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Hydrogen & CNG Construction Project
Play the time lapse video below to check out the progress of SunLine’s new Electrolyzer Hydrogen Production Plant, supporting compression and storage equipment along with two 350-bar fueling dispensers. Please note the time lapse video has a 6-hour delay prior to each update.
https://www.sunline.org/hydrogen-cng-construction-project
Twitter: We're proud to be part of this project! Learn more about our involvement from our press release:
We're proud to be part of this project! Learn more about our involvement from our press release: https://t.co/ALYMm57eI8
— Nel Hydrogen (@nelhydrogen) September 24, 2019
Twitter: Ever wondered what the installation process of an #electrolyzer #hydrogen production plant looks like? @SunlineTransit has a cool time lapse video you can check out: https://www.sunline.org/hydrogen-cng-construction-project …
Ever wondered what the installation process of an #electrolyzer #hydrogen production plant looks like? @SunlineTransit has a cool time lapse video you can check out: https://t.co/MgdsImM7HF
— Nel Hydrogen (@nelhydrogen) September 24, 2019
Twitter: The International #Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Congress (FCVC) is taking place in Rugao, China, 26-28 September. Nel CEO @jonandrelokke will be giving a keynote address you won’t want to miss! See you there? http://www.fcvc.org.cn/en/
The International #Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Congress (FCVC) is taking place in Rugao, China, 26-28 September. Nel CEO @jonandrelokke will be giving a keynote address you won’t want to miss! See you there? https://t.co/B3nhOBdmxz pic.twitter.com/UqlMVB4vwA
— Nel Hydrogen (@nelhydrogen) September 23, 2019
Twitter: How can #Norway and #China work together to develop a hydrogen #energy economy? Nel CEO @jonandrelokke will be presenting about the opportunities and challenges in the Norwegian #hydrogen value chain at the #100scaleups discussion on 18 Sept. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2kNaoj8
How can #Norway and #China work together to develop a hydrogen #energy economy? Nel CEO @jonandrelokke will be presenting about the opportunities and challenges in the Norwegian #hydrogen value chain at the #100scaleups discussion on 18 Sept. Learn more: https://t.co/bgpbF4p8Tk pic.twitter.com/O7Eu3UP2Kd
— Nel Hydrogen (@nelhydrogen) September 17, 2019
Zhongfei Green Energy looks to restructure Dongfang Shipbuilding into hydrogen ship base
SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2019
Zhongfei Green Energy, an Anhui-based alternative energy company, is looking to restructure a defunct Dongfang Shipbuilding yard into a R&D base for hydrogen-powered ships, seven years after the shipyard went into bankruptcy.
Dongfang Shipbuilding, once the largest yard in Anhui province, went bankrupt and delisted from the London Stock Exchange in 2012 due to a financial crisis.
According to local reports, Zhongfei Green Energy has set up a new company Zhongfei Changjiang Hydrogen Technology to focus on the application of hydrogen power on ships. The company is currently in negotiations with the local government to revive the yard for the development, construction and conversion of hydrogen-powered ships for navigation on the Yangtze River as part of the company’s plan to be an integrated hydrogen ship solution provider.
Dongfang Shipbuilding used to run two shipbuilding bases in Wenzhou, Zhejiang and Zongyang, Anhui. The yard suspended shipbuilding operations in 2012 and has commissioned business advisory firm FTI Consulting to look for new investors to restructure its assets. Several ships under construction at the yard were auctioned by courts to repay debts.
https://splash247.com/zhongfei-green-energy-looks-to-restructure-dongfang-shipbuilding-into-hydrogen-ship-base/
In the fight against climate change, hydrogen could be the answer to Hong Kong’s quest for greener fuel
A hydrogen-natural gas blend could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions if the hydrogen is produced from a low-carbon source. With government support, Hong Kong could be the perfect ‘lab’ to test out the idea and make it work
24 Sep, 2019
Greenhouse gas emissions in Hong Kong have been rising since 2000, amounting to over 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2017. Hong Kong’s response to the 2015 Paris climate agreement is to achieve a reduction in carbon intensity by 50 to 60 per cent by 2020 relative to the 2005 level. The principal approach is to reduce the use of fossil fuels and switch to the use of renewable energy.
Mixing hydrogen with natural gas for energy supply can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions if hydrogen can be produced from low-carbon or zero-carbon energy sources, such as solar, wind or biomass. Energy experts have proposed blending hydrogen into a natural gas pipeline network as a feasible means of supplying hydrogen to markets.
The introduction of hydrogen into Hong Kong’s energy mix can help Hong Kong achieve its goal of becoming sustainable, smart and green. Hong Kong is a “laboratory” capable of experimenting with this idea, which could serve as a model for other metropolitan cities. While the technology of hydrogen production is progressing rapidly, industrial-scale utilisation of hydrogen is limited by the development of a hydrogen delivery system. Opting for hydrogen as a long-term sustainable solution would require action from now on to help it grow at scale.
Due to the complexity of the pipeline network system and the varying composition of natural gas, the appropriate blend concentration may vary significantly from one place to another. A systematic study of the requirements and consequences of hydrogen and natural gas blends for Hong Kong would need to be undertaken. Specifically, the study should encompass analysis of the technical, environmental, economic, societal, and political aspects.
The technical considerations include safety, material durability and integrity management, leakage and downstream extraction. To address safety concerns, risk assessments must be conducted for the specific pipeline system.
In addition, institutional and political barriers may hamper the development of hydrogen infrastructure. Policymakers should provide institutional support to allow for the technological transition. To do that, energy policy regulations, business practices and codes and standards for hydrogen energy are critical elements to be developed.
The government should support innovation and technology development, remove market barriers and enforce compliance to codes. It is also important for the government to take action now to design a subsidy programme, to create an implementation plan for gas companies, to work out details of the supervision and management process, and to establish a new charging scheme for users.
Jin Shang and Lin Zhang, assistant professors, School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong
https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3029939/fight-against-climate-change-hydrogen-could-be-answer-hong-kongs
Matt Canavan signs hydrogen industry deal with South Korea
Tue 24 Sep 2019
While the Prime Minister is in the United States, the Resources Minister is travelling through Asia, talking up the Government's efforts to make hydrogen Australia's next multi-billion-dollar export industry.
Instead of petrol and diesel, hydrogen could be used to power trucks, trains and cars and Australia has its sights set on becoming a leading supplier to Asia.
The Resources Minister Matt Canavan has just signed a deal with South Korea to join forces to develop the hydrogen industry.
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/matt-canavan-signs-hydrogen-industry-deal-with-south-korea/11541492
Toyota banking on Olympic halo to keep hydrogen dream alive
Buses may not be the most glamorous mode of transport, but at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games they will represent Toyota Motor Corp.’s best bet for wider acceptance of hydrogen power — technology so far eclipsed by electric vehicles.
Japan’s biggest automaker plans to roll out 100 hydrogen fuel cell buses to shuttle visitors between venues, a stepping stone to a big ramp-up for the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022. Plans there are to operate more than 1,000 buses in partnership with Beiqi Foton Motor Co., according to people familiar with the project, which aims to make the most of a push by China to start adopting the zero-emissions technology.
The plans to promote hydrogen with its exclusive Olympic “mobility” sponsorship deal — one Toyota holds until 2024 — underscore its determination to keep backing the technology. That’s despite an increasing number of electric cars on the road and Toyota’s own efforts to speed up EV development.
But its reliance on buses for hydrogen publicity also highlights the lack of traction for its fuel cell cars, and the risk that hydrogen-powered transport may never be more than a niche market despite a quarter century of development and government backing.
Toyota has sold fewer than 10,000 of the Mirai, a fuel cell sedan it touted as a game changer at its launch five years ago. Costing consumers about ¥5 million after subsidies, it is one of three fuel cell cars available to consumers. Hyundai Motor Co. sells the Nexo and Honda Motor Co. leases out the Clarity.
By contrast, Tesla Inc. sold 25,000 of its all-electric Model S sedans in its first year and a half.
The disappointing Mirai sales reflect insufficient refueling stations, consumer worries about resale values and concerns over the risk of hydrogen explosions. A hydrogen tank blast in South Korea that killed two in May was followed by another at a Norway hydrogen station in June.
“Hydrogen still has this image of being dangerous — that it might explode — and our aim with the Olympics is to erase this image,” said Masaaki Ito, Toyota’s general manager of its Olympic and Paralympic division.
The company will also provide 500 Mirai sedans to ferry officials between venues at the Tokyo Olympics. “We want to expose the technology to as many people as possible,” Ito said.
Toyota, which is also developing fuel cell delivery trucks and big rigs, has not disclosed how much money it has poured into the technology, but it has been emboldened by support from the government, which sees hydrogen as a key way to reduce Japan’s reliance on oil.
Both envision a “hydrogen society” where homes, trains, ships and even lunar rovers can be powered by fuel cells that turn the invisible, odorless gas into electricity.
Tokyo, which will showcase the Olympic Village as a hydrogen society in miniature, is buying most of the buses for its Toei municipal transport service, with 15 already in operation.
Unlike cars, buses have fixed routes, making it easier to plan fueling stations and give them a shot at being profitable.
Local and central government subsidies cover 80 percent of the cost, bringing them in line with the ¥23 million price tag for a regular diesel bus, a Toei representative said.
But lofty government goals remain unmet. Three years ago, Japan declared that by 2020 it wanted 40,000 fuel cell vehicles on the road and 160 hydrogen fueling stations in operation.
Today, just 3,400 fuel cell vehicles have been sold in Japan and it has 109 hydrogen stations.
Though vital for fuel cell cars to catch on, the stations are not easy to build, costing five times as much as a gasoline stand. Due to stringent safety regulations, they also require large plots of land, which are in scarce supply.
Yet for all the slow progress, some analysts don’t fault Toyota’s pursuit of hydrogen power, pointing to China’s backing of the technology and its vast auto market.
“China is actually moving ahead a lot faster and although they suffer the same issue with lack of refueling infrastructure, China has shown in the past that they can get infrastructure done pretty quickly,” said Janet Lewis, head of Asian auto research at Macquarie.
For the Beijing Games, Toyota will supply powertrain components for the Foton buses. They will be emblazoned with “Powered by Toyota” branding during the event, according to sources who declined to be identified as the plans have not been made public.
Toyota said the number of fuel cell buses for the Beijing Olympics has not been decided and that branding would be up to Foton. Foton did not respond to requests for comment.
Toyota has similar deals with Higer Bus Co. and China FAW Group Corp.
The project with Higer will likely have a fleet of 20 buses ready for deployment in early 2020 whereas FAW plans to have its first prototype ready by the end of the year, said Audrey Ma, a director at Shanghai ReFire Technology Co,, which is doing the system integration.
Outside of China, the only other similar deal Toyota has announced is one to supply fuel cell systems to Portugal’s Caetanobus.
Although the technology remains unprofitable, Toyota says costs will fall with scale. It is building new fuel cell stack and hydrogen tank factories so it can lift production of fuel cell vehicles to 30,000 a year.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/09/24/business/corporate-business/toyota-banking-olympic-halo-keep-hydrogen-dream-alive/#.XYnSHUYzaM8
Oakland hydrogen station opens
Sep 23, 2019
California’s 41st hydrogen station opened at the weekend in Oakland.
The tenth station to open in the San Francisco Bay Area, this True Zero station, developed by First Element, has a larger capacity than previously built True Zero stations.
Reflecting the ongoing evolution of hydrogen stations across California and the growing number of fuel cell electric vehicles, the station will be supplied by liquid hydrogen and have a capacity of more than 800kg.
1,000 hydrogen stations by 2030 is achievable in California
That’s three times the capacity of previously built open retail True Zero stations and it will also have two fuelling positions with three nozzles – two at H70 and one at H35.
With two fuelling positions, two cars will be able to fuel simultaneously, increasing the number of vehicles served in a shorter time.
The opening of the station occurred on the same day that Governor Newsom issued his first climate executive order, part of which focuses state agency action on creating demand for zero emission vehicles.
The station will be open 24 hours a day and is located at 350 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610.
https://www.h2-view.com/story/oakland-hydrogen-station-opens/
NEL Hydrogen: $5 million. The Swedish developer of hydrogen production plants, will provide hydrogen production equipment for Nikola’s fueling station network. https://www.trucks.com/2019/09/23/funding-hydrogen-truck-builder-nikola-motor/
Here’s Who’s Funding Hydrogen Truck Builder Nikola Motor
September 23, 2019
Nikola Motor Co. hasn’t been shy about announcing new funding rounds – it is now on its fourth in five years. But the identities of many of those investors haven’t been all that easy to come by.
