Last checked at 12 Apr 2011 07:00
12 April 2011
ITM Power plc
("ITM Power" or "the Company")
Sale of First HFuel© Production Module
ITM Power plc, the energy storage and clean fuel company, is pleased to announce the sale of its first small-scale bespoke hydrogen production system to the University of Glamorgan (UoG) under a competitive tender process. The Proton Exchange Membrane electrolyser system will supply around 4kg of hydrogen per day, based on the Company's HFuel© product platform. The ITM Power system will be integrated into UoG's existing hydrogen dispensing system at its Renewable Hydrogen Research and Development Centre, located at Baglan Energy Park in South Wales.
The unit will be installed and commissioned by ITM Power staff and includes on-board telemetry to allow its performance to be monitored remotely from the Company's production facility in Sheffield. ITM Power will also give ongoing support to the UoG to develop its renewable hydrogen system, incorporating the Company's electrolyser and possible future capacity upgrades to the system.
Commenting for ITM Power Dr Graham Cooley said: "This is a key stage in the commercial development of ITM Power, having won our first competitive tender for an HFuel© system confirming our competitive price positioning. This sale will also allow ITM Power to gain valuable experience in integrating our technology with third party systems operating in real world applications. The Renewable Hydrogen Research and Development Centre at Baglan is a valuable national resource that I am sure will play a significant role in developing the future energy policy of the country. We are proud to play our part in its important work."
For further information please visit www.itm-power.com or contact:
ITM Power plc Graham Cooley, CEO | 0114 244 5111 |
Nomura Code Securities Limited Juliet Thompson / Dr Christopher Golden | www.nomuracode.com 020 7776 1200 |
Tavistock Communications Simon Hudson / Andrew Dunn | 020 7920 3150 |
Notes to Editors:
About ITM Power
ITM Power designs and manufactures Hydrogen Energy Systems for Energy Storage and Clean Fuel production.
ITM Power is committed to clean sustainable energy solutions based around water electrolysis. Our principal motivation is to engineer zero-carbon hydrogen energy systems that provide energy security and independence from fossil fuels.
ITM Power's electrolyser and fuel cell technologies have the potential to become the cornerstones of a future hydrogen economy based on 'green' hydrogen. Our hydrogen systems are able to convert renewable energy to a clean fuel that can be indefinitely stored for use in transport, residential and industrial applications.
ITM Power has grown from its original platform of novel polymeric electrolytes (for water electrolysis and hydrogen fuel cells) to that of a technology provider. ITM Power now has both a strong base of intellectual property and engineering expertise for providing complete hydrogen solutions.
About HFuel
ITM Power's Transportable Hydrogen Refuelling Station (HFuel) is a self-contained module suitable for refuelling hydrogen-powered road vehicles and forklift trucks. It is well suited to small fleet and early 'hydrogen highway' applications of both fuel cell and hydrogen engine vehicles (FCV and HICEV).
It is based around a modular platform (standard freight containers) and can be expanded at any point after the initial installation enabling a staged roll-out of hydrogen fuel. HFuel generates hydrogen by electrolysis, compresses it, stores it and dispenses the gas on demand at high pressure (nominally 350 bar/35MPa). It requires an on-site water and electricity supply but is otherwise an autonomous solution for refuelling hydrogen-powered vehicles.
Because HFuel is based on an electrolyser it is uniquely able to produce zero-carbon hydrogen if linked to a renewable power source or a supply of 'green' electricity. The fuel delivered to the vehicle is then carbon-free and no atmospheric carbon emissions result from its use.
HFuel provides a pathway for eradicating emissions associated with light duty commercial vehicles and materials handling in warehouses and factories.
Unlike battery recharging stations HFuel enables the user to quickly recharge a vehicle to 100% capacity. This enables hydrogen to be used to decarbonise return-to-depot and shift work vehicles that have a higher daily mileage requirement.
About the UoG Renewable Hydrogen Research and Development Centre:
The Centre is located at the Baglan Energy Park, South Wales and is one of the first of its kind. Hydrogen produced from renewable sources and will be used in the building and for refueling vehicles.
The main functions of the Centre are to raise awareness about the various means of generating hydrogen from renewable resources and demonstrate that the energy from hydrogen can be used in everyday situations. In addition it will provide a facility for research into various renewable hydrogen topics.
A brochure describing the Hydrogen Centre and its work can be viewed and downloaded at the following link:
http://hydrogen.research.glam.ac.uk/media/files/documents/2008-10-02/hydrogen_brochure.pdf
One half of the building, the single story, is for the hydrogen equipment. In the 1st phase this includes electrolytic hydrogen production, compression and storage. The electrolyser is to convert a combined solar photovoltaic and (simulated) wind electrical input to produce a pure hydrogen product.
The photovoltaic installation covers about 148 sq metres on the roof of the office block. It is a 21kW peak system, comprising 105 x Kyocera KC200GHT-2 modules and 4 x Fronius IG40 inverters. The expected output of the system is 16,800 kWhrs per annum, with a CO2 saving of over 9,500 kg per annum.
The hydrogen produced by electrolysis will be compressed and stored, effectively storing the excess incoming renewable energy. Also included in the equipment is a 10kW single phase inverter system with a 1 hour valve regulated lead acid battery.