Author: moatti

The Linde Group and the US company Algenol Biofuels LLC have agreed to collaborate in a joint development project in order to identify the optimum management of carbon dioxide and oxygen for Algenol’s unique algae and photobioreactor technology. This cooperation will see the companies join forces to develop cost-efficient technologies that capture, store, transport and supply CO2 for Algenol’s proprietary process for the production of third-generation biofuels out of CO2, salt water and algae, as well as remove oxygen from the photobioreactor.

“Producing fuels or chemicals from algae is a promising way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Dr Aldo Belloni, member of the Executive Board of Linde AG. “A cost-efficient supply of CO2 is a key factor in this biofuel chain. As a pioneer and leading company in CO2 capture, transport and supply we are delighted to be a key player in major projects in the algae-to-biofuel area.”

The research collaboration builds on a process developed by Algenol Biofuels and other partners. This method utilizes algae, CO2, salt water and sunlight to directly produce 3G bioethanol and other 3G biofuels or biochemicals in photobioreactors. This technology promises numerous benefits. The production facilities, for example, do not need to be built on land required for food or feed production. Furthermore, the procedure does not consume fresh water nor does it involve costly steps for processing or harvesting and storing biomass. A further key benefit is that the algae also consume CO2 from fossil fuel sources (e.g. combustion flue gases from coal-fired power plants).

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Daimler has announced that ten new fuel cell buses ( Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid) will enter service with the Hamburg transport authority, Hamburger Hochbahn, next year.  Hamburger Hochbahn will also receive 20 fuel cell passenger cars – the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL model – starting 2010.

The Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid is participating in large-scale fleet trials scheduled to take place in Hamburg and other European cities as a follow-up to the European Union’s CUTE and HyFLEET:CUTE projects (conducted between 2003 and 2009). Under the HyFLEET:CUTE project, 36 Citaro buses equipped with the second-generation fuel cell drive system have operated across 12 public transport agencies around the world, including Hamburger Hochbahn. The models have accumulated more than 140,000 hours of operation, during which they covered a total of more than 2.2 million km.

“The new Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid clearly demonstrates that electric mobility is already feasible today also with commercial vehicles,” says Hartmut Schick, head of Daimler Buses. “Besides, synergy potentials with our Mercedes-Benz passenger car development and Daimler research can be optimally used in particular with the fuel cell drive system.”

The Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid and the B-Class F-CELL share a range of common parts, including fuel cell stacks. Daimler claims that the latest Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid consumes almost 50% less hydrogen compared to the preceding generation, due to improved fuel cell components and hybridisation with lithium-ion batteries. The operating range of the fuel cell bus is around 250km.

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Air Products on 9 November announced a long-term supply contract and plans to build a new world-scale hydrogen production plant to serve ExxonMobil’s (Esso) Rotterdam refinery in the Netherlands and additional customers in the region.

The plant will feature technology advancements to maximize facility energy efficiency and emission reductions. It will be connected to Air Products’ extensive Rotterdam hydrogen pipeline network system and is expected to be on-stream in the second half of 2011. “We are proud to strengthen our relationship with ExxonMobil with this new contract in Europe and to build a new state-of-the-art hydrogen production facility,” said Howard Castle-Smith, vice president–Tonnage Gases, Equipment and Energy for Air Products in Europe and the Middle East. “This project enhances Air Products’ existing operations and pipeline network system in the Netherlands where we have a number of hydrogen facilities in the Rotterdam region supplying the refining and chemical industries. This new project demonstrates our commitment to a region which has made hydrogen a key to its continued development.” “The new hydrogen facility will use cutting edge processes and technology to maximize energy efficiency and significantly reduce overall plant emissions,” said Denis Deheusch, general manager–Tonnage Gases for Air Products in the Benelux. “We will be able to achieve this through an enhanced plant design which targets minimal loss of heat to the environment and a reduced natural gas requirement.”

The Rotterdam project builds on two previous announcements in the past year involving Air Products and ExxonMobil in the United States. Air Products is building a new world-scale hydrogen production facility which will supply ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge, Louisiana facility, and also announced a hydrogen pipeline supply agreement from Air Products’ Gulf Coast network to ExxonMobil’s Baytown, Texas refinery. Both projects are to come on-stream in 2010.

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