Solvay will build a very large fuel cell at SolVin’s Antwerp plant
More than EUR 5 million invested in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell on hydrogen
In fuel cells hydrogen binds with oxygen into water in a catalytic reaction and this reaction produces electrical energy and heat. The PEM fuel cell will be made up of a large number of membrane electrode assemblies in special polymers and electrodes with platinum. These assemblies are manufactured by SolviCore in its plant in Hanau, Germany. SolviCore is a 50-50 joint venture of Solvay and Umicore and was incorporated in 2006. Dutch company NedStack will construct the fuel cell out of SolviCore’s assemblies.
This project is realized in cooperation with WaterstofNet, which is coordinating the Project Hydrogen Region Flanders - South Netherlands. The Project Hydrogen Region Flanders - South Netherlands aims at developing knowhow and projects about hydrogen applications in the region with a clear focus on sustainable hydrogen and early market applications, such as maritime, logistical and interurban applications. The Project Hydrogen Region, which runs from 2009 until 2012 with a total budget of EUR 14 million, was approved by the Interreg Program Border Region Flanders - Netherlands and is financed by the EU, the Flemish government, the Dutch government and the industry. The Project Hydrogen Region will subsidize Solvay’s budget of over EUR 5 million for the test fuel cell by EUR 1.5 million. This project is the first milestone in the Project Hydrogen Region Flanders - South Netherlands.
“The fuel cell in the Lillo plant does not only increase the energy efficiency of the electrolysis, but it creates also the possibility for Solvay and SolviCore to optimize the efficiency of fuel cell technology on an industrial scale”, comments Leopold Demiddeleer, Executive VP Future Businesses at Solvay.
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