Alternative Energy / Fuel Cells

• Continued Advances in Fuel Cell Technology

  The New Year may well be the breakthrough year for fuel cells.  The astonishing innovation and marketing locomotive of Apple Computers with the i – you name it – product list leading us into new uses for electronic devices, has let slip they will preview a fuel cell idea at this month’s Consumer Electronics Show.Apple has gone so far as to file patent applications named “Fuel Cell System to Power a Portable Computing Device” and “Fuel Cell System Coupled to a Portable Computing Device” – ideas not to be taken lightly.It not a great surprise to close Apple watchers, Apple…

• Reducing the Cost of Fuel Cells

  Most folks don’t realize the depth of the economic problem that fuels cells pose for mass adoption.  Often there are price quotes running in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.  That’s because the catalysts of choice are the noble metals platinum or palladium.  These are very rare metals, more so than gold and have considerable market presence already in the automotive field. For a comparison, the common quote for the amount of iron mined in history is a cubic mile or 147,197,952,000 cubic feet.  Now platinum is more rare, the oft-heard quote is mining over history has turned…

• Biogas Fuel Cell Could Offer an Affordable Alternative to Short-Lived Batteries

  Researchers at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are pioneering a methane fuel cell which could provide portable storage for small-scale power generation, and an affordable alternative to conventional short-lived batteries for laptops and other portable devices. Expense has held back the development of hydrogen fuel cells, which have an optimum operating temperature in excess of 800°C. Noble metal catalysts – such as platinum,  currently selling at £1,780 per troy ounce – are needed to reach these temperatures, but exposure to them accelerates the breakdown of other components. The new micro-scale solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is designed…

• First Hydrogen Station for Fuel Cell Cars Opens in California

  On May 10th Toyota celebrated the opening of the first pipeline-fed refueling station in the US. Located in Torrance, California, it is the first hydrogen station to be directly connected to an active industrial hydrogen pipeline. It will provide fuel for Toyota's as well as others fuel cell vehicle fleets in the Los Angeles area. The station is owned by Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA, Inc, and operated by Shell. The hydrogen pipeline is maintained by Air Products. Toyota hailed this as a milestone event. "Building an extensive hydrogen re-fueling infrastructure is a critical step in the successful market launch…

• The Cost of Fuel Cell Catalysts Could Drop by a Factor of 650

  Platinum, which represents at least a quarter of the cost of fuel cells, currently sells for about $65,000 per kilogram. These researchers say their activated carbon nanotubes cost about $100 per kilogram. _Physorg That sounds like a significant reduction in the costs of fuel cells if the new catalysts work as advertised. Engineers from Case Western Reserve University have got a lot of tricks up their sleeve, which may change the face of the global fuel cell market. In testing, the fuel cell produced as much power as an identical cell using a platinum catalyst. But the activated nanotubes last…

• One Step Closer to Practical and Affordable Fuel Cells

  A group of researchers led by Shriram Ramanathan at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are increasingly optimistic about the commercial viability of making fuel cells practical and affordable.  From advances in nanostructured devices, lower operating temperatures, and the use of an abundant fuel source and cheaper materials commercial viability of the technology will not happen overnight, however the group believes it may not take much longer. Ramanathan, an expert and innovator in the development of solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), says they may, in fact, soon become the go-to technology for those on the go.  Ramanathan’s confidence comes…

• A Fuel cell that runs on Regular Diesel and Biodiesel

  Using biodiesel as well as regular diesel in a fuel cell is for many an incredible idea. The Research Council of Norway’s RENERGI program Technical Director Dag Øvrebø is developing a new type of electric power supply unit with core components of a smart diesel reformer and a tolerant fuel cell. The system is environmentally friendly and flexible; the unit could be a serious contender in the market for generators in electric vehicles and other applications. The combination of two advanced technologies is now undergoing testing.  In trials, a 200-watt solid-acid fuel cell ran on both pure hydrogen and on…

• Energy for Electric Vehicles Dealt a Blow by Bolivian Lithium Production

  a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/energy"> Just over a year ago, and spurred by an article in Time, I wrote a post on the possible global supply of lithium, which is used in renewable batteries, and a major choice for use in the batteries of electric vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt. Since the story has acquired more recent interest this week, and with new information, it is worth re-visiting the topic. I began the original post by noting that our first introduction to these batteries was in our role as an Explosives Lab when we found out - in a series of experiments…

• Fuel Cells - An Environmental Saviour or Just a Load of Hype

  A fuel cell is basically an engine that produces electricity. Which is not that different in it’s make up to its cousin, the standard battery. As the cells found within are very similar and as with batteries it produces electricity by means of a chemical reaction. But unlike standard batteries that store electrical energy chemically and need to be recharged, the energy in fuel cells is derived from an external fuel source. The basic fuel used is hydrogen and it’s the chemical reaction this has with oxygen in the atmosphere that produces the electricity. Apart from being very efficient the…