Peer Review Journal Publication of Acta's core electrolysis technology

RNS Number : 6864V

Acta S.p.A.

17 December 2013

 
 Press release   17 December 2013 
 

Acta S.p.A.

("Acta" or "the Company")

Peer Review Journal Publication

Acta S.p.A. (AIM: ACTA), the clean energy products company, is pleased to announce that a research paper prepared by the Company's scientists and describing the nature and benefits of Acta's core electrolysis technology has been published by the prestigious review journal, Angewandte Chemie International Edition.

Angewandte Chemie is one of the world's leading general chemistry journals, with an Impact Factor higher than comparable journals(1) . Publication of the paper represents a significant scientific recognition of the technology developed by Acta over many years and of the outstanding results achieved both within its research labs and in practical applications.

Through the published work, Acta's scientists have demonstrated that very high efficiency and stability can be achieved by an electrolyser without the aid of platinum metal group electro-catalysts and by using cost effectivealternatives. Moreover, they showed that the system is effective for applications with intermittent power sources, such as renewable energy.

The paper has been published as a "Communication", which are papers that have been critically selected by the journal for publication following a detailed peer review and which report on the latest research results in chemistry. It will appear in printed form in a future edition of the journal.

Paolo Bert, Chief Executive of Acta, commented:

"This is the first scientific paper that we have produced on our technology and it has been accepted for publication by one of the leading general chemistry journals in the world. I would like to congratulate our scientific team on achieving this important recognition of their outstanding work."

Acta's research paper, entitled "Highly Efficient Platinum Group Metal Free Based Membrane-Electrode Assembly for Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis", has now been published online (http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/anie.201308099). (1) The Impact Factor of an academic journal is a measure reflecting the average number of citations to recent articles published in the journal (Source: Wikipedia). See "About Angewandte Chemie" below.

-ENDS-

Fuel cell technology is coming on leaps and bounds but price verses output is always going to be a issue.

Fuel cell technology is coming on leaps and bounds but price verses output is always going to be a issue. 

The EFOY fuel cell generator is a German manufactured fuel cell generator that is ideal for caravans, camping and outward bound pursuits. So how much power do we need? You can work out your average power consumption roughly by working out how long your battery lasts from full charge.  E.g If you have a 100Ah battery and it lasts 4 days normally then you are using 25Ah per day.  25Ah = 300Wh at 12V which means it would take 18.5 days to go through 5L of fuel. So take the Ah you use per day, multiply by 12 to get Watt hours.  You will use 0.9L per 1000Wh. So you can work out how many litres per day.

 The Pros of fuel cell technology Vs fossil fuel Generators are:

Does not give off noxious gases (doesn’t burn the fuel it is a chemical reaction)

Gives off little heat

Can be used indoors

Is almost silent (noise is like a PC fan, but only when delivering the charge)

Only delivers power when your battery needs it, so it is very fuel efficient (a generator will burn fuel when not delivering any power)

The Cons Vs Generators

Generators deliver direct power

Generators will give much more power

Generators are cheaper

Fuel is more difficult to get hold of but we can help with that!

3.       It does not have an engine.  There are “fuel cells” that burn methanol to turn a dynamo. These are quite clean and efficient engines but are not a fuel cell.  A fuel cell works by reacting the methanol with platinum inside the stack.  This chemical reaction gives off electric current, carbon monoxide (as much as a small child breathes out), heat and water. The only noise is a pump to draw the fuel onto the stack to begin the reaction, and a cooling fan which only runs when the unit is delivering power.  The heat is very minor, not like an engine, but more like a computer.

Planetsaver ® 2D LED Lamps, Direct replacements for old 2-pin and 4-pin 2D fluorescent lamps

Planetsaver® 2D LED Lamps.

Planetsaver® LED 2D Lamps are part of a new range of low-power LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamps designed as a direct drop-in replacement for existing 2D lamps.

Planetsaver® 2D LED Lamps give all the benefits of long lamp life (life expectancy of 50,000 hours - 20 years based on six hours use per day), instant full brightness, low power consumption (reduced carbon footprint), with the added benefit of a low operating temperature at a competitive price.

