H2 Newsletter 20.09.23 - A breakthrough from Bosch in fuel cell recycling
There's a lot of good news in our newsletter this week. Bosch can now extract up to 95% of the platinum from a fuel cell, and diesel trains have the potential to use a fuel cell instead.
The changes to our energy supply systems pose major challenges for the industry. However, the new systems have not yet reached their full potential in many areas. This is particularly true for fuel cells, which are still in the early stages of their development. Numerous companies are working diligently to enhance the longevity and efficiency of fuel cells. Significant progress is being achieved every year, but there is still much work to be done. Another critical aspect is the recycling of fuel cells once they have reached the end of their operational life. The question arises: how can one extract the often very expensive components and contents from the cell?
One key component of a fuel cell is platinum. A platinum catalyst is necessary for the electrochemical reaction at the cathode of the fuel cell. However, platinum is costly, currently priced at $28 per gram, and approximately 50 grams are required for a single fuel cell. Given that platinum is one of the rarer metals, extracting it from the fuel cell is a significant task. Not many companies have conducted research in this area, as fuel cells are uncommon. However, Bosch has taken the initiative to explore the recycling process and has achieved substantial success. They can now recover the majority of the platinum from a stack.
https://www.bosch-presse.de/pressportal/de/en/bosch-closes-the-circle-almost-all-the-platinum-in-fuel-cell-stacks-can-be-recovered-258048.html
Pink Hydrogen is produced through the use of nuclear power. The EU classifies this hydrogen as 'green' because the production process does not emit CO2. However, many people disagree with this classification due to the eventual generation of nuclear waste that needs to be managed. Since there is still no global solution for handling nuclear waste, using nuclear power for hydrogen production may not be the optimal choice. On the other hand, there is an urgent need for short-term solutions to enable carbon-intensive industries to decarbonize. This has prompted some companies to explore alternative approaches. In Wales, a company named Hanson is leading a significant transformation in the asphalt industry by introducing a hydrogen-fueled, net-zero asphalt production process. With a £6.1 million grant from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, this initiative has gained substantial momentum. https://fuelcellsworks.com/news/a-new-uk-trial-is-revolutionizing-asphalt-production-by-using-hydrogen-from-nuclear-power/
The production of asphalt is carbon-intensive, and this characteristic extends to the entire construction industry. To simplify, making asphalt requires stones, which are obtained from quarries. The heavy machinery necessary for this task typically runs on diesel. However, as Cummins has already demonstrated, it is feasible to utilize hydrogen in these environments. The question then arises: how do you supply hydrogen to quarries and other remote locations? The answer lies in portable hydrogen fuel stations. The Ryze-led consortium, comprising iGAS, Wrightbus, Skanska, Mace Dragados, and Sizewell C, has received a £3.2 million ($3.99 million) grant from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero’s Red Diesel Replacement Programme. This funding will be used to develop and showcase a new range of production-ready hydrogen refueling equipment designed for use on construction sites. https://www.h2-view.com/story/uk-consortium-to-develop-mobile-hydrogen-refuelling-for-construction-sites/
Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail, the operator of the national railway network of Ireland, has signed a contract to retrofit a freight diesel locomotive from diesel fuel to hydrogen as a proof of concept. The purpose of the €1.5 million project is to help decarbonize the operations of Iarnród Éireann's diesel locomotives, assist the company in meeting its goals as a Sustainable Development Goal champion, increase the competitiveness of the company, and reduce carbon exhaust emissions. Unlike other hydrogen projects in the rail sector where hydrogen is used to power locomotives via fuel cells or through specially produced hydrogen engines, this project will showcase a unique approach where hydrogen will be used in the locomotive’s current internal combustion engine. https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/news/iarnrod-eireann-and-latvia-s-digas-to-trial-europe
Honeywell is partnering with the USA’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory to develop a prototype of a cartridge-based hydrogen fuel storage system for use in drones. The hydrogen cartridges will be coupled to a fuel cell to enable long-range flights and higher payload capacities. It will also enable sensitive drone applications like atmospheric monitoring, where exhaust gases would reduce performance. The interesting part of this is that drones could be used more often because the recharging process is much quicker compared to a battery. https://www.aerospacetestinginternational.com/news/drones-air-taxis/honeywell-to-develop-hydrogen-fuel-cartridges-for-drones.html?h2fd
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