SFC Energy expands into hydrogen, and more powerful fuel cells
3 January 2019SFC Energy AG of Brunnthal/Munich, German provider of hybrid power solutions to the stationary and mobile power generation markets (with over 41 000 fuel cells sold to date) has signed a development partnership with adKor GmbH, Wildau, Germany. Under the agreement, both companies will market the existing PEM “Jupiter” series of fuel cells (up to 100 kW) and together will develop a new generation of powerful hydrogen fuel cells with energy management for power-intensive industrial off-grid and back-up applications.
“Our entry into the world of hydrogen and the new powerful H2 fuel cell technology perfectly complements our successful direct methanol fuel cell technology”, says Dr Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC Energy. “The new, powerful products will open new applications with existing customers as well as completely new markets. Ongoing public tenders for emergency power systems and federal incentive programmes in Germany are visible proof of a strongly growing industrial demand – an ideal entry market for the existing product generation. Together with adKor we will first target critical infrastructure, telecommunication, and back up power applications. For this we can build on a proven technology. In the long run we see additional potential for the new product generation in e-mobility and smart grids.”
Since SFC Energy can build on a technology that has been developed over 30 years, the company expects significant savings in the development of the new generation of hydrogen fuel cells, with development time shortened to about two years.
“We have known the FutureE, Heliocentris, and P21 technology for many years. Based on 30 years of telecommunication expertise we took over their know how and patent portfolio, because we saw a major potential there”, says Hartmut Kordus, managing director of adKor GmbH. “SFC has been successfully developing and commercialising fuel cells in demanding markets for many years. This makes them an ideal partner for technology development and market growth alike.”
In the context of their agreement, both companies together will further develop the new H2 fuel cell generation and sell it to their individual core markets. SFC Energy will use its corporate technology expertise to optimize cost structures and operations of the new fuel cell generation, including power management. AdKor will handle energy management and periphery development. In addition, adKor grants SFC Energy a non-exclusive licence to the IP rights of former FutureE, P21, and Heliocentris.
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