Super-Long Life Expectancy

Planetsaver® LED 2D Lamps are available in two sizes 7W (SQ16 - replaces old 16W lamps) and 14W (SQ28 - replaces old 28W lamps); each size is available with industry standard 2-pin or 4-pin configuration.

Planetsaver products are manufactured in the United Kingdom. Planetsaver LED 2D lamps incorporate technology for which patents have been applied.

http://www.orionairsales.co.uk/t10-low-power-led-replacement-for-fluorescent-lamp-2419-p.asp

For more information and for technical details

Ceramic Fuel Cells' BlueGen gas-to-electricity technology wins Microgeneration UK 2011 Technical InnovationAward Thursday 23 June 2011

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited

23 June 2011

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited, [AIM/ASX:CFU] a leading developer of high efficiency and low emission electricity generation units for homes and other buildings, today announced its BlueGen gas-to-electricity unit has won the Microgeneration UK 2011 Technical Innovation Award, announced at the culmination of the Microgeneration UK 2011 conference in London.

Microgeneration UK 2011 - which brings together policymakers, investors, suppliers and customers - celebrates the best of the UK microgeneration industry. It is run by Micropower Council, the British Photovoltaic Association and the British Heating and Hot Water Industry Council.

The Technical Innovation Award, one of five categories, was announced at a gala dinner on Tuesday 21 June in London and was presented by Baroness Maddock of Christchurch, President of the Micropower Council.

Baroness Maddock said: "CFCL is playing a key role in pioneering technology that can help provide a source of cleaner, more efficient, low cost energy. Currently collaborating with multiple partners across the globe to help bring cleaner electricity, CFCL is a great example of how innovation within the microgeneration sector can deliver tangible benefits."

Brendan Dow, Managing Director of Ceramic Fuel Cells, said: "We are thrilled to accept this prestigious award, and are delighted that our ground-breaking technology has been recognised by Microgeneration UK 2011. More and more Ceramic Fuel Cells is being recognised as a world leader in the development of fuel cell technology to provide reliable, low-emission electricity from widely available natural gas."

In May 2011, BlueGen won both the 2010-11 'CEO Award' - Dupont Australia and New Zealand's most prestigious innovation award - as well as the 'Design for a Sustainable Future' award, one of seven categories at the biennial DuPont Australia & New Zealand Innovation Awards.

BlueGen uses ceramic fuel cells to turn natural gas into electricity and heat for hot water, with each unit capable of producing more than three times the electricity needed to power the average United Kingdom home. Surplus electricity can be exported back to the power grid. BlueGen also provides heat for domestic hot water use. BlueGen units operate constantly, generating 1.5 kilowatts of electricity plus heat for hot water, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of weather.

BlueGen has the highest electrical efficiency of any small-scale power generation system in the world, reducingenergy bills as well as making significant carbon savings.

For further information please contact:

     Ceramic Fuel Cells     Andrew Neilson                      Tel: +613 9554 2300                                         Email: investor@cfcl.com.au       Nomura Code Securities (AIM         Tel: +44 (0) 207 776      Nomad)                              1200     Juliet Thompson, Chris Golden 

Ceramic Fuel Cells' fuel cell technology a "clean technology option for the future" - RMIT University study

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited

03 May 2011

Monday 2 May 2011

Ceramic Fuel Cells' solid oxide fuel cells can deliver significant benefits in electricity production and carbon reduction to thousands of Australian buildings, a team at RMIT University's Centre for Design has found.

The high quality of power and reliability of electricity generated from fuel cells - which can deliver electricity without large surges, spikes and outages - mean they have great potential in industries like banking, data centres, grocery chains and storage facilities. Fuel cells are also cost-efficient alternatives to batteries in serving as back-up power systems.

Deepak Sivaraman, Simon Lockrey and Andrew Carre - authors of Potential Opportunities for Increased Fuel Cell Deployment in Australia: A Ceramic Fuel Cell Case Study - determined that Ceramic Fuel Cells' technology could be utilized in many ways to either aid buildings earn energy and low carbon accreditation or comply with new, green building codes.

