fellowships, similar to those used in FP5.

The pie chart in Figure 3 illustrates the budget share (in terms of EC contribution, summing up to the grand total of 300 M) between the various research areas. The following sections give an overview of the EU project portfolio, classified according to research area.

350 300 250 200

300

M
150 100 50 0 FP2 (1986-1990) FP3 (1990-1994) FP4 (1994-1998)

145

58 8 32

FP5 (1998-2002)

FP6 (2002-2006)

Figure 2 EC funds to Hydrogen and Fuel Cell research in the various FPs

Validation and Demonstration 16,8%

H2 production & distribution 19,3%

H2 storage 8,1%

Stationary and Portable Applications 8,0% Safety, Regulations, Codes & Standards 4,9%

Transport applications (Including FC hybrid vehicles) 19,3%

Pathways and socioeconomic analysis 8,8%

FC basic research Low Temp 8,1%

Figure 3 EC budget share per research area

FC basic research High Temp 6,5%

HYDROGEN PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION

The deployment of processes and facilities that will be able to supply the required quantities of hydrogen is a key issue in the successful transition to a more hydrogen based energy economy. The way that hydrogen will be produced and distributed should contribute to the security of energy supply and the protection of the environment, as well as being economically competitive. Approximately 600 billion Nm3 of hydrogen is produced every year through well established commercial processes for the hydro-cracking of oil, the production of ammonia and hydrogenation of edible fats, 95% of which is captive (consumed on-site). Significant progress is needed for hydrogen to become a widely available consumer fuel which meets the previously mentioned energetic, environmental and production cost constraints. A key attraction of hydrogen as an energy vector is that it can be produced from a variety of sources including renewables, nuclear and fossil sources. The production of hydrogen today is mainly performed by steam reforming, partial oxidation of gaseous or liquid fuels or the gasification of coal. Electrolysis is used when a small amount of pure hydrogen is required at a specific site. The purification of hydrogen rich gases is an important step in improving the quality of hydrogen produced, depending on eventual use. Certain fuel types require very high purity hydrogen. Distribution of hydrogen is done through pipelines, or using trucks carrying hydrogen in high pressure gas cylinders or cryogenic tanks. The latter involves an energy-intensive liquefaction step, though the energy required just to compress gaseous hydrogen is itself significant. In the short- to-medium term, the lack of readily available non-fossil sources means that the bulk of hydrogen produced will come from fossil fuels, firstly without carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), and then with CCS in the medium term. The long term goal is to produce hydrogen from indigenous carbon-free and carbon-lean energy sources. Some of the long-term pathways for the production of hydrogen that are being currently investigated in the FP6 portfolio of projects on Hydrogen production are: Thermochemical processes that use high temperature heat from nuclear or concentrated solar technologies to split water into hydrogen and oxygen Photo-electrolysis or photo-catalytic water splitting, which is a combination of photovoltaic cells and in situ electrolysis New, advanced electrolysers (based on PEM or SOFC technology) with expected higher efficiency than the conventional alkaline electrolysis Bio-photolysis and photo-fermentation processes that use sun light and biological processes to produce hydrogen (upstream research) Dark fermentation biological processes that produce hydrogen in the absence of light Hydrogen from biomass by thermo-chemical routes via syngas generation. There is a plethora of technical issues to be addressed to develop and optimise the hydrogen production and distribution processes, depending on the primary source of energy, the scale of each application and the planned use. The FP6 programme has been supporting the development and testing of such processes at laboratory scale but also in real-life demonstrations. The distribution of hydrogen from the point of central production and storage to the point of use is another major issue which is addressed, including investigating mixing hydrogen with natural gas and using existing local natural gas pipeline networks.A

10

Acronym

Topic addressed

Coordinator organisation Country DLR, DE PROFACTOR, AT DLR, DE CNRS, FR CEA, FR

EC Budget (M) 2,2 0,85 2,1 2 1,9

NEMESIS BIO-HYDROGEN SOLREF SOLHYCARB HYTHEC

Investigating the development of a small-scale reformer to produce hydrogen from a variety of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon fuels. Investigating the development of a cost effective small scale biogas reformer, concentrating on catalyst development and numerical modelling. Developing a innovative 400 kWth solar reformer for reforming fuels like natural gas into hydrogen. Investigating the co-production of hydrogen and carbon black through the cracking of natural gas using concentrated solar energy. Large-scale production of hydrogen through the thermal decomposition of water using high-temperature heat from nuclear and/or concentrated solar energy. Developing an innovative 100kW solar thermal reactor aiming to produce hydrogen through a two-step thermochemical water-splitting process. Development of an advanced, PEM based electrolyser, improving the performance of an existing industrial model. Investigating a way to increase the efficiency of the electrolysis process up to potentially 90% through using Solid Oxide electrolysers. Retrofitting a biomass IGCC plant to produce hydrogen-rich gases through steam/oxygen-blown gasification of biomass. Development of a blueprint for decentralised hydrogen production processusing dark fermentation processes of local biomass. Link molecular genetics and bio-mimetic chemistry to allow for hydrogen production, exploiting solar energy through artificial photosynthesis. Developing a hybrid membrane/pressure swing adsorption (PSA) system for the separation of H2 and CO2 investigating various materials, components and processes. Reduction of the cost of capturing CO2 from natural gas based hydrogen production routes, from the present levels down to 20-30 per tonne. Investigating the possibility of using the existing natural gas network to distribute and use hydrogen added to natural gas. Designing re-usable, standardised molecular building blocks that will produce a photosynthetic bacterium containing engineered chemical pathways for competitive, clean and sustainable hydrogen production.

HYDROSOL-II

CERTH/CPERI, EL

2,18

GENHYPEM HI2H2 CHRISGAS HYVOLUTION SOLAR-H HY2SEPS

Universit Paris Sud, FR EDF, FR Vxjo University, SE A&F, NL Uppsala University, FI FORTH/ICE-HT, EL

1,1 1,1 9,5 9,5 1,8 1,56

CACHET NATURALHY BIOMODULARH2

BP, UK Gasunie, NL Ecole Polytechnique, FR

7,5 11 2

11

HYDROGEN STORAGE
Effective hydrogen storage is a key for the transition to a more hydrogen-based energy economy. The challenge is especially demanding for on-board storage for road vehicles. A number of novel storage techniques are being investigated to complement the currently available methods where hydrogen is stored in gaseous (up to a pressure of 350 bars) or liquid form (cryogenic temperatures). For the case of gaseous storage, current technology is around five times less energydense than gasoline or diesel fuels that is to say, storing hydrogen uses five times the space per unit energy. So, there is a need for ever increasing pressures, and the current aim is for 700 bars in fibre-reinforced composite tanks, which would give acceptable road vehicle autonomy. High-strength fibres need to be developed and liners made impermeable to hydrogen. Composite structures made in this way are not cheap, with complex, time-intensive laminating processes so there is a need for cheaper methods, with an emphasis on recyclable materials. Safety and certification issues are paramount. Lastly, it is important to standardise peripheral equipment such as safety sensors, fuel station flow meters, and 700 bar dispensers and nozzles for rapid refueling. Liquid storage, even if currently providing the highest energy density, has high energy penalties associated with liquefying and storing hydrogen in liquid form (boil-off). The efficiency of hydrogen liquefaction can be improved through magnetic refrigeration or other processes and at the same time needs to be scaled-down for localised application. New lightweight and low volume tanks need to be developed with novel insulating material, while tanks should incorporate safe methods for handling boil-off. Hydrogen can also be stored through solid storage, where the hydrogen is chemically absorbed into in metal hydrides or chemical hydrides or physisorbed in porous materials (e.g. carbon structures). This technique is suitable for portable, stationary and potentially transports applications. However, such technology is very much in the laboratory stage, with much still to be learned about the basic science of the materials involved. Current solid storage systems are based on AB2 or AB5 metal hydrides and lowtemperature chemical hydrides (such as sodium alanate) but are limited to system energy densities (weight of hydrogen relative to that of the tank) ranging from 0.6% to 1.5% (which compares with the road vehicle target of 6-9wt% To increase the energy density, the cyclability (>1500 cycles) and the operating temperature range, a number of issues related to governing bond strength, kinetics, absorption, desorption, degradation and heat management need to be addressed. New materials with low heat of formation must be identified and new theoretical and experimental techniques must be developed, supported by computational tools. Emphasis must be placed on safety and certification issues, and on optimising filling procedures, which can generate a build-up of heat in the tank. The FP6 project portfolio covers different R&D actions on the three storage routes above exposed (liquid, gaseous, and solid). In the future, research in the field of novel and cost effective materials for hydrogen storage will still be needed. The parallel development and benchmarking of computational methods for modelling adsorption and desorption, identifying degradation of materials, design of novel materials, etc., will support the research efforts.

12

Acronym

Topic addressed

Coordinator organisation Country MAGNA STEYR, AT NSRC Demokritos, EL

EC Budget (M) 10,7 7,5

STORHY NESSHY

Research on hydrogen storage technologies (gaseous, liquid, solid) focusing on automotive applications. Advancing the current state of hydrogen solid storage regarding new materials, improved knowledge of the physical mechanisms involved, new analytical and characterisation tools and measurement techniques, standardisation and testing protocols, modelling. Assisting and increasing international cooperation on hydrogen solid storage by the Project NESSHY, supporting innovative R&D actions, which complement research performed in NESSHY. Development of new carbon cone (CC) materials, capable of storing above 6 wt.% H2 at temperatures applicable for mobile applications, development of new modelling and classification to elucidate the relations between CCs and H2 and support standardisation of measurement systems. Training of researchers in the area of hydrogen solid storage and creation of a platform for European research activities to strengthen the European role in the international hydrogen storage research. Network to carry out research in the areas of photo-electrochemical hydrogen production, and storage in alanates, borohydrides, and a new class of materials storing hydrogen safely in the form of ammonia. Hydrogen storage for vehicles application with a view to supporting the development of standards, including harmonisation of testing methods, benchmarking and identification of best practices.

HYSIC

NSRC Demokritos, EL

0,3

HYCONES

NSRC Demokritos, EL

1,55

HYTRAIN

Salford University, UK

2,6

HYDROGEN

University of Leiden, NL

3.53

SYSAF

EC, JRC-IE

Direct action

13

FUEL CELLS BASIC RESEARCH

Fuel cells offer a significant advantage over traditional combustion-based thermal energy conversion, in that they provide efficiencies of electrical power supply in the range of 35 to 55%, whilst causing very low levels of pollutant emission. Fuel cells can in principle be built in a wide range of power ratings, from a few mW to several MW, and can be used in a wide variety of applications, from miniaturised portable power (effectively substituting the battery in portable electronic devices) through transport (as a zero-emission propuslsion system) to power generation in a variety of sizes (from domestic combined heat and power systems, through to full size power stations and quad- generation). They offer advantages of weight compared with batteries, and instantaneous refuelling, similar to combustion engines. Electrochemical energy conversion involves complex developments of materials: due to the close link between electricity flow and corrosion processes, morphological changes, building of resistive layers and exhaustion of catalytically active components, material development for enhanced lifetimes becomes the major challenge in fuel cell basic research and development. In portable applications this means a lifetime of a few thousand hours, in mobile applications of around 5 000 hours and in stationary installations around 40 000 hours and more. This implies allowable degradation rates from steady-state operation of some percent per 1000 hours of operation down to 0.25% and less for power generation. At the same time, the topics of low-cost materials and processing have to be additionally tackled in order to achieve acceptable market costs. The reconciliation of high-performance materials with low degradation and low-cost targets is an extremely challenging issue. Fuel cells today have to further evolve from laboratory prototypes into rugged, robust units that can cope with mechanical as well as electrochemical stress and be operated at will with as little restrictions as possible whilst offering value for money and being a desirable product for the general customer. No matter what fuel cell type is considered, the issue of ageing and ruggedness in everyday operation is of major concern. If cost reduction is one main driver in bringing fuel cells to the market, long lifetime and robust and reliable operation are the issues to be addressed to ensure quality and suitability as consumer product. The projects supported by the FP6 address long-term issues within the whole range of fuel cells types, with a focus on the high temperature technologies (mainly Solid Oxide, SOFC) and low temperature technologies (mainly Polymer Electrolyte, PEFC) types where Europe has significant strength but there is need for such basic research. Issues of long-term reliability, low degradation and ruggedness also apply to the small portable types and to the Molten Carbonate (MCFC) -based devices as well as to any other fuel cell type. While some types of fuel cell are approaching the levels of durability required for widespread uptake, most require further improvement. Manufacturing technologies and industrialisation issues becomes also increasingly important. The topics of analysis tools, quality assurance methodologies, online detection of faulty components, and qualification of components remain as areas of interest and of innovation. Advanced analysis also includes modelling and simulation tools that serve to predict materials durability and degradation processes.

14

Acronym

Topic addressed

Coordinator organisation Country FZJ, DE ECN NTDA, ES TU Clausthal, NL Technical University of Denmark, DA DaimlerChrysler AG, DE

EC Budget (M) 9 6,5 0,6 1,85 4 8,3

REAL-SOFC SOFC600 SOFCSPRAY MATSILC FURIM AUTOBRANE

Material development research for SOFC, including understand of ageing, adaptation of materials, manufacturing issues. Research to lower the operating temperature of planar SOFC to 600C. Adapting low-cost, high performance materials to well known thermal spray techniques or SOFC applications. Looking into low cost silicate based electrolytes, and electrodes. Developing advanced materials for a high temperature PEFC stack operating at nominally 170C and integration into a fuel cell system. Research to raise the temperature of operation of the transport-application PEFC and to extend the range of humidity levels at which the MEA can operate. Integration of IPHE partner countries outside Europe (in this case China and Russia) into the AUTOBRANE project. Taking up the materials development in the low temperature range by replacing the platinum-based catalysts by nano-particulate catalysts, which are completely non-noble. Providing innovative solutions in efficient and low-cost high temperature PEM electrode assemblies. Understand the strategic links between the solidification processing of intermetallic compounds, the structure of the material at the microand nanoscale, and the final mechanical, chemical and physical properties. Integration of European, national and regional basic and applied research and development efforts on high temperature PEFC Membrane Electrolyte Assemblies in order to substantially increase their impact. Using mathematical analysis and rapid numerical software in tandem with experimental validation to develop efficient and verified software tools for PEFC development, both at cell and stack level. Generic modelling tool to fuel cell and fuel cell systems developers making fuel cell modelling expert knowledge available for all of them. Investigate and produce components and sub-systems for high temperature fuel cell systems. Develop concepts for components and sub-systems and verify their suitability for use in both pressurized and atmospheric SOFC units for large-scale power plants, for the medium to long term.

IPHE-GENIE FCANODE

ECN, NL Technical University of Denmark, DA FORTH-ICE/HT, EL European Space Agency (ESA) CNRS, FR

0,7 1,5

APOLLON-B IMPRESS

1,8 6,5

CARISMA

0,56

PEMTOOL

KTH, SE

GENFC Large SOFC

FZJ, DE VTT, FI

1,7 5,8

15

STATIONARY AND PORTABLE APPLICATIONS

This category of research covers a very wide range of fuel cell sizes. At the smallest end of the market, fuel cells have the potential to replace battery power for portable equipment, from laptops to small electric wheelchairs; and to provide clean, quiet portable power in place of engine-powered generator sets. Portable fuel cell applications are expected to be the first to market, because some of these applications will command a price premium for the cleanliness, quietness or extended operating range of the fuel cell. Stationary fuel cell applications, for domestic or commercial power demands, have the potential to offer increased efficiency compared to conventional technology, as well as being compatible with renewable fuels, such as fuel from biomass. Stationary fuel cells are often used in Combined Heat and Power (CHP) configuration, taking advantage of their high cooling need. Such uses can range from domestic heating boilers which generate free electricity, to larger industrial plant, usually using natural gas as a fuel. The aim of research, into stationary and portable fuel cell applications, is to deliver high efficiency, low cost and high durability materials for the fuel cell stack and the balance of plant components. The FP6 project portfolio on stationary and portable applications covers the main technological challenges which need to be overcome to ensure widespread use of portable and stationary fuel cell applications. These are described below: Cost Cost reduction is required to ensure fuel cell technology becomes competitive with conventional technologies via new materials development, low-cost, high-volume manufacture and (in the case of PEFC) minimising the use of precious metals in the stack. The cost of fuel processors is currently high due to its operating temperature requiring high temperature precious metal materials. Durability and Reliability Increased durability is required to ensure full life operation for the demanding requirements of both portable and stationary applications. Durability requirements of fuel cell stacks must include tolerance to impurities such as sulphur and ammonia, in addition to mechanical durability, which is required to be > 40 000 hours for stationary applications and maintenance free for life for smaller portable units. Packaging Packaging and weight are critical especially for portable applications for ease of use. This includes both the fuel cell stack and the balance of plant components. Component miniaturisation for portable applications will be required. This will include miniaturisation of small scale fuel processing, micro-compressors, fuel storage and distribution. Thermal, Air and Water Management Thermal management process includes heating, cooling and steam generation, which requires advances in heat exchange systems. Water management techniques to address humidification requirements and to maintain the water balance are required, especially in miniature portable applications where externalised humidity is unacceptable.

16

Acronym

Topic addressed

Coordinator organisation Country GKSS, DE

EC Budget (M) 2,2

MOREPOWER

Development of Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC), including new polymer electrolyte materials for portable applications and leading to a methanol crossover rate significantly lower than current materials. The integration of portable and stationary fuel cell technology with existing components such as batteries and supercapacitors. The integration of portable and stationary fuel cell technology with existing components such as batteries and supercapacitors. The investigation of the pollutants impact on the fuel cell and the development and demonstration of an integrated fuel cell system which meets the special requirements of biofuels. Investigation of mechanisms to minimise the impact of poisoning and feedstock cleaning to ensure optimum operation of the fuel cell. The development of an innovative SOFC-based micro-CHP system capable to operate with different fuels and fulfil all technological and market requirements at a European level. Developing materials leading to high temperature PEM MEA technology to reduce cost and improve the reliability of existing PEM in the context of small domestic CHP systems.

FEMAG DEMAG BIOCELLUS

AGT srl, IT Labor srl, IT TU Munich, DE

0,65 0,65 2,5

GREEN FUEL CELL FLAMESOFC

CCIRAD, FR VDI/VDE, DE

3 7,5

NEXTGENCELL

Vaillant GmbH, DE

2,5

17

TRANSPORT APPLICATIONS (INCLUDING HYBRID VEHICLES)

Energy efficient, very low polluting and greenhouse-gas-neutral transport are key objectives of European transport and energy policies. Transport propulsion research is addressing this need at every level, from advanced conventional technologies such as clean and efficient internal combustion (piston and turbine engines) and hybrid road vehicles, to long- term solutions compatible with a transition away from fossil fuel dependence. Hydrogen is a favoured transport energy vector for the future, as it can be produced by multiple means, and used in efficient fuel cells as well as in combustion engines. Cost is a key challenge in the transport sector, in terms of both purchase and operation. Both the fuel cell and hydrogen storage could be more than ten times more expensive than their conventional counterparts if introduced today. But there are other challenges, including robustness of the product in the hands of the public, training of maintenance technicians, and satisfying authorities and users that the technology is safe. The aim of the current program is to develop and validate the technology for market conditions expected for 2020. Transport applications will have to meet criteria on performance, cost targets, safety and durability. The accompanying (hydrogen) supply and refuelling infrastructure will have to be in place. Transportation projects focussing on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells within the 6th Framework Programme cover a variety of these topics, including key prime mover technologies, peripheral systems, critical components, training and education. Many of these technologies are subsequently seen in demonstration projects. A large part of the portfolio dedicated to transport applications focuses on the development of hydrogen-fuelled surface transport, with the aim to validate performance under real world conditions, including hydrogen supply infrastructures, in subsequent demonstration projects. However, research for aircraft and shipping applications is also emerging. The objective is that Hydrogen and Fuel Cell road vehicles will meet challenging performance, durability, safety and cost targets by 2015, anticipating mass-market rollout in 2020. Technical developments on critical components will often target road applications, whose market requirements are the most technically and economically challenging; however, road applications are of great long-term policy relevance for the EU and receive the highest level of investment by the respective industries. It is expected that lead applications will spin-off benefits to other (transport) applications without any important additional component developments. System integration activities and clearly defined industrial targets (system performance targets) are of prime importance to make sure every application fulfils its own needs; cost reduction will remain a prime target in any future work.

18

Acronym

Topic addressed

Coordinator organisation Country Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, DE BMW, DE BMW, DE DaimlerChrysler, DE Siemens, DE Siemens, DE ENEA, IT HIL Tech Developments Limited, UK SAFT, FR EC, JRC- IES

EC Budget (M) 8

FELICITAS

To investigate high-power Polymer Electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) and Solid Oxide fuel cells (SOFC) for different mobile applications with stack sizes above 200kWe. System and component issues, both for fuel cells in propulsion and FC-APUs. Adaptation of fuel injectors and the optimization of the combustion process as well as cost targets for market readiness. Hybridization with batteries or supercapacitors, allowing for downscaling of stacks or for providing boost-power when required. Power electronics for HEV and high temperature power electronics. Aim of the development is an improved cost efficient energy supply concept for Hybrid vehicles. Developing green, safe, and high specific energy and power Hybrid SuperCapacitors (SC) for PEM powered electric vehicles. Dealing with different system components like DCDC converters, batteries and supercapacitors. To develop high power, low-cost and intrinsically safe lithium-ion batteries by a breakthrough in materials. Development of test programmes and test procedures for the assessment of efficiency and overall environmental performance of electrical, hybrids and H2-vehicles. The investigation of fuel cell behaviour under the specific in-flight operation condition (low temperature, pressure, vibrations), including safety and certification requirements. The development and design of multi-MW power plants based on molten-carbonate fuel cells technology and fuelled by marine Diesel oil, to be integrated on board large ships. Identification of technical, operational and societal obstacles related to the shipboard system requirements and infrastructure for maritime fuels.

HYTRAN HYICE HYSYS HOPE HYHEELS ILHYPOS INTELLICON POMEROL VELA H2

8,8 5 11,2 2,4 2,7 1,65 0,5 2,5 Direct action 4,5

CELINA

Airbus, FR

MC-WAP

CET, IT

9,9

NEW H SHIP

Icelandic New Energy, IS

0,3

19

PATHWAYS AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS

There are many socio-economic issues to be addressed to develop and create a hydrogen market. The European Commission, in collaboration with the Member States and other nations, has been supporting the socio economic analysis of hydrogen deployment. The deployment of processes and facilities that will be able to supply the required quantities of affordable hydrogen is a key issue in the successful transition to the hydrogen economy, which is costly and complicated. A close coordination and co-operation of the most relevant national programmes on hydrogen is of high importance in order to keep an overview, and to combine efforts. A transition towards a sustainable energy system is a process that will not occur by itself under todays market conditions. If the energy system is left to change on its own, it will follow market mechanisms that are aiming at profit maximization on the short and medium term, using the most profitable (for industry) or cost-effective (for the customer) technology available at the moment. Incentives and technological improvements are needed to overcome socio-economic hurdles in the first phase of transition where there will otherwise be short-term losses when engaging in new technologies. Among the factors that determine the long-term profits of the transition towards a future hydrogen based society are cost reductions and efficiency improvements. The creation of demonstration projects and, on a larger scale, hydrogen communities of early adopters, is seen as a promising mechanism to encourage these transition issues to be resolved. The development of roadmaps is similarly vital for transition management. A significant investment in this area in FP6 has created a wealth of useful information in these fields. Accumulated knowledge, information and experience from socioeconomic studies, networking co-operations and demonstration projects need continual capture and dissemination. It is therefore vital that the future generation of research projects, coordination actions and other instruments build on past accomplishments. It is also important to update the outputs of this type of work as circumstances change. Shifts in energy and raw material prices and global politics, together with technology breakthroughs, can profoundly impact the conclusions of this type of work, meaning that roadmaps and strategies for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells need to be regularly readjusted. It is particularly important to monitor the progress of competing technologies, and use them as dynamic benchmarks for setting future research targets. Coordination and communication between projects in this research area remains important, in order to share wisdom and minimise duplicated effort or inconsistencies. This is also true outside the arena of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: future directions will be made consistent with the visions of other Technology Platforms in related transport and energy fields.

20

Acronym

Topic addressed

Coordinator organisation Country Ricardo, UK

EC Budget (M) 4,5

ROADS2HYCOM

Supporting the Commission in the monitoring and coordination of ongoing activities of the HFP, and provide input to the HFP for the planning and preparation of future research and demonstration activities within an integrated EU strategy, focusing on identifying opportunities for research activities relative to Hydrogen Communities. Creation of a network and integrate national and regional R&D activities by establishing a durable European Research Area (ERA-Net) for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. Supporting European SMEs to cope with new emerging H2 related upcoming technologies. Intends to maximize the participation of research centres and researchers from three new member states (Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia) and two accession countries (Bulgaria and Romania). To improve the research capacity of the Turkish Centre on hydrogen technologies. It also has the aim to network with other research centres and Excellency Centres in other EU Member States. Promoting sustainable energy systems in particular through technological development (such as hydrogen technology). Preparing the EU for a large scale fossil fuel power generation with hydrogen production and direct geological storage of CO2. Developing a validated and well accepted road map for the introduction of hydrogen in the EU energy system. To compare roadmapping and system analysis activities in Europe and the United States. Coordinate efforts on the knowledge of hydrogen production and propose a roadmap for short-, medium- and long-term research programmes. Development and implementation of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform Secretariat. The future world energy system up to 2050 within a framework of minimal climate change policies (and studying the conditions for a development of hydrogen as an energy carrier. Enhancing research capacities on nanotechnology, multi-functional materials and advanced applications. Investigate the cost-effectiveness of measures to support the introduction of alternative motor fuels (hydrogen as a long-term option) in the EU market.

HY-CO

FZJ, DE

2,7

HYTETRA ENFUGEN

Camera di commercio di Torino, IT Labor srl, IT

0,85 0,23

HY-PROSTORE

Tubitak Marmara, TR

0,8

CASCADE MINTS DYNAMIS HYWAYS HYWAYS-IPHE INNOHYP-CA HYCELL-TPS WETO-H2

ICCS/NTUA, EL SINTEF-ER, NO L-B System Technik, DE L-B System Technik, DE CEA, FR Kellen Europe NV, BE Enerdata, FR

0,95 4 4 0,3 0.6 2.38 0,39

NANOCOFC PREMIA

KTH, SE Vito, BE

0.5 1

21

TECHNOLOGY VALIDATION AND DEMONSTRATION

The assessment of the real-world performance of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell technology is critical to test and validate current technology capability, and to direct future research and development efforts to achieve the improvements needed to help bring these technologies to commercialisation. Validation and demonstration projects are also primary opportunities for gaining experience and providing training to stakeholders and end-users for real-life situations. Finally, they are extremely useful in raising public awareness of the new technology, as well as in providing input for the development of appropriate and coherent standards for the various technologies. As explained in the previous sections the technology pathways for hydrogen production, distribution and use are numerous and varied. Achieving a diversified hydrogen supply and indeed energy economy requires full investigation of the various options. Different pathways and technologies currently face different challenges and exhibit different levels of development and progress towards commercialisation both a short- and longterm focus are therefore necessary for the global picture. In the short term, efforts are directed towards bridging the gap between pre-commercial prototype applications to operation under fully commercial conditions. In the longer term, the focus is to advance technological development (optimisation of application design and functionality), and pathway logistics to achieve long-term cost reductions. In both the long- and short- term a central goal must be to foster learning and best practices throughout the European Union. In FP6 both technology validation and large scale demonstration projects are being supported in the area of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. A number of process development, integration and logistics issues are currently being demonstrated and tested under pre-commercial and close-to-commercial conditions to gain experience that will feed back into the technology development and deployment process, but also provide firsthand training to stakeholders and end-users of these technologies. The European Union has now embarked on a series of further demonstration projects grouped under the initiative Hydrogen for Transport. Around 200 hydrogen-powered vehicles will be demonstrated over the next three years. The aim is: to improve vehicle efficiency and infrastructure reliability; to facilitate the understanding of our citizens and our decision makers regarding hydrogen; and to prepare even larger demonstration projects necessary to bridge the gap between the future state of technology and the market. Following the recommendations of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform the Hydrogen for Transport initiative through project HyLIGHTS networks and co-ordinates activities in 3 demonstration projects HyFLEET:CUTE, HyCHAIN and ZERO REGIO in different European regions in order to demonstrate and comprehensively benchmark real world behaviour of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. In addition it helps to enhance cooperation with other long-term research projects, e.g. related to safety, storage systems, etc., keeping pace with developments in basic and applied R&D and continue to provide the opportunity for bringing upcoming technologies and processes out of the laboratory and into real-world applications.

22

Acronym

Topic addressed

Coordinator organisation Country Air Liquide

EC Budget (M) 17

HYCHAINMINITRAINS ZERO REGIO HYFLEET:CUTE

Addresses the early market of urban vehicles, including small utility vehicles, minibuses, scooters and cargo-bikes, all powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Demonstration of hydrogen-powered cars and hydrogen infrastructure in 2 European regions. Designing, constructing and testing the application of hydrogen-powered ICE buses, and designing, constructing and testing prototypes of the next generation of hydrogen fuel cell bus. Developing, testing and optimising new and existing infrastructure. Supports the Commission in the monitoring and coordination of ongoing activities of the HFP, and provide input to the HFP for the planning and preparation of future research and demonstration activities within an integrated EU strategy, focusing on transport applications.

Infraserv GmbH DaimlerChrysler

7,5 19

HYLIGHTS

L-B System Technik

3,17

23

SAFETY, REGULATIONS, CODES AND STANDARDS

The move towards a sustainable energy economy, with hydrogen as a significant energy vector, will see the introduction of new technologies for hydrogen storage and energy conversion. New technologies, whether they are for portable, stationary or transport applications, must be safe and convenient to use, and perceived as such by the public. Therefore, there is a requirement to develop a harmonised European and Worldwide set of regulations, codes and standards (RCS). In many cases there are no existing codes or standards, whether relating to (for example) a safety testing procedure, or a standard for a refuelling nozzle design. As the numbers of systems in use increase, the need for RCS becomes more pressing. In other cases, local authorities may have to develop their own standards independently, especially in the field of safety. This can lead to the confusion of multiple non-aligned standards, or worse still, to the new technology being prohibited, even if it is actually safe. Harmonized regulations, codes and standards will ensure fair competition between different technologies, as all must adhere to the same requirements, and ensure safe storage and utilization of hydrogen. Introduction of new hydrogen based technologies may also be encouraged by further environmental legislation (greenhouse gases, air quality). This requires a concerted effort relating to European and worldwide regulations. Industry and user education is required relating to regulations, codes and standards to ensure products are developed, tested and produced to the required standards. The FP6 programme has been supporting different R&D actions aimed at filling knowledge gaps to help the development of appropriate Hydrogen and Fuel Cell RCS. This includes inter alia, effort on hydrogen safety and related applications (e.g. hydrogen refuelling stations, stationary systems), harmonised procedures and protocols for fuel cell testing. These projects have generally a strong international partnership given the need to join forces internationally on such pre-competitive issues.

24

Acronym

Topic addressed

Coordinator organisation Country Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe University of Ulster, UK University of Ulster, UK AVERE L-B System Technik Kingston University ENEA

EC Budget (M) 7 0.7 0.62 0,5 1,9 0,95 2,5

HYSAFE HySAFEST HyCourse HARMONHY HYAPPROVAL HYFIRE FCTESQA

The development of a reliable framework at European level for the assessment of the safety of hydrogen technologies. Early Stage Training activity on fundamentals of hydrogen safety. European Summer School on Hydrogen Safety. Assessing the activities on Hydrogen and Fuel Cell regulations and standards on a worldwide level. Developing a handbook facilitating the approval of hydrogen refuelling stations in Europe. Development of a pool of trained researchers specialising in hydrogen fire and explosion safety. Validate test procedures for evaluation of performance, operational characteristics, efficiency, safety and environmental compliance for fuel cell systems. Further disseminate the results of FCTESQA to international organisations and to perform a gap analysis for regulations, codes and standards for fuel cells that will be used in stationary applications. Harmonise, validate and benchmark test procedures for FC stacks and FC systems, supporting the ongoing European and worldwide Regulation Codes and Standards (RCS) definition process- complements the FCTESQA/FCTEDI projects. Development of a EU-wide Installation Permitting Guidance for approval of hydrogen-based stationary systems.

FCTEDI

ENEA

0,55

FCTEST

JRC-IE

Direct action

HYPER

University of Manchester

1.44

25

DEVELOPING A EUROPEAN STRATEGY

The European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform (HFP)
Building on the recommendations set out in the Vision Report of the High Level Group on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells (HLG) set up in October 2002, the European Technology Platform on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells (HFP) was launched in 2004 by the then Vice-President Loyola de Palacio and Commissioner Philippe Busquin, in association with President Romano Prodi. The role of the HFP is to realise the effective mobilisation of all relevant stakeholders towards a common goal and to assist in the stimulation and effective coordination of European, national, regional and local research, development and deployment programmes and initiatives, and to ensure the balanced and active participation of the major stakeholders (i.e. industry, scientific community, public authorities, users, and civil society). The platform aims to accelerate the development and deployment in Europe of Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. The platform also has a key role in promoting awareness and understanding of fuel cells and hydrogen market opportunities and foster deeper co-operation, both within the EU and at a global level. The HFP builds on ongoing and new projects, clusters and networks in the European Commissions Framework Programme and in Member States, and includes a number of specific steering panels and initiative groups to optimise its functioning and achieve the Platforms overall goals. The results of activities, including research and demonstration projects carried out under the auspices of the Platform, are widely disseminated and communicated to the appropriate policy-making bodies. These bodies will play a crucial role in creating an appropriate technical and political environment within which these technologies can achieve market penetration. In 2005, the Platform Advisory Council adopted two documents that together provided a vision for the sector in the medium to long term. The first, the Strategic Research Agenda, proposes a ten-year research, development and technology validation programme designed to lead to world-class technology and global leadership. The second document is the Deployment Strategy which describes the first steps and key milestones for the market penetration of portable, stationary and transport applications by 2020. The document also outlines the necessity for substantial, combined public/private partnerships of the type the Platform is designed to encourage which will be crucial in facilitating moving from the present research/prototype demonstration stage to the mass-market introduction of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell technologies. The main objective for the HFP is now to prepare the implementation of the strategy. In early July, the Interim Implementation Plan has been published for consultation with all stakeholders in Europe. More than 100 experts have been involved in its development starting from the review and confirmation of the targets set out in the Deployment Strategy Snapshot 2020. The draft implementation plan proposes RTD and D and other supporting actions and measures that would be needed over the 2006-2013 timeframe (corresponding to FP7) in order to realise Snapshot 2020. The aim is to finalize the Implementation Plan (Status 2006) by the end of 2006.
Figure 4: Structure of European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform EC European Commission RCS Regulations Codes and Standards AC Advisory Council FBD Financing and Business Development EG Executive Group ET Education and Training MG Mirror Group PA Public Awareness

26

FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Research on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Seventh Framework Programme
The Commissions amended proposal (COM (2006) 364 final) for the Seventh European Research Framework Programme (FP7) is designed to respond to the EUs priorities linked to the Lisbon agenda for European growth and competitiveness. FP7 will build on the achievements of FP6, by progressing the the European Research Area (ERA) and taking it further towards the development of the knowledge economy and knowledge-based society in Europe. It will run for seven years (2007-2013) and the total budget proposed is 53.27 billion, of which 2.75 billion are for activities under the Euratom Programme. According to the Commission proposal, FP7 will be organised in four specific programmes: Cooperation, Ideas, People, and Capacities. The Cooperation programme will be the main instrument for collaborative, shared-cost research. It will support all types of research activities carried out by different research bodies in trans-national cooperation. Eligible actions will range from collaborative research projects and the creation of networks to the establishment of Joint Technology Initiatives (see section below) and the coordination of national research programmes. International cooperation with non-EU countries will also be included. Accounting for 32.92 billion, the Cooperation Programme aims to gain or consolidate leadership in key scientific and technology areas. It will be sub-divided into nine distinct themes which will be operationally autonomous while at the same time ensuring coherence within the Programme and allowing for joint activities cutting across different themes, through, for example, joint calls. The nine themes proposed are the following: Health; Food, agriculture and biotechnology, Information and communication technologies; Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies; Energy; Environment (including climate change); Transport (including aeronautics); Socioeconomic sciences and the humanities, Security and Space. In order to meet this ambitious objective, the Energy sub-programme will be structured around several specific topics, one of which will be Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. Under this topic it is proposed an integrated action to provide a strong technological foundation for competitive EU fuel cell and hydrogen industries, for stationary, portable and transport applications. The extensive consultations carried out by the various bodies, panels and groups of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells European Technology Platform (HFP) will provide the basis for this integrated programme, which will comprise: fundamental and applied research and technological development; large-scale demonstration (lighthouse) projects to validate research results and provide feedback for further research; and cross-cutting and socio-economic research activities to underpin sound transition strategies and provide a rational basis for policy decisions and market framework development. It is foreseen that, with the exception of the fundamental research activities, much of this activity will be implemented through a European Joint Technology Initiative (JTI).

FP7 European Commissions proposal for a JTI

In addition to the use of the traditional instrument of collaborative research, the Commission proposes to set up Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs) for a limited number of research areas for which the scope of the RTD objective and the scale of the resources involved could justify setting up long term public private partnerships. Hydrogen and Fuel Cells have been identified as a potential candidate for a JTI, which, if pursued, would involve the setting up of a publicprivate Joint Undertaking in accordance with the Article 171 of the EC Treaty. The Joint Technology Initiative would be a new way of realising public-private research partnerships at European level. Bringing public and private interests together into a new, industry-led implementation structure would ensure that the jointly defined research programme will better match industrys needs and expectations. The new partnership would be tasked with defining and executing a target-oriented European programme of industrial research, technological development and demonstration on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in a coherently planned manner, to support the downstream, Europe-wide deployment of these technologies. The JTI would be expected to leverage funding from a variety of sources, including European, national and regional programmes. The JTI activity, if implemented, will be complemented and closely co-ordinated with more upstream collaborative research effort aimed at achieving breakthrough on critical materials, processes and emerging technologies. The upstream research would continue to be managed under normal Framework Programme rules and procedures, under the responsibility of the Commission. Further information about the proposed Joint Technology Initiative can be found on the technology platform web-site: www.hfpeurope.org

27

PROJECTS
Funded under the Sixth Framework Programme (2002-2006)
Hydrogen production and distribution
Development of a Biogas Reformer for Production of Hydrogen for PEM Fuel Cells BIO-HYDROGEN Clean Hydrogen-rich Synthesis Gas CHRISGAS Proton-Exchange Membrane based Electrochemical Hydrogen Generator GENHYPEM Highly efficient, High temperature, Hydrogen production by Water Electrolysis Hi2H2 Hydrogen Thermochemical Cycles HYTHEC Non-thermal Production of pure Hydrogen from Biomass HYVOLUTION Preparing for the Hydrogen Economy by using the existing Natural Gas system as a catalyst NATURALHY New Method for Superior Integrated Hydrogen generation System NEMESIS Linking molecular genetics and bio-mimetic chemistry a multidisciplinary approach to achieve renewable hydrogen production SOLAR-H Hydrogen from solar thermal energy: high temperature solar chemical reactor for co-production of hydrogen and carbon black from natural gas cracking SOLHYCARB SOLar steam REForming of methane rich gas for synthesis gas production SOLREF Engineered modular bacterial Hydrogen Photoproduction of Hydrogen BIOMODULARH2 Carbon dioxide capture and hydrogen production from gaseous fuels CACHET Hybrid hydrogen carbon dioxide SEParation Systems HY2SEPS Solar Hydrogen via Water Splitting in Advanced Monolithic Reactors for Future Solar Power Plants HYDROSOL-II

30
30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 53 54 55

Hydrogen storage
Hydrogen Storage in Carbon Cones HYCONES Hydrogen Storage Research Training Network HyTRAIN Novel Efficient Solid Storage for Hydrogen NESSHY Enhancing International Cooperation in running FP6 Hydrogen Solid Storage activities HySIC Hydrogen storage systems for automotive applications StorHy Systems for Alternative Fuels SYSAF Marie Curie Research Training Networks on Production and Storage of Hydrogen HYDROGEN

56
56 58 60 62 64 66 68

Fuel Cell basic research

Basic materials and industrial process research on functional materials for fuel cells APOLLON-B Automotive high temperature fuel cell membranes AUTOBRANE International Partnership for a Hydrogen Economy for GENeration of New Ionomer membranes IPHE-GENIE Coordination Action for Research on Intermediate and high temperature Specialised Membrane electrode Assemblies CARISMA Non-noble Catalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Anodes FCANODE Further Improvement and system integration of High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells FURIM Generic Fuel Cell Modelling Environment GenFC Intermetallic Materials Processing in Relation to Earth and Space Solidification IMPRESS Novel Materials for Silicate-Based Fuel Cells MatSILC Development of novel, efficient and validated software-based tools for PEM fuel cell component and stack-designers PEMTOOL Realising Reliable, Durable, Energy Efficient and Cost Effective SOFC Systems Real-SOFC Demonstration of SOFC stack technology for operation at 600C SOFC600 Development of Low Temperature Cost Effective Solid Oxide Fuel Cells SOFCSPRAY

70
70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94

Stationary and portable applications

Biomass Fuel Cell Utility System BIOCELLUS Flexible Ecological Multipurpose Advanced Generator FEMAG Fuel Flexible, Air-regulated, Modular, and Electrically Integrated SOFC-System FlameSOFC SOFC Fuel Cell Fuelled by Biomass Gasification Gas GREEN-FUEL-CELL Compact Direct (M)Ethanol Fuel Cell for Portable Application MOREPOWER The Next Generation of Stationary microCHP Fuel Cells NextGenCell

96
96 98 100 102 104 106

28

Transport applications (including hybrid vehicles)

Fuel Cell System Application in a New Configured Aircraft CELINA Domestic Emergency Advanced Generator DEMAG Fuel cell power-trains and clustering in heavy-duty transport FELICITAS Hybrid high energy electrical storage HyHEELS Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies for Road Transport HyTRAN Ionic Liquid-based Hybrid Power Supercapacitors ILHYPOS Intelligent DC/DC converter for fuel cell road vehicle INTELLICON Molten-Carbonate Fuel Cells for Waterborne Application MC-WAP Assimilation of Fuel Cells in maritime applications New-H-Ship High Density Power Electronics for FC- and ICE-Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrains HOPE Optimisation of hydrogen powered internal combustion engines HYICE Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle System Component Development HYSYS Power Oriented low cost and safe MatERials fOr Li-ion batteries POMEROL Alternative fuels and vehicle power train VELA-H2

108
108 110 112 114 116 118 120 122 124 126 127 128 129 130

Pathways and socio-economic analysis

Case study comparisons and development of energy models for integrated technology systems CASCADE MINTS Towards Hydrogen and Electricity Production with Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage DYNAMIS Enlarging fuel cells and hydrogen research co-operation ENFUGEN Development and implementation of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform Secretariat HyCellTPS Co-ordination action to establish a Hydrogen and Fuel Cell ERA-Net, hydrogen co-ordination HY-CO Improvement of the S&T Research Capacity of TUBITAK- Marmara Research Center, Energy Institute in the field of Hydrogen Technologies HY-PROSTORE Hydrogen Technologies Transfer Project HYTETRA European Hydrogen Energy Roadmap HYWAYS Benchmarking of the European Hydrogen Energy Roadmap with International Partners HyWays HyWays-IPHE Innovative High Temperature Routes For Hydrogen Production Coordinated Action INNOHYP CA Enhancement of Research Capabilities on Multi-functional Nanocomposites for Advanced Fuel Cell Technology through EU-Turkish-China Cooperation NANOCOFC Research co-Ordination, Assessment, Deployment and Support to HyCOM Roads2HyCom World Energy Technology Outlook 2050 WETO-H2 R&D, Demonstration and Incentive Programmes Effectiveness to Facilitate and Secure Market Introduction of Alternative Motor Fuels PREMIA

132
132 134 136 138 140 142 144 146 148 150 152 154 156 158

Technology validation and demonstration

Deployment of innovative low power fuel cell vehicle fleets to initiate an early market for hydrogen as an alternative fuel in Europe HYCHAIN-MINITRANS Hydrogen for Clean Urban Transport in Europe HyFLEET:CUTE Lombardia and Rhein-Main towards Zero Emission: Development and Demonstration of Infrastructure Systems for Hydrogen as an Alternative Motor Fuel ZERO REGIO A Coordination Action to Prepare European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Projects on Hydrogen for Transport HyLights

160
160 162 164 166

Safety, regulations, codes and standards

Fuel Cell Testing and Dissemination FCTEDI Fuel Cell Testing, Safety and Quality Assurance FCTESQA Fuel Cell Testing and Standardization FCTEST Harmonization of Standards and Regulations for a sustainable Hydrogen and Fuel Cell HarmonHy Handbook for Approval of Hydrogen Refuelling Stations HyApproval Safety of Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier HySAFE Early Stage Training in Fundamentals of Hydrogen Safety HySAFEST European Summer School on Hydrogen Safety HyCourse Installation Permitting Guidance For Hydrogen And Fuel Cells Stationary Applications HYPER Hydrogen Combustion in the Context of Fire and Explosion Safety HYFIRE

168
168 170 172 174 176 178 180 181 182 184

29

Development of a Biogas Reformer for Production of Hydrogen for PEM Fuel Cells BIO-HYDROGEN
Problems addressed
BIO-HYDROGEN aims at the development of a cost effective biogas reforming system (6 kW hydrogen) for decentralised application with biogas from agricultural biogas plants, municipal waste-water treatment plants and landfills. The first main objective is the development of reformer system which exhibits a better compatibility with biogas and hence shows an improved efficiency. The improvement of the heat and steam management for CO2 containing gas will be targeted with the aid of simulation and modelling. A screening of the catalysts currently used for the reforming reaction will be performed in order to evaluate and compare their stability, performance and durability when used for biogas reforming. The second objective is the implementation of a cost effective cleaning unit for biogas. Biofiltration is believed to give good results in terms of cost-efficiency. Biofilters have been investigated for various applications but up to now their usage for siloxane removal has not been realised. Laboratory prototype will constitute the basis for the development of a biotrickling filter system capable to treat 1-2 m3/h biogas. This system will be integrated to the already developed biotrickling filter for H2S cleaning.

Objectives
Development and construction of a stable and cost effective biogas reforming unit Development of advanced and durable catalysts for biogas reforming Development and manufacturing of a biogas upgrading unit for siloxane removal Construction of a biogas reformer prototype system with 6 kW hydrogen capacity Installation and endurance test of the prototype at end user in Spain Elaboration of an exploitation strategy for optimal use of the project results

Technical approach
First of all the requirements for a successful implementation of such a system have to be set up. This comprises the quality of the reformatted gas, the cost targets and the interfaces of the prototype for implementation at the test location. For the development of both prototypes the RTD partners carry out laboratory experiments by simulating the conditions at the performance with biogas. In case of the reformer a screening of the relevant catalysts and a selection of the

30

INFORMATION
Contract number 017819 Programme Cooperative Research Starting date 1st July 2005
most appropriate will be done. In case of the siloxane cleaning a laboratory filter will deliver the relevant up-scaling factors. A simulation completes the optimisation of the systems. For the construction and the testing of the prototypes the support of the SME partners gives the necessary reliability. All relevant partners will assess the test results and draw conclusions on the performance and for the further applicability and exploitation. operated with methane and different clean model biogases containing only methane and carbon dioxide in varying concentrations. In order to evaluate the test operation of the reformer with biogas, a simulation tool for the reformer was built up and the experimental and the calculated results were compared. It was demonstrated in the laboratory that the used state of the art natural gas steam reformer is also suitable for the reforming of clean model biogases. The siloxane laboratory filter was designed and tested at 3 different conditions during 4 months. The relevant bacteria were successfully identified and the degradation rate of the different types of siloxanes was calculated based on a plenty of analyses. The proof of quantitative biodegradation is done and leads to useful up-scaling to a system with 1,5 m3/h biogas flow rate.

