IPHE Recognized Projects
Projects Selected for IPHE Recognition: 2007 | 2006 | 2005
SELECTED PROJECTS IN 2007
- Diagnostic Tools as Applied to PEM Fuel cells: A Virtual Fuel Cells Diagnostic Laboratory
Canada, Australia, European Commission, Norway, United States, Austria, Belgium, Mexico
This project will develop and use new and improved diagnostic tools that will better analyze PEM Fuel Cell (PEMFC) data thereby enabling the development of more reliable and robust PEMFCs. Five diagnostic techniques will be developed, evaluated and refined. In addition, an online database will be developed for which data on fuel cell materials, testing, measurement and results will be collected.
- Coordination Action for Research on Intermediate and High Temperature Specialized Membrane-Electrode Assemblies
France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
This project group is focusing on PEMFC membranes, catalysts and membrane-electrode assemblies (MEA). They are coordinating materials exchanges for evaluation and testing and coordinating information exchange. Major areas of concentration include the determination of the effect of high temperature on MEA components and failure mechanisms and the mechanisms of proton exchange through the membranes in low-humidity conditions. In addition, they are determining the boundary conditions for fuel cell operation (temperature, pressure, humidity) and coordinating the transfer of information on fuel cells and MEAs.
- Demonstration of SOFC Stack Technology for Operation at 600°C (SOFC600)
European Commission, Canada, China, France, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom, Austria, Belarus, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine
The purpose of this project is to lower the costs associated with solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems by developing components that will allow their operation at 600°C, much lower than normal SOFC operation, which is generally above 800°C. They are concentrating on anodes, cathodes and electrolyte materials, integration of these into cells and developing materials that will seal cell stacks at these lower temperatures. The project will focus on SOFCs for hydrogen-based reformate use as well as on systems using internal natural gas reforming.
- NextGenCell: Next Generation Stationary Fuel Cells
European Commission, United States, Germany, Bulgaria, Finland, Slovenia
The NextGenCell project is addressing the commercialization of domestic-sized distributed power fuel cells. MEAs and other PEM fuel cell components will be developed and integrated into a system that can run at 160-180°C – higher than conventional PEM fuel cells. A 5-kW prototype modular-designed system will be developed and tested. In addition to higher temperature, this system will be lower-cost and more reliable due to simplicity.
- Hydrogen Fuel Cell Bus and Light Duty Vehicle Demonstration at Alameda Contra-Costa Transit
United States, Korea, Belgium
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in fleet vehicles with fueling infrastructure. Three fuel cell buses and ten light duty fuel cell vehicles will be demonstrated in the Oakland, CA area. The buses will be placed in normal passenger duty on routes in Oakland and Berkeley, CA.
- Fuel Cell Testing and Dissemination (FCTEDI)
European Commission, Italy, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Korea, Norway, Netherlands, Romania, Switzerland
In this project, results of fuel cell testing, quality assurance and fuel cell safety will be disseminated to a wide international audience including international and regional standards developing organizations and amongst IPHE members for further dissemination. Also, the FCTEDI group will perform a “meta-gap” analysis in the area of regulations coded and standards for stationary fuel cells. This will span three existing gap analyses, expanding on the limited scope of the earlier three.
- Installation Permitting Guidance for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Stationary Applications (HYPER)
United Kingdom, European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United States, Greece, Netherlands
The HYPER project addresses the facilitation of what is a generally slow, painstaking process – installation permitting. In this case, the permitting is for the installation of small stationary hydrogen and fuel cell systems. The work will address safety and procedural issues within the permitting process for developers, design engineers, manufacturers, installers and authorities/regulators, and will result in guidance for expediting installation permitting.
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SELECTED PROJECTS IN 2006
At the IPHE Steering Committee meeting in Reykjavik, Iceland on 26-27 September 2006, the following thirteen outstanding hydrogen and fuel cell research, development and demonstration projects were endorsed by the seventeen members of the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE):
- Autobrane: Automotive High Temperature Fuel Cell Membranes
The objective is to develop innovative membrane-electrode assemblies (MEAs) for proton-exchange membrane fuel cells that are capable of operating at wider operating temperature range and have the ability to function at higher temperatures under at zero humidification. The project also seeks to adapt/ improve catalyst, electrode, and stack technology.
- Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Bus Demonstration Program
United States, Canada, Japan, Brazil, China, Belgium
The objectives of the project are to advance the commercial deployment of fuel cell transit buses, improve transit bus fuel efficiency and reduce petroleum consumption, reduce transit bus emissions, and increase public acceptance of hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles.