Over the past decade in Australia electricity demand increased at an annual average rate of 2.7%. Each year in Australia around 200 million tonnes of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere from electricity and heat production from non-renewable resources.

According to the RMIT report, the transition to a low carbon electricity sector in the future is "very necessary", and can be achieved using both renewable and low carbon technologies.

"The solid oxide fuel cell technology manufactured by Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (CFCL) is a clean technology option for the ... future," the report says. "Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (CFCL) is a global pioneer in manufacturing solid oxide fuel cell technology. It is a co-generation system: it has the flexibility to generate different amounts of electricity and heat from natural gas inputs."

The paper explores the following federal and state regulatory structures, which cover a variety of buildings including homes, offices, hotels, retail outlets, schools, libraries and hospitals.

-- National Australia Built Environment Rating System (NABERS)

-- Green Building Council of Australia; Green Star Rating Tool

-- Australian Building Codes Board: Alternate Energy Supply for Hot Water

-- New South Wales Energy Efficiency Scheme

-- Green Star Public Building Pilot Tool

-- NSW BASIX Program

The RMIT paper explains that the NABERS and Green Star Rating system (Green Building Council of Australia) awards higher ratings to the buildings based on the difference in carbon intensity between onsite fuel cell generation and grid electricity generation.

The authors recommend that states with more carbon-intensive electricity grids such as Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria be targeted for fuel cell deployment. Under the NABERS scheme a typical commercial building using high efficiency fuel cells to produce 100% of its electricity needs will obtain a five-star rating - the highest possible (the study example uses a 100 m(2) 'market average performing' commercial building, or 2.5 stars on grid electricity, in NSW).

The report also concludes that solid oxide fuel cells can also be used under the New South Wales Energy Efficiency Scheme and NSW BASIX Program to create greenhouse gas abatement certificates. In the case of the New South Wales Energy Efficiency Scheme these certificates can be sold for a market price. Under the NSW BASIX Program the fuel cell technology can be utilized to comply with state regulations - in both new and existing buildings.

Similarly, the technology can also be used to supply hot water to different types of buildings under the Australian building code framework. The latest Green Star Public Buildings Tool makes a provision for low carbon technologies to be utilized, enabling buildings to earn credit points through reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The RMIT report is available at www.cfcl.com.au

Geothermal Heat Pumps - A Technology That We Should Seriously Consider For Our Homes

Geothermal Heat Pumps - A Technology That We Should Seriously Consider For Our Homes

In yesterday's post I focused on one of my pet technologies - geothermal energy. However, despite the long term sustainability of this technology, the initial capital cost to tap into warm water sources of direct geothermal energy can often be too expensive with too few suitable sites to make a big impact. Now, consider geothermal heat pumps, a technology that we can use at our homes without the need for a "hot springs" nearby. The basics.

If we dig down about 10 feet, we will find temperatures in the soils typically ranging from 50 - 54 degrees F - and very stable through all seasons. Heat can be extracted from about any source no matter how cold, even in Minnesota and Michigan. A ground source heat pump uses the shallow ground or ground water as a source of heat, thus taking advantage of its seasonally mild temperatures. For example, let's say that it's 40 degrees F outside. To heat our home, we need to raise the temperature to say 70 degrees to be comfortable. And we typically rely on either electricity or natural gas to make up this difference - heating from 40 up to 70. However, if we have an in ground source of energy that is already at 54 degrees with a heat exchanger, then we need only rely on electricity or natural gas to get us from 55 to 70 - a considerable savings in energy expended to heat our home.

Similarly, in the summer, if the outdoor ambient temperature is, say, 80 degrees F but we want our home to be air conditioned and maintain in home temperatures in the 70 to 75 degree range, then we can draw on the lower temperatures in the ground, with a heat exchanger, to do much of the work of reducing in home temperatures. And this is what geothermal heat pumps do - reduce both our home heating and air conditioning expense. Following is a graphic of "closed loop" geothermal heat pump systems typically used in the Pacific Northwest:


Note both the supply and return lines. Geothermal pipe is installed in the gound in a closed loop system. In the winter when heating is needed, a carrier fluid (typically a water/antifreeze mix) is circulated through pipes located in the ground. As the fluid circulates underground, it absorbs heat from the ground and on its return the now warmer fluid passes through the heat pump - requiring less natural gas or electricity use by the heat pump to raise temperatures to the desired level. Spent fluid is recycled back into the ground to be heated up again. The same is true in the summer, except in reverse to provide cooling.