Duration 24 months Total cost 1.37 million EC funding 0.85 million Coordinator Johann Bergmair Profactor Produktionsforschungs GmbH Innovative Energy Systems Im Stadtgut A2 AT-4407 Steyr-Gleink Austria Partners
Besel SA ES Bitter GmbH AT Fronius International GmbH AT Matadero Frigorifico del Naln ES Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH DE Schmack Biogas AG DE Slovensk Polnohospodrska Univerzita v Nitre SK UDOMI Competence in Fuel Cells DE Universitt Duisburg-Essen DE

Expected impact
Biogas reformer: Reformer suitable for decentralised hydrogen production from biogas Improved efficiency Lowering of investment and running costs Sustainable hydrogen production Dissemination of renewable energy conversion Biogas upgrading system: Biotechnological H2S-cleaning for high-tech applications Biotechnological Siloxane-cleaning for high-tech applications

Project web-page www.profactor.at

Progress to date
During the first 10 months commercially available pre reformer, reformer and shift catalysts have been tested in small scale for the use with sulphur free and sulphur containing biogas as feed for the steam reforming process. The experiments showed the principally suitability of these catalysts for the application with purified biogas. Based on the experimental data, the most promising catalysts were selected for the use in the state of the art natural gas steam reformer. The reformer, which consists of a pre reformer, a reformer, a shift reactor and a heat integration system and which was equipped with the selected catalysts, was

31

Clean Hydrogen-rich Synthesis Gas

CHRISGAS

Problems addressed
The Kyoto Protocol addresses the need to reduce the transport sectors dependence on oil. The CHRISGAS Project responds directly to this challenge with its aim of arriving at a cost effective and attractively viable solution to produce a high quality syngas from the thermo-chemical process of the gasification of biomass. This gasification/synthesis route is expected to be lower in cost than the hydrolysis/fermentation route. Cost effective means high-energy efficiency for process competitiveness. This implies the highest possible gas filtration temperature in the range of 800 to 900C with, preferably an acceptable function of catalytic steam reforming to decompose methane, tar and other hydrocarbons in the presence of certain sulphur compounds. The major forthcoming challenge in the project is rebuilding and putting back into operation the large complex pilot unit, Vxj Vrnamo Biomass Gasification Centre, which has been mothballed under a conservation program for more than five years. The Centre can then be used as a platform for advanced research, development and demonstration and testing of biomass gasification. It is hence being designed to include possibilities for gas cleaning and upgrading as well as conversion of gases to gaseous and/or liquid energy carriers at semi-industrial level. Another significant technical challenge is to find a solution to reduce the inert gas consumption and its presence in the syngas. An innovative piston feeding system for biomass to the gasifier is being developed within the project to tackle this. gasification research and demonstration activities can be conducted at a much lower cost than if a new R&D facility was to be built. The project also concentrates on research related networking activities, training activities and dissemination activities as well as socioeconomic research on the non-technical obstacles for penetration into the markets of the technologies concerned.

Objectives
The primary aim of the CHRISGAS Project is to demonstrate, within a 5-year period, an energy-efficient and cost effective method to produce hydrogen-rich gases from biomass, which can be transformed into renewable automotive fuels such as FT-diesel, DME and hydrogen. This syngas process is based on steam/oxygen-blown gasification of biomass, followed by hot gas cleaning to remove particulates, and steam reforming of tar and light hydrocarbons to further enhance the hydrogen yield. The process is planned for demonstration at Vrnamo, Sweden, after modification to the worlds first complete IGCC demonstration plant for biomass. Parallel R&D activities cover the whole value chain from biomass to syngas and include: feedstock biomass logistics; biomass drying integration; pressurised fuel feeding, gasification, hot synthesis gas characterisation; high temperature filtration/cleaning; catalytic steam reforming and shift gas catalyst characterisation. This will all lead onto the next phase: conversion of gas into motor fuels (Biomass to Liquids, BTL).

Progress to date
As mentioned the key work areas of the project are related to the activities around the Vrnamo pilot plant. During the first 18 months a study providing conceptual engineering design alternatives (including mass & energy balances, definitions of all streams, PFD, PID, basic equipment specifications, etc.) has been performed, as well as an initial risk assessment. A basic engineering study of the planned rebuild using an external engineering consultant has been separately funded and also been completed. In addition a thorough status Review of the existing pilot plant at Vrnamo has been conducted. Maintenance needs and modification requirements have been identified and this work at the plant is currently ongoing. In the status review the gasifier, feed system, ash system, gas cooling as well as auxiliary systems were checked for function and/or quality. The studies within the work area Fuel Supply and Management are well in progress. The methodological approach to estimate potential biomass resources has been developed and data concerning agricultural and forest residues have been collected for Spain, France, Italy and Greece. In these evaluated countries the potential of agricultural field residues have been found to reach 160 million o.d t/year and the forest residues potential 36 million o.d./t year. The required databases are ready to be used in the whole EU.

Technical approach
The hub of this project is based around the Vxj Vrnamo Biomass Gasification Centre (VVBGC) in Sweden and the use of the biomass-fuelled pressurised IGCC (integrated gasification combined-cycle) CHP (combined heat and power) plant in Vrnamo as a pilot facility. By building VVBGC around this plant,

32

INFORMATION
Contract number 502587 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st September 2004 Duration 36 months Total cost 15.6 million EC funding 9.5 million Coordinator Dr. Sune Bengtsson Vxj Universitet Vejdes Plats 6 SE-351 95 Vxj Sweden Partners
AGA-Linde DE Catator SE CIEMAT ES Forschungszentrum Jlich DE KS Ducente SE Pall Schumacher DE Royal Institute of Technology SE S.E.P. Scandinavian Energy Project SE Technical University Delft NL TK Energi DK TPS Termiska Processer SE Universit di Bologna IT Valutec FI Vxj Energi SE Vxj Vrnamo Biomass Gasification Centre SE

To investigate the influence of process/fuel parameters on steam/oxygen blown CFB gasification a considerable number of experiments have been carried out in atmospheric conditions at the laboratories of two of the partners, with common fuels, delivered by one of the partners being used. These results are regarded as a very valuable base for the large pilot demonstration program at Vrnamo. Pilot research work has also been conducted resulting in knowledge within the area of measurement technique and the characterization of gaseous and aerosol trace components that are present in the gasifier raw gas. The experiments in this area are aimed at using and developing methods for high temperature measurement of particles without changing the original aerosol. A key process area and piece of equipment for the CHRISGAS Project is the need for an efficient and robust hot gas filter. A design of novel hot gas filtration unit to be placed and tested for the filtration on laboratory gasifier at the research premises of one of the partners has been produced. The novelty is related to the new type of back pulsing system as well in the application of a catalyst for tar cracking on the filter material surface. Catalyst lifetime and degradation rate in the gasifier raw gas atmosphere is another significantly important area within CHRISGAS. The specific trend of the deactivation using 20 and 50 ppm of H2S in the feed have been observed in laboratory tests, as well as the positive effect of increasing the temperature and O2 concentration. The analysis of the

catalyst exposed to sulphur deactivation has shown a specific decrease of available Ni atoms attributed to NiS formation. An increase of the Ni0 crystal size associated with the high temperature obtained during the tests with oxygen has also been observed. A reactivation of catalyst activity takes place when adding oxygen to the catalyst. This is very significant for the catalytic reforming process to become viable. In conjunction with the characterization and activity studies on reformer catalysts it has been identified within the first year of the project that the pilot plant would benefit from studies on commercial water gas shift catalysts. Work has therefore been expanded within CHRISGAS to encompass such water gas shift catalyst investigations. The main dissemination activities have concentrated on raising public awareness of the project and of the technical possibilities to produce automotive fuels from biomass. The production of a flyer, a website and posters with their broad approach, as well as project presentations at conferences in Washington DC, Moscow, Beijing, Seville, Stockholm and in several other European cities have formed a major part of dissemination activities. One of three planned workshops has already taken place and a further training and dissemination activity is planned at the University of Bologna for early September this year with a Summer School covering the whole scope of the CHRISGAS project.

Project web-page www.chrisgas.com

33

Proton-Exchange Membrane based Electrochemical Hydrogen Generator GENHYPEM

Problems addressed
GenHyPEM gathers partners from academic institutions and from the industry who will provide a 291 man-month research effort over three years, in order to reach three main technological objectives aimed at improving the performances of current 1000 liter/hour H2 industrial water electrolysers: The objectives are the development of nanoscaled electrocatalytic structures for reducing the amount of noble metals; the synthesis and characterization of non-noble metal catalytic compounds provided by molecular chemistry and bio-mimetic approaches; the preparation of new composite membrane materials for high current density, high pressure and high temperature operation; the development and optimization of low-cost porous titanium sheets acting as current collectors in the electrolysis stack. Keypoint 4 Stack design and optimization WP4.a high performance electrolysis WP4.b software package development WP4.c test bench design and testing

Objectives
GenHyPEM is a project related to the electrolytic production of hydrogen from water, using proton exchange membrane (PEM) based electrochemical generators. The specific objectives of the project are: Development of alternative low-cost membrane electrode assemblies and stack components with electrochemical performances similar to those of state-of-the-art systems. Development of an optimized stack structure for high current density (1 A.cm-2) and high pressure (50 bars) operation for direct pressurized storage. Development of an automated and integrated electrolysis unit allowing gas production from intermittent renewable sources of energy such as photovoltaic-solar and wind.

Expected impact
Hydrogen and/or oxygen of electrolytic grade are known to be useful for particular segments of the hydrogen market, mostly in relation with laboratories or industrial applications. For example, the stochiometric generation of H2/O2 mixtures for welding applications avoids the use of pressurized containers and storage hazards. Concerning energy, the world situation requires the development of non-fossil sources, as expressed by the European Community, which is supporting an increasing number of projects in this domain. In particular, for domestic applications, market studies reveal that there is place for the electrolytic production of hydrogen using either photovoltaic-solar or wind when available, as far as storage problems are correctly addressed. PEM offers well-known and largely admitted advantages over the more conventional alkaline water electrolysis: Increased safety and reliability since the acid electrolyte is confined inside the solid electrolyte. Possibility of significantly reduce the investment cost by operating the cell at higher current densities close or above to 1 Amp/cm2. Significantly high cell efficiencies (> 80%) because of the small thickness of the interpolar domain (< 0.2 mm). All the actions aimed at reducing cost production of PEM water electrolysers are therefore expected to favour the penetration of hydrogen as an energy carrier in the European industry and to meet environmental engagements.

Technical approach
The workplan proposed within GenHyPEM addresses 4 key factors identified in state-ofthe-art PEM water electrolysers as cost-limiting factors for a larger diffusion of this technology in the industry. Nine different work packages (WPs) are proposed to reduce cost-production, and project deliverables have been identified. Keypoint 1 Electrocatalysis WP1.a processes for obtaining and plating fractal electrocatalytic structures WP1.b processes for obtaining and plating nano-scaled electrocatalytic structures WP1.c processes for obtaining and plating non-noble catalytic compounds for hydrogen evolution Keypoint 2 Alternative perfluorinated materials (WP2) Keypoint 3 Current collectors WP3.a geometry optimization WP3.b surface protection

34

INFORMATION
Contract number 019802 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st October 2005

Progress to date
After 8 months, the following achievements have been obtained: Different non-noble compounds have been synthesized and tested in electrolysis configuration. Several scientific communications are presented at the 16th WHEC in Lyon in June 2006. Several test cells have been developed, which are used to characterize different electro-catalytic structures at nominal size (250 cm2) and to perform long time testing (figure 1). In relation to dissemination of knowledge and raising of public awareness: Several exhibitions have been made and others are planned (details from the project website). Simple electrolysers have also been specifically designed for educational and exhibition purposes (figure 2). A prototype electrolyser has been designed and constructed at CETH, which can be operated up to 6 bars, at current densities between 500 and 1000 mA/cm2 (figure 3).

Duration 36 months Total cost 2.2 million EC funding 1.1 million Coordinator Pierre Millet Universit Paris-Sud Avenue Georges Clemenceau, 15 FR-91405 Orsay France Partners
Compagnie Europenne des Technologies de lHydrogne FR Delta Plus Engineering & Consulting SPRL BE GKN Sinter Metal Service Gmbh DE OVM-ICCPET-RO Russian Research Center Kurchatov Institute RU

Project web-page www.genhypem.u-psud.fr

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

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Highly efficient, High temperature, Hydrogen production by Water Electrolysis Hi2H2

Objectives
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) technology used in electrolysis mode, called Solid Oxide Electrolyser Cell or alternatively Solid Oxide Electrochemical Converter (SOEC), has the potential to become an efficient and cost effective way to solve the conversion problem. Because this water splitting process is endothermic, the electricity needed for electrolysis can be significantly reduced if the production of hydrogen takes place at high temperatures (700-1000C). The electrical energy needed for electrolysis decreases with temperature and is compensated by an input of thermal energy. Compared to low temperature electrolysis, the unavoidable ohmic heat produced by the internal resistance of an electrolysis cell is not wasted but utilised for the thermal contribution in the SOEC water (steam) splitting process at high temperature. In addition, electrode kinetics are much faster at high temperature, which reduces electrode polarisation. Noble metal catalysts are not required and higher current densities can be obtained compared to existing low temperature electrolysers. For example, the Hot Elly project has demonstrated that a breakthrough in water electrolysis efficiencies is possible by going to high temperatures (900-1000C). The electrical efficiency demonstrated in the Hot Elly electrolyser was close to 92% compared to 50-60% in traditional alkaline electrolysers. The objectives of the project are: To investigate and evaluate the feasibility of a planar Solid Oxide Electrochemical Converter (SOEC) based on materials, cell components and fabrication processes of advanced thin-film SOFC technology. To determine the limitations of the cell materials for SOEC operation at operating temperatures between 700 and 900C.

Problems addressed
Cells developed for SOFC applications are designed to operate at cell voltages below 1V, under low partial pressures of oxygen (0.2 bar), and relatively low concentrations of water. The operating conditions under SOEC mode are much more severe. The cell voltage can be between 1 and 2V, the oxygen partial pressure is at 1 bar or higher if the electrolyser is pressurised, with the water concentration as high as 100% at the electrolyser inlet. It is expected that this will have an important impact on the corrosion and degradation of the cells and stack. These issues need to be analysed and solutions need to be found before larger, high temperature electrolysers are built and tested.

Technical approach
Two types of manufacturing methods will be used to make planar SOEC cells and stack elements with a size of 5x5 cm2: Advanced plasma spray techniques with DC plasma generation (at DLR). Wet ceramic processes (at Ris). The cells and stack elements are analysed by structural and electrochemical characterisation methods. Special emphasis is given to corrosion tests of the materials. Finally, long-term tests of 2000 hours range will be performed. The limitations and the applicability of the materials and components for high temperature solid oxide water electrolysers will be analysed.

36

INFORMATION
Contract number 503765 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st August 2004 Duration 36 months Total cost 1.77 million EC funding 1.1 million Coordinator Dr. Philippe Stevens ElfER Institut Universitt Karlsruhe Emmy-Noether-Strasse 11 DE-76131 Karlsruhe Germany

Expected impact
The high efficiencies obtained by this breakthrough technology makes the conversion of renewable energy to hydrogen fuel possible in a very clean way and with minimal losses, compared with traditional water electrolysis. In doing so, it helps to solve some important future societal problems linked to our dependence on imported fuels. The emission of NOx/SOx/particles by cars in urban areas and the production of greenhouse gases. The potentially very high performance of the SOEC, above any competitive technology, will also give Europe an important scientific, technological and competitive lead. The Faradayic efficiency of SOEC has been shown to be 100% over a period of 1000 h, i.e. there are no parasitic reactions. This taken together with the endothermic nature of the water splitting means that the hydrogen efficiency, defined as the total chemical energy (enthalpy of reaction, DH) in the hydrogen divided by the electric energy consumed, will be 100% minus the heat loss from the electrolyser to the surroundings. Thus, for well-insulated SOEC stacks in systems in the range of 1 MW or above (ca. 1 m3 stack volume) the thermal loss can most probably be well below 10%. Some electric energy will be consumed in the system for inverters and pumps, but again for reasonably sized systems this may be few percent only. This means that the SOEC technique has a potential of a hydrogen efficiency of ca. 90% for a system. Degradation issues have been identified, particularly when the cells are operated at very high current densities. The mechanisms for this degradation are under investigation. The corrosion of the metal interconnect has been controlled by the use of ceramic protective coatings.

Partners
Deutsches Zentrum fr Luftund Raumfahrt e.V. DE Ris National Laboratory DK Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research CH

Project web-page www.hi2h2.com

Progress to date
Very encouraging results have been obtained on SOEC cells manufactured by Ris as well as on commercial SOFC cells. Current densities above 3A/cm2 have been achieved at cell potentials below thermo-neutral voltage and 3.6 A/cm2 at the thermo-neutral voltage. At the thermo-neutral voltage of 1.48V, the joule heat produced within the cell equals the consumed heat in the steam generation plus the steam electrolysis process. These performances are hundred times greater than that achieved with low temperature electrolysis.

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Hydrogen Thermochemical Cycles

HYTHEC

Problems addressed
The major challenges are the following: Feasibility, safety and cost of massive hydrogen production for the long term outlook (2050). CO2-Free processes: use of water as a raw material in thermo-chemical (and hybrid) cycles, then no need for CO2 sequestration. Feasibility of the use of a variety of primary energies: Nuclear and Solar heat sources (last one for renewable heat and electricity sources). The following problems are also addressed: Assessment and improvement of the S_I thermo-chemical cycle: flow-sheet evaluation, improvement of the vapour liquid equilibrium model in the HI/I2/H2O system (H2 production section of the cycle), relevance of membrane separation techniques in this section, feasibility of coupling to a nuclear reactor, safety assessments, feasibility of the main components at industrial scale and H2 production costs. Assessment of the Westinghouse thermochemical cycle, for a solar and/or nuclear driven process (in comparison with the S_I cycle): flow-sheet evaluations, feasibility of coupling to a solar and/or nuclear heat sources, safety assessments; feasibility of the main components at industrial scale and H2 production costs. General feasibility of solar thermal splitting of sulphuric acid for the H2SO4 decomposition section common to both cycles. SP4 S_I H2 production section: review of membrane Separation Techniques SP5 S_I H2 production section: experimental study of membrane distillation of HI/I2/H2O system SP6 H2SO4 Decomposition with a solar heat source SP7 Assessment of the Westinghouse cycle

Objectives
Hydrogen thermo-chemical cycles are processes where water is decomposed into hydrogen and oxygen via chemical reactions using intermediate elements, which are recycled. These cycles have the potential of achieving a better overall efficiency than electrolysis and hence to reduce the cost for hydrogen production. The required energy for the process can be either provided by nuclear energy or by solar energy. Beyond that, hybrid solutions including solar and nuclear energy input are conceivable and desirable, if the production requires a continuous supply of heat. The objective of HYTHEC is to investigate the effective potential for massive hydrogen production of the Sulphur-Iodine (S_I) thermochemical cycle, and to compare it with the Hybrid Sulphur cycle, also called the Westinghouse cycle. The project aims to conduct flowsheeting, industrial scale-up, safety and costs modelling, to improve the fundamental knowledge and efficiency of the S_I cycle H2 production step, and to investigate a solar primary energy source for the H2SO4 decomposition step which is common to both cycles.

Expected impact
This STREP addresses massive, innovative, medium- and long-term H2 production routes, specifically two major thermochemical cycles, S_I and Westinghouse. This project will have an impact on: The feasibility of both cycles, H2 production improvement for S_I, and H2SO4 direct decomposition for both cycles. The industrial and economic viability of both cycles, including the safety aspects.

Progress to date
S_I and Westinghouse cycle flow-sheets were produced during the first year of the project, a modelling and sensitivity analysis have been conducted on the S_I cycle. A first complete VHTR coupling study is also been undertaken (in collaboration with the RAPHAEL project). This includes a preliminary safety assessment (H2 production plant and coupling). A first component sizing and corresponding cost evaluation, has yielded, relative sensitivities between component sizing and the costs (parametric analysis). HI/I2/H2O system section VLE measurements show that the present model describes properly HI concentrations on the left side of the azeotrope, and a new model is needed for higher HI concentrations. A first distillation and pervaporation membrane database and characteristics have been given. An analysis of the impact of the use of membranes on the process efficiency vs. the different possible locations show that the most relevant one is upstream the HI/I2/H2O system section.

Technical approach
The work has been broken down in seven sub-projects: SP1 Project management SP2 Optimisation of the whole SulphurIodine cycle (S_I) SP3 S_I H2 production section: HI/I2/H2O system Vapour/Liquid Equilibrium (VLE) analysis

38

INFORMATION
Contract number 502704 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st April 2004 Duration 42 months Total cost 2.94 million EC funding 1.9 million Coordinator Alain Le Duigou Commissariat lnergie Atomique Rue de la Fdration, 31-33 FR-75752 Paris France Partners
Deutsches Zentrum fr Luft und Raumfahrt DE Empresarios Agrupados ES ProSim S.A. FR Universit degli Studi Roma Tre IT University of Sheffield UK

A first round of stability testing of three membranes has been carried out as well as the first ever Raman spectra measurements of the gas and liquid phases of HI/I2/H2O system solutions. The optical selectivity rig has been commissioned, and initial experiments conducted to confirm the procedures using water and HI/H2O, work has begun on solutions containing Iodine. The first solar H2SO4 decomposition experiments have been performed in the

solar furnace: operability has been shown and improvements of conversion and efficiency established. First experiments have also been performed for solar indirect (tube type reactor) H2SO4 decomposition and these allowed a quantitative evaluation of the behaviour of different catalysts. The conceptual process development of a 100% solar Westinghouse process has been completed.

Project web-page https://project.hythec.org

39

Non-thermal Production of pure Hydrogen from Biomass

HYVOLUTION
Objectives
The main scientific objective is the development of a 2-stage bioprocess for the cost-effective production of pure hydrogen from biomass. Sub-objectives are: Pretreatment technologies for optimal biodegradation of energy crops and bio-residues Maximum efficiency in conversion of biomass to hydrogen Assessment of installations for optimal gas cleaning Minimal energy demand and maximal product output through system integration Identification of market opportunities for a broad feedstock range. The main technological objective is the construction of prototype modules of the plant, which form the basis of a blue print for the whole chain of biomass to pure hydrogen. Sub-objectives are prototypes of: Equipment for mobilization of fermentable feedstock Reactors for thermophilic and photoheterotrophic hydrogen production Devices for monitoring and control Equipment for optimal gas cleaning Socio-economic objectives: Increase public awareness and societal acceptance Identification of future stakeholders

Problems addressed
The main challenge addressed in this project is the expected increase in demand for hydrogen from renewable resources, which will arise from the transition to the hydrogen economy. Furthermore, the project adds to the number and diversity of routes for supply of hydrogen from renewable sources, giving greater security of energy supply at the local and regional level. The core issue at stake is the combination of a thermophilic fermentation (dark fermentation) with a photoheterotrophic fermentation. In the first fermentation thermophilic bacteria are used to start the bioprocess, which offers 2 important advantages. First, thermophilic fermentation at 70C gives a greater hydrogen yield compared to fermentations at ambient temperatures. In thermophilic fermentations, glucose is converted to, on average, 3 moles of hydrogen and 2 moles of acetate as the main by-product, compared with an average hydrogen yield of between 1 and 2 moles per mole of glucose for ambient fermentations, with butyrate, propionate, ethanol or butanol are the main by-products. The second advantage is the production of acetate as the main by-product in the first fermentation. Acetate is a prime substrate for photoheterotrophic bacteria. Through the combination of thermophilic fermentation with a photoheterotrophic fermentation, complete conversion of the substrate to hydrogen and CO2 can be established.

Technical approach
HYVOLUTION is structured around this core issue with a design aimed at closely associating the events in the chain from biomass to hydrogen. The work packages addressing hydrogen production are surrounded by studies in system integration and societal integration in order to develop an economically viable, fully sustainable process for hydrogen production (Figure 1). The process starts with the conversion of biomass to make a suitable feedstock for the bioprocess (WP1). The ensuing bioprocess is optimized in terms of yield and rate of

Figure 1 Structure of HYVOLUTION

40

INFORMATION
Contract number 019825 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st January 2006 Duration 60 months Total cost 13.8 million EC funding 9.5 million Coordinator Dr. P.A.M. Claassen Agrotechnology & Food Innovations Bornsesteeg 59 NL-6700 AA Wageningen The Netherlands Partners
ADAS UK Air Liquide FR Awite Bioenergie Martin Grepmeier & Ernst Murnleitner GbR DE Bioreactors and Membrane Systems RU Enviros Ltd UK Lunds Universitet SE Middle East Technical University TR National Technical University of Athens EL Politechnika Warszawska PL PROFACTOR Produktionsforschungs GmbH AT Provalor BV NL Rheinisch-Westflische Technische Hochschule Aachen DE Russian Academy of Sciences A.V. Topchiev Institute of Petrochemical Synthesis RU Technogrow B.V. NL TU Wien AT University of Szeged HU Wageningen University NL Wiedemann Polska PL

Expected impact
hydrogen production through integrating fundamental and technological approaches, addressed in WP2 and WP3. Dedicated gas upgrading is developed for high efficiency at small-scale production units dealing with fluctuating gas streams (WP4). Production costs will be reduced by system integration combining mass and energy balances (WP5). The impact of small-scale hydrogen production plants is addressed in socio-economic analyses performed in WP6. In HYVOLUTION, 10 EU countries, Turkey and Russia are represented with prominent specialists from academia and industries and 6 Small and Medium sized enterprises. The participants in HYVOLUTION have a complementary value in being biomass suppliers, end-users or stakeholders for developing specialist enterprises and stimulating new agro-industrial development, which will be needed to realize the objectives of HYVOLUTION: small-scale sustainable hydrogen production from locally produced biomass. The aim of HYVOLUTION is to deliver prototypes of process modules which are needed to produce hydrogen of high quality in a bioprocess which is fed by multiple biomass feedstocks. To achieve this aim, a coherent set of scientific and technological activities are required which are interdependent and flanked by system and societal integration for optimal economics and societal implementation. Production of hydrogen from biomass at 75% of the theoretical efficiency Introduction of crop-to-hydrogen chains in EU agricultural systems and the systematic utilisation of bio-residues in hydrogen generation Optimal application of thermophilic bacteria through an increased understanding of metabolism, genomics and proteomics Industrial application of thermophilic production processes will result from the development of dedicated bioreactor prototypes with associated monitoring and control Dedicated, highly efficient gas upgrading systems designed to handle small and frequently changing flow rates with different compositions Special gas sensor systems to enable monitoring and exert control Modelling and simulation software of unit processes to produce control strategies for bioprocesses Identification of the markets that will benefit from a local industry for hydrogen production from biomass Prepare a blue-print for an industrial bioprocess for decentralised hydrogen production at small-scale from locally produced biomass.

Project web-page www.hyvolution.nl

41

Preparing for the Hydrogen Economy by using the existing Natural Gas system as a catalyst NATURALHY
Problems addressed
The existing natural gas infrastructure is highly developed and proven system, which could be a valuable asset in supporting the introduction of hydrogen into society. It could enable hydrogen suppliers and end-users to be connected in the relative short term, in a cost-effective manner. However, adding hydrogen to natural gas system may: Affect the integrity of the system Have an impact on the safety risks associated with the transmission, distribution and end-use of the gas Affect the performance of end-user appliances. The above issues are addressed in the project, in conjunction with: - Socio-economic and life cycle assessments of the NATURALHY-approach - The development of innovative hydrogen separation techniques. For guidance and further dissemination a Strategic Advisory Committee has been established, which consists of the leading NATURALHY members and leading stakeholders in fields of business relevant to NATURALHY.

Objectives
To explore the potential of the existing natural gas system, including transmission, distribution and in-house infrastructures and end-user appliances, for the delivery of hydrogen. In order to achieve this objective the project will: Determine the conditions under which the existing natural gas system can safely be used to transport mixtures of hydrogen and natural gas. Develop innovative technologies for the separation of hydrogen from hydrogen/natural gas mixtures. Assess the related socio-economic and life cycle aspects.

Expected impact
The Decision Support Tool that will enable assessment of the suitability of any given gas system for carrying hydrogen/natural gas mixtures; Membranes for the separation of hydrogen from a hydrogen/natural gas mixture; Models to determine the economic and environmental aspects of the whole chain from sustainable hydrogen production up to and including end-user appliances.

Progress to date
The research programme has been defined in further detail and first phase tests and experiments are in progress. A literature review concerning related economic and environmental aspects of the whole gas chain from hydrogen production up to and including end-user appliances has been completed. Combustion properties of various hydrogen/ natural gas mixtures have been determined and are being used to assess safety risks. Large-scale experiments of vapour cloud explosions are taking place and are already producing valuable results. A state of the art review concerning the interaction of hydrogen with pipeline materials (steel and polyethylene) has been completed; material tests are now being executed to obtain supplementary

Technical approach
The project is organised in the following Work Packages (WPs) let by the WP-leader indicated: Socio-economic and Life Cycle assessments (University of Warwick) Safety (Loughborough University) Durability (Gaz de France) Integrity (DBI-GUT) End-use (University of Warwick) Decision Support Tool (ISQ) Dissemination (Exergia) Project Management (N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie)

42

INFORMATION
Contract number 502661 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st May 2004
information. A range of reports on the management and repair of degradation of steel pipes, resulting from interaction with hydrogen, has been completed. Important steps forward have been made in the development of palladium and polymer membranes. A detailed analysis has been carried out on the requirements of the Decision Support Tool as a means of sharpening the focus of the other contributing work packages. With regard to dissemination, the project website has been established; 3 newsletters have been prepared; papers have been presented at several international events including the World Gas Conference (Amsterdam, June 2006) and the first NATURALHY-workshop has been organised (Zaragossa, September 2005).

Duration 60 months Total cost 17.3 million EC funding 11.0 million Coordinator Ir. O. Florisson N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie P.O. Box 19 NL-9700 MA Groningen The Netherlands Partners
BP Gas Marketing Limited UK Centro Sviluppo Materiali SpA IT Commissariat lnergie Atomique FR Compagnie dEtudes des Technologies de lHydrogne FR Computational Mechanics International Ltd UK Danish Gas Technology Centre DK DBI Gas- und Umwelttechnik GmbH DE Ecole Nationale dIngnieurs de Metz FR Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands NL EUROGAS BE EXERGIA EL Gaz de France FR General Electric PII Ltd UK Hgskolan i Bors SE Institut Franais du Ptrole FR Instituto de Soldadura e Qualidade PT Istanbul Gaz Dagitim Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S TR Loughborough University UK National Grid UK National Technical University of Athens EL Naturgas Midt-Nord I/S DK Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research NL Netherlands Standardization Institute NL Norwegian University of Science and Technology NO Planet Planungsgruppe Energie und Technik Gbr DE Public Gas corporation S.A. EL SAVIKO Consultants ApS DK Shell Hydrogen B.V, NL The Health and Safety Executive UK SQS Portugal PT STATOIL ASA NO Technische Universitt Berlin DE The European Association for the Promotion of Cogeneration BE The Health and Safety Executive UK Total S.A. FR Trkiye Bilimsel ve Teknik Arastirma Kurumu TR University of Leeds UK University of Warwick UK X/ Open Company Limited UK

43

Project web-page www.naturalhy.net

New Method for Superior Integrated Hydrogen generation System

NEMESIS
Objectives
The scientific and technological objective of the NEMESIS project is to develop a small-scale, fuel flexible hydrogen generator that is capable of working with liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon feedstock. The existing natural gas based fuel processor technology developed by HyGear B.V. is used as a starting point, thus saving time and cost. This state-of-the-art small-scale, on-site hydrogen generator for decentralized applications will be extended to a wider range of fuels and significantly upgraded by introducing advanced separation technologies, new innovative materials and cost-effective and highly efficient sub-components. An optimized system layout and the balance of plant analysis will lead to an integrated modular design. The new hydrogen generation unit will comprise 3 modules: Fuel Preparation Module (FPM): evaporation, pre-reforming and de-sulphurization of liquid feedstock Hydrogen Generation Module (HGM): integrated steam reformer, water gas shift stage, and off-gas burner Hydrogen Conditioning Module (HCM): purification of hydrogen rich gas employing the best of 3 alternative concepts (membrane separation, temperature swing adsorption with metal hydrides and improved pressure swing adsorption). A proof-of-principal prototype being capable of producing 10kg H2 per day will be built. Operation will be demonstrated with natural gas and low sulphur diesel. This unit will be used as a basis for an up-scaling strategy for fuelling 20 to 100 vehicles per day and the integration of decentralized hydrogen generation into the existing infrastructure of a fuelling station.

Problems addressed
Compared to autothermal reforming, steam reforming of liquid hydrocarbons represents a more challenging technology in regard to reformer design and operating conditions as well as materials incorporated, but leads to higher overall efficiencies. The development of innovative materials like S-resistant catalysts, effective adsorbents or membranes for separation bares a relatively high risk, which is lowered by the flexibility in process concepts and operating conditions of the modular system. The integration of the various sub-components and modules into the proof-of-principle prototype is challenging in terms of interfaces and interaction between the single units and demands extensive communication and efficient project management.

Technical approach
The NEMESIS project is organized in eight work packages. The definition phase is used for the determination of the functional requirements for the system, its modules and subcomponents. In parallel, the partners involved will develop the hardware for the sub components in the three modules. Intensive exchange of information on technical details and work progress ensures smooth integration of the newly developed components into the existing fuel processor technology. This process is supported by detailed system simulation to evaluate different integration concepts and to identify interfaces between modules and components. Heat management, as well as operating conditions and transient system behaviour are investigated. The integrated proof-ofprinciple prototype is tested with natural

Figure 1 NEMESIS project work plan

44

INFORMATION
Contract number 019827 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st December 2005

Progress to date
gas and low sulphur diesel. Subsequently, the industrial partners and end-users of this technology will carry out an economic evaluation and cost analysis. Project coordination encloses the whole work plan, thus ensuring smooth project progress. Being six months into the project, the targets and tasks of the project have been translated into functional requirements for the three modules and its sub-components. System specifications and process concepts for each unit have been defined and their impact on the other modules has been determined. They will be updated during the course of the project until final approval. The experimental investigation of the innovative materials for the sub-components has started as well as the adaptation of the existing fuel processor to the modified operating conditions. The influence of the data for the liquid fuels on process conditions has been studied by simulation. In parallel, the system is being implemented into process simulation software.

Duration 36 months Total cost 3.87 million EC funding 2.2 million Coordinator Antje Wrner Deutsches Zentrum fr Luftund Raumfahrt e.V. Pfaffenwaldring 38-40 DE-70569 Stuttgart Germany Partners
Ballast Nedam IPM B.V. NL Centre for Research and Technology Hellas Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute EL HyGear B.V. NL Instituto Superior Tcnico PT Nanjing University of Technology CHN Repsol YPF SA ES Umicore AG&Co.KG DE

Expected impact
An infrastructure for hydrogen has to be built up in the mid-term. As the creation of a new energy infrastructure has proven to be a tremendous effort, intelligent ways of shaping the required hydrogen infrastructure have to be found, that are clean, but also realistic. On-site decentralized hydrogen production units based on small-scale multi-fuel processors can be the first step towards transition to a hydrogen-based economy. An up-scaled, commercial version of the NEMESIS modular fuel processor has the potential to be integrated into the existing infrastructure and to be operated alongside existing gaseous and liquid fuels. At the same time, this is a new and very efficient technological approach to produce hydrogen from liquid feedstock by a combination of pre-reformer, reformer and hydrogen conditioning with a reduced start-up time of about 45 minutes. The development of efficient and costeffective functional materials, such as catalysts, adsorbents and membranes therefore is an essential part of the NEMESIS approach. This is developed in parallel with achievements in the layout and design of single components such as the integrated off-gas burner.

45

SOLAR-H

Linking molecular genetics and bio-mimetic chemistry a multidisciplinary approach to achieve renewable hydrogen production
Problems addressed
The project aims to develop two methods of producing hydrogen from water and solar energy. Some of the main challenges are to use water as raw material in a synthetic light driven process. SOLAR-H follows a research idea developed by the participants where entirely man-made biomimetic systems are developed and tested. The particular challenges are: To identify and then, by molecular biology, improve the most suitable hydrogen producing photosynthetic micro-organisms (green algae and cyanobacteria). To develop new concepts for bio-reactors for photosynthetic organisms and test how well hydrogen production can proceed in these. To link the synthetic and biological project lines through detailed molecular studies of the natural enzymes involved in the photosynthetic light reactions (the photosynthetic reactions centers, in particular photosystem II) and the hydrogen metabolism (in particular the hydrogenases). Absorb the energy in solar light Make hydrogen in a reaction driven by the absorbed solar energy Use water as the raw-material.

Objectives
The vision of this project is to develop promising, novel routes for sustainable hydrogen production from the inexhaustible resources solar energy and water.

Expected impact
The expected result is to accomplish longterm, sustainable production of a valuable fuel from the cheap and never-ending starting materials solar energy and water. The formation a a fuel from these resources would provide society with an endless energy carrier that in the long-term can help in resolving the problems with global warming caused by the present use of fossil fuels. If possible to develop, our methods might have enormous impact and create the start of a huge industry world wide.

Progress to date
The project has been running since January 2005 and we have concentrated our research on: The biochemistry and biophysics of photosynthetic enzymes and hydrogenase enzymes. Here the results have been good, mainly dealing with important spectroscopic discoveries and characterizations of intermediates in the enzymatic cycles. We have also developed new protein purification protocols and used these to characterize the enzymes involved with the newest proteomic techniques. Identification of the most useful organisms for the photosynthetic formation of hydrogen. We select the suitable organisms both from their present ability to develop hydrogen and from the aspect that the organism shall be possible to develop by molecular biology and to grow in a bio-reactor.

Technical approach
In a unique effort the project integrates, for the first time, two front-line topics, photobiological hydrogen production in living organisms and artificial photosynthesis in man-made systems. The living organisms will be improved by molecular biology and tested for ability to sustained hydrogen production in bio-reactors, which are also developed in the programme. In the artificial photosynthesis project line the focus is on development of the three catalytic chemical systems needed to:

46

INFORMATION
Contract number 516510 Programme NEST Starting date 1st January 2005 Duration 36 months Total cost 2.3 million
The use of molecular biology to improve the regulation and function of certain genetic systems in both green algae and cyanobacteria involved in the hydrogen metabolism. We spend much effort on the development of catalysts for both water oxidation (to use water as raw-material) and for hydrogen formation. The latter has been very successful and we have accomplished fast hydrogen formation in an entirely man-made iron-containing catalyst. Prospects are good for the achievement of light driven hydrogen production during the project period. The development of water oxidation catalysts has also proceeded according to our research plan and we have achieved the synthesis of a very large super-molecule where we have coupled three crucial components together. We have also achieved several steps of light-driven oxidation chemistry in the catalyst. We also spend considerable efforts on the development of new bio-reactors where light can penetrate well into the reactor and thereby provide the growing organisms with solar energy. The new bio-reactors are tested with the different organisms we develop to define the best combination of bio-reactor/organism to be developed in future phases of the program.

EC funding 1.8 million Coordinator Prof. Stenbjrn Styring Uppsala University Department of Photochemistry and Molecular Science Box 523 SE-751 20 Uppsala Sweden Partners
Biological Resarch Center HU Commissariat lnergie Atomique FR Max-Planck-Institute for Bio-inorganic Chemistry DE Ruhr-Universitt Bochum DE Universit di Geneva CH Universit Paris-Sud FR Wageningen University NL

Project web-page www.fotomol.uu.se/Forskning/Biomimetics/ solarh/index.shtm

47

Hydrogen from solar thermal energy:

high temperature solar chemical reactor for co-production of hydrogen and carbon black from natural gas cracking

SOLHYCARB

Problems addressed
The project aims at designing, constructing, and testing innovative solar reactors at different scales (1 to 10 kW and 50 kW) for operating conditions at 1500-2300 K and 1 bar. Three main scientific and technical problems are addressed: Design and operation of high temperature solar chemical reactors containing nanosize particulates Production of two valuable products (hydrogen and carbon black) in the same reactor The proposition of a methodology for solar reactor scaling-up based on modelling and experimental validation. The design of decentralized and centralized commercial solar chemical plants (and hybrid plants) -50/100 kWth and 10/30 MWth respectively- closes the project. For each solar chemical reactor the thermal and chemical efficiency are determined on the basis of data obtained with a complete diagnostic system. Concerning the products, the key issues are the hydrogen content in the off gas and the CB quality. They are measured either on line (hydrogen content) or by industrial testing methods (CB). Modelling includes fluid dynamics of gas-solid flow, mass and heat transfer (especially radiation), reaction kinetics, and particle formation process. Reaction kinetics are measured separately.

Objectives
The SOLHYCARB project addresses the development of an unconventional route for potentially cost effective hydrogen production by concentrated solar energy. The novel process thermally decomposes natural gas (NG) in a high temperature solar chemical reactor. Two products are obtained: a H2-rich gas and a high-value nano-material, carbon black (CB). Therefore H2 and marketable CB are produced by renewable energy.

Technical approach
The work covered by the project can be described as follows: First, two 5-10 kWth prototypes based on different concepts of solar receiver/reactor (direct and indirect heating concepts) are developed and studied. A critical analysis of the results from experiments and modelling determine the best concept of reactor suitable for solar methane splitting. Based on the concept retained, a 50 kW power pilot reactor is experimented. This experimental work is highly combined with advanced reactor modelling, study of separation unit operations, industrial uses of the produced gas, and determination of CB properties for applications to batteries and polymers.

Expected impact
The targeted results are: methane conversion over 80% H2 yield in the off-gas over 75% CB properties equivalent to industrial products. Potential impacts on CO2 emission reduction and energy saving are respectively: 14 kg CO2 avoided and 277 MJ per kg H2 produced, with respect to conventional NG steam reforming and CB processing by standard processes. Expected cost of H2 for large scale solar plants depends on the price of CB; 14 /GJ for the lowest CB grade sold at 0.66 /kg

48

INFORMATION
Contract number 019770 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st March 2006
and decreasing to 10 /GJ for CB at 0.8 /kg. Direct exploitation addresses the extension of the simulation models to other reactor configurations, the exploitation of the solar reactor prototypes and the study of a hybrid concept for solar chemical reactors. Indirect exploitation addresses the use of the project results in fields different from solar chemistry. Two main technological directions extend beyond the solar field: high temperature chemical reactors and hydrogen separation and its industrial uses.

Duration 48 months Total cost 3.25 million EC funding 1.997 million Coordinator Dr. Gilles Flamant Centre National de Recherche Scientifique Odeillo FR-66120 Font-Romeu France Partners
Center for Research and Technology Hellas Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute EL Deutsches Zentrum fr Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. DE Eidgenssische Technische Hochschule Zrich CH N-GHY SA FR Paul-Scherrer-Institut CH Solucar Energia SA ES TIMCAL BE VEOLIA Environnement Centre de Recherches pour lEnvironnement, lnergie et le Dchet FR Weizmann Institute of Science IL

49

SOLar steam REForming of methane rich gas for synthesis gas production SOLREF
Problems addressed
Profitability decides if a new technology has a chance to come into the market. Therefore, several modifications and improvements to the state-of-the-art solar reformer technology will be introduced before large scale and commercial systems can be developed. These changes are primarily to the catalytic system, the reactor optimisation, and operation procedures and the associated optics for concentrating the solar radiation. SOLASYS and will provide the necessary modifications to advance the solar reformer to the pre-commercial phase. The strategic impact is three fold: First and foremost introducing solar energy into the energy mix of Europe will have a positive ecological impact by reducing the need from fossil fuels and therefore by reducing CO2 emissions. The solar reformer can also operate with biogas and landfill gas as a feed gas and thus, zero net CO2 emissions can be achieved. The technological and economical impact of the solar reforming technology arises from the combination of optical, chemical, thermal and solar concentrating technologies. The market potential could generate an important production of new plants and new components. Solar reforming has the potential to become more cost effective way to drive solar concentration in large scale power production, because of its efficient integration in hybrid power plants. For a 50 MWth reforming plant the cost of hydrogen is estimated to be around 0.05 EUR/kWh (0.04 EUR/kWh conventional). Moreover the SOLREF concept could offer an alternative for storage in concentrating solar thermal systems. In addition to the high conversion efficiency of the solar-upgraded fuel in turbine cycles, synthesis gas can also be stored at ambient temperature e.g. in the pipeline system. Southern European countries, like Italy, can implement the SOLREF technology, but the concept can also be a basis for technology export to other regions of the world such as Australia, Middle East, etc. Further economical and other benefits are: a) the environmental and associated health aspect (less pollution); b) the energy supply aspect such as reducing the dependence on imported fossil fuels and increasing the security of supply; c) the development of new industrial enterprises and creating new jobs; d) the regional development in southern European countries.

Objectives
The main purpose of this project is to develop an innovative 400 kWth solar reformer for several applications, such as hydrogen production or electricity generation. Depending of the feed source for the reforming process CO2 emissions can be reduced significantly (up to 40% using NG), because the needed process heat for this highly endothermic reaction is provided by concentrated solar energy. A pre-design of a 1 MW prototype plant in Southern Italy and a conceptual layout of a commercial 50 MWth reforming plant will complete this project.

Technical approach
The work proposed in SOLREF is based upon the activities performed in the previous project SOLASYS, which the technical feasibility of solar reforming has been proven. Since the main partners, Deutsches Zentrum fr Luftund Raumfahrt e.V (DLR) and The Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS) involved in the SOLASYS project will also participate in SOLREF, the experience and know how acquired in SOLASYS will be efficiently applied in SOLREF, thus giving a significant step towards the integration of this new technology. With the catalysis group (JM, APTL, DLR, WIS) headed by the industrial partner Johnson Matthey FC Ltd, it is possible to investigate in the wide spectrum of catalysis and coating leading to the development of the best catalytically-active absorber capable for solar reforming of various feedstocks. DLR and HyGear will develop an advanced solar reformer. ETH will lead the thermochemical analysis and system modelling group. The involvement of the Italian SME SHAP and the opportunities opened up in the south of Italy for renewable energy provide an excellent opportunity to realise the first solar reforming prototype plant, which will be pre-designed in this project, after completion of the SOLREF project.

Expected impact
The SOLREF project is aimed at developing the second generation of the SOLASYS reformer. This second generation reformer will make an attempt to solve the problems encountered during the previous project

50

INFORMATION
Contract number 502829 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st April 2004 Duration 45 months Total cost 3.45 million EC funding 2.1 million Coordinator Dr. Stephan Mller Deutsches Zentrum fr Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. Linder Hhe DE-51147 Kln Germany Partners
Center for Research and Technology Hellas Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute EL ETH-Swiss Federal Institute of Technology CH HyGear B.V. NL Johnson Matthey Fuel Cell Ltd. UK SHAP Solar Heat and Power IT Weizmann Institute of Science IL

Progress to date
A comprehensive range of precious and base metal containing steam reforming catalysts has been prepared by several conventional and more advanced methods. Their thermal durability has been assessed. The absorptivity for solar radiation of the catalyst system has also been assessed. A testing protocol was defined and used by the collaborating partners to collect activity data (using several methane rich fuels), which was used to determine the final catalyst choice for SOLREF. Activity testing is continuing on the SOLREF catalyst as part of a kinetics study. The SOLREF catalyst has been scaled up and the final reactor foam sections coated and supplied. In parallel, a thermochemical analysis and a system model of the existing test plant at WIS were realised. A steady state system model for the WIS test plant has been implemented and tested. The model can be used to predict the results of changes in the system layout. For investigating the transient behaviour of the solar reforming plant, a dynamic model of the existing test plant was developed. This model is focusing on the transient behaviour of the solar chemical receiver during solar operation. It is a tool for implementing reactor controls, optimising start-up and shut-down routines and assessing the influence of design changes on reactor dynamics. Based on the boundary conditions at WIS, the layout of the solar reformer was realised. The absorbed power is approx. 400 kWth. The gas temperatures are approx. 450C/900C for inlet/outlet and the optimal operating pressure is 10 bars. The construction of the solar reformer was investigated in three main areas: Advanced holding structure of the absorber dome. Based on different concepts, a light structure was chosen for which material tests were conducted. Vessel/front flange interaction. For the reduction of mass compared to the SOLASYS reformer, new concepts were assessed. The vessel/front flange should have a sufficient strength against plastic deformation. For the window, the front flange has to be sufficiently even and planar. Different methods were assessed for the inside insulation of the vessel with steam condensation protection. Special construction solutions were chosen which minimise steam diffusion into the high tempeatureinsulation material. Furthermore, a purge gas flow through defined places of the insulation can stop the diffusion of the steam containing process gas. Manufacturing started in June 2006. Purge gas is needed for start-up and shut-down procedures and for avoiding steam condensation. CO2 could be the choice for a future solar refroming plant. Due to the specific boundary conditions at WIS, hydrogen was chosen. For this purpose a small hydrogen purification line using the product gas was designed. In 2007 partly-solar hydrogen will be produced.

