Hydrogen & fuel cell markets for Australia ,

 2005 - 2010

NOTE * :

Carbon credit trading in the near future(yr2005) on an international level and within Australia before year 2007,allows for the offset of capital  costs by trading such credits, using these new greenhouse gas reducing technologies.

GM (Australia) -Holden motor vehicles.

Australian cooperatively developed fuel cell power trains for cars (initially hybrids) would negate the costs associated with fully importing such technology. Jobs would be kept here in Australia where applicable. Holden sales within Australia are large and include fleet applications with private, state and federal support. GM(US) in mass producing the HyWire/Autonomy in year 2010, opens the way for batch delivery to Australia for initial commercial fleets. Before year 2010 there exists significant opportunity in developing hybrid power plant technologies as a "stepping stone". As well blended fuels like HCNG for buses and heavy vehicles,along with small fuel cell vehicle demonstration fleets.

Major heavy vehicle part manufacturers / assemblers in Australia/Hybrid power plants and HCNG engines.

These include trucks and buses and a heavy vehicle fuel cell power train would like as above   keep jobs resident, and reduce importation of such technology.Hybrid power plants for heavy transit vehicles as well are definitely on the agenda, along with new CNG and HCNG engine developments. Associated industry like with support components and electric drive systems would be encouraged to develop. By example Borg Warner may wish to develop an electric “gear box” and drive system here in Australia in partnership with Holden. Canada has some positive financial statistics as relating to fuel cell development and economic stimulation, which would validate such here in Australia. Australia would develop fuel cells cooperatively as R&D investment required would be large. Even so there are many important fuel cell components that could be developed in Australia, as well as enabling technologies.

Electricity production / utility companies in Australia:

It is now in the interests of all major electricity production companies within Australia to produce their future electricity as environmentally friendly as possible, or face rejection of their proposals on the grounds that they are no longer in the interests of the general public. By example Craig Knowles the NSW Minister for infrastructure recently rejected the “Red back 2” proposal for the Hunter Region of NSW, because of such reasons. NSW needs 800MW of base load power by year 2007, so many strategies will need to be developed and implemented to defeat coal-fired power plants supplying any of that electricity.

Stationary fuel cell applications (including CHP co-gen systems ) can embrace new housing and industry so that such become their own producers of decentralised electricity , using fuel cell technologies. Electricity utility and distribution organisations, as well as working on the current electricity demand problems say in NSW by example, should focus on (Yr 2005) projects for   decentralised systems, to augment housing and industry using such fuel cell technologies. By example within transformer station a 250kW fuel cell unit running on natural gas would offset the peak demand periods during the year. Other weak areas within the grid power network in NSW can be determined so that fuel cell technologies can provide solutions. There are of course other decentralised power solutions like solar,  wind and and our new tidal/wave generator. Integrated systems like solar, fuel cell and energy storage are as well highly probably over the next few years to year 2008.   

Fuel cell applications for housing, industry, utility and distribution companies complement say the current NSW state government’s objective of electricity demand management, to stop "blackouts" and "brownouts" within NSW. This is a current and serious issue facing Australia .

Electricity waste management as well is complemented by fuel cell technology. The AGO have been advocating energy efficient house designs for some time now, as a means to reduce energy demand, and thus the consequences to society as result of such a reduction as like with reducing green house gas emissions. NSW as well will adopt the federal initiate in July 2004 by introducing mandatory new building codes within the council areas of Sydney, so that any new house built after July 2004 must be 25% power independent of the mains electricity grid, and 40% independent of the mains water grid. In year 2005 these codes will apply to the whole of NSW. We are ready to take the next "step' in year 2005.Year 2010 will see the Tandem Cell (like a solar panel) becoming commercial and readily available producing hydrogen directly from sunlight.

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) OEMs should commence in Australia by year 2005/6 by utility/other companies. Australia has a world class SOFC technology produced by Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd of Melbourne, now seeking a major manufacturing facility (Yr 2005) in Europe for year 2005/6 production.  

 Electronic device and appliance companies in Australia:

Whilst major electronic companies in Australia are not manufacturers rather than distributors, and supply support staff and materials, they may stimulate localised fuel cell associated business. By example a disposable methanol cartridge for laptop computers selling in year 2007 by NEC could easily be produced cheaper here in Australia.Kambrook is an Australian manufacturer of electronic devices and should be quite interested in fuel cell technology. Kambrook Australia would be able to directly utilise micro-fuel cell technology and associated products.

Fuel cells will play a major role in reducing mains electricity demanded from coal-fired power stations as mentioned extensively above, but there is another major reason as to why fuel cells will reduce coal-fired electricity demand. This reason often is not properly factored in, particularly by governments in their future energy demand scenarios. All current energy mix and demand scenarios for Australia’s future, must be significantly misrepresentative at this point in time. Better usage of electricity through our systems is now on the agenda, as well as the real costs of it. 