- HYCHAIN MINI-TRANS: Deployment of Innovative Low-Power Fuel Cell Vehicle Fleets to Initiate an Early Market for Hydrogen as an Alternative Fuel in Europe
European Commission, Germany, France, Italy, Spain
The goal of this project is to deploy a fleet of small hydrogen fuel cell hybrid vehicles in a variety of application ranging from 250-watt power modules for tricycles to 3-kilowatt power modules for utility vehicles and up to 10-kilowatt power modules for hybrid mini-buses. The project also integrates the supply chain by addressing the hydrogen infrastructure which will be necessary for refueling, storage, distribution and dispensing to final end users.
- HyLights: A Coordination Action to Prepare European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Projects
European Commission, Germany, France, Italy, Norway, United Kingdom, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain
The project will monitor concluded and ongoing demonstration projects and assist with the planning for future demonstration project phases. The project is a coordination action that will develop an assessment framework for concluded and ongoing demonstration projects; analyze individual projects and establish a project database; perform analysis to identify gaps and prepare a requirement profile for the next stage projects; assess and identify necessary financial and legal steps in preparation of the new projects; and establish a “European Initiative Group on Hydrogen for Transport.”
- HyApproval- “Handbook for Approval of Hydrogen Refueling Stations”
The goal of this project is to develop technical guidelines for the approval of public hydrogen refueling stations. The handbook is targeted to assist companies and organizations in the implementation and operation of hydrogen refueling stations. The handbook will also contribute to the International Standards Organization, Technical Committee 197 (ISO TC 197) on the development of international standards for hydrogen technology.
- HYTHEC - Hydrogen Thermochemical Cycles
France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, Spain
The project will investigate the potential for large hydrogen production through the Sulphur-Iodine cycle and compare it to Westinghouse cycle. The project aims to 1) conduct flow-sheeting, industrial scale-up, safety and cost modeling, 2) improve the fundamental knowledge and efficiency of the hydrogen production in the Sulphur-Iodine cycle and 3) investigate potential use of solar primary energy sources for decomposition of sulfuric acid.
- Hydrogen for Clean Urban Transport in Europe (HyFLEET:CUTE) Germany, European Commission, Australia, China, France, Iceland, \ Norway, United Kingdom, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain
The goal of the project is to advance the development of hydrogen powered public transport buses to the ‘pre-commercial’ stage through continued operational testing of fuel cell (FC) drive train buses while also testing hydrogen powered internal combustion engine (ICE) buses under similar conditions. The project also includes the design, construction and testing of advanced refueling stations and associated infrastructure as well as socioeconomic evaluation of current and predicted impacts of a developing hydrogen economy.
- NESSHY- Novel Efficient Solid Storage for Hydrogen
European Commission, China, France, Germany, Iceland, Norway, Russia, United Kingdom, United States
The goal of this project is to identify the most promising hydrogen solid storage solutions for mobile applications complementary in stationary systems. The project covers porous storage systems, regenerative hydrogen stores and solid hydrides performing under reversible hydrogen storage and improved gravimetric storage.
- Mechanical Synthesis and Rehydrogenation of Complex Hydrides and Nanocomposites in Hydrogen Ball Mills
Canada, Australia, Russia, United States
The focus of the project is on assessment and discovery of novel nanomaterials and nanotechnologies for hydrogen storage. This project will perform research in an effort to discover materials that will specifically direct synthesis of new complex hydrides, hydride mixtures and nanocomposites conducted in specialized ‘hydrogen ball mills’ under molecular hydrogen gas, hydrogen plasma and/or nitrogen plasma.
- Hydrogen Pathways
This program is part of the University of California Transportation Studies and is focused on understanding the potential transition to a hydrogen-based transportation system. The project research is focused on four key areas: 1) Hydrogen Markets and Demand, 2) Hydrogen Infrastructure Modeling, 3) Policy and Business Strategy, and 4) Environmental Analysis.
- Hydrogen Transportation Partnership and Demonstration Park (Beijing Hydrogen Park)
The objectives of this project are to demonstrate pre-market innovative hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to build a platform to promoting the international cooperation and to increase public awareness on new energy and high-efficiency power technologies, especially those related to hydrogen and fuel cell vehicles.