That’s because some don’t want their names bandied, citing competitive reasons, Trevor Milton, Nikola’s founder and chief executive, told Trucks.com.
But some names have leaked out over the past few years – it’s hard to keep anything really secret when you are a company that generates the interest Nikola does.
One common thread is that almost all of the investors also have deals to supply Nikola with goods or services.
Unclear is whether the investments were a condition of the contract, or followed out of the companies’ belief in Nikola’s future. The supplier deals will save Nikola “hundreds of millions of dollars over developing the components ourselves,” Milton told Trucks.com
NOT ALL IS CASH
When Milton announced Nikola’s Series D funding round earlier this month, the values tossed about were noteworthy. He said the company’s “pre-money valuation” stood at $3 billion and that the new round would bring it to $4 billion.
But while the $1 billion to be added in a successful Series D would be mainly cash – $150 million was identified as an in-kind investment – most of the $3 billion pre-investment figure isn’t in greenbacks.
In accounting terms, “pre-money” valuation is the equity value that a business and its investors agree the company is worth. It can include cash in hand, convertible debt, the value of sales contracts, even real estate and equipment.
Prior to the Series D announcement, Nikola acknowledged raising $300 million in cash, or just a tenth of that $3 billion “pre-money” valuation.
FOUNDER’S POSITION
Milton has put up his own money as well. He will remain Nikola’s largest stakeholder after the Series D round, owning between 40 percent and 49 percent of the privately-held company’s stock.
He has never publicly disclosed the size of his investment. Milton has said he helped finance Nikola with proceeds from the sale of a previous business to Ohio-based Worthington Industries. Milton told Trucks.com that the company, dHybrid Systems, sold for “much more” than $20 million. Worthington later became one of Nikola’s first outside investors.
Nikola has acknowledged raising $276 million before the Series D campaign began. Outside investors appear to account for at least $275 million. That means Milton either ponied up no more than $1 million or is only counting “outside” investment, not his own, in the total.
EARLY MONEY
Nikola doesn’t discuss individual investors, according to Kim Brady, the company’s chief financial officer.
But it does talk about the amounts it has raised. The company provided Trucks.com with this list of investments- totaling $276 million – from its first four funding rounds:
Seed money, $2 million; Series A, $16 million; Series B, $44 million, and Series C, $214 million.
THE BIG NEW INVESTOR
Milton said that truck and bus giant CNH Industrial, parent of IVECO trucks, will put up a quarter of the $1 billion being sought in Series D.
That $250 million is the company’s largest single outside investment to date. It would give CNH a 6.25 percent stake if Nikola raises the entire $1 billion it is seeking.
But only $100 million of the CNH investment is cash. The remaining $150 million will be in-kind services and goods, mainly a fully engineered truck platform designed for the kind of electric propulsion system Nikola has developed.
IVECO and CNH’s powertrain unit, FPT Industrial, also will provide ongoing engineering and manufacturing assistance. It also will help with development of Nikola’s hydrogen fuel station network.
Here’s what Trucks.com has compiled about Nikola’s other investors, and a look at what they might be bringing to the table besides cold hard cash.
BOSCH AND HANWHA
Bosch Co. and Hanwha Group: $230 million combined. Milton disclosed the investments in conjunction with the Series D announcement. But they actually occurred in earlier funding rounds during 2018. The total represents the bulk of the cash Nikola has previously raised.
Nikola said that each has invested at least $100 million but won’t provide any clearer guidance.
Hanwha, a South Korean aerospace, chemicals, construction, financial services and video surveillance conglomerate, got its start in 1952 as Korea Explosives Co. Now it also is a major producer of solar cells and panels.
In addition to its cash investment, Hanwha will supply Nikola with material to build a network of solar-powered hydrogen fuel and electric charging stations. They will provide power for the fuel-cell and battery-powered electric trucks Nikola will be building.
Bosch: It is a top tier global automotive components and systems developer and a longtime Nikola partner. Milton has called the German company “our innovation partner.” The company helped develop Nikola’s electric powertrain. It also provided the vehicle control computer and software that runs most everything. Nikola’s keyless entry system and a side-view camera system that replaces conventional mirrors also come from Bosch.
Moving forward, Bosch will continue working on the development of the hydrogen fuel cell system that Milton said will power most of Nikola’s trucks.
ValueAct Capital: At least $30 million. The Silicon Valley venture firm’s social investment arm, ValueAct Spring Fund, made the investment as part of its support of clean transportation technologies.
ValueAct’s chief executive, Jeff Ubben, joined Nikola’s board of directors as a result of the investment. Milton said Ubben would provide ongoing financial advice.
The actual investment amount isn’t clear. Ubben has only said that ValueAct invested between $30 million and $40 million. But more than $30 million would increase the total pre-Series D investments beyond Nikola’s own tally of $276 million.
WABCO
Wabco Holdings: $10 million. A global automotive industry supplier based in Belgium, Wabco will provide Nikola with a variety of safety systems including electronic braking and stability and traction controls.
Wabco agreed earlier this year to be acquired for more than $7 billion cash by German’s ZF Friedrichshafen, a global supplier of automotive drivetrain components and autonomous driving systems.
OTHER PLAYERS
NEL Hydrogen: $5 million. The Swedish developer of hydrogen production plants, will provide hydrogen production equipment for Nikola’s fueling station network.
Fitzgerald Glider Kits: Undisclosed amount. Fitzgerald has signed on to build the first 5,000 Nikola trucks while Nikola is building its own manufacturing plant in Arizona. The Tennessee-based company specializes in installing remanufactured powertrains into new truck chassis – called gliders when they don’t have engines or transmissions – built by various major tuck makers.
Thompson Machinery: Unknown amount. Thompson, a major caterpillar distributor signed on early to be Nikola’s sales, service and marketing provider in Tennessee and Mississippi.
Worthington Industries: Unknown investment, but described by Milton as holding a “very large stake” in Nikola.
Worthington is believed to be Nikola’s first outside investor. It had provided pressurized steel tanks to a dHybrid Systems, which made natural gas fuel systems for commercial vehicles. Nikola needs pressurized steel tanks for is trucks’ hydrogen fuel systems. Mark Russell, who headed Worthington at the time, told Trucks.com he believes Milton is a visionary. Russell is now Nikola’s president.
https://www.trucks.com/2019/09/23/funding-hydrogen-truck-builder-nikola-motor/
H2V Normandy announces green hydrogen project
Sep 23, 2019
H2V Normandy has announced a project which will see the deployment of a green hydrogen production unit, featuring electrolysis technology, in Saint-Jean-de-Folleville.
The project will create green hydrogen, from a production plant, using certified renewable electricity located in the industrial zone of Port-Jérôme at the H2V Normandy project site.
The plant will feature two hydrogen production units which will showcase 26 electrolysers. Each plant will produce an average 14,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year.
The H2V Normandy plant will be connected to the transmission grid with a new Electricity Transmission Network (RTE) substation connected to the existing high-voltage grid.
In the process of electrolysis, oxygen and hydrogen are separated and the hydrogen is then purified, creating ‘green’ hydrogen.
The green hydrogen produced will be injected to the Port-Jérôme hydrogen distribution network. Local manufacturers will use the hydrogen which was also help them to reduce their carbon footprint
The new project will help to set up the French hydrogen industry and create approximately 70 direct jobs. On top of the project, as a whole, H2V Normandy could present up to 12,000 sustainable jobs.
Meetings regarding the project will take place throughout September and October.
https://www.h2-view.com/story/h2v-normandy-announces-green-hydrogen-project/
Australian Project to Turn Biogas into Hydrogen and Graphite
23 September 2019
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has approved up to $9.41 million in funding to Hazer Group Limited for the construction and operation of a groundbreaking hydrogen production facility in Munster, Western Australia.
Hazer is seeking to build a $15.8 million 100 tonne per annum facility to demonstrate their proprietary hydrogen production technology which converts biogas from sewage treatment into hydrogen and graphite.
The Hazer Process is an innovative technology that converts bio-methane to renewable hydrogen and graphite using an iron ore catalyst, creating an alternate hydrogen pathway to the traditional approaches of steam Methane reforming and electrolysis.
Hazer will sell the renewable hydrogen for industrial applications and is exploring markets for graphite including carbon black, activated carbon and battery anode applications. Hazer aims to take advantage of waste or low value biogas streams such as from wastewater treatment plants, landfill sites and other industrial locations to produce higher value hydrogen and graphite.
The proposed location for the project is the Woodman Point Wastewater Treatment Plant, owned by Western Australian Water Corporation (WA Water Corporation), located in Munster, Western Austraalia. The company has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with WA Water Corporation for the supply of biogas and to provide the project site for construction.
Construction of the facility should be completed by December 2020 with operations beginning in January 2021.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said Hazer’s project represents a new and innovative way to produce renewable hydrogen.
“Hazer’s process represents an alternative way to produce hydrogen using biogas sourced from wastewater treatment plants. If successful, this project will offer opportunities to replicate the technology across other treatment plants and landfill sites across Australia,” he said.
Last year ARENA commissioned a report by ACIL Allen Consulting to look into the opportunities for Australia from hydrogen exports. The report found that Australia is in a strong position to become a leading exporter of hydrogen, as global demand increases over the next decade, predicting Australia’s hydrogen export industry could be worth $1.7 billion annually to the economy and create 2,800 jobs by 2030.
Hazer Managing Director, Geoff Ward said, “There is very significant interest in the potential for hydrogen to play an important role in the Australian economy through providing energy storage, services in grid support and resilience, in direct use as a transport fuel, and as a source of low emission heat and power. The completion of the Hazer Commercial Demonstration Plant is a key step to demonstrate the robustness and value of our technology and position Hazer to capture opportunities in this important growth market.”
ARENA’s funding is contingent upon a funding agreement being executed subject to conditions including a biogas supply agreement, a hydrogen offtake agreement and Hazer securing sufficient finance for the completion of the project. The funding will account for 41 percent of the total costs, including a contribution to operating costs.
https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/miscellaneous/australian-project-to-turn-biogas-into-hydrogen-20190923
Bid to open Asian doors to hydrogen sales
SEPTEMBER 24, 2019
Australia is moving to aggressively expand the nation’s hydrogen export potential, with Resources Minister Matt Canavan signing a letter of intent with South Korea to develop an action plan with the Asian economic powerhouse by the end of the year.
Senator Canavan, who is meeting senior Korean officials and representatives of companies including Hyundai this week ahead of a visit to Japan, said there was more than 200,000sq km of land in Australia rated as “having great prospects for supporting renewable hydrogen production”. The hydrogen push comes as Senator Canavan today releases a Geoscience Australia report, earmarking the nation as a future “world leader” in the emerging energy market.
In addition to meeting with the Korea-Australia Business Council, Korea Gas Corporation and Korea Resources Corp, Senator Canavan will later this week speak in Tokyo at the Hydrogen Energy Ministerial meeting and hold talks with officials from Tokyo Gas, Kawasaki, Mitsui and Mitsubishi.
Senator Canavan said the Geoscience Australia report, which examines prospective hydrogen productions regions across Australia, said governments across the nation were “investing heavily in hydrogen projects”.
Energy Minister Angus Taylor said the Geoscience Australia report showed hydrogen was “uniquely placed to provide reliable power through storage and transport of energy”.
“Hydrogen has the potential to be a major new industry over coming decades, similar to the scale of the LNG industry in Australia. The development of our hydrogen resources could also create new Australian jobs and an export industry valued in the billions,” Mr Taylor said.
“The government has already invested more than $140m into hydrogen projects, partnering with industry to develop tangible solutions that are important for bringing down energy prices while keeping the lights on for Australian households and small businesses.”
During his discussions in South Korea, Senator Canavan said he was mapping out the “steps we can take to develop a sustainable and commercial hydrogen industry”.
“We have the resources, know-how, infrastructure and research base to produce and supply clean hydrogen to the world, and this report shows every Australian state and territory has regions with excellent prospects for hydrogen production,” he said.
The hydrogen plan comes as Mr Taylor will today announce the next Council of Australian Governments Energy meeting will be held in Perth on November 22.
Mr Taylor said the COAG meeting was crucial to “progress key priorities of accountability, transparency and reliability of the grid”.
“Addressing these priorities together is fundamental to our continued efforts to bring down power prices and ensure long-term energy security for all Australians,” he said.
Mr Taylor said “substantial changes in the energy sector” over the past decade had “delivered significant emissions reductions in the National Electricity Market”, with updated figures showing Australia will reach 26 per cent emissions reductions by 2022.
