Hydrogenics

Last updated
Hydrogenics
IndustryAlternative Energy
Founded1995
Headquarters
Mississauga, Ontario
,
Canada
Number of locations
 Belgium, Canada, and Germany
Key people
President and CEO Daryl Wilson
Products Fuel Cells
Electrolyzers
RevenueUS$ 42.4 million
Number of employees
140
Parent Cummins Inc. (81%)
Air Liquide (19%) [1]
Subsidiaries Hydrogenics Europe NV
Hydrogenics GmbH
Website www.hydrogenics.com

Hydrogenics is a developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products based on water electrolysis and proton-exchange membrane (PEM) technology. [2] [3] Hydrogenics is divided into two business units: OnSite Generation and Power Systems. Onsite Generation is headquartered in Oevel, Belgium and had 73 full-time employees as of December 2013. [4] Power Systems is based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, with a satellite facility in Gladbeck, Germany. [4] It had 62 full-time employees as of December 2013. [4] Hydrogenics maintains operations in Belgium, Canada and Germany with satellite offices in the United States, Indonesia, Malaysia and Russia. [4]

Contents

Business overview

OnSite Generation

The OnSite Generation business segment is based on water electrolysis technology, which involves the decomposition of water into oxygen (O2) and hydrogen gas (H
2) by passing an electric current through a liquid electrolyte. [4] The resultant hydrogen gas is then captured and used for industrial gas applications, hydrogen fueling applications, and is used to store renewable and surplus energy in the form of hydrogen gas. [4] Hydrogenics' HySTAT electrolyzer products can be used both indoors and outdoors. [4]

Power Systems

The Power Systems business segment is based on PEM fuel cell technology, which transforms chemical energy resulting from the electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen into electrical energy. (Edgar) Its HyPM products can handle electrical power outputs ranging from 1 kilowatt to 1 megawatt. [4] The company also develops and delivers hydrogen generation products based on PEM water electrolysis. [4]

Power to Gas

Power-to-Gas is an energy process and storage technology, which takes the excess power generated by wind turbines, solar power, or biomass power plants and converts carbon dioxide and water into methane using electrolysis, enabling it be stored. [5] [6] [7] The excess electricity can then be held in existing reserves, including power and natural gas grids. [6] [7] This allows for seasonally adjusted storage of significant amounts of power and the provision of CO2-neutral fuels in the form of the resulting renewable energy source gas. [6] [7]

History

In 1988, Hydrogenics was founded under the name Traduction Militech Translation Inc. [8] In 1995, it entered into the fuel cell technology development business and Traduction Militech Translation changed its name to Hydrogenics in 1990. [8]

In 2002, Hydrogenics acquired EnKAT GmbH, which formed its Hydrogenics Europe division. [9] It also acquired Greenlight Power Technologies, Inc., a competing fuel cell testing business, in 2003. [9] A year later, in 2004, the company acquired Stuart Energy, a manufacturer of hydrogen-generation products based on alkaline electrolyte technology. [8] [10]

In 2007, Hydrogenics narrowed the focus of its fuel cell activities by exiting the fuel cell testing business and working more on forklift power and backup power markets. [8] That same year, Heliocentris partnered with Hydrogenics and SMA Solar Technologie to incorporate Hydrogenics' fuel cell power modules into stationary backup power systems. [8]

In September 2010, Hydrogenics formed an alliance with CommScope Inc., a Hickory, North Carolina-based multinational telecommunications company. [11] Per the alliance, CommScope invested US$8.5 million in Hydrogenics as part of a joint product development program. [8] [12]

Hydrogenics signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iwatani Corporation, a Japanese industrial energy company, in April 2012. [13] The companies began to collaborate on hydrogen solutions in the Japanese energy market, including utility-scale hydrogen energy storage, hydrogen generation and fuelling, fuel cell integration, and industrial hydrogen generation. [13] Later that month Hydrogenics and Enbridge Inc. entered into a joint venture to develop utility-scale energy storage beginning in Ontario. [12] [14] Under the agreement, hydrogen produced during periods of excess renewable generation will be injected into Enbridge's existing natural gas pipeline network. [14] In June 2013, Hydrogenics announced that its Power-to-Gas facility was operational with the first direct injection of hydrogen into a gas pipeline. [15]

Hydrogenics entered into a joint venture with South Korea-based Kolon Water & Energy to provide power generation in that country in June 2014. [16]

In 2019 Hydrogenics was acquired in large parts by Cummins as part of their New Power division. Hydrogenics is now owned 81% by Cummins and 19% by Air Liquide. The name of the company has since been changed to Accelera. [1]