It is highly probable that by year 2015 given the current real and demonstrated technological developments in fuel cell technology, the global manufacturers of whitegoods and electronic devices will implant the fuel cell unit at the point of manufacture. Such a vast proven market becomes free from the need of a power socket, or to ever be recharged again. With a significant proportion of housing and industry using such self powered whitegoods and devices by year 2015,the demand for mains electricity is vastly reduced, along with all the pollution that is associated with it. As a result the domestic and industrial sectors within society will need only minimal extra electricity which would be easily supplied at that time by much cheaper solar electric and thermal systems.

Fuel cell technology thus will play a critical part now, in helping all stakeholders deal with the current serious issues of the cost of energy to societies as regarding energy security, greenhouse gas reduction, and global warming. It allows for the future to be sustainable by using a clean and inexhaustible fuel namely hydrogen. Hydrogen and electricity will become so commonly understood as being “hand in hand”, the term “Hydricity” as created by Dr G.Ballard, will become well known and used.

State and Federal governments & their agencies:

Benefits:

1. Not importing all fuel cell technology saves 100's of $M over  twenty (20) years. 

2. Australia saves equivalent on foreign exchange.

3. Environmental, greenhouse gas and global warming issues are tackled.

4. Creates up to 3,000 jobs directly by year 2012(NSW alone).

5. Creates new associated industries.

6. Creates job sustainability at high remuneration.

7. Reduces infrastructure costs for mains electricity generation.

8. Creates technological and economic corridors with other regions and states.

9. Creates linkages by example with the CSIRO Energy Tech Park (Newcastle), Moorebank Tech. Park (Liverpool NSW), Hydrogen Tech.’y , Sydney Tech.Park (Redfern NSW), MIT (Melbourne), Murdoch Uni. (W.A.).

10. Creates imperative linkages with the Nanotechnology Institute of Australia and the University of Western Sydney, in the development of new fuel cell catalytic materials, enabling materials, and hydrogen storage materials + other universities.

11. Allows the governments to predict more accurately the future real energy mix needs of Australia, and correct their existing scenarios.

12. Allows for the sustainability of built and natural environments.

13. Will reduce the future hydrocarbon deficit.

14. Facilitates international R&D leveraged funding.

Hydrogen supply markets 2005-2010. 

Drivers for these markets are:

• Current global investment in fuel cell technology at > 5000 fuel cell patents to date.
• Most of these are now resident and directed towards PEM fuel cells requiring hydrogen.
• Metal hydride storage of hydrogen greater than is if were a liquid under high pressure, and the price of such being reduced by 50% within eighteen (18) months.
• Greater hydrogen storage materials being cheaper, discovered in Japan in August 2003.
• Greater technological focus with nanotechnology during 2003 will result in superior and cheaper fuel cells generally within two (2) years. A cost drop of > 60% is forecast.
• Japan will have its own fuel cell industry starting in year 2004.
• Lightweight vehicles require much less hydrogen to be stored on board the vehicle, so the costs of hydride storage or similar would be limited to say just one (1) high volume cylinder. This would apply to the 26 million-scooter market in Asia, and the massive three-wheel vehicle markets in India, Pakistan and other similar countries.
• Such light weight vehicle concepts are being applied to cars as like the release of HyperCar in the US in 2005,and hybrid battery / fuel cell, petrol / fuel cell, powered cars to be released in year 2004.
• Target marketing is currently being done by GM in Asia, as a much cheaper vehicle will be available to the masses their and beyond in year 2010 and onward.
• Such target marketing was recommended by the NHAA early in year 2003,as a means to logically justify investment.
• A localised dispensation system for hydrogen must be available for the Asian market both for lightweight vehicles and cars.
• Increased promotion of hydrogen and fuel cell technology as with international conferences and by example another major conference is set for Western Australia in Sept.04 covering Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology. This is added as well to the hydrogen fuel cell bus trial beginning from mid-04 onward.
• Palcan fuel cell manufacturers of Canada on the 4.12.03 signed a joint venture contract with a Chinese company to mass produce PEM fuel cells in the near future from Shanghai'prices are set to fall as production initially of 20,000 units annually will result with .5w to 5kW units.
• The Canadian government (9.12.03)have created "Fuel Cells Canada" which is a complete business park dedicated to accelerating such fuel cell technology and hydrogen within Canada.
• China is going "Green" via (HCNG) fuel which is a blend of 20% Hydrogen by volume to 80% v methane. Recently (April 04) China imported 150 Cummins heavy duty engines designed to run on the natural gas blended with hydrogen fuel(HCNG).The buses fitted with the newer engines reduce emissions even further over just buses using natural gas (CNG).Hydrogen generation is thus now required for the process.
• Solar thermal technologies by the C.S.I.R.O. now embrace the processing of natural gas where hydrogen can be produced and carbon dioxide trapped for sequestration.A free solar energy component of ~20% and a carbon dioxide reduction by ~30% is achieved.

“Australia is a logical and strategic option for hydrogen supply to such markets, providing it implements programs in year 2005, highlighting its natural advantages of location, accessibility, reliability, price sustainability, land and sunlight . Australia must start in year 2005.”- Stephen Zorbas (2003)

Keep up to date on fuel cell news

By: Jenny Brown  2003