The Fuel Cell And Hydrogen Network Nordrhein-Westfalen

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1 The Fuel Cell And Hydrogen Network Nordrhein-Westfalen Dr. Andreas Ziolek Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Network Nordhrein-Westfalen c/o Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy Nordrhein-Westfalen Haroldstrasse 4, D Duesseldorf, Germany ABSTRACT: Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW) is considered to be the most important federal State of Germany in respect to its economic impact (approx. 25 % of the German GDP), its population of approx. 18 million peoples and its technology procurement. NRW is the so called energy state in Germany due to the usage and production of energy as well as the development of advanced and new energy technologies. Because of the close link to energy technologies, fuel cells and hydrogen are an important technology option for the industry in NRW. Therefore in April 2000, the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Network NRW has been founded by the NRW state government. Today, more than 300 members from companies and research institutes, thus forming the largest regional network in Europe. The network offers a variety of services. Approx. 60 fuel cell and hydrogen technology projects have been supported with more than 60 million funding from the State s government. The network has become a well-known partner worldwide and is involved in various international institutions, like the IPHE and the European HFP platform. KEYWORDS : fuel cells, hydrogen, regional initiatives, early market development Overview The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Network NRW (KNBW NRW) was founded in April 2000 as a constituent part of the State Initiative on Future Energies NRW. This initiative deals with all types of new energy technologies, from photovoltaic and wind power to geothermal energy and water power. The fuel cell and hydrogen network is supported by two NRW Ministries, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy and the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology. The network acts in a close link and in behalf of both ministries between industrial and research-oriented topics. The objectives the network are: 1. Position Nordrhein-Westfalen as an internationally recognized location for the fuel cell and hydrogen technology 2. Support the development of the fuel cell and of adapted system components accompanied by a targeted basic research 3. Introducing the fuel cell into early markets as bridges for the mass market 4. Support the establishment of a ready-to-market and sustainable hydrogen energy economy 1/8

2 Today, the KNBW NRW is an well organized platform for more than 300 members dealing with fuel cell or hydrogen technologies. Figure 1 gives an overview about the current structure of membership. Figure 1: Membership of the fuel cell and hydrogen network NRW 70 % of the KNBW NRW members are industrial companies, 20 % are research institutes, 10 % consisting of public institutions and some private persons. Due to this, the KNBW NRW is an network driven by industrial interests. Furthermore, approx. two thirds of the industrial members are small or medium-sized companies. This is an important issue to be considered for the NRW commercialisation strategy. Of course, there are not more than 200 companies manufacturing fuel cells in NRW. Most of them are suppliers of several components necessary for the balance of plant of fuel cell systems. The most important activities in this context are the development of fans and pumps, inverters, valves and fittings. This is not surprising as most of them are small and medium sized enterprises (SME) and traditionally located e.g. in the machinery sector having a profound expertise in a special field (cp. Figure 2). Figure 2: Survey of the NRW industrial capabilities (Status 04/2006) The second largest group is formed by engineering bureaus and technical service companies followed by the group of fuel cell systems developers. The number of companies dealing with fuel cell applications has 2/8

3 increased during the last two years significantly, supported by the network team. This is also valid for the group of those companies dealing with stack components. Furthermore, the deep and comprehensive knowledge of the hydrogen industry in NRW should be mentioned, too. Due to the fact, that NRW has a long tradition to produce hydrogen within chemical processes as well as cookery plants and steel industry but also by industrial steam reformer sites, to distribute hydrogen by all kind of logistic options incl. a 130 km high pressure pipeline system and to use hydrogen in several applications, hydrogen is home in NRW. NRW has also got good and long lasting expertise in the field of science and research. The approx. 60 institutes at universities and research centres in NRW deal with all topics concerning the development of fuel cell technology: From basic research in the field of material development via system analysis up to applied research like the development of gas processing units, fuel cell stacks and fuel cell systems (cp. Figure 3). Figure 3: R&D capabilities in NRW (Status 04/2006) The KNBW NRW the catalyst of the fuel cell and hydrogen industry in NRW The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Network offers a number of services to its members, like Information and communication (I & C) Initiation of co-operation and single projects Settlement of relevant expertise Public relations and Qualification The initiation of projects is the most important service. In this case it is the network s job to encourage the development of fuel cell and hydrogen technology. By doing so, the KNBW NRW in behalf of the NRW state government intends to take care of the enormous economical perspectives in the field of fuel cell and hydrogen technology for NRW. The settlement of relevant expertise is an important target to close possible gaps in the value added chain from the production of hydrogen up to its usage in fuel cell systems. 3/8

