Fraunhofer ISE, VDE cooperate in portable systems certification I n Germany, VDE -the Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies -and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE have signed a memorandum of understanding for the testing and certification of fuel cell systems for portable and remote applications. As part of their cooperation, the VDE Institute will take charge of safety tests and certification according to established standards. The relevant operating tests will be carried out jointly by the VDE and Fraunhofer ISE.
Fraunhofer ISE has been active in R&D of fuel cells for portable and remote applications for 10 years, and has shown numerous prototypes. For such applications, its researchers have focused on PEM fuel cells as efficient, environmentally friendly, quiet and low-maintenance power sources in the range from mW up to several hundred kW.
The fast-growing market for increasingly powerful electronic devices is keenly awaiting the establishment of fuel cells as power supplies for consumer devices like laptops and cell phones, as well as for sensor networks, goods transportation and small-scale mobile applications.
'Against the backdrop of this large market potential, the significance of a transnational standardization should not be neglected,' says Dr Christopher Hebling, head of energy technology at Fraunhofer ISE. 'It is our intention that prior to a broad market introduction of micro fuel cell systems, the quality assurance is met according to international criteria.' As far back as 2000, Technical Committee (TC) 105 of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) set the terms for a standardization program. Previously, unilateral technological attempts had been made on a regional basis in the US, Japan and Europe, to safeguard know-how. However, it became increasingly apparent that a uniform international standard is advantageous for both manufacturers and customers. Meanwhile, corresponding standards have been established in the areas of terminology, safety and health protection, measurement and testing procedures, disposal and recycling.