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Sir David King, Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government and Head of the Office of Science and Innovation visited the Woking Leisure Centre combined heat & power fuel cell installation. Leading fuel cell developers presented their technology to Sir David King and key personnel from the European stationary power industry.
This free event was designed to demonstrate to the UK Government and the stationary power industry the current commercial status of stationary fuel cells, and how they can contribute towards a low carbon economy. The Woking Leisure Centre houses the UK’s first stationary cell combined heat & power fuel cell installation (200KW UTC PureCell) which has been operational for almost 5 years now.
The event was a fantastic success, where Sir David gave his endorsement to fuel cells, and their contribution to the energy mix of the future. The presentations from the day can be downloaded HERE
Presentations were given by:
- Cllr John Kingsbury: The Mayor of Woking
- Toddington Harper: CEO Fuel Cell Markets Ltd
- Sir David King KB ScD FRS: The UK Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor and Head of the Office of Science and Technology
- Jan Van Dokkum: President UTC Power
- Ray Morgan: Chief Executive Woking Borough Council
- Brendan Bilton: CEO Europe Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd
- Patrick Trezona: Secretary General Fuel Cell Europe
- Bas Dorsman: Sales Manager Europe, Africa & Middle-East Plug Power
- Dirk Uhlemann: VP Sales & Marketing P21
The event was attended by over 140 people including:
- Energy Managers
- Building Consultants
- UPS/Data Centre Managers
- Housing Developers/Associations
- Stationary Power Magazines and Publications
- Utilities
- The Carbon Trust
- Energy Savings Trust
- Supermarkets
- Stationary Power Installers, Services and Operators
- Defra
- DTI
- BRE
Jean Aldous wrote a report on the event which can be viewed below
 FUEL CELLS ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY SECURITY
Visitors to Woking Borough Council were given a report on progress with the first operational fuel cell generating electricity and heat in the UK. Woking provides a pattern for the local, efficient generation of energy and shows how to reduce global warming gases
Cllr John Kingsbury, the Mayor of Woking and Ray Morgan, CEO of Woking Borough Council, welcomed visitors to a meeting to discuss the role of fuel cells in addressing climate change and energy security. The meeting, organized by Fuel Cell Markets, was held on the site of the UK’s first operational fuel cell at Woking Leisure Centre. Cllr Kingsbury said that their fuel cell had been operating successfully since 2002 and Woking believed that this technology could help to combat climate change and contribute to energy security. Ray Morgan added that Woking was taking the lead with new energy technologies and had received the Queen’s Energy Award.
FUEL CELLS SECURE THE FUTURE
 Todd opened the proceedings with an outline of the benefits of fuel cells. The use of fuel cells would help to counter the growing risks of energy shortages and rising prices. The electricity grids in both the UK and USA are very wasteful and the efficiency of back-up power is even worse.
Fuel cells produce energy close to where it is used, thereby conserving energy. They can also be powered from low carbon resources. When oil supplies peak and start to decline, it will change from a buyers’ to a sellers’ market and this could start to happen any time now. There is a growing gap – we are producing and using more oil while reserves are diminishing.
The ‘fuel cell box’ has many advantages. It is silent and efficient and can be powered by a great variety of fuels. It can be used in peoples’ homes, it is efficient at part loads, there are no damaging emissions and there are few moving parts. Fuel cells can already offer life cycle cost savings and will become cheaper as we start to manufacture in larger quantities.
ABATING GREENHOUSE GASES
Sir David King, Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government, explained the need for a new agenda for an expanding global population which we will leave with less resources than we use for ourselves. We need a global response to the problems of the 21st century, which are putting new demands on science and technology. The solutions must be based upon the well-being of all, not just economic growth.
Since the nineteenth century scientists have known about the impact of greenhouse gases, and recent increases in global temperature have proven to be in line with earlier predictions. If we were to carry on as we are and burn up all the oil, gas and coal, we would return to conditions not experienced since the Eocene and the Pliocene, when there was no ice on the planet, sea levels were 150 metres higher and Antarctica would have been the only place suitable for human life.
For at least the last 400,000 years and probably for at least three million years, during the changes between the ice ages and inter glacial periods, the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere fluctuated between 180 to 270 parts per million (ppm). We are now way outside the natural variation with 385 ppm and we shall be at 400 ppm within ten years. The Government’s aim is to restrict concentrations to 450 to 550 ppm, keeping as close to the lower figure as possible.
 No solution will suffice on its own but the Government is using the concept of ‘wedges’, each of which will contribute to carbon dioxide reductions. The ‘wedges’ are: renewables, energy efficiency, nuclear power, carbon capture and storage, transport technologies, decentralised electricity generation and CHP. Other new technologies will be encouraged in the longer term. A study published in The McKinsey Quarterly indicated that up to 7 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtC02e) could be abated every year at zero or negative cost. It would also be possible to abate all greenhouse gases at a cost of below or around 40 euro/tC02e. The cost of not doing this would be massive.
The Government plans to reduce global warming gases, but we also need to adapt, to manage the risks facing cities, regions and countries. The Foresight programme is encouraging the development of sustainable energy and adaptation to the changing environment. The Government has to introduce the right measures so that we can benefit from all types of fuel cells, which need to have much more publicity. The Energy Technologies Institute is a public-private partnership between the UK Government and industry which will invest £1bn in energy research, design, demonstration and development over ten years.