Project web-page www.solref.dlr.de

51

Engineered modular bacterial Hydrogen Photoproduction of Hydrogen BIOMODULARH2

Abstract
The BIOMODULARH2 project aims at designing reusable, standardised molecular building blocks that will produce a photosynthetic bacterium containing engineered chemical pathways for competitive, clean and sustainable hydrogen production. Our engineering approach will provide the next generation of synthetic biology engineers with the toolbox to design complex circuits of high potential industrial applications such as the photo-production or photo-degradation of chemical compounds with a very high level of integration. For this purpose we have targeted on a cyanobacterium, a very chemically rich and versatile organism highly suitable for modelling, to be used as future platform for hydrogen production and biosolar applications. In particular, our synthetic biological approach aims at creating an anaerobic environment within the cell for an optimized, highly active iron-only hydrogenase by using an oxygen consuming device, which is connected to an oxygen sensing device and regulated by artificial circuits. This project will also help to establish a systematic hierarchical engineering methodology (parts, devices and systems) to design artificial bacterial systems using a truly interdisciplinary approach that decouples design from fabrication. We aim to construct biological molecular parts by engineering proteins with new enzymatic activities and molecular recognition patterns, by combining computational and in-vitro evolution methodologies. Subsequently, we will design novel devices (e.g. input/output, regulatory and metabolic) by combining these parts and by using the emerging knowledge from systems biology. Furthermore, we will design custom circuits of devices applying control engineering and optimisation. In parallel, we will develop a cyanobacterial chassis able to integrate our synthetic circuits using a model-driven biotechnology.

INFORMATION
Contract number Under negotiation Programme NEST Coordinator Alfonso Jaramillo, Ph.D. Laboratoire de Biochimie Ecole Polytechnique CNRS UMR 7654 Route de Saclay FR-91128 PALAISEAU Cedex France

52

Carbon dioxide capture and hydrogen production from gaseous fuels CACHET
Problems addressed
Large size of project and number of participants (28) may also be seen as an advantage! Complexity of a number of intercompany contributions throughout the project, many of these are key in meeting the difficult technical targets and timescales. Reliance of developing and building new equipment for research. Difficulty of comparing very different ideas, at different levels of consumption. 1 evaluating new technologies 1 base case 1 optimisation 1 Health, Safety and Environment evaluation 1 dissemination 1 project management

Objectives
CACHET is a 3-year, integrated research project, funded by the European Commission that aims to develop technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power stations by 90%. CACHET is a strong and diverse international consortium of highly experienced research institutes, universities, energy businesses, engineering and manufacturing companies. CACHET is co-ordinated by BP with funding from the joint industry/ government CO2 Capture Project (CCP), EU, New member states, Acceding countries, USA, Canada, China and Brazil. The overall goal of the project is to develop innovative technologies for hydrogen production from natural gas, halving the cost of low-carbon energy. The hydrogen produced can be used to provide energy, with water as the only by-product. CACHET aims to develop technologies to significantly reduce the cost of CO2 capture from natural gas with H2 production. The primary objective is to reduce the cost of CO2 capture from current levels to 20 30 per tonne.

Expected impact
Half cost of avoided CO2 compared to existing state-of-the-art technology. This will be achieved through one or more novel technologies or a combination of these. The technical options will be ready for pilot scale installation at the end of the 3-year project. The results will be calculated on a consistence basis and enable comparison within the project and also against other FP6 projects.

Technical approach
The project consists of 10 work packages: 4 of these focus on developing technologies

INFORMATION
Contract number 019972 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st April 2006 Duration 36 months Total cost 13.45 million EC funding 7.5 million Coordinator Richard Beavis BP Exploration and Operating Company Ltd HSE/Exploration & Production Technology Group Chertsey Road Sunbury Middlesex UK-TW16 7LN United Kingdom Partners
Air Products PLC UK / Alstom Power Boilers SA FR / Chalmers Tekniska Hoegskola AB SE / Conoco Philips Company USA / Consejo Superior de Investigation Cientificas ES / Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics / Chinese Academy of Sciences CHN Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) NL / Energy Authority of Cyprus (EAC) CY / ENDESA Generacion SA ES / Eni tecnologie S.P.A IT E.ON UK PLC UK / Fraunhofer UMSICHT DE / Instytut Ekologii Terenow Uprzemys owionych PL / Institute of Francais du Ptrole FR / Meggit (UK) Ltd UK / Norsk Hydro ASA NO / National Technical University of Athens EL / PETROBRAS Brazil / Process Design Centre GMBH DE / Shell International Renewables BV NL / Siemens AG DE / Stiftelsen For Industriell Og Teknisk Forskning Ved Norges Tekniske Hoegskole As (Sintef ) NO / Suncor Energy Inc Canada Technip France SA FR / Tehnice Universitet Sofia BG / Technische Universitaet Wien AT / Chevron Energy Technology Company USA

Project web-page www.cachetco2.eu

53

Hybrid hydrogen carbon dioxide SEParation Systems

HY2SEPS

Problems addressed
Methane steam reforming is currently the major route for hydrogen production. High purity hydrogen (99.99+%) is usually recovered (80 to 93% of total hydrogen) from the reformate by using a PSA process. A typical PSA waste gas stream is at relatively low pressure (~1.5atm) and temperature (~30 C) and has usual composition of 30-40% H2, 50-60% CO2, 10-25% (CO and CH4). Economic recycling of this stream is not an alternative since the entire stream must be compressed to the PSA feed pressure, and only a small amount of hydrogen can be recovered (40~50% of the recycled hydrogen). Furthermore, the CO2 rich stream cannot be used for sequestration since it contains significant amounts of H2 and CH4.

Objectives
The main goal of HY2SEPS is the development of a hybrid membrane/ Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) H2/CO2 separation process, which will be part of a fossil fuel decarbonization process used for pre-combustion CO2 capture. To achieve the above goal the following technological & scientific objectives have been identified: Generation of transport and adsorption data for H2/CO2 multi-component mixtures (CH4, H2O, CO) for well characterized membrane and sorbent materials Development and improvement of membrane and PSA separation models Design and optimization of membrane, PSA and hybrid separation systems using the improved models developed Component design for the manufacture of a lab-scale hybrid separation system prototype Assessment of the hybrid separation process sustainability and impact on the environment based on a life cycle analysis approach.

INFORMATION
Contract number 019887 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st November 2005 Duration 36 months Total cost 2.53 million EC funding 1.56 million Coordinator Dr Vladimiros Nikolakis Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas Institute of Chemical Engineering and High Temperature Chemical Processes Stadiou Street EL-26504 Patras Greece Partners
Ceramiques Techniques et Industrielles s.a. FR HYGEAR B.V. NL Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine UK Polish Academy of Sciences Institute of Chemical Engineering PL Process Systems Enterprise Ltd UK Universidade do Porto Faculdade de Engenharia PT

Technical approach
Material research related to existing and new membrane and sorbent materials Process design and integration Evaluation of hybrid process sustainability using Life Cycle Analysis Component Design

Expected impact
Co-production of high purity H2 (99.99+%) and CO2 ready for sequestration H2 recovery improvement Simplification of PSA operation without loss of recovery and product purity Synthesis of improved membrane materials Development of improved sorbent materials

Project web-page http://hy2seps.iceht.forth.gr

54

Solar Hydrogen via Water Splitting in Advanced Monolithic Reactors for Future Solar Power Plants HYDROSOL-II
Objectives
The aim of HYDROSOL-II is to develop and build an optimised pilot plant (100 kWth) for solar Hydrogen production via an entirely novel, two-step thermochemical water-splitting process. The plant will be an advanced innovative solar thermal reactor consisting of monolithic ceramic honeycombs coated with active redox pair materials. The target is a sustainable energy supply through a zero emission process producing hydrogen by solar energy. HYDROSOL-II deals with: The enhancement and optimisation of the metal oxide-ceramic support system with respect to long-time stability under multi-cycle operation (more than 100 cycles) The development and construction of a dual absorber/receiver/reactor unit in the 100 kWth scale for solar thermochemical splitting of water The effective coupling of this reactor to a solar heliostat field and a solar tower platform for continuous solar hydrogen production within an optimized pilot plant (100 kWth).

Problems addressed
Within the first stages of HYDROSOL-II, redox metal oxide/ceramic support systems capable for long-time, multi-cycle watersplitting-regeneration operation will be developed and optimized. The project will proceed with the operation of a solar mini-plant (15 kW scale) for continuous production of hydrogen, the manufacture of an integrated pilot plant (absorber/receiver/ reactor system) for continuous hydrogen production (3 kg H2/h), and its test operation on a solar tower platform (100 kWth) coupled to a solar heliostat field. The evaluation of the technical and economic potential of the process in order to compare its costs against other Hydrogen production methods and the design of a solar hydrogen mass-production plant (1 MW) will complete the project.

INFORMATION
Contract number 020030 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st November 2005 Duration 48 months Total cost 4.29 million EC funding 2.18 million Coordinator Dr. Athanasios Konstandopoulos Center for Research and Technology Hellas Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute 6th km Charilaou-Thermi Rd EL-57001 Thermi, Thessaloniki Greece Partners
Centro De Investigaciones Energticas, Medioambientales Y Tecnolgicas ES Deutsches Zentrum fr Luftund Raumfahrt e.V. DE Johnson Matthey Plc UK Stobbe Tech Ceramics A/S DK

Expected impact
The overall expected result is a successful and efficient scale-up of a carbon-dioxide emission free solar hydrogen production process that will establish the basis for mass production of solar hydrogen towards the long-term target of a sustainable hydrogen economy. The consortium plans to exploit the projects results through spin-off companies of the researchers involved and/or joint ventures, in order to exploit the developed material and reactor technologies. The industrial partners involved will assess the potential for development and commercialization of the proposed technology in the emerging fuel cell market and for novel applications of ceramic parts for solar thermal power plants.

55

Hydrogen Storage in Carbon Cones

HYCONES
Objectives
The operating requirements for efficient onboard H2 storage include appropriate thermodynamics, fast kinetics, high storage capacity, effective heat transfer, high gravimetric and volumetric densities, long cycle lifetime, high mechanical strength and durability, safety during use and acceptable risk under abnormal conditions. Current technology, using tanks in which H2 is stored as compressed gas or cryogenic liquid, fall far short of the mobile targets. Solid storage (in metal hydrides, chemical storage materials and nanostructured materials) holds considerable promise for meeting the targets, but fully satisfactory materials have not been identified yet. In this context, HYCONES aspires to offer a radically new, leading-edge material, i.e. carbon cones (CCs), having a strong potential to be used as a practical, inexpensive, lightweight, high capacity H2 store, capable of storing/releasing above 6 wt.% H2 at temperatures well suited for mobile applications. CCs comprise the 4th form of carbon (fundamentally different from diamond, graphite and fullerenes/ nanotubes), produced economically in industrial quantities through the so-called Kvrner Carbon Black & H2 (CB&H) Process and composed of carbon microstructures (flat discs and cones with five different angles). HYCONES main target is the development and evaluation of this new carbon form towards a radically new H2 storage material with the potential to meet vehicle on-board storage requirements. Efforts will also include advanced experimental and innovative multi-scale modelling activities towards the enhanced understanding of the associated mechanisms.

Problems addressed
The CB&H process yields flat discs (80%) and cones (20%) with five different angles. It is anticipated that purified and/or post treated cone samples will exhibit enhanced sorption capacities. Furthermore, the comprehensive understanding of the CC structure, the H2 sorption mechanisms and the relation between them, could partly depend on the successful sample purification. Thus, the major expected challenges lie within the development of novel purification and post treatment methodologies, since the as produced material is a mixture of radically new structures. development of a novel H2 storage process based on carbon cones, and supporting the foreseen dissemination and exploitation plans.

Expected impact
The main outcome of HYCONES will mainly include: Development of novel carbon cone materials, capable of storing/releasing above 6 wt.% H2 at temperatures well suited for mobile applications. Development of novel modelling and characterisation methods in order to provide enhanced understanding of the interaction mechanisms between CCs and H2 on one hand and contribute to the standardisation of measurement techniques on the other. Development and testing of a prototype CC-based, lab-scale storage system. It should be specifically pointed out that the HYCONES work plan is built around a recently discovered unique material, which is being produced exclusively in Europe. In this respect it offers an exceptional opportunity for a significant European technology leap towards worldwide leadership in novel on-board H2 storage systems. Additionally, the thorough investigation of the CC properties by a quite wide range of advanced, complementary computational and experimental methods will allow for the fundamental understanding of the interactions in the gas-solid interface, leading to new perspectives beyond the current state of the art. Finally, CCs are expected to exhibit exceptional electronic-, chemical- and mechanical functional properties stemming from their topology and opening up a wide range of spin-off applications in portable and stationary energy storage as well as in other areas like catalysis, gas separations, sensing, impact resistant nanocomposites, electron emitting devices etc.

Technical approach
HYCONES intends to work tightly on the following implementation plan: The CB&H process will be appropriately tuned in order to achieve selective production of carbon cones, aiming at optimising the usage. Optimisation will be further enhanced through purification and post treatment of the as produced material. A wide range of advanced experimental techniques will be employed for the determination of the CCs morphology, the carbon cone structures in an atomistic level and the interactions between H2 and carbon cones. Apart from these measurements, the fundamental understanding of H2 storage in CCs will be assisted by the development of multi-scale advanced computational methods. The H2 sorption/ desorption capacities as well as the pertinent kinetics and cycle-life of the produced samples, will be determined by using different techniques, while a common standardised protocol for H2 measurements will be established. Additionally, a lab-scale CC H2 storage system will be developed for testing the performance of the optimised material under realistic conditions. Finally, the overall assessment of the results of the whole spectrum of research activities will allow for the formulation of a roadmap for the

56

INFORMATION
Contract number Under negotiation Programme NMP Coordinator Dr. Theodore Steriotis National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos Patriarhou Grigoriu and Neapoleos Street EL-15310 Aghia Paraskevi Attikis Greece Partners
H. Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics PL Institute for Energy Technology NO Scatec A.S. NO University of Nottingham UK

SEM of the raw CC sample.

Progress to date
Carbon cones (CCs) were discovered in 1997 in the CB&H Process, which decomposes hydrocarbons directly into carbon and H2 based on a specially designed plasma torch. Under well-defined conditions, CB&H produces a carbon material composed of microstructures, which are flat carbon discs and cones. There is solid experimental and theoretical evidence that the carbon cones mainly consist of curved graphite sheets and the five different angles observed are consistent with the incurrence of 1 to 5 pentagons at the cone tips. Preliminary experiments on as produced samples clearly demonstrate unprecedented uptake-release of H2 unlike any other carbon material. In this respect, initial ad-hoc computational calculations were organized and performed and the results suggest an enhanced C-H bonding all over the cone surface due to the subtle electronic properties of CCs that stem from their unique topology.

57

Hydrogen Storage Research Training Network

HyTRAIN

Problems addressed
To identify and develop practical metal hydride storage materials To standardise synthesis methods of porous adsorbing storage materials Design, production and safety testing of storage tanks Concept, design and realisation of hybrid storage solutions Hydrogen Storage in Novel Activated Carbons and their Performance in an Engineering Environment The Characterisation of Intermetallic Hydrides and Assessment of their Suitability for Storage Tanks Investigating the Interaction of Hydrogen with Activated Graphitic Nanofibres and Novel Metallo-Organic Framework Polymers Hybridisation of Intermetallic Hydrides with Porous Materials for Improved Hydrogen Storage Performance Integration of Metal Hydrides into Storage Tank Design Structure and Stability of Transition Metal Doped Magnesium Hydrides Hybrid Tank Design Incorporating a Combination of Solid Storage and Compressed Gas.

Objectives
HyTRAIN is a Marie Curie Research Training Network, funded under the ECs 6th Framework Human Resources and Mobility Programme. The network is funding 2 Experienced Researchers and 10 Early Stage Researchers and comprises 17 of the leading European research centres, with the primary aim of training researchers in the area of hydrogen storage in solid media. In addition, HyTRAIN provides a forum for the integration of European research activities with a view to making a significant contribution to the world-wide research effort and the creation of Europe as a key international player in the field. Hydrogen storage research lies at the interface of condensed matter physics, chemistry and design engineering. Bridging the gap between these disciplines is a key feature of HyTRAIN and is viewed as an essential part of ensuring the future success of hydrogen storage.

Technical approach
Synthesis of Hydrides Synthesis of Porous Adsorbers Materials Performance Characterisation Design, Production and Safety of Storage Tanks Hybrid Design Solutions A total of 12 researchers are funded by HyTRAIN.

Expected impact
HyTRAIN is expected to directly address one of the objectives of European Research Area: the creation of an internal market in research; an area of free movement of knowledge, researchers and technology, with the aim of increasing cooperation, stimulating competition and achieving a better allocation of resources. The major impact of HyTRAIN will be the contribution to Human Resources in the European Research Area of researchers trained in the field of hydrogen storage. A series of network-wide workshops and short courses has been organised to provide a basic knowledge of all aspects of hydrogen based energy technologies and ensure that the researchers possess the necessary skills and flexibility to adapt to employment in either an academic or industrial setting. The series of workshops will form the basis of a blueprint for a European Masters in Hydrogen Energy Technology, which will fall broadly in line with the Hydrogen and Fuel

Experienced Researcher Projects Performance Characterisation of Solid Hydrogen Stores Hydrogen Storage Tank Design Using Solid Hydride Stores Early Stage Researcher Projects Fabrication and Characterisation of Hydrogen Storage Alloys and Composites Produced Using Vapour Deposition Techniques Study of Porous Materials with Nanoporosity for Hydrogen Storage Hydrogen Ordering in Novel Hydrogen-rich Intermetallic Hydrides

58

INFORMATION
Contract number 512443 Programme Marie Curie Actions Starting date 1st January 2005
Cells Education and Training Programme, recently published by the Initiative Group of Education and Training, Advisory Council of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform. A programme of outreach activities aimed at primary and secondary schools is also being developed. Tank Design Solid hydride storage technologies have the potential to provide volumetrically compact storage. A major engineering challenge facing the future adoption of solid hydrogen stores by automobile companies is the transfer of technology from the laboratory to an industrial scale. Up-scaling of hydride tanks brings with it fresh challenges that must be solved if the technology transfer is to lead to commercial maturity. HyTRAIN is examining the feasibility of incorporating modified Mg-based hydrides into tank design, building on current research activities to develop optimised Mg-based hydrides in the Department of Materials, Queen Mary University of London. These materials will be integrated into storage tank designs at GKSS Research Centre, Geesthacht, Germany. High Pressure Metal Hydride Hybrid Tank Design HyTRAIN is investigating innovative concepts and design solutions aimed at circumventing the particular drawbacks associated with high-pressure hydrogen storage or hydrogen storage in metal hydrides. This hybrid approach utilises a hydride in conjunction with a high pressure tank in order to improve the gravimetric and volumetric storage of each method alone. Buffering of hydrogen released from the hydride has the potential to alleviate the problem of slow kinetics in the hydrides, providing sufficient fuel when there is a high demand, for example during automobile acceleration. The work combines the expertise in high-pressure tank design at the Laboratoire de Mcanique Applique Raymond Chalat, Universit de Franche Comt and the Commissariat lnergie Atomique, France with the vast experience in the area of metal hydrides systems at the Istituto Sistemi Complessi, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Firenze, Italy. The possibility of producing an innovative storage method that will lead to a paradigmshift in the field of hydrogen storage is an exciting prospect.

Duration 48 months Total cost 2.65 million EC funding 2.65 million Coordinator Prof. D.K. Ross The University of Salford Institute for Materials Research Salford, Greater Manchester UK-M5 4WT United Kingdom Partners
AGH University of Science and Technology PL CNR Instituto Sistemi Compless IT CNRS Laboratoire de Chimie Mtallurgique des Terres Rares FR CNRS Laboratoire dIngenierie des Matriaux et des Hautes Pressions FR Commissariat lnergie Atomique France FR European Commission JRC-IE GKSS Forschungszentrum Geesthacht DE Institut for Energiteknikk NO Lietuvos Energetikos Institutas LT Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Frderung der Wissenschaften e.V. DE Queen Mary and Westfield College University of London UK Stockholm Universitet SE Universidad de Alicante ES Universit de Franche-Comt FR Universit de Genve CH University of Nottingham UK University of Strathclyde UK

Research Highlights
Novel Routes to Hydride Synthesis The MgNiH4 complex has been widely studied due to its enhanced sorption kinetics compared with MgH2. It has been shown that nanoscaling of the material can further improve the kinetics, due to the increased surface area of the material; this is generally accomplished by mechanical milling of the hydride. A novel approach is adopted as part of HyTRAIN, producing nano-composites of MgNiH4 using Plasma Vapour Deposition at the Lithuanian Energy Institute. Subsequent characterisation of the hydrogen sorption performance using state-of-the-art characterisation techniques is being performed at the Clean Energies Unit, Institute for Energy, EC Joint Research Centre, based in the Netherlands. Synthesis of Porous Adsorbers The adsorption of molecular hydrogen on the surface of activated carbons is an attractive option for achieving good gravimetric storage densities, due large surface area of the material. A recent study of hydrogen storage at high pressures in these materials at the University of Alicante has indicated that the optimum pore size for hydrogen adsorption is close to 0.6 nm. This work is extended in HyTRAIN, drawing on the expertise of the University of Alicante to develop the methodology to consistently produce batches of carbon with high yields of material close to the optimum pore size. Subsequently, the hydrogen storage properties of the materials produced will be subjected to rigorous analysis at the CNRS High Pressure Hydrogen Adsorption Processes Group, Laboratoire dIngnierie des Matriaux et des Hautes Pressions (LIMHP) in Paris.

Project web-page www.hytrain.net

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Novel Efficient Solid Storage for Hydrogen

NESSHY
Objectives
NESSHY aspires to develop novel materials and storage methods that provide the energy density and the charge/discharge storage/restitution rates necessary for mobile applications with spin-offs in stationary systems. The final aim of the project is to identify the most promising solid storage solutions for such applications. The envisaged objectives cover porous storage systems, regenerative hydrogen stores (such as the borohydrides) and solid hydrides having reversible hydrogen storage and improved gravimetric storage performance. Initially, two categories of reversible stores will be investigated light/ complex hydrides, such as alanates and imides, and intermetallic systems involving magnesium, although further categories may be included later. In all cases, the performance of different systems will be compared by a standards laboratory (working in collaboration with the US DoE standardisation activity). Further, efforts will be made to understand the mechanisms involved by innovative modelling activities. When promising new materials are identified, industrial and R&D collaborators will be brought in to upscale the material production, develop appropriate demonstration storage tanks and test out the prototype stores in practical conditions.

Problems addressed
Solid storage refers to the storage of hydrogen in metal hydrides, nano-structured materials and in chemical storage materials. These methods of hydrogen storage offer substantial opportunities for meeting the requirements of on-board storage. In these materials, hydrogen can be stored both reversibly and irreversibly. Within Europe, a considerable effort has been put into the search for materials suitable for hydrogen storage through various fragmented and clustered EU and national projects, for both stationary and mobile applications. While the results for stationary and portable applications have in few cases reached some of their targets, the demands for transport applications for car industry, in terms of storage kinetics, weight ratio and operating conditions, have not yet been met. NESSHY is a first European attempt to adopt a holistic multidisciplinary approach, addressing key issues related to hydrogen storage in solid materials such as new materials, novel analytical and characterisation tools and measurement techniques, storage methods and fabrication processes, ab initio and phenomenological modelling using advanced numerical methods for optimal storage design. Special attention is paid to the enhancement of energy efficiency, storage kinetics, operating conditions and safety aspects of produced materials and to the tank design. The target of NESSHY for the weight ratio for mobile applications is at least 6 wt % (based on material weight), while for stationary spin-offs, this weight ratio can be more relaxed depending on the system.

Technical approach
The overall S&T work plan involves mainly two different types of activities. The vertical type includes four material development work packages, focusing on respective classes of candidate solid stores. For transport applications, both reversible on-board storage based on porous solids (WP1) and metal hydrides (WP2 & WP3), and regenerative off-board storage, based mainly on chemical hydrides (WP4), are addressed. The horizontal activities include the development and application of ab initio numerical simulation techniques for the prediction of the actual behaviour of real storage materials and the numerical optimisation of storage systems (WP5), the use of novel analytical and characterisation tools and combinatorial techniques to better understand the physico-chemical mechanisms of hydrogen storage in the novel materials investigated (WP6), the development of test protocols, evaluation facilities and safety aspects in the framework of the Virtual Laboratory (WP7), up-scaling, tank development and testing (WP8), and Dissemination/Training (WP9).

Expected impact
A series of material samples, synthesis routes and characterization data, novel simulation and characterization methods/tools and tank development, testing and evaluation reports are foreseen. In addition, a Virtual Solid H-Storage Laboratory will be established for the first time in Europe. Such results should illuminate the future perspectives of hydrogen storage for transport and stationary applications and assist decision makers and stakeholders on the road to hydrogen economy.

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INFORMATION
Contract number 518271 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st January 2006
The present Integrated Project reflects the needs expressed by the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) related to hydrogen storage in solid materials and at the same time offers a plausible alternative to US initiative on hydrogen storage, the so-called Grand Challenge. Indeed, NESSHY aims at the development of innovative and novel storage methods, which could lead to breakthrough solutions for hydrogen storage. The consortium is a blend of outstanding organisations, driven by the best of European academia (universities and research institutes) and the key industrial partners who have already invested a considerable effort in their short and long term strategies on hydrogen research and its applications.

Duration 60 months Total cost 11.6 million EC funding 7.5 million Coordinator Dr. Theodore Steriotis National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos Patriarhou Grigoriu and Neapoleos Street EL-15310 Aghia Paraskevi Attikis Greece Partners
Air Liquide FR CNRS Laboratoire de Cristallographie FR DaimlerChrysler AG DE Delft University of Technology NL European Commission JRC-IE Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH DE GKSS Forschungszentrum Geesthacht DE Instituto Nacional de Engenharia, Tecnologia e Inovaco PT Institutt for Energiteknikk NO Johnson Matthey UK Leibniz Gemeinschaft DE Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Frderung der Wissenschaften e.V. DE Middle Eastern Technical University TR Southwest Research Institute, United States Stockholm University SE Technical University of Denmark DK University of Birmingham UK University of Fribourg CH University of Iceland Iceland University of Salford UK Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam NL

Progress to date
As the project has started very recently, progress and results achieved will be reported in future documents.

Project web-page www.nesshy.net

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Enhancing International Cooperation in running FP6 Hydrogen Solid Storage activities HySIC
Problems addressed
This Specific Support Action (SSA) catalyses and enhances the international cooperation on innovative activities in the frame of NESSHY by facilitating the exchange of samples and individual meetings and promoting relevant studies (benchmarking and standardisation, round-robin testing) between current NESSHY partners (coordinator and workpackage leaders), a partner from a new EU member state (Lithuania) and organisations from IPHE members (China, Russia). It is important to stress that HySIC will exploit efficiently and benefit substantially from the extended NESSHY infrastructure in terms of management, organisation of workshops, etc. Indeed, without this interaction and mutual support, the ambitious goals of this SSA would not be realised within the proposed reasonable budget and level of effort. In short, in its two years of duration, this SSA is designed so that it will enhance the international dimension of the running IP NESSHY (through the involvement of organisations from major IPHE members) while at the same time supporting innovative storage material development activities and studies that complement nicely the work done in NESSHY.

Technical approach
The HySIC objectives will be achieved via the successful execution of supporting activities such as: Performance of Studies Enhancing International Cooperation: Sample preparation and exchange among HySIC partners for round-robin testing that involves structural, thermodynamic and kinetic characterization using various methods including micro-gravimetric techniques, electrochemical measurements and neutron scattering. Evaluation of results with a view to sample and testing protocol standardization. Joint Dissemination Actions and Integration of HySIC/NESSHY Activities: Two workshops dedicated to HySIC results and the aspects of international cooperation on hydrogen solid storage with wide participation especially from IPHE countries like Russia and China. Additional dissemination through the NESSHY website and newsletter. There is special emphasis on the efficient interaction and integration of HySIC results into NESSHY activities.

Objectives
In compliance with the FP6-2005Energy-4 Call work programme, the basic objective and scope of this SSA project is to facilitate and significantly enhance international cooperation (in the framework of the International Partnership for Hydrogen Economy, IPHE) on hydrogen solid storage through the running FP6 Integrated Project NESSHY. To achieve this, HySIC aims at supporting and promoting the execution of innovative R&D actions that clearly complement the NESSHY work plan. These actions refer to sample preparation and characterization (of specific novel hydrogen storage materials), benchmarking and standardisation of test protocols and round-robin testing of specific samples. HySIC also foresees a number of joint dissemination actions (workshops) in close interaction with corresponding NESSHY training and dissemination activities.

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INFORMATION
Contract number Under negotiation Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Coordinator Dr. Theodore Steriotis National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos Patriarhou Grigoriu and Neapoleos Street EL-15310 Aghia Paraskevi Attikis Greece Partners
General Research Institute For Non-ferrous Metals CHN Institute of Solid State Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences RU Institutt for Energiteknikk NO Lithuania Energy Institute LT Nankai University Institute of New Energy and Material Chemistry CHN Stockholms Universitet SE University of Salford UK

Expected impact
HySIC is expected to contribute towards increased international collaboration in the field of hydrogen storage in solid materials. In addition, the consortium plans to help spread awareness and knowledge and explore the wider societal implications of the H2 economy with actors beyond the scientific H2 community (such as media, educational authorities, local and national governments etc) especially in IPHE members like Russia and China. The HySIC workplan concentrates on supporting and promoting the execution of innovative R&D actions that clearly complement the workplan of NESSHY. These actions refer to sample preparation and characterization (regarding specific novel hydrogen storage materials), benchmarking and standardisation of test protocols and round-robin testing of specific samples.

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Hydrogen storage systems for automotive applications

StorHy

Problems addressed
Concrete R&D work covering the whole spectrum of hydrogen storage technologies (compressed gas, cryogenic liquid and solid materials) is carried out with a focus on automotive applications. The aim is to develop economically and environmentally attractive solutions for all three storage technologies. These systems shall be producible at industrial scale and meet commercially viable goals for costs, energy density and durability. In addition, achieving sufficient hydrogen storage capacity for an adequate range is a major technology goal.

Expected impact
The final outcome of the project is to identify the most promising storage solutions for different vehicle applications. Such results should illuminate the future perspectives of hydrogen storage for transport and stationary applications and assist decision makers and stakeholders on the road to the hydrogen economy.

Objectives
Hydrogen storage is a key enabling technology for the extensive use of H2 as an energy carrier. None of the current technologies satisfies all of the H2 storage attributes sought by manufacturers and end users. Therefore, the Integrated Project StorHy aims to develop robust, safe and efficient on-board hydrogen storage systems suitable for use in hydrogen-fuelled fuel cell or internal, combusting engines.

Progress to date
Pressure Vessel develop 700 bar compressed gaseous hydrogen storage technology including production technologies for composite vessels: Characterisation of liner materials and manufacturing of liner prototypes Thermoset resin wet winding process with newly developed ring winding head for thermoplastic and metal liners Thermoplastic based modular multi cylinder vessel produced by continuous composite tube and winding manufacturing Qualification and testing of optical sensors for monitoring the structural integrity of C-H2 pressure vessels Evaluation of warm and cold filling procedures

Technical approach
The overall approach of StorHy involves two different types of activities. The vertical type includes the three technical subprojects (denoted SPs), SP Pressure Vessel, SP Cryogenic Storage and SP Solid Storage. These subprojects concentrate on research activities addressing the technological development of innovative H2 storage solutions. The horizontal SPs include the SP Users, SP Safety Aspects & Requirements (SAR) and SP Evaluation. In these subprojects, cross-cutting issues are addressed in order to link the vertical activities.

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INFORMATION
Contract number 502667 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st March 2004 Duration 54 months Total cost 18,7 million EC funding 10,7 million Coordinator Dr. Volker Strubel Magna Steyr Fahrzeugtechnik Kartuserstrasse 120 DE-79104 Freiburg Germany Partners
ADETE Advanced Engineering and Technologies GmbH DE Air Liquide Deutschland GmbH DE Air Liquide S.A. FR Austrian Aerospace GmbH AT BMW Forschung und Technik GmbH DE Bundesanstalt fr Materialforschung und-prfung DE Centre National de Recherche Scientifique FR COMAT Composite Materials GmbH DE Commissariat lnergie Atomique FR Contraves Space AG CH DaimlerChrysler AG DE Dynetek Europe GmbH DE ET Gesellschaft fr Innovative Energie und Wasserstofftechnologie mbH DE European Commission JRC-IE Faber Industrie SpA IT Ford Forschungszentrum Aachen GmbH DE Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH DE Fundacin para la investigacin y desarrollo en automocin ES GKSS Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH DE Institut fr Verbundwerkstoffe GmbH DE Institute for Energy Technology NO Institute for Protection Systems Prochain e.V. DE Instituto Nacional de Tcnica Aerospacial INTA ES Linde Aktiengesellschaft DE MATERIAL S.A. BE MT Aerospace AG DE National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos EL ko-Institut e.V. DE Peugeot Citron Automobiles FR The University of Nottingham UK Volvo Technology Corporation SE WEH GmbH DE Wroclaw University of Technology PL

Recycling aspects of carbon fibre reinforced composite materials Feasibility of a 700 bar exchangeable rack hydrogen storage system. Cryogenic Storage develop free form lightweight liquid hydrogen tanks manufactured from composites: Cylindrical lightweight outer jacket (Tank 1) with carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) shells and structural metallic liner Cylindrical inner tank (Tank 2) manufactured by innovative CFRP knitting technology with galvanic liner Lightweight double wall cylindrical tank combining the technologies used for Tanks 1 and 2 Package and design study for free form tank Pre-selection of manufacturing technologies for free form tanks. Solid Storage assess current progress in the storage of solid materials with a focus on alanates: Investigation of new mixed alanates as storage materials Improved synthesis of efficient and low cost catalysts Upscaling of material production processes Design of prototype tanks with advanced heat management Chemical safety (combustion) tests of alanate powders.

Users: StorHy targets 2010 (automotive requirements) defined Acceptance study finalized StorHy Train-IN training course Sept. 25-29, 2006 in Ingolstadt, DE. Evaluation: Multi-criteria evaluation method applying technical, economic, environmental and social criteria for evaluating the three StorHy storage technologies. SAR (Safety Aspects and Requirements): Pre-studies for the introduction of a Probabilistic Approach to Regulations, Codes and Standards to raise design flexibility Improvement of safety tests (fire engulfment, cycling, permeation, etc.) Definition of survival space for hydrogen storage systems in a vehicle.

Project web-page www.storhy.net

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Systems for Alternative Fuels

SYSAF

Problems addressed
At ambient conditions, hydrogen is gaseous and occupies a large volume (low energy density per volume). Therefore a major improvement in storage performance (in particular for on-board vehicles) is necessary for hydrogen to gain acceptance as an effective energy carrier. All possible options (compressed gas, liquid, metal hydrides and porous structures) have their advantages and disadvantages with respect to weight, volume, energy efficiency, refuelling times, costs and safety aspects. To address these issues, a long-term commitment to scientific excellence in research coupled with co-ordination between the many different stakeholders is required. The current hydrogen storage technologies and their associated limitations and needs for improvement are: Compressed hydrogen: this is the most mature technology (700 bars); nevertheless improvements in weight, volume storage efficiency, conformable shapes, system integration and cost are needed. Liquid hydrogen: a major concern in liquid hydrogen storage is to minimize hydrogen losses from liquid boil-off. Since liquid hydrogen is stored cryogenically at its boiling point (-252C), any heat transfer to the liquid causes some hydrogen to evaporate. Add sentence on safety issues in (semi-) confined spaces. Storage of hydrogen in solid state materials, for example by absorption into metallic, light or complex hydrides, or adsorption on the surface of porous materials or structures, such as carbon nanotubes or metal-organic frameworks. The hydrides store hydrogen by chemically bonding to metal or metalloid elements and alloys. Hydrides are unique because some can absorb hydrogen at or below atmospheric pressure and then release it at significantly higher pressure when heated. Metal hydrides offer the advantages of lower pressure storage, conformable shapes, and reasonable volumetric storage efficiency, but have weight penalties and thermal management issues. Porous materials have the advantage of being much lighter, but their hydrogen capacity at room temperature is still very low and they need cryogenic temperatures for a considerable increase of their performance. No current technology appears to satisfy all storage criteria required by manufacturers and end-users, and a large number of obstacles have to be overcome. Therefore, the projects scientific and technical activities have been structured to address the improvement of current and the development of new hydrogen storage technologies and to support the development of technical standards.

Objectives
Air quality concerns and security of energy supply have triggered considerable interest in alternative fuels in the EU. Of all potential alternative fuels (Biofuels, Natural Gas and Hydrogen), hydrogen offers the greatest long-term potential for an energy system that produces near-zero emissions and that is based on renewable energy sources. An energy economy based on hydrogen could resolve the major concerns about security of energy supply and about greenhouse gas emissions. In setting-up a hydrogen infrastructure, the development of safe, reliable and cost-effective hydrogen storage technologies is a key issue. The general objective of the project is to support the penetration of hydrogen as an alternative fuel particularly in road transport. Special attention is given to the storage of hydrogen for vehicles powered either by modified internal combustion engine or fuel cells with a view to supporting the development of standards, including harmonisation of testing methods, benchmarking and identification of best practices. Stationary applications are also included, looking into hydrogen as energy storage medium for integrated renewable energy systems.

Technical approach
The project addresses harmonization, validation and standardization of testing procedures for safety, operational performance and environmental compliance of advanced hydrogen storage technologies. The project is structured around the following facilities: A full-scale vehicle tank testing facility to assess hydrogen high-pressure cycling and hydrogen permeation and leak rate measurements with temperature control and instrumentation for gas analysis. A solid-state hydrogen storage laboratory for testing and harmonisation of gravimetric and volumetric characterisation methodologies. A facility for performance evaluation of hydrogen safety sensors under various on-board conditions. Computational Fluidodynamics Codes for the simulation of refuelling conditions and accidental releases.

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INFORMATION
Contract number Action 2323 Programme Joint Research Centre 2003-2006 Multi-Annual Work Programme Starting date January 2003 Partners
JRC institutional activity

Expected impact
Hydrogen as an energy carrier will not have a significant market share in the near future. It is therefore very important to build a strong European research community (skills and competences) to prepare the hydrogen storage designs which will have to meet the expected future large industrial and societal needs. Therefore the expected impacts of this project are: Harmonised testing procedures for assessing the performance, efficiency and safety of hydrogen storage technologies Support to the elaboration of harmonised technical standards Advanced knowledge in break through technologies Evaluation of risks related to normal operation and accidental releases.

Progress to date
The above-mentioned facilities have been completed or are approaching finalisation. First results have been obtained on performance assessment of hydrogen safety sensors under different environmental conditions. The solid-state hydrogen storage laboratory works towards identification and evaluation of experimental errors in hydrogen storage capacity using various test methods. Publication of the results from both these activities is on going. Behaviour of accidental release of hydrogen under various conditions has been modelled, and compared against similar CH4 cases. The SYSAF project takes part in a number of FP6 Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence, where it is leading tasks on inter-laboratory comparisons and performance characterisation and harmonisation of characterisation methodologies. It is also involved in the topics of hydrogen storage and of regulations, codes and standards of the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE). In 2005, it has co-organised the first-ever IPHE Conference on hydrogen storage and the First International Conference on Hydrogen Safety under the IPHE umbrella. The project actively participates on behalf of the European Commission in a number of tasks of the IEA Hydrogen Implementing Agreement. SYSAF staff are invited as external peer reviewer of the Hydrogen Storage Projects of the US-DoE and have co-organised with DoE a number of scientific meetings.

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Marie Curie Research Training Networks on Production and Storage of Hydrogen HYDROGEN
Objectives
The networks two research goals can be summarised as follows: The first goal is to devise a tandem cell which can convert solar energy to chemical energy with an efficiency of 10% or more, using a new nanostructured metaloxide material (Fe2O3, or other), and based on an atomic scale understanding of the mechanism of photooxidation of water on metaloxide surfaces, this being the crucial step. The second goal is to find the best possible hydrogen storage material for cheap on-board storage in automobiles (> 5wt%, reversible), by determining experimentally and theoretically what constitutes a good catalyst and what makes the material (and its combination with a catalyst) reversible, by investigating both well known and relatively unexplored complex metal hydrides and novel catalyst candidates, and metal ammines. The networks training objective is to train a new generation of researchers in the skills needed for solving problems associated with production and storage of hydrogen, the solution of which is crucial to a future hydrogen economy. Training young researchers to perform research on problems related to the hydrogen economy and to teach the science associated with hydrogen are stated European policy goals. To achieve the educational goal and the research goals outlined above, training will be provided in scientific skills and complementary skills.

Problems addressed
The HYDROGEN network will carry out research, which has the potential to deliver the breakthroughs that are needed in production and storage of hydrogen, in the promising areas of photo-electrochemical hydrogen production, and storage in alanates, borohydrides, and a new class of materials storing hydrogen safely in the form of ammonia.

Technical approach
In performing the proposed research and through specific training actions, the network will train both early stage researchers (360 person months) and experienced researchers (138 person months). To achieve the first research goal (identified above), a nano-structured electrode (consisting of iron-oxide, or another oxide), will be developed for use in a photo-electrochemical cell. The development will be based on an atomic scale understanding of the mechanism of photo-oxidation of water on metal-oxide surfaces, to be achieved through experimental and computational research. To achieve the second research goal (identified above), experimental and computational research will be performed on complex metal hydrides (alanates and boro-hydrides), and metal ammines. We aim at determining the atomic scale mechanisms that underlie catalysed hydrogen release and uptake, and reversibility. The network researchers work in applied and fundamental physics and chemistry, and eight partners come from academia and two from industry. The interdisciplinary character of the network ensures the presence of the wide range of expertise needed to achieve breakthrough solutions and provide training on a European scope. The inter-sectorial character ensures that promising methods for production and storage developed by the academic partners can be further developed and scaled up by the industrial partners.

INFORMATION
Contract number 032474 Programme Marie Curie Actions Starting date 1st September 2006 Duration 48 months Total cost 3.54 million EC funding 3.54 million Coordinator Geert-Jan Kroes Universiteit Leiden Rapenburg 70 NL-2300 RA Leiden The Netherlands Partners
Chalmers University of Technology SE Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne CH Eidgenssische Materialprf- und Forschungsanstalt CH Hydrogen Solar Limited UK Science Institute University of Iceland IS Shell Global Solutions International B.V. NL Technical University of Denmark DK University of Oxford UK University of Warsaw PL

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 HyFLEET:CUTE

Basic materials and industrial process research on functional materials for fuel cells APOLLON-B
Problems addressed
APOLLON-B will focus on the development and optimization of PBI derivatives (Fumatech) and PBI free blends which have already been successfully demonstrated (Fig.1). Another activity of APOLLON-B will focus on the synthesis of novel high temperature polymer electrolyte membranes, addressing problems related to chemical stability and phosphoric acid leaching. A number of different approaches are proposed as solutions, including: The presence of polar groups with high pKa (>7) in the polymeric structure in order to avoid the deprotonation of the membrane by liquid water and the subsequent removal of the phosphoric acid Base-doped polymer electrolytes Self-sustained ionic conductive acid-base composite membranes One of the most challenging concepts in PEM fuel cell technology is the design and development of non noble metal electrocatalysts, thus trying to minimize Pt loading in the gas diffusion electrodes. APOLLON-B will focus on the development of electrocatalysts and electrodes for acid or base doped electrolytes. Novel synthesis of high temperature polymer electrolyte membranes Membrane preparation and characterization Membrane characterization Development of high temperature bipolar plate materials and gaskets WP2 Development of non noble metal electrocatalysts Ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations Bi- and trimetallic nanoparticulate colloids Electrocatalysts prepared by combustion synthesis Electrocatalysts prepared by pyrolysis of organic resins containing metal cations Physicochemical characterization WP3 Electrochemical characterization and testing of materials Electrochemical testing of membranes The electrochemical testing of new electrocatalysts Scale up procedures and preparation of the catalyst layer of gas diffusion electrodes WP4 Long term testing of the most promising materials Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) testing in single cells with Pt/C commercial electrodes MEA testing in single cells with project developed electrodes WP5 Dissemination and public awareness Dissemination of results to the scientific and industrial community WP6 Innovation activities Contribution to standards and regulations Preparatory measures for patent application

Objectives
Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells have recently received increased attention as an efficient and environmentally friendly power generation technology and have high potential for market penetration addressing both stationary and mobile applications. One of the most ambitious challenges faced in the development of efficient high temperature PEM fuel cells is the advanced design, construction and testing of new concepts aiming at a reduction in the costs of components, thus allowing the simplification of the whole system manufacturing and operation. The main objective of APOLLON-B is to provide significant progress and innovative solutions in efficient and low-cost high temperature PEM electrode assemblies. Fuel cell development demands the integration and combination of several methodologies, including theoretical calculations and several physicochemical methods, as well as engineering aspects and technical substantiation. APOLLON-B will combine the advanced knowledge of 7 research and academic organisations and 4 industrialists that specialize in different aspects of fuel cell technology.

Technical approach
The overall approach of APOLLON-B is described by the following work packages. WP0 Project Management Project coordination Execution of the project steering committees decisions Progress monitoring Work package coordination WP1 Development and manufacture of high temperature membrane electrolytes Optimization of the composition of polymer blends based on materials synthesized during the previous APOLLON project

70

INFORMATION
Contract number Under negotiation Programme NMP Coordinator Stylianos G. Neophytides Institute of Chemical Engineering and High Temperature Processes Stadiou Street EL-26504 Rion Achaias Patras Greece Partners
ADVENT EL Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas ES FUMATECH DE GERMANOS SA EL Institute of Chemical Technology Prague CZ National Institute of Chemistry SL Nedstack Fuel Cell Technology B.V. NL Ruprecht-Karls-Universitt Heidelberg DE Technical University of Denmark DK University of Patras EL

Expected impact
The main milestones of the project are briefly described as follows: Synthesis development and optimisation of novel acid or base doped polymer electrolyte membranes operating within the temperature range of 130-200C. Theoretical design and synthesis of various nanostructured anode and cathode electrocatalysts, which will be compatible with high temperature PEMs. Bulk and surface composition analysis, determination of the structure, morphology and physicochemical properties of the various materials and interfaces. Development of Gas Diffusion Electrodes (GDEs) based on baking materials, such as pyrolitic carbon, carbon nanotubes and Ti4O7 magnelli phases. Manufacture of Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs). Engineering, design and construction of single cells and small stacks aiming at the long term testing of the materials.

Figure 1 I-V curves of the PBI-free membrane

71

Automotive high temperature fuel cell membranes

AUTOBRANE

Problems addressed
Fuel cell powered vehicles fuelled with hydrogen promise to make the dream of environmentally friendly cars with zero emissions come true without sacrificing comfort or the driving experience. The European Commission many national governments and all major car manufacturers, are targeting this goal in major RD&D efforts. A simultaneous engineering strategy is being pursued involving development and demonstration activities to gain real world experience and basic research activities to overcome some principal hurdles. The autobrane project addresses the following basic issues: The characteristic low operating temperature of the PEM fuel cell stacks causes heat rejection problems for fuel cell vehicles. The humidification requirement of PEM fuel cell membranes causes system complexity. PEM fuel cell membranes have a restricted allowable ambient temperature range for operation. Sub-zero operation poses particular problems. Figure 1 illustrates the heat rejection issue as an example of these challenges. Despite the fact that a PEM fuel cell system has a significantly better efficiency than an internal combustion engine, it has to get rid of about twice the heat via the radiator and this at a lower temperature of about 80C compared to 100+C of the ICE.

Objectives
autobrane is tackling some of the fundamental technological problems of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells for automotive application by integrating Europes fuel cell polymer synthesis and membrane development expertise and combining it with European catalyst, membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and stack technology competencies into one effort. All together 30 partners are involved the project. Seven automotive companies from Europe will provide advice and guidance concerning automotive needs and operation conditions. The final target of the project is a membrane electrode assembly technology and its demonstration in a state of the art stack adapted to higher temperature demands and lower humidification conditions. To prove the concept of the new membrane and MEA technology, a stack with realistic cell areas and a representative power of approximately 1 kW will be operated.

Technical approach
autobrane is structured in sub-projects, with the R&D activities taking place in SP1000 through SP5000 (see Figure 2). SP2000 is the central key sub-project dedicated to the development of novel polymer electrolyte materials (accordingly about 40% of the total funding is allocated to this sub-project). In addition, there are training and networking activities within SP6000 and SP7000. The OEM partners are forming a steering group to provide guidance with respect to the needs of their products and markets.

