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Innovation in Fuel Cell Technology
What is Fuel Cell Technology?
Fuel cells convert natural gas, methanol or hydrogen into electricity quietly, without combustion. When hydrogen is the fuel source, heat and water vapour are the only byproducts. As a result, the technology is viewed widely as holding great promise for reducing the greenhouse gases that are thought to be responsible for global warming.
Fuel cells are moving from an emerging technology to a commercial electrical power product integrated into a large range of products. They are an enabling technology for power generation systems, portable electronic devices and environmentally compatible transportation.
What's the WD Connection?
Fuel cell vehicles represent a radical departure from the conventional internal combustion engines and may revolutionize on-road transportation over the next decade.
Photos courtesy of Ballard Power
The large-scale use of fuel-cell technology could have a profound effect on many aspects of the Canadian and global economy. This environmentally clean, "transformative” technology is widely expected to be the basis for a new knowledge-based growth industry and more jobs in the first part of the 21st century. According to Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Canada, the market potential for fuel cell technology is estimated to reach as much as $46 billion worldwide by 2001, and $2.6 million by 2021—creating 15,000 jobs for every billion dollars in demand.
WD has been engaged in advancing the burgeoning fuel cell industry from its infancy, starting in 1990 when WD was an early supporter of B.C.’s Ballard Power Systems in the fuel cell research stage. Since then WD has provided millions of dollars in fuel cell investment and is continuing to establish and strengthen links between the Western Canadian fuel-cell sector and other sectors and provinces. Between 2000 and 2004 alone, WD committed approximately $12.1 million in funding to the fuel cell cluster. Western Canada is now home to world-leading research organizations and companies in fuel‑cell and related technologies. Over the next 20 years, the region—especially B.C.’s lower mainland—could become a global centre for fuel-cell development, applications, and commercialization.
What's been accomplished?
Hydropgen & Fuel Cells Canada
WD Investment: $6.5 million
Through a Canada-British Columbia Western Economic Partnership Agreement (WEPA), WD helped establish Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Canada, a B.C.-based non-profit national industry association that represents a broad cross-section of fuel-cell cluster stakeholders in B.C. and across Canada, and is a key player in the growth of the industry. As well, WD support for Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Canada's Fuel Cell Demonstration Program under this WEPA, which ended in 2003, initiated nine pre-commercial demonstration projects that ranged from developing a hydrogen-fuelling station to demonstrating fuel cell-powered forklifts for warehouse applications.
National Research Council Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation
WD Investment: $1.5 million
Located on campus at the University of British Columbia, WD invested in the NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation to construct six additional hydrogen-safe laboratories and provide equipment for its hydrogen-safe environmental test chamber. The test chamber, controlled for temperature, humidity and altitude, along with the hydrogen-ready labs, on-site expertise and safety infrastructure, is available to industry for collaborative research or fee-for-service use.
Western Canada Fuel Cell Initiative
WD Investment (WEPA): $990,000
The Alberta Energy Research Institute is administering the EnergyNet Alternative and Renewable Energy Program to support the systematic investigation, evaluation, development and deployment of commercial 'impure hydrogen' fuel cell technology. While impure fuel sources, such as synthetic gas from coal, already exist in Alberta, all available fuel cells currently only use pure fuels such as hydrogen. The particular emphasis of this project will develop solid oxide fuel cells for stationary power applications, which would utilize impure fuel sources. Research will be carried out at the University of Calgary, University of Alberta and the Alberta Research Council.
NAIT Fuel Cell and Interpretive Centre
WD Investment: $950,000
In June 2003, Canada's first high-voltage operational fuel cell was installed at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). The cell will be used for research and educational purposes, and as part of an interpretative centre that will educate the public about fuel cell technology and environmental impacts. It will also be compared to alternative sources of energy including traditional forms of power production, other fuel cells and hybrid systems.
Clean Energy Research Centre (CERC)
WD Investment: $540,000
Researchers at the University of British Columbia's Clean Energy Research Centre conduct leading edge research into fuel cell systems integration and hydrogen production technologies. WD's investment purchased specialized equipment and instrumentation to help CERC researchers partner with industry to conduct research that can be patented or commercialized.
Institute for Integrated Energy Systems
WD Investment: $405,000
The University of Victoria's Institute for Integrated Energy Systems acquired specialized equipment for a renewable energy test bed and a fuel cell gas flow diagnostic system, enabling the facility to advance its research into sustainable energy systems and clean energy alternatives for the next generation.
What's on the horizon?
WD will continue to partner closely with fuel-cell industry stakeholders, including Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Canada and other organizations as well as provincial governments and other federal departments to advance the development of this promising industry.
Links to Fuel Cell technology Web sites
Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Canada
http://www.h2fcc.caNational Research Council Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation
http://ifci-iipc.nrc-cnrc.gc.caCanadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/es/etb/ctfca/index.htmlCanadian Hydrogen Association
http://www.h2.ca/Canmet Energy Technology Centre
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/es/etb/cetc/cetchome.htmWorld Fuel Cell Council
http://www.fuelcellworld.org