 ZERO EMISSION BUILDINGS
Jan Van Dokkum, President of UTC Power, which supplied the Woking fuel cell in 2002, said that their 200 kW Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC) at Woking has been operating successfully for 66,000 hours so far. The PureCell™ has electrical efficiency of 40% and in CHP applications up to 85%. More than 260 systems are operational around the world in a broad range of applications. The power is generated on site so the heat can be utilised.
The PureCell can be used in conjunction with the grid or independently, with efficiency in CHP mode two or up to three times greater than the grid. Operation is quiet, with low vibration and emissions, so it is suitable for public buildings. The PureCell can be powered by renewable energy from waste, or alternatively, hydrogen storage would facilitate the use of intermittent supplies of solar and wind energy. Average availability is over 95%, which is important in the USA, where they have frequent outages. The next generation PureCell will be available in 2009 with twice the power, that is 400kW, in a system which will be much the same size as the old fuel cell.
UTC Power is planning to cope with growing carbon dioxide emissions from buildings and transport. Urbanisation leads to the greater need for energy, for heating and cooling, and for lifts and escalators in large buildings. The aim of UTC Power is to enable buildings to have zero net energy.
For transport purposes, UTC is very close to commercialisation of their fuel cell buses, which are nearly breaking even with diesel buses. The buses meet California’s stringent CARB 2007 emissions standard.
 SUCCESSFUL FUEL CELL OPERATION
Ray Morgan, Chief Executive of Woking Borough Council said that the Council has to date achieved an 82% reduction in its carbon dioxide emissions with £750,000 fuel savings. They do not believe that the Government’s aim for a 60% reduction by 2050 is enough. They have found that their fuel cell works well in a combined installation and is a good source of base load power, although it is vulnerable to gas price variability. Their surplus electricity is exported via the grid under an agreement they have made with EdF. They are looking forward to getting the next generation PureCell with double the capacity and plan to use biogas from waste. Woking is up-rating their commercial, industrial and residential building stock. They think that the UK seems to have forgotten its skills base, so they are treating it as a priority to build up their own expertise to service and maintain new energy systems.
6 MILLION ANNUAL MARKET IN EUROPE
“Every year 6 million new boilers are purchased in Europe and governments have given a clear mandate for cleaner and more secure power” said Brendan Bilton of Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd. CFCL predicts that regulations will ensure that other forms of energy are utilised in the future. It is not enough to be green, but their system must be economically better than a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT).
CFCL’s solid oxide fuel cells have electrical efficiency of 60-64% and produce a small amount of heat, just sufficient to replace the heat loss from domestic hot water. This provides a flexible system with high electrical efficiency which can be easily integrated into micro generation appliances. The main heat source is a standard gas boiler. They have optimised the size of their fuel cell and are continuing to reduce the size of the complete system. 21st century advances with materials are enabling them to further enhance their technology. They are using the existing natural gas fuel infrastructure now but plan for renewables in the future.
Field trials are progressing well and drive ongoing improvements. In Germany they are working with EWE, which is the main gas supplier for residential buildings. Their fuel cell manufacturing plant will be in Germany and they will also have a powder plant in Merseyside, UK. In France, they are working with Gaz de France, as EdF is more concerned with large scale nuclear generation. This year alpha units are being produced, with beta next year, leading to final products in 2009 and commercialisation in 2010.
WILL WE MANUFACTURE OUR OWN FUEL CELLS?
Patrick Trezona of Fuel Cell Europe outlined the advantages of fuel cells which provide the most efficient way of using renewable energy from manure, solar power or plants and can be sited wherever they are required. Fuel cells are ready for market demonstration and widespread deployment will help to build up capacity. They are suitable for a variety of applications: fuel cell/battery hybrids for transport: portable power: grid back-up: independent power supply: industrial and commercial decentralised co-generation (CHP) and residential co-generation – micro CHP. In Europe there are several regional projects with hydrogen and fuel cells. The HyChain project with mini trams and hydrogen buses in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Hamburg and London. The Joint Technology Initiatives (JTI) will deploy larger volumes of hydrogen fuel cells. In London the Climate Change Action Plan will encourage the implementation of fuel cells. We need a public commitment to help industry to invest in manufacturing here. The question is - will fuel cells come from you or to you?
WORLD MARKETS FOR FUEL CELLS
Bas Dorsman said that Plug Power is a leading provider of clean, on-site energy, with over 500 of their hydrogen fuel cells in operation all over the world.
The GenCore® fuel cell gives extended back up power for uninterrupted power supply. The advantages are reliability and less maintenance requirements for telecommunications and remote electric utilities. They are suitable for use in all climates, from the arctic to tropical and desert areas.
Plug Power’s next generation fuel cell, the GenSys®, a grid-independent prime power fuel cell system, will be available in 2008. For automotive applications, they have developed with Honda a fuel cell vehicle and home energy station. This is already technically proven but not yet economic.
MARKET GROWTH IS PROMISING
Dirk Uhlemann of VP Sales & Marketing P21 said that they are the foremost European fuel cell manufacturer and early market growth is promising. Their Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells provide back-up for global mobile networks. Both cost and energy are huge issues for telecommunications and network energy consumption is projected to increase by over 60% in the next five years. Costs will increase due to scarcity of non-renewable energy sources, increased consumption and instability in oil regions. Energy is wasted stopping and starting diesel engines and there are vast quantities of lead-acid batteries which could be replaced by fuel cells. There are 180,000 stations around the world where hydrogen fuel cells could operate separately from the grid and facilitate the introduction of renewable energy from intermittent sources. www.fuelcellmarkets.com.
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