Expected impact
Mankind has a substantial impact on the environment, climate and energy sustainability. Current transportation

Figure 1 Heat rejection of an ICE and a PEM fuel cell system

72

INFORMATION
Contract number 020074 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st November 2005
technologies contribute considerably to this impact. Fuel cell powered vehicles, in combination with hydrogen, offer a solution which is as environmentally and climatically friendly as it is sustainable. The autobrane partners are attempting to integrate the principal European expertise to accomplish the decisive transition of PEMFCs from a promise to a wellestablished energy technology. If the project goals are achieved, major hurdles for a commercialization of fuel cell powered vehicles will be overcome. Thus the world wide competitive position of European industry will be strengthened and new employment opportunities will be created. Initial formal results are as follows: First new mono- and ionomer materials have already been synthesized. Samples of benchmark membranes have been supplied to MEA development. New catalyst materials have been characterized. Work on the important issue of standardizing test protocols has started. It was envisaged that the autobrane project team would also collaborate with institutes from non-EU member states, in particular with member countries of the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE). Since the project start in November 2005 two satellite activities have been initiated: A co-ordination action for a working group on high temperature membranes. A specific targeted research project establishing a collaboration with partners from China and Russia. Proposals for these activities have been submitted to the European Commission by members of the autobrane consortium and are presently in negotiation.

Duration 48 months Total cost 14.4 million EC funding 8.3 million Coordinator Dr. Erich Erdle DaimlerChrysler RBP/FM Wilhelm-Runge-Strasse 11 DE-89081 Ulm Germany Partners
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences BG Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique FR Centro Ricerche Fiat IT Chalmers University of Technology Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche IT Deutsches Zentrum fr Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. DE Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands NL European Institute for Energy Research DE Freudenberg FCCT KG DE Fumatech GmbH DE Honda Europe DE Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells UK Kungliga Tekniska Hogskolan SE Llika UK Max-Planck-Gesellschaft DE Nuvera Fuel Cells IT Opel DE PEMEAS GmbH DE Renault Recherche et Innovation FR Solvay Solexis SpA IT Technical University of Denmark DK Timcal SA CH Toyota Europe BE Umidore DE Universit di Perugia IT University of Helsinki FI University of Lund SE Volkswagen DE

Progress to date
The project kick-off meeting took place in November 2005 and all technical sub-projects have also had their internal kick-off meetings to refine the initial planning, define the short-term work plans and the interfaces with the other sub-projects in detail.

Project web-page www.autobrane.org

Figure 2 Organizational chart of autobrane

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International Partnership for a Hydrogen Economy for GENeration of New Ionomer membranes IPHE-GENIE
Objectives
The objective of IPHE-GENIE is to achieve an increase in the operating temperature of PEMFC while reducing the need for humidification. By doing so, the complexity, cost, size and weight of the fuel cell system can be reduced considerably since heat and water management issues will be less severe. In addition, this will enable PEMFC to be applied in a wider range of climate conditions, thereby increasing the probability that PEM fuel cell technology will become the universal automotive propulsion technology. A quantified description of the objectives is given in Table 1. An additional objective of the project is to increase the span of international cooperation in the area of PEM fuel cells in general and High Temperature PEM Fuel Cells (HT-PEMFC) in particular, by establishing a cooperative project comprising partners from both EU and non-EU IPHE member states. In relation to this it is also an objective to affiliate IPHE-GENIE with the existing Integrated Project autobrane, in which many important European institutes and industries collaborate on the topic of HT-PMEFC. IPHE-GENIE thus responds to Call FP6-2005-Energy-4, addressing the specific topic of enhancing strategically important international cooperation initiatives with non-EU IPHE member states on the matter of solving technical barriers to hydrogen and fuel cell deployment. IPHE-GENIE does so by cooperation with a research institute, a university and an industry from Russia and China.

Problems addressed
The technical barrier that IPHE-GENIE addresses is that of the low operating temperature of PEM fuel cells and the need for high humidity of the reactants. These operational boundary conditions of existing proton conducting polymers form an obstacle for the wide spread introduction of fuel cell vehicles, in various power ranges and under a wide variety of climatic conditions.

Technical approach

Figure 1 Project structure. The work packages are defined to match the specific expertise areas of the partners. Material will be exchanged between WPs/partners for further development/testing. Results of the tests will be exchanged to create an iterative process of material improvement.

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INFORMATION
Contract number Under negotiation Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Coordinator Ronald Mallant ECN Energy research Centre of the Netherlands PO Box 1 NL-1755 ZG Petten The Netherlands Partners
Boreskov Institute of Catalysis RU CNRS Montpellier FR Dongyue Shenzhou New Materials Company CHN FuMA-Tech GmbH DE Shanghai Jiao Tong University CHN

Expected impact
The expected outcome of IPHE-GENIE will be an MEA that tolerates temperature excursions to 120C and that operates at RH 25-50%. The MEA should also tolerate -40C and start up at -20C. The approach chosen is that of a welldefined in-situ cross-linking of low equivalent weight fluorinated membranes. The conductivity at low R.H. of such membranes will be improved. At the same time infinite swelling at high temperature will be limited by covalent cross-linking and hybrid membrane technologies. This novel approach leads to improved life-time of both the membrane and the MEA. No work has been reported so far on the stabilisation of PFSA membranes by cross-linking using fluorinated multifunctional monomers. IPHE-GENIE also addresses the issue of catalyst stability at elevated temperature by the development of new catalysts, catalysts supports and electrodes that under automotive conditions and at the targeted operating temperatures and humidity will have an operational life time of at least 5000 hrs.

Progress to date
Project is in negotiation phase

Table 1. Qualified objectives of IPHE-GENIE

ITEM
Performance: Cell size: Stoichiometry: Temperature range: Pressure: Humidification:

VALUE
~ 0.8 A/cm2 @ 0.65 V ~ 100 cm H2 < 1.5, Air < 2.0 subzero to ~ 120C 1.5 bar (abs) Partial water vapour pressure of maximal 500 mbar

75

Coordination Action for Research on Intermediate and high temperature Specialised Membrane electrode Assemblies CARISMA
Problems addressed
The present scenario across Europe is one of separate actions and projects being undertaken at European and national level. No single action coordinates these efforts, and such an initiative can only be taken at European level.

Objectives
The CARISMA Coordination Action seeks to provide a forum for the integration of the research effort in Europe to develop high temperature membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Development of high temperature membranes, catalysts and membrane-electrode assemblies with required properties are particularly challenging goals, requiring a major and concerted research effort. For example, current approaches to intermediate and high temperature MEA development are not all appropriate, and their strengths and weaknesses can be identified by appraisal of the technical challenges. Integration and interaction between groups will be enhanced via a number of cornerstones that will underpin the R&D activities of the Coordination Action, centred on membranes, catalysts and high temperature MEAs, and technical specifications for high temperature PEMFC applications. A timeline will be devised to phase in and integrate the above activities. In addition to its other aims and objectives, CARISMA will complement completed and on-going Community funded RTD projects on MEA materials by its cross-cutting topics of proton conduction mechanisms and the durability/degradation issue. The group will interact with the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform (HFP) to refine the Strategic Research Agenda and will facilitate interaction with equivalent groups in other continents. High temperature membranes and MEAs are a priority area of the Strategic Research Agenda and the International Partnership for a Hydrogen Economy (IPHE) scoping paper on PEMFC, and this timely grouping into a Coordination Action will increase the impact of on-going Community funded and nationally funded programmes.

Technical approach

Expected impact
CARISMA will integrate funded European, national and regional basic and applied research and development efforts to substantially increase their impact. It will represent a seat of expertise to act in advisory capacity to the HFP in the high temperature MEAs field. It will provide a channel for communication with similar action groups in other continents. It will provide a framework for federative, horizontal actions of relevance to all the EC and nationally/regionally funded programmes implicating high temperature MEAs, including the impact of high temperature

76

INFORMATION
Contract number Under negotiation Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Coordinator Deborah Jones Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Universit Montpellier II Place Eugne Bataillon FR-34095 Montpellier Cedex 5 France Partners
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences BG Centre for Process Innovation Ltd UK Chalmers University of Technology SE Cidetec ES Commissariat lnergie Atomique FR Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche IT Deutsches Zentrum fr Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. DE Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands NL European Institute for Energy Research DE Forschungszentrum Jlich DE Freudenberg FCCT KG DE FUMA-TECH GmbH DE GKSS Forschungszentrum Geesthacht DE Groupement de Recherche Piles Combustible Electrodes Membrane FR Ilika Ltd UK Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Ltd UK Kungliga Tekniska Hogskolan SE Max-Planck-Gesellschaft DE Nuvera Fuel Cells Inc. IT Paul-Scherrer-Institut CH PEMEAS GmbH DE Solvay Solexis SpA IT Technical University of Denmark DK Timcal SA CH TU Mnchen DE Umicore AG DE University of Helsinki FI University of Lund SE University of Newcastle upon Tyne UK University of Patras EL Universit di Perugia IT University of Reading UK Universit di Roma La Sapienza IT Universit degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata IT Universitt Stuttgart DE University of Surrey UK Volkswagen DE Zentrum fr Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung DE

operation on MEAs and MEA components, degradation and durability, the mechanisms of proton transfer under essentially water free conditions, alignment of current materials properties with stationary and automotive applications technical specifications. It could enable more expeditious evaluation of plausible approaches to high temperature membranes. A robust set of characterisation approaches will be available in CARISMA that may be complementary to those available in an individual programme. A programme of visiting researchers will promote sharing of best-practices. CARISMA

will take the initiative for organisation of an international conference on high temperature membranes and MEAs to which it will invite key international speakers. The success of all the above initiatives is guaranteed by mobilisation of a critical mass of European researchers encompassing the major actors in the high temperature MEA field: university and research institute groups, industrial developers and representative end users.

Progress to date
Project in negotiation phase

CEP

Project web-page www.carisma-network.eu

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Non-noble Catalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell Anodes FCANODE
Problems addressed
There are major challenges involved in the search for such catalysts. For the hydrogen oxidation reaction platinum has significantly the highest turnover rate and, to date, noble metal based systems alone exhibit both the stability required in the strongly acidic humidified environment of the fuel cell and the sufficiently large current densities required. Hence, the challenge is to find binary, ternary or even quaternary systems, which have the necessarily high rates of hydrogen oxidation and which are stable in the environment of the fuel cell. The research program therefore combines two routes towards achieving these scientific objectives: To modify noble metal based systems by incorporating non-noble species to lead to an overall reduction in the quantity of precious metal used. To derive entirely new systems of nanoparticulate catalysts which are completely non-noble. In addition, new developments in PEM Fuel Cell technology highlight the need to explore the performance of catalysts in a higher temperature regime (in the region of 130-200C). Furthermore the optimisation of carbon support materials for the developed nanoparticle catalysts will be investigated. design through to the final operating membrane electrode assembly by the methodology outlined below. The need to utilise such a range of expertise within the work program makes it important to perform this research at a European scale. Initially, Density Functional Theory (DFT) studies will be used to calculate critical bond energies and activation barriers of processes relevant to the fuel cell electrodes and produce trends in reactivities for metal alloy species and intermetallic compounds. Such studies provide an invaluable starting point for catalyst selection procedures and help to develop and compare a range of descriptors for potential anode catalysts. It is only recently that development in computer power has provided the possibility for fast throughput of a high number of systems in this manner. The next step will be the Combinatorial Fast Screening of catalysts for these descriptors, which can rapidly screen a range of compositions for a given material. These two preliminary steps will provide a selection route to determine the most promising systems and compositions to take forward into the subsequent stages. The selected catalysts will then be produced as nanoparticles supported on a carbon support using traditional techniques, or a novel flame deposition method and subsequently investigated with regards to their performance for the hydrogen oxidation

Objectives
Noble-metal based catalysts for Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells are expensive, which is attracting efforts to reduce costs by finding alternative cheaper non-noble metal-based systems. This could reduce the cost of the fuel cells and bring them closer towards full commercialisation. Currently, pure platinum (for pure hydrogen), or 50:50 platinum/ruthenium alloy supported nanoparticle catalysts (for reformate gas), are used for the hydrogen oxidation reaction at the anode. The replacement of such catalysts by cheaper non-noble alternatives is therefore the objective of this project.

Technical approach
In order to accomplish these aims, a novel route will be used involving a multidisciplinary approach covering the full range from theoretical

78

INFORMATION
Contract number Under negociation Programme NMP Coordinator Financial Coordinator: Prof. Ib Chorkendorff Danish Technical University Anker Engelundsvej 1 Bygning 101A DK-2800 Lyngby Denmark Scientific Coordinator: Dr. Georgios Tsotridis European Commission Institute for Energy Joint Research Centre Partners
Bayrisches Zentrum fr angewandte Energieforschung DE Boreskov Institute of Catalysis RU Southampton University UK TU Mnchen DE Umicore AG and Co. KG DE

Expected impact
reaction and their stability to acidic media. Behaviour relating to the two main mechanisms for carbon monoxide tolerance at fuel cell anodes the ligand effect and the bifunctional mechanism will be investigated by a variety of electrochemical and adsorption techniques. In addition structural information regarding the novel nanoscale catalysts will be obtained. Furthermore, it will be confirmed that these catalysts retain the tolerance to CO2 demonstrated by the platinum standard. As the final stage, the behaviour and stability of selected catalysts will be assessed within the single cell environment and the potential of the catalysts for large-scale production investigated. Trends in reactivity obtained from DFT modeling and combinatorial fast screening to process a large number of potential non-noble metal based catalyst systems hereby supplying a smaller number of promising systems and composition for development at the single cell level. The output of the project will therefore consist of a series of well-characterized supported nanoparticle anode catalysts with the aim to provide a catalyst with a performance level considerable enough to provide a potential alternative to the current industry standard.

Progress to date
Project is currently in the negotiation phase.

Forschungzentrum Jlich

79

Further Improvement and system integration of High Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells FURIM
Problems addressed
Key challenges are: Membrane improvement in terms of conductivity, strength and lifetime. Improvement of electrode performance. Stacking cells with novel temperature resistant materials for bipolar plates and sealing. Development of the integrated Diesel reforming system. development, manufacturing techniques, reformer and burner development, modelling and simulation. For temperature-resistant membranes the technical approaches include cross-linking, blending, and fabricating inorganic-organic composite membranes.

Objectives
The main goals of the project are: New high temperature membranes for PEMFC at temperatures between 120 and 200C. Improved electrodes and Membrane electrode assemblies with long lifetime. The single cell performance target is 0.7 A/cm2 at a cell voltage around 0.6 V. The durability shall be more than 5,000 hours. A 2kWel HT-PEMFC stack operating in a temperature range of 120-200C, with a nominal working temperature of 170C. A Diesel reformer and a burner developed and integrated with the stack into an auxiliary power system for larger Diesel vehicles. The system will run on reformate without CO cleanup due to the high CO tolerance at elevated temperatures compared to conventional PEMFC.

Expected impact Technical approach

The project has a main line in which polymers are synthesized and cast into membranes. Membrane electrode assemblies (cells) are manufactured with fuel cell electrodes and later assembled into stacks. The final stack is integrated into the final Diesel reformer system. Along this main line, component development is continuously carried out and, in parallel with membrane development, electrode refinement, catalyst Development of advanced materials, demonstration of the high temperature PEMFC stack and integration of such a system are expected to sufficiently promote the commercialisation of the fuel cell technology for both vehicle propulsion and stationary applications. The commercialisation of this technology will substantially increase the energy efficiency and reduce polluting emissions, which are the main objectives of the Programme.

80

INFORMATION
Contract number 502782 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st April 2004

Progress to date
Several polymers have been synthesized and characterized. After year 2 the most promising systems will be identified for further research. The design and construction of the stack has started with a short test stack for proof of concept. The reformer system is developed in parallel. It had been designed and modelled and is now under construction. Along with the training at the universities a workshop in Newcastle as well as a symposium in Patras, Greece have been held.

Duration 48 months Total cost 6.1 million EC funding 4.0 million Coordinator Prof. Niels J. Bjerrum Technical University of Denmark Department of Chemistry Anker Engelundsvej 1 Bygning 101A DK-2800 Lyngby Denmark Partners
Between Lizenz GmbH DE Case West Reserve University USA Danish Power Systems ApS DK Foundation of Research and Technology EL Freudenberg FCCT DE HyGear B.V. NL IRD Fuel Cell A/S DK Norwegian University of Science and Technology NO University of Newcastle upon Tyne UK Universitt Stuttgart DE Volvo Technology Corporation SE

Project web-page www.furim.com

81

Generic Fuel Cell Modelling Environment

GenFC

Technical approach
The projects lifetime is 36 months and it is structured in 5 work packages: Work package 1 (Front End) contains all the tasks necessary for designing and developing the portal to the Generic Fuel Cell Modelling Environment. Since the software must be generic, it must serve a wide range of applications that require models for different kind of fuel cells (SOFC, PEFC, DMFC and other types) in several levels of detail (e.g. for system modelling, stack modelling, overall cell modelling, detailed cell modelling). The interface to the implemented models should be extendable to new fuel cell models as well as for the integration to new front-end applications. type of model. Within the frame of this project, it is important to show that the goals of GenFC will be met by choosing a few representative example models for incorporation. Work package 3 (Back End) contains the data management. With this modularisation, the underlying data structure can easily be adapted to future changes of the IT systems or to existing data management systems at other organisations beyond the frame of the project. Work package 4 contains the development and integration of a Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) model. HIL is an industrial key technology commonly applied in the development of hardware solutions. The basic approach is to combine the flexibility of a mathematical simulation with the development process of a hardware component. The starting point is commonly a full simulation of the investigated system. Different elements of the simulation are replaced with the actual hardware components in later stages. Hardware

Objectives
The main objective of the project is to bring the available expert knowledge on fuel cell modelling under a common umbrella. GenFC will be an integrated mathematical modelling environment applying to all important fuel cell types from the system level down to the electrode level. The overall goal is to provide a generic modelling tool to fuel cell and fuel cell systems developers making fuel cell modelling expert knowledge available for all of them. Fuel cell and fuel cell systems developers can then use this tool to improve and accelerate fuel cell development and to contribute to a future success of the fuel cell technology. It is believed that from the fuel cell (hardware) developers point of view, a fuel cell modelling environment is desirable which can be used for simulation tasks exactly catering to the demand of the application engineer. The user of such a modelling environment expects to be able to choose a model out of a set of different types of fuel cells. Each type of fuel cell can be available in different implementations and each implementation is suitable for a particular application.

Work package 2 (Middle Ware) compiles the fuel cell models in their different implementations so it can be regarded as a toolbox. These models represent the computational core of GenFC. As a generic tool, GenFC is not limited in terms of how many models can be incorporated and the

82

INFORMATION
Contract number 019814 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st October 2005 Duration 36 months Total cost 2.67 million EC funding 1.7 million Coordinator Dr. Andreas Gubner Forschungzentrum Jlich DE-52425 Jlich Germany Partners
aixprocess GbR DE EMPA Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research CH Fluent Deutschland GmbH DE REDHADA SL ES Technische Universitt Graz AT

components can thus be fully operated and tested even though the full system is not actually available as hardware solution. The main objectives of work package 5 are to demonstrate the use of GenFC for different target groups, to prepare the GenFC manuals, to set up the material and tools for dissemination, and to perform the dissemination task. This includes the setup of the GenFC website (for public information) and a WIKI server (for discussions and information of the project members).

Expected impact
The vision behind GenFC is to speed up the transfer of expert knowledge about fuel cell modelling from R&D laboratories to facilitate

the design and manufacturing process. Commercially attractive integrated fuel cell systems may become available in a shorter time to market with the help of GenFC. An important part of this must be the provision of quality assured data sets and validated models. GenFC will enable virtual experiments by using virtual components in fuel cell test hardware and by complete fuel cell systems simulations including fuel processors and other auxiliary equipment. Since the models and data sets in GenFC are validated and quality assured, virtual experiments conducted using GenFC can show potential weaknesses in the systems that could lead to safety risks without risking actual failures.

Project web-page www.genfc.org

83

Intermetallic Materials Processing in Relation to Earth and Space Solidification IMPRESS

Problems addressed
Longer-lasting, lighter turbine blades giving increased efficiency of gas turbine engines above 35% and potential weight savings of 50% in aero-engine components. Catalytic products, such as novel Raneytype powders for hydrogenation/ hydration and catalytic electrodes for hydrogen fuel cells, with unprecedented activity, selectivity & stability. Prototype development will be continued after the end of IMPRESS by the industrial manufacturers and end-users, with the support of market-oriented funding schemes, like Eureka.

Objectives
The primary scientific objective of the IMPRESS Integrated Project is to understand the strategic links between the solidification processing of intermetallic compounds, the structure of the material at the micro- and nanoscale, and the final mechanical, chemical and physical properties. In terms of industrial applications, the focus is on: Gas turbine blades for aero-engines and power generation turbines Catalytic devices such as Raney-type catalysts and hydrogen fuel-cell electrodes Correspondingly, the technical objectives are to develop, produce and test intermetallic alloys for: High-quality 40cm investment-cast -TiAl gas turbine blades for aeroengines and power generation Advanced catalytic Ni-Al and Co-Al powders with particle size < < 20 microns for use in hydrogen fuel cell electrodes and hydrogenation reactions

Progress to date
Science and new data Rigorous selection of the most promising intermetallic systems as: - TiAlNb, for the turbine material - Ni-Al plus dopants, for the catalytic material, including minor additions of other elements and alloys produced for preliminary testing (processing routes with great deal of promise). Batches of fine Raney-type Ni-Al powder with various dopants produced, using gas atomisation and vapour synthesis processes, at the micrometric and nanometric scales respectively, followed now by subsequent activation and catalytic evaluation. Detailed map of the processstructure property relationships, by varying the process types, process parameters, alloy compositions and microstructural features. Data generated for equilibrium phase diagrams, microstructure selection maps, dendrite growth kinetics and key thermophysical properties of liquid alloys, like surface tension, viscosity, density, specific heat, thermal conductivity, emissivity and melting range. Integrated modelling of gas atomisation, covering the macroscopic process scale, the break-up of liquid into droplets, droplet solidification, droplet/atmosphere chemical interactions and ultimately atomistic powder leaching in caustic solution. Phase field model for 3-D polycrystalline solidification (generic applicability to both casting and powder production).

Technical approach
The overall approach involves two vertical research strands, namely higher performance turbine materials and catalytic powder materials. The work has been divided into different work-packages: Alloy selection for (a) turbine blades (b) catalytic powders Fundamentals of intermetallic (a) alloy solidification (b) powder formation Materials processing routes for (a) turbine blades (b) catalytic powders Benchmark space experimentation Comparative benchmark testing Experimental & computational thermodynamics & kinetics Thermophysical properties measurements Numerical modelling and validation Materials structure characterisation Mechanical properties testing Industrial aspects Education and dissemination Training and technology transfer

Expected impact
The expected impacts, relevant to the catalytic part of IMPRESS, include: The solidification processing and physical metallurgy, not only in the field of intermetallics but also in adjacent metallurgical and chemical industries. Technical prototypes of advanced catalytic devices such as Ni-based hydrogenation slurries and hydrogen fuel cells will be set for market exploitation, by the end of the project.

84

INFORMATION
Contract number 500635 Programme NMP Starting date 1st November 2004
Space Experimentation Thermophysical properties measurements of liquid alloys performed on parabolic flights (Sept. 05 and May 06) and sounding rockets (TEXUS, Nov. 05) for both TiAlNb and various Ni-Al alloys using the electromagnetic levitation (EML) technique. The results used now as input data in the numerical models of intermetallic solidification processing. Nanoscopic powder formation and agglomeration Planning for sounding rocket module for flight in 2008. In March 06 parabolic flights used to test hardware components and generate precursory results of nanopowder formation. Dissemination and Education 29 peer-reviewed papers in conference proceedings and academic journals like Physical Review, Intermetallics, Materials Science and Engineering, Journal of Physics and Nature Materials. Web based Virtual Institute established with educational resources such as on-line lectures, multimedia and useful links. Considerable awareness with more than 40 internet articles, several magazine/ newspaper articles, interviews and a TV appearance. Four training courses organised in gas atomisation, microgravity research, coating technology and TiAl casting technology.

Duration 60 months Total cost 41 million EC funding 15.9 million Coordinator Dr. David John Jarvis European Space Agency Directorate of Human Spaceflight Keplerlaan 1 NL-2200 AG Noordwijk The Netherlands Partners
ACCESS e.V. DE ALD-Vacuum Technologies AG DE British Ceramic Research Ltd. UK Calcom ESI S.A. CH CEMEF-Armines FR Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique FR Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Metalurgicas ES CNR-IENI IT Deutsches Zentrum fr Luft- und Raumfahrt DE Ecole Polytechnique Fdral de Lausanne CH Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Frderung der angewandten Forschung eV DE Helsinki University of Technology FI Hydrocell Ltd. FI INASMET Foundation Ltd. ES Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine FR Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse FR Institute of Structural and Macrokinetics & Materials Science RU Institute of Chemical Problems for Microelectronics RU Katholieke Universiteit Leuven BE Krakow University of Mining and Metallurgy PL Kungl Tekniska Hgskolan SE Leibniz-Institut fr Festkrper- und Werkstoffforschung DE Max-Planck-Institut fr Eisenforschung GmbH DE National University of Ireland IE NPL Management Ltd. UK QinetiQ Nanomaterials Ltd. UK Research Institute for Solid State Physics and Optics HU Rolls-Royce Plc. UK Slovak Academy of Sciences SK Tratamientos Superficiales Iontech S.A. ES Turbocoating S.p.A. IT Tylite International Oy. FI Ufa State Aviation Technical University RU Universitt Ulm DE Universiteit Leiden NL University of Leeds UK University of Greenwich UK University of Wales Swansea UK University of Birmingham UK

Space experimentation performed onboard ESA sounding rockets

Industrial Aspects Key work packages coordinated by the commercial partners, ensuring the successful steering of the project towards industrially relevant objectives from an early stage. Techno-economic assessment (Life Cycle and Cost-Benefit Analysis) to guide process selection and identify future concerns, including the economic viability of various industrial processes, material supply chain, recycling strategies and the overall environmental impact. Three patents granted in the area of alloy development and early prototypes produced in the form of Ni-based powders integrated into a commercial hydrogen fuel cell and a model hydrogenation reactor.

Hydrogen fuel cell tested at Hydrocell (Finland)

Project web-page http://www.spaceflight.esa.int/impress/

85

Novel Materials for Silicate-Based Fuel Cells

MatSILC

Problems addressed
SOFC component Challenge to take up development
Electrolyte development Use of low cost silicate based electrolytes. Improve the ionic conductivity and stability of the electrolyte Increase electrocatalytic activity and conductivity at reduced costs. Nickel reduction

Proposed solution

Objectives
The main scientific objective of the MatSILC project is to develop an alternative concept of SOFCs based on novel low cost silicate based electro-lytes, and suitable processing technologies for the corresponding cell components. The project partners intend to develop materials for the core components of a novel SOFC, as well as to design and prepare cells including: Low cost, efficient silicate based electrolyte materials. Compatible electrodes: - Cathode based on silicates or with similar thermal expansion coefficients. - Anode cermets based on silicates without noble metals or MIEC based on silicates. - Electrocatalytic layers. Developing synthetic procedures for fabrication of nano-architectured micro(meso-)porous electrodes (both cathodes and anodes) of catalystdoped oxide matrix by a templating approach as well as to investigate the influence of doping and surface nanoengineering of the electrodes on their working parameters. Elaboration of a novel design of fuel cells, including the use of catalytic interlayers and diffusion blocking nanolayers along grain boundaries (if necessary). Development of suitable processing technologies for cell preparation. Testing of the fuel cell prototype and comparison of its performance with the system LSM/YSZ/Ni-Cermet at ~700C. Up scaling of the fuel cell prototype by 1 order of magnitude.
Electrode development

Advanced design and synthesis of nanostructured silicate based electrolyte powders with high ionic conductivity resulting in reduced ohmic overpotential at the electrolyte. Proper selection of composition, heat treatment, morphology New micro(meso)porous electrode materials with high catalytic activity regarding oxygen reduction on the cathode and hydrogen oxidation on the anode. Development of pure silicates or mixtures with mixed ionic/electronic conductivity. Elaboration of surface nanoengineering approaches for catalyst impregnation Use of electrophoretic deposition for electrolyte and cathode preparation which results in high green densities, and requires lower sintering temperatures

Processing of components

Overcome the problems of poor sinterability of the silicate electrolyte. Avoid inter-facial reactions during sintering Achieve stable operation for at least 1000h Identify the causes of the deterioration of the fuel cell performance with time Achieve stable operation for at least 1000h

SOFC prototype

Proper selection of materials and methods for the manufacturing of the prototype based on the detailed study of the electrochemical characteristics and of the compatibility of the SOFC components

Upscaling of the prototype

Selection of the methods for the manufacturing of the up scaled system based on the previous experience with the operation of the prototype and on the use of optimized methods for depo-sition of the electrode or electrolyte layers

Technical approach
To develop materials and complete cells, the following activities will be undertaken: Development of synthesis methods for the electrolyte materials. Synthesis methods for the various anode and cathode materials. Synthesis methods for nano-structured powders for graded electrodes and incorporation in electrodes for their activation. Analysis, determination of the structure, morphology, physicochemical properties and electrical conductivity of the electrode and electrolyte materials and interfaces. Use of electrophoretic deposition for electrolyte and cathode preparation. Study of materials degradation, chemical and mechanical compatibility and aging mechanisms. Study in half-cells of the electrochemical performance of the various electrode/electrolyte systems. Evaluation of the electrocatalytic activity of electrodes, focusing on H2 and/or methane fuel transformation on selected anodes. Manufacture of prototype fuel cells based on the most promising amongst the aforementioned materials. Testing of the performance of complete fuel cell prototypes. Up-scaling, based mainly on the information from half and complete cell testing.

86

INFORMATION
Contract number Under negotiation Coordinator Dr. Christos Argirusis Technische Universitt Clausthal Institut fr Metallurgie Robert-Koch-Strasse 42 DE-38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld Germany Partners
Boreskov Institute of Catalysis RU Ceramics and Refractories Technological Cramiques Techniques et Industrielles FR Development Company EL Foundation of Research and Technology EL Grenzflchenforschung DE K.U. Leuven Research and Development BE Max-Planck-Institut fr Kolloid- und Universidade de Aveiro PT

Expected impact
MatSILC project aims to develop a highly efficient electrochemical system that will allow achieving substantial cost reductions and high efficiency compared to the stateof-the-art SOFCs. The potential impact on the economy, the environment and in general the social life is expected to be positively revolutionary as it is expected to change our way of thinking and physical resources utilization for a self sustainable social development both in Europe and globally.

Progress to date
Project in negotiation phase.

Project web-page http://www.matsilc.com

Figure 1 gives a graphical representation of the work packages and the work package leaders

87

Development of novel, efficient and validated software-based tools for PEM fuel cell component and stack-designers PEMTOOL
Problems addressed
The heart of a typical PEM fuel cell, as shown in Figure 1, consists of a polymer electrolyte membrane, anode and cathode catalytic layers, backing layers and flow channels. During operation, a wide array of physical phenomena can occur, involving mass, momentum, species, heat and charge transfer. In addition, there are electrochemical reactions, liquid water production, Ohmic heating and so on. Understanding these interactions in order to design PEM fuel cells requires experimentallyvalidated mathematical modelling. However, it is often difficult to make measurements in the heart of a cell, which is typically only a couple of millimeters across in total. In addition, the actual situation is threedimensional and time-dependent, leading to lengthy model solution computation times. However, mathematical analysis, and rapid numerical software, in tandem with a coordinated experimental approach, will be use to develop novel, efficient and validated software tools.

Technical approach
The consortium consists of 7 partners from 3 countries. The partners roles are as follows (see also Figure 2): 3 SMEs whose core business involved the design and development of PEM fuel cells, and one which develops numerical software, specify a list of primary issues of interest in PEM fuel cells. 2 RTD performers supply theoretical knowledge. Theory is then programmed into software (Comsol Multiphysics). SMEs perform experiments on PEM fuel cells, both to determine material input data necessary for modelling, and output necessary for model validation. A large end-user performs experiments on a PEM fuel cell stack, which the validated models help to optimize.

Objectives
The proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is a promising alternative to traditional power sources for a wide range of portable, automotive and stationary applications. However, reductions in cost and improvements in both performance and reliability must both be achieved before mass commercialisation of PEM fuel cells can occur. Both of these depend principally on the design and properties of cell components and stacks that are developed by SMEs. In order to be able to design and construct as cheap, efficient and reliable a PEM fuel cell as possible, it is necessary to be able to understand qualitatively and predict quantitatively how it functions. To do this more effectively, experimental methods must be complemented by modelling. This project aims to provide SMEs with novel, efficient and validated modelling tools, in the form of computer software, which will enable them to develop betterperforming fuel cell-related products more efficiently.

Figure 1 Heart of a PEM fuel cell

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INFORMATION
Contract number 508341 Programme Horizontal Research Activities involving SMEs Starting date 31st May 2005 Duration 24 months Total cost 1.18 million EC funding 0.82 million Coordinator Dr. Michael Vynnycky Kungl Tekniska Hgskolan Osquars Backe 18 SE-100 44 Stockholm Sweden Partners
Cellkraft AB SE Comsol AB SE Environment Park S.P.A. IT Fundacion INASMET ES Hysytech S.R.L. IT Volvo Technology Corporation SE

Figure 2 PEMTOOL work structure

Expected impact
After 24 months from the start of the project, there should exist efficient and validated software tools that can be used for optimising PEM fuel cell design and which lead to the following measurable achievements: Accelerate the development cycle, in terms of time, for PEM fuel cell product development by 50-60%. Cut the cost of PEM fuel cell product development by 50-60%. Improve PEM fuel cell performance by 30-50%.

Progress to date
A common list of primary issues of interest has been established. Key data on the material properties of PEM fuel cell components has been measured experimentally. Mathematical models for kinetic and transport phenomena and structure mechanics analysis have been derived.

Project web-page www.pemtool.net

89

Realising Reliable, Durable, Energy Efficient and Cost Effective SOFC Systems Real-SOFC
Problems addressed
Understanding of aging of SOFC for industrial applications Improved and new materials, components, cells and con-cepts for systems with increased dura-bility and performance Manufacturing of cells and stacks Standardisation of SOFCs and test methods Environmental aspects of SOFC operation. Step 3: Communal review and assessment after 30 months; agreement on Generation 3 standard by definition after 36 months, agreement on further progress and possible re-adjustment of working programme; final testing (> 3000 hrs.) of Gen 3 components.

Objectives
The aim of the Integrated Project Real-SOFC is to work towards solving the generic problems of degradation with planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) in a concerted action of the European fuel cell industry and research institutions. This includes gaining full understanding of degradation processes, finding solutions to reduce ageing and producing improved materials that will then be tested in cells and stacks. In close co-operation between industry and research institutions the following steps are to be accomplished: Improved understanding of ageing phenomena in planar SOFC stacks considering all modes of operation, including long-term testing over 10.000 hours, thermal cycling up to 100 cycles, and the influences of fuel composition, operation temperature, current etc. These results will flow into: Adaptation of materials and protective coatings in order to reduce ageing to well below 0,5%/1000 hours. The modified materials then are used in: Manufacturing of improved components under commercial conditions and subsequent characterisation in long-term and cycling tests re-referring to step 1. Besides the materials development, the project addresses the topics of: Assessment of the environmental impact, the restrictions on industrial handling and recycling options for the materials used Standardisation as a means of achieving comparability of results, high quality testing specimen, and eventually lowering costs and improving industry competitiveness, and Training and dissemination as a tool of human resource management and a contribution towards gender equality. Following the state-of-the-art first testing campaign at the start of the project, two further feedback loops are being performed for the second and third generation of cells and stacks.

Expected impact
Geometric volume, compactness: high power density > 0,6 W/cm2 cell area at 700C. Lifetime, reliability, durability operation: 10.000 h of operation at degradation <0,5%/1000 hrs at operating temperatures T 800C. Lifetime verification: Lifetime models, Advanced testing procedures for lifetime prediction. CO2 reduction/Sustainability of energy supply: Suitability for biogas and syngas from biomass gasification. Sulphur tolerance > 10ppm. Cost competitiveness: potential for stack costs < 2500 /kW at 800C. SOFC Testing Standards and System Integration Interface. High reproducibility of results: European Agreement on SOFC Quality Assurance. Minimisation of environmental impact: SOFC Life Cycle Inventory and Analysis.

Technical approach
The project aims at generating materials and components of two subsequent waves of improvements, termed Generation 2 and 3. Step 1: Characterisation and collection of existing data for materials at the state-of-theart stage at the beginning of the project; continuous development of new materials and access to analysis data by all project participants for review and inclusion in their component development. Step 2: Communal review and assessment after 12 months; agreement on Generation 2 standard by definition after 18 months, agreement on further progress and possible re-adjustment of working programme; beginning of long-term testing (> 10 000 hrs.) on basis of Generation 2; further continuous development of new materials as above.

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INFORMATION
Contract number 502612 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st February 2004
Human resources: Joint training and high student (and staff) mobility in the fuel cell field. Dissemination: International networking. Gender equality: Equal opportunities regardless of sex, religion and origin. Second year results on cathode, electrolyte and anode materials induced a change in project planning and focussing on the most promising options achievable within the time frame. Re-definition of degradation to relate directly to physical properties of cells and stacks. Expansion of testing conditions in order to simulate operating conditions nearer to real SOFC system operation and induce higher damage on cells within the 3000 hour tests.

Duration 48 months Total cost 18.26 million EC funding 9.0 million Coordinator Dr. Robert Steinberger-Wilckens Forschungszentrum Jlich GmbH DE-52425 Jlich Germany Partners
Commisariat lnergie Atomique FR Deutsches Zentrum fr Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. DE Electricit de France FR ENERGOPROECT AD BG Energy research Centre of the Netherlands NL Entwicklungs- und Vertriebsgesellschaft Brennstoffzelle mbH DE Foundation for Research & Technology Hellas EL Gaz de France FR H.C. Starck GmbH DE Hexis AG CH HTceramix SA CH Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medecine UK Plansee SE AT Ris National Laboratory DK Rolls Royce Fuel Cell Systems Ltd UK Stiftelsen for industriell og teknisk forskning ved Norges NO Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Technical Research Centre of Finland FI Testing and Research CH Topse Fuel Cells A/S DK Ugine-Alz (Groupe Arcelor) FR University of Birmingham UK University of Chemical Technology & Metallurgy BG Universit di Genova IT University of St Andrews UK Wrtsil Corporation FI

Progress to date
Conclusion of state of the art baseline testing. Generation 2 prototypes tested and G2 stacks defined. First long term test (>10 000 hours) on G2 initiated. Generation 3 prototype testing has begun. Choice of interconnect steels reduced to three candidate materials, all with protective coating.

Project web-page http://www.real-sofc.org

91

Demonstration of SOFC stack technology for operation at 600C

SOFC600

Problems addressed
The main barriers for the introduction of SOFC based systems for combined heat and power generation and auxiliary power for transport applications are the lifetime of stacks and costs of systems. The operating temperature of the SOFC system is an important parameter determining both aspects. Degradation mechanisms that limit lifetime are generally thermally activated like sintering of electrodes, stability of phases and mutual reactivity of components, and these will be slowed down significantly by decreasing the operating temperature. Furthermore the currently high operating temperature (around 800C) of SOFC systems necessitates the application of expensive high temperature steels for SOFC stacks and balance of plant (BOP) components. Besides expensive materials, rotating equipment, sensors, actuators etc, generally require complicated and thereby expensive construction solutions. Reducing the operating temperature of SOFC stacks and systems offers the following advantages: Decreased rate of thermally activated degradation mechanisms of the cell components. Decreased Cr evaporation and deposition in the cathode. Lower contribution to the degradation rate of the repeating unit because of the decreased corrosion rate of the interconnect materials. Reduced magnitude of phenomena related to mismatch of thermal expansion coefficients of cell and stack components. Facilitate additional options for stack seals, especially metal-based compressive seals. Facilitate the use of cheaper commercially available steels and simplified construction of BOP components, hence reducing costs. Whilst the degradation rate of virtually all stack components is assumed to be considerably reduced by the lower operating temperature, the major challenge for the project will be the development of components that equal the performance of state-of-the-art components at 800C.

Objectives
The project aims to develop Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) stack components for operation in the temperature interval between 550 and 650C, for systems that can meet commercial lifetime and cost requirements.

Technical approach:
The project is subdivided in seven work packages: Work package 1 comprises all the cell development activities. This WP is subdivided in four tasks, on the three specific cell components, anode, electrolyte and cathode and the integration of the components into cells. Work package 2 works on the selection and development of combinations of interconnect materials and contact coatings. In Work package 3, stack-sealing options for low temperature SOFC operation are addressed. Fine grained, possibly nano-sized powders are developed and manufactured in Work package 4, supporting the cell component and contact coating developments. The evaluation of cells, repeating units and (short) stacks is executed in Work package 5, applying test procedures defined in the FCTESTnet project. Finally, Work package 6 will deal with all communication, dissemination and training issues, in close cooperation with such activities in the RealSOFC project. The project comprises three phases. In phase 1, which is active during the first 18 months, the best available state-of-the-art cells and

92

INFORMATION
Contract number 020089 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st March 2006 Duration 48 months Total cost 11.48 million EC funding 6.5 million Coordinator Bert Rietveld Energy research Centre of the Netherlands Westerduinweg 3 NL-1755 LE Petten The Netherlands Partners
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique FR Chinese Academy of Sciences CHN Commissariat lnergie Atomique FR Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics Forschungszentrum Jlich GmbH DE HTceramix SA CH National Research Council of Canada CA Nuevas Tecnologias para la Distribucin Activa de la Energa ES Ris National Laboratory DK Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research CH The Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medecine UK Topse Fuel Cells A/S DK University Court of the University of St Andrews UK Universitt Karlsruhe DE Universitt Leoben AT

Expected impact
components of the cell manufacturers will be evaluated for setting the reference and for determining the relative contributions of the components to the losses within the repeating unit. Phase 2 runs the full duration of the project. This phase addresses the development of components operated on relatively easy fuels, i.e. hydrogen and reformate compositions. Main targets for this phase are related to performance, endurance and thermal and redox cycling resistance. Phase 3, the development of advanced components, will focus on the development of components for internal reforming of natural gas, with targets related to reforming catalysis of the anode, preventing carbon deposition and sulphur tolerance. It is anticipated that an operating temperature around 600C, will alleviate many of the functional problems that caused stack failures in the past and will facilitate the use of significantly cheaper materials for stacks and systems and therefore significantly increase the feasibility of commercial product targets. Because the functionality and cost issues are generic for all envisaged applications, this project also takes a generic approach in solving these. The results will therefore facilitate progress towards deployment of SOFC based systems for small and large-scale stationary power generation as well as auxiliary power supplies for transport applications. In a wider context the project will assist considerably in the establishment of the envisaged renewable hydrogen and fuel cell based society.

Project web-page www.sofc600.eu

Progress to date
Due to the recent start of the project no significant results can be reported at this stage.

93

Development of Low Temperature Cost Effective Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

SOFCSPRAY

Problems addressed
There are two main challenges related to SOFC technology. The first refers to the need to lower the operating temperature in order to improve durability. Standard SOFCs operate at temperatures between 900-1000C. The second is related to the manufacturing costs of current SOFCs, due to the need for long thermal cycles in order to process the individual cell components adequately. These cycles require carefully controlled conditions during several hours. Both of these hurdles combine to impede the commercialisation of SOFC technology, which holds great promise for highly efficient generation of heat and power. All the partners are involved in the development and characterization of the new fuel cells and stacks. The elements (anode, cathode, electrolyte, cell interconnect) will be produced mostly by HFPD spraying and APS and will incorporate new materials that will enable a lower temperature of operation (<700C). The consortium is well balanced because all partners contribute to different aspects of the research and in particular many SMEs will be the primary beneficiaries of the research.

Objectives
The main objectives of the project are: Reduction of the working temperatures of planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) from 1000-800C to 650-700C Reduction of manufacturing costs by 50 % by using new powders and advanced thermal spraying techniques.

Expected impact
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) enable the direct conversion of the chemical energy of hydrocarbons into electricity and are drawing increasing interest as a power generation system. They possess high power generation efficiency of up to 70%. SOFCs could be used in large, high power applications including industrial and large-scale central electricity generation stations. Some

Technical approach
The partners of this project come from various fields and are strongly relevant for the success of SOFCSPRAY:

Contractor
NTDA (Nuevas Tecnologas para la Distribucin Activa de Energia S.L) FUCELLCO (FUCELLCO AG) CTI (Cramiques Techniques Industrielles) FC (FUELCON AG) TMQ (TELEMAQ)

Role in the Consortium

Coordinator, develops and industrializes SOFC

Manufacturer of stacks, manufactures the stacks Manufacturer of the technical porous ceramic, produces SOFC cathode and anode Expert in testing of SOFC, provides SOFC testing Validates the stack performance in their own systems Thermal spray expert

INASMET (INASMET Foundation) FZJ (JUELICH Research Centre GmbH)

Expert in SOFC and ceramic powders

94

INFORMATION
Contract number 508266 Programme Horizontal Research Activities involving SMEs Starting date 13 April 2005
developers also see potential for SOFC use in motor vehicles and are developing fuel cell auxiliary power units. The proposed activity contributes to the implementation of EU policies in several fields: The SOFCSPRAY project acts toward the European Directive on National Emissions Ceilings (NECD) 1 to reach 2010 targets for the NOx and SO2. This project contributes to the long-term progressive development of fuel cell co-generation systems by increasing the quality and efficiency of SOFC and by reducing their costs. This will lead to the diminution of CO2 emissions in Europe, and in achieving the emissions reduction targets outlined in the Kyoto protocol. The tendency towards decentralized electricity production in Europe is reinforced by increasing regulations requiring the use of waste heat produced through electricity production. Fuel cells in general, assisted by this project in particular can play a major role in this increasing sector. In SOFCSPRAY, end-user (TELEMAQ) intends to use new cost effective SOFC 1.5 kW stacks for urban light electric vehicles and as power sources for professional tools (agricultural applications). SOFCSPRAY contributes directly to a reduction of European energetic dependence. The project objectives correspond to the green paper Towards a European strategy for the security of energy supply. 2 powders to be used. Furthermore, potential suppliers have been investigated on costs, product quality and suitability of the supplier. Work has also concentrated on the development of the electrolyte. Following the latest results in this field, it was decided to employ the HFPD and APS processes instead of the proposed HVOF and MPS processes. The process parameters have been successfully optimized for all delivered ScSZ powders, leading to highly dense and hard electrolyte layers. Further optimization will probably be needed, pending test results on button cells. To date there has been no successful result achieved for CGO powders. Some modifications of the thermal spray gun were carried out to improve the process ability of the CGO powders by HFPD spraying; results to be delivered soon. In addition, the powders have been tested for performance, as well as for their the flow and feed ability of the powders. The LSCF cathode slurry was prepared and specific tests were executed to lay the slurry on disk (painting). The electrolyte layers by HFPD spraying have been successfully developed. Furthermore, button cells have been prepared, as well as developed an engineering approach on stack cells due to the optimization of the coating procedure for stack cells. A test rig for cell and stack testing has been designed and installed. The design is based on the Fucellco fuel cell system. The test rig geometry is the one of the system. Current installations allow single cell testing with hydrogen or reformed methanol. Work has also been done on the test system for the methanol reformer, heat management and gas distribution devices.

Duration 24 months Total cost 1.18 million EC funding 0.61 million Coordinator Ms. Marta Gonzlez Eguizbal NTDA Energa ES-46022 Valencia Spain Partners
Cramiques Techniques et Industrielles FR Forschunngszentrum Jlich GmbH DE Fucellco AG CH Fuelcon AG DE Inasmet Foundation ES Telemaq FR

Project web-page www.sofcspray.com

Progress to date
Work has been performed on industrial applications selection, fuel cell system design and optimisation as well as fuel cell system specification and stack specification. Data on the materials for fabrication of the coatings have been collected to define the
1 2

COM(1999) 125-1 final COM(2000) 769 final

95

Biomass Fuel Cell Utility System

BIOCELLUS

Problems addressed
Biomass energy systems need to be highly efficient at a small-scale to achieve cost effective solutions for decentralized generation. In warmer climates and for applications with little heat demand, high system efficiencies are needed as little or no revenue can be realized for a heat product. Fuel cells are an attractive option for distributed generation from biomass and agricultural residues. Due to their robustness Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) are especially suited to the use of gaseous fuels from biomass. They operate with exhaust gas temperatures between 800C and 1000C and are able to convert not only hydrogen but also carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. However, even if the fuel gas matches the strict requirements of SOFC membranes, the main challenge of the conversion of biogenous fuel gas is to achieve the required efficiency of the fuel cell system. Common biomass fuel cell systems with realistic boundary conditions will hardly reach efficiencies above 30% due to the low hydrogen and methane content of biogenous fuel gases. This reduces the fuel cell efficiency and the physical limitation of the cold gas efficiency of any gasification system. Thus the system performance and the thermal integration of the gasification process is of particular importance. The TopCycle concept can achieve system efficiencies of at least 40-50%, even within a power range of few tens or hundreds of kW.