Senator Canavan said he was outlining to South Korean government officials and company executives Australia’s “potential as a hydrogen supplier”. He also flagged a “real appetite for hydrogen energy in Japan” and said hydrogen would have a role in Japan’s “future energy mix”.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/bid-to-open-asian-doors-to-hydrogen-sales/news-story/c1f74d6958065f948e508c14c7eccf1e
Twitter: The International #Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Congress (FCVC) is taking place in Rugao, China, 26-28 September. Nel CEO @jonandrelokke will be giving a keynote address you won’t want to miss! See you there? http://www.fcvc.org.cn/en/
The International #Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Congress (FCVC) is taking place in Rugao, China, 26-28 September. Nel CEO @jonandrelokke will be giving a keynote address you won’t want to miss! See you there? https://t.co/B3nhOBdmxz pic.twitter.com/UqlMVB4vwA
— Nel Hydrogen (@nelhydrogen) September 23, 2019
Toyota testing hydrogen fuel cell electric car in India
SEP 22 2019
At a time when the automobile industry is still thinking of developing electric vehicles for the Indian market, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt Ltd (TKML), the Indian subsidiary of Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation is set to go an extra mile by introducing...
The company, which is already selling the fuel cell-powered cars in various countries, is currently testing ‘Mirai’, an all-electric car that draws power from hydrogen fuel cells, on Indian roads, a top Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt Ltd (TKML) official said.
“We have powertrains available for all options including plug-in hybrid, electric vehicle and fuel cell vehicles. We are currently testing ‘Mirai’ in India,” N Raja, Deputy Managing Director, TKML told DH.
He said the company will announce a model of its choice on the electric platform closer to the date of launch. The company has commercially launched many of its electric, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars in its home market in Japan as well as in America and the UAE.
“The level of electrification in India will be slow. Even the government has said so. We will work very closely with the government, which needs to be technology agnostic in their approach. Our plan is to strengthen our hybrid car offerings. The taxation on such cars needs to be lower. For us, the path to electrification is through hybrid,” Raja said.
However, he said it is very difficult to sell hybrid cars in India with the current GST rate pegged at 43%.
Mirai uses hydrogen as fuel, which is lighter than air. When used in a fuel cell, it is highly efficient and leaves no carbon emissions behind. Toyota engineers spent decades developing Mirai’s fuel cell powertrain. It operates like a regular passenger car while creating zero emissions, Toyota said on its website.
Last year, only 3,000 electric cars were sold in India. By 2030, electric cars will comprise less than 5% of the total passenger car market, according to Raja. The main reason for such slow progress in adapting electric in India is the lack of infrastructure.
Currently, Toyota sells a wide variety of hybrid cars globally including Aqua, which is its largest selling hatch hybrid.
“Toyota has the core electrification technologies that enable it to develop and introduce various types of electrified vehicles, such as HEVs, BEVs, and FCEVs.
Toyota has provided and will continue to provide optimal electrified vehicles in each country/region based on societal circumstances, regulations, road conditions, and environmental infrastructure,” the company said.
Ready with BS-VI technology
Raja said Toyota is fully geared up to launch BS-VI-compliant vehicles in India ahead of the April 1, 2020 deadline. In fact, the company’s newly launched hatchback, Toyota Glanza, is built on the BS-VI technology. The car is currently manufactured by Suzuki at its Gujarat plant for Toyota.
“We are ready for BS-VI rollout as far as petrol engines are concerned. However, diesel is still not made available by the government. All our launch schedules will be firmed up during the first quarter of 2020,” Raja added.
https://www.deccanherald.com/business/technology/toyota-testing-hydrogen-fuel-cell-electric-car-in-india-763248.html
Toyota hydrogen fuel cells to provide energy to one of its factories in Japan
September 23, 2019
Toyota is testing the use of fuel cells at one of its Japanese factories.
Toyota hydrogen fuel cells will be tested at the Japanese automaker’s Honsha Plant. With its experimental fuel cell “generator” the company will test to see if the generator can power the plant with clean energy. The Honsha Plant is located at part of the company’s main Toyota City campus in Japan.
The generator uses components from the Toyota Mirai.
The experimental fuel cell generator was built using parts from the Toyota Mirai sedan, the company’s fuel cell electric vehicle powered by hydrogen. The test will show how fuel cells could provide zero emission electricity to not only vehicles, but buildings as well.
According to the company, the Toyota hydrogen fuel cells used for the generator include two complete Mirai fuel cell systems. Each of the systems is equipped with a fuel cell stack (the component that turns hydrogen into electricity), a power control unit and a backup battery, reports Digital Trends.
Toyota says that by using the Mirai’s fuel cell technology, instead of developing new components from scratch, will help to keep the cost down.
Toyota hydrogen fuel cells could power more of its factories in the future if all goes well with the test.
As part of the initial test, the automaker intends to run the fuel cell generator 24 hours a day to produce electricity for the Honsha Plant. The company will monitor the generator’s efficiency, ability to provide consistent electricity, its durability and ease of maintenance.
If all goes well with the test at the Honsha Plan, Toyota hopes to power more of its factories will fuel cells.
What’s more, the company has plans to generate hydrogen onsite at its factories. The automaker believes that hydrogen can be created as a byproduct from making fuel cell systems components. However, it’s not entirely clear how the company will achieve this feat.
Toyota hydrogen fuel cells - Toyota Logo covered in frostThe reason is that one of the major obstacles of generating hydrogen is to produce it cleanly. It has not yet been revealed how the company will produce large quantities of the green hydrogen it would need to power Toyota hydrogen fuel cells for generators and its vehicles.
http://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/toyota-hydrogen-fuel-cells-to-provide-energy-to-one-of-its-factories-in-japan/8538322/
World First: Hydrogen Tug at Antwerp Port
September 23, 2019
Europe's second-largest seaport Port of Antwerp has ordered construction of a tug powered by hydrogen, the first in the world.
The unique "Hydrotug" is driven by combustion engines that burn hydrogen in combination with diesel. The motors also comply with the very strictest standard, the EU Stage V, making them the lowest-rated for emissions on the market.
The Belgium-based port operator said that this ultra-low-emission tug is being built by Compagnie Maritime Belge (CMB), a pioneer in the field of hydrogen power for shipping. With this world first Antwerp is making an important step in the transition to a sustainable, CO2-neutral port.
By lending support to this promising technology Port of Antwerp hopes that the shipping industry will follow. The port is systematically pursuing a policy of making its entire fleet eco-friendly by incorporating the most environment-friendly technologies available on the market.
The combination of this dual-fuel technology with a state-of-the-art particle filter and catalyser designed to meet the very highest standards will ensure that the Hydrotug is ultra-low-emission. Combustion of hydrogen does not emit any CO2, and the particle filter combined with the catalyser will result in minimal emissions of NOx and particulates.
Construction is due to begin shortly and the Hydrotug is expected to be operational within two years. This innovation is part of an integral greening program of the own fleet, whereby systematic efforts are made to integrate the most environmentally friendly technologies available.
Port of Antwerp CEO Jacques Vandermeiren said: “As an industrial seaport, Antwerp's role in the energy transition should not be underestimated. We are working towards becoming a CO2-neutral port. Together with our partners we are preparing for the future in a constant search for innovative applications and opportunities. "
Vandermeiren added: "With this world first we aim to further prepare the way for alternative fuels such as hydrogen, in order to realize the transition to alternative, renewable sources of energy. At Port of Antwerp we are setting a good example with this significant step towards making our own tugs eco-friendly."
https://www.marinelink.com/news/world-first-hydrogen-tug-antwerp-port-470966
Sinot's 'AQUA' Hydrogen-Powered Superyacht Is A Gorgeous Radical Concept
Fully powered by liquid hydrogen.
6 HOURS AGO
Unveiled just days before the commencement of the Monaco Yacht Show, Dutch designers Sinot have unveiled yet another radical superyacht concept, 'AQUA'.
The 110-metre-plus prototype is particularly radical for one reason specifically - it'll be entirely powered by liquid hydrogen.
A product of Lateral Naval Architects, the hydrogen propulsion system allows AQUA to sail silently and emissions-free across the seas at a top speed of 17 knots and a cruising speed of 12, with a maximum range of 3750 nautical miles.
The liquified hydrogen will be converted into energy by proton exchange membrane fuel cells and stored at dramatic temperatures of -253°C in two 28-tonne vacuum-isolated tanks. The application of a powertrain such as this is a huge shift in the luxury yachting industry towards a more sustainable future.
Above deck (of which there are five) the classic opulence and ostentatious design of Sinot steal the spotlight.
Designed with the primary goal of bringing its guests closer to the water, AQUA boasts a variety of hydro features of the non-salt water kind, including an infinity pool that cascades down into a water-covered staircase.
Despite having the space for 14 guests and 31 crew, it's the 50-foot VIP suite that's the jewel in the crown of the forward upper deck. Here, light pours into a cosy 360-degree observatory allowing guests to soak in the surrounding seascape.
A 10-foot scale model of Sinot's AQUA will be on show at in Monaco next week. For a look at Sinot's other 120-metre superyacht concept 'NATURE',
https://www.bosshunting.com.au/motors/sinot-aqua-hydrogen-powered-superyacht
S. Korea, Australia team up for hydrogen fuel development
2019.09.23
South Korea and Australia agreed to join forces on hydrogen projects for their common goal to promote the renewable eco-friendly fuel.
Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Monday that Vice Minister Cheong Seung-il and Australia`s Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matthew Canavan signed a letter of intent on collaborating on hydrogen projects. Australia is the country’s fourth partner after Norway, Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Under the terms of agreement, Korea and Australia will cooperate on exploring opportunities in hydrogen industry and backing commercialization. The action plans would include verifying hydrogen technology, creating authentication standards, and setting up priorities in supply network.
Resource-rich Australia has been developing hydrogen industry with the renewable energy source as export commodity. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency in its report has picked Korea as potential customer for the country’s hydrogen exports.
Korea is also betting high on hydrogen fuel. It plans to have 6.2 million hydrogen cars and 1,200 charging stations by 2040. The Korean trade ministry said its cooperation with Australia would lead to greater hydrogen vehicle exports to the South Pacific country as well as help advancing hydrogen related technology such as storing and transporting hydrogen.
Extracted from compounds such as water and natural gas, hydrogen can be used as a storage energy source. It is also considered “clean” energy because no harmful emissions such as pollutants and greenhouse gases are released when it is used.
“Korea and Australia make great partners in hydrogen industry as Korea has world-class technology in utilizing hydrogen fuel while Australia is world’s leading supplier of clean energy sources,” said Cheong, as he vowed to deliver “tangible outcomes” from the cooperation soon.
https://pulsenews.co.kr/view.php?year=2019&no=756734
Israeli breakthrough could turn hydrogen into the fuel of future
If H2Pro’s new method proves to be a big breakthrough, hydrogen could become an ideal energy carrier for a decarbonized world.
SEPTEMBER 22, 2019, 7:00 AM
Electric battery-powered cars have stolen much of the buzz that hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles generated before the rise of Tesla and its fellow EV makers.
A new technology developed by researchers from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in collaboration with the team that founded the popular Israeli-made phone app Viber promises to put hydrogen back on the grid.
H2Pro uses a water-splitting technology called E-TAC (electrochemical thermally activated chemical) that draws hydrogen out of water by separating it from oxygen. Water is composed of one molecule of hydrogen and two molecules of oxygen.
Removing hydrogen from water is the only environmentally clean way to produce liquid hydrogen, but it’s inefficient and expensive. As a result, hydrogen hasn’t taken off for the generation of electricity production. Nearly all hydrogen produced today (for fertilizers, refineries and methanol production) comes from fossil fuels that release harmful CO2 emissions.
E-TAC technology was developed by Prof. Gideon Grader, Prof. Avner Rothschild and Dr. Hen Dotan at the Technion. Their research was spun off earlier this year into the new company H2Pro of Caesarea, which has raised $5 million from investors including Hyundai.
The E-TAC water splitting system is 98.7% efficient and could reduce the cost of the equipment to produce hydrogen by 50%, according to results of H2Pro’s research published in the journal Nature Energy.
If E-TAC proves to be the breakthrough H2Pro hopes it is, hydrogen could become an ideal energy carrier for a decarbonized world. One kilogram of hydrogen packs as much energy as one gallon (3.8 liters) of gasoline.
Hydrogen can be stored for years, transported easily, and used to generate heat (by burning it) or electricity (in fuel cells).
And the best part of all: The only waste product from using hydrogen is pure water.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-breakthrough-could-turn-hydrogen-into-the-fuel-of-future/
Twitter: The demand for #hydrogen #fuelcell vehicles is growing!