4 In this case, the network works close together with regional business promotion agencies. We give initial advice on the funding possibilities and act as information brokers between partners from NRW and from abroad. Strategy and Approach NRW is clearly committed to support the further development of fuel cell technology and the introduction of hydrogen as a new energy carrier. This commitment is based on the conviction of the economical and ecological impact of fuel cells for the future energy supply. The economical benefit for NRW s economy has already been mentioned. In awareness of the advantages and disadvantages in NRW, the KNBW NRW has worked out and agreed with both, the NRW government and its members a strategy to align and organize the further technology development as well as the market introduction of early market applications following a two-step-concept step by step to the market (cp. Figure 3) Figure 3: NRW approach to support the further development of fuel cell and hydrogen The main obstacles of current fuel cell technology for the mass market applications are well known and common knowledge. To reduce costs and to increase lifetime of fuel cells systems of course further research is needed. But also experience from all-day-operation and operation under real-life-conditions are expected to support the investigation of much more simplified systems and adequate balance of plant components. Furthermore, the KNBW NRW expects several synergies between different applications. Therefore, the KNBW NRW staff supports the industry and initiate consequently new development project with the objective to develop and to demonstrate fuel cell applications for early market applications (part A: Early Market Deployment). Early markets for fuel cells are either already high priced, or the fuel cell offers a benefit (e.g. long operation time) that cannot be provided by existing technologies (in general batteries). In both cases, the customer will be willing to pay an extra charge for the fuel cell. In addition the current state of fuel cell development is applicable for such applications to enter these markets. Examples are portable systems or smaller mobile 4/8

5 applications. In parallel, network members are working on the development of components suitable for fuel cell systems, too. It is a fact that most of the failures in fuel cell systems are caused by failures within the balance of plant. Component development forms the playground for the small and medium sized enterprises. The network again acts as a broker between system manufacturers and component manufacturers. It also supports the component manufacturers in the marketing of their products for example by joint presentations on trade fairs as mentioned before. In addition, the further basic research (part B: R&D Program) is related to the investigation of new materials, electrochemistry as well as fundamental understanding of local aspects of fuel cell operations. The already existing R&D capabilities in NRW are involved in this activities and will be organized to research networks or clusters. The main focus of these activities is to investigate new methods for analyzing local aspects of fuel cell operations based on in-situ-diagnostic methods. But no fuel cells without hydrogen! Parallel to the development of fuel cells the issue of hydrogen infrastructure is addressed by NRW. According to the strategy that portable systems are those with an early market entry an equivalent infrastructure must be built up. For this purpose suitable hydrogen storage tanks must be developed and refilling stations be installed. In the long-term, a hydrogen production technology based on renewable energies must also be established. Here again the network s task is to bring the relevant players together. In all cases the network informs about the funding possibilities in NRW. But the network does not judge upon the applications for funding. Current results Based on the above described activities, the KNBW NRW is able to present several interesting results based on recent activities and projects of KNBW NRW members. Since April 2000, approx. 60 projects has been realized and developed with strong support of the NRW state government. More than 60 million have been invested by into R&D and demonstration projects in NRW. In addition, 50 million from came from industry. Approx. 50 projects focussed on early market applications. Figure 4: Current Results 5/8

6 Figure 5 provides a brief summary of some fuel cell applications, developed by KNBW members within the last few years. The power range of such applications are less then 10 kw. Figure 5: Early Market Applications made in NRW The variety of fuel cell applications starts from Mobile Office systems Portable power generators up to 2 kw Stand-Alone power supply UPS Technology Back-up power Fuel cell drive trains for bicycles and tricycles Hybrid propulsion technology for buses and small transport vehicles Hybrid propulsion technology for industrial vehicles (like material handling) Several prototypes or pre-commercial demonstrators are available and already in operation. International Collaboration Due to its size and role within the international fuel cell and hydrogen development, NRW has established intensive international cooperation and partnership. It is essential both to contribute and to benefit from international activities like the HFP or IPHE. NRW has set up partnerships related to hydrogen and fuel cells 6/8

7 in Europe (France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, ) in North-America (British Columbia, California,..) and Asia (Korea, Japan, China; ) An excellent example for international collaboration and mutual benefit for all partners involved is the EC funded project HYCHAIN MINITRANS (cp. Figure 6). Figure 6: Summary Slide EC HYCHAIN MINITRANS PROJECT A detailed presentation on the project will be given by Philippe Paulmier at the same conference. This 38 million project will bring approx. 160 fuel cell vehicles to four involved regions in Europe. But much more important, the project addresses the most important issue of homologation and certification of such vehicles in Europe. A two year scheduled development phase, followed by a three-year demonstration are expected to built the bridge to commercialise the vehicles within the next five years. 24 partners involved in the project will benefit in mutual manners from the comprehensive European approach. 7/8

8 Next Steps NRW will continue to support the development and commercialisation of fuel cell and hydrogen technology. In respect to the current state of development, the KNBW NRW will continue to exploitation of early market application to secure the further growth of industry in this subject. In addition we will prepare the precommercialisation of those application, which are ready for pre-commercial costumers and partners. We are supposed to continue to international framework programmes and to support the international standardisation of hydrogen and fuel cell technology. In concrete, we are working together with our partners worldwide to contribute to the IPHE demonstration activities. We will also play an active role within the HFP framework in Europe. And finally, please mark the date May for the 18 th WHEC in NRW! 8/8