Objectives
Fuel cell systems for biomass have to meet at least two outstanding challenges: Fuel cell materials and the gas cleaning technologies have to treat high dust loads of the fuel gas and gas pollutants like tars alkalines and heavy metals. The system integration has to achieve efficiencies of at least 40 50 percent even within a power range of few tens or hundreds of kW in order to achieve a cost target of 0.05 /kW. The BioCellus project addresses in particular these two aims the investigation of the pollutants impact on the fuel cell and the development and demonstration of an integrated fuel cell system which meets the special requirements of biofuels.

applicable gasification technologies. A long term test at a commercial gasification site will demonstrate the selected gas cleaning technologies in order to verify the specifications obtained from the gasification tests. The results will be used for the development, installation and testing of an innovative SOFC Gasification concept, which will especially match the particular requirements of fuel cell systems for the conversion of biomass feedstock. The innovative concept involves heating an allothermal gasifier with the exhaust heat of the fuel cell by means of liquid metal heat pipes. Internal cooling of the stack and the recirculation of waste heat increases the system efficiency significantly. This so-called TopCycle concept promises electrical efficiencies of above 50 percent even for small-scale systems without any combined processes.

Expected impact Technical approach

The Biocellus Project addresses the two outstanding challenges outlined above. Hence the first part of the project will focus on the investigation of the impact of pollutants on the degradation and performance characteristics of SOFC fuel cells in order to specify the requirements for appropriate gas cleaning system. These tests will be performed at four existing gasification sites, which represent the most common and The main three results of the project will be: Identification of the performance characteristics of SOFC membranes (polarization curves: cell voltage with respect to the current density) for different gas compositions and varying operational conditions. Measuring the cell voltage and its degradation under realistic conditions is necessary for a reliable estimation of the fuel cell efficiency. In addition, the project will investigate the requirements for the

96

INFORMATION
Contract number 502759 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st July 2004 Duration 36 months Total cost 3.36 million EC funding 2.5 million Coordinator Dr.-Ing. J. Karl TU Mnchen Lehrstuhl fr Energiesysteme Boltzmannstrasse 15 DE-74758 Garching Germany Partners
gas conditioning system and the economic assessment of upcoming SOFC concepts based on biomass feedstock. The project will accomplish the design and demonstration of an appropriate gas cleaning concept, which matches the severe requirements of SOFC systems. The project will achieve design and demonstration of an innovative stack and system design (internal stack cooling by means of heatpipes) which meets the special requirements of highly efficient fuel cell systems with integrated gasification of biomass and wastes. This will be measured and evaluated by means of a detailed cost analysis based on the chosen system design. degradation of the membranes was observed during short term testing, the longest lasting 168 hours. The testing will be continued at one other gasifier with different testing parameters. In order to perform these tests at the gasifiers, a gas cleaning device has been designed and built which comprises desulphurization, particle removal and pre-reforming. The pre-reforming can be bypassed in order to examine the effects of higher hydrocarbons on the performance of SOFCs. The gas cleaning device has proved its functionality and reliability during the tests at the different gasifiers, as no degradation was observed during the 24 hour testing. It will be further improved and adapted for the long term testing at a commercial gasification site. An innovative stack design which implements the TopCycle concept, with its high efficiencies by means of heatpipes, has been devised for planar and tubular fuel cells. These two designs achieve an effective heat transfer from the stack towards the gasifier and an isothermal temperature distribution within the stack, which avoids carbon deposition. The two concepts will be tested by initially building short prototype stacks. After this, the consortium will choose the most promising concept to be realized through a 5kW stack.
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki EL COWI DK DM2 GmbH DE Energy research Centre of the Netherlands NL HTM Reetz GmbH DE Institut fr Wrmetechnik TU Graz AT iT Consult DE MAB Anlagenbau AT National Technical University Athens EL Prototech NO Siemens DE Technical University of Denmark DK TU Delft NL Universitt Stuttgart IKE DE University Lubljana Powder technology SL

Project web-page www.biocellus.de

Progress to date
In order to characterize the performance of SOFC membranes with different gas compositions and varying operational conditions two test rigs have been designed and built, one for planar and one for tubular SOFCs. With the help of these test rigs preliminary tests using synthetic wood gas have been carried out in order to identify degradation processes with gas mixtures of hydrocarbons. After the successful testing with synthetic gases, tests at three different gasifiers have been carried out. At all gasifiers, two fixed bed and one fluidized bed gasifier, no

97

Flexible Ecological Multipurpose Advanced Generator

FEMAG

Problems addressed
Fuel Cells based systems have the potential to replace, in principle, every battery powered electric system. In addition, they can also be applied in many more applications currently impossible for battery powered systems for reasons of autonomy and therefore presently performed by internal combustion engines. For generic, all purpose applications, fuel cells need to be combined with battery storage and ultra capacitors, operating in a symbiotic hybrid mode to effectively meet the varying load requirements of each specific application at the lowest cost and the most responsive operating mode. The project involves both experimental and computational optimisation of aggregated systems, and exploits experimental design to set up rigorous testing activities. Experimental design is a very powerful and comprehensive methodology, allowing the project team to plan and carry out experiments in such a way that maximum possible information is gained. It is very useful in the investigation of several aspects in the course of knowledge acquisition from experimental data.

Objectives
FEMAG intends to explore the optimised integration of components and power aggregates, delivering a small power energy generator. This will be based on the integration of a fuel cell with a battery pack and supercapacitors, for flexible supply at variable power of small portable non-automotive devices.

Expected impact
The expected outcomes of the FEMAG project are the following: Define and test suitable design configurations for power systems in the range from 0.125 to 1 kW based on the integration of PEMFC with complementary power ancillaries Develop symbiotic hybrid modes to effectively meet the varying load requirements of each specific application at the lowest cost and the most responsive operating mode Identify adequate set of components for such systems (batteries, ultra-capacitors and controllers) Certify the boundary conditions within which such systems are able to operate reliably Develop and demonstrate and advanced expert system for the design of complex generators based on FCs in the range of 0.125 to 1 kW Deliver a low-end (250W) prototype demonstrative generator powering a wheelchair for people with disabilities Deliver a high-end (1 kW) prototype demonstrative generator powering an industrial AGV.

Technical approach
FEMAG proposes to develop a product which is based on Fuel Cells, but is combined with all the components required to make its application flexible, simple and able to satisfy not only a base power consumption, but also relative peaks of consumption of associated machines, within utilisation profiles prefixed at the design stage. Design criteria will be incorporated into an expert system for the design of aggregated generators basing on boundary utilisation profiles. FEMAG methodology is based on the integration of commercial and pre-commercial devices and components, and targets high replicability as a main aspect. The aggregated FEMAG generator will be designed around the criteria of minimising fuel cell rated power, entrusting to backup batteries and ultra-capacitors the supply of power transients, and put the cell in the condition to work only at fixed power output, extending its life.

98

INFORMATION
Contract number 508119 Programme Horizontal Research Activities involving SMEs Starting date 15th September 2004
Prototypes are being built and will be tested, initially in the laboratory environment. A further integration of the generators in the proposed demonstrators (AGV and wheelchair) is foreseen in the next few months. A comprehensive Simulink-Matlab model has been developed as a pre-requisite for the expert system design. The Simulink model is yet to be extensively validated, but is used to generate virtual experiments that integrate the different set of components. The experimental design technique has to be used to generate the maximum knowledge with the minimum effort. The results expected by the contemporary application of this technique will lead the consortium to an optimization tool able to match the project requirements (costs, autonomy, performance), with a proper sizing of the main components. The next test sessions will lead to a validation of the SimulinkMatlab model that will then be used as a virtual knowledge generator.

Progress to date
The work performed in the framework of the FEMAG project has generally followed the path outlined in the proposal, and the outcomes of the project, from a technical standpoint, are satisfactory and consistent with the expected achievements. The consortium has performed extensive market surveys regarding fuel cells, super-capacitors, batteries, and metal hydride tanks for hydrogen storage during the first year of the project. Several units have been identified as suitable for the scope of the project and have been selected for prototyping different versions of the FEMAG generator. A controller that couples the super-capacitors pack and the FC, has been designed and a suitable symbiotic model has been developed and implemented inside the coupling devices, exploiting the power available from different sources.

Duration 24 months Total cost 1.06 million EC funding 0.59 million Coordinator Alfredo Picano LABOR S.r.l. Via Giacomo Peroni 386 c/o Tecnopolo Tiburtino IT-00131 Roma Italy Partners
AGT S.r.l IT Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma E IT Enertron GmbH DE IBE Ingenieria Bioenergetica S.L. ES Molecular Networks GmbH DE Nouva Fima IT SZWED sp.o.o. PL TU Graz AT Universit degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata IT

Project web-page www.labor-eu.net

99

Fuel Flexible, Air-regulated, Modular, and Electrically Integrated SOFC-System FlameSOFC

Problems addressed
The overall proposed technological solution is significantly simpler and innovative in comparison to existing practice, implying formidable challenges. The proposed solution will incorporate the following: No sensitive catalysts are used for the fuel processing, enabling an exceptionally long durability. No de-ionized water management will be needed. The large operational windows of the individual components and the additional operational safety given by the soot trap yield a robust non-sensitive design. Multi-fuel feedstock is enabled. Up-scalable and potentially low-cost SOFC technology is applied.

Technical approach
The proposed system will generate electrical power from a range of gaseous and liquid fuels. The overall system is split up into three main sections: the fuel processing stage, the SOFC stack with power electronics and the BoP section. In both cases the fuels will be desulphurized at the system entrance. As the fuel has to be in the gas phase when entering the reformer, liquid fuels will be vapor-ized in a cool flame unit (Figure 2) and reformed in a TPOX catalyst-free reformer based on a porous ceramic structure (Figure 3). Any soot produced will be trapped in a tailored SiC wall-flow monolith prior to feed of a planar SOFC module (Figure 1).

Objectives
The overall objective of the FlameSOFC project is the development of an innovative SOFCbased micro-CHP system capable to operate with different fuels and fulfilling all technological and market requirements at a European level. The main focus concerning the multifuel flexibility lies on different natural gas qualities and LPG, but also on liquid fuels (diesel like heating oil, industrial gas oil (IGO) and renewables, like FAME). The target nominal net electrical output is 2 kWe (stack electrical output ca. 2.5 kW), which is expected to represent the future mainstream high volume mass market for micro-CHPs.

Figure 1

100

INFORMATION
Contract number 019875 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st October 2005

Expected impact
The project is divided in three subsequent phases: Definition of specifications, components development and lab-scale integration (months 0-18). Full-scale system prototype development (months 19-36). System evaluation/demonstration (months 37-48). In order to achieve a fast market impact of the FlameSOFC micro-CHP unit the main scientific, technological and cost achievements expected may be summarized as follows: Net electrical power of >2 kW with a 4:1 turndown ratio Overall electrical efficiency >30% Total CHP efficiency >90% 2 tons annual CO2 reduction per unit (compared to condensing boiler and European electricity mix) Fuels: natural gas, LPG, biogas, heating oil and FAME representing all major European feedstocks including renewables at the domestic level Start-up time: < 60 minutes Long term durability of >30.000 h Overall micro-CHP unit target costs of <1950 (for series production >20.000 pieces per year).

Duration 48 months Total cost 12.26 million EC funding 7.5 million Coordinator Dr. Jrgen Valldorf VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH Rheinstrasse 10B DE-14513 Tettow Germany Partners
Budapest University of Technology and Economics HU EBZ Entwicklungs- und Vertriebsgesellschaft Brennstoffzelle mbH DE EC BREC Instytut Energetyki Odnawialnej PL Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne CH ELCO Shared Services GmbH DE Energy research Centre of the Netherlands NL Fagor Electrodomesticos S. Coop. Ltda. ES Friedrich-Alexander-Universitt ErlangenNrnberg DE HTceramix SA CH Ikerlan Technological Research Centre ES Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine UK Instituto Superior Tcnico PT Merloni TermoSanitari SpA IT National Technical University of Athens EL l-Wrme-Institut GmbH DE PMC Porous Media Combustion GmbH DE Politecnico di Torino IT Stobbe Tech Ceramics ApS DK TU Bergakademie Freiberg DE

Progress to date
The project just started recently. Specifications and system architecture have been defined and the project has entered the component development phase.

Project web-page www.flamesofc.org

Figure 2

Figure 3

101

SOFC Fuel Cell Fuelled by Biomass Gasification Gas

GREEN-FUEL-CELL

Problems addressed
The resulting challenge is to prepare a basic design for a full-scale (1-50 MWth) innovative gasifier and gas treatment system for integrated biomass gasification SOFC systems with the following expectations: Tar content of the gas < 10 mg tar/ Nm3 gas. Cold gas efficiency > 85% for the whole gasification process Carbon conversion > 99% Minimal process waste streams and by-products so as to reduce the environmental impact of the waste from the gasifier and the operational cost. Two new designed up-scalable staged gasifiers are being developed, integrating tar removal technologies based on char beds. 2 different char-bed systems (with or without bed material) are being developed and tested at laboratory and pilot scale. The advantages of both designs will be further evaluated and compared. A specific and more fundamental task aims at better understanding tar formation and their destruction in char beds in order to minimize the tar content in the gas. In addition, the performance of a SOFC is investigated in relation to the presence of organic compounds (representing tars) and inorganic impurities in the feed gas in order to determine the required gas specification for its possible utilization in a SOFC. According to these specifications, a complete train of dry gas cleaning system, downstream of the gasifier, will be implemented and the operation parameters will be identified. Finally a long term testing of two complete integrated gasification-fuel cell stacks plants will be performed on woody biomass, for at least 100 hours each.

Objectives
The project aims at developing an innovative biomass-to-electricity concept with high electric efficiency based on SOFC-technology combined with gasification process. The main objective is thus to produce a gas suitable for SOFC application through reliable, upscalable and cost-effective staged gasification of biomass, with less environmental problems from streams containing tars or char. The overall technical objective is to develop a tar decomposition and gas cleaning system that can be integrated to biomass gasifiers.

Technical approach
The technical idea of this project is to design an upscalable char bed that can be integrated into existing gasifiers in order to reduce tar concentrations to a level low enough to avoid tar-related problems in an SOFC-system. Indeed, char has been proven to be suitable as catalytic agent for the reduction of tar concentration at high temperatures (900C or higher).

Figure 1 Units of the system and the associated work packages

102

INFORMATION
Contract number 503122 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st September 2004

Expected impact
The two suggested concepts are innovative gasification technologies, which enable an efficient conversion of biomass into a tar free gas product. As the gas produced is expected to be a clean gas with very low tar content and because appropriate dry clean system will solve inorganic contamination, various applications can be considered including fuel synthesis. The achievement within the project will be the two fuel cells coupled to gasifiers for at least 100 hours each. the origin of char. At RIS, experiments with isotopes labelled compounds aim at determining the mechanisms of irreversible binding. Inorganics behaviour and modelling Thermodynamic calculations were performed by CEA to evaluate the composition of syngas at equilibrium, taking into account the conditions of gasification. For condensable species in the gas, the range of temperature where condensation occurs is determined for each species. This is of importance for corrosion risks evaluation and also for gas cleaning strategy. Gas cleaning system A dry gas cleaning system is currently being designed in order to reduce the levels of particles, S-compounds, Cl-compounds and alkali to a level acceptable by the SOFC. 3 gas cleaning trains (2 lab scales and 1 pilot scale) are going to be dimensioned and built. ICT has constructed the facility and performed experiments to test the efficiency of sorbents that will be used, mainly with regards to HCl and H2S. SOFC vs pollutants So far, the sensitivity of a single SOFC was investigated with respect to organic compounds with synthetic pre-mixed gases. There was no impact of C2H2 and C2H4, which are reformed. Toluene is reformed but induces a degradation of the cell due to carbon deposition. Naphtalene creates a sharp and irreversible degradation. This degradation might be decreased or avoided by increasing the H2O content and/or limiting the maximum allowable concentration of the organic compounds. The facility aiming at studying the influence of inorganic pollutants on SOFC material is almost ready for experiments at CEA.

Duration 36 months Total cost 5.17 million EC funding 3.0 million Coordinator Dr Philippe Girard Centre de Coopration Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Dveloppement TA 10/16 FR-34398 Montpellier Cedex 5 France Partners
Commissariat lnergie Atomique FR Energy research Centre of the Netherlands NL FORCE Technology DK Institute of Chemical Technology CZ Ris DK Technical University of Denmark DK TK Energi AS DK

Progress to date
During the first 18 months of the project, the work was devoted to the following activities: Char bed gasification The two different designs are in progress of development by TKE and the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands. In both cases, cold models have been built and led to experimental data useful to the design and construction of hot lab-scale pilots which are currently being or have been tested. A pilot gasifier including a hot char bed has been designed and constructed at TKE. Tar research The activities are carried out to gain knowledge on tar formation and destruction in char beds. An analytical quantitative protocol with a SPME method is under development at CEA. Lab-scale experiments have been conducted at DTU to characterize char in terms of residual tar release. A comparison with char obtained on a pilot-scale pyrolysis unit at CIRAD is in progress. The partial oxidation mechanisms of tar destruction are being investigated at DTU. Experiments are in progress at RIS and CIRAD to study tar destruction in char beds, with regards to the nature of tars and

Project web-page http://gfc.force.dk

103

Compact Direct (M)Ethanol Fuel Cell for Portable Application

MOREPOWER

Problems addressed
The effective operation at this low temperature is particularly challenging and can be achieved by the development of: New low-cost proton exchange membranes with reduced fuel crossover. New electro-catalyst materials with enhanced low temperature (m)ethanol electro-oxidation activity of the anode. New catalyst for the cathode with enhanced oxygen reduction activity and decreased adsorption of carbon monoxide. Optimised structure of the electro-catalyst and electrode for efficient operation at low temperatures with practical flows and pressures. Optimised, simplified and miniaturised design of the DMFC device. the membrane electrode assembly. The DMFC design is based on an overall system modelling design and control carried out by POLITO together with CRF, NFCT and NFCC basing on the chemical/electrochemical reaction description. Methodologies for tests have been developed by CRF together with IMM and NFCT. The construction of the DMFC is the task of IMM.

Objectives
The objective of the MOREPOWER project is the development of a low cost, low temperature portable direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) device of compact construction and modular design. The aimed electrical characteristics are 40 A, 12.5 V (maximum power 500 W) with a single cell performance of 0.5V/cell at 0.2A/cm2 at 30-60C in atmospheric pressure air.

Expected impact
Portable fuel cells are assumed to be the first to have an established market, followed by mobile and stationary fuel cells. Fuel cells are clean technology with low emission levels and could mainly work on the basis of renewable fuels. Methanol and ethanol can be produced from biomass (i.e. cellulosic material, mostly wood) in large scale. Their utilisation in fuel cells will contribute to replace conventional power systems which work on fossil fuels or electrochemical batteries and will lead to reduced CO2 emissions. In this sense it will also help to meet the targets of the Kyoto Protocol. The project goal is the development of a market competitive compact portable fuel cell, suitable for devices such as weather stations, medical devices, signal units, APUs, gas sensors, and security cameras. Here the fuel cell will ensure a much longer power autonomy and will enable the use of different devices even in remote areas.

Technical approach
The development of new polymer electrolyte materials is the task of GKSS and Solvay. GKSS is also developing new inorganic modifications for further improvement of the proton conducting materials. Catalyst and MEA development is carried out by JM and CNR. Anode catalysts for methanol and ethanol electro-oxidation with enhanced activity and cathode catalysts with improved alcohol tolerance than the platinum black materials have to be developed. The application of nanotechnology and the examination of new compositions of transition metals are tools to achieve the goals. JM and CNR are also developing

104

INFORMATION
Contract number 502652 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st February 2004 Duration 36 months Total cost 3.93 million EC funding 2.15 million Coordinator Dr. Suzana Pereira Nunes GKSS Forschungszentrum Institute of Polymer Research Max-Planck-Strasse 1 DE-21502 Geesthacht Germany Partners
Centro Ricerche Fiat IT Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Istituto di Tecnologie Avanzate per lEnergia Nicola Giordano IT Institut fr Mikrotechnik Mainz DE Johnson Matthey UK Nedstack Components NL Nedstack Fuel Cell Technology NL Politecnico di Torino IT Solvay SA BE

Progress to date
Solvay and GKSS have developed new proton exchange membranes, with methanol crossover rate significantly lower than that of currently available materials (e.g. Nafion). GKSS has focused on the inorganic modification of a membrane supplied by Solvay with low cross-linking level (CDS100), inorganic modification of sulfonated poly (ether ether ketones) and the development of new functionalized fillers. SOLVAY has pursued its efforts on membrane optimization exploiting its radio-chemically grafting technology. Two membrane prototypes have been scaled up to semi-industrial reactor. The Morgane N100-40V has been selected for the 500W demonstration stack of the project. At JM a series of new Pt catalysts have been developed with the aim of tailoring the catalyst/support specifically for DMFC operation. These materials offered a 75% reduction of Pt content and similar intrinsic activity to Pt black whilst running on pure oxygen. Significant progress has been made over the last six months to control the diffusion properties of the catalyst layer within the MEA. MEAs have now been tested and the cathode performance with a low loaded carbon supported catalyst was similar to that of Pt black on air. A colloidal preparation procedure was developed by the CNR-ITAE for the preparation of the anode and cathode catalysts. In the latter case, the colloidal procedure was followed by an impregnation step. For the anode, 85% Pt-Ru (1:1)/C bifunctional catalysts were prepared and optimised in terms of morphological and physico-chemical properties. For the oxygen reduction process, 60% Pt- 5% Fe/C, 60% Pt- 5% Cu/C and 60% Pt- 5% Co/C catalysts were produced within the project with optimised morphological properties to mitigate the effects of methanol crossover (mixed potential at the cathode). A maximum power density of about 90 mW/cm2 in the presence of PtRu (1:1)/C (2.2 nm particle size) and PtFe/C catalyst was achieved. MEA fabrication was also carried out by JM and CNR. The large area single cell results obtained by Nedstack were quite similar to those obtained for the small single cells. Therefore there is no limitation for the MEA scaling up. The MEA performance is also dependant on the flow distribution. IMM has designed, built and has finished most of the testing of the first generation prototype devices originally planned for the liquid management system of the MOREPOWER fuel cell, namely a cold start heater, a humidity-heat exchanger, a gasliquid separator, a radiator and a catalytic afterburner. An electrochemical sensor for detecting the MeOH concentration in aqueous solution was conceived, manufactured and tested by CRF. The device is based on the electro-oxidation of MeOH under limiting current conditions.

Project web-page http://morepower.gkss.de/mpower.html

105

The Next Generation of Stationary microCHP Fuel Cells

NextGenCell

Problems addressed
Designed as a joint EU and US collaborative effort within the framework of the EU-US Cooperation Agreement on fuel cells, NextGenCell aims to take the next step towards commercialisation for domestic fuel cell microCHP systems. In FP5 Vaillant, Plug Power, and other European partners have successfully demonstrated low temperature PEM fuel cell microCHP systems. Three major hurdles were identified: Costs must be reduced significantly Reliability must be improved via system simplification System temperature must be increased. High Temperature (HT) PEM MEA technology at 160-180C has the potential to overcome those hurdles. R&D on MEA, Fuel Cell System, components development and integration will lead to a developed and tested 5 kW HT PEM fuel cell prototype microCHP system with modular design for global markets. The mechanical robustness of the MEA needs to be improved to meet the requirements of stationary applications, in addition, the MEAs have to be adapted to the operational cycles and the conditions of stationary, residential applications. The Fuel Cell System is a subassembly of the NextGenCell system and includes the HT Fuel Cell stack as well as all components necessary to operate it, such as fuel processor, pumps, blowers, valves and a Fuel Cell System controller. The High Temperature technology allows significant system simplification and requires different operating conditions, which will be addressed in the NextGenCell project. The modular system design of the Fuel Cell System will enable easy development of point products for different market applications, such as a Fuel Cell microCHP system for the European market as well as combination with components (e.g. inverters, controls) for the Japanese or US market. The High Temperature Fuel Cell System must be integrated with CHP system components to complete the NextGenCell microCHP system. Development of the CHP system will concentrate on low cost component development and system integration. The overall CHP controller (Energy Manager) has to be improved to achieve robust system operation in existing hydraulic systems and scalability for different target applications. NextGenCell will address specific objectives for the US application as well. The market

Objectives
NextGenCells objectives are the development and testing of a 1-5 kW High Temperature PEM fuel cell prototype microCHP system with modular design for a global market perspective.

106

INFORMATION
Contract number Under negotiation Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Coordinator Alexander Dauensteiner Vaillant GmbH Berghauser Strasse 40 DE-42859 Remschein Germany Partners
Bulgarian Academy of Science BG Domel Elektromotorji in gospodinjski aparati SL Gaia Group Oy FI Imperial Colle of Science, Technology and Medecine UK PEMEAS GmbH DE Plug Power Holland bv NL

Expected impact
for a grid connected residential product in the US is quite attractive due to the large volume, but the value proposition for the end-users is different to Europe. The exploration of different applications may drive the system design for the US to a larger Fuel Cell System, 10-15 kW, with the same technologies adopted to meet the requirements. The project will contribute to the scientific and technical objectives of developing a new and clean energy technology in the field of stationary fuel cells, which will be integrated into a sustainable energy system designed for different market applications based on a modular system design. At the end of the project, a 5 kW HT PEM fuel cell prototype microCHP system with modular design for a global market perspective is developed and tested.

Technical approach
NextGenCell is designed as a joint EU and US collaborative effort within the framework of the existing EU-US Cooperation Agreement on fuel cells. The work will be carried out by 7 European and 2 US partners.

Progress to date
Project under negotiation

107

Fuel Cell System Application in a New Configured Aircraft

CELINA
Objectives
Investigation of the technical capabilities and behaviour of an existing fuel cell system under aircraft operating conditions by means of a simulation model. Identification of the deltas between a state of the art design and a required design for aircraft application. Development of all relevant safety and certification requirements for fuel cell system on board of an aircraft.

Problems addressed
Testing of fuel cell stack under aircraft environment operating conditions, like low temperature, low pressure, vibrations. System Integration of the complete fuel cell system (the fuel cell system in-cludes a kerosene reformer, fuel cell stack, air supply, Balance of Plants and controller).

Technical approach

108

INFORMATION
Contract number 516126 Programme Aeronautics and Space Starting date 1st January 2005

Expected impact
Technology studies about Fuel Cell System applied on board an aircraft System Integration studies Modelling and Simulations Testing Complete dynamic model in September 2006. Controller model in January 2007. Complete model with all components integrated in July 2007. Identification of deltas of the complete fuel cell system in October 2007. To set the basis for a proposal for fuel cell systems with EASA in April. Top level requirements for onboard installation in December 2007.

Duration 36 months Total cost 8.1 million EC funding 4.5 million Coordinator Christine Schilo Airbus Deutschland GmbH Kreetslag 10 DE-21129 Hamburg Germany Partners
Air Liquide FR Airbus France SAS FR CNRT INEVA L2ES FR Dassault Aviation FR Deutsches Zentrum fr Luftund Raumfahrt e.V. DE European Commission JRC-IE Diehl Avionik Systeme DE Energy research Centre of the Netherlands NL European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company DE Germanischer Lloyd DE Hochschule fr Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg DE INP Toulouse FR Institute of Technical Thermodynamics DE IRD Fuel Cell A/S DK Josef Stefan Institute SI KID Systeme DE THALES AES Avionic Electrical Systems FR Universitt Hannover DE University of Patras EL

Progress to date
The project is on schedule and has achieved the following main results: Stack model/kerosene reformer model in July 2006.

109

Domestic EMergency Advanced Generator

DEMAG

Problems addressed
DEMAG intends to investigate the indoor domestic application of advanced hydrogen technologies to life saving emergency energy generators, and deliver an Emergency Power Supply (EPS), rated at 10 kWh and based on the integration of a PEM fuel cell with ultracapacitors and with a metal hydride hydrogen storage. The fuel cell is expected to provide a basic power output, whereas ultracapacitors can supply temporary peak loads. The EPS is supposed to start autonomously after a black out, but is also designed to support some limited essential functions of the sub-grid connected, according to its rated power. This means that the system does not properly match the total nominal power of the sub-grid connected, but is able to supply part of it, typically devices providing safety related functions. the Master Switch Interface, and exclude connected loads from the mains, so that DEMAG can operate within the range of its rated power.

Objectives
The future reliability of centralised energy supply is questioned by energy experts, authorities and final users. In current large scale interconnected supply grids a problem in any portion of the massive generation, transmission and distribution chain can leave customers in a wide geographic area without power and vulnerable. An Emergency Power Supply with a rated capacity of at least 10 kWh based upon existing accumulator technologies is unfeasible and impracticable for weight and size reasons; keeping such an amount of chemical batteries in a house would not make sense. An answer can be found in fuel cells and hydrogen technologies, making it possible to revolutionise stationary and mobile power generating applications, because of their inherent characteristics of energy density, lightweight and clean generation.

Expected impact
The expected outcomes of the DEMAG project are: 10 kWh Emergency Power Supply, able to supply 1 kW for 10 hours 220 Volt @ 50 Hz power output Power generation by means of a 1 kW PEM Fuel Cell Safe energy storage through a state-of-theart metal hydrates LaNi5 hydrogen tank, operating at 2 bar and room temperature Automatic start-up during black-out and shut-down on grid reconnection Flexible and easy installation both for new installations and retrofit Able to supply a load exceeding the rated power for a limited time, thanks to the integration of Fuel Cells and Ultracapacitors.

Technical approach
DEMAG will be composed of two integrated units + peripherals: DEMAG CENTRAL UNIT will supply the electrical energy, and can be connected to any plug of the house (this is possible because the maximum instantaneous power of the system is rated around 1 kW, thus compatible with the electric load capacity of every plug and every secondary branch of a domestic electric system). DEMAG MASTER SWITCH INTERFACE (MSI) will be installed serial to the general switch of the domestic sub-circuit, and will segment the domestic electrical plant in case of black-out, in order to avoid the DEMAG system supplying neighbouring circuits; the two units need to communicate in order to coordinate the disconnection and reconnection to the grid. DEMAG AUTOMATIC DISCONNECTION MODULES (ADM) will be used to connect to the domestic grid devices and appliances which are both high in power consumption and do not provide emergency functions (e.g. a washing machine); these modules will intervene immediately after the black out takes place, after input from

Progress to date
Progress of the DEMAG project has generally followed the path outlined in the proposal, and the outcomes of the project, from a technical standpoint, are satisfactory and consistent with the expected achievements. The actual design of the DEMAG Central Unit (CU) is based on a Ballard Nexa Power module, a Polymer Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell system able to deliver up to 1,2 kW of unregulated power to the load. This unit is supplied by a set of metal hydride storage tanks, which delivers hydrogen at suitable pressure and ambient temperature, exploiting the heat in excess coming from the Fuel Cell, thus improving the efficiency of the DEMAG system. The FC system is coupled through appropriate power conditioning systems to a supercapacitor pack, able to provide power

110

INFORMATION
Contract number 512811 Programme Horizontal research activities involving SMEs Starting date 15th December 2004 Duration 24 months Total cost 1.13 million EC funding 0.64 million Coordinator Alfredo Picano Labor S.r.l. Via Giacomo Peroni, 386 c/o Tecnopolo Tiburtino IT-00131 Roma Italy Partners
AGT S.r.l. IT Enertron GmbH DE Ideatel Inenieria S.L. ES Pi costruire il Futuro S.r.l. IT Seira Elettronica Industriale S.r.l. IT SZWED sp.o.o. PL Technische Universitt Graz AT Universit degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata IT

Project web-page www.labor-eu.net

up to 2kW for short transients, avoiding FC overloading and fast. A control system has been developed to monitor the behavior of the whole DEMAG central unit, communicates with the Peripheral Units (PU), and implements the power management strategy. This strategy has been improved and refined, when compared to the one initially foreseen, in order to let the user select different priority for different loads. Once this association (priority load) has been made the system can be set for a predefined strategies, for example limit the maximum instantaneous power, and/or supply only a subset of the loads (priority I, or I/II), and is therefore able to saturate the nominal power available from the DEMAG CU, without harming the system. Particular attention has been given to the design of the ADM and MSI. In fact these units, are equipped with a transparent communication device over the Power Line Channel (thus avoiding the use of an additional cable, or the energy consumption of a wireless connection), micro-controller and on-board sensors. ADM and MSI cases have been selected to integrate easily into existing domestic power grid. ADM is completely contained in a SCHUKO adapter (comm device, power supply, control blocks, and relay), while the MSI, which presents similar components is enclosed in a DIN rail case to be hosted in an ordinary electric panel, guaranteeing the maximum retrofitting capability. The design tasks of the DEMAG project have been almost concluded, and the system is being prototyped at LABORs facilities, to get into a laboratory test session and then refined for field tests.

111

Fuel cell power-trains and clustering in heavy-duty transport FELICITAS

Challenges
Two of the FC technologies most suitable for heavy-duty transport applications are Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (PEFC) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC). Currently neither technology is capable of meeting the wideranging needs of heavy-duty transport either because of low efficiencies, PEFC, or poor transient performance, SOFC. Where necessary the FC technologies are complemented therefore by other technologies such as: energy storage dedicated technologies for thermal and/or for kinetic energy recuperation, and internal or external reforming.

Achievements
PEFC FC Cluster to enhance power and reliability BoP development SOFC basics for marine APU application basics for heavy rail-application definition of standards and requirements.

Objectives
The Integrated Project FELICITAS focuses on the development of fuel cell (FC) drive trains capable of meeting the exacting demands of heavy-duty transport for road, rail and marine applications. Requirements are: power levels above 200 kW power density about 200 kW/t system efficiency about 60% hydrogen and/or hydrocarbon fuelled robustness and longevity improved environmental impact and price competitiveness to conventional IC engines.

112

INFORMATION
Contract number 516270 Programme Sustainable Surface Transport Starting date 1st April 2005

Progress to date
definition of application requirements definition of FELICITAS simulation platform SOFC tests of marine reformate, contaminants etc. design of the GT rotating components and first evaluation of resulting GT improvements hybrid PEFC cluster design PEFC long term durability tests in operation hybrid PEFC cluster installation within test vehicle.

Total cost 12.7 million EC funding 8 million Coordinator Dr. Matthias Klingner Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Frderung der angewandten Forschung eV Zeunerstrasse 38 DE-01069 Dresden Germany Partners
AVL List GmbH AT CCM NL Czech Railways Railway Research Institute CZ Fr. Lrssen Werft GmbH & Co.KG DE French National Institute for Transport and Safety Research FR Hochschule fr Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg DE Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medecine UK National Technical University of Athens EL NuCellSys GmbH DE Rolls-Royce Marine Electrical Systems Ltd. UK Universit de Technologie de BelfortMontbliard FR Technische Universiteit Eindhoven NL Technische Universitt Graz AT Universit di Genova IT

Project structure

113

Hybrid high energy electrical storage

HyHEELS

Problems addressed
It has to be noted that this projects also carries potential and substantial technological risks for the manufacturers of Ultra Capacitors because of challenging targets, like low weight, high mechanical stability, high charging and discharging currents. High ambient temperature and extremely dynamic driving profiles cause accelerated aging processes of the cells/modules this is contrary to the life time demands of the car manufacturers. Finally, if affordable costs can not be reached, UltraCaps modules will not be installed in hybrid cars. In the worst-case, all efforts to bring this product to market would have to be stopped, because of the high investment in the past and during the project. The aim of this project is the development of an improved, cost efficient energy supply concept for hybrid vehicles based on an advanced, powerful UltraCap. The following development targets will achieve this: Increasing of the max. operating voltage of UltraCaps from 2.5 V to 2.7V. The higher cell voltage requires electrochemical stability of the electrode, the electrolyte and the packaging materials. Cost reduction of the electrodes by new production technologies. Cost reduction of cells and modules by industrialization. Advanced UltraCap component electrode and packaging. All the material needs to have a high electrochemical stability in order to operate the components at a higher voltage for long periods. The component packaging weight must be minimized and special attention must be paid to the tightness and mechanical resistance of the packaging. Advanced UltraCap module packaging with optimised thermal behaviour, weight and cost. Development of a UltraCap controller, including a single cell voltage measurement and a cell balancing, providing extended UltraCap information to the Fuel cell system Super Visor.

Objectives
The detailed scientific and technical objectives of the HyHEELS project are the result of a thorough analysis of the challenges in the energy supply architecture of Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. A Hydrogen fuel cell has to be provided with power and energy during start up phase as well as during continuously operation. High power is needed for the acceleration of the vehicle and for high power auxiliary fuel cell loads. A powerful and reliable energy supply is crucial to fulfil the requirements of the future generation of hydrogen fuel cell powered passenger cars. Sometimes batteries are not able to supply enough power. This could be in high power charge and discharge conditions as well as operating at low temperature e.g. -20C. Ultra capacitors (UltraCaps) could fill this power gap. The approved UltraCap storage technology is available but needs to be adapted to future automotive hydrogen applications, satisfying the requirements of cost, efficiency, safety and reliability. The final goal of the project is the installation of an advanced reliable and cost efficient UltraCap module, providing all necessary information to enable the integration into the fuel cell vehicle architecture.

Technical approach
The development work comprises the optimisation of the electric properties of the basic cap, its combination into scalable modules with integrated power balancing within the modules, power prediction and the communication interface with the drive train. The work programme consists of two technical work packages for the development of the UltraCap modules and the UltraCap controller, and a work package concentrating on simulation and modelling as well as on testing and evaluation of the developed hardware.

Expected impact
The deployment of fuel cell cars in the European fleet will be a process that takes some decades. Nevertheless, CO2 emissions are a present and demanding problem. The industry favours solutions with both future potentials, with innovative power trains and the possible realisation of short-term benefits in combination with state of the art power train technology. The results of HyHEELs to Societal and policy objectives cannot be regarded in isolation, but have to be seen in combination with the vehicle for which it delivers the energy supply. HyHEELs is a necessary prerequisite for the development and validation of a hybrid vehicle with a vision to achieve well to wheel energy efficiency exceeding 35% on the extended European urban drive

114

INFORMATION
Contract number 518344 Programme Sustainable Surface Transport Starting date 1st November 2005
cycle, and tank to wheel CO2 emissions not exceeding 80g/km CO2 (when fuelled by hydrogen derived from fossil based fuels) and near zero CO2 and other pollutant emissions (if fuelled by hydrogen produced from renewable sources).

Duration 36 months Total cost 4.73 million EC funding 2.64 million Coordinator Rainer Knorr Siemens AG Siemens VDO Automotive Group Ostenhofener Strasse 11 DE-93055 Regensburg Germany Partners
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft DE Centro Ricerche Fiat IT Deutsches Zentrum fr Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. DE EPCOS AG DE Irion Management Consulting GmbH DE Maxwell Technologies SA CH Politechnika Warszawska PL Scania CV AB SE Universit de Technologie de BelfordMontbliard FR Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek BE Vrije Universiteit Brussel BE

Progress to date
The project started on the 1st November 2005 and all work packages were started with an individual kick off meetings. Requirements for the vehicle, the capacitors and the controller have been investigated. The results will be compiled and reported on, forming the basis for further developments.

115

Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies for Road Transport

HyTRAN

Problems addressed
Hydrogen fuel cells are increasingly seen as a potential propulsion technology of the future for road transport. Additionally, fuel cell Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) possibly coupled with on-board fuel reformers are also seen as a promising technology for both light and heavy duty vehicles. However, despite the potential of these technologies to reduce the environmental impact of road transport and to improve energy efficiency, both technical and economic barriers need to be overcome for these technologies to be successfully introduced in mass markets. Issues to work on are the fuel cell stack, components and main subsystems including the fuel processor and auxiliary components, the fuel cell system and the vehicle integration, as well as the choice of fuel with its implications for technology and infrastructure. The need for breakthroughs and innovations at the component level in order to meet the project objectives leads to the following development within HyTRAN: Innovative 80 kW direct hydrogen stack with strong weight and volume reduction, increased efficiency, durability and start-up time, and with innovative MEAs 5 kW reformate fuel cell stack, work on innovative electrocatalyst and MEA elements: introducing novel catalysts and electrode structures Innovative humidification/dehumidification apparatus Heat exchanger and radiator customised for the application Micro-structured diesel steam reformer and gas purification units. To validate the progress towards these objectives, two corresponding Technical Platforms (TP) will be developed and used for assessment: TP1 POWERTRAIN: development of a compact system for traction power by an 80 kW direct hydrogen PEM fuel cell system implemented on a passenger car. TP2 APU: development of a compact 5 kW Auxiliary Power Unit for both lightduty and heavy-duty vehicles, including micro-structured diesel oil steam reformer, clean-up reactors, reformate hydrogen stack and balance of plant components.

Objectives
The overall objectives of HyTRAN are to advance fuel cell technology towards a commercially viable solution by developing components and systems. Two innovative integrated and compact Fuel Cell Systems will be demonstrated: Direct Hydrogen PEM Fuel Cell (DHFC) system, 80 kW power size (innovative stack and balance of plant (BoP)) APU Diesel reformed gas PEM fuel cell system 5 kW power size, including microstructured steam reformer, and clean-up reactors, stack and balance of plant.

Technical approach
Components and sub-systems are major bottlenecks towards commercializing fuel cell based powertrains. The factors that must be dealt with are: cost, durability, weight, volume, efficiency, which all need to be improved. HyTRAN therefore largely focuses on the development of the necessary components and sub-systems to make them meet the requirements derived from the two applications. The table below gives an overview of the component challenges that HyTRAN will address.

116

INFORMATION
Contract number 502577 Programme Sustainable Surface Transport Starting date 1st January 2004

Expected impact
The energy efficiency of a direct hydrogen PEM fuel cell can reach values of some 55-60% at the stack level and some 45% at the system level, so that the overall potential efficiency on the NEDC is really competitive in respect of conventional vehicles: a fuel consumption reduction of some 30-35% in comparison with conventional vehicles has been estimated and even obtained in a certain number of FC vehicles. Since fuel cells can provide electrical energy with much higher efficiency than the generator in ICE-vehicles, a fuel cell APU running on diesel will contribute to reduce the fuel consumption of the vehicle. Moreover, an APU application, even utilising fossil fuel, will have bridging function for commercialisation of fuel cells for propulsion. A fuel cell system, in vehicles, incorporates various technologies, even not directly related to the typical products developed by the automotive industry, e.g. chemistry, chemical and process systems engineering. Since this project strongly involves the components suppliers, this growing technology is a chance for such companies to achieve a considerable share in the very dynamic automotive sector. This will result in good chances to create a market for the suppliers involved by avoiding unique solutions. realization of a scalable FC system considering the required characteristics of efficiency and compactness. These activities have later resulted in that many key issues have been identified and frozen. Major efforts have been focused to the testing of the stack on sensitivity, cycles and durability. The database of results is available to enable understanding of the stack behaviour in conditions close to the real ones in the vehicle. The vehicles preliminary layout definitions are performed.

Duration 60 months Total cost 16.8 million EC funding 8.8 million Coordinator Per Ekdunge Volvo Technology Corporation AB Chalmers Teknikpark SE-412 88 Gteborg Sweden Partners
Adrop Feuchtemesstechnik GmbH DE Centro Ricerche Fiat IT DAF Trucks N.V. NL DaimlerChrysler AG DE Energy research Centre of the Netherlands NL Environment Park S.A. IT Gillet GmbH DE Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine UK Institut fr Mikrorechnik Mainz GmbH DE Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Ltd UK Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe Srl IT Opcon Autorotor AB SE Paul-Scherrer-Institut CH Politechnico di Torino IT Reinisch-Westflische Technische Hochschule Aachen DE Renault Recherche et Innovation FR Volkswagen AG DE Weidmann Plastics Technology AG CH

Figure 1 Towards virtual assessment of the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

Progress to date
In general, the first three years of the project will mainly be devoted to the development of innovative components to widen the technology. The last years will then focus on the integration of these components into subsystems, including tests and preparation for implementation into vehicles. During the first year the main events for developing the hydrogen fuel cell platform were stack design, characterising tests, air supply, water and thermal management studies. This work focused on the definition of the specification that could make possible the

For the diesel fuelled FC APU system, activities have been devoted to develop the key components and provide a viable system design. During the second year progressive development of the fuel processor, which is a vital part of the APU system, has been made. Catalysts are now available for each stage of the reforming and CO-clean up system and have been matched to the operating conditions identified from the system modelling activities. Prototype micro-channel plate reactors and fuel and water vaporisers have been designed, constructed and successfully tested. All reactors are based on micro-channel heat exchangers.

Project web-page www.hytran.org

Figure 2 2kW Steam reformer / catalytic burner prototype

117

Ionic Liquid-based Hybrid Power Supercapacitors

ILHYPOS
Objectives
The ILHYPOS Project aims at developing green, safe, and high specific energy and power Hybrid Super Capacitors (SCs) for application as peak power smoothing device in fuel cell (PEM) powered electric vehicles and as an additional option in delocalised PEM FC based Combined Heat and Power Production. The Hybrid SCs to be developed are based on the use of Ionic liquids as electrolytes. Ionic liquids are excellent ionic conductors, virtually non-volatile and thermally stable up to 300C. Their electrochemical stability window easily exceeds 5 V. These properties make ionic liquids excellent candidates as electrolytes in super capacitors. ILHYPOS has challenging scientific and technological objectives potentially able to overcome present technology limitations. The scientific objectives are: Synthesis and characterization of an Ionic Liquid (or a mixture of Ionic Liquids) having improved properties (overall ionic conductivity, electrochemical, chemical and thermal stabilities) at low temperatures (down to -20C), while maintaining its superior performance at 60C and above with respect to present ionic liquids. Synthesis of Electronically Conducting Polymers (ECPs) optimised for the use as positive electrode in Ionic Liquidbased supercapacitors by electrochemical techniques. Identification of high surface area carbons (e.g. activated and aerogel carbons) optimised for the use as negative electrode in Ionic Liquid-based supercapacitors. Investigations of the electrochemical performance of current collectors in Ionic Liquids based supercapacitors. Surface treatments will be developed onto the Al current collectors used in these hybrid supercapacitors to decrease the series resistance of the cells.

Problems addressed
Commercially available supercapacitors based on organic electrolytes suffer of limitations associated with the operating temperature. Temperatures above 40C, frequently encountered within fuel cell powered vehicles and CHP (Combined Heat and Power) systems, may cause the degradation of the commercial supercapacitors in terms of performance and safety. The volatility of organic solvents such as acetonitrile increases sharply with temperature making the devices containing them unsafe at 50-60C. Moreover, ILHYPOS Supercapacitors overcomes the problems of more polluting chemicals largely used in present SC (organic electrolytes substituted by green ionic liquids). With Phase 2 (Development and Production (D&P) of SC Materials), the focus will be on the scale up processes for optimising the materials production. In Phase 3 (Application Requirements and Full-scale Prototype Production), an application specific study will be performed by two end users in collaboration with a research organization as hybrid vehicle configuration investigator, and, based on these studies. Hybrid SC components will designed and assembled in the final prototypes In PHASE 4 (Application Testing), testing procedures will be developed and used to experimentally verify the performance of the prototype with the respect to the project target.

Technical approach
During Phase 1 (Electrode Materials R&D), academic and basic research organizations work on the optimisation of the electrode and electrolyte materials in order to significantly improve the overall technical performances of each single component with the respect to present State-of-the-Art.

Expected impact
The main technical objectives of the project are to: Prepare Ionic Liquids in large amounts, demonstrated at the 50/100 grams level and extended to the level of at least 2 kg per batch.