"The Nexo, [Hyundai]’s second-generation production fuel cell passenger car, was launched last year, with plans to sell around 1500 cars in 2019. However, in Korea alone 5500 cars have been ordered"
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/hyundais-hydrogen-boss-predicts-sales-growth-will-continue …
The demand for #hydrogen #fuelcell vehicles is growing!
— Nel Hydrogen (@nelhydrogen) September 23, 2019
"The Nexo, [Hyundai]’s second-generation production fuel cell passenger car, was launched last year, with plans to sell around 1500 cars in 2019. However, in Korea alone 5500 cars have been ordered"https://t.co/dFlU2Xp4ev pic.twitter.com/BNs4qVYjbR
Twitter: "...there are three large economies with ambitious #hydrogen vehicle plans... China, Japan, and South Korea are all betting big on the fuel cell for the future."
"...there are three large economies with ambitious #hydrogen vehicle plans... China, Japan, and South Korea are all betting big on the fuel cell for the future."https://t.co/QyevNANHcV
— Nel Hydrogen (@nelhydrogen) September 23, 2019
Twitter: Julian Renz from @ZeroAvia talking about taking hydrogen to the skies. A truly exciting company, moving the boundaries of possible.
Julian Renz from @ZeroAvia talking about taking hydrogen to the skies. A truly exciting company, moving the boundaries of possible. pic.twitter.com/GsgAM1PYvZ
— Bjørn Simonsen (@bjornsimonsen) September 19, 2019
Asian economies back hydrogen fuel cell cars
2019/9/19
Supporters say time, better infrastructure will mean acceptance
The BMW i Hydrogen NEXT prototype launched at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show Photo: IC
China, Japan and South Korea have all set ambitious targets to put millions of hydrogen-powered vehicles on the road by the end of the next decade.
But to date, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have been upstaged by electric vehicles (EVs), which are increasingly becoming a mainstream option due to the success of Tesla Inc's luxury cars as well as sales and production quotas set by China.
Critics argue FCVs may never amount to more than a niche technology. But proponents counter hydrogen is the cleanest energy source for autos available and that with time and more refueling infrastructure, it will gain acceptance.
Ambitious targets
China, far and away the world's biggest auto market with some 28 million vehicles sold annually, is aiming for more than 1 million FCVs in service by 2030. That compares with just 1,500 or so now, most of which are buses.
Japan, a market of more than 5 million vehicles annually, wants to have 800,000 FCVs sold by that time from about 3,400 currently.
South Korea, which has a car market just one-third the size of Japan, has set a target of 850,000 vehicles on the road by 2030. But as of end-2018, fewer than 900 had been sold.
Why hydrogen?
Hydrogen's proponents point to how clean it is as an energy source, since water and heat are the only byproducts, and how it can be made from a number of sources, including methane, coal, water and even garbage. Resource-poor Japan sees hydrogen as a way to greater energy security.
They also argue that driving ranges and refueling times for FCVs are comparable to gasoline-powered cars, whereas EVs require hours to recharge and provide only a few hundred kilometers of range.
Many backers in China and Japan see FCVs as complementing EVs rather than replacing them. In general, hydrogen is seen as the more efficient choice for heavier vehicles that drive longer distances. Hence, the current emphasis on city buses.
Main players
Only a handful of automakers have made fuel cell passenger cars commercially available.
Toyota Motor Corp launched the Mirai sedan at the end of 2014 but has sold fewer than 10,000 globally. Hyundai Motor Co has offered the Nexo crossover since March last year and has sold just under 2,900 worldwide. It had sales of about 900 for its previous FCV model, the Tucson.
Honda Motor Co's Clarity Fuel Cell is available for lease, while Daimler AG's GLC F-CELL has been delivered to a handful of corporate and public-sector clients.
Buses are seeing more demand. Both Toyota and Hyundai have offerings and have begun selling fuel cell components to busmakers, particularly in China.
Several Chinese manufacturers have developed their own buses, notably state-owned SAIC Motor, the nation's biggest automaker, and Geely Auto Group, which also owns the Volvo Cars and Lotus brands.
Why not yet?
A lack of refueling stations, which are costly to build, is usually cited as the biggest obstacle to widespread adoption of FCVs. At the same time, the main reason cited for the lack of refueling infrastructure is that there are not enough FCVs to make them profitable.
Consumer worries about the risk of explosions are also a big hurdle and residents in Japan and South Korea have protested against the construction of hydrogen stations. This year, a hydrogen tank explosion in South Korea killed two people, which was followed by a blast at a Norway hydrogen station.
Then there's the cost. Heavy subsidies are needed to bring prices down to levels of gasoline-powered cars. Toyota's Mirai costs consumers just over 5 million yen ($46,200) after subsidies of 2.25 million yen. That's still about 50 percent more than a Camry.
Automakers contend that once sales volumes increase, economies of scale will make subsidies unnecessary.
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1164974.shtml
Solar, renewables and hydrogen for greener marine transport
A new report in Sweden suggests that renewables are an ideal source of power for marine vessels, based on a case study in which solar PV and proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, combined with a diesel generator, were used to reduce the greenhouse gas and particulate emissions of cruise ships by almost 10%.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2019
Technologies such as solar PV, proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells and hydrogen can be used to reduce CO2 and particulate emissions in marine vessels such as large cruise ships, which are usually driven by diesel reciprocating engines, according to a new case study by a group of Swedish researchers.
In Hybrid solar PV/PEM fuel Cell/Diesel Generator power system for cruise ship: A case study in Stockholm, the scientists argued that much needs to be done to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and oil pollution, despite technological developments in diesel engines that have already facilitated huge fuel savings. Without further action CO2 gas emissions from large marine transport vessels could rise by 50% to 250% by 2050, they warned.
One viable way to reduce greenhouse emissions is to integrate renewable energy technologies – or renewable fuels such as biodiesel, biogas, hydrogen, liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol and ethanol – into existing ships or new vessels. Solar PV, which has already been identified by other researchers as the best renewable energy technology to power commercial ships, could be installed in the upper decks of vessels.
The proposed propulsion system for the case study would be powered by PV panels, PEM fuel cells, an electrolyzer for H2 production, an aH2 storage tank, and an inverter. The system would be designed to serve the main and auxiliary hourly AC loads of a cruise ship.
The Swedish researchers simulated different renewable power systems to identify the best low-cost solutions, based on set constraints. As a benchmark, they used a cruise ship operating in the Baltic Sea between Stockholm and Mariehamn, in Finland’s Åland archipelago. They assumed the vessel consumed 22,987?kWh of auxiliary power per day, including lighting, heating and ventilation systems, and then experimented with different renewable power systems to identify the best solutions. They concluded that four 2760?kW auxiliary diesel engines would be necessary.
However, the researchers have also proposed a renewable power system architecture featuring a 1,000? kW PEM fuel cell, a 5,850 kW diesel generator, a 1,200 ?kW solar PV system (3,636 solar panels), a 1,083 ?kW converter, a 2,000 ?kW electrolyzer, and a 500 kg hydrogen tank.
“The energy production from the system is: 9.44% (1,941,871?kWh/year) from the PV system, 4.39% (902,374?kWh/year) from the PEM fuel cell, and 86.17% (17,734,133?kWh/year) from the generator,” they said. “All the energy produced from the distributed generation is consumed by the cruise ship electrical load (90.5% or 18,621,578?kWh/year) and the Electrolyzer for hydrogen production (8.64% or 1,777,417?kWh/year).”
The researchers estimated the total cost of the system at around $4.5 million, with the solar component accounting for about $1.44 million. They estimated the lifetime cost of electricity at $260/MWh.
The generator and solar panels would supply most of the power during the day, while the diesel engine would kick in at night, supported by the PEM fuel cell systems. This would reduce greenhouse and particulate emissions from the diesel generators by around 9.84%, with solar accounting for 9.44% of onboard electricity consumption and the PEM fuel cell covering roughly 4.39%.
“The results obtained in the course of this study are for the cruise ship located in Stockholm (Sweden) where the solar irradiance is low (2.87?kWh/m2/day),” the researchers said. “The integration of renewable energy systems for cruise ships and ferries will produce better results with higher renewable fractions, lower emissions and lower cost in regions where the solar irradiance is higher such as the desert regions.”
https://www.pv-magazine.com/2019/09/20/solar-renewables-and-hydrogen-for-greener-marine-transport/
First hydrogen plant to rise in PH
September 20, 2019
Paris-based Air Liquide SA, through its Philippine unit, is investing 30 million euros or about P1.73 billion in a hydrogen manufacturing plant that has been contracted to supply gas to Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp.’s oil refinery in Batangas.
The hydrogen plant, which Air Liquide Philippines will own and operate, will be built within Shell’s Tabangao refinery complex.
The planned facility will be fitted with a carbon dioxide recovery unit that mitigates direct carbon emission levels by capturing and liquefying the greenhouse gas for other uses.
Francois Abrial, member of the Air Liquide Group’s executive committee that supervises their businesses in the Asia-Pacific region, said in a statement the gas supply contract reflected their long-term partnership with Shell.
“We are confident in our ability to create value for our key customers in the Philippines and deliver superior performance that considers both business interests and environmental sustainability,” Arial said.
On Aug. 29, Air Liquide and Shell held a groundbreaking ceremony for the hydrogen facility that was expected to be completed by the end of 2020. It will be the first such facility in the Philippines.
According to Shell, the production of hydrogen in Tabangao will enable the refinery to process more crude oil varieties, especially lower-grade crude. This, in turn, will help Shell ramp up its output of diesel fuel.
Earlier this year, Pilipinas Shell president and chief executive Cesar Romero said the oil giant had started a P2-billion project related to hydrogen manufacturing.
Romero said this meant that the Philippines would be host to one of a few hydrogen units that catered to Shell worldwide—five of which were located in Germany.
Expected to start commercial operations in the first quarter of 2021, the hydrogen maker in Tabangao would be a standalone facility and would source its feedstock or raw material from within the refinery complex. —RONNEL W. DOMINGO
https://business.inquirer.net/279324/first-hydrogen-plant-to-rise-in-ph
Can Hydrogen Trucks Kill Diesel Demand?
Sep 19, 2019
Hydrogen, once touted as the fuel of the future and then slipping into near oblivion as electric cars gained popularity, may still have a future as a fuel, just not for passenger cars. Hydrogen, it seems, could become the preferred fuel for a category of vehicles that currently account for a significant share of oil demand: long-haul trucks.
S&P Global Platts Analytics recently made the case for hydrogen fuel as an economical replacement of diesel in semi trucks by arguing that it was potentially a cheaper alternative to both electric trucks and compressed natural gas vehicles.
The author of the analysis, Zane McDonald, argued that hydrogen technology was the only one that could achieve price parity with diesel engines by 2030, not least thanks to help from the federal government, which has a comprehensive hydrogen program spanning everything from power generation to fuel cells.
Right now, McDonald notes, no alternative to the diesel engine is competitive on cost or performance. Yet like its competitors, hydrogen technology for cars is developing. To be fair, so is diesel technology, with substantial fuel efficiency improvements expected in the next decade, up to 30 percent. Yet hydrogen is gaining prominence.
German Bosch, for example, recently said it had invested in a hydrogen truck manufacturer—Nikola—and had started work on components for hydrogen powertrains. Bosch is the world’s largest supplier to the automotive industry and has stayed out of the hydrogen space until now. This makes the announcement all the more significant, boosting the credibility and potential of hydrogen fuel cell tech.
If a single company, the largest in the industry, is not enough of an example, there are three large economies with ambitious hydrogen vehicle plans, too. China, Japan, and South Korea are all betting big on the fuel cell for the future.
Related: Where Is The World's Safest Source Of Oil?
China wants to have 1 million hydrogen vehicles on its roads by 2030. That’s up from a tiny 1,500. For context, China’s annual car sales are about 28 million. Japan currently has 3,400 hydrogen vehicles on its roads and wants this to increase to 800,000 by 2030. That’s out of a total 5 million vehicles sold in the country every year. South Korea, for its part, is even more ambitious than Japan: it is a much smaller car market than its island neighbor, but it wants to have 850,000 hydrogen cars on the road by 2030.
Early 2017 saw the launch of the Hydrogen Council, a group involving several leading automakers as well as Shell and Total, seeking ways to make hydrogen more commercially viable. The council allocated $1.4 billion to the development of energy storage and fuel cell project development until 2020, and has high hopes for the future. It seems the investment is beginning to pay off already.
