Whats ITM and INTEL got in common?
Finally figured out the CHIP reference in the article below …..I think which is detailed in full in Conno`s post 192
i.e.
September 10, 2008
ITM Power Is Testing Home Refuelling Electrolyser Units And Hopes To Begin Shipments To Partners Soon
By Rue Swabey
Extract
“ITM Power is also developing a small electrolyser which it calls “the chip”. This 1-3kW system has the potential to generate hydrogen on-site for industrial processes. Jim Heathcote, ITM Power’s chief executive, points out that the development is customer-led, and underscores the potential to generate cash flow for the company while more complex applications are being developed and commercialised. If ITM Power is able to move into the delivered bottled hydrogen market, which is worth US$2 billion annually, it would provide much comfort to shareholders and take some pressure of the share price. However in the short-term the market will be waiting for the results of the electrolyser tests.”
The interesting comments here are
“Jim Heathcote, ITM Power’s chief executive, points out that the development is customer-led”
And
“However in the short-term the market will be waiting for the results of the electrolyser tests.”
I interpret these comments as follows:
ITM have been approached by some co or cos seeking to revolutionise the low volume on site bottled hydrogen market
The vision is to replace continuous replenishment of bottled hydrogen by a single fixed hydrogen bottle which would be continuously topped up by mains power
This would make the onsite hydrogen generator as ubiquitous as the Computer processor
And just as computers from diverse suppliers come with the tiny label saying “Intel inside” to represent the Intel processor inside the computer
So also will the hydrogen “ bottle” from diverse suppliers come with a tiny label saying “ITM inside” to represent the small ITM 75 bar electrolyser inside the bottle
If this is indeed the correct interpretation it is also saying something else which is very interesting
ie
ITM said in July 2008 that putting an electrolyser inside a hydrogen storage tank was the next logical step for the hydrogen car …This comment was considered rather odd at the time since the hydrogen car needs a 350bar tank and ITM would not admit they were working on a 350 bar electrolyser
However it would be a very convenient public explanation as to why ITM were engaged in redesigning the geometry of their electrolysers to enable them to fit inside a tank
The outside world and the ever increasing visitors to Sheffield wouldn’t need to be told that the static hydrogen market was about to be invaded by an offer to licence ALL suppliers who wanted a tank containing an electrolyser to which they could add their own bop and sell under their own established brand name
……providing of course they had a tiny label somewhere prominent saying
“ITM Inside”
