Ballard Power Systems has announced that it has signed an agreement to provide a 1 MW ClearGen fuel cell distributed generation system for Hydrogène de France (HDF). The system will be deployed at an AkzoNobel sodium chlorate chemical plant in Bordeaux. In addition, Ballard will provide engineering services support for the programme.
Kevin Colbow, Vice President of Technology Solutions for Ballard Power, said: “This transaction is another demonstration of Ballard’s competency in addressing customer needs in a variety of application areas. This programme will benefit from our experience with the 1 MW ClearGen system that has been successfully operating to provide peak power at Toyota’s Torrance California campus over the last two years.”
Powered by proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, the system will enable HDF to generate electricity and supply it to the local grid.
The programme will be partially funded by the EU Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH-JU), with the remaining funding to be provided by HDF and its partners. The FCH-JU is supporting this programme to help define EU standards of fuel cell integration and to validate progress made in increasing stack life. The programme agreement is structured in two phases. Under the first phase, due for completion in mid-2016, Ballard will receive an initial payment of €1.7 million for undertake engineering services and core component development work. Under the second phase, due for completion in 2017, Ballard will receive an additional €1.7 million for onsite assembly and commissioning, subject to HDF securing the necessary funding to complete the project.