The main benefits of hydrogen are its abundance and the fact it emits no harmful chemicals. The challenges are cost and scalability. Researchers are addressing these challenges, trying to make fuel cell technology cheaper and easier to scale. According to the S&P Global Platts analysis, this work will eventually pay off, at least in the commercial vehicle segment. That’s an important segment for the oil industry given the demand for fuel it generates. It seems hydrogen has the potential to disrupt this key market for the oil industry by replacing fuel demand with demand for hydrogen. It may only be a matter of time before this replacement happens.
https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Fuel-Cells/Can-Hydrogen-Trucks-Kill-Diesel-Demand.html
Hydrogen strategy reaches third phase
20TH SEPTEMBER 2019
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The National Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Research, Development and Innovation Strategy, known as Hydrogen South Africa (HySA), has reached the third phase of its 15-year programme, which comprises three five-year phases.
HySA – an initiative of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI), previously the Department of Science and Technology – aims to create local capacity and knowledge that will lead to the development of value-add products in the hydrogen fuel cell technology (HFCT) sector for domestic and international markets.
“We plan to use fuel cells to provide this clean energy, subsequently ensuring that rural communities are not excluded from participating in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, owing to energy poverty,” says DSI hydrogen and energy director Dr Cosmas Chiteme.
One of the projects in the third phase entails the provision of clean energy for 200 households in a rural community.
15-YEAR PLAN
During the first phase, the focus was on building the research, development and innovation ecosystem that resulted in the establishment of reputed research infrastructure and research groups at the centres of competence located at local universities and science councils.
The research focus areas where South Africa could contribute to global knowledge were also identified during this first period, with 276 peer-reviewed publications and 15 granted patents having been generated to date.
During the second five-year phase, the programme began producing precommercial technologies focused on niche markets, resulting in a technology portfolio comprising 47 products and services.
Subsequently, more than 55% of the products are at a technology-readiness level of six and higher, which equates to the demonstration phase of a technology. The technologies range from platinum-based catalysts and membrane electrode assemblies to various technologies in hydrogen production, storage and distribution.
Examples of the technologies being developed include a fuel cell unit deployed for backup power at Windsor East Clinic in Randburg, Gauteng, in partnership with industrial gas and chemicals supplier Air Products and primary platinum producer Anglo American Platinum; and the deployment of a 2.5 kW stationary fuel cell unit at Poelano Secondary School near Ventersdorp, in North West, to power the school’s information communication technology infrastructure.
A fuel cell-powered forklift with the associated refuelling infrastructure was launched at platinum miner Implats’ Impala Platinum Refineries in Springs, Gauteng, as part of the drive to reduce carbon emissions in the mining sector. The forklift has been in operation since October 2015.
Through the HySA programme, public–private partnerships have been put in place to take the technologies to market, in support of service delivery through powering social infrastructure.
Chiteme says HySA is part of a broader strategy to enhance mineral beneficiation in South Africa to extract more value from its mineral resource base.
CENTRES OF COMPETENCE
He adds that HySA comprises three centres of competence – HySA Systems, HySA Infrastructure and HySA Catalysis. “Each centre holds its own range of research and development and is led by experts in their respective fields,” Chiteme added.
HySA Systems, based at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), is led by HySA competence centre director Dr Sivakumar Pasupathi, who has been involved in HySA since its inception.
Pasupathi highlights that the HFCT being developed at UWC includes demonstrating the ability of HFCT in real-life applications – such as the first HFC golf cart in South Africa.
“Further milestones for HySA Systems include the first HFC forklift and hydrogen refueling station, as well as several educational prototypes,” he adds.
Pasupathi enthuses that, in addition to being noiseless and efficient, fuel cells are the only technology which can potentially be 100% clean – when using renewable resources to produce hydrogen – and can contribute to combating climate change.
HySA Infrastructure, based at North West University (NWU), in Potchefstroom, and at the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research, in Pretoria, focuses predominantly on hydrogen infrastructure, water electrolysis, electrochemical hydrogen compression, hydrogen storage in liquid organic hydrogen carrier, and safety and codes, which aligns with HFCT.
HySA Infrastructure director Dr Dmitri Bessarabov says the centre is becoming a world leader in the research on water electrolysis. “In fuel cells, oxygen and hydrogen are combined to generate water and electricity. In the reverse process, known as water electrolysis, water and electricity are combined to generate oxygen and hydrogen.”
He emphasises that, without hydrogen infrastructure, there is no deployment of fuel cells. Subsequently, HySA Infrastructure plans on rolling out commercial electrolysis systems and hydrogen refuelling systems for fuel cells. A first in South Africa, a 350 bar hydrogen refuelling station was built and is located at NWU.
HySA Catalysis, located at the University of Cape Town and Mintek, in Randburg, has so far generated 19 items of intellectual property, eight of which have been licensed exclusively to fuel cell technology company HyPlat.
HyPlat CEO and HySA Catalysis competence centre director Dr Sharon Blair boasts that the centre does research and technology development for fuel cells and electrolysers to help establish an African hydrogen value chain and hydrogen-based economy.
“HySA Catalysis is progressing in technologies, allowing for the engineering of components with increased activity and durability at reduced cost.”
Chiteme concludes by mentioning that the vision of the HySA strategy is to create knowledge and human resource capacity and develop high-level commercial activities in HFCT through beneficiating platinum group metals. The HySA programme is therefore a government initiative towards a hydrogen economy in South Africa.
https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/hydrogen-strategy-reaches-third-phase-2019-09-20-1
Jiashan county orders 100 hydrogen fuel cell buses
Sep 19, 2019
Chinese bus manufacturer Golden Dragon has received an order worth RMB 148.6m ($21m) for 100 hydrogen fuel cell buses.
The buses will be delivered over the next year to the customer in Jiashan county, Zhejiang province.
“To promote the commercial operation of fuel cell vehicles, Jiashan country has launched a series of favourable policies. By the end of this year, it aims to build the first fuel cell bus operation line in Zhejiang province,” Golden Dragon explained.
“To ensure the smooth operation of all fuel cell buses, Jiashan county has already been making great efforts in related infrastructure construction. By 2022, it will have three to five hydrogen refilling stations.”
The 100 hydrogen fuel cell buses will be able to drive more than 500km continuously and can be quickly refilled in 10 to 15 minutes.
https://www.h2-view.com/story/jiashan-county-orders-100-hydrogen-fuel-cell-buses/
Hydrogen essential in enabling BC to meet decarbonisation goals, study says
Sep 19, 2019
The deployment of hydrogen in British Columbia (BC) will be required for the Canadian province to meet its 2030 and 2050 decarbonisation goals and emissions reduction commitments.
That’s according to a study released this week by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources that found end use energy demand in BC was 1,165 petajoules (PJ) in 2016, with 68% of demand met through refined petroleum products and natural gas.
British Columbia Hydrogen Study said direct electrification and increased supply of renewable natural gas will not be able to displace all this energy to transition BC to lower carbon and ultimately renewable energy sources.
Hydrogen will play a critical role, particularly in energy intensive applications that are most reliant on fossil fuels today such as long-range transportation and heating.
The report found that BC can be a global leader by adopting policies that promote and support all sides of an emerging hydrogen economy including demand, supply and technology development.
Through a combination of policy and investment, the study said hydrogen can play a major role in the province by 2050.
It estimates $176m of government investment is needed over the next five years, approximately $35.2m a year.
The report said this funding would be focused primarily on supporting lighthouse projects and studies, funding critical infrastructure development, providing subsides for the rollout of light-duty FCEVs and supporting the sector through establishing dedicated R&D funding.
Advantage
Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier that can be made from a range of feedstocks that are abundant in BC, and it has the advantage of being carbon free at the point of use.
BC has a distinct comparative advantage because of its clean electricity and low-cost natural gas resources, both of which can be leveraged to produce hydrogen. The study said hydrogen can be:
Blended with BC’s rich natural gas reserves to create a cleaner burning fuel and increase the renewable content of the gas delivered through its extensive natural gas infrastructure
Used directly in fuel cells to produce zero emission electricity in electric vehicles, stationary power systems, and off-road industrial vehicles
Utilised as a feedstock in industrial applications, including to produce renewable synthetic liquid fuels that allow existing combustion engines to be used in a cleaner and more sustainable way
Use of hydrogen in BC is in the nascent stages, while the pace of worldwide deployment is clearly accelerating.
For BC to realise 2030 emissions reductions goals as set out in the CleanBC plan, it is important for government to work with industry now to establish supply and infrastructure necessary to stimulate adoption in the province.
Export opportunities can help to bring international investment to the development of our hydrogen energy systems and provide strong revenue generation potential.
According to the report, building of a vibrant and robust hydrogen economy in the province will result in:
Decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors of the economy such as heating and cooling, long-range transportation applications, and energy intensive industries
Economic growth and job creation through the development of BC’s hydrogen supply chain and infrastructure, and supply to emerging export markets
Leveraging BC’s natural gas reserves and infrastructure to meet emissions reductions goals in the mid-term while transitioning to renewable energy sources in the long-term.
Recommendations
The study outlines recommendations to support the development of a vibrant hydrogen economy in BC. The top ten recommendation themes for the 2020-2050 timeframe are to:
Identify and communicate hydrogen as priority sector for the province.
Prioritise development of large-scale, low carbon intensity hydrogen supply infrastructure and strategic hydrogen liquefaction and distribution assets in the province.
Adopt policy that specifies the carbon intensity of hydrogen, rather than limiting to renewable only. This includes updating the definition of renewable natural gas in BC’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulation to include low carbon intensity hydrogen.
Set longer-term objectives for transition to renewable hydrogen supplies through establishing tiered thresholds of required renewable content over time.
Develop flexible, lower cost electricity rate schedule to encourage production of Green Hydrogen.
Support lighthouse projects that will demonstrate the potential of hydrogen in critical end use applications
Adopt recommended policies and regulatory framework for light and heavy-duty FCEVs and support the build out of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure.
Support research, development and deployment in the province to ensure the local hydrogen cluster maintains competitive global advantages and remains an important economic sector within the province.
Support initiatives related to developing an export market for hydrogen, particularly those that can leverage international investment to develop local supply of hydrogen.
Prioritise a strategic investment fund to support the above recommendations.
The BC Hydrogen Study was conducted by Zen and the Art of Clean Energy Solutions, the Institute for Breakthrough Energy and Emission Technologies and G&S Budd Consulting Services.
The BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, BC Bioenergy Network and FortisBC supported and contributed to the study.
https://www.h2-view.com/story/hydrogen-essential-in-enabling-bc-to-meet-decarbonisation-goals-study-says/
Hydrogen plane tests set for Orkney
September 19, 2019
A project which could see the entire aviation industry in Orkney decarbonised has been given huge financial backing.
The HyFlyer project aims to decarbonise medium range small passenger aircraft by demonstrating hydrogen fuel cell powertrain technology.
It is a project which presents significant opportunities in Orkney since all flights from Kirkwall could potentially be serviced by this new technology.
The project has been awarded £5.3 million of UK Government funding and will culminate in a 300 nautical mile demonstration flight out of Orkney by 2022.
Orkney Islands Council leader James Stockan said: “In Orkney we are seeking to be clean, green islands.
“Transport is our biggest decarbonisation challenge, with our remote and rural setting placing our islanders in the position of producing a significant carbon footprint.
“Initiatives like this are presenting us with opportunities to reduce this carbon footprint and support Orkney Islands Council’s climate emergency declaration. I look forward to the project progressing.”
Led by ZeroAvia, developers of hydrogen fuel cell powertrain solutions, HyFlyer will demonstrate a phased approach from battery power to hydrogen power, integrating the new technology aboard a Piper M-class six-seater aircraft which will perform test flights out of Cranfield and Orkney.
Project partners Intelligent Energy will optimise its high power fuel cell technology for application in aviation while EMEC Hydrogen, producers of green hydrogen from renewable energy, will supply the hydrogen required for flight tests and develop a mobile refuelling platform compatible with the plane.
The HyFlyer project will see conventional piston engines in propeller aircraft replaced by electric motors, hydrogen fuel cells and gas storage.
If all goes well, ZeroAvia, based in California, are aiming to supply the technology to commercial manufacturers by 2022.
Following this demonstration, the next goal then is to power an aircraft, carrying up to 20 passengers, to travel 500 miles.
According to the Air Transport Action Group, aviation is responsible for 12 per cent of CO2 emissions from all transport sources and is one of the fastest growing sources of global emissions.
Val Miftakhov, founder and CEO of ZeroAvia, said: “The substantial backing provided by the UK Government underlines the potential that hydrogen holds as a fuel source for commercial aviation and provides significant validation of ZeroAvia’s approach to zero emission flight.
“Our project goal of 300 NM is equivalent to the distance from London to Edinburgh and will prove that zero emission aviation, powered by hydrogen, can play a key role within the UK and other countries’ transport strategies — enabling net zero targets to be met and improving productivity and regional prosperity.”
