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Formic acid provides more efficient and safer storage of hydrogen. It is an ideal way to store energy from renewable sources or to power 21st century cars.

This would be a significant achievement, as it would lead to safe transport, handling and delivery of hydrogen to a commuter fleet powered by fuel cells.

The adoption of this system would then allow the hydrogen fuel cell car to compete with the battery commuter car. At present, batteries are seen as being more practical and economic than fuel cells. This collaboration could help industry overcome the 'hydrogen infrastructure barrier'."

http://actu.epfl.ch/news/formic-acid-in-the-engine/

Once converted to formic acid, hydrogen can be stored easily and safely. This is an ideal solution for storing energy from renewable sources like solar or wind power, or to power the cars of tomorrow.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mantra-to-collaborate-with-ecole-polytechnique-federale-de-lausannes-laboratory-of-organometallic-and-medicinal-chemistry-and-granit-green-networks-ltd-on-co2-recycling-project-78778792.html

In November 2010, EPFL laboratories produced the opposite reaction. Through a catalytic process, the formic acid reverts to CO2 and hydrogen, which can then be converted into electricity. A compact working prototype producing 2 kilowatts of power has been developed, and two companies have purchased a license to develop this technology: Granit (Switzerland) and Tekion (Canada).

Tekion’s world class group of scientists and technologists in our Advanced Materials department has and is doing some amazing things. It is where science meets engineering and the result may be too small to see but very large in its impact. We believe the commercialization of all of our technologies will be dependent on our ability to utilize this cutting edge knowledge and processes from the nanomaterials field.

Tekion Solutions, Inc. is pursuing “direct liquid fueled fuel cell” fuel cell technologies. These liquid fuels allow us to develop products that range in sizes from milliwatts to kilowatts.

Our first commercially available fuel cell technology will be our direct formic acid fuel cell using Formira as it’s fuel. Formira is our brand name for a specialized formic acid.

Storing Renewable Energy

“Imagine for example that you have solar panels on your roof,” says Gabor Laurenczy, professor at the Laboratory of Organometallic and Medicinal Chemistry and Head of the Group of Catalysis for Energy and Environment. “In bad weather or at night, your formic acid battery will release the excess energy stored while the sun was shining.” In such a configuration, the method can restitute more than 60% of the original electrical energy.
This solution is extremely safe. The formic acid continuously releases very small amounts of hydrogen, “just what you need at the time for your energy consumption,” says the researcher.

Another advantage over conventional storage is that the method can store almost twice as much energy at equal volume. One liter of formic acid contains more than 53 grams of hydrogen, compared to just 28 grams for the same volume of pure hydrogen pressurized to 350 bars.

Finally, the researchers have developed a catalytic process using iron, which is readily available and inexpensive compared to “noble” metals such as platinum or ruthenium. As with all catalysts, no material is degraded during the process.

Formic acid at the pump
http://actu.epfl.ch/news/formic-acid-in-the-engine/

It is probably in the automotive field that the invention has the greatest potential. Currently, the prototypes produced by certain carmakers store hydrogen in conventional form, which entails problems such as risk of explosion, large volume pressurized tanks, difficulties in filling the tank quickly, etc.

The vehicles of the 21st century may run on formic acid. This solution allows for safer, more compact hydrogen storage as well as easier filling at the pump – formic acid is liquid at room temperature. “Technically, it is quite feasible. In fact, a number of major automobile manufacturers contacted us in 2008, when oil prices reached record highs,” says Gabor Laurenczy. “In my opinion, the only obstacle is cost.” It will be several years before drivers can pull up to any anthill and fill their tanks


https://sesec.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/sesec9-laurenczy2.pdf

SEATTLE, WA, Dec. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Mantra Venture Group Ltd. ('Mantra', OTCBB: MVTG, FSE: 5MV) is pleased to announce that it has signed a Collaboration Agreement with Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne's (EPFL) Laboratory of Organometallic and Medicinal Chemistry (LCOM) and Granit Green Networks Ltd. (GGN) of Switzerland to engage in a collaborative project to convert CO2 into hydrogen fuel - using formic acid as the carrier.

The purpose of the collaboration is to combine Mantra's Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide (ERC) technology with a technology developed by Dr. Gabor Laurenczy et al. of EPFL that generates hydrogen from formic acid on demand and at high pressure. If successful, the parties will look to develop and commercialize an energy/hydrogen storage and hydrogen/energy supply system based on the sustainable production of formic acid as a liquid hydrogen carrier. The formic acid, where produced by clean energy, will have a negative carbon balance.

John Russell, Vice President of Technology Evaluation at Mantra, said: "The EPFL/GGN patented technology is unique in that it produces hydrogen at pressure from formic acid. By pairing this technology with Mantra's ERC technology, we can convert CO(2) into a liquid hydrogen carrier via formic acid - an organic acid that can be safely transported and stored - and deliver hydrogen at pressure as required at the refuelling site. This would be a significant achievement, as it would lead to safe transport, handling and delivery of hydrogen to a commuter fleet powered by fuel cells.

Granit Green Networks Ltd. (GGN) has been active in sustainable development since 1971 and has successfully developed technologies in several industry sectors, including: renewable energies, renewable materials, water treatment and waste management. Over the years, GGN has initiated a number of structures and associations dedicated to the demonstration, training and transfer of environmental technologies and methodologies, including:

- SESEC - Sustainable Environmental Solutions for Emerging Countries
(www.sesec.org)
- IFGRA - International Federation of Green Regions (www.ifgra.org)
- The "Green Center" in the North of Canton of Vaud and the related
network of Green Centers, etc. ( www.tecorbe.com)
GGN currently holds the exclusive license for all applications above 500 W of EPFL's concept to generate hydrogen in situ from formic acid.

The adoption of this system would then allow the hydrogen fuel cell car to compete with the battery commuter car. At present, batteries are seen as being more practical and economic than fuel cells. This collaboration could help industry overcome the 'hydrogen infrastructure barrier'."