Projects

In June 2000, General Motors and Hydrogenics released their codeveloped HydroGen1, a vehicle powered by a first generation proton exchange membrane fuel cell system. [8] The following year, in October, the two companies developed low-pollution technology to power cars and trucks. [17]

In December 2002, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) selected Hydrogenics to develop a next-generation hybrid fuel cells bus; Hydrogenics integrated its vehicle-to-grid technology into a 12.5 meter New Flyer Inverno 40i transit bus. [8] Hydrogenics' FC Hybrid Tecnobus midibus was exhibited in Europe in 2005. [8]

In January 2010, Hydrogenics began development of a next-generation power system to be used for surface mobility applications on the moon for the Canadian Space Agency. [2] The system includes an electrolyzer that produces both hydrogen and oxygen using solar power, and a fuel cell system that can be used for mobility, auxiliary, and life support systems. [2] Heliocentris and FAUN Umwelttechnick collaborated with Hydrogenics to develop a hybrid waste disposal vehicle for BSR (Berliner Stadtreinigung) in August of that year. [8]

In July 2012, Hydrogenics joined a consortium with EU members to build the world's largest steady state hydrogen storage facility in the Puglia region of Italy. [18] The system is part of the R&D smart grid project "INGRID." [12] [18]

In April 2013, Hydrogenics won a contract to supply a 1 megawatt hydrogen energy storage system to German utility E.ON in Hamburg. [19] The system will use electrolyzers based on Hydrogenics' proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology for hydrogen production and use excess power generated from regional renewable energy sources, primarily wind energy. [19] In November the first of E.ON's P2G facilities provided by Hydrogenics became operational. [15] The Falkenhagen facility uses wind-powered electrolysis equipment to transform water to hydrogen, which is then mixed with natural gas. [3] [15]

In February 2014, Hydrogenics was awarded two projects with the United Kingdom government. [20] Hydrogenics will provide its technology to build hydrogen fuel stations throughout the UK. [12] [20]

Hydrogenics was selected as a Preferred Respondent for a power-to-gas project in Ontario by the Independent Electricity System Operator. [21] [22] (IESO), a corporation responsible for operating the electricity market and directing the operation of the bulk electrical system in the province of Ontario, Canada, in July 2014.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuel cell</span> Device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity

A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel and an oxidizing agent into electricity through a pair of redox reactions. Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requiring a continuous source of fuel and oxygen to sustain the chemical reaction, whereas in a battery the chemical energy usually comes from substances that are already present in the battery. Fuel cells can produce electricity continuously for as long as fuel and oxygen are supplied.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy storage</span> Captured energy for later usage

Energy storage is the capture of energy produced at one time for use at a later time to reduce imbalances between energy demand and energy production. A device that stores energy is generally called an accumulator or battery. Energy comes in multiple forms including radiation, chemical, gravitational potential, electrical potential, electricity, elevated temperature, latent heat and kinetic. Energy storage involves converting energy from forms that are difficult to store to more conveniently or economically storable forms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydrogen economy</span> Using hydrogen to decarbonize sectors which are hard to electrify

The hydrogen economy is an umbrella term that draws together the roles hydrogen can play alongside renewable electricity to decarbonize specific economic sectors, sub-sectors and activities which may be technically difficult to decarbonize through other means, or where cheaper and more energy-efficient clean solutions are not available. In this context, hydrogen economy encompasses hydrogen’s production through to end-uses in ways that substantively contribute to avoiding the use of fossil fuels and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grid energy storage</span> Large scale electricity supply management

Grid energy storage is a collection of methods used for energy storage on a large scale within an electrical power grid. Electrical energy is stored during times when electricity is plentiful and inexpensive or when demand is low, and later returned to the grid when demand is high, and electricity prices tend to be higher.

A proton-exchange membrane, or polymer-electrolyte membrane (PEM), is a semipermeable membrane generally made from ionomers and designed to conduct protons while acting as an electronic insulator and reactant barrier, e.g. to oxygen and hydrogen gas. This is their essential function when incorporated into a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell or of a proton-exchange membrane electrolyser: separation of reactants and transport of protons while blocking a direct electronic pathway through the membrane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Fuel Cell Partnership</span> Public-private partnership to promote hydrogen vehicles

The California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) is a public-private partnership to promote hydrogen vehicles (including cars and buses) in California. It is notable as one of the first initiatives for that purpose undertaken in the United States. The challenge is which come first, hydrogen cars or filling stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electrolysis of water</span> Electricity-induced chemical reaction

Electrolysis of water is using electricity to split water into oxygen and hydrogen gas by electrolysis. Hydrogen gas released in this way can be used as hydrogen fuel, but must be kept apart from the oxygen as the mixture would be extremely explosive. Separately pressurised into convenient 'tanks' or 'gas bottles', hydrogen can be used for oxyhydrogen welding and other applications, as the hydrogen / oxygen flame can reach approximately 2,800°C.