The above graphic shows two alternative closed loop systems - (1) a shallow system spread out across reasonable large spaces and (2) a deep system designed to minimize the land footprint area required, but requiring much deeper depths. Both work very well depending on your homesite footprint area available.

I have learned a lot about the realities of geothermal from a contractor in Seattle who specializes in "green building" - David Delfiner aka Lisa's Parson's husband. For those not aware, Lisa is executive director of the Middle Green River Coalition and she has contributed enormously to the open space areas we now have available to us in the Green River Gorge and watershed. David reports very satisfied customers, because it's so simple. Makes sense to me.

Looking at the economics, I'm not sure that we can make this pencil for us at this time. We have more than enough land to make it work but the total installed cost of about $14,000 seems hard to get a reasonble payback on. According to one supplier, we would save about $950 per year from our investment. The only problem for us is that this includes savings in air conditioning costs during the summer - and we just don't air condition today. As it turns out, we have another geothermal resource called a basement. If it gets too hot upstairs, just go sleep in the basement and all is well.

I will say this. If we were building a new home - there is no question that geothermal heat pumps would be part of our design.

Solar panel has world's highest energy conversion efficiency rate of 21.6 percent

A manufacturer of what is believed to be the world's most efficient solar units announced on February 1 that the cells have achieved MCS accreditation and are now ready for use in the UK.

SANYO Component Europe GmbH (SANYO) produces the HIT series of photovoltaic cells, including the N 220SE10 which, to date, has the world's highest energy conversion efficiency rate of 21.6 percent.

On February 1 the company announced that the HIT cells had passed MCS accreditation. MCS accreditation is bestowed upon companies by the independent Microgeneration Certification Scheme, which certifies small scale or 'mircogeneration' technologies that are used to produce heat of electricity from renewable resources.

Though the HIT Series of cells are already commercially available throughout mainland Europe, MCS accreditation is required before products can be released into the UK market.

For consumers the MCS accreditation essentially means that consumers can use the HIT cells under the Feed In Tariff (FIT) scheme - a Europe-wide financial incentive rewarding those who install power generating renewable energy devices connected to the grid.

This is of benefit to consumers as the high efficiency rate allows more power to be generated using fewer cells and also means that less roof space is required to generate solar power- which increases the opportunities for renewable energy generation for those where space is an issue. The 'N' series of HIT modules will be commercially available from March 2011.

Other renewable energy companies from around the world will be showcasing the latest in renewable and energy efficient technologies at a series of upcoming exhibitions including), EXPO Solar in Goyang, South Korea (February 16-18), the Renewable Energy Expo in Lyon, France (February15-18) and Eco Build in London (March 1-3).

Eco Build attracts over 1,300 exhibitors and 41,000 visitors from around the globe and is used by companies as a launchpad for their new products. At Eco Build 2011 numerous photovoltaic companies including Emmvee, the Ideal Group and Mitsubishi plan to launch their latest innovations in the field of solar power.

Super Angel Fund aims to bring 10 companies to an initial public offering by 2025 has announced its first major investment

A so-called 'super angel fund' which aims to bring 10 companies to an initial public offering by 2025 has announced its first major investment.

Lough Shore Investments in Belfast has given the cash injection to wind energy firm Simple Power, which focuses on generating power from single wind turbines.

A spokesman for Lough Shore, which was founded last year by ex-Wombat chief executive Danny Moore, would not confirm the sum of the investment but revealed it was considerable.

Earlier this month Mr Moore said he wanted to target renewable energy firms, though the fund recently invested in a technology start-up.

Simple Power, which was set up by planning consultant Paul Carson, wants to invest over £50m in Northern Ireland's wind energy market over the next five years.

Ultimately it hopes to help produce more than 50MW of wind energy every year by 2015.

Danny Moore said the venture "ticked all the right boxes" for Lough Shore Investments.