- Combination of Amine Boranes with MgH2 & LiNH2 for High Capacity Reversible Hydrogen Storage
The purpose of this project is to synthesize and characterize hybrid materials that combine light element metal hydrides with the amine borane chemical based hydrogen storage through a coupled endothermic-exothermic approach for hydrogen storage.
- Fundamental Safety Testing and Analysis of Hydrogen Storage Materials & Systems
The objectives of this project are to demonstrate technologies that minimize the risks of systems using solid-state hydrogen storage materials and to quantify physical risks associated with the synthesis, handling and utilization of these materials as hydrogen storage media. This project will also develop methods to mitigate the identified risks that would lead to commercially acceptable high density hydrogen storage system designs.
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SELECTED PROJECTS IN 2005
At the IPHE Steering Committee meeting in Kyoto, Japan on 14-15 September 2005, the following ten outstanding hydrogen and fuel cell research, development and demonstration projects were endorsed by the sixteen members of the IPHE. Brochure (PDF 6.13MB)
- Preparing For The Hydrogen Economy By Using The Existing Natural Gas System As A Catalyst
The project will define the conditions under which hydrogen can be mixed with natural gas for delivery by the existing natural gas system and later withdrawn selectively from the pipeline system by advanced separation technologies. The socioeconomic and life cycle consequences of this hydrogen delivery approach will be mapped out.
- Solar Driven High Temperature Thermochemical Production Of Hydrogen
In this project, the most promising thermochemical cycles for hydrogen production will be identified, and one or two cycles will be down-selected for demonstration. Lower cost solar concentrating technology will be developed, as well as solar receiver and thermochemical reactor technology to demonstrate a fully integrated thermochemical process on-sun.
- Reversible Solid State Hydrogen Storage For Fuel Cell Power Supply System
The project develops reversible solid state hydrogen storage and purification systems and their integration with fuel cell power supplies. Integration results in appearance of new possibilities to increase the overall energy efficiency of the power supply systems together with identification and development of new technical challenges.
- Advanced Membranes
The technical goal of this project is to develop membranes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells to lower the cost and enhance the durability of hydrogen-air and direct methanol polymer electrolyte fuel cell systems. The objective of developing the IPHE program is substantially enhanced collaboration between parties to the project to ensure maximum leveraging of resources through researcher and material exchanges and joint meetings.
- Fuel Cell Testing, Safety And Quality Assurance (FCTESQA)
The project addresses pre-normative research, benchmarking, and validation through round robin testing of harmonised, industry-wide test protocols and testing methodologies. This activity will contribute to the early and market-oriented development of specifications and pre-standards. FCTESQA results will be discussed, debated and agreed in co-operative progress meetings and dedicated international workshops under the IPHE auspices.
- Application Of Gradient Porous Composite MEAs For Different Types Of Fuel Cells
This project develops a new design of thin monolithic multilayer more efficient and reliable MEA for different types of fuel cells (DMFC, Compact Mixed-Reactant Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (CMR-DMFC)) with the focus on small fuel cells for portable application, testing methodology for MEA as well as possible ways for FC miniaturization.
- HyWays - The Development And Detailed Evaluation Of A Harmonised “European Hydrogen Energy Roadmap”
In spring 2004, the EU 6th Framework project HyWays was launched in order to develop a European hydrogen roadmap, to meet scientific, technical, strategic, and political concerns. The project partnership consists of 32 organisations from industry, institutes, governments and SMEs from 9 EU member states (B, D, E, F, GB, GR, I, NL, P) and one associated state (N).
- HySafe – Safety Of Hydrogen As An Energy Carrier
HySafe will focus on safety issues relevant to improve and co-ordinate the knowledge and understanding of hydrogen safety and support the safe and efficient introduction and commercialisation of hydrogen as an energy carrier of the future, including the related hydrogen applications. To this end the project will prepare the foundation of the European Hydrogen Safety Centre.
- Solar Hydrogen From Reforming Of Methane
The project aims to design, test and demonstrate a unique, low temperature, steam reforming reactor using concentrated solar energy. A world-class solar facility for international collaboration in hydrogen production from solar sources will be constructed to integrate the system.
- Clean Urban Transport For Europe - Ecological City TranspOrt System (CUTE - ECTOS)
The CUTE – ECTOS project is an ambitious field trial of 30 fuel cell buses and hydrogen infrastructure in 10 participating European cities. Accompanying studies investigate the benefits of hydrogen and fuel cells in transport applications. Education, training, dissemination, quality and safety as well as permits & approvals are integral elements of the project.
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