NEWS
provide compelling solutions for challenging
technical issues,’ says Dr Kevin Colbow, Ballard’s
VP for technology & product development. ‘This
next phase of our collaboration with this partner
sets a clear roadmap for Ballard technology being
integrated into future generations of their fuel cell
vehicle platforms.’
In addition, Ballard has appointed Rob
Campbell as VP and chief commercial officer,
building on his senior leadership roles in
the global cleantech and power generation
industries. Campbell will be responsible for
global business development, sales, marketing,
product line management, and after-sales
service activities in the company’s key Power
Products markets of Heavy Duty Motive,
Material Handling, and Backup Power.
‘Having previously worked with Rob in both
the fuel cell and solar industries, I am very
familiar with his experience as a high-performing
business executive and with his extensive
qualifications for the CCO role at Ballard,’ says
Randy MacEwen, president and CEO. ‘Rob
has considerable experience in global business
development, sales, marketing, product line
management and service, including experience
in China, Japan, Europe and the US. He has
deep knowledge of high-growth markets and
engineering-based capital equipment solution
sales to sophisticated customers.’
Ballard has also just finalised its deal
with Zhongshan Broad-Ocean Motor for
the assembly and sale of FCveloCity® fuel
cell engines in China [see page 3], while its
subsidiary Protonex has successfully powered
test flights of the Boeing Insitu ScanEagle small
unmanned aerial vehicle [see page 3].
Ballard Power Systems, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
Tel: +1 604 454 0900, www.ballard.com
Hydrogenics launches
3 MW electrolyser
using PEM stack
C anadian-based Hydrogenics has
unveiled its new 3 MW PEM
electrolyser stack, which it says sets a
new industry benchmark for electrolytic
hydrogen generation. Hydrogenics has
also announced that Fuzhou Bonded
Zone Hejili Equity Investment Limited
Partnership, based in China, has acquired
a significant stake in the company, as
part of a deal to jointly develop the
Chinese market for hydrogen, energy
storage and fuel cell products.
The 3 MW PEM electrolyser system,
marketed as the HyLyzer™ 600, is the newest
variant of Hydrogenics’ field-proven 1500E
May 2017
platform, which was first introduced two years
ago as a 1.5 MW stack [FCB, June 2015, p9]. The
compact new system can produce up to 1350 kg/
day of hydrogen at 350 bar, sufficient to refill 280
fuel cell electric vehicles or 30 fuel cell buses. The
minimal footprint offers exceptional efficiency in
terms of logistics, siting and installation.
‘In developing this next-generation system, we
continue our focus on cost reduction through
technology innovation and scale,’ says Joseph
Cargnelli, CTO at Hydrogenics. ‘The new stack
is able to deliver substantially reduced plant size
and expense while improving the customer’s
overall deployment flexibility.’ The innovative
technology can serve end-users targeting hydrogen
vehicle fueling or utility-scale renewable hydrogen
solutions such as Power-to-Gas (P2G).
Hydrogenics is also supplying fuel cell bus
modules and electrolysis equipment for a
new project with SunLine Transit Agency in
California [see page 12], and is building two
hydrogen refueling stations for the Greater
Toronto Area [see page 9].
In addition, Hydrogenics has entered
into a subscription agreement with Fuzhou
Bonded Zone Hejili Equity Investment Limited
Partnership, to issue 2.7 million common shares
under a private placement worth US$21 million
(before expenses) to Hydrogenics. The deal,
which is subject to stock exchange and Chinese
regulatory approvals, means that Hejili will have
an approximately 17.6% stake in Hydrogenics.
Hejili, which is based in Fuzhou, Fujian
Province, will cooperate with Hydrogenics
to jointly develop the Chinese market for
hydrogen, energy storage and fuel cell products.
Hydrogenics Corporation, Mississauga,
Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 905 361 3660,
www.hydrogenics.com
Nel completes deal to
acquire Proton OnSite,
and JV with PowerCell
N orwegian-based Nel ASA has
completed the share purchase
agreement to acquire Proton OnSite in
the US from its owner F9 Investments
LLC. Nel is now the world’s largest
manufacturer of water electrolysers
for hydrogen production, offering both
alkaline and PEM electrolysers in all sizes
and markets. The company has also
finalised its agreement with Hexagon
Composites in Norway and PowerCell
Sweden to establish a joint venture to
develop integrated hydrogen projects.
Nel announced its acquisition of
Connecticut-based Proton OnSite at the
end of February, seeing a strong strategic fit
between the companies [FCB, March 2017,
p11]. Nel expects solid future demand for
PEM electrolysers, and this acquisition will
complement its product portfolio as well as
give it a strong position in the US hydrogen
electrolysis market. Nel is acquiring 100% of
the shares in Proton OnSite for US$70 million,
financed through $20 million in cash and $50
million in new Nel shares.
Proton OnSite has more than 2600 onsite
hydrogen generators installed in more than
75 countries. It recently signed a contract to
supply 13 of its MW-scale PEM electrolysers
[February 2015, p8] for refueling fuel cell buses
in two Chinese cities [January 2017, p8].
Nel has also finalised its deal to create an
equally owned joint venture with Hexagon
Composites and PowerCell Sweden, creating
a one-stop-shop for customers wanting to
utilise hydrogen technologies across the value
chain – from renewable hydrogen production
to storage, distribution and dispensing, to
generating electricity via fuel cells.
‘The joint venture will have an initial focus
on opportunities in the maritime and marine
segments, as well as enabling energy storage from
renewable sources,’ says Per Wassén, CEO of
PowerCell Sweden. ‘Combined with the project
requests that we have already received from
the public sector and marine transportation
companies, we see significant opportunities
for the joint venture, and believe that we are
positioned to deliver unparalleled customer value
in the form of zero-emission power solutions.’
Hexagon Composites is a global market
leader for high-pressure gas storage and
transport, while PowerCell is developing PEM
fuel cell power systems for stationary and
mobile applications [see page 4]. Nel Hydrogen
Solutions has recently been awarded an order to
build a second H2Station® hydrogen refueling
station in Bergen, Norway [see page 9].
Nel ASA, Oslo, Norway. Tel: +47 2324 8950,
www.nelhydrogen.com
Proton OnSite, Wallingford, Connecticut, USA.
Tel: +1 203 678 2000, www.ProtonOnSite.com
PowerCell Sweden AB, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Tel: +46 31 720 3620, www.powercell.se
Hexagon Composites ASA, Ålesund, Norway.
Tel: +47 7030 4450, www.hexagon.no
H2B2 partners with
ULEMCo to produce
hydrogen, Giner stake
S panish company H2B2 Electrolysis
Technologies is collaborating with
11
Fuel Cells Bulletin