The ITM Power-led project is examining the option of injecting hydrogen into the existing natural gas network, which would for example make it available to fuel cells for residential heat and power cogeneration (micro-CHP) once these are deployed in UK homes.
Increasing the contribution of variable renewables to any electricity grid can potentially cause instability and traditionally requires back-up generation in the form of spinning reserves of fossil fuel generators. In Europe two projects are demonstrating hybrid power plants, solving these issues and providing additional benefits.
The goal of the GRID4EU project is to carry on demonstration pilots of Smart Grids solutions on a large scale basis. It proposes solutions that go beyond the existing limits for electricity networks through the large scale integration of distributed generation, the improvement of energy efficiency, the enabling and integration of active demand and new electricity uses.
Car manufacturer Daimler and technology company The Linde Group are pressing ahead with the development of an infrastructure for hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles. Over the coming three years, the two companies plan to construct an additional 20 hydrogen filling stations in Germany, thereby ensuring a supply of hydrogen produced purely from renewable resources for the steadily increasing number of fuel-cell vehicles on the roads. The initiative links in with the existing H2Mobility and Clean Energy Partnership infrastructure projects, which are being subsidised by the National Innovation Programme for hydrogen and fuel-cell technology (NIP). This places Germany at the international forefront of hydrogen infrastructure development. CEO Dieter Zetsche also announced the serial production will start already in 2014. This is a year earlier than previously planned. So far, produced the Group only a small series of 200 vehicles. The initiative that Linde and Daimler are embarking upon involves investment running into the tens of millions, and is set to more than triple the number of public hydrogen refuelling points in Germany. The new stations will be located in the current hydrogen centres of Stuttgart, Berlin and Hamburg as well as along two new continuous north-south and east-west axes. The aim is to use [...]
London takes a step forward for the title of Electric Car European Capital: 150 new green filling stations were installed in the city. With these new stations, Londoners (electric car owners) can now recharge in a total of 400 distributors. The overall project involves the creation of 1,300 distributors by 2013. The goal of Mayor Boris Johnson, is to create the first eco-charge network at the European level to ensure that every London is at no more than a mile away from a distributor. “I want to rapidly accelerate the spread of electric vehicles and make London, the epicenter of electric vehicles in Europe” commented the mayor in an interview with British newspaper: The Guardian. According to experts of the Committee on Climate Change, the United Kingdom will need to reach 1.7 million of electric cars by 2020 in order to respect the agreements made on the CO2 emissions. Source: ANSA
Under the Clean Hydrogen In European Cities (CHIC) 3 Fuel Cell Hydrogen (FCH) buses are now in service in London and by the end of 2011 there will be a total of 8 FCH buses running in London. The buses are now running on the RV1 route– which takes passengers in Covent Garden, the Tower of London and the South Bank. The new buses, which were designed specially for London, are now carrying passengers. If you get to ride one of these CHIC buses keep in mind that they produces water vapour from its tailpipe (as all hydrogen powered vehicles) and can operate for more than 18 hours without needing to refuel! Transport for London, the CHIC partner base in London, is reminding passengers that the application of these buses will provide better quality breathing air to London residents. Overall, it’s a clean ride for Londoners.
The project FC-HyGuide aims to develop a Guidance Document for LCA studies on hydrogen production and fuel cell technologies. It is financed by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), a public private partnership supporting research, technological development and demonstration activities in fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies in Europe. After several months of project work, a Technical Expert Workshop (held mid February 2011 in Brussels) and the revision of the draft Guidance Document the project team now wants to invite Stakeholders and interested people to critically comment on the advanced Guidance Document for - hydrogen production and - fuel cell technologies The main goal of this step is to make sure to meet reality requirements in a comprehensive way in the final Guidance Document. Individuals and organisations involved in these fields here have the possibility to give there inputs and articulate possible concerns. This public consultation will be carried out from April 1, 2011 until April 30, 2011. Two documents (one for hydrogen production and one for fuel cell technologies), the templates for comments and further information can be found here
Riversimple will provide 30 hydrogen fuel-cell powered cars for a trial in Leicester from spring 2012. The 12-month project is designed to trial the cars and help identify suitable refuelling points in the city. Riversimple says that if the project is a success it will locate a manufacturing plant with a capacity for building 5000 cars in Leicester. The Riversimple is a two-seat car with a top speed of 50mph and a range of 200 miles. It is built using lightweight composites and weighs just 350kg. The car is currently designed at built at Silverstone in Northamptonshire. When the car goes into production Riversimple plans to lease it out for a monthly and all inclusive per mile charge, similar to a mobile phone contract. It estimates the average user will pay £200 a month plus 15p per mile to run the car. Riversimple also plans to run a second trial in another city, and is currently trying to raise £20m of investment to further its plans. Source: Autocar
Singapore’s has introduced a new fuel cell bus that will transport athletes and officials around the Youth Olympics Village located at the Yunnan Garden Campus of the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in August. The inaugural Youth Olympics Games will be held in Singapore from 14 to 26 August 2010. The hybrid fuel cell-battery bus is a joint research project by NTU and China’s Tsinghua University (THU) and marks another major step forward in NTU’s sustainability research and development. Source: Fuel Cell Today Download Project Summary HERE
Intelligent Energy, Lotus Engineering, LTI Vehicles and TRW Conekt, with funding from the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board, unveiled a full performance, zero-emissions Fuel Cell Hybrid London taxi on June 7 with the presence of vice mayor Kit Malthouse. While the taxi looks and drives like an iconic London black cab, the Fuel Cell Black Cab is powered by an Intelligent Energy hydrogen fuel cell system hybridised with lithium polymer batteries; allowing the vehicle to operate for a full day without the need for refuelling. Capable of achieving a top speed of over 80 mph, it has a range of more than 250 miles on a full tank of hydrogen, refuels in about 5 minutes and produces no emissions other than water vapour. Source: EHA