Richard Ainsworth, Hydrogen Project Specialist at EMEC Hydrogen, said: “HyFlyer is another key step in Orkney’s aim to decarbonise lifeline transport services for islanded communities.
“Hydrogen has the potential to help meet our emission commitments where electrons and batteries can’t.
“This project sees us one step closer to meeting our fuel and energy needs from abundant local renewable energy resources using green hydrogen.”
https://www.orcadian.co.uk/hygrogen-plane-tests-set-for-orkney/
Twitter: Overall conclusion from the introduction of Hans Jørgen Koch, CEO of @NEF_Oslo: We still have some work to do.
Overall conclusion from the introduction of Hans Jørgen Koch, CEO of @NEF_Oslo: We still have some work to do. pic.twitter.com/Sq3cBzyQFl
— Bjørn Simonsen (@bjornsimonsen) September 19, 2019
Looking to the future: New hydrogen fueling station in Hereford created by “Hydrogen Bill”
September 18, 2019 at 5:31 PM CDT - Updated September 18 at 6:19 PM
AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - A local farmer in Hereford has created the first hydrogen fueling station that is known of in Texas and is hoping to create a better economy and environment in the years to come.
Within the past two weeks, creator of Panhandle Sustainable Energy also referred to as Hydrogen Bill, finished building his hydrogen fueling station, what is known to be the first of it’s kind here in Texas.
He then brought back a hydrogen-powered car from California, where they are typically sold and driven.
“Hydrogen Bill is an outstanding innovator, and he had a vision for 20 years how we can use it in place of gas and oil. That’s how it all started. Back in those days hydrogen was extremely expensive, but he had a vision that one day it would become cheap and we could produce it in mass,” said Joshua Partheepan, assistant professor of power systems engineering at West Texas A&M University.
These experts are even saying that using hydrogen fuel is better than gasoline in terms of expensive and effect on the environment.
“The price of it because of the efficiency of it, is equivalent to driving with gasoline, but you are getting far more mileage per kilogram, and it again has the same energy as one gallon of gasoline,” said Nick Parker, a partner in Panhandle Sustainable Energy.
“Now we can take pure water, rip it apart with electricity from the renewable resources and combine it in a fuel cell in these electric cars to give us now transportation without pollution without using a string based on a carbon-based formal,” said Ken Starcher, instructor of engineering and technology at West Texas A&M University.
Experts in this field are confident that fueling a car with hydrogen is just as safe as fueling one with gasoline
“People think of the Hindenburg when they think of hydrogen, but that was a large volume of hydrogen in a relatively low-pressure system. The containment here and the warning signs on the fueling stations, say that anyone can refuel this thing that could refuel a diesel or a gasoline car,” said Starcher.
“Hydrogen” Bill says he sees hydrogen cars being the future of transportation with fueling stations every 20 miles from Texas to California.
“In 20 years, everything is going to be hydrogen and Toyota. All the way from California down the highway down there with stations every 20 miles,” said Bill Paetzold, creator of Panhandle Sustainable Energy.
https://www.newschannel10.com/2019/09/18/looking-future-new-hydrogen-fueling-station-hereford-created-by-hydrogen-bill/
Why Asia's biggest economies are backing hydrogen fuel cell cars
September 18, 2019 06:38 PM UPDATED 10 HOURS AGO
TOKYO -- China, Japan and South Korea have set ambitious targets to put millions of hydrogen-powered vehicles on their roads by the end of the next decade at a cost of billions of dollars.
But to date, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles have been upstaged by electric vehicles, which are increasingly becoming a mainstream option due to the success of Tesla Inc.'s luxury vehicles as well as sales and production quotas set by China.
Critics argue fuel cell vehicles may never amount to more than a niche technology. But proponents counter hydrogen is the cleanest energy source for autos available and that with time and more refueling infrastructure, it will gain acceptance.
Big targets
China, far and away the world's biggest auto market with some 28 million vehicles sold annually, is aiming for more than 1 million fuel cell vehicles in service by 2030. That compares with just 1,500 or so now, most of which are buses.
Japan, a market of more than 5 million vehicles annually, wants to have 800,000 fuel cell vehicles sold by that time from around 3,400 currently.
South Korea, which has a car market just one third the size of Japan, has set a target of 850,000 vehicles on the road by 2030. But as of end-2018, fewer than 900 have been sold.
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Why hydrogen?
Hydrogen's proponents point to how clean it is as an energy source as water and heat are the only byproducts and how it can be made from a number of sources, including methane, coal, water, even garbage. Resource-poor Japan sees hydrogen as a way to greater energy security.
They also argue that driving ranges and refueling times for fuel cell vehicles are comparable to gasoline cars, whereas EVs require hours to recharge and provide only a few hundred kilometers of range.
Many backers in China and Japan see fuel cell vehicles as complementing EVs rather than replacing them. In general, hydrogen is seen as the more efficient choice for heavier vehicles that drive longer distances, hence the current emphasis on city buses.
Main players
Only a handful of automakers have made fuel cell passenger cars commercially available.
Toyota Motor Corp. launched the Mirai sedan at the end of 2014, but has sold fewer than 10,000 globally. Hyundai Motor Co. has offered the Nexo crossover since March last year and has sold just under 2,900 worldwide. It had sales of around 900 for its previous fuel cell model, the Tucson.
Honda Motor Co.'s Clarity Fuel Cell is available for lease, while Daimler's GLC F-CELL has been delivered to a handful of corporate and public sector clients.
Buses are seeing more demand. Both Toyota and Hyundai have offerings and have begun selling fuel cell components to bus makers, particularly in China.
Several Chinese manufacturers have developed their own buses, notably state-owned SAIC Motor, the nation's biggest automaker, and Geely Auto Group, which also owns the Volvo Cars and Lotus brands.
Hurdles
A lack of refueling stations, which are costly to build, is usually cited as the biggest obstacle to widespread adoption of fuel cell vehicles. At the same time, the main reason cited for the lack of refueling infrastructure is that there are not enough fuel cell vehicles to make them profitable.
Consumer worries about the risk of explosions are also a big hurdle and residents in Japan and South Korea have protested against the construction of hydrogen stations. This year, a hydrogen tank explosion in South Korea killed two people, which was followed by a blast at a Norway hydrogen station.
Then there's the cost. Heavy subsidies are needed to bring prices down to levels of gasoline-powered cars. Toyota's Mirai costs consumers just over 5 million yen ($46,200) after subsidies of 2.25 million yen. That's still about 50 percent more than a Camry.
Automakers contend that once sales volumes increase, economies of scale will make subsidies unnecessary.
https://www.autonews.com/china/why-asias-biggest-economies-are-backing-hydrogen-fuel-cell-cars
Why Asia's biggest economies are backing hydrogen fuel cell cars
18 September 2019
China, Japan and South Korea have set ambitious targets to put millions of hydrogen-powered vehicles on their roads by the end of the next decade at a cost of billions of dollars.
But to date, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have been upstaged by electric vehicles (EVs), which are increasingly becoming a mainstream option due to the success of Tesla Inc's luxury cars as well as sales and production quotas set by China.
Critics argue FCVs may never amount to more than a niche technology. But proponents counter hydrogen is the cleanest energy source for cars available and that with time and more refuelling infrastructure, it will gain acceptance.
Ambitious targets
China, far and away the world's biggest auto market with about 28 million vehicles sold annually, is aiming for more than 1 million FCVs in service by 2030. That compares with just 1,500 or so now, most of which are buses.
Japan, a market of more than 5 million vehicles annually, wants to have 800,000 FCVs sold by that time from about 3,400 currently.
South Korea, which has a car market just one third the size of Japan, has set a target of 850,000 vehicles on the road by 2030. But as of end-2018, fewer than 900 have been sold.
Why hydrogen?
Hydrogen's proponents point to how clean it is as an energy source, as water and heat are the only byproducts, and how it can be made from a number of sources, including methane, coal, water, even garbage. Resource-poor Japan sees hydrogen as a way to greater energy security.
They also argue that driving ranges and refuelling times for FCVs are comparable to petrol-powered cars, whereas EVs require hours to recharge and provide only a few hundred kilometres of range.
Many backers in China and Japan see FCVs complementing EVs rather than replacing them. In general, hydrogen is seen as the more efficient choice for heavier vehicles that drive longer distances, hence the current emphasis on city buses.
The main players
Only a handful of automakers have made fuel cell passenger cars commercially available.
Toyota Motor Corp launched the Mirai sedan at the end of 2014, but has sold fewer than 10,000 globally. Hyundai Motor Co has offered the Nexo crossover since March last year and has sold just under 2,900 worldwide. It had sales of about 900 for its previous FCV model, the Tucson.
Honda Motor Co Ltd's Clarity Fuel Cell is available for lease, while Daimler AG's GLC F-CELL has been delivered to a handful of corporate and public sector clients.
Buses are seeing more demand. Both Toyota and Hyundai have offerings and have started selling fuel cell components to bus makers, particularly in China.
Several Chinese manufacturers have developed their own buses, notably state-owned SAIC Motor, the nation's biggest automaker, and Geely Auto Group, which also owns the Volvo Cars and Lotus brands.
Why haven't fuel cell cars caught on yet?
A lack of refuelling stations, which are costly to build, is usually cited as the biggest obstacle to widespread adoption of FCVs. At the same time, the main reason cited for the lack of refuelling infrastructure is that there are not enough FCVs to make them profitable.
Consumer worries about the risk of explosions are also a big hurdle and residents in Japan and South Korea have protested against the construction of hydrogen stations. This year, a hydrogen tank explosion in South Korea killed two people, which was followed by a blast at a Norway hydrogen station.
Then there's the cost. Heavy subsidies are needed to bring prices down to levels of gasoline-powered cars. Toyota's Mirai costs consumers just over 5 million yen (roughly R679,350) after subsidies of 2.25 million yen (roughly R305, 685). That's still about 50% more than a Camry.
Manufacturers contend that once sales volumes increase, economies of scale will make subsidies unnecessary.
https://www.timeslive.co.za/motoring/news/2019-09-18-why-asias-biggest-economies-are-backing-hydrogen-fuel-cell-cars/
Solaris presents hydrogen bus in Poland
Sep 18, 2019
Bus manufacturer Solaris presented its hydrogen bus for the first time in Poland yesterday.
The Solaris Urbino 12 is completely emission free and transforms hydrogen in a fuel cell into electricity which, in turn, propels the driveline.
Fitted with a state-of-the-art fuel cell of 60kW, which acts as a miniature hydrogen power plant on board the vehicle, the sole byproducts generated during the operation are heat and steam.
The bus will be capable of covering up to 350km on a single refill.
Solaris presented the bus to the Polish public in Poznan following tests by carriers in Austria and Italy in August.
The Solaris Urbino 12 was unveiled during the Global Public Transport Summit UITP in Stockholm, Sweden in June.
https://www.h2-view.com/story/solaris-presents-hydrogen-bus-in-poland/
Star Scientific: Significant momentum for hydrogen in Australia
Sep 18, 2019
For nearly two decades, Sydney-based Star Scientific has been working on how humanity can transition to a new energy economy, independent of fossil fuels that damage the environment and pose a threat to sustainable future growth.
Backed by philanthropists and scientists who share the company’s passion for solving this problem, Star Scientific has invested $85m in Australian research and development (R&D) to deliver on this ambitious but achievable goal.
Star Scientific’s major breakthrough is the Hydrogen Energy Release Optimiser (HERO®). It produces unlimited, affordable, safe and reliable energy – with zero emissions.
According to the company, this truly innovative source of dispatchable power and heat can propel Australia and the world to overcome the most difficult energy challenges.
H2 View sat down with Andrew Horvath, Star Scientific’s Global Group Chairman, to find out more about the HERO technology and talk about the increased momentum towards hydrogen and its applications in Australia.
Q. What activities related to hydrogen is Star Scientific currently pursuing?
Star Scientific is currently focused on scaling and commercialising our breakthrough technology, the Hydrogen Energy Release Optimiser (HERO®). This green hydrogen-fuelled technology can rapidly produce a clean, zero-emission source of heat, reaching over 700 degrees Celsius in minutes.
The larger the surface area of the catalyst and the more hydrogen is introduced into the system, the more heat is generated. The only byproduct is pure water.
We are also pursuing a research project in conjunction with the University of Newcastle that is investigating the possibility of producing hydrogen from a special catalytic paint. This continues research already begun by RMIT University.
