MechChem Africa March 2017

Fuel cells, greener genset and FCEVs

Commenting on the importance of this project, Fahmida Smith, fuel cell coordina- tor at Impala Platinum Refinery adds: “The development of Implats’ 8.0MWfuel cell is an excitingmove towards amore carbon-neutral fuel source at its refinery. The technology generates combined heat and power and will result in a significant reduction in our costs over its 20 year life.” This initiative is part of Implats’ strategic objective to fast-track local manufactur- ing of fuel cells and its componentry within a proposed 16-hectare tributary of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Springs region. The project, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, the Gauteng Industrial Development Zone and supported by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, is a longer-term strategic in- vestment to promote platinum beneficiation within South Africa. It is also a collaborative effort by var- ious departments of the South African Government with ties to strategic local and internationalpartnershipsthroughtheImpala Roadmap, which aims to develop fuel cell technology to drive knowledge-based skills development and job creation and to increase foreign direct investment in South Africa. This strategy envisages partnerships with international manufacturers and, in time, the backward integration of local South African sub-components. “The Impala Roadmap represents criti- cal steps in support of the fuel cell industry, specifically for the development of manu- facturing capacity in South Africa, where the predominant supply of the critical platinum componentry is mined. The opportunities identified through local manufacturing are entrenched in the roadmap throughextensive collaboration between industry, government and academia in South Africa,” adds Smith. In the long term, Implats will maintain a strongemphasisonthedeploymentoffuelcell technology and energy-efficiency projects.

Implats has established a fuel cell project with the ultimate aim of taking its Impala Platinum Refinery off the Eskom grid. Peter Middleton takes a look at the expanding range of applications for fuel cells in a greener economy.

O n February 7, 2017, platinum group metals producer, Implats, announced its intention to take its Impala Platinum Refinery off the Eskom grid, initially with the installation of an 8.0 MWDoosan fuel cell bank. The project is already at an advanced development stage with Doosan Fuel Cell America (Doosan) as the technology partner; an agreement imminentwith an international equity partner being advised by Fieldstone; andPentaquarkEnergy, adecentralisedener- gy anddistributedenergy solutions specialist, about to come on board as strategic partner. “The project will be funded on a limited recourse finance basis with financial close aimed at meeting commercial operations by January 2018,” says Zahed Sibda, managing director of Fieldstone Africa. Implats has also negotiated the natural gas supply to the fa-

cility with Springs Light Gas, a leading sup- plier of piped natural gas in southern Africa. Says Nkosinathi Solomon, CEO of Springs Light Gas: “We are excited to partner with Implats on this strategic initiative of national economic significance.” Phase one of the project involves the in- stallation of 20 Doosan fuel cells generating around 400 kW each to provide 8.0 MW of power, mooted to be operational by mid- 2017. But the long-termgoal is to install three or four of these power banks to supply the 22 and 30MWof power needed by the refinery. “Doosan is excited to be a part of the clean energy evolution in South Africa with its PureCell Model 400 combined heat and power solution,” says Eric Strayer, vice president of international sales for Doosan. He says that South Africa is embracing new ways to solve their energy challenges. “By deploying fuel cells as a decentralised, clean energygeneration solution, the country could become the prototype for the future of en- ergy production,” he suggests.

The scalable Doosan PureCell ® 400 can generate up to 440 kW of clean electricity when new, reducing to 400 kW after 10 years of use.

Above: The PureCell is designed to be powered by natural gas rather than hydrogen. The gas (CH 4 ) is ‘cracked’ to provide the hydrogen needed to fuel the cell. Right: Doosan fuel cells use phosphoric acid (H 3 PO 4 ) as the electrolyte, saturated in a silicon carbide matrix (SiC). The electrodes are made of carbon paper coated with a finely dispersed platinum catalyst.

42 ¦ MechChem Africa • March 2017