"We want to invest in high potential management teams and partner with them to build great businesses.

"As a first investment, Simple Power could not fit those criteria better. Their management team is second to none, boasting individuals with a proven track record of success both here and abroad

"Their innovative solution is scalable, making it possible to deploy right across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. It possesses all the ingredients required to be a great business."

Mr Moore added that Lough Shore would aim to help develop energy possibilities in off-shore wind, biomass and hydro power.

Paul Carson, chief executive of Simple Power, said its business model was built on "dealing openly, honestly and fairly with landowners and farmers".

"They're integral to our business model and we have no doubt this unique approach will make Simple Power the primary renewable energy source in Northern Ireland in the years to come.

"We're delighted to partner with Lough Shore Investments.

"Simple Power is setting out on a journey to harness the vast renewable energy potential that exists in Northern Ireland."

As chief executive of financial software business Wombat, Mr Moore rang the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange when the firm was bought by NYSE Euronext.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/business-news/angel-fund-targets-10-startups-for-ipo-bid-15093377.html#ixzz1EmEVlnqD

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited Highlights Of 2010

Financing Activities

In August 2010 the Company undertook a placement of 95.3m shares at a price of 10.5 pence (approximately 18.25 Australian cents) and raised the equivalent of AUD 17.4m. In September 2010 the Company made an offer to shareholders on the same terms and issued a further 70.3m shares and raised an additional AUD 12.8m. The net amount raised from both fundraising rounds after transaction costs was AUD 28.9m. During the half-year the Company’s investment in inventory has increased from AUD 1.1m in June 2010 to AUD 4.9m at December 2010. This increase will be directed to fulfilling the existing order backlog and to meet expected future sales.

Operational Overview

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited is a leader in developing solid oxide fuel cell technology to provide highly efficient and low-emission electricity from widely available natural gas (and other hydrocarbon fuels in the future). A fuel cell is an electricity generator that converts gas into electricity and heat through an electrochemical reaction, without combustion or noise. Fuel cells can provide significant environmental benefits through high efficiency and low emissions.

Global energy markets are facing a transformation. Peak demand for energy is rising, requiring significant investment in new power generation and grid infrastructure. However there is widespread agreement that greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation must be reduced. These forces create a very large global opportunity for low-emission energy technology, like solid oxide fuel cells, which can be deployed using the existing natural gas and electricity infrastructure. These market forces also encourage a move away from large centralised power stations towards ‘distributed generation’, where small scale power stations are installed close to where the power is used, with no transmission losses.

Ceramic Fuel Cells’ products have achieved electrical efficiency of 60 percent at the point of use, which the Directors believe is higher than any other electricity generating technology. When heat is recovered from the electricity production process, total efficiency is up to 85 percent – twice as efficient as the average among current European power stations.

This very high efficiency can significantly cut carbon emissions from power generation. There is now widespread recognition that maximising electrical efficiency is the key to creating the most value from small scale power and heating products, and the Directors believe the Company’s achievements can create a strong competitive advantage in this very large global market.

Customers and Products
The first products powered by the Company’s fuel cells are small scale units for homes and other buildings that produce up to two kilowatts of electricity as well as heat for hot water or space heating. In order to cater for different markets and customers, the Company is developing two products in parallel: integrated combined heat and power (mCHP) units, as well as a modular generator product called BlueGen. Both products use the Company’s Gennex fuel cell module and share many ‘balance of plant’ components, allowing the Company and its partners to create different products and customer offerings from the same core technology platform.

Integrated mCHP – Power + Heating + Hot Water
During the half-year the Company continued to develop fully integrated mCHP products with its European utility and appliance partners, including EWE AG in Germany, E.ON in the United Kingdom and GDF SUEZ in France. In these partnerships, Ceramic Fuel Cells supplies its Gennex fuel cell modules to appliance partners, which integrate them with high efficiency boilers into single integrated units to convert natural gas into power, hot water and space heating for homes. The appliance manufacturer or the utility then sells or leases the mCHP unit to the homeowner.