We are undertaking a feasibility study with a major power provider in New South Wales to further refine HERO to suit power plant applications – where we expect it to replace coal boilers as the heat-generator that turns the steam turbines, creating the reliable baseload power needed to keep our grid stable and our economy running as our energy system transitions.
“The major shift has been the increasing recognition of hydrogen’s potential, both by individual states, such as Queensland and Western Australia, and by the federal government. They’ve implemented hydrogen strategies…”
Q. What changes have you seen within the hydrogen ecosystem and community in Australia in the past year?
There’s been a significant increase in momentum towards the creation of a hydrogen economy in Australia. We’ve seen a rapid acceleration of conversations about hydrogen and its applications entering the mainstream media, for example.
This is in line with the International Energy Agency declaring 2019 a critical year for hydrogen, in which it may well fulfil its longstanding potential as a clean energy solution.
The major shift has been the increasing recognition of hydrogen’s potential, both by individual states, such as Queensland and Western Australia, and by the federal government. They’ve implemented hydrogen strategies and put money behind major hydrogen projects designed to either produce hydrogen or test its various applications, or both.
You’ve also got companies like Australian Gas Infrastructure Group, pipeliner Jemena, LNG exporter Woodside Petroleum, France’s Engie and Norway’s Yara involved in early-stage projects in various parts of the supply chain for hydrogen.
Despite this progress, Australia is still a long way from realising its potential to transform wide-ranging parts of our economy, from power generation to transport, industrial heating and more.
We’re looking forward to hearing about more technologies being explored and backed which would ensure Australia makes use of hydrogen’s transformative potential not just as an export, but domestically, as a clean energy source.
Q. What hydrogen-related innovation, application or technology makes you most excited for the future?
Obviously we’re incredibly excited about HERO’s potential. Given the need to transition away from coal-fired power, and with countries like Germany choosing to shut down their coal power stations, we see its most immediate application as replacing coal boilers in existing power plants.
In this way, it can help address one of the several most challenging issues facing the world today.
First, the oppositional relationship/zero-sum game between the ‘old’ and the ‘new’ energy economies, where one fears being put out of business by the other, rather than complimenting and relying on one another.
Second, countries can continue to produce the critical baseload energy needed to fill the netload generation gap when renewables like solar and wind can’t meet demand.
Third, by using existing infrastructure, HERO can reduce the overall cost of our energy transition and increase the speed with which we can get there. It would help keep these facilities, many of which have yet to reach the end of their useful lives, and allow us to maintain grid stability – which has come under significant pressure as renewables flood the market. We’re really excited to be getting ever closer to this reality.
Lastly, the demand that HERO creates for green hydrogen will accelerate the realisation of a broader hydrogen economy, encouraging the inevitable realisation of the economies of scale needed to produce clean hydrogen at a feasible cost – with knock-on beneficial impacts across a broad range of industries.
Another innovation/technology Star Scientific is excited about is the super-critical carbon dioxide turbine (sCO2). While not directly hydrogen related, we believe that in conjunction with HERO’s clean heat generation these tiny, super-efficient turbines will completely transform energy production in the future.
Q. Are there any recent or upcoming hydrogen-related milestones in your company that you are especially proud of?
We recently attended and opened the American Renewable Energy Institute’s AREDAY conference and were awarded the Global Innovation Award by its founder, Chip Comins, for HERO.
This came after I presented on HERO’s role in substituting into coal power stations and accelerating the hydrogen economy, as well as its potential as a heat source for heating buildings, heat-intensive industrial processes and off-grid power.
https://www.h2-view.com/story/star-scientific-significant-momentum-for-hydrogen-in-australia/
Twitter: We're looking forward to reading this!
We're looking forward to reading this! https://t.co/Pl3voKSH58
— Nel Hydrogen (@nelhydrogen) September 18, 2019
Twitter: "Many underestimate the industry's ability to scale up hydrogen production, "says Chief Executive Officer @jonandrelokke in @nelhydrogen at a seminar about the development of the hydrogen value chain in Norway and China at @HandelshoyskBI
"Many underestimate the industry's ability to scale up hydrogen production, "says Chief Executive Officer @jonandrelokke in @nelhydrogen at a seminar about the development of the hydrogen value chain in Norway and China at @HandelshoyskBI pic.twitter.com/BcJljr7gl6
— Handelshøyskolen BI (@HandelshoyskBI) September 18, 2019
Twitter: Will you be at ‘Nordic view on new energy storage technologies’ event in Copenhagen on Thursday? Nel’s @bjornsimonsen will be presenting about #hydrogen production. Learn more: http://bit.ly/2kPmI2n
Will you be at ‘Nordic view on new energy storage technologies’ event in Copenhagen on Thursday? Nel’s @bjornsimonsen will be presenting about #hydrogen production. Learn more: https://t.co/l0f1Zhand8 pic.twitter.com/RgtRjbZpFj
— Nel Hydrogen (@nelhydrogen) September 18, 2019
NEWS! Nel ASA: Share capital increase registered
(Oslo, 18 September 2019) Reference is made to the stock exchange announcement by Nel ASA (the "Company") on 4 September 2019 regarding the exercise of employee options and issue of 4,393,877 new shares.
The share capital increase pertaining to the issuance of the new shares has now been registered with the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises. The Company's new registered share capital is NOK 244,354,156.60 divided into 1,221,770,783 shares, each with a par value of NOK 0.20.
https://nelhydrogen.com/press-release/nel-asa-share-capital-increase-registered-8/
Dolphyn green hydrogen project receives £427,000 UK Government funding
Sep 17, 2019
Environmental Resources Management (ERM) has received £427,000 from the UK Government to develop its project which looks at the production of green hydrogen from offshore wind.
The Dolphyn project, funded as part of the Government’s £20m Hydrogen Supply Programme, showcases a floating semi-submersible (floating platform) design with an integrated wind turbine, PEM electrolysis and desalination facilities.
The system is designed so that it can be deployed as a stand-alone or as multiple connected units which form an offshore hydrogen wind farm. A 400turbine farm (20 x 20 array) would have a capacity of 4GW, producing over 320,000 tonnes of hydrogen per annum, enough to heat 1.5 million UK homes.
“Using the power of hydrogen could help cut emissions, create jobs and make industrial processes cleaner and greener, benefitting the whole economy as we work towards net zero by 2050,” said Lord Duncan, the UK’s Minister for Climate Change.
“This innovative project from ERM will help our efforts to roll out hydrogen at scale by the 2030s – a crucial step towards the end of the UK’s contribution to global warming.”
The 10MW semi-submersible unit is able to produce up to 800 tonnes of hydrogen per year, exported back to shore via pipeline, and does not require an external power source.
“Dolphyn is a completely scalable technology that once established can be expanded across the North Sea, providing the UK with low carbon energy as we gradually reduce our dependence on fossil fuels,” said Kevin Kinsella, ERM’s Project Director.
“Our abundance of offshore wind resource, coupled with our leading oil and gas and offshore wind industry, means we are ideally placed to benefit from this new technology.”
The design has been developed to achieve the lowest predicted cost for producing hydrogen from renewables at scale in the UK.
The front end engineering work is now complete, and the project can move onto the detailed design state, with a view to making a final investment decision on a 2MW prototype facility by March 2021.
The operational start-up date of the 2MW prototype is targeted for Summer 2023. A 10MW full scale pre-commercial facility is planned to follow later in 2026.
https://www.h2-view.com/story/dolphyn-green-hydrogen-project-receives-427000-uk-government-funding/
Toyota banks on Olympic halo for the humble bus to keep hydrogen dream alive
6 MIN READ
TOKYO (Reuters) - Buses may not be the most glamorous mode of transport but at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games, they will represent Toyota Motor Corp’s (7203.T) best bet for wider acceptance of hydrogen power - technology so far eclipsed by electric vehicles.
Japan’s biggest automaker plans to roll out 100 hydrogen fuel cell buses to shuttle visitors between venues, a stepping stone to a big ramp up for the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.
There, more than 1,000 buses are planned in partnership with Beiqi Foton Motor Co (600166.SS), according to people familiar with the project, which aims to make the most of a push by China to start adopting the zero-emissions technology.
The plans to promote hydrogen with its exclusive Olympic ‘mobility’ sponsorship deal - one Toyota holds until 2024 - underscore its determination to keep backing the technology. That’s despite an increasing number of electric cars on the road and Toyota’s own efforts to speed up EV development.
But its reliance on buses for hydrogen publicity also highlights the lack of traction for its fuel cell cars, and the risk that hydrogen-powered transport may never be more than a niche market despite a quarter century of development and Japanese government backing.
Toyota has sold fewer than 10,000 of the Mirai, a fuel cell sedan it touted as a game changer at its launch five years ago. Costing consumers about 5 million yen ($46,200) in Japan after subsidies, it is one of three fuel cell cars available to consumers. Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS) sells the Nexo, while Honda Motor Co Ltd (7267.T) leases out the Clarity.
By contrast, Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) sold 25,000 of its all-electric Model S sedans in its first year and a half.
The disappointing Mirai sales reflect insufficient refueling stations, consumer worries about resale values and concerns over the risk of hydrogen explosions. A hydrogen tank blast in South Korea that killed two in May was followed by another at a Norway hydrogen station in June.
“Hydrogen still has this image of being dangerous - that it might explode - and our aim with the Olympics is to erase this image,” Masaaki Ito, Toyota’s general manager of its Olympic and Paralympic division, told Reuters.
The company will also provide 500 Mirai sedans to ferry officials between venues at the Tokyo Olympics. “We want to expose the technology to as many people as possible.”
GOVT AMBITIONS UNFULFILLED
Toyota, which is also developing fuel cell delivery trucks and big rigs, has not disclosed how much money it has poured into the technology but it has been emboldened by support from the Japanese government, which sees hydrogen as a key way to reduce its reliance on oil.
Both envision a “hydrogen society” where homes, trains, ships, and even lunar rovers can be powered by fuel cells that turn the invisible, odorless gas into electricity.
The city of Tokyo, which will showcase the Olympic village for athletes as a hydrogen society in miniature, is buying most of the buses for its Toei municipal transport service, with 15 already in operation.
Unlike cars, buses have fixed routes, making it easier to plan fuelling stations and give them a shot at being profitable.
Local and national government subsidies cover 80% of the cost, bringing them in line with the 23 million yen ($213,000) price tag for a regular diesel bus, a Toei representative said.
But lofty government goals remain unmet. Three years ago, Japan declared that by 2020 it wanted 40,000 fuel cell vehicles on the road and 160 hydrogen fuelling stations in operation.
Today, just 3,400 fuel cell vehicles have been sold in Japan and it has 109 hydrogen stations.
Though vital for fuel cell cars to catch on, the stations are not easy to build, costing five times as much as a gasoline stand. Due to stringent safety regulations, they also require large plots of land which are in scarce supply.
RELYING ON CHINA
Yet for all the slow progress, some analysts don’t fault Toyota’s pursuit of hydrogen power, pointing to China’s backing of the technology and its vast auto market.
“China is actually moving ahead a lot faster and although they suffer the same issue with lack of refueling infrastructure, China has shown in the past that they can get infrastructure done pretty quickly,” said Janet Lewis, head of Asian auto research at Macquarie.
For the Beijing games, Toyota will supply powertrain components for the Foton buses. They will be emblazoned with “Powered by Toyota” branding during the event, the sources said, declining to be identified as the plans have not been made public.
Toyota said the number of fuel cell buses for the Beijing Olympics has not been decided and that branding would be up to Foton. Foton did not respond to requests for comment.
Toyota has similar deals with Higer Bus Co and China FAW Group Corp.
The project with Higer will likely have a fleet of 20 buses ready for deployment in early 2020 whereas FAW plans to have its first prototype ready by the end of the year, said Audrey Ma, a director at Shanghai ReFire Technology Co, which is doing the system integration.
Outside of China, the only other similar deal Toyota has announced is one to supply fuel cell systems to Portugal’s Caetanobus.
Although the technology remains unprofitable, Toyota says costs will fall with scale. It is building new fuel cell stack and hydrogen tank factories so it can lift production of fuel cell vehicles to 30,000 a year.
($1 = 108.1600 yen)
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-hydrogen-toyota-olympics-fous/toyota-banks-on-olympic-halo-for-the-humble-bus-to-keep-hydrogen-dream-alive-idUSKBN1W22VK
WA opens $10m hydrogen fund to boost renewable gas production and exports
18 September 2019
The Western Australian government has opened its $10 million Renewable Hydrogen Fund to applications, as the state seeks to seize the opportunity to expand its resources heavy economy into the export of clean fuels.
Under the fund, the WA government will provide grants of between $300,000 and up to $3 million for projects to undertake feasibility studies, demonstration projects or for new capital works projects. Up to $7 million of the funds will be reserved for projects located in regional Western Australia.