118

INFORMATION
Contract number 518307 Programme Sustainable Surface Transport Starting date 1st December 2005 Duration 36 months Total cost 2.86 million EC funding 1.64 million Coordinator Dr. Mario Conte Ente per le nuove tecnologie, lenergia e lambiante ENEA Casaccia Research Centre Via Anguillarese 301 IT-00060 Santa Maria di Galeria Italy Partners
Arcotronics Technologies S.r.l. IT Bullith Batteries AG DE Conservatoire National des Arts et Mtiers FR Degussa AG DE Micro-vett S.p.A. IT Techniques Department IT Universit di Bologna IT Universit Paul Sabatier FR

Progress to date
Prepare Electronically Conducting Polymer in large amounts, demonstrated at the 50/80 grams level and extended to the level of at least 2 kg per batch. Prepare electrodes in large amounts, demonstrated at the level of 1-10 cm2 and extended to the level of at least 1 m2 per batch. Develop the LAMCAP technology (softpackaged laminated capacitor), which should improve largely the performance of the hybrid super capacitor (specific energy and power). The achievement of the technical objectives will favour: The positioning of Europe as a leader in the developing field of High Voltage and Environmentally Safe Supercapacitors and to maintain the leadership in the field of Ionic Liquids. The relief from more polluting chemicals largely used in present SC (organic electrolytes substituted by green ionic liquids). A green future based on hydrogen and fuel cells, by favouring a larger and faster introduction of cleaner vehicles and small and more efficient delocalised power generation systems. In the first 6 months of the project, the activities are, in-line with the planning, mainly devoted to the research and development of key materials for the preparation of SCs. New ionic liquids (and mixtures) have been synthesised using simple processes, fully characterised and then prepared in suitable quantities (batches up to 30g) for verifying the compatibility and performance characteristics of electrodes materials with these new compounds. Electronically Conducting Polymer (ECP) has been produced via electrochemical processes and used for preparing composite electrodes, which have shown specific capacitance, close to the target value. Analogously, many samples of the other electrode have been prepared using different materials, starting from purchased active carbons and purposedeveloped cryo- and xero-gel carbons. Tests are underway to optimise the composition and the materials, when used with ionic liquids. On the other side, preliminary analyses of the applications with fuel cells have already started for a preliminary design of the final modules.

Project web-page www.enea.it

119

Intelligent DC/DC converter for fuel cell road vehicle

INTELLICON
Objectives
To reduce the unit capital cost and maintenance profile of fuel cell hybrid power trains by the development of an intelligent (smart) DC/DC converter with a regulated DC output thereby replacing batteries with super-capacitors (saving weight and maintenance). The DC/DC converter will establish a reliable regulated DC rail and the long-life, maintenance free, super-capacitor will provide the cache energy storage during braking and power distribution peak energy demand. To isolate the fuel cell positive output from the traction system, thereby creating opportunities for greater flexibility in the choice of fuel cell options and independently optimisation of both fuel cell operation and the traction system. To improve safety and reliability of fuel cell systems by protecting the fuel cell from adverse operational conditions by making the DC/DC converter intelligent. This feature will be developed during the course of the Project regarding contaminant warning/protection and hydrogen/air pressure, earth leakage, short-circuit, adverse temperature, super-capacitor condition etc. To reduce the weight overhead of fuel cell hybrid systems by ensuring the combined weight of DC/DC converter and super-capacitor are less than that of an equivalent advanced battery system by careful topology, packaging and thermal management. To design the DC/DC converter by adopting modular construction whereby various power handling modules and drivers can each be supplied by the same logic board and also ensure Regulatory and homologation compliance of the DC/DC converter and overall system.

Problems addressed
After submission of the Proposal and discussions with potential clients it became clear that the technical requirements of the market were changing, consequently the detailed design were modified from the original and the production system will be CANbus multiplexed. Furthermore new hybrid super-capacitors and more efficient sensors are or will become shortly available. In addition the original Project set out some demanding criteria on weight, size and cost all of which needed careful and sustained effort to achieve bearing in mind the significant strides by third parties in DC/DC converter development. The overall concept/power plant architecture however is still thought to be unique and may give rise to a Patent application. Testing of final modified bench model Converting road homologated test vehicle for rolling road testing and demonstration (Additional to programme) Modifications and improvements Benchmarking Completion client testing/market reviews/ Patent(s) application(s) publicity.

Expected impact
Current expectations are that the Project deliverable will achieve objectives 2 to 4 at least to a very great extent and subject to final costing may well achieve objective 1. It is known that objective 5 can be achieved. IRD and HILTech will greatly benefit in their shared objective of becoming EU fuel cell integrator/application engineers. The DC/DC converter concept will obviate the need for batteries (or at the very least greatly reduce their size, weight and consequent cost) in any particular application. HILTech generally focuses on mobile and vehicle applications IRD generally focus on stationary fuel cell applications. Trans Electric has urgent need to solve technical and commercial problems relating to commercially viable power train solutions for personal rapid transit systems. Intellicon is a key element for a potential demonstration of a PRT system at Philips in Eindhoven in the Netherlands by 2007/8. Sloan Electronics, subject to a successful development, are anticipating an increase in its annual revenues by 2008/9 and

Technical approach
Review of published research and patents Detailed discussions with the potential clients and current suppliers Review of market trends and regulatory issues and possible health and safety implications Review of converter design and architecture (power topology only) leading to breadboard bench model (power only) and preliminary testing Intelligent feature review and design leading to interface board (module) breadboard and preliminary testing Revising design and producing of first complete system for test bench testing Modifications Testing of bench model identifying final modifications prototype

120

INFORMATION
Contract number 512271 Programme Horizontal research activities involving SMEs Starting date 15th December 2004 Duration 24 months Total cost 0.96 million EC funding 0.48 million Coordinator HILTech Developments Limited 22 Larbre Crescent Whickham, Newcastle upon Tyne UK-NE16 5YG United Kingdom Partners
IRD Fuel Cells A/S DK Manchester University UK Maxwell Technologies CH Ransomes Jacobsen UK Sloan Power Electronics Limited UK Trans Electric bv NL Vrije Universiteit Brussel BE

Progress to date
the creation of additional full-time jobs. Intellicon products are likely to generate up 15% of Sloan annual revenues from 2009/10. The Project is anticipated to generate at least 2.5 million revenues p.a. and some eighteen full-time high added value engineering jobs by 2008/9. The programme has continued slightly behind the original schedule, however to date problems and issues have been resolved on a timely basis. The current position is that the project is at the testing of final bench model concurrent with the conversion of the road vehicle.

Project web-page www.intellicon.info

121

Molten-Carbonate Fuel Cells for Waterborne Application

MC-WAP

Problems addressed
Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells have advantages linked to their high operating temperature, their environmentally friendly characteristics and the cost reduction potential, which makes them one of the most promising technologies to give a significant contribution to the objectives of sustainable energy generation. If low temperature fuel cells are most suitable for application in small boats or passenger ships, either fuelled by pure hydrogen or by reformate gases, high temperature fuel cells are more appropriate for large ships where their higher specific weight disadvantage is over-compensated by the higher APU system efficiencies they can enable. The MC-WAP project will use as an important starting point the activities already carried out and still in progress in another industrial project funded by the WEAO organisation: MCFC-NG Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell Naval Generator. This project involves two MC-WAP partners (Ansaldo Fuel Cells and TUBITAK) and aims at the fabrication and on-land operation of a 500 KWe plant based on a diesel oil processor coupled to MCFC stacks. This plant is under construction and will be operated in late 2006, thereby providing extremely useful information to drive the MC-WAP developmental efforts towards success in the marinization of MCFC power plants. Through the involvement of key OEM developers, research centres and universities, the MC-WAP project will: Improve the current performance of MC Fuel Cells and relevant components, to allow an efficient, reliable and safe use on board Improve the performance of Fuel Processor (Desulphurizer and reformer) technology making it suitable to be used on board ships Achieve an high level of integration between the Cells, the Fuel Processor and the Ship, increasing the overall efficiency of the system. Design, construct, install and test on board a ship a 500 kW APU (Auxiliary Power Unit) prototype, to verify its functionality and reliability for the foreseen upgrade of the system to Multi-MW size. Design a completely new ship(s) with an innovative generation plant lay-out in which the traditional Diesel generators will be (entirely or partially) substituted by multiMW Fuel Cells plants perfectly integrated with the ships systems, equipments, plants and facilities.

Objectives
The main objective of the MC-WAP project lies in the development and design of multi-MW power plants based on molten-carbonate fuel cell technology and fuelled by marine Diesel oil, to be integrated on board large ships.

Technical approach
The MC-WAP Integrated Project is structured in a number of Sub-Projects interacting each other. The basic distinction is between vertical research and experimental activities and horizontal actions The project structure is illustrated below:

122

INFORMATION
Contract number 019973 Programme Sustainable Surface Transport Starting date 1st September 2005 Duration 60 months Total cost 17.17 million EC funding 9.9 million Coordinator Dr. Marco Schembri CETENA SpA Via Ippolito dAste 5 IT-16121 Genova Italy Partners
ADROP Feuchtemesstechnik GmbH DE Ansaldo Fuel Cells S.p.A. IT FINCANTIERI Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A. IT Friedrich-Alexander-Universitt Erlangen-Nrnberg DE Institute of Chemical Technology Prague CZ Johnson Matthey p.l.c. UK National Technical University of Athens EL l-Wrme-Institut GmbH DE Politecnico di Torino IT PROMEOS GmbH DE Registro Italiano Navale IT Technip KTI S.p.A. IT TU Bergakademie Freiberg DE Turbec R&D AB SE Turkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu TR

Expected impact
The main achievements by the MC-Wap project will be: Improvement of MCFC system compactness and efficiency Integrated design of fuel processor, fuel cells and ship plants Sulphur adsorbers for desulphurisation: storage capacity 50% higher than today, working at higher temperature Development of high sulphur tolerance (up to 100 ppm) ATR reforming catalyst for marine diesel oil, with 30.000 h lifetime Development of high efficiency and ultra-low emission premix porous burner to provide heat for fuel processor Improved design of heat exchangers to increase compactness Development of all components to be reliable in marine conditions (i.e. in humid and salt air, under rigid body motions and vibrations, and so on) Emissions reduction in energy supplying Reproducibility of results by properly developed simulation tools Training of involved partners and of universitary students Dissemination: internal and international networking Gender equality: equal opportunities regardless of sex, religion and origin. The MC-WAP project is thus aimed at a strongly innovative application of technology in the field of on-board efficient and environmentally friendly Auxiliary Power Units and cogeneration systems. The results achieved within the Project will provide EU manufacturers with a meaningful opportunity to maintain and improve their market share, with high benefits in the ship-manufacturing context. MC-WAP also fits societys demands on the environment, climate change and energy sustainability, paving the way for the introduction of fuel cells for ship propulsion by installing on board a 500 kW APU and by designing multi-MW integrated power plants. Furthermore, an important impact will derive by the pre-normative character of MC-WAP Project. The design of the innovative system based on Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells and its implementation on board will be necessarily driven by a full consideration of safety rules. This project is thus expected to contribute to the identification of possible critical points to be considered in safety standards. The Project will develop the basis for future Rules, expressely related to installation and operation of fuel cells power plants on board large ships.

Project web-page www.mc-wap.cetena.it

123

Assimilation of Fuel Cells in maritime applications

New-H-Ship

Problems addressed
Taking fuel cells and hydrogen aboard a ship will demonstrate a fairly new technology in a completely new environment, which is both wet and salty and hard on electronic equipment. This offers new challenges related to the shipboard requirements. The aim of the project is to identify technical, operational and societal obstacles related to the shipboard system- requirements and infrastructure for maritime fuels. As preparation for real demonstrations, the project will suggest mitigating actions so that investments and the technology for using hydrogen on board will be feasible and secure. Main goals for the project are: Identification of technical barriers (showstoppers) for FC and H2 on board ships Mapping the road to H2 drive propulsion in ships and making recommendations for further Research and Development Creation of reference list of R&D activities regarding fuel cells and hydrogen in maritime applications The project will identify supporting European activities in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells in maritime applications and pre-screen potential partners.

Objectives
This 15 months project is a specific support action (SSA) to ensure continued work on earlier national initiatives and EC projects concerning the use of hydrogen as fuel in marine applications. The foundations are the outcomes of projects like the FC-SHIP (ended in June 2004) and EURO-HYPORT (ended in July 2003). The New-H-Ship will bridge the gap in this field to assist in the creation of a new European Research Agenda.

Technical approach

Progress to date
The project has identified that one of the main issues is regarding using hydrogen in ships is connected to storage of H2 on board the larger vessels (specifically those who are at sea for weeks or months). However, smaller vessels and also those ships that come frequently into harbour can use hydrogen for main propulsion (larger ferries might start with APU systems). Storage of hydrogen is therefore ranked as one of the key elements for research. Currently there are many such projects ongoing and results from them will also be beneficial for maritime applications. Connected to storage, but potentially different from conventional transport applications is the availability and distribution of hydrogen for marine applications. The distribution

124

INFORMATION
Contract number 502651 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st February 2004 Duration 15 months Total cost 0.55 million EC funding 0.3 million Coordinator Jn Bjrn Sklason Icelandic New Energy Ltd Borgartuni 37 IS-128 Reykjavik Iceland Partners
Delft University of Technology NL Det Norske Veritas NO Fincanterie IT Fisheries Technological Forum IS Germanischer Lloyd AG DE Hochschule fr Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg DE Institute for Technological Development IS Marintek NO MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH DE Norwegian Shipowners Association NO SINTEF Energiforskning NO

network for marine application is likely to differ from the future hydrogen distribution network for other transport applications. Currently there is a very limited H2 market and the distribution of the energy carrier must match the current/future vessel trade. In this sense governmental incentives could jump-start both market and investment. Practical design and operation is currently lacking for hydrogen fuelled vessels. There have only few demonstrations of marine applications. Experience from the Lake Constance showed that the technology worked well for such an application but unfortunately a follow up was not successful. Closely connected to a practical vessel design and operation are regulations, codes and standards (RCS). Currently they are incomplete and non-harmonised. There is a lot of work currently being done on RCS (global cooperation) and it is important that in all international cooperation for RCS there should be a reference to marine applications of hydrogen. Work conducted in all aspects of RCS will benefit hydrogen use in marine applications but direct participation in that work should be done in connection with the existing classification agencies for ships, etc. At this stage in the general development of hydrogen technologies investment costs and operation will be higher than for conventional ships. Already considerable measures have been taken by both the EU and national governments to initiate programs involving vehicles and buses. Similar incentives are necessary for marine applications if such projects are to become a reality in the near future. In this sense, financial incentives may be a necessary tool for the initial steps.

Fighting increased greenhouse emissions is a global issue and all emissions contribute to that, though the visibility from marine activities are lower they have the same impact. In this regard government policy is in many cases missing. Here it is not only the EU policy but also national initiatives, specifically from nations that rely heavily on marine activities, fishing and transport. Other issues are also important, for example the vessel power demand which is different from vehicles or buses. Also with lack of policy and incentives the drive for a vessel owner is very low to change to a different fuel. Currently there is no carrot for the vessel owner/operator. Fuel is not readily available, special extra training might be needed, regulations are not ready, other societal barriers might have to be overcome, higher risk, etc. All these factors (barriers) needed to be reduced to increase the interest for the vessel owner/operator and also to encourage shipyards to take the initial step to design and build the first vessels for demonstration purposes to verify that the technology is fully valid for use in marine applications. Already considerable know-how has been generated regarding use of hydrogen in the transport sector, especially with the projects CUTE and ECTOS (bus demonstration). Valuable learning has been generated in those two projects and that can strongly benefit projects that take the technology out to sea. However it is of utmost importance to set up similar projects (as the CUTE/ECTOS) in the marine sector with multi-stakeholder participation to learn and to overcome most of the potential barriers mentioned here above.

125

 DaimlerChrysler AG

High Density Power Electronics for FC- and ICE-Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrains
Problems addressed
Cost issues, reliability, high temperature, high power density.

HOPE
Objectives
Power electronics for HEV and high temperature power electronic.

Expected impact
Appropriate solutions for automotive applications: DC/AC-inverter and DC/DCconverter.

Technical approach
Two approaches of power electronics to meet the OEMs demands: low cost inverter and high temperature power electronics with SiC devices.

Progress to date
Specifications of the OEM First test boards

INFORMATION
Contract number 019848 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st January 2006 Duration 36 months Total cost 4.09 million EC funding 2.4 million Coordinator Prof. Dr.E.Wolfgang Siemens AG Otto-Hahn-Ring 6 DE-81739 Mnchen Germany Partners
Bosch DE DaimlerChrysler AG DE ETH Zurich CH Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Frderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. DE INRETS FR MagnaSteyr AT Politechnika Warszawska PL Renault FR Universit de Technologie de Belford-Montbliard FR Valeo FR Volkswagen AG DE

Project web-page www.fp6-hope.eu

126

Optimisation of hydrogen powered internal combustion engines

MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG

HYICE
Objectives
As scientists around the world seek to advance new hydrogen technologies, European researchers are providing leadership in the production and marketing of corresponding systems and components. HYICE is a three-year European Integrated Project aimed at contributing to the development of a clean and economical hydrogen fuelled automobile engine. Now widely expected to usher in a new era in global energy production, hydrogen is the third most abundant element on Earth and it can be produced using any kind of solar or geothermal power. As a renewable and carbon-free energy carrier, hydrogen produces no CO2 emissions during combustion. The goal of HYICE is to work out an engine concept that has the potential to beat both gasoline and diesel engines with respect to power density and efficiency at reasonable costs. In the range of high-power vehicles, HyICE technologies may present not just an intermediate, but also a long-term solution. Principle strategic objectives include: Answering customer demand regarding both engine performance and fuel efficiency Developing a product that can be sold at a reasonable price Direct conversion of chemical bound energy, in the form of hydrogen, to mechanical propulsion energy, using the well-established internal combustion engine (ICE) Rapid integration of HYICE technologies into mass market vehicles.

Technical approach

INFORMATION
By taking the combustion engine as its starting point, the HYICE project is applying a well-developed technology to the requirements of the future without demanding profound changes in the organisational structures of automotive manufactures. At the same time it aims to offer customers a product with similar characteristics to those of conventional automobiles. Specific tasks required to adapt the internal combustion engine to the use of hydrogen include: Bringing together representatives of the automobile industry and researchers from both inside and outside Europe Developing components which fit to the new fuel, with respect to its specific characteristics Development of suitable concepts for mixture formation and combustion Adaptation of CFD-models to the specific behaviour of Hydrogen to support the development process of future production engines Ensuring the dissemination and exchange of important and valuable know-how.

Contract number 506604 Programme Sustainable Surface Transport Starting date 5th January 2004 Duration 36 months Total cost 7.7 million EC funding 5 million Coordinator Hans-Christian Fickel BMW Forschung und Technik GmbH Hanauer Strasse 46 DE-80992 Mnchen Germany Partners
ANSYS Germany GmbH DE Ford Forschungszentrum Aachen GmbH DE Hoerbiger Valve Tec GmbH AT Institut Franais du Ptrole FR Irion Management Consulting GmbH DE MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG DE Mecel AB SE Technische Universitt Graz AT Universitt der Bundeswehr Mnchen DE Volvo Technology Corporation AB SE

127

Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle System Component Development HYSYS

Problems addressed
Low cost automotive electrical turbochargers for air supply with high efficiency and high dy-namics Low cost humidifiers with high packaging density Low cost hydrogen sensors for automotive use Effective low cost hydrogen supply line High efficient, high power density drive train Low cost high power Li-Ion batteries Enhanced FC-drive train efficiency.

INFORMATION
Contract number 019981 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st December 2005 Duration 48 months Total cost 22.8 million EC funding 11.2 million Coordinator Dr. Jrg Wind DaimlerChrysler AG Neue Strasse 95 DE-73230 Kirchheim-Teck/Nabern Germany Partners
ATB Technologies GmbH AT AVL List GmbH AT Centro Nacional de Microelectronica CSIC ES Centro Ricerche Fiat IT Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH DE Ecole Polytechnique Fdrale de Lausanne CH ENEA IT Fachhochschule Esslingen DE Fischer AG CH Fumatec GmbH DE Magna Steyr AT MicroChemical Systems SA CH PSA Peugot Citron FR Renault Recherche et Innovation FR Rheinisch-Westflische Technische Hochschule Aachen DE Rivoira SpA IT Robert Bosch GmbH DE Saft Industrial Battery Group FR Selin Sistemi SpA IT TNO Industrie NL Universit de Montpellier II LAMMI FR University of Maribor SK Volkswagen AG DE Volvo Technology Corporation SE

Objectives
The objectives of the HySYS project are as follows: Improvement of fuel cell system components for market readiness Improvement of electric drive train components (Synergies FC and ICE-hybrids) for market readiness Optimisation of system architecture for low energy consumption, high performance, high durability and reliability Optimisation of energy management Development of low cost components for mass production Validation of component and system performance on FC Vehicles.

Expected impact
Final delivery are two different FC-hybrid delivery vans The project focuses on most important FC and electric propulsion system components It is a goal to use the technical achievements of the project in future FC and ICE-hybrid vehicles for the mass market Improved FC-system and e-drive components could be mass-produced and delivered by the suppliers to the automotive industry, providing competitive FC vehicles The results of HySYS will be one step further towards the hydrogen economy and also a basis for future European research activities The validator vehicles built up in HySYS could be prototypes for vehicles in future EC demonstration projects HySYS could be one nucleus for the JTI as strategic partners are cooperating in the project.

Progress to date
Update of existing simulation models of vehicles Milestone Report: First version definition of system and vehicle requirements for validator vehicles First operating specification First electric propulsion system components specifications Decision on FC-system to be purchased for DC-validator drawn HySYS Web page installed.

Project web-page www.hysys.de

128

Power Oriented low cost and safe MatERials fOr Li-ion batteries
ZERO REGIO

POMEROL

Problems addressed
The challenging objective is to develop new materials to strongly reduce cost of high power lithium-ion batteries to 25 EUR/kW, one of the very critical issues for a widespread development of this bottleneck technology for fuel-cell hybrids. This objective will be achieved together with two others, to provide a high power battery with a long life and an intrinsically safe electrochemistry. Technical and cost specifications are targeted for the battery, the cell and each new material to be developed in order to reach these goals. 7 industrial partners and specialised subcontractors, having proven expertise in the research, development and production of materials and batteries. Having automotive end-users, material suppliers and a battery maker allows a rapid validation of results, savings of time and resources.

Objectives
POMEROL intends to develop high power, low-cost and intrinsically safe lithium-ion batteries by a breakthrough in materials. The materials and batteries will be used for fuel cell hybrid and conventional hybrid drive train automotive applications.

Expected impact
The aim of POMEROL is to develop high-power, safe and low-cost Lithium-ion batteries as core technology for hydrogen, fuel cell hybrid systems and ICE-HEV for automotive applications. These systems need a breakthrough in battery technology as power supply.

Technical approach
We propose innovative solutions through the development of speciality materials (LiFePO4, lithiated metal fluorinated oxides, non-flammable ionic liquids based electrolytes and high performance graphitised carbons) that will respond to the very ambitious challenge of adequate low-cost, safety and life. POMEROL combines the complementary skills of

Progress to date
The project is only in its sixth month, so that rather limited results have been obtained so far. However, a first generation of materials have been designed and transferred between the partners, in line with the Statement of Work.

INFORMATION
Contract number 019351 Programme Sustainable Surface Transport Starting date 1st December 2005 Duration 36 months Total cost 4.86 million EC funding 2.47 million Coordinator Philippe Biensan Saft Direction de la Recherche Boulevard A. Daney 111-113 FR-33074 Bordeaux Cedex France Partners
Commissariat Lnergie Atomique FR DaimlerChrysler AG DE Merck KGaA DE Timcal Ltd CH Umicore BE Volkswagen AG DE

129

Alternative fuels and vehicle power train

VELA-H2

Expected impact
The transition to a sustainable transport founded on hydrogen-based energy systems depends among other factors on non-technical barriers as technical regulations for assessment and homologations purposes as well as public acceptance. Technical regulations will contribute to an open market if they are harmonised and globally accepted. They will also contribute to the acceptance of the new technology by the public. There is not sustainable means of transport without considering its full impact on the environment. The projects participates jointly with EUCAR and CONCAWE on Well to Wheels studies. WtW aims at establishing, in a transparent and objective manner, a consensual well-to-wheels energy use and GHG emissions assessment of a wide range of automotive fuels and power trains relevant to Europe in 2010 and beyond. Amongst these fuels, a particular attention has been dedicated to the numerous Hydrogen potential production routes.

Objectives
The overall aim of the project is to contribute to the ECs political objective of 20% conventional fossil fuel substitution with alternative fuels in the road transport sector by the year 2020. The key action of the activity is: Development of test programmes and test procedures for the assessment of efficiency and overall environmental performance of electrical, hybrids and H2-vehicles. With particular emphasis on: Assessment of FC vehicles in terms of: - Fuel consumption - Energy Efficiency - Some safety aspects (hydrogen leakage/evaporative emissions) Assessment of electrical/hybrid vehicles in terms of: - Fuel consumption - Energy efficiency - GHG emissions (hybrid) - Evaporative emissions (hybrid)

130

INFORMATION
Contract number 2113 Programme Joint Research Centre 2003-2005 Multi-annuel Work Programme Starting date 1st September 2004
Testing facilities for hydrogen vehicles evaporative emissions and fuel consumption have been completed. These facilities have been also retrofitted to be able to use other gaseous fuels; i.e. GPL and CNG. Furthermore, the projects scientific knowhow is strengthened through involvement in EC co-financed integrated projects, networks of excellence and specific targeted research projects. In the area of low-emission transport system the project also participates in ZERO-REGIO. One of the specific objectives of the ZERO-REGIO is the demonstration of the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel via automobile fleet field test at two urban locations in the EU (Rhein-Main, Germany and Mantua, Regione Lombardia Italy).

Progress to date
The project participates in the UN ECE (The World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations) within the GRPE dedicated to Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles. In particular it chairs the subgroup dealing with Energy and Environmental considerations with the aim of producing a Global Technical Regulation (GTR). Well to Wheels study: From January 2006, the reviewed version of the WTW study is available online: http://ies.jrc.cec.eu.int/wtw.html. The document is a reference for comparing the direct costs, the potential availability and the energy and greenhouse gases balance of alternative fuels including hydrogen. Many chapters have been revisited, offering new data and projections. New developments regard also the vehicles technology has been added.

Coordinator Dr. Adolfo Perujo European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Environment and Sustainability Project web-page http://ies.jrc.cec.eu.int/

131

Case study comparisons and development of energy models for integrated technology systems CASCADE MINTS
Problems addressed
Fuel cells and the prospects for the transformation of the energy system by hydrogen as a carrier attracted enormous interest from industry, policy makers and society at large in recent years. Apart from hydrogen, the potential impact of CO2 capture and storage, renewables and nuclear on future energy balances also attracted considerable interest in the context of tackling climate change and improving security of supply. These issues have posed particular challenges to analysts and the energy-economy-environment models (E3) can provide useful insights. Aiming at the most thorough analysis and the most robust policy responses CASCADE MINTS applies a range of E3 models to build scientific consensus on the impacts of policies aimed at promoting sustainable energy systems in particular through technological developments. First the project aims to analyse the prospects of the hydrogen economy within the overall energy system. It is an innovative project in the sense that currently no applied integrated analytical framework for carrying out such analysis exists. Second, by bringing together a number of the leading energy, economic and environmental modelling teams in Europe (together with some institutes in the US and Japan) the CASCADE MINTS project aims to inform the debate on the prospects of transformation of the European and World energy system towards sustainability. models and enabling them to describe all possible configurations of a hydrogen economy. These include all demand categories where fuel cells can be used, as well as the different options for distributing, storing and producing hydrogen from different primary sources. The extended versions of the models are then applied to analyse scenarios in order to explore under what conditions and to what extent the hydrogen economy may materialise (technology dynamics mechanisms are also incorporated in the models and stochastic modelling is also applied). Part 2 involves the use of a wide range of operational energy and energy/economy models in order to build analytical consensus concerning the impacts of policies aimed at sustainable energy systems. It addresses two fundamental issues, namely the importance of hydrogen and fuel cells, CO2 capture and storage, renewables and nuclear energy in influencing the energy system towards sustainability and the extent to which appropriate policies can foster the development of these technologies and their subsequent deployment.

Objectives
CASCADE MINTS is a project involving the development and use of energy and energy/economy models with special emphasis on analysing technological developments. It is essentially split into two distinct parts: Part 1 focuses on modelling, scenario evaluation and detailed analysis of the prospects of the hydrogen economy. It involves development and use of detailed energy models that received assistance from previous Framework Programmes of DG Research, to enable perspective analysis of the conditions where a transition to an energy system dominated by hydrogen is possible. Part 2 investigates the role of different policies and measures in addressing sustainable policy objectives. It applies a variety of models including modelling teams from outside the EU and Associated countries to carry out common exercises, explicitly aiming at consensus building between model experts and finally to bridge the communication gap between energy modelling and policy analysts. Particular emphasis in this joint case study project is given on policies influencing technological development.

Expected impact
Part 1 of CASCADE MINTS involves the enhancement of a wide energy models, varying technological resolution and operate at different levels of spatial and sectoral disaggregation (simulation, perfect foresight, general-equilibrium, long-term, medium term). This will deliver detailed databases and advanced versions of all participating models that will be capable of analysing in an integrated manner the complex hydrogen economy system. The main outcomes of Part 2 are policy reports addressing the potential role of technologies (hydrogen and fuel cells, CO2 capture and storage, renewables and nuclear energy) in promoting sustainable development, with particular emphasis on their role in

Technical approach
CASCADE MINTS is a modelling project emphasising technological analysis and is divided into two main parts: Part 1 looks specifically on the prospects of the hydrogen economy. It focuses on information collection, modelling work, scenario evaluation, R&D strategy elaboration and the measurement of associated risks. First, it establishes a common information base containing the technological background information, used by all partners in their

132

INFORMATION
Contract number 502445 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st January 2004 Duration 36 months Total cost 1.73 million EC funding 0.95 million Coordinator Prof. Pantelis Capros National Technical University of Athens Institute of Communication and Computer Systems 9 Iroon Polytechniou Street EL-15773 Zografou Greece Partners
CNRS LEPII-EPE FR Deutsches Zentrum fr Luftund Raumfahrt e.V. DE Energy research Centre of The Netherlands NL Ecole Centrale de Paris ERASME FR European Commission JRC-IPTS International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis AT Paul-Scherrer-Institut CH Universitt Stuttgart IER DE Zentrum fr Europische Wirtschaftsforschung DE

reducing GHG emissions and import dependence. Strategies for energy technology innovations and transitions will also be evaluated. The reports intend to enhance the communication between model experts and policy-analysts.

Progress to date
The project is now reaching its closing stages and has successfully completed the tasks which constitute essential building blocks of the methodology. A major accomplishment of the project and prerequisite for all subsequent work has been the construction of an information base for fuel cell technologies and hydrogen production/ distribution options and the collection of statistical information on public and private expenditure in R&D activities directed to hydrogen technologies. The resulting unique information set has served as a suitable sample for the econometric estimation of the technology dynamics module. After some harmonisation of assumptions (including a common technology-bytechnology R&D Outlook) model generated baseline and R&D Policy Scenarios have been developed and compared. Two alternative R&D Scenarios have been examined: one pessimistic, implying the elimination of hydrogen related R&D and one optimistic, taking the form of doubling the R&D funding addressed at specific clusters of hydrogen economy related technologies.

Preliminary results indicate that R&D is important pre-condition for the improvement of hydrogen technologies but there are strong signs of diminishing returns. A set of technological story scenarios has also been defined primarily. Additional scenarios have also been built by combining optimistic technological developments with other favourable conditions such as large world endowments in natural gas resources or effective climate change policies at the European or World level. Work on Part 2 of the project has also proceeded considerably and policy reports summarising the main results have already been prepared. The first policy report provides an outlook on the global and European energy developments towards 2050. Subsequently, a series of policy briefs have been prepared. The first of these policy briefs examines the possible contribution of renewable energy to a sustainable energy system. The second report analyses the potential role of nuclear energy. The third report summarises models results on policy schemes concentrating on technology standards, emission caps and investment subsidies for carbon capture and sequestration technologies. The final report focuses on the effects of different technology policies on greenhouse gases, security of supply and cost and investigates the trade-offs and synergies of alternative technology policies.

Project web-page www.e3mlab.ntua.gr/cascade.html

133

Towards Hydrogen and Electricity Production with Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage DYNAMIS
Problems addressed
Fossil fuels will remain the prevalent energy supply for Europe over the foreseeable future (2015-2020) despite their drawback in the context of climate change issue. In order for Europe to comply with the Kyoto Protocol there is a need for new low emission technologies including decarbonised fuels and the use of hydrogen as an energy vector. In this perspective it becomes essential to enable efficient ways of isolating the CO2 and storing it safely (for thousands of years) at reasonable cost and efficiency. DYNAMIS undertakes to investigate viable routes to large-scale cost-effective hydrogen production with integrated CO2 management for use in either power production or other aspects of society.

Objectives
The overall objective is to prepare for large-scale decarbonised fossil fuel power generation with hydrogen production and geological storage of CO2. The main objective is to prepare the ground for large-scale European facilities producing hydrogen and electricity from fossil fuels with CO2 capture and permanent storage or, eventually, to be used for enhanced oil or gas recovery.

134

INFORMATION
Contract number 019672 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st March 2006

Technical approach

Duration 36 months Total cost 7.46 million EC funding 4.0 million Coordinator Dr. Nils A. Rkke SINTEF Energy Research Sem Slandsvei 11 NO-7065 Trondheim Norway Partners
Air Liquide S.A. FR ALSTOM AG CH ALSTOM Power Centrales FR ALSTOM Power Environment ECS FR BP International Ltd UK Bundesanstalt fr Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe DE Ecofys v.v. NL ENDESA Generacin S.A. ES ENEL Produzione S.p.a. IT E.ON UK plc UK Etudes et Productions Schlumberger FR European Commission JRC-IE Fraunhaufer Geselschaft ISI DE Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland DK IEA Environmental Projects Ltd UK Institut Franais du Ptrole FR Natural Environment Research Council British Geological Survey UK Norwegian University of Science and Technology NO Progressive Energy Ltd UK Siemens AG DE SINTEF NO SINTEF Petroleum Research NO Socit Gnrale UK STATOIL ASA NO Store Norske Spitsbergen Grubekompani AS NO Technical University of Sofia BG TNO Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research NL Vattenfall Utveckling AB SE

Expected impact
DYNAMIS undertakes by 2008 to substantiate that the following targets can be deemed achievable for practical operation by 2012: Power generation in the 400 MW class using advanced flow cycle(s) with hydrogen-fuelled gas turbines in the 250-300 MW class. Hydrogen production corresponding to 25-50 MW with the flexibility to adjust the output of the plant from 0 to 100% hydrogen. Produced hydrogen will be in accordance with the specifications of a European hydrogen infrastructure (beyond 2010). 90% CO2 capture rate envisaged. 50% capture cost reduction envisaged from a (current) level of 50-60 per tonne of CO2 captured.

Progress to date
DYNAMIS started 1 March 2006. By June approximately five promising site locations for the demonstration plant will be determined for further and more detailed investigation.

Project web-page http://www.dynamis-hypogen.com

135

Enlarging fuel cells and hydrogen research co-operation

ENFUGEN

Problems addressed
In past Framework Programmes the participation of partners from the New Member States (NMS) and the Associated Candidate Countries (ACC) has been very low. The reasons of these difficulties in taking advantage of the opportunities made available by the European Commission and in taking part to the European Research Area can be found in: The scarce visibility of candidate Countries research activities and expertise in the international scenario of fuel cells The lack of experience in building international partnerships and accessing to EC funds. 3. Improving NMS and ACC actors capability in promoting their expertise, accessing to funds and building partnership. This will be done through: An in-depth analysis of the needs and barriers which impacted on the low participation of NMS and ACC actors in the European research The development of training modules and guidelines based on the needs analysis The organization of 3 national workshops in Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia The activation of a Skype based help desk made available trough the ENFUGEN platform. 4. Directly supporting the creation of MS and NMS/ACC partnerships trough: The organization of at least 1 large brokerage event The large dissemination of the visibility catalogue Direct brokerage and mediation activities Networking and promoting ENFUGEN Community to other initiatives at EU level.

Objectives
The objective of the ENFUGEN project is to maximize the participation of research centres and researchers in the field of fuel cells and hydrogen energy from 3 New member States: Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia and 2 Associated Candidate Countries: Romania and Bulgaria.

Technical approach
The approach adopted by the project can be summarized as follows: 1. Improving NMS and ACC R&D competences visibility by: Mapping R&D competences in the 5 reference countries. Creating a database of research facilities and active researchers in the field. Developing and widely disseminating a visibility catalogue containing all the relevant information (profiles, expertise, facilities, contacts, etc.) of the 40 or more working hydrogen and fuel cell actors in the 5 reference countries. 2. Creating a collaborative virtual environment (ENFUGEN Portal) for the exchange of experience, knowledge sharing, the development of project ideas and partnership building. The platform will allow for: Documents exchange News and document publication Partner search posting Expertise and CV publication The creation of thematic forums The concurrent development of documents and project proposals (Wiki Tool).

Expected impact
The ENFUGEN project is fully devoted at networking the NMS and ACC competencies with the initiatives and R&D activities that are at present almost exclusively carried out in Western Europe. Within this framework, the relevant end results can be identified in the following: The creation of a NMS and ACC research community, empowered with the necessary tools and know-how to raise their visibility and actively operate at EU level, accessing funds, networking and contract research. The wide dissemination (to at lest 200 Western hydrogen and fuel cell stakeholders) of: - A visibility catalogue containing the profiles, expertise and the contact details of NMS & ACC R&D performers - R&D competencies mapping - Needs analysis report

136

INFORMATION
Contract number 510435 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st April 2005 Duration 24 months Total cost 0.25 million EC funding 0.21 million Coordinator Alfredo Picano Labor S.r.l. Via Giacomo Peroni, 386 c/o Tecnopolo Tiburtino IT-00131 Roma Italy Partners
BIC Bratislava, S.r.o. SK Czech Technical University in Prague Faculty of Electrical Engineering CZ Energy Centre Bratislava SK Enviros s.r.o. CZ Polish Academy of Sciences Institute of Fundamental Technological Research PL Instytut Energetyki PL Technical Support for European Organisations Sprl BE Universit degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata IT

The organization of 3 Workshops in Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia with the participation of at least 30 participants per event. The realization of at least one large brokerage event. The creation of at least 2 consortia (with a strong presence of NMS/ACC partners) ready to present proposals in FP7.

Progress to date
The project was kicked-off in April 2005 and in the first year the consortium worked at those preliminary activities essential for an effective implementation of the action and the full achievement of the project goals. The consortium named an advisory board for the supervision of the scientific and technical issues. The Polish, Czech and Slovak partners worked at the competencies mapping in their own country and for Bulgaria and Romania.

A first version of the database records was prepared and is continuously updated. An in-depth needs analysis was carried out for the 5 countries in object and inputs for the preparation of the training and mentoring activities were given. The ENFUGEN web platform and related tools have been designed, implemented and tested. The timing and structure of the 3 Workshops have been agreed. The following deliverables have been finalized: - Del 1.1 List of confirmed members of Scientific Advisory Board. - Del 1.2 R&D competencies mapping report-basis for database content. - Del 2.1 Needs analysis report basis for guidelines towards an entrepreneurial university.

Project web-page www.enfugen.net

137

Development and implementation of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform Secretariat HyCellTPS
Problems addressed
The HyCell TPS will: Provide flexible and efficient operational and administrative support to the Platform operations and different Platform governing bodies. Deal with the complexity of the coordination and communication process within the Platform, resulting from the multitude of stakeholders, interest and internal groups without increasing internal bureaucracy. Seek to find a balance between transparency, inclusiveness and commitment of participants. Support the Advisory Council and the other bodies of the Platform so that they can meet their goals in a timely, relevant and qualitative manner. Act as a neutral and independent party. Align the priorities of the project, the Platform and the political agenda to assist participants in their engagement with European decision-makers. For the extended period of operations, the structure of HyCell TPS will be different since its Steering Panels and Initiative Groups have successfully accomplished their mission. They have therefore been dissolved and replaced by the Implementation Panel (IP), which has advanced mature concepts and actions for integrated research, development, demonstration and subsequent deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies mid- to long-term commercial and environmental potential, and to initiate supporting activities necessary to foster market entry by 2010 2015.

Objectives
The HyCell TPS has the ambition to: Develop an efficient coordination and governance mechanism for the Technology Platform in co-operation with the Advisory Council. Implement the coordination process and offer a complete administrative and organizational support to the different bodies of the Platform (Advisory Council, Steering Panels, Initiative Groups and General Assembly). Act as an information and communication centre for the Technology Platform. Collect, analyse, validate and disseminate the Platforms achievements to the stakeholders within and outside the Platform and raise awareness towards the general public on hydrogen and fuel cell related matters. The HyCell TPS project was launched for an initial period of 24 months from 2004. In 2006 the project has been extended for a further period of 18 months.

Technical Approach
During the new period of operations, the functionalities covered by the project are divided into six work packages: Work package 1: Management Strategy Advice to the Advisory Council (AC) and the development of the engagement plan. Work package 2: Support of the different elements of the Platform, namely the AC, the Executive Group, the Implementation Panel,

Project Structure
The project structure for the original phase of HyCell TPS was as follows:

138

INFORMATION
Contract number 006272 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st May 2004

Expected impact
the Working Groups, the Mirror Group and the discussions on the setting up of the Joint Technology Initiative (JTI). Work package 3: Development and Implementation of the Platform communication strategy and further improvement and adaptation to the changing requirements of the Platform Information and Communication Centre (including the website). Work package 4: Dissemination of the activities and achievement of the Technology Platform, including through the organization of the General Assembly. A broad communication strategy aimed at raising awareness and promoting the developments and results of the Platform to the wider public will address different types of stakeholders in Europe and internationally. A set of messages, publications and information packages to be distributed to the wider public will be developed and proposed to the Technology Platform, including notably a publication on the achievements of the HFP to be distributed at the General Assembly. Work package 5: Appropriate support to the HFP in case there is a JTI on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and the possible organization of the second Technology Review Days event. Work package 6: Control of the implementation of the Technology Platform Secretariat and reporting to the European Commission both in terms of activity progress and deliverables, as well as financial reporting. The HyCell TPS successfully accompanied the work of the bodies of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform who produced a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) and a Deployment Strategy (DS). The SRA proposes a mid-term strategy (until 2015) and a long-term strategic outlook (until 2050) for research and development in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells. The DS consolidates the overall implementation of a European hydrogen vision by making recommendation to foster the commercialization of mobile, stationery and portable hydrogen and fuel cell applications. Both documents have been summarized in a Strategic Overview, adopted in June 2005. The HyCell TPS also successfully organized two General Assemblies of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform, which both attracted approximately 500 stakeholders from the hydrogen and fuel cell communities as well as European, national and regional decision-makers. In the second period, the HyCell TPS will further develop the work started under some of the work packages described above and will build on the results achieved in the first period of operations, in particular through the development of an Implementation Plan by the Implementation Panel based in the SRA and DS and through supporting stakeholders involved in preparing the possible Joint Technology Initiative on hydrogen and fuel cells.

Duration 27 months + extension Total cost 2.78 million (initial period and extension) EC funding 2.38 million (initial period and extension) Coordinator Alfons Westgeest and Silvia Vaghi European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform Secretariat Avenue Marcel Thiry 204 BE-1200 Brussels Belgium Partners
European Commission JRC-IE Kellen Europe NV BE Ludwig-Blkow-Systemtechnik GmbH DE

Project web-page www.hfpeurope.org

Progress to date
For the first period of operations see above, second period not started yet.

139

Co-ordination action to establish a Hydrogen and Fuel Cell ERA-Net, hydrogen co-ordination HY-CO
Problems addressed
The tight coordination and co-operation of the most relevant national programmes (or programme parts) within the European Union and the close contact between key players in the leading funding systems will support the exploitation of the tremendous potentials of hydrogen and fuel cells for the security of supply and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Europe. Although individual research activities in Europe are of high scientific quality and can compete with research performed all over the world, the strong international competition and drive must be stressed. To meet this global challenge, the European Union and the Member States should work together as stated in the report Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: a Vision for our Future published in June 2003 by the High Level Group for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells a group initiated by the European Commission in October 2002. Actively involving Member States, Associated States and Candidate Countries in this project is essential to generate the leverage associated with drawing national, regional and local research programmes, projects and initiatives into the European ERA-Net.

Technical approach
The technical approach is based on five work packages (WP), each with a WP Leader. Networking of research, development and demonstration activities carried out at national level in the field of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies is the core of the ERA-NET. With an ambitious integration process, HY-CO aims at a mutual opening of the involved national partner programmes, which will enable the implementation of a joint European (trans-national) funding scenario. In addition, the programmes of nonparticipating Member and non-Member States will be evaluated to achieve a complete trans-national integration and to enable Europe to position itself better in international activities for the transition to a hydrogen economy. The general methodology involves all four steps/levels of coordination and co-operation proposed by the European Commission in the relevant documents on the ERA-Net scheme: Systematic exchange of best practices Strategic activities Implementation of joint activities Transnational research, development and demonstration activities.

Objectives
The goal of the HY-CO project is to network and integrate national and regional R&D activities by establishing a durable European Research Area (ERA-Net) for hydrogen and fuel cells. The main objectives are: To offer a common platform for information and coordination of programmes and R&D activities at national and regional level To establish a common knowledge base for development of a European policy towards a hydrogen economy as the basis for a contribution to a future sustainable energy system To strengthen the European R&D and demonstration infrastructure on hydrogen and fuel cells through joint programming, management personnel exchange, and targeted integration activities To promote and develop a strong and coherent RTD policy on hydrogen and fuel cells in Europe, and stimulate the cooperation and co-ordination of national and regional research and innovation activities. The vision behind it is to create an internal market in research and development To realise the implementation of durable co-operation with respect to European hydrogen and fuel cell activities. Harmonisation, timing and mutual opening of the programmes and the ECs Framework Programmes are the ultimate goals to aim for. HY-CO is providing an active interface with the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform, HFP, especially with its Member States Mirror Group (https://www.hfpeurope.org/hfp/mg).

140

INFORMATION
Contract number 011744 Programme ERA-NET Starting date 1st October 2004

Expected impact
The impact of the HY-CO project is to provide the basis for and to set up a durable ERA-NET for the promotion of hydrogen and fuel cell technology towards a hydrogen economy. Providing an interface with the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform, the HY-CO project will map public funding RTD programmes. In addition, by bringing together 21 hydrogen and fuel cells RTD programme managers/owners, HY-CO will address the issue of breaking down the barriers between national/regional programmes. From a quantitative point of view, an annual funding of 160 million will be coordinated by HY-CO. By coordinating the fragmented research activities throughout Europe, a critical mass will be achieved through HY-CO to answer both the increasing complexity and the upcoming challenges and chances in hydrogen and fuel cells. As research in these domains demands substantial investments in resources and technology, the public resources have to be used as efficiently as possible. In this regard, HY-CO will help to avoid duplications in research and to structure European RTD efforts with a maximum of potential synergetic effects. With the help of HY-CO, the necessary efforts at Member State level will be undertaken to improve the position of the hydrogen and fuel cells research field in Europe and to stimulate the translation of its achievements into concrete valuable results.

Progress to date
To get an overview on existing research, development and deployment in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells (H&FC), data about member and competing states programmes on H&FC have been collected via questionnaires. The evaluated data are stored in a database accessible to HY-CO partners and the EC. Furthermore there is a thorough analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) for trans-national cooperation in the field of H&FC RD&D. In several workshops and with the support of representatives of ministries, national authorities, funding agencies and industry topical research themes in H&FC were evaluated. Along these themes co-operation fields have been refined in which several HY-CO partners agreed to collaborate. These expressions of interest are seen as basis for common calls. In parallel an Action Plan to support the Mirror Group was developed that aims at the interaction of public programmes with the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform Implementation Panel. The working programme and costs of HY-CO progress is as planned. Public awareness and dissemination of results is taken care of via the HY-CO web pages www.hy-co-era.net.

Duration 48 months Total cost 2.7 million EC funding 2.7 million Coordinator Dr. Eberhard Seitz Forschungszentrum Jlich GmbH DE-52425 Jlich Germany Partners
Bundesministerium fr Verkehr, Innovation und Technologie AT Bundesministerium fr Wirtschaft und Technologie DE Ceska energeticka agentura CZ Commissariat lnergie Atomique FR Danish Energy Authority DK Die sterreichische ForschungsfrderungsGesellschaft mbH AT Fundao para a Ciencia e a Technologia PT General Secretariat for Research and Technology of the Greek Ministry for Development EL Ministre de la Recherche FR Ministre de la Rgion Wallonne BE Ministerie van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap BE Ministerio de Educacin y Ciencia ES Ministero dellIstruzione, dellUniversita e della Ricerca IT Nordic Energy Research NO Orkustofnun IS SenterNovem NL Statensenergimyndighet SE Tekes The Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation FI The Research Council of Norway NO

Project web-page www.hy-co-era.net

141

Improvement of the S&T Research Capacity of TUBITAK- Marmara Research Center, Energy Institute in the field of Hydrogen Technologies HY-PROSTORE
Problems addressed
There are no direct R&D objectives on this project.

