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- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 2011
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 80 KB
- Volume
- 2011
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1464-2859
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✦ Synopsis
Topsoe Fuel Cell signs MOU with SK Holdings in Korea
T he Danish company Topsoe Fuel Cell has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korean industrial conglomerate SK Holdings. The deal includes a strong collaborative effort towards the commercialization of fuel cells for small units for private housing, as well as large stationary units.
The MOU gives Topsoe Fuel Cell a unique opportunity to demonstrate and supply its solid oxide fuel cell technology for the fast-growing Asian economy, and it is a significant step towards commercialization. The company will contribute its key technologies to develop products in tandem with the Tech Innovation Center (TIC), a research institute affiliated with SK.
SK Holdings is particularly interested in 'smart grids'. Fuel cell technology makes it possible to supply energy to the network when your own power consumption is low, and at other times when your power consumption is higher, you can import power from the grid.
'The fuel cell technology fits well with South Korea's energy strategy, which focuses on green energy technologies -as emphasized in the 'Green Growth Alliance', which South Korea and Denmark have most recently initiated,' comments Claus Olsen, CEO of Topsoe Fuel Cell. 'And we have a significant need for opportunities to demonstrate our technologies, so we can develop fuel cells towards full-scale commercialization.' Denmark and Korea have been strengthening their fuel cell connections recently -last month the City of Copenhagen, H2 Logic, and Hydrogen Link Denmark Association signed an MOU with Korean automaker Hyundai-Kia Motors, to push the deployment of fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen infrastructure in Korea and Denmark for 2015 [FCB, May 2011].
SK Holdings is South Korea's third-largest company, with activities in energy, chemicals, telecoms, distribution and services in Korea and several other countries. Local media reports see its linkup with Topsoe as competition with POSCO Power in the fuel cell market. POSCO has been working with US-based FuelCell Energy for several years, both placing significant orders for FCE's molten carbonate fuel cell mod-ules [see below] and constructing its own manufacturing facilities in Korea [FCB, May 2011].