An additional $1 million of the funds will be set aside for use by the Western Australian Government’s own Renewable Hydrogen Unit, which has been tasked with examining the administration and regulatory reforms that may be required to support the growth of a renewable hydrogen industry in the state.
The fund has identified four priority areas, which include the production of renewable hydrogen for export, the use of hydrogen in regional areas (particularly in mining operations), the blending of hydrogen in mains gas supplies and the use of hydrogen as a transport fuel.
“Renewable hydrogen could be the next big job-creating industry for Western Australia, utilising our world-leading renewable energy resources to produce, use and provide energy to our international partners,” WA regional development minister Alannah MacTiernan said.
“This fund will help to attract major private sector investment to WA to drive forward the emerging renewable hydrogen industry.”
“The fund will favour those projects that create new jobs, skills and training opportunities – particularly in regional WA.”
“Priority will be given to applications that fall within WA’s four strategic focus areas for investment and demonstrate progress towards meeting the goals identified in the Strategy: export, use of renewable hydrogen in remote applications, blending in the gas network and use in transport,” MacTiernan added.
The fund has been developed as part of the Western Australian government’s hydrogen strategy, that was unveiled in July. The strategy seeks to expand the use of hydrogen as a clean source of storable energy that can be used for homes, businesses and transport.
The WA Government has previously partnered with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to support the development of ATCO’s $3.3 million clean energy innovation hub, that will serve as an example of how hydrogen production and storage can be paired with other clean energy technologies, like rooftop solar, to provide a reliable and zero-emissions supply of energy to households and businesses.
ARENA has continued to see the production of green hydrogen as a core priority for further support through grant funding, including green hydrogen research, development and demonstration in the latest update to its investment plan.
“We need to launch a hydrogen industry to create opportunities across the domestic economy and to help position Australia to become a major renewable energy superpower through exporting hydrogen,” ARENA CEO Darren Miller said at the time.
The vast potential for Australia to emerge as a leader in a global market for renewable hydrogen was highlighted by a briefing from researchers at the CSIRO, the ANU and Monash University, that described Australia’s potential to dominate a future hydrogen export market potentially worth tens of billions of dollars.
Australia, particularly sun-rich portions of western Australia, is well placed to emerge as a leading supplier of clean energy exports into a growing Asian market for energy, leveraging Australia’s proximity to the region and an ability to access to some of the world’s best renewable energy resources.
https://reneweconomy.com.au/wa-opens-10m-hydrogen-fund-to-boost-renewable-gas-production-and-exports-63479/
EU targets are not enough to harness the potential of biomethane and hydrogen
17 September 2019
Europe has great decarbonisation potential with renewable gases and hydrogen. But unless strong regulatory measures are put in place, these won’t have sufficient access to the market, thereby putting the EU’s decarbonisation objectives at risk.
That’s according to experts from the Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE) in a newly published report which explores the economic outlook for renewable gases and hydrogen.
Looking at the market potential of biomethane and hydrogen in the EU, the study highlights that the current production cost for both ranges from two to five times the current price of natural gas in the wholesale market.
“Despite massive production potential in Europe, it is very unlikely that renewable gases and hydrogen will properly work their way through the market unless adequate support is put in place,” explain the authors of the study.
“If European policy makers want to make the best use of the decarbonisation potential brought by hydrogen and renewable gases, they must think beyond EU targets and introduce cost-effective support schemes, increase their access to the grid, reinforce the transparency and interoperability of Guarantees of Origin and measure the impact of these policies over time.”
The study highlighted four key objectives that Europe needs to work on in order to persue the potential of biomethane and hydrogen:
1. Set EU targets for biomethane by 2030 and 2050 and review them by 2028
2. Guarantee the traceability of renewable gases via a certification system
3. Facilitate access to the gas infrastructure for renewable gases producers
4. Introduce support schemes to level the playing-field
“The study shows the there is much more to be done than just setting targets for renewable gases and hydrogen. It is also about how we will redefine the potential integration and coupling between gas, electricity and other sectors in Europe in the next decades,” said Máximo Miccinilli, CERRE’s Director for Energy.
https://www.gasworld.com/eu-biomethane-and-hydrogen-targets-are-not-enough/2017803.article
How Toyota's Olympic buses are fuelling its hydrogen dream
Sales of electric cars have undermined fuel cell vehicles, although Japan's government has promoted hydrogen use.
5 hours ago
Buses may not be the most glamorous mode of transport but at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, they will represent Toyota Motor Corp's best bet for wider acceptance of hydrogen power - a technology so far eclipsed by electric vehicles.
Japan's biggest carmaker plans to roll out 100 hydrogen fuel cell buses to shuttle visitors between venues, a stepping stone to a big ramp-up for the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022.
There, more than 1,000 buses are planned in partnership with Beiqi Foton Motor Co, according to people familiar with the project, which aims to make the most of a push by China to start adopting the zero-emissions technology.
The plans to promote hydrogen with its exclusive Olympic "mobility" sponsorship deal - one Toyota holds until 2024 - underscore its determination to keep backing the technology. That is despite an increasing number of electric cars on the road and Toyota's own efforts to speed up EV development.
But its reliance on buses for hydrogen publicity also highlights the lack of traction for its fuel cell cars, and the risk that hydrogen-powered transport may never be more than a niche market despite a quarter-century of development and Japanese government backing.
Toyota has sold fewer than 10,000 of the Mirai, a fuel cell sedan it touted as a game-changer at its launch five years ago. Costing consumers about five million yen ($46,200) in Japan after subsidies, it is one of three fuel cell cars available to consumers. Hyundai Motor Co sells the Nexo, while Honda Motor Co Ltd leases out the Clarity.
By contrast, Tesla Inc sold 25,000 of its all-electric Model S sedans in its first year and a half.
The disappointing Mirai sales reflect insufficient refuelling stations, consumer worries about resale values and concerns over the risk of hydrogen explosions. A hydrogen tank blast in South Korea that killed two in May was followed by another at a Norway hydrogen station in June.
"Hydrogen still has this image of being dangerous - that it might explode - and our aim with the Olympics is to erase this image," Masaaki Ito, Toyota's general manager of its olympic and paralympic division, told Reuters.
The company will also provide 500 Mirai sedans to ferry officials between venues at the Tokyo Olympics. "We want to expose the technology to as many people as possible."
Unfulfilled ambitions
Toyota, which is also developing fuel cell delivery trucks and big rigs, has not disclosed how much money it has poured into the technology but it has been emboldened by support from the Japanese government, which sees hydrogen as a key way to reduce its reliance on oil.
Both envision a "hydrogen society" where homes, trains, ships, and even lunar rovers can be powered by fuel cells that turn the invisible, odourless gas into electricity.
The city of Tokyo, which will showcase the Olympic village for athletes as a hydrogen society in miniature, is buying most of the buses for its Toei municipal transport service, with 15 already in operation.
Unlike cars, buses have fixed routes, making it easier to plan fuelling stations and give them a shot at being profitable.
Local and national government subsidies cover 80 percent of the cost, bringing them in line with the 23 million yen ($213,000) price tag for a regular diesel bus, a Toei representative said.
But lofty government goals remain unmet. Three years ago, Japan declared that by 2020 it wanted 40,000 fuel cell vehicles on the road and 160 hydrogen fuelling stations in operation.
Today, just 3,400 fuel cell vehicles have been sold in Japan and it has 109 hydrogen stations.
Though vital for fuel cell cars to catch on, the stations are not easy to build, costing five times as much as a gasoline stand. Due to stringent safety regulations, they also require large plots of land which are in scarce supply.
Relying on China
Yet for all the slow progress, some analysts do not fault Toyota's pursuit of hydrogen power, pointing to China's backing of the technology and its vast car market.
"China is actually moving ahead a lot faster and although they suffer the same issue with lack of refuelling infrastructure, China has shown in the past that they can get infrastructure done pretty quickly," said Janet Lewis, head of Asian car research at Macquarie.
For the Beijing Games, Toyota will supply powertrain components for the Foton buses. They will be emblazoned with "Powered by Toyota" branding during the event, the sources said, declining to be identified as the plans have not been made public.
Toyota said the number of fuel cell buses for the Beijing Olympics has not been decided and that branding would be up to Foton. Foton did not respond to requests for comment.
Toyota has similar deals with Higer Bus Co and China FAW Group Corp.
The project with Higer will likely have a fleet of 20 buses ready for deployment in early 2020 whereas FAW plans to have its first prototype ready by the end of the year, said Audrey Ma, a director at Shanghai ReFire Technology Co, which is doing the system integration.
Outside of China, the only other similar deal Toyota has announced is one to supply fuel cell systems to Portugal's Caetanobus.
Although the technology remains unprofitable, Toyota says costs will fall with scale. It is building new fuel cell stack and hydrogen tank factories so it can lift production of fuel cell vehicles to 30,000 a year.
https://www.aljazeera.com/ajimpact/toyota-olympic-buses-fueling-hydrogen-dream-190918015942143.html
Explainer: Why Asia's biggest economies are backing hydrogen fuel cell cars
5 MIN READ
TOKYO (Reuters) - China, Japan and South Korea have set ambitious targets to put millions of hydrogen-powered vehicles on their roads by the end of the next decade at a cost of billions of dollars.
But to date, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) have been upstaged by electric vehicles, which are increasingly becoming a mainstream option due to the success of Tesla Inc’s (TSLA.O) luxury cars as well as sales and production quotas set by China.
Critics argue FCVs may never amount to more than a niche technology. But proponents counter hydrogen is the cleanest energy source for autos available and that with time and more refueling infrastructure, it will gain acceptance.
AMBITIOUS TARGETS
China, far and away the world’s biggest auto market with some 28 million vehicles sold annually, is aiming for more than 1 million FCVs in service by 2030. That compares with just 1,500 or so now, most of which are buses.
Japan, a market of more than 5 million vehicles annually, wants to have 800,000 FCVs sold by that time from around 3,400 currently.
South Korea, which has a car market just one third the size of Japan, has set a target of 850,000 vehicles on the road by 2030. But as of end-2018, fewer than 900 have been sold.
WHY HYDROGEN?
Hydrogen’s proponents point to how clean it is as an energy source as water and heat are the only byproducts and how it can be made from a number of sources, including methane, coal, water, even garbage. Resource-poor Japan sees hydrogen as a way to greater energy security.
They also argue that driving ranges and refueling times for FCVs are comparable to gasoline cars, whereas EVs require hours to recharge and provide only a few hundred kilometers of range.
Many backers in China and Japan see FCVs as complementing EVs rather than replacing them. In general, hydrogen is seen as the more efficient choice for heavier vehicles that drive longer distances, hence the current emphasis on city buses.
THE MAIN PLAYERS
Only a handful of automakers have made fuel cell passenger cars commercially available.
Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) launched the Mirai sedan at the end of 2014, but has sold fewer than 10,000 globally. Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS) has offered the Nexo crossover since March last year and has sold just under 2,900 worldwide. It had sales of around 900 for its previous FCV model, the Tucson.
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Honda Motor Co Ltd’s (7267.T) Clarity Fuel Cell is available for lease, while Daimler AG’s GLC F-CELL has been delivered to a handful of corporate and public sector clients.
Buses are seeing more demand. Both Toyota and Hyundai have offerings and have begun selling fuel cell components to bus makers, particularly in China.
Several Chinese manufacturers have developed their own buses, notably state-owned SAIC Motor (600104.SS), the nation’s biggest automaker, and Geely Auto Group [GEELY.UL], which also owns the Volvo Cars and Lotus brands.
WHY HAVEN’T FUEL CELL CARS CAUGHT ON YET?
A lack of refueling stations, which are costly to build, is usually cited as the biggest obstacle to widespread adoption of FCVs. At the same time, the main reason cited for the lack of refueling infrastructure is that there are not enough FCVs to make them profitable.
Consumer worries about the risk of explosions are also a big hurdle and residents in Japan and South Korea have protested against the construction of hydrogen stations. This year, a hydrogen tank explosion in South Korea killed two people, which was followed by a blast at a Norway hydrogen station.
Then there’s the cost. Heavy subsidies are needed to bring prices down to levels of gasoline-powered cars. Toyota’s Mirai costs consumers just over 5 million yen ($46,200) after subsidies of 2.25 million yen. That’s still about 50% more than a Camry.
Automakers contend that once sales volumes increase, economies of scale will make subsidies unnecessary.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-autos-hydrogen-explainer/explainer-why-asias-biggest-economies-are-backing-hydrogen-fuel-cell-cars-idUSKBN1W22VQ
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