POSCO subsidiary completes purchase of power module from FuelCell Energy - biogas powered fuel cell
Utilizing carbon-negative biogas in highly efficient fuel cells is arguably the cleanest energy system imaginable. What's more, the concept is not some distant futuristic fantasy, it is here, today.
Earlier we reported on several players from the EU and the US who are designing fuel cells that run on biomethane (here, here and here) and on initiatives aimed at actively promoting the concept (here). One of the leading developers is FuelCell Energy Inc., which designs ultra-clean power plants based on Direct Fuel Cells that are capable of reforming a variety of fuels including biogas into hydrogen, used to generate heat and power for commercial, industrial and utility customers.
Today the company announced [*.pdf] the sale of a 300 kilowatt (kW) fuel cell stack module and associated balance of plant components to POSCON, one of the subsidiary companies of POSCO, and FuelCell Energy's strategic partner for the South Korean market.
The components enable POSCON, a systems engineering and electronics manufacturing company, to build its first power plant to prepare for its own balance of plant (BOP) manufacturing in Asia. These components are equivalent to a complete DFC300MA system (image, click to enlarge) and are expected to ship this fall.
Under its licensing and distribution agreement with POSCO, FuelCell Energy currently ships complete fuel cell power plants to POSCO. When its own manufacturing facility is ready, POSCO will integrate FuelCell Energy's fuel cell module with POSCO's BOP, installing and servicing the units at customer sites. POSCO's manufacturing plant is expected to have 50 MW of capacity by the end of 2008 and 100 MW by 2010:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: anaerobic digestion :: biogas :: methane :: fuel cell ::
This order brings FuelCell Energy's fiscal year total to 7.8 MW from POSCO.
The company is also researching the use of both ethanol and biodiesel in its fuel cells.
References:
FuelCell Energy: DFC300MA (300 kW), brochure [*.pdf].
FuelCell Energy: biofuels R&D.
Earlier we reported on several players from the EU and the US who are designing fuel cells that run on biomethane (here, here and here) and on initiatives aimed at actively promoting the concept (here). One of the leading developers is FuelCell Energy Inc., which designs ultra-clean power plants based on Direct Fuel Cells that are capable of reforming a variety of fuels including biogas into hydrogen, used to generate heat and power for commercial, industrial and utility customers.
Today the company announced [*.pdf] the sale of a 300 kilowatt (kW) fuel cell stack module and associated balance of plant components to POSCON, one of the subsidiary companies of POSCO, and FuelCell Energy's strategic partner for the South Korean market.
The components enable POSCON, a systems engineering and electronics manufacturing company, to build its first power plant to prepare for its own balance of plant (BOP) manufacturing in Asia. These components are equivalent to a complete DFC300MA system (image, click to enlarge) and are expected to ship this fall.
Under its licensing and distribution agreement with POSCO, FuelCell Energy currently ships complete fuel cell power plants to POSCO. When its own manufacturing facility is ready, POSCO will integrate FuelCell Energy's fuel cell module with POSCO's BOP, installing and servicing the units at customer sites. POSCO's manufacturing plant is expected to have 50 MW of capacity by the end of 2008 and 100 MW by 2010:
energy :: sustainability :: biomass :: bioenergy :: biofuels :: anaerobic digestion :: biogas :: methane :: fuel cell ::
This arrangement allows us to capitalize on POSCO's manufacturing capabilities and their economies of scale as we work to meet the increasing demand customers in South Korea have for highly efficient, ultra-clean power generation. Over time, as POSCO gains experience with our DFC systems, we expect them to emerge as a superior BOP supplier, integrator and service provider - not just for power plants there, but potentially for other parts of the world, too. - Ben Toby, Vice President of Global Business Development for FuelCell Energy.Having ratified the Kyoto Protocols, South Korea is becoming one of the world's leading adopters of clean energy technology, and a burgeoning market for fuel cell power plants. The country's Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy (MOCIE) last year introduced a renewable energy subsidy program that provides substantial incentives for fuel cells - powered by biogas and natural gas - exceeding the funding created for wind power, biomass and hydro, and second only to solar power.
This order brings FuelCell Energy's fiscal year total to 7.8 MW from POSCO.
The company is also researching the use of both ethanol and biodiesel in its fuel cells.
References:
FuelCell Energy: DFC300MA (300 kW), brochure [*.pdf].
FuelCell Energy: biofuels R&D.
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