Expected impact
The main goal is to improve the scientific research capacity of national research centre (TBITAK MRC) and to create a Centre of Excellence. One of the main impacts of this project is to achieve effective networking with other research centres in Member States (MS) or Associated Candidate Countries (ACCs), organizing exchange of personnel, results and joint experiments, improved laboratory infrastructures, training, brokerage events, conferences, technical visits, short stays, etc.

Technical approach

Objectives
The strategic objective of the proposed project is to improve the research capacity of the Centre on Hydrogen Technologies at TUBITAK MRC (the Centre). Specifically, the Centre aspires to improve its research capacity in the areas of hydrogen production, purification, and storage. The approach for accomplishing the project objective is multi-faceted. The approach includes: Upgrading and renewal of related laboratory equipment Participation in international conferences Coordination of national & international brokerage events to enhance the participation in the FP6/FP7 project proposals within Turkey and EU Advisory board meetings between the Centre and Member States (MS) or Associated Candidate Country (ACC) organizations to identify joint research activities Training courses for appropriate Centre personnel on select hydrogen technology topics Technical visits to and short-stays at hydrogen laboratories abroad.

The project will be completed through the implementation of eight Work Packages and tasks will be realized through a series of activities under the two main headings Management and Activities Specific for the Support Action. All activities for each work package are summarized in Table 1.

Management activities
WP1 Project management

Activities Specific for the Support Action

WP2 Renewal and upgrading of S&T Equipment WP3 Conferences WP4 Brokerage events WP5 Advisory Board (AB) Meetings WP6 Courses WP7 Technical visits WP8 Short stays

Figure 1 Hydrogen Laboratories Hydrogen Production Systems

142

INFORMATION
Contract number 016362 Programme INCO Promotion of co-operation with Associated Candidate Countries Starting date 1st May 2005 Duration 36 months Total cost 0.65 million EC funding 0.65 million Coordinator Dr. Atilla ERSZ TBITAK Marmara Research Center Energy Institute TU-41470 Gebze Kocaeli Trkiye Project web-pages www.mam.gov.tr/hyprostore www.tubitak.gov.tr www.mam.gov.tr http://www.mam.gov.tr/eng/institutes/ee/ index.html

Figure 2 TUBITAK MRC Energy Institute Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Laboratories

Progress to date
All the activities of the first period of the project were managed and finished successfully. There were also several networking activities during the past 12 months.

143

Hydrogen Technologies Transfer Project

HYTETRA

Problems addressed
To date, much of the emphasis has been given to the improvements produced by hydrogen technology in several fields, but little effort has been made in transferring these technologies. Since the project is not intending to carry out scientific research, no specific technical challenges are to be faced. Nevertheless all the processes involving technology transfer are implicitly risky and their success depends upon many factors: Knowledge of SMEs: all the partners have a deep knowledge of the industrial tissue in their regions of competence. One of their missions is to support the growth of the local economy fostering technology and innovation. Therefore their daily work is carried out in a close contact with the companies, analysing their strengths and weaknesses, and supporting their development. Support from RTD Centres: the RTD Centres represent the other side of the medal in the technology transfer activity and they are fundamental actors of the process, too. The RTD Centres that will be involved in the project are very well known by the partners and there is a long history of mutual co-operation. Therefore their engagement will produce beneficial results for the project. Expertise in building up efficient supporting initiatives/events: all the partners, belonging (directly and indirectly) to the Innovation Relay Centre Network, have expertise in carrying out TT projects. They are used to build up initiatives and activities in this field and proved to be very successful in their previous projects.

Objectives
HYTETRA has the aim of supporting European SMEs in incorporating H2 technology and being able to satisfy the new requested technical requirements. The innovative idea behind the project is to bundle existing knowledge in hydrogen technologies in Europe and the success factors for efficient trans-national technology transfer in order to initiate crossborder contacts, to support and, where needed, to establish network activities. Finally to push SMEs product developments in this technology field. This also will result in a higher than average number of concluded TTT (trans-national technology transfer) agreements.

Technical approach
The proposed project methodology takes origin from the ones already consolidated in Innovation Relay Centre Network. The proposed project will apply part of the most efficient actions that are usually adopted by IRC Network among a restricted, but significant, number of partners. These actions are aimed to: Identify which industrial sectors and sub-sectors could be interested by the new market fostered by Hydrogen.

144

INFORMATION
Contract number Under negotiation Programme Structuring the European Research Area Research and Innovation Coordinator Marco Mangiantini Camera di Commercio Artigianato Agricoltura di Torino Via Carlo Alberto 16 IT-10123 Partners
Coventry University Enterprises Ltd UK Foundation for the Development of New Hydrogen Technologies in Aragon ES IVF Industrial Research and Development Corporation SE ZENIT GmbH DE

Expected impact
Identify the technical improvements or changes to be adopted by SMEs in order to supply systems or components that fit with the Hydrogen Technology. Create awareness of the sector (which are the trends, which are the most suitable technologies to be adopted, what the market requires, ) and in the meantime give the opportunity to meet some of the most important RTD centres in Hydrogen field in order to personally discuss issues under a technical point of view. Coordinate European and National/Regional initiatives. Use the IRC network as a multiplier. There are 3 actors relevant to this project: IRCs: The IRCs will carry out all the activities that will concern the technology transfer. They will play the role of catalyser among SMEs and RTD centres, facilitating the interface between them through visits, organisation of events, publication of technology profiles, and coordination of all the actions. Technology Providers: They will be the owner of the technical know how and will drive and suggest SMEs on the best technologies to be implemented. SMEs: They will be the beneficiaries of the projects and will be asked to check their internal needs in perspective of their involvement in the Hydrogen market. The potential impact of the project could be summarized as follows: Trans-national Technology Transfer effects It is well known that the transfer of knowledge from universities and institutes to companies and especially SMEs are not efficient enough. Several research projects have tried to find out better solutions for efficient national and Trans-national Technology Transfer, TTT, without finding the perfect solutions. A success within this area could double the economic growth within the Union. It is also well known that companies with a good network grow faster than companies without. Faster progress into the hydrogen society Hydrogen and the connected technologies represent one of the most highly debated topics within the world technical and scientific community. From an energy standpoint, present-day society is characterised by problems such as a continually growing demand on few energy sources (hydrocarbons), creating dependency. Furthermore, these sources have an adverse environmental impact both on a local (emission of pollutants) and global (emission of CO2) scale. Therefore Hydrogen, for its overall good performance in terms of pollution and efficiency, could be a very good alternative to them. Economic growth for European companies within the emerging hydrogen society field The growth of the hydrogen society is expected to be significant. The project aims to achieve 16 Technology Transfer agreements through the organisation of 660 pre-organised meetings that will enable hundred of companies to become aware of the technology progress in the field of Hydrogen. One brokerage event will be organised at the end of the contractual period.

Project web-page www.hytetra.eu

145

European Hydrogen Energy Roadmap

HYWAYS

Problems addressed
HyWays combines expert and stakeholder discussions with technology databases and socio-techno-economic analysis to evaluate selected stakeholder scenarios for future sustainable hydrogen energy systems. The assessment framework includes the use of a well-balanced set of models addressing impacts on micro, meso and macro level, a key-changes and actor mapping exercise, as well as an analysis of a hydrogen infrastructure build-up. This will lead to recommendations for a European Hydrogen Energy Roadmap reflecting countryspecific conditions in the participating Member States. Moreover, it will describe the effects and impacts of such an introduction on the EU economy, society and environment. Finally, HyWays will propose relevant policy measures, priorities in technology development, and training/education. The penetration of hydrogen as an energy carrier in the transport and power market, as renewable energy storage, and for stationary and portable end-use. Emissions analysis Determining potential GHG and pollutant emission reductions under the given scenarios. Infrastructure build-up analysis Estimation of capital investment costs and timescales for the hydrogen infrastructure build-up developed through the scenarios. Economic impacts analysis Impacts is assessed at micro-, meso- and macro-economic level. This includes impacts on Gross Domestic Product, EU balance of trade, employment creation/substitution as well as security of supply. Stakeholder interaction Validation workshops both within the consortium and with wider stakeholder groups in the participating countries play a crucial role in the HyWays process. The goal of the national stakeholder workshops is twofold: To collect information on stakeholder preferences and other country specific conditions. To validate the results of HyWays and to give these stakeholders a say in the process of selecting energy chains and developing realistic and preferable pathways. Policy measures analysis Different policy measures, such as carbon trading and differential taxation is analysed for their effects on hydrogen penetration into different markets. Analysis of technology impacts The impacts of technology learning is assessed.

Objectives
HyWays aims to develop a validated and well-accepted roadmap for the introduction of hydrogen in the European energy system. Both stationary and mobile applications are addressed, including possible synergies between these applications. An action plan for the support of the introduction of hydrogen technologies will be derived from this Roadmap. This action plan will address issues such as: Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals Energy diversification in order to reduce dependency on finite energy sources Anticipated market shares of FC/ICE hydrogen vehicles and small and medium-sized hydrogen fuelled Combined Heat-and-Power (micro-CHP) systems.

Technical approach
HyWays comprises two phases of 18 months each. In the first phase, an analysis of the introduction of hydrogen was performed for six countries (France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway). In the second phase, the analysis is extended to another four countries (Finland, Poland, Spain, and the UK). Development of datasets Well-to-Wheel (WtW) or Source-to-User (StU) datasets for hydrogen pathways will be developed and analysed. These relates to individual geographical and climatic conditions, and local policy orientation Scenario development. For the 2020 and 2030 time horizons, both transition and long-term hydrogen scenarios will be developed. A further inclusion of 2050 will help to understand the development trends and gradients in 2030. They will address: The build-up of hydrogen production and supply and infrastructure facilities

146

INFORMATION
Contract number 502596 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st April 2004 Duration 36 months Total cost 7.9 million EC funding 4.0 million Coordinator Reinhold Wrster Ludwig-Blkow-Systemtechnik GmbH Daimlerstrasse 15 DE-85521 Ottobrunn Germany Partners
Acciona Biocumbustibles S.A. ES Adam Opel AG DE Air Liquide FR Air Products UK BMW AG DE BP plc UK Centre for Research and Technology Hellas EL DaimlerChrysler AG DE Department of Trade and Industry UK Det Norske Veritas NO Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH DE Electricit de France FR ENEA IT Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands NL Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research DE French Atomic Energy Commission FR GE Oil & Gas Nuovo Pignone IT Glwny Instytut Grnictwa PL Hydrogenics Europe BE HyGear NL Infraserv GmbH & Co. Hchst KG DE Instituto Nacional de Tcnica Aeroespacial ES Instituto de Engenharia Mecnica Instituto Superior Tcnico PT Linde AG DE Norsk Hydro NO Repsol YPF, S.A. ES SenterNovem NL Statkraft Development AS Total France FR Universit Louis Pasteur FR Vattenfall Europe DE VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland FI Western Norway Research Institute NO Zentrum fr Europische Wirtschaftsforschung DE

Expected impact
For the timeframes 2020, 2030 and 2050, the aggregated Member State specific results for GHG emissions, preferred hydrogen production and infrastructure technologies, the build-up of supply infrastructure and end-use technologies will be integrated into a proposal for a European Hydrogen Energy Roadmap for the participating areas. In the first phase of HyWays, the emphasis was on the development and validation of the assessment framework. In the presently ongoing Phase II of HyWays the following activities are under way: Finalisation of the actor analysis. Identification of open issues not yet covered. Evaluation of the process as well as contents produced in Phase I of the HyWays project. In Phase II, the assessment framework as developed and applied in Phase I will be used again. The development of a common framework to derive a general EU-wide roadmap based on member state specific analyses. For six member states, a country specific analysis has been performed in HyWays Phase I. In the second phase of HyWays, the process will be repeated for another four member states (Finland, Poland, Spain, and United Kingdom).

Project web-page www.hyways.de

147

 ZERO REGIO

Benchmarking of the European Hydrogen Energy Roadmap with International Partners HyWays
Problems addressed
In a first step, the project aims at an in-depth assessment and comparison of the individual elements of the national/ regional strategies, modelling approaches and experiences in the EU and the U.S. This will include infrastructure analysis, stakeholder consultation processes, actor analysis, micro-, meso- and macro-economic modelling, Well-to-Wheels (WtW) analyses, cash flow analysis, interfaces and interaction between the different types of models used, basis for scenario development, etc. Modellers from the different nations/world regions shall compare in detail their models and experiences in dedicated workshops in order to foster a better mutual understanding of the models and their contribution to the hydrogen road mapping process, facilitate the exchange of the methodologies and, where applicable, endorse the adoption of individual approaches from each other. This may include tasks and goals of expected results, models used, stakeholders involved, process related issues, communication with stakeholders and dissemination activities, timelines, and progress. Whenever applicable a benchmarking between individual models (e.g. for the EU-US case: E3database and H2A+GREET) may be performed using generic datasets. In a second step, the project aims to broaden its scope within IPHE by including and involving other IPHE partner countries such as Japan, China, India etc. Workshops will be held, introducing these partners into the EUU.S. work and getting them engaged in this process. The deliverables of the project will be reports presenting the results and presentations of the assessment and comparison activities, for both the bilateral EU-U.S. comparative activities in STEP 1 as well as for the reviews of the different state of maturity of the systems analyses and road mapping activities achieved by the different IPHE partners participating in STEP 2. The learning effects for each IPHE partner are expected to be an important outcome from these comparative and benchmarking exercises hence leading to a better alignment of the road mapping activities. Future hydrogen roadmap development and proceeding implementation efforts in these partner countries shall benefit from the results, especially through benchmarked lessons learned for avoiding mistakes, eliminating redundancies, inefficiencies and removing, unfounded frictions and misunderstandings between the different approaches and underlying drivers. The results are also expected to provide broadly proven and consented common elements of approaches on how to implement hydrogen technologies and infrastructures efficiently.

HyWays-IPHE

Objectives
The HyWays-IPHE project intends to compare road mapping and systems analysis activities in Europe and the USA, both IPHE partners. HyWaysIPHE plans to get other IPHE partner countries with road mapping activities in the field of hydrogen engaged in discussions and exchanges of experience between the regions as well as implementing institutional and personal exchanges in this field under the patronage of IPHE. Thereby the understanding about the ongoing activities should be improved among the partners to find to a common language and mutual understanding and thus nurturing an alignment of international approaches as well as a worldwide scenario. Key assumptions adopted in the running HyWays project [SES6 502596] as well as first conclusions drawn may become cornerstones around which to compare the different modelling approaches, infrastructure analysis and stakeholder consultation efforts and the scenarios and roadmap drafts developed. The implementation of institutional and personal exchange under the patronage of IPHE is one of the expected outcomes of this work package.

Technical approach
The project is structured in three main phased work packages (WP2, WP3 and WP4). In WP2, model methodologies, modelling assumptions for the E3database in Europe and for H2A and GREET in the U.S. will be compared during months 1 through 12. Benchmarking runs of the models will be performed. In WP3, running from months 10 through 18, a comparison of further models and approaches will be performed, taking into account infrastructure / resource analysis, macro-systems models, in-depth technology analysis / assessment, and stakeholder consultation in road mapping processes. In WP4, active between months 16 and 24, the jointly developed understanding on modelling techniques and approaches as well as on stakeholder interactions will be presented to and exchanged with other IPHE member countries in workshops.

148

INFORMATION
Contract number Under negotiation Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Coordinator Reinhold Wrster Ludwig-Blkow-Systemtechnik GmbH Daimlerstrasse 15 DE-85521 Ottobrunn Germany Partners
Acciona Biocombustibles S.A. ES DaimlerChrysler DE Energy research Centre of the Netherlands NL European Commission JRC-IE Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research DE Instituto Superior Tcnico PT GE Oil & Gas Nuovo Pignone S.p.A. IT National Renewable Energy Laboratory USA Total France FR

Expected impact
The goal of the HyWays-IPHE project is to develop recommendations for the preparation of an International Hydrogen Roadmap. Both the EU and the U.S. have a good experience in hydrogen road mapping but only at national/continental scale. The HyWays-IPHE project will set the ground for the establishment of a global understanding of the necessary instruments, their application in road mapping activities and their international alignment in preparing and facilitating the introduction of Hydrogen application technologies. This will contribute to the sustainable development of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell technologies and their diffusion, as a basic element for a clean and energy effective mobility and a better pathway for hydrogen economy penetration. Presentations at various national and international workshops and publications will also increase public awareness of the availability of these new tools (infrastructure / transition analysis, key changes and actor mapping, resource analysis, stakeholder consultation processes on road mapping, micro-, meso and macro-economic modelling, in depth hydrogen technologies assessment enriched by feedback from early hydrogen demonstration projects, etc.). The recommendations on how to proceed, together with facilitation of global alignment of hydrogen road mapping activities and on structuring international activities among IPHE member countries will provide the IPHE Implementation and Liaison Committee with guidance for the next steps.

Project web-page www.hyways-iphe.org

149

Innovative High Temperature Routes For Hydrogen Production Coordinated Action INNOHYP CA
Problems addressed
The growth of global energy demand and the necessity to reduce GHG emissions will require the introduction of new and universal energy carriers with hydrogen from low emission sources being the most promising. Since the industrial technologies for the massive scale production of GHG free hydrogen are not available yet, focused effort must be spent in their development. INNOHYP-CA will provide the necessary information for Europe to develop and integrate its actions in a most efficient way into a sustainable hydrogen economy. One of the biggest challenges is the comparative assessment of technologies with severe differences in maturity and wide bands of uncertainty.

Expected impact
INNOHYP-CA will support decisions on how to develop technologies for massive scale hydrogen production from research to industrial application. Necessary breakthroughs for the most promising technologies are identified as well as knock-out criteria, and the present research environment is analysed. The data acquired and evaluated will be processed into a roadmap that proposes actions for future research and development activities to realise a fast and efficient implementation of a sustainable hydrogen economy based on advanced large scale high temperature processes.

Objectives
INNOHYP CA aims to coordinate efforts on the knowledge of sustainable hydrogen production technologies and to propose a roadmap for short, medium and longterm research programmes. The work has five major objectives: Investigation of the existing knowledge on high temperature processes and comparison with other innovative ideas for massive scale hydrogen production. Creation of a platform for sharing and coordinating the results of the Specific Targeted Research Projects (STREP) on high temperature hydrogen production in progress to start clustering the innovative ways. Define the needs and propose the research activities needed in the future up to consolidation of industrial production, and to support the road-mapping in Europe mainly by HYWAYS. Offer support to the European Hydrogen and Fuel-cell Technology Platform. To propose the coordination of the European activities at the International level specifically with the IEA and the IPHE and to establish a strong connection between Europe and Australia through the national Australian project SolarGas of CSIRO on solar steam reforming of methane, including the set-up of a 0.5 MW solar tower.

Progress to date
Since the project is in its final phase most of the tasks have been completed. The state of the art of high temperature processes is available and includes data an all research initiatives accomplished in Europe and Australia. The principles and methodology of the roadmap are defined and the final roadmap is currently under construction. Preliminary results show that the potential for high temperature processes to play a major role for massive scale hydrogen production is extremely high, particularly in a greenhouse-constrained world. In the short-to-medium term, zero-emission energy

Technical approach
The project is organised in five workpackages. Besides the general topics of WP4: Communication & dissemination of results and WP5: Co-ordination and Management, the other WPs (WP1: Definition of Methodology, WP2: State of the Art, WP3: Roadmap) are structured to efficiently acquire sufficient information, organise it, and process it into a roadmap for actions necessary to develop high temperature technologies for sustainable massive hydrogen production.

150

INFORMATION
Contract number 513550 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st September 2004
can be used to upgrade hydrocarbons as a transition from carbon-based to carbon-free hydrogen production and drastically reduce CO2 emissions in a competitive way compared with capture and sequestration technologies. In the medium-to-long term, nuclear and renewable energy will be used to conduct water splitting via high temperature electrolysis and thermochemical cycles. These energy intensive processes require low-cost and readily available energy sources. The phase of thermodynamic studies on hydrogen production processes is now largely completed. Technical developments must now be achieved to demonstrate the feasibility of the processes. Specifically, the question of the heat-sources and their temperature limits must be answered, as well as the time schedule and the cost for their introduction. Knock-out criteria like irreversibilities and the prevalence of side reactions, temperature limits, materials issues, and product separation must be checked to avoid dead-end pathways. It is recommended that a few of the most promising processes should be developed into large-scale demonstration. Worldwide efforts in this area should be pooled as in the nuclear energy sector to generate synergies.

Duration 27 months Total cost 0.62 million EC funding 0.5 million Coordinator Franois Le Naour Commissariat l'nergie Atomique Avenue des Martyrs 17 FR-38054 Grenoble Cedex 9 France Partners
Centro de Investigaciones Energticas, Medioambientales y Tecnologicas ES Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation AU Deutsches Zentrum fr Luft -und Raumfahrt e.V. DE Empresarios Agrupados ES Ente per le Nuove Tecnologie, lEnergia e lAmbiente IT European Commission JRC-IE Sheffield University UK

Project web-page https://eagw.empre.es/innohyp/index.php

151

Enhancement of Research Capabilities on Multi-functional Nanocomposites for Advanced Fuel Cell Technology through EU-Turkish-China Cooperation

NANOCOFC

Problems addressed
Creation of ultra low cost, superior performance FC systems to increase marketability. The innovative approaches for material and advanced FC technology: LTSOFC. Networking efforts in EU level and cooperation with China by integrating critical mass to speed up the FC R&D and commercializing process. - Dual H+/O2- conduction, see also previous Fig., to enhance significantly the FC charge carrier concentrations, thus power outputs. Nanocomposite approach has created superionic conductivity, 10-1 Scm-1 at 500C (comparable to YSZ conductivity at 1000C), and dual phase O2-/H+ conduction, resulting in excellent LTSOFC technology, 800-1000 mWcm-2 at 500-580C, which guarantee successful applications. These are our unique advantages and advanced LTSOFCs not reported by others.

Objectives
The project aims to enhance research capacities on nanotechnology, multi-functional materials and advanced applications. Innovations and advances are created on the multi-functional nano-composites possessing superionic and dual (hybrid) H+/O2- conduction and next generation fuel cell (FC) technology. The project is based on existing SinoSwedish IT/LTSOFC (intermediate and low temperature solid oxide fuel cell) network cooperation with prominent research institutions in EU and Turkey, and aims at networking research cooperation and joint activities; developing centres infrastructure and research or innovation strategies; exchanging and sharing personnel, information, resources and research methodologies; organizing the seminars and EC-China NANOCOFC (nanocomposite LTSOFCs) workshops; Raising public participation and awareness; promoting the trans-tech. and research achievements to industry and establishing new ways of production research in cooperation with China. The EU-level networking NANOCOFC will carry out the world leading R&D activities in the addressed areas.

Technical approach
The project network consists of: Seven Europe countries, one United Nations organisation and four Chinese participants selected from the Sino-Swedish IT/LTSOFC network. To establish and develop network mechanisms and make joint efforts targeting the problems/challenges. Project technical approaches are: Application of nanotechnology to fuel cells creating ultra low cost, superior performance FCs to increase the marketability. Innovations in materials and technical approaches of nanocomposite LTSOFCs to explore new FC commercial routes, opportunities and potentials. Correspondingly new interesting research fields are growing: - Superionic conduction in interfaces between the constituent phases of the composite (see Figure 1), thus tremendously reducing SOFC working temperature from 1000C to 300-600C. This interfacial superionic conduction mechanism in composites is advanced with much lower activation energy and continuous transport channels compared to the conventional single-phase materials.

Expected impact
To establish EC-China NANOCOFC network and a database for existing human and equipment potential in EU and organizing activities such as seminars, workshops, meetings, summer courses, mobilizing senior and young scientists in cooperation with the FC and nanotechnology areas, allowing researchers to reach these equipments will boost research capacity. An example is the Sino-Swedish IT/LTSOFC network involving 20 Swedish and Chinese academic and industrial partners, see a picture on right from the 3rd Sino-Swedish ILTSOFC workshop. Organize and motivate NANOCOFC studies: - Development of advanced nanocomposites and multi-functional materials - Fundamentals on interfacial phenomena and theories on nano- and nanocomposite ionics - Nanocomposite approach in developing 300-600C LTSOFCs

152

INFORMATION
Contract number Under negotiation Programme NMP Coordinator Dr Bin Zhu Royal Institute of Technology Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology SE-100 44 Stockholm Sweden Partners
Dalian Maritime University CHN ENEA-CR Casaccia IT European Commission JRC-IE GETT Fuel Cell International AB SE Helsinki University of Technology FI International Center of Hydrogen Technologies United Nations Nigde University TR Shanghai Shenli High-Technology Ltd CHN Tsinghua University CHN University of Ulster UK Universidade de Aveiro PT University of Science & Technology of China CHN

Progress to date
- Material and device processing, engineering and producing to provide the solution and feasibility to develop marketable FC technologies. Exchanging accumulated knowledge of the parties, the workshops, seminars and website development will provide better dissemination of knowledge and expertise available in the participating institutions, EU and China. To raise public participation and awareness and impacts on China, to setup future production base using plentiful resources to commercialize the EU technology/products as the world most competitive products. Invented materials play an important role in developing next generation FC technology: LTSOFCs. It opens many new interesting research subjects, such as nanocomposite ionic conductors, interfacial superionic conduction, dual or hybrid H+/O2- conduction, nanocomposite ionics, new LTSOFC electrolytes and technologies based on innovative material advantages in addition to new and advanced technologies/applications. The Sino-Swedish IT/LTSOFC network. Establishing EC-China NANOCOFC network. In addition to an industrial IT/LTSOFC network involving Sweden (EU), China and USA.

Project web-page www.ket.kth.se/avdelningar/krt

153

Research co-Ordination, Assessment, Deployment and Support to HyCOM Roads2HyCom

Problems addressed
Engineering the transition to a sustainable energy economy is one of the greatest challenges ever faced by society. The new technologies must ultimately compete with those in use today, albeit in a framework of future environmental pressures. Roads2HyCom assesses the European state of the art relative to infrastructures, resources and the expected needs of early adopters, in order to identify where research effort is needed to close the gaps and exploit opportunities. ongoing and future research and demonstration activities, within an integrated EU strategy. The two projects are complementary HyLights focuses on the preparation of large-scale demonstration for transport applications, while Roads2Hycom focuses on identifying opportunities for research activities relative to the needs of Hydrogen Communities. Roads2HyCom maps technology capability against hydrogen resources and community needs using a unique, objective approach that employs metrics to assess technology and infrastructure gaps against community needs. The project is structured to fit with the activities of HyLights.

Objectives
Roads2HyCom is a project to coordinate, assess and monitor research in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells, relative to the needs of early-adopting communities and the stakeholders who will support them. Outputs from the project will support the Commission and Technology Platform (HFP) in future planning activities, specifically to stimulate growth in Hydrogen and Fuel Cell markets via the research agenda.

Technical approach
Roads2HyCom, along with the Coordination Action HyLights, support the Commission in the monitoring and coordination of

154

INFORMATION
Contract number 019723 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 16th October 2005

Expected impact
Roads2HyCom will, together with HyLights, support the Commission and HFP in planning for Framework Seven and beyond. Outputs will include: Expert-level Technical Reports from each stage of the process, incorporating recommendations for research needs, structures, financing and governance to support the development of hydrogen communities via the research agenda. Hydrogen Community Manuals backed up by a decision-making guide tool to help match communities and technologies. Training packages for marginal stakeholders Technical and non-technical issues, recommendations for the Higher Education agenda. Web-based maps and calendars of research activities, milestones, key events, and public-domain summary information suitable for the non-expert.

Duration 36 months Total cost 7.8 million EC funding 4.5 million Coordinator Nick Owen Ricardo UK Ltd Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex UK-BN43 5FG United Kingdom Partners
Air Liquide FR Air Products UK Airbus DE AVL AT Centre Cortes RU Centro Ricerche FIAT IT College dEurope BE Coretec Ventures UK CRES EL DaimlerChrysler DE Element Energy UK EnergieTechnologie DE Energy research Centre of the Netherlands NL European Commission JRC-IE FEV Motorentechnik DE Gaz de France FR Icelandic New Energy Intelligent Energy UK Institite of Energy PL Institut Francais du Ptrole FR JBRC Prague University CZ Norsk Hydro NO NTDA ES PLANET DE Ris DK RWTH Aachen IKA DE TNO NL Volvo Technology SE

Progress to date
In its first year, Roads2HyCom has supported the Commission in the 2005 Review Days event, an assessment of the similar US DoE activity, discussions on Financing issues, and review of HFP planning outputs. It has developed preliminary project deliverables including a mapping of researchers, initial assessment of technology state of the art, mapping of infrastructures and resources, and initial collation of information on prospective hydrogen communities.

Project web-page www.roads2hy.com

155

World Energy Technology Outlook 2050

WETO-H2

Problems addressed
A comprehensive reference document is needed to outline the situation of Europe in the long-term outlook for world energy demand, supply and price in the period to 2050. In addition, the impact various technological breakthroughs could make over the next half-century needs to be assessed. Such projections are vital for long-range energy strategy development and to support international negotiations. The projections and the evaluations will be made in a quantitative way using the POLES model a global sectoral model of the world energy system. specifically in charge of the model adaptation. ENERDATA and CNRS/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique LEPII-EPE ran. The reference case and the carbon constraint case. The Institute for Prospective Technology Study JRC/IPTS was responsible of the preparation of the technology breakthroughs to be considered in the EU strategy, which was described by the BfP. JRC/IPTS ran the hydrogen case. The Energy research Centre of the Netherlands and SPRU developed an electricity portfolio optimization adapted on the POLES model.

Objectives
The WETO-H2 study had various objectives: describing the future world energy system up to 2050 within a framework of minimal climate change policies (including renewable energy), assessing the impact of the implementation of stronger policies to constrain CO2 emissions and, finally, studying the conditions for a development of hydrogen as an energy carrier. This study has been carried out with the Prospective Outlook on World Energy Systems (POLES) energy model, which has been significantly improved to cope with the project objectives, mostly through the extension of the model time horizon from 2030 to 2050 and the introduction of hydrogen production and consumption technologies.

Technical approach
The project lasted 2 years, from 01/01/2004 to 31/12/2005, and the world energy/ technology outlook report will be published shortly. Five teams were involved: ENERDATA (Grenoble, France) (project coordinator) CNRS/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique LEPII-EPE (Grenoble, France) JRC/IPTS (Sevilla, Spain) Bureau Fdral du Plan (Brussels, Belgium) Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (Netherlands)/SPRU (England) The work plan consisted of 4 work packages: WP1: Production of a world energy/technology reference case to 2050 WP2: Assessment of technological breakthroughs WP3: Evaluation of EU strategies WP4: Production of the long-term world energy/technology outlook report. ENERDATA was the overall co-ordinator of the project and contributed to the work on the POLES model, in association with CNRS/Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique LEPII-EPE which was more

Progress to date
The project led to the production of a longterm world energy and technology outlook report, structured around 3 scenarios that have been used to describe options for technology and climate policies in the next half-century: Reference projection that describes the developments of the world energy system up to 2050 and the related CO2 emissions. Carbon constraint case the description of the impact on this world energy system of constraint on CO2 emissions. H2 case that has been developed, the conditions attached to the development of a hydrogen economy and the simulation of a related scenario. The key messages of this report can be summarized as follows: A Reference projection to the year 2050 indicates that, even without accelerated hydrogen technology deployment, some penetration of hydrogen as an energy carrier would take place at world level by that date. An optimistic hydrogen energy technology characterisation, mainly based in the indicative targets prescribed by the IPHE

156

INFORMATION
Contract number 501669 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st January 2004
and European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform delivers a significant penetration of hydrogen, mainly in the transportation sector. Under appropriate policy setup, the deployment of hydrogen seems to be entirely compatible with ambitious, worldwide GHG reductions, leading to GHG concentration stabilization around the UNFCCC B2 scenarios. The hydrogen deployment scenarios represent a significant change within the transportation sector. The availability of abundant and relatively cheap hydrogen as a transportation fuel would facilitate a steady (even iif modest) growth in the energy transportation demand, whose effects in terms of welfare and GDP gain seem not negligible. The hydrogen production mix, however, would entirely depend on the intensity of the carbon emission constraints. In the longrun, hydrogen production based on primary, carbon free electricity seems to prevail. Technological bottlenecks are seemingly more severe in the consumption and distribution side than in the production side. Total energy demand As in the carbon constraint case, there are significant changes in the fuel mix compared to the Reference case. The share of fossil fuels in 2050 is less than 60%, with a drop of the demand for coal drops compared to the Reference case. The share of nuclear and renewable energy increases, especially between 2030 and 2050, partly because of the high carbon values across the world and partly because of the increased demand for hydrogen. Electricity production The move to a hydrogen economy induces further changes in the structure of generation, the share of nuclear reaches 38% and the share of renewables about 30%. Thermal electricity production continues to grow and is associated with CCS (66% of electricity generation from fossil fuels in 2050). Hydrogen production and use The use of hydrogen takes-off after 2030, driven by substantial reductions in the cost of the technologies for producing hydrogen and the demand-pull in the transport sector. From 2030 to 2050, production increases ten-fold to 1 Gtoe / year. By 2050, hydrogen provides 13% of final energy consumption, compared to 2% in the Reference case. The share of renewable energy in hydrogen production is 50% and that of nuclear is 40%. Around 90% of hydrogen is used in transport, representing a share of 36% of the consumption of the sector by 2050. Around 80% of the cars using hydrogen are powered by fuel cells. A presentation of the results can be viewed at: http://www.isi.fraunhofer.de/trias/workshopfeb-2006.htm

Duration 24 months Total cost 0.46 million EC funding 0.39 million Coordinator Bruno Lapillonne ENERDATA S.A. 2 Avenue de Vignate FR-38610 Gieres France Partners
Bureau Fdral du Plan de Belgique BE Energy research Centre of the Netherlands NL European Commission JRC-IPTS Polish Academy of Sciences MEERI PL University of Sussex SPRU UK

Project web-page http://www.enerdata.fr

The world energy system in the H2 case

The hydrogen scenario The hydrogen scenario is derived from the carbon constraint case, but also assumes a series of technology breakthroughs that significantly increase the cost-effectiveness of hydrogen technologies, in particular in end-use. The assumptions made on progress for the key hydrogen technologies are deliberately very optimistic.

157

R&D, Demonstration and Incentive Programmes Effectiveness to Facilitate and Secure Market Introduction of Alternative Motor Fuels

PREMIA

Technical approach
Literature review State of the art of AMF, development of indicators, project listing. Local workshops National boundary conditions for introduction AMF and policy measures, dissemination. Expert interviews Effectiveness of ongoing and past RD&D, incentive programs. International workshops International cooperation on assessment framework, dissemination. Modelling Scenario calculations for the introduction of AMF in the EU and policy recommendations. Review of initiatives outside the EU and international cooperation to develop common assessment framework for R&D and demonstration actions. Review of on-going support projects to accelerate R&D in the field of alternative motor fuels and to demonstrate the technology and the definition of a common framework for assessment, focus on hydrogen for transport applications. Evaluation of past and on-going national incentive programmes, focus on biofuels for transport applications. Description of country-specific boundaries which impact the potential for AMF market introduction. Scenario calculations to simulate the impact of certain initiatives on the market demand of alternative motor fuels. Definition of options for cost efficient measures to stimulate the market demand of alternative motor fuels. Dissemination of policy recommendations and suggestions to facilitate and secure the market introduction of alternative motor fuels.

Objectives
PREMIAs objective is to investigate the cost effectiveness of policy measures on alternative motor fuels and to give appropriate policy recommendations on the national and international level to support the market transition to alternative motor fuels. Specific measures will be related to the market maturity of the technology and the country dependent situation. Specific focus is given to the assessment of demonstration actions to promote hydrogen as a transport fuel in the long term and market incentives to promote the use of biofuels in the short term. The development of an assessment framework will be done in cooperation with international partners.

Expected impact
Description of market maturity and technical prospects of alternative motor fuels and alternative fuel vehicles, development of indicators to describe the market maturity of alternative motor fuels (AMF).

INFORMATION
Contract number 503081 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st June 2004 Duration 36 months Total cost 1.0 million EC funding 1.0 million Coordinator Leen Govaerts VITO Flemish Institute for Technological Research Belgium Partners
Centre for Research Hellas CERTH-HIT EL European Commission JRC-IPTS SETREF South-East European Transport Research Forum EL VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland FI

Project web-page http://www.premia-eu.org

158

Deployment of innovative low power fuel cell vehicle fleets to initiate an early market for hydrogen as an alternative fuel in Europe
HYCHAIN-MINITRANS
Problems addressed
Reducing greenhouse gases The use of hydrogen as an energy carrier and to the use of highly-efficient and clean energy conversion devices (fuel cells), has a great potential for reduction of greenhouse gases compared to combustion engines. Increasing the security of energy supplies Security of energy supplies is a major concern for the European Union due to the dependence on imported oil. Hydrogen opens access to a broad range of primary energy sources, including fossil fuels, nuclear energy and renewable energy sources. Improving energy efficiency and increasing the use of renewable energy Some of the Hydrogen used in the HYCHAIN MINI-TRANS project will be locally produced from renewable energy sources, thus promoting diversification and distributed generation. Are optimised in design and functionality. Pre-commercial manufacturing lines will be set up to reduce costs as well as to improve quality. The required hydrogen distribution logistics and services (transport, distribution, dispensing) will be established based on an even exchange of innovative refillable storage solution. A network of comparable subprojects using the common demonstration vehicles will be implemented in the four regions of Europe. The deployment will enable a large and wide variety of end users to be attained in a cost effective way, providing favourable conditions for achieving a significant reduction both in manufacturing and operating costs. The HYCHAIN MINI-TRANS project is composed of a network of sub-projects, leading to the demonstration of hydrogen and the fuel cell economy at a European scale. The development of all these sub-projects involves a wide field of activities, including development, demonstration, innovation activities, research and also management actions.

Objectives
The HYCHAIN-MINITRANS Project will allow citizens from four European Community regions to test a group of more than 150 small urban vehicles, including small utility vehicles, minibuses, wheelchairs, scooters and cargo-bikes, all powered by hydrogen fuel cells. This project will also demonstrate the use of innovative logistics for hydrogen distribution. It is the ultimate objective of HYCHAIN-MINITRANS to bridge this gap between R&D and early market development by deployment of several fleets of innovative fuel cell vehicles in four regions in Europe (in France, Spain, Germany and Italy) operating on hydrogen as an alternative fuel.

Technical approach
The following four-step approach will be implemented. The project will start from existing prototypes of five low power fuel cell applications that:

160

INFORMATION
Contract number 020006 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 5th January 2006 Total cost 37.65 million EC funding 17.0 million Coordinator Philippe Paulmier Axane Fuel Cell Systems Rue de Clmencire 15 FR-38360 Sassenage France Partners
Air Liquide Germany DE Air Liquide Italy IT Air Liquide Spain ES Association de Surveillance et de Contrle de la Pollution Atmosphrique FR Besel S.A. ES Commissariat lnergie Atomique FR DemoCenter Centro Servizi por lInnovazione SCARL IT Ediciones y servicios escolares Domenech SA ES CIEMAT Centro de Investigaciones Energticas, Medioambientales y Tecnolgicas ES Enkat GmbH DE Federazione delle Associazioni Scientifiche e Techniche IT Iberdrola SA ES Institut National de lEvironnement et des Risques FR Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble FR Masterflex AG DE Moroni Autoservice SRL IT Nacional Motor S.A.U. ES PaxiTech S.A.S. FR Rcker Lypsa S.L. ES Universidad San Pablo-CEU ES Wuppertal Institut fr Klima, Umwelt, Energie DE WiN Emscher-Lippe Gesellschaft zur Strukturverbesserung mbH DE

Expected impact
HYCHAIN-MINITRANS will provide attractive solutions for clean light transport by optimising existing prototypes of five fuel cell applications in the power range of 250W to 10 kW. The project will set up pre-commercial manufacturing lines to reduce costs as well as to improve quality. Therefore, the fleets are based on similar modular technology platforms in a variety of applications to achieve a large enough volume of vehicles that allow for an industrial approach to lower costs and overcome major cross sectional barriers. Market-orientated hydrogen distribution logistics and services will be established based on an even exchange of innovative refillable storage solutions. For this purpose, more than 2000 refill storage units using innovative high pressure gaseous hydrogen technology will be designed, certified and deployed to obtain a representative sample and achieve a critical mass sufficient to seed an early market. Finally, HYCHAIN-MINITRANS will launch a first commercial hydrogen model with the financial participation of the end users from the local communities.

Progress to date
Started in January 2006, the first two years of the project are being dedicated to the optimisation and homologation of the vehicles and the hydrogen infrastructure. The 158 units to be deployed and the full hydrogen infrastructure shall be ready in January 2008. The innovation activities are also playing a key role in the first months of the project, particularly the dissemination activities and the intellectual property protection.

Project web-page www.hychain.org

161

Hydrogen for Clean Urban Transport in Europe

HyFLEET:CUTE

Problems addressed
Operation of 33 hydrogen fuel cell powered buses in 9 cities on three continents around the world Amsterdam, Barcelona, Beijing (China), Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Perth (Western Australia), Reykjavik. Design, construction and operation of 14 hydrogen powered internal combustion engine buses for Berlin (4 naturally aspirated engines, 10 turbo-charged engines). Design, construction and testing of the prototype of the next generation of hydrogen fuel cell bus. Development and testing of a new hydrogen refuelling infrastructure including an integrated refuelling station with gaseous hydrogen produced from Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and stationary fuel cells powering the site. Development, optimisation and testing of existing hydrogen infrastructure. Analysing and predicting public opinion on the risks and advantages associated with hydrogen and hydrogen powered transport systems.

Technical approach
The project is active in four key areas: Research, demonstration, training and dissemination. These are illustrated in Figure 1.

Expected impact
Successful operation of 33 fuel cell buses to achieve distances travelled and hours of operation far greater than in any other fuel cell vehicle project anywhere in the world. Design, construction, testing and demonstration of a highly energy efficient next generation fuel cell bus prototype. Design, construction and successful operation of 14 hydrogen ICE buses. Successful operation of fuelling stations at 10 city sites on three continents around the world, and progressive optimisation of their energy efficiency and reliability. Design, construction and operation of a highly innovative integrated hydrogen refuelling station of the future where the hydrogen is provided through multiple production paths, and hydrogen powered stationary fuel cells are used to power the site and to feed excess power back into the electricity grid.

Objectives
The core objectives of the overall project are: Reduction of the energy and fuel consumption of the whole public transport bus transportation system through the use of hydrogen. Education and training of new European Union member states on the advantages of H2 as a fuel in combination with ICE and FC propulsion systems. Deliver a comprehensive set of data and information to industrial stakeholders, politicians, authorities and NGOs enabling them to take key decisions on various issues within their areas of responsibility, including investments in publicprivate partnerships, based on sound facts. Deliver data and recommendations to the EC to underpin possible future revisions of the Communitys energy or environment policies.

Figure 1 HyFLEET:CUTE Project key areas

162

INFORMATION
Contract number 52298 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 10th January 2006 Total cost 43.16 million EC funding 19 million Coordinator Monika Kentzler DaimlerChrysler AG Fuel Cell Drive System Development RBP/F Neue Strasse 95 DE-73230 Kirchheim/Teck-Nabern Germany Partners
Air Liquide FR Autobus de la Ville de Luxembourg LU BP Gas Marketing Ltd. UK BVG DE China FCB Demonstration Project Management Office CHN Department for Planning and Infrastructure, Government of Western Australia AU Empresa Municipal de Transportes de Madrid ES Euro Keys BE EvoBus GmbH DE GVB NL Hamburger Hochbahn AG DE Hydrogenics Europe N.V. BE Islensk NyOrka ehf Icelandic New Energy Ltd. IS Instituto Superior Tcnico Universidade Tcnica de Lisboa PT London Bus Services Ltd. UK MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG DE MVV Consulting GmbH DE NEOMAN Bus DE Norsk Hydro ASA NO PE Europe GmbH DE PLANET Planungsgruppe Energie und Technik GbR DE Repsol YPF ES Shell Hydrogen B.V. NL Technische Universitt Berlin DE TOTAL Deutschland GmbH DE Transports de Barcelona S.A. ES Universitt Stuttgart DE University of Iceland IS Vattenfall Europe Berlin DE Vattenfall Europe Hamburg DE

MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG

Disseminate results to key stakeholders, politicians and senior decision makers and to provide supplementary information in a format that can assist future policy developments. Train non-consortium parties on hydrogen technologies and the potential benefits to energy savings, energy self sufficiency, and minimizing environment damage from greenhouse and other emissions.

Progress to date
33 Fuel Cell buses in operation in 7 European Cities as well as in Beijing, China, and in Perth, Western Australia

First 2 hydrogen ICE buses handed over to transport authority in Berlin and in operation Hydrogen fuelling stations at all 10 sites in operation Web site for the project established and being rapidly developed Initial project pamphlet in print Initial Project Decision Makers Forum held in Melbourne Australia Project wide safety and quality Incident reporting and analysing system established Project wide data management and evaluation system established.

Project web-page www.global-hydrogen-bus-platform.com

163

Lombardia and Rhein-Main towards Zero Emission: Development and Demonstration of Infrastructure Systems for Hydrogen as an Alternative Motor Fuel

ZERO REGIO

Technical approach
Total execution period for this important EU project is 5 years. A large hydrogen source (30 Mm3/y) is available at the Hchst industry park as a chemical plant by-product. This source will be connected via a 2 km long transport line to a public service station to supply hydrogen for vehicle fueling. The service station will supply liquid hydrogen at -253C as well as compressed hydrogen gas. For gas refuelling a 350 bar and a 700 bar dispenser will be employed. In Lombardia hydrogen will be available from a central production facility and from an On-Site reformer facility developed within the project. The reformer will produce hydrogen from natural gas at the service station. A dispenser unit for hydrogen gas at 300 bar will be built and integrated in the public multi-fuel service station to be built within the project. After the construction of hydrogen infrastructure fuel cell vehicles (F-Cell, class-A from Daimler-Chrysler in Rhein-Main) will be driven in normal daily use in different applications. The demonstration phase of the project will be accompanied by an evaluation of the data acquired during the fleet tests with respect to energy efficiency, environmental impact and socio-economic aspects. Experience gained during the fleet tests and the results obtained in the project will contribute to the short and medium time frame objective of the European Commission of replacing 5% of motor fuel in road transport by hydrogen by the year 2020. The project combines 16 Partners from 4 EU countries and uses a range of hydrogen sources, infrastructure configurations and vehicles in two different locations. Hydrogen Sources Chemical plant by-product On-site reforming of methane Industrial production Infrastructure High pressure transport line Refuelling dispensers for compressed Hydrogen and liquid Hydrogen Fuel Cell Car Fleets F-Cell, A-class (DaimlerChrysler) Panda (Fiat) Demonstration Locations Frankfurt, Germany and Mantova, Italy

Objectives
The Zero Regio project consists of construction and demonstration of hydrogen infrastructure in two European regions for supplying fuel cell passenger cars. The project aims at developing and demonstrating zero emission road transport systems in normal daily use for the European cities. The project is intended as an exemplar to demonstrate how 5% hydrogen substitution of fossil transport fuels can take place by 2020. Specific Objectives for the project are as follows: Use of Hydrogen from different sources as an alternative transport fuel Development and demonstration of 700 bar refuelling technology Integration of Hydrogen fillers in conventional service stations Demonstration of reliability of Fuel Cell cars in different applications Socio-economic and environmental assessment of using Hydrogen as a motor-fuel.

164

INFORMATION
Contract number 503190 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Short-Medium Term Starting date 15th November 2004 Duration 60 months Total cost 21.4 million EC funding 7.46 million Coordinator Dr. Heinrich Lienkamp Infraserv GmbH & Co. Hchst KG Industriepark Hchst C 526 DE-65926 Frankfurt am Main Germany Partners
Agip Deutschland GmbH DE Airport Services Worldwide Comune di Mantova IT Centro Ricerche Fiat IT DaimlerChrysler AG DE EniTecnologie S.p.A IT European Commission JRC-IE Fraport AG Frankfurt DE Linde Gas & Engineering AG DE Lunds Universitet SE Regione Lombardia IT Roskilde University DK Sapio Produzione Idrogeno Ossigeno S.r.l. IT Saviko Consultants Ltd. DK TV Hessen GmbH DE Universit commerciale Luigi Bocconi IT

Expected impact
Project Implementation takes place in 2 Phases: Phase I Construction (2005-2006) Develop and construct modern multi-energy service stations Design & construct H2 infrastructure transport lines, production unit, compression & distribution equipment Obtain certification Integrate H2 in service stations Assure overall safety Prepare test procedures Phase II Demonstration (2007-2009) Acquire fleets at both sites Organise personnel training Perform field tests Acquire data on infrastructure & FCV's Analyse & evaluate data on energy, performance and emissions Analyse and evaluate data on socio-economic aspects Disseminate & exploit project results Challenges Use of Hydrogen as zero emission transport fuel from different sources Development & demonstration of 700 bar refuelling technology for Hydrogen Certification and integration of Hydrogen (CGH2 and LH2) fillers in conventional service stations Demonstration of reliability of fuel-cell cars in different applications Socio-economic and environmental assessment of using Hydrogen as a motor-fuel. Demonstration of Hydrogen as a transport fuel Building up Hydrogen infrastructure to serve road traffic in European cities Reliability assessment of fuel cell vehicles in urban transport Promoting public acceptance for Hydrogen as an alternative motor fuel Models for faster penetration of Hydrogen over larger urban areas in the EU (5% substitution by 2020) A successful step towards making Hydrogen economy a reality.

