Ballard and Anglo American Platinum developing fuel cell home generator for African market
12 November 2012
Ballard Power Systems announced successful completion of the first phase of work, and significant progress on the second phase, with Anglo American Platinum Limited under a Product Development Agreement related to fuel cell-powered electric generators for the African rural home market.
Under the agreement, Anglo American Platinum has committed to fund development and testing of the planned home generator product, which will be capable of providing primary power to homes in remote African communities that are without access to the electrical grid. Work to date has included a market feasibility study, testing of a proof-of-concept system based on existing technology from Ballard and Dantherm Power, Ballard's backup power company, and initial work on a prototype system.
The home generator product is being developed as a means of addressing the many African households in rural communities that are currently unable to economically access the grid as a result of distance or terrain. The home generator will run on readily available methanol fuel, utilizing an integrated fuel reformer. Ballard is providing fuel reformer and fuel cell stack technology and Dantherm Power will provide the remaining system components needed for the finished product.
Once Ballard has completed development of a prototype system meeting commercial product requirements, the companies will undertake further field trials, potentially leading to the manufacture, distribution and support of a commercial product for the African market. The low-cost fuel reformer being developed for the home generator will also represent an important evolutionary step for the methanol fuel cell products recently acquired by Ballard from IdaTech.
I wonder if they can hit the purity standards needed to make this bio-methanol in African conditions.
That would save a lot on the import bill of many African countries.
Posted by: Davemart | 12 November 2012 at 04:53 AM
It is almost unbelievable that ultra poor Africa could afford those very costly e-energy generators while we can't. Who will foot the bill?
Posted by: HarveyD | 12 November 2012 at 06:50 AM
Seems like they would have a readier market in New York, New Jersey using natural gas. After two weeks without power, who would want to return to the grid if there was an affordable alternative?
Posted by: creativforce | 13 November 2012 at 07:01 AM