Hydrogen production is the family of industrial methods for generating hydrogen gas. There are four main sources for the commercial production of hydrogen: natural gas, oil, coal, and electrolysis of water; which account for 48%, 30%, 18% and 4% of the world's hydrogen production respectively. Fossil fuels are the dominant source of industrial hydrogen. As of 2020, the majority of hydrogen (~95%) is produced by steam reforming of natural gas and other light hydrocarbons, partial oxidation of heavier hydrocarbons, and coal gasification. Other methods of hydrogen production include biomass gasification and methane pyrolysis. Methane pyrolysis and water electrolysis can use any source of electricity including renewable energy.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Membrane electrode assembly</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">High-pressure electrolysis</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microbial electrolysis cell</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Proton exchange membrane electrolysis</span> Technology for splitting water molecules

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anion exchange membrane electrolysis</span> Splitting of water using a semipermeable membrane

Anion exchange membrane(AEM) electrolysis is the electrolysis of water that utilises a semipermeable membrane that conducts hydroxide ions (OH−) called an anion exchange membrane. Like a proton-exchange membrane (PEM), the membrane separates the products, provides electrical insulation between electrodes, and conducts ions. Unlike PEM, AEM conducts hydroxide ions. The major advantage of AEM water electrolysis is that a high-cost noble metal catalyst is not required, low-cost transition metal catalyst can be used instead. AEM electrolysis is similar to alkaline water electrolysis, which uses a non-ion-selective separator instead of an anion-exchange membrane.

References

  1. 1 2 "Cummins closes on its acquisition of Hydrogenics". Cummins Inc. 2019-09-09. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  2. 1 2 3 "Hydrogenics to develop fuel cell lunar power system for Canadian Space Agency". Renewable Energy Focus. 8 January 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 Jim Bentein (January–February 2014). "Green Hydrogen". New Technology Magazine. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Form 20-F". United States Securities and Exchange Commission. 8 March 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  5. ↑ Tim Tyler (24 May 2013). "Germany To Begin Renewable Power-To-Gas Research Project". Clean Technia. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 "Power to Gas". GridGas. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 "GTAI Power-to-Gas Technology". Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Hikosaka Behling, Noriko (2013). Fuel Cells, Current Technology Challenges and Future Research Needs. Elsevier. pp. 435, 446–7, 456, 528, 558–560, 563. ISBN   978-0-444-56325-5.
  9. 1 2 Lee Oliver (1 June 2003). "Generation H". Profit Magazine.
  10. ↑ "Hydrogenics succeeds in Stuart Energy bid". Fuel Cells Bulletin. February 2005.
  11. ↑ "Hydrogenics (HYGS) Receives Power Modules Order From Commscope". 5 December 2012. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Power-to-gas technology enables utility-scale storage of renewable energy". Clean Tech Canada. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Hydrogenics Targets Japanese Market with Iwatani Agreement". FuelCell Today. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  14. 1 2 "Tax Season Hydrogenics and Enbridge to develop utility-scale energy storage". The Associated Press. 23 April 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  15. 1 2 3 Paul Dvorak (26 November 2013). "A novel way to store excess wind power: as H
    2     in gas lines"    . Windpower Engineering & Development. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  16. ↑ "Traders Are Watching – LDK Solar Co., Ltd (ADR) (OTCMKTS:LDKSY), Hydrogenics Corporation (USA) (NASDAQ:HYGS), Science Applications International Corp (NYSE:SAIC), Kindred Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:KIN)". Markets Insider. 14 July 2014. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  17. ↑ "COMPANY NEWS; G.M. TO BUY STAKE IN COMPANY THAT DEVELOPS FUEL CELLS". The New York Times. 17 October 2001. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  18. 1 2 Karrissa Singh (23 July 2012). "EU and Canada team to build world's largest hydrogen storage system". Renewable Energy Technology. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  19. 1 2 "Hydrogenics wins 1 MW P2G contract from E.ON". Energy Storage Journal. 3 June 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  20. 1 2 "Hydrogenics to help bolster UK hydrogen fuel infrastructure". 3 February 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  21. ↑ Stuart Radnedge (28 July 2014). "Hydrogenics chosen for energy facility". Gas World. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  22. ↑ "Hydrogenics Selected for 2 Megawatt Energy Storage Facility in Ontario". Energy Storage Association. 29 July 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
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