The highlight of the half-year was the Company securing a conditional order in December 2010 for up to 200 integrated mCHP products from German energy service provider EWE. This is the largest order the Company has received, with total revenue of up to EUR 4.9 million over two years. EWE will install the units in homes in the Lower Saxony region in northern Germany. EWE is one of the largest utilities in Germany, with 6,400 staff and revenues of EUR 5.8 billion. Based in Northern Germany, EWE also has operations in other German states as well as Poland and Turkey.

The order is conditional on EWE receiving partial funding under the German
government’s national hydrogen and fuel cell technology innovation program. This
Government program is providing EUR 700 million between 2008 and 2018. EWE has
submitted a formal funding application and a positive decision is expected in early 2011. Subject to EWE obtaining Government funding and to the units meeting agreed performance targets, EWE will order 70 units for delivery in 2011 and 130 units for delivery in 2012. The performance targets, unit prices and the rates for ongoing service and support have been agreed in a contract signed by EWE and the Company.

This is a significant follow-on order from EWE, the Company’s longest standing utility customer. The Directors are confident that the German government will support the project and we look forward to updating shareholders in due course. Apart from Germany, during the half-year the Company continued to operate integrated power and heating units in the United Kingdom and France. In the United Kingdom, the Company is in discussions with its utility partner E.ON UK to
finalise the details of the next stage of product deployment. In February 2009 the Company and E.ON agreed the profile of a future volume order for mCHP units. Subject to the Company meeting agreed price and performance targets, E.ON UK will place a minimum order of 100,000 units from 2012-2018 in order to retain exclusivity for Ceramic Fuel Cells’ mCHP products in the UK market.

In France the Company is working with GDF SUEZ, one of the world’s largest diversified energy utilities and the dominant gas utility in France (with 11 million customers in France). The Company has successfully built and operated integrated units with GDF SUEZ and its appliance partner De Dietrich Thermique (now part of the BDR Thermea group). In December 2010 the partners agreed to the next stage of the product rollout, in which Ceramic Fuel Cells and BDR Thermea will build the next generation of product for testing by GDF SUEZ. This version of the product will use the same core Ceramic Fuel Cells components, which BDR Thermea will tightly integrate with a high efficiency boiler into a physically smaller unit.

BlueGen sales – Power + Hot Water
Apart from the integrated product, the Company has also developed a modular power and heat generator called BlueGen, to provide low emission power plus heat for hot water. One BlueGen can provide about double the electricity the average home needs – excess power can be exported to the grid – plus hot water for an average family’s needs. Like the integrated product, BlueGen uses the Company’s Gennex fuel cell module to achieve electrical efficiency of 60 percent – far higher than any other small scale electricity generator.

During the half-year the Company continued to receive orders for BlueGen units from leading energy companies and other foundation customers. To date the Company has received orders for 63 BlueGen units, from customers in Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Australia and the USA. A total of 21 BlueGen units are installed and operating in customers’ sites.

Highlights during the half-year and up to date include:
The Company has sold its first BlueGen units in Italy, to leading energy company Edison S.p.A. Edison will install one BlueGen unit at its test laboratory and then at its headquarters in Milan, and will install two further units with customers when modifications to the unit’s power management system are completed to comply with Italian grid requirements. Edison is one of Italy’s leading electricity and gas companies, with 2009 revenues of EUR 9 billion.

In December the Company sold three BlueGen units to E.ON UK. One BlueGen will be
installed in early 2011 at the E.ON training centre in Tipton, where E.ON’s Property Services department trains its staff in the installation and maintenance of gas and electrical appliances. The other two BlueGen units will be installed at demonstration sites. The Company believes that the BlueGen installation at the E.ON training centre will be particularly beneficial. Having a well trained network of installers and service technicians is critical to deploying BlueGens and integrated mCHP products in larger volumes, and to receiving accreditation in order to access the UK feed in tariff. During the half-year the Company received further orders from leading Germany energy companies, including EIFER (the European Institute for Energy Research) and EnBW, the third largest utility in Germany, and Gasag, based in Berlin. BlueGen has been accredited by the relevant German Government authority (BAFA) and BlueGen customers in Germany are now eligible to receive the feed in tariff for small power and heating products