Meidensha, Siemens link for SOFC business
Tokyo-based Meidensha Corporation (www. meidensha.co.jp)
and its German fuel cell development partner Siemens (www.powergeneration. siemens.com) are preparing to launch a solid oxide fuel cell business in Japan for large commercial applications like factories, office buildings, hotels and hospitals. Siemens will manufacture the fuel cells, and Meidensha will produce the peripheral control equipment and also take charge of installation and supervision.
The two firms forged a partnership two years ago [FCB, November 2005], and so far have been testing small-scale SOFC versions. Now a large-scale version is ready for market, so the companies will set up a joint venture this year in Japan to handle sales and management, according to a report in the Nikkei Business Daily.
Starting in fiscal 2008, this venture will market a 125 kW-class SOFC that runs on natural gas, and used in cogeneration systems that can utilize the 'waste' heat.
Voller enters Spanish and Dutch markets, wins government grant UK-based Voller Energy (www.voller.com) has secured Barcelona-based Disvent Ingenieros SA as its distributor in Spain, the Balearic and Canary Islands. Disvent (www.disvent.com) will distribute the 1 kW Emerald fuel cell system across Voller's key construction and leisure markets.
In addition, in conjunction with sustainable energy company Ecofys International (www. ecofys.com), the Emerald system will power a mobile warning trailer on motorways across The Netherlands.
Meanwhile, Voller has been awarded a Β£146 000 (US$290 000) grant from the UK government's Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. The award, under the Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Carbon Abatement Technologies Demonstration Programme (HFCCAT), is to develop an environmentally friendly cabin for the construction sector.