"f-cell": International fuel cell projects

Stuttgart (eos) – Current results from research as well as experience with the application of the fuel cell in the stationary, mobile, and portable areas are the topics covered by the fuel cell forum “f-cell” 2008 on September 29 and 30 in Stuttgart. The symposium and trade fair are addressed at producers and users from the hydrogen and fuel cell industry. For a number of years now, the largest event of this kind in Germany has had an upward trend, reflecting the growing significance of the industry sector. The event organizers, the Peter Sauber Agentur Messen und Kongresse GmbH, Gerlingen, as well as the Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH (economic promotion), Stuttgart, who were able to set up a new record with approximately 700 participators and 40 trade fair booths in 2007, are expecting full lecture theatres and a great deal of international attention once again in 2008.

Focus on stationary applications

Last year, the major focus of attention was on mobile applications of the fuel cell. This year, stationary application is at the center of attention among the comprehensive range of topics at the “f-cell”. The EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, which was one of the first power suppliers to enter into large-scale practical fuel cell tests and in the meantime has installed more than 20 systems of between one and 4.6 kilowatts of electrical power for customers and partners, is the sponsor of this year’s “f-cell”, which is also supported by the Ministry for the Environment of the state of Baden-Württemberg.

Innovations from Canada

“16% of the visitors came from abroad in 2007,” reports agency managing director Peter Sauber. “A great many from Europe, but also from the USA, Canada, Japan, and Korea. This international participation, which was also apparent at the lecterns in the past few years, is something we want to continue to expand.” Recently, Sauber was able to consolidate his good relationships to Canada at the Globe 2008, acquiring exciting lectures for the “f-cell” at a trade fair with congress on the topic of economic sustainability in Vancouver. The program already includes a lecture on the “Integrated Waste Hydrogen Utilization Project” (IWHUP): The company Sacré-Davey Innovations Inc. and its partners not only use hydrogen that is generated as a waste product in the electrochemical industry to operate two hydrogen filling stations in the direct proximity of the facilities. In the fall of 2007, they also commissioned a car wash that is supplied with power and hot water by a 150-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell. At the “f-cell”, the transportation company B.C. Transit, from the Canadian state of British Columbia, will talk about the planned fully integrated fuel cell bus fleet, which is to start operation in the summer and comprise 20 vehicles.