Progress to date
The kick-off meeting of the project took place in November 2004 at Infraserv, Hchst industry park. Progress since then is as follows: Building permits from the local regulation authorities obtained for the multi-fuel (incl. Hydrogen) service station in Italy expected in month 19-20 for the service station in Germany expected in month 19 for the high pressure H2-transport line in Germany Detailed infrastructure component design completed and in construction Preliminary Assessment Framework developed Fleet demonstration expected to begin in month 24 as planned.

Project web-page www.zeroregio.de

165

A Coordination Action to Prepare European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Projects on Hydrogen for Transport HyLights
Problems addressed
Which lessons do we learn from past and ongoing demonstration projects on Hydrogen for Transport? Technological achievements Economic achievements Project management Public acceptance Safety and regulatory issues Which is the necessary Monitoring Assessment Framework to be used for planning and assessing the outcome of the coming large-scale demonstration program and the individual projects? How will we manage and finance the demonstration projects for transport and transition phase and which is the necessary legal framework? How will we contribute to the visibility and acceptance of hydrogen as transport fuel in the public? Accepted Project Assessment Framework to be used by the coming large-scale demonstration projects on hydrogen for transport. Management, financial and legal guidelines for the planning of the coming large-scale demonstration projects on hydrogen for transport. Higher visibility of the European strategy on hydrogen for transport by establishing the European project family on Hydrogen for Transport.

Objectives
HyLights sets out to accelerate the commercialisation of hydrogen and fuel cells in the field of transport in Europe. HyLights will assist all stakeholders in the preparation of the next important phase of the transition to hydrogen as a fuel and long-term renewable energy carrier. Furthermore it will offer services to the European project family Hydrogen for Transport to develop better coherence between the individual activities.

Progress to date
The first 5 project months have been devoted to the methodology development for the demonstration project preparation and the establishment of the initiative for the project family Hydrogen for Transport. Both activities require a consensus between: The institute partners, responsible for developing the methods, and the HyLights industry partners All HyLights partners and the European Commission Other relevant projects (Roads2HYCOM and the LHP study).

Expected impacts
The following major output is expected from the assessment work carried out in HyLights: Compilation of lessons learnt from past and ongoing demonstration projects.

166

INFORMATION
Contract number 019990. Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date January 2006
The basic methodology comprises all HyLights work packages and tasks and has been agreed upon at the HyLights general assembly meeting in May 2006. Previous and ongoing demonstration projects are currently addressed by personal communication. Various international assessment frameworks have been analysed for their applicability to the HyLights Monitoring Assessment Framework (MAF). A survey has been devised to map the regional interests in Hydrogen for Transport across Europe, elements of the gaps analysis have been defined to address industry and possible endusers of the coming demonstration projects and the activity profile and organisational details for the initiative group Hydrogen for Transport have been developed. Two significant project results have been achieved so far. One is the drafting of the HyLights Monitoring Assessment Framework. The depth of data/information for this Framework is now being extended by calculation routines to enable aggregation of the data. The other result is a first workshop, organised to disseminate information to experts of the Hydrogen for Transport project family. Further options for joint activities have been identified and will lead to concrete actions increasing visibility of the European strategy for Hydrogen for Transport.

Duration 24 months Total cost 4.4 million EC funding 4.1 million Coordinator Dr. Ulrich Bnger Ludwig-Blkow-Systemtechnik GmbH Daimlerstrasse 15 DE-85521 Ottobrunn Germany Partners
Air Liquide DTA FR Air Products PLC UK BMW Group DE BP UK Centro Ricerche Fiat IT DaimlerChrysler DE Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH DE Energy research Centre of the Netherlands Policy Studies NL EniTecnologie IT Ford Forschungszentrum Aachen DE Opel DE Hydro NO Kellen Europe BE Linde DE PSA Peugeot Citron Automobiles FR Repsol YPF ES Total FR Vattenfall Europe DE Volkswagen DE

Associated Partners
Chevron USA Hydrogenics BE BMVBS DE

Project web-page www.HyLights.EU

167

Fuel Cell Testing and Dissemination

FCTEDI
Objectives
FCTEDI has two major objectives namely: To further disseminate the results of the ongoing FP6 Fuel Cells TEsting Safety and their Quality Assurance (FCTESQA) STREP to a wider audience within the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE) members and to other International Organisations, like IEA, IEC, ISO, HFP, to promote awareness. To perform a Meta-gap analysis for regulations, codes and standards (RCS) for fuel cells intended for stationary applications. The dissemination of results will be achieved in two ways: Firstly, results will be disseminated to the International bodies and Standards Developing Organisations (SDO) such as HFP, IEA, ISO and IEC. This action originally started with the FP5 Fuel Cell TEsting and STandardisation NETwork (FCTESTNET) thematic network project and is followed up by FCTESQA while it is now mature enough to assist the standardisation processes. Secondly, results will be disseminated among the IPHE members, through dedicated workshops addressing important areas of testing. IPHE members will further disseminate information to their regional forums. The intention for a Meta-Gap analysis for fuel cell RCS intended for stationary applications is to build upon the experiences and the results of the gap analyses performed by the Initiative Group RCS of the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Technology Platform (HFP), the CEN/CENELEC activity and the FP6 HarmonHy SSA in the area of fuel cells for stationary applications. It is however not the intention to duplicate these activities but to be complementary, which explains the term, Meta-Gap analysis.

Problems addressed
Fuel cell technology is a competitor to several energy technologies used today, but presents much better performance in terms of efficiency and emissions. However, the technology is not yet mature enough for end user application in a broad range and needs to be further developed, since there are significant technological challenges still to be addressed. For the rating of improvements in fuel cell technology, commonly agreed measures for system efficiency, power density, dynamic behaviour and durability are indispensable. This requires harmonised, validated and benchmarked testing procedures for entire fuel cell systems as well as system components, so that the effect of tremendous variety of boundary conditions e.g. caused by different applications, stack technologies, types of fuel, fuel quality on the performance can be traced back through a common agreed basis. Standards have a recognised contribution to international trade. They are the lubricants of the economy as they contribute to the reduction of technical barriers to trade. This is one of the objectives of the World Trade Organization/ Technical Barrier to Trade (WTO/TBT) agreement. Codes & Standards, by definition, have international value only if they incorporate the needs of different sectors and different countries, therefore, a multinational effort to establish a common methodology to assess and compare R&D-results as well as industrial products is clearly needed. This is the approach taken by the STREP FCTESQA. However, there is a need for a world-wide dissemination of the results and an accurate and dedicated analysis for addressing the gap in present ongoing RCS activities and programmes world-wide.

Technical approach
The FCTEDI workplan consists of 4 work packages: 1 devoted to consortium management (WP0) 3 devoted to the scientific activities of the project (WP1-WP3) The interdependency of the work packages is illustrated in Figure 1. The implementation plan explains the structure of the FCTEDI work plan and how it will lead the participants to achieve the projects objectives.

Figure 1 FCTEDI Project flow chart

168

INFORMATION
Contract number Under negotiation Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Coordinator Administrative & Financial Coordinator: Angelo Moreno Ente per le Nuove Tecnologie, lEnergia e lAmbiante ENEA Lungotevere Grande Ammiraglio Thaon di Revel 76 IT-00196 Rome Italy Scientific Coordinator: Georgios Tsotridis European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Energy Westerduinweg 3 NL-1755 ZG Petten The Netherlands Partners
Central Electrochemical Research Institute IN Centre for Solar energy and Hydrogen Research DE Commissariat lnergie Atomique FR Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics Chinese Academy CHN Dutch Standardisation Organisation NL Hochschule fr Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg DE Inmetro BR Italian Centre for Experimental Electrotechnology IT Kiwa Gastec Certification BV NL Korean Institute of Science and Technology KR Ovidius University of Constantia RO The Association of German Engineers DE The Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research at the Norwegian Institute of Technology NO University of Iceland IS

The project consortium brings together partners from well-known research centres, universities and industrial partners. The partnership is managed by the DirectionGeneral, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Energy, Petten, NL (Dr. G. Tsotridis) acting as the Scientific Project Coordinator and ENEA (Dr. Angelo Moreno) acting as the Coordinator responsible for financial and administrative matters. Each Work Package (WP) has its leader, responsible for its coordination and completion. In many instances pre-existing relationships and connections exist between the involved parties allowing for smooth collaboration and division of responsibilities within the consortium along with strong lines of communication.

the results of efforts of 54 partners but, due to the round-robin testing undertaken within FCTESQA, they also represent the experimental validation of the testing procedures, with all the related experience gained in the field. Disseminating results to IPHE members has a strategic relevance for European fuel cell development. In fact, this activity illustrates the achievements and the needs at the European level, and can subsequently stimulate international co-operations and national activities that can help further development of RCS taking into account the European point of view. In fact, the dissemination results will eventually be used to set up and improve international standards. The European legislator may rely on these standards to define legal requirements. For this reason the dissemination effort and meta-gap analysis is also a valuable input to the process of drawing up and implementing EU legislation. The success of the dissemination is guaranteed by the extended experience of the partners in dissemination and in international cooperation. Several partners have participated in FCTESTNET and are participating in IPHE or HFP. Additionally, other partners are actively participating in IEC/TC 105 and ISO/TC 197.

Expected impact
Dissemination is one of the core parts of FCTEDI with an exploitation potential beyond 5 years. Dissemination is addressed to both international organisations and forums, such as IEA, ISO, IEC, HFP, and to IPHE partners. The dissemination towards international organisations, that are directly or indirectly involved in fuel cells RCS, is critical at this stage. In fact, experimental validation of technical procedures is very expensive and time consuming, thus it is beyond the scope of standardisation committees to experimentally validate technical procedures. Results of FCTESTNET and FCTESQA represent not only

Progress to date
Project under negotiation

169

Fuel Cell Testing, Safety and Quality Assurance

FCTES QA

Problems addressed
Fuel cell technology has made rapid progress in recent years. However, it is not mature enough for end-user application in a broad range and needs to be further developed since there are significant technological challenges still to be addressed. For the rating of improvements, common agreed measures for system efficiency, power density, dynamic behaviour and durability are indispensable. This requires the definition of harmonised, validated and benchmarked testing procedures for entire fuel cell systems, as well as system components, so that the tremendous variety of boundary conditions e.g. caused by different applications, stack technologies, types of fuel, fuel quality can be traced back to a common agreed basis. The requirements of such harmonised procedures are not just a European need; it is rather a world-wide one. The fuel cell testing harmonisation activity started in Europe with the FCTESTNET project. This comprised of 55 partners and its main result was the collection and compilation of pre-existing, and further development of harmonised testing procedures. Such harmonisation is necessary to enable unbiased and objective comparison of R&D results and evaluation of technological progress in this field. FCTESQA, as the natural successor of the FCTESTNET, especially addresses the aspects of pre-normative research, benchmarking, and validation through round robin testing of harmonised, industry-wide test protocols and testing methodologies. FCTESQA progresses beyond the current stateof-the-art by ensuring, for the first time within the EU, that the internationally agreed harmonised test procedures (FCTESTNET results) will be validated through experimental campaigns. Test protocols will undergo benchmarking and round robin testing in different laboratories. FCTESQA results will be discussed, debated and agreed in co-operative progress meetings and dedicated workshops under the IPHE auspices. In addressing the above-mentioned issues an international consortium from EU and INCO members has been established.

Objectives
FCTESQA aims at establishing a formal European process for validating and benchmarking by means of experimental campaigns the results of the Fifth Framework Program (FP5) funded Thematic Network project FCTESTNET (the Fuel Cells Testing and Standardisation Network). Thereby, providing a voice for all interested and affected parties. The experimental activity of the project will validate test procedures for evaluation of performance, operational characteristics, efficiency, safety and environmental compliance of fuel cell systems, down to stacks and cells. It is the aim of FCTESQA to work on pre-normative research, and to contribute to the early, and market-oriented development of specifications and pre-standards, and to the support of European contributions to the standardisation process.

Technical approach
The main objectives of the project are addressed in 6 Work Packages (WPs) and several tasks, as illustrated in the following figure. The role of each WP is summarised hereafter. Two main approaches are considered as relevant for the success of the project. The market-oriented approach concerns the applications, and the technology-oriented approach concerns the relevant fuel cell types PEFC, MCFC and SOFC. While the application defines the performance and

170

INFORMATION
Contract number 020161 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st May 2006 Duration 48 months Total cost 4.9 million EC funding 2.5 million Coordinator Administrative & Financial Coordinator: Angelo Moreno Ente per le Nuove Tecnologie, lEnergia e lAmbiante ENEA Lungotevere Grande Ammiraglio Thaon di Revel 76 IT-00196 Rome Italy Scientific Coordinator: Georgios Tsotridis European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Energy Westerduinweg 3 NL-1755 ZG Petten The Netherlands Partners
Participants from the EU Members States: ANSALDO Fuel Cells S.p.A. IT AVL List GmbH AT CESI IT Commissariat lnergie Atomique FR Deutsches Zentrum fr Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. DE EnBW DE Energy research Centre of the Netherlands NL Flemish Institute for Technological Research BE Forschungszentrum Jlich GmbH DE General Electric Research Laboratories DE Hochschule fr Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg DE HTceramix SA CH Iberdrola Ingenieria y Consultoria S.A.U. ES Spanish Institute for Aerospatial Technologies ES Technical Research Centre of Finland FI Technische Universitt Graz AT TV Nord GmbH DE UMICORE AG & Co. KG BE Universitt Karlsruhe DE Universit de Technologie de Belfort-Montbliard FR Verein Deutscher Ingenieure e.V. DE Viessmann Werke DE Zentrum fr Sonnenenergie und WasserstoffForschung DE Participants from non EU Members States: Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences CHN Department of Energy USA: DoE National Energy Technology Laboratory DoE Los Alamos National Laboratory DoE Argonne National Laboratory Institute for Physics and Power Engineering RU Korean Institute of Science and Technology KR New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation Japan Russian Research Centre Kurtchatov Institute RU

safety targets, the technical feasibility and the technical risks are mainly influenced by the technology. For this reason, the organisation of FCTESQA consists of two main tracks of WPs, the Application track and the Technology track. WP0, Co-ordination & Project management, is devoted to the planning and scheduling of resources. It is the goal of WP1 Applications-Stationary, to define a general set of tests and the associated test parameters for stationary applications. WPs 2, 3, and 4, namely, PEMFC, MCFC, and SOFC have common objectives. These are to define the main parameters determining the performance of a fuel cell system and to establish common test procedures and methodologies for evaluation of cell and system components among the fuel cell community both for comparison and for identification of criteria and guidelines for future standardisation. WP5 Quality Assurance & External relations will concentrate on horizontal quality assurance matters within the WPs, as well as on exchange and collaboration with other relevant European and overseas networks and institutions (specifically the international bodies such as IPHE, IEC, the US-DoE, IEA and the Japanese FC network, but also institutions of the former USSR, Korea, and China).

Testing procedures developed and examined within FCTESQA will be a valuable tool/ input for the international standardisation bodies such as the International Standards Organisation, (ISO TC 22); the foundation of the International Electrotechnical Committee, (IEC TC 105); the European Committee for Standardisation (Comit Europen de Normalisation CEN) and its Electrotechnical Standardisation part CENELEC; and the International Energy Agency (IEA). Co-operating with these international organisations is extremely important. In this way the work of the standardisation bodies will be strongly supported and promoted by this research activity. Dissemination of FCTESQA results to international bodies, such as IEA, IEC, to the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform (HFP), and to State members of the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE) is not foreseen in FCTESQA as a specific activity. However, due to the strong importance of results dissemination outside the project consortium, FCTESQA will have a strong linkage with the SSA Project FCTEDI, which has the task, among others, to disseminate FCTESQA results. FCTESQA also contributes to the Energy Work Programme goals of higher efficiency and lower energy cost/kW. The proposed project will contribute to the overall environmental targets of the EU, and can provide significant scientific and technological input to relevant activities planned by the European Commission.

Expected impact
Within FCTESQA round robin testing will take place in several testing facilities aiming at supplying with validated testing methods and procedures to be applied for comparative testing, quality assurance and safety issues on single fuel cells, stacks and systems for industrial applications. This objective will be fulfilled by stepwise creation of industrial acceptance for the common use of the harmonised testing methods and procedures being developed within the thematic network FCTESTNET or being supplied by overseas partners.

Progress to date
The project started on May 1, 2006. At the present, the testing procedures are being developed within the thematic network FCTESTNET are being reviewed by WP members.

171

Fuel Cell Testing and Standardization

FCTEST
Objectives
Fuel Cells (FC) are expected to play a major role in the future energy supply and may in the long-term replace a large part of the current combustion systems in all end use sectors. In combination with conventional fuels such as natural gas, they have, in the medium and long-term, a considerable potential for energy savings and for strong reductions in CO2 and pollutant emissions. The Fuel Cells Performance Testing and Standardisation (FCTEST) action of the JRCs Institute for Energy focuses on the following major objectives: To harmonise, validate and benchmark test procedures for operational performance, environmental compliance, and safety of single cells, FC stacks and FC systems, thus supporting the ongoing European and worldwide Regulation Codes and Standards (RCS) definition process. To provide direct comparisons between competing FC technologies in terms of performance, operational characteristics, efficiency, safety and environmental compliance. To upgrade the FC Testing facility to allow performance characterisation of elements in the entire FC power chain, including fuel processor and power conditioning. To provide underpinning experimental and theoretical work on Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) degradation mechanisms, such as membrane deterioration, sintering of the catalyst, poisoning, flooding of reaction sites, fuel crossover and corrosion of bipolar plates that limit performance and lifetime of the FC. To provide scientific insight on FC performance by means of mathematical modelling and numerical simulations at different scales. To investigate and facilitate the set up of a European Reference System on FC-based energy systems testing.

Problems addressed
FC systems offer a clean and highly efficient way to convert energy carriers (e.g. hydrogen, natural gas, MeOH) into electricity and usable heat with great potential for high energy efficiencies, energy savings and emissions abatement in diverse applications ranging from micro and portable devices, residential CHP, propulsion power to large scale power generation. Fuel cells are currently introduced into the market and find an ever-increasing use in stationary and transport applications. However, the technology is not yet mature and needs to be further developed. Significant technological challenges still need to be addressed. Targeted research is indispensable for improving system performance of FC technology, which also has to cope with environmental constraints, and comply with end-user requirements for a large variety of boundary conditions. Such research includes progress in understanding FC behaviour by theoretical and experimental means. In addition, test procedures and protocols, a priori harmonised and experimentally verified and benchmarked, are required to provide a reliable and trustworthy base to market actors and as a necessary step for the establishment of RCS. Of particular importance in this respect is the representativeness of the test and of its results for the actual application in mind. For this purpose, the FCTEST facility includes a vibration table housed in an environmental chamber, allowing simulation of actual service conditions that FC systems are subjected to. Project structure FC is a key component of the JRCs Strategy for Sustainable Energy. The FCTEST action of JRC-IE provides an integrated S&T in full text support to EU policies centred on the three major pillars: Operation of the Fuel Cell Testing (FCTEST) laboratories Coordination of and participation to networking activities on pre-normative FC Testing & Standardisation Scientific insight of FC performance by means of mathematical modelling and numerical simulations.

Technical approach
Generally accepted and harmonised testing procedures, measurement methodology and test protocols for FC stacks, components and systems in stationary and transport applications are compiled, experimentally verified, improved and benchmarked. Mathematical modelling and numerical simulation of FC transport phenomena at different scales enhance scientific insight into FC performance and behaviour in support to testing and allow identification of important parameters that need to be controlled and/or monitored for test results to be representative, valid and reliable.

Expected impact
The main goal of the action is to initiate a European Reference System for FC Testing and to support RCS activities. This comprises the operation of the FCTEST facility including future expansions into single cell and FC power chain testing, and networking activities. The latter specifically include the internationally oriented FP6 FCTESQA STREP and FCTEDI SSA in continuation of the successful FP5 FCTESTNET thematic network and participation in RCS activities of the European Hydrogen and

172

INFORMATION
Contract number Action 2322 Programme Joint Research Centre 2003 2006 Multi-Annual Work Programme Duration 48 months
Fuel Cell Technology Platform and within the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy. In the short and medium term, this activity will result in RCS developments, and, in particular, verified and benchmarked test procedures will represent a scientific input for the formulation of European and international standards. On behalf of the European Commission JRC-IE attained EC liaison status with IEC TC 105. It was asked by ISO TC 197 WG12 to investigate on the possibility to carry out specific research on hydrogen fuel impurities and align international efforts in this area. JRC-IE was invited to act as technical interlocutor for CEN mandate M349. In addition, various modelling results on physico-chemical and transport phenomena in PEFC and SOFC single cells and stacks were disseminated. FCTEST is recognised as preferred discussion platform with US-DoE FC standards program, and established cooperation within FP6 FCTESQA STREP project with well known institutions, such as the Chinese Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Russian Research Centre Kurtchatov Institute, and the Institute for Physics and Power Engineering, as well as the South Korean Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and the Japanese New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

Coordinator Georgios Tsotridis EC Scientific Officer Partners

JRC institutional activity

Progress to date
The FCTEST action started in 2003. It operates the FCTEST facility in experimental campaigns as part of JRC-IE institutional activities and in competitive projects (FP6 CELINA, FP5 FEBUSS, and FP6 FCTESQA). Laboratory expansions to include single cell and reformer testing are well under way. JRC-IE successfully operated FCTESTNET as scientific coordinator. This project produced testing procedures for FC performance ranging from MEA, single cells to stacks and system components. The compiled within the FCTESTNET consortium FC glossary was recognised as an updated terminology reference by IEA AFC IA Annex XIX and IEC TC 105.

173

Harmonization of Standards and Regulations for a sustainable Hydrogen and Fuel Cell HarmonHy
Objectives
HarmonHy is a 15 month project that aims to make an assessment of the activities on hydrogen and fuel cell related regulations and standards on a worldwide level. On this basis gaps will be identified and propositions to solve fragmentation will be made. Potential conflicts between codes, standards and regulations will also be investigated and propositions to solve the conflicts will be made. Particular attention will be paid to identifying the needs for standards as perceived by the industry, as well as action to ensure concordance between standards and regulations. The final goal of the project is to make European collaboration in the field as effective as possible and to increase European contribution at the worldwide level, rendering it more effective and homogeneous as well as corresponding to its major interests. As a conclusion to this Specific Support Action (SSA), the partners intend to organize a conference with the aim to present the results of the project. In addition the project will result in guidelines for the setting up of adequate bodies to solve the identified problems.
WP2: State of the art of pre-normative research (ENEA) Mapping of research, development & demonstration (RD&D) projects in the field of fuel cell and hydrogen for transport and WP1: State of the art of codes and standards (VUB) This WP aims to identify and map the state of the art of ongoing activities in hydrogen specific regulations, codes and standards. WP0: Management (AVERE/VUB) Project coordination and dissemination. stationary applications in EU is the necessary basis and input source for the identification of pre-normative data able to support the development of regulations and standards. This WP has the general objective to map existing EU and international RD&D projects and identify gaps. WP3: Interaction with outside bodies (JRC) The establishment of exchange of information and the collaboration with the relevant European and overseas networks and institutions is the main objective of the WP3.

Technical approach
In order to ensure achievement of the goals, the work will be structured in the following work packages:

174

INFORMATION
Contract number 513542 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st May 2005
WP4: Analysis of industrial and societal needs (CRF) The analysis of industrial and societal needs is the main objective of WP4. Automotive, components and the hydrogen and fuel cell system industry needs standards support as a guideline for technical development of vehicles and systems. Safety and performance characterization is required in order to correctly address the market demand and meet the requirements for a safe and effective vehicle use. Governmental and public authorities need an indication about how to characterize and approve the products to certify safety and performance outputs, according to reproducible procedures, agreed at international level. Both standards and regulations have to reflect the user demand, addressing a safe and practical utilization of the products. Standards and Regulations on hydrogen and fuel cell are fundamental background for the safe and effective development and diffusion of the technology for products in both fields mobile and stationary, with the consequence for the social benefits in terms of environmental quality and energy conservation. WP5: Action plan and road map (LBST) The preparation of an action plan for further work on harmonization of regulations, codes and standards on an international basis is the main objective of WP5. Successful submission and support for approval of the formal documents to the two drafts for new ECE regulations for hydrogen vehicles submitted to GPRE (TRANS/WP.29/GRPE/2003/14 and TRANS/WP.29/GRPE/2003/14 Add.1 for liquid hydrogen vehicles, and TRANS/WP.29/GRPE/2004/3 for compressed gaseous hydrogen vehicles) should be facilitated. This work package will also facilitate the required process of recognition as an EC-directive through the European Council and the European Parliament support by the member state representatives. Another outcome will be to propose activities towards international standards on ISO and IEC committee level for those areas identified in the other work packages, taking into account all ongoing European and international initiatives, trying to enhance them where suitable or necessary.

Duration 15 months Total cost 0.53 million EC funding 0.46 million Coordinator Vrije Universiteit Brussel Pleinlaan 2 BE-1050 Brussels Belgium Partners
Avere BE Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft DE Centro Ricerche Fiat IT CCS Global Canada ENEA IT European Commission JRC-IE European Natural Gas Vehicles Association NL Hydrogenics Europe N.V BE L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH DE Norsk Hydro NO Volvo Technology Corporation SE Brussel BE

Expected impact
HarmonHy will have a two-fold strategic impact on major policy initiatives put in place by the EC on these key technologies: The SSA will bring together key information and will propose a strategic assessment, related to regulations, standards and pre-normative research projects, aimed at supporting the activities of the Advisory Council of the European Technology Platform on Fuel Cell and Hydrogen and the promotion of international co-operation. The final objective of this SSA is to give support to the hydrogen and fuel cell technology development, through indication how to establish a rational and harmonized body of standards and regulations, to serve manufacturing industries, users and governmental and public authorities, for the design and the characterization of the products in terms of safety, performance and use adequacy.

Project web-page www.harmonhy.com

175

Handbook for Approval of Hydrogen Refuelling Stations

HyApproval

Problems addressed
As experience form the CUTE project has proven, although the technical requirements of the bus manufacturer for the refuelling stations in several EU countries where strictly the same, the resulting refuelling stations were significantly different from one from the other. This has not allowed the infrastructure companies to propose cost efficient standard refuelling station layouts. These differences are dictated by national, regional, or even municipal requirements differing widely within the EU. HyApproval aims to produce a Handbook which will assist all interested parties in laying out, installing, approving and operating HRS for compressed and liquid hydrogen for use in road vehicles on an EU-wide level. There is also potential to apply this handbook in ocutries outside the EU (e.g. China, Japan, USA). definition of a uniform safety assessment process and safety features required for the approval of HRS in the member states. WP4 will develop a uniform approach based on best practice experiences to give guidance to developers and regulatory authorities on public safety issues related to design, construction and operation of HRS. WP5 has to identify and inform European, national and local decision makers dealing with refuelling station approval processes and international standards institutions about the Handbook for HRS and to involve them in the verification process of this Handbook. WP6 will identify the requirements for HRS from the vehicle side. Because of different requirements of various tank systems there is the need to establish strong collaboration to define the interface requirements for both fuels, liquid as well as compressed hydrogen at the available filling pressures.

Objectives
HyApproval is a Strategic Targeted Research Project to develop a handbook facilitating the approval of hydrogen refuelling stations (HRS) and assists companies and organisations in the implementation and operation of HRS. The project will be performed over 24 months by a balanced, experienced partnership including 25 partners from industry, SMEs and institutes. Key partners from China, Japan and USA provide an additional liaison to international regulations, codes & standards activities. The project will finalise the HRS technical guideline started under EIHP2 and contribute to the international standard under development at ISO TC197. The handbook will be based on best practice, reflecting the existing technical know-how and regulatory environment, but also includes the flexibility to allow new technologies and design to be introduced at a later stage. In order to meet these goals, best practise will be developed from the experience obtained in projects such as CUTE, HyFLEET:CUTE, ECTOS, EIHP1&2, HySafe, ZERO REGIO, CEP and from partner activities. In 5 EU countries (F/D/I/E/NL) and in China, Japan and the USA the HyApproval process will include a handbook review by country authorities to pursue broad agreement and to define approval routes. After finalising the Handbook process the developed requirements and procedures to get Approval in Principle shall be sufficiently advanced to seek approval in any European country without major modifications. Infrastructure companies, local authorities, HRS operators and owners and also the EC will benefit from the handbook that is expected to contribute to the safe implementation of a hydrogen infrastructure.

Technical approach
HyApproval is structured in 7 work packages (WPs) as follows: WP0 comprises project management activities divided into Administrative Project Management and strategic management by the Project Steering Group. WP1 Hydrogen Refuelling Station Definitions and Requirements will define a virtual HRS with essential components of a uniform design and required safety features. WP2 Handbook Compilation will write the Handbook for facilitating approval, installation and operation of HRS in Europe and finalise the draft guidelines of HRS initiated in EIHP2. WP3 Infrastructure and Deployment has to identify the requests of the responsible authorities for the approval of HRS in the five selected EU member states with respect to the safety approach that the authorities will apply in the approval process and the refuelling station infrastructure in order and to come to a future uniform HRS and the

Expected impact
HyApproval aims to facilitate harmonised and uniform approval procedures for HRS for Europe. Thus allowing the development of standardised components and subsystems for refuelling stations with the potential to reduce cost and increase uptake. Europe still has a leading position in standards for both compressed and liquid hydrogen refuelling technology. This position could be maintained and extended if these products can be applied without major modifications on a world scale.

Progress to date
The project web-site has been prepared for internal and public communication. WP1 has prepared a draft design paper of a virtual HRS to be reviewed by the other work packages. WP2 has suggested safety scenarios to WP4 and has prepared a list of applicable regulations, codes and standards.

176

INFORMATION
Contract number 019813 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st October 2005 Duration 24 months Total cost 3.95 million EC funding 1.9 million Coordinator Reinhold Wrster Ludwig-Blkow-Systemtechnik GmbH Daimlerstrasse 15 DE-85521 Ottobrunn Germany Partners
Adam Opel AG DE Air Liquide FR Air Products PLC UK BP plc UK Chinese Academy of Sciences, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry CHN Commissariat lnergie Atomique FR Det Norske Veritas AS NO Engineering Advancement Association of Japan JP EniTecnologie S.p.A. IT European Commission JRC-IE Federazione delle Associazioni Scientifiche e Tecniche IT Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH DE Health & Safety Laboratory UK Hydrogenics Europe N.V. BE Icelandic New Energy Ltd. IS Institut National de lEnvironnement Industriel et des Risques FR Instituto Nacional de Tcnica Aerospacial ES Linde AG DE Ludwig-Blkow-Systemtechnik GmbH DE National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos EL National Renewable Energy Laboratory USA Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research NL Norsk Hydro ASA NO Shell Hydrogen B.V. NL Total France FR

The partners of WP4 have established a safety matrix and best practises for safety and have agreed on the safety documentation for the Handbook, on actions to complete HRS documentation as well as on the required modelling tools & techniques for risk assessment and simulations, accident scenarios and credible leak rates.

WP4 partners have also identified and reviewed reliability data form past data collections and risk studies and have developed simulation scenarios based on present HRS systems. WP6 has prepared a general interface description for LH2 and CGH2 storage systems.

Project web-page www.hyapproval.org

177

Safety of Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier

HySAFE

Problems addressed
The IPHE recognised HySafe network focuses on safety issues relevant to improving and coordinating the knowledge and understanding of hydrogen safety and to supporting the safe and efficient introduction and commercialisation of hydrogen as an energy carrier of the future. The research activities are structured around all levels of safety control and all relevant applications, mainly in the private sector. The required long-term integration will be provided by the European Hydrogen Safety Centre, which will be founded by the HySafe consortium during the subsidised phase. Tools Cluster: Creation of a set of specialised research facilities. Establishment of an open hydrogen incident and accident database. Identification of a set of specialised complementary codes and models that can be used for consequence analyses and safety studies. Developing, harmonising and validating methodologies for risk assessments. Phenomena Cluster Promoting fundamental research necessary to address hydrogen safety issues. Extracting net outcomes from safety and risk assessment and the relevant safety experience gained in other EC funded projects. Dissemination Cluster Disseminating the results through the HySafe website, the Biennial Report on Hydrogen

Objectives
The overall goal of the HySafe Network of Excellence is to contribute to the safe transition to more sustainable development in Europe by facilitating the safe introduction of hydrogen technologies and applications. The objectives of the network include: Contribution to common understanding and approaches for addressing hydrogen safety issues. Integration of the European experience, knowledge hardware and software tools relevant to hydrogen safety. Integration and harmonisation of the fragmented research base. Provide contributions to EU safety requirements, standards and codes of practice. Contribute to an improved technical culture on handling hydrogen as an energy carrier. Promote public acceptance of hydrogen technologies.

Technical approach
Research elements are integrated within Internal Projects like InsHyde and HyTunnel. Other activities (see http://www.hysafe.net/WPlist) are conducted in a highly collaborative manner grouped in activity clusters.

178

INFORMATION
Contract number 502630 Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Starting date 1st March 2004 Duration 60 months Total cost 13 million EC funding 7 million Coordinator Dr. Thomas Jordan Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH IKET Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1 DE-76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen Germany Partners
Air Liquide FR BMW Forschung und Technik GmbH DE Building Research Establishment Ltd UK Commissariat lnergie Atomique FR Det Norske Veritas AS NO European Commission JRC-IE Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing DE Forschungszentrum Jlich GmbH DE Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft ICT DE Foundation INASMET ES GexCon AS NO Institut National de lEnvironnement industriel et des Risques FR Instituto Superior Tcnico PT National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos EL Norsk Hydro ASA NO Politechnika Warszawska PL Ris National Laboratory DK The United Kingdoms Health and Safety Laboratory UK TNO NL University of Calgary CA University of Pisa IT Universidad Politcnica de Madrid ES University of Ulster UK VOLVO Technology Corporation SE

Progress to date
Safety and the Biennial International Conference on Hydrogen Safety (ICHS). Organising training and educational programmes on hydrogen safety, including on-line mode (e-Academy). Studies as input to EU-legal requirements, standards and codes of practice. Early IPHE recognition of HySafe. On-line catalogue of all relevant European experimental facilities. On-line Questionnaire, expert surveys and PIRT study to define research headlines and identify safety relevant knowledge gaps. Draft Handbook for Hydrogen Safety to be issued late summer 2006. Huge online database for hydrogen industries (>1000 entries) and hydrogen safety bibliography. Successful organisation and IPHE integration of the International Conference for Hydrogen Safety (300+ participants). Successful initiation of the First Hydrogen Safety Summer School HYCOURSE and early stage training network HYSAFEST. 4 further proposals for new projects to the EC (e.g. HYPER). Prototype of HIAD database with first 40 entries; public interface late summer 2006. Organisation of 4 special workshops/ information exchange meetings on experiments and instrumentation. Highly dynamic website www.hysafe.net with several communication features.

Expected impact
Progress in common understanding of hydrogen safety and risk. Harmonised tools for safety and risk assessment, including a database for incidences and a Handbook for Hydrogen Safety. Support the harmonisation of standards, by providing the unambiguous scientific basis, especially where the standards are designed for safe, robust and reliable solutions for hydrogen applications. A framework for training and education. A safety roadmap for future progress. All above integrated, maintained and disseminated by the European Hydrogen Safety Centre to be founded by the HySafe project consortium.

Project web-page www.hysafe.net

179

Early Stage Training in Fundamentals of Hydrogen Safety HySAFEST

Abstract
The aim of this EST (Early Stage Training) in Fundamentals of Hydrogen Safety (HySAFEST) project is to offer a unique opportunity for researchers in the early stages of their professional careers to work in an internationally recognized multi- and interdisciplinary research team of scientists and engineers within the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Ulster (UU), at the Fire Safety Engineering Research and Technology Institute (FireSERT) pursuing wide national and international research collaboration strategy. UU is carrying out a joint programme of activities as a partner in the European Network of Excellence HySafe (Safety of Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier, http://www.hysafe.org/). The purpose of HySAFEST is to complement and enhance UU activities in the NoE HySafe. HySAFEST offers structured scientific and technological training, including the use of contemporary techniques such as large eddy simulation, as well as providing a wide range of complementary skills. Four researchers will undertake doctoral studies in the emerging field of hydrogen safety, to build long-term collaboration and make a contribution to overcoming fragmentation of European research in the field. The researchers will have access to one of Europe's most advanced research facilities, funded by the UK government in 2001 (8.1million Euro). Trained fellows will be able to handle such diverse outstanding problems in hydrogen safety as the formation and combustion of non-uniform clouds after accidental releases of gaseous or liquefied hydrogen in confined geometries and open atmosphere, hydrogen ignition, conjugate heat transfer from jet fires to construction elements, mitigation of explosions, risk assessment of hydrogen applications, etc. The principal output from the proposed project will be the creation of new European cadres of researchers, contributing to closing the knowledge gaps in hydrogen safety, an important field for efficient introduction and commercialization of hydrogen as an energy carrier. The project will add a further dimension and contribute to the main objective, formulated by the HySafe consortium, i.e. to strengthen, integrate and focus fragmented research efforts to provide a basis for the removal of safety-related barriers to the implementation of hydrogen within the market.

INFORMATION
Contract number 020245 Programme Marie Curie Actions Starting date 1st September 2006 Duration 48 months EC funding 0.7 million Coordinator Prof. Vladimir Molkov FireSERT Institute University of Ulster Newtownabbey UK-BT37 0QB United Kingdom Partners
Not applicable

180

European Summer School on Hydrogen Safety

HyCourse

Abstract
The aim of this project is to create a possibility for professionals working in the hydrogen economy to acquire expertise in hydrogen safety matters by establishing an appropriate European training course, namely, the European Summer School on Hydrogen Safety (HyCourse). The coordinator of this project, the University of Ulster (UU), is presently responsible for the development of the e-Academy of Hydrogen Safety; an activity undertaken by the European Network of Excellence Safety of Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier (NoE HySafe). Because of the absence of hydrogen safety training and educational programmes in Europe, the e-Academy of Hydrogen Safety developed an International Curriculum on Hydrogen Safety Engineering as a first step. Leading experts from HySafe, as well as from outside the network have contributed to the curriculum. The development of teaching materials on hydrogen safety and related key areas according to the curriculum has now become a priority. This will essentially be accomplished by organising four summer schools on hydrogen safety where leading specialists will deliver keynote lectures to an audience of researchers. During every summer school, each lasting for ten days, keynote speakers will deliver lectures to sixty delegates, funded by the EC, as well as possible additional attendees. There will be four events, possibly held at four different locations, the first of which is Belfast. There will be calls for offers to organise subsequent events at different locations. Depending on the cost-effectiveness of these offers these events will either be held at a different location, or, in Belfast. Round table discussions, work-in-progress sessions, software demonstrations/training are included to stimulate contact building between leading experts and junior researchers. The presentations developed by the keynote speakers will be made available on-line in the first instance. The teaching materials will contribute to reinforcement of educational programmes by the e-Academy of Hydrogen Safety of partners from NoE HySafe.

INFORMATION
Contract number 029822 Programme Marie Curie Actions Starting date 1st March 2006 Duration 48 months EC funding 0.62 million Coordinator Prof. Vladimir Molkov FireSERT Institute University of Ulster Newtownabbey UK-BT37 0QB United Kingdom Partners
Not applicable

181

Installation Permitting Guidance For Hydrogen And Fuel Cells Stationary Applications HYPER
Objectives
The overall objective of the project is to produce an Installation Permitting Guide (IPG) for small stationary hydrogen and fuel cell systems for use in a range of environments. The IPG will provide a means to fast track approval of safety and procedural issues for such systems, by developing an agreed installation permitting process for developers, design engineers, manufacturers, installers and authorities having jurisdiction. It will address the major safety and procedural issues relating to the installation of systems that are permanently connected to the power grid, provide back up power or form stand-alone electrical systems. The detailed strategic and operational goals of HYPER are to: Identify gaps and deficiencies in the regulations in force and in the current codes and standards with respect to fuel cell installations and fuel supply. Carry out a risk evaluation/assessment of fuel cell systems/installation to identify key scenarios to be investigated as part of the case studies and through experimental and modelling work to produce pre-normative data. Produce a structured database that will support the development of the IPG and will enable its evaluation. This will be achieved through a comprehensive series of case studies of systems representing the main types of stationary fuel cell and hydrogen applications. Experimental work to fill gaps in current knowledge in relation to release, ventilation, dispersion, ignition, detection, fire and modelling of hydrogen release, dispersion and combustion phenomena. Compile the IPG which will take the form of a generic document structured around the different types of stationary system that will be used and bring together the work from all parts of the project. Disseminate and implement the IPG to ensure that the guidance developed is widely disseminated, adopted and applied by all stakeholders (regulatory agencies, codification bodies, industry, local authorities, etc.) to accelerate the rate of installation of stationary hydrogen systems across the European Union.

Problems addressed
The future development and commercialisation of hydrogen and fuel cell systems for stationary power applications will lead to a wide range of uses, many of which will be situated in urban environments, serving industry, SMEs and domestic premises. At present small installations are in place providing back up power, renewable energy storage systems, and CHP units utilizing a range of fuel cells technologies. In order for this market to grow harmonised standards and guidance covering in particular safety issues have to become available for developers, design engineers, manufacturers, installers and regulatory authorities. At present there is limited relevant guidance available to assist installers of fuel cell and hydrogen stationary systems in Europe. A risk evaluation/assessment of fuel cell systems/installation to identify key scenarios which be investigated as part of detailed case studies of representative fuel-cell and hydrogen installations carefully selected from across Europe, USA and Canada. Modelling and experimental risk-evaluation studies to investigate fire and explosion phenomena associated with foreseeable and catastrophic fault scenarios of hydrogen and fuel cell systems and associated fuel supplies. A three stage drafting process for the IPG, which will take feedback from interested stakeholders. A number of carefully targeted dissemination initiatives aimed at ensuring the adoption and use of the IPG and project results by stakeholders. Ensuring the continuous development of the IPG after the end of the Project.

Technical approach
To develop the IPG the project will bring together all currently available documents, best practice and experience and identify and fill gaps in current knowledge. The work programme includes: A review of current Regulations Codes and Standards to identify deficiencies and gaps.

Expected impacts
The key output and deliverable from the Project will be an IPG for small hydrogen and fuel cell stationary system that is widely accepted and used provides solutions to a number of outstanding technical problems

Figure 1 Schematic showing potential elements of stationary fuel cell/hydrogen system. (Note that connections are simply schematic)

182

INFORMATION
Contract number Under negotiation Programme Sustainable Energy Systems Coordinator Daniel A Spagni University of Manchester PO Box 88 Sackville Street Manchester UK-M60 1QD United Kingdom Partners
Arcotronics Fuel Cells s.r.l. IT A.V. Tchouvelev & Associates Inc CA Commissariat lnergie Atomique FR Ecofys bv NL Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH DE Health and Safety Executive UK Institut National de lEnvironnement Industriel et des Risques FR National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos EL PlugPower Holland BV NL Pro-science Gessellschaft fur wissenschaftliche und technische Dienstleistungen mbH DE Russian Research Centre Kurchatov Institute RU Sandia National Laboratories USA University of Manchester UK University of Ulster UK Universit di Pisa IT Vaillant GmbH DE

and that promotes a harmonised approach to permitting of these systems across the European Union. To achieve this, a number of innovative steps will need to be made including: Identify gaps and develop scenarios capable of shaping the risk evaluation work both modelling and experimental. Use a number of carefully selected industrial case studies to identify and document best practice for different types of representative installations and associated environments.

Investigate selected scenarios capable of generating new data to support the definition of safety distances for small stationary hydrogen and FC systems and including storage. Understand the consequences of catastrophic failure and the measures necessary to prevent its occurrence. Provide detailed advice on how to achieve compliance with codes, standards and regulations in terms of explosive atmospheres prevention and detection.

Project web-page www.hyperproject.eu

183

Hydrogen Combustion in the Context of Fire and Explosion Safety HYFIRE

Abstract
We are at the dawn of a hydrogen economy. Both governments and industries are investing heavily on hydrogen. There is an increasing demand for substantial efforts to ensure the safe use of hydrogen as an energy carrier. In common with a new industry, there is also a pressing need to train young talents who will take on the challenges ahead in their proud stride to carry the industry forward. The project aims to offer a unique opportunity for researchers in the early stages of their careers to work in internationally recognised inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary research teams of scientists and engineers to acquire specific scientific skills and competencies in the diffusion, ignition and combustion of hydrogen within the context of fire and explosion safety. The principal output from the project will be the establishment for further development of a pool of EU trained researchers specialising in hydrogen fire and explosion safety, a relatively new field where such young talent is at present lacking. The project will focus on cutting edge research in the underpinning areas of hydrogen safety. In the mean time, we will also aim to achieve several major breakthroughs. Systematic training will be provided through research and dedicated training in the following multidisciplinary and interconnected areas: Hydrogen jet flames from very high-pressure release. Flame impinging on surfaces and the resulting effect on hydrogen transport cylinders and storage vessels. Liquid hydrogen spill and combustible cloud dynamics. Hydrogen combustion in semi-confined and vented geometries and the conditions for deflagration-to-detonation (DDT) processes. The research will be conducted using CFD based numerical modelling approaches while the abundant published experimental data from small- and large-scale tests will be used for model validation. Collaboration with a major industrial company and an established research laboratory will also open up further proprietary experimental data for this purpose.

INFORMATION
Contract number Under negotiation Programme Marie Curie Actions Coordinator Professor Jennifer Wen Faculty of Engineering Kingston University Friars Avenue, Roehampton Vale London UK-SW15 3DW United Kingdom Partners
BP UK Health and Safety Laboratory UK

184

REFERENCES
European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform www.HFPeurope.org Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) https://www.hfpeurope.org/uploads/677/686/ HFP-SRA004_V9-2004_SRA-report-fi nal_22JUL2005.pdf Deployment Strategy (DS) https://www.hfpeurope.org/uploads/677/687/HFP_DS_Report_AUG2005.pdf HFP Strategic Overview https://www.hfpeurope.org/uploads/677/893/HFP_StrategicOverviewDocument_2005.pdf Joint Technology Initiative on H2/FC (JTI) https://www.hfpeurope.org/hfp/jti EU projects on H2/FC (first edition) http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/pdf/h2fuell_cell_en.pdf Energy research website http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/ Brochure: Introducing Hydrogen as energy carrier http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/pdf/hydrogen_22002_en.pdf Energy policy http://ec.europa.eu/energy/ Calls for proposals http://cordis.europa.eu/fp6/dc/calls.cfm Towards the Seventh Framework Programme http://ec.europa.eu/research/future/ Joint Research Centre http://www.jrc.ec.europa.eu Institute for Environment and Sustainability http://ies.jrc.ec.europa.eu Institute for Energy http://ie.jrc.ec.europa.eu The Well-to-Wheel study http://ies.jrc.ec.europa.eu/wtw.html

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European Commission EUR 22398 European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Projects 2002-2006 Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 2006 188 pp. 21.0 x 29.7 cm ISBN 92-79-02692-5 ISSN 1018-5593

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KI-NA-22398-EN-C

This publication is a compilation of synopses of research, technological development and demonstration projects and other supporting actions on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. The projects include those funded under the Thematic Area Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems of the Sixth European Research Framework Programme (2002-2006), as well as under other Thematic Areas and programmes. The booklet also includes the direct actions relating to Hydrogen and Fuel Cells undertaken by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. For each project, basic information is provided with regard to the scientific and technical scope, the participating organizations and contact points. The scope of the projects covers a wide range of issues in the hydrogen and fuel cells field, from hydrogen production, distribution and storage, through hydrogen pathway analysis, socio-economic analysis and regulations, codes and standards to fuel cell components and systems for stationary, transport and portable applications, and includes large-scale technology validation. The booklet also includes an overview of the portfolio of FP6 activities in these areas, including public funding trends and statistics, and a future perspective on the Seventh European Research Framework Programme.