Toshiba expands fuel cell business

Toshiba is cooperating with Swedish battery specialist Echandia to develop pure hydrogen fuel cells that could be used for continuous operation in marine applications.

 

 

 

Toshiba Energy Systems and Solutions Corp. (Toshiba EES), a unit of Japanese conglomerate Toshiba, has agreed to team up with a Sweden's Echandia to jointly develop pure hydrogen fuel cell systems for ships.

The two companies aim to build a pure hydrogen fuel cell system that will rely on Toshiba ESS’s pure hydrogen fuel cells. Such a system could be used for continuous operation in marine applications, they said.

“Echandia and Toshiba ESS will consider the possibility of incorporating the next-generation pure hydrogen fuel cell currently under development by Toshiba ESS into the electric propulsion systems for ships being developed by Echandia, with the joint aim of commercializing a longer-life pure hydrogen fuel cell system around 2024,” the companies said. “By integrating these next-generation pure hydrogen fuel cells, the systems for ships currently under development are expected to last approximately 200% longer.”

Toshiba has developed different fuel cell systems over the past few decades, including a 3.5 kW hydrogen fuel cell system that is currently being tested Fukushima prefecture, Japan. The system is based on a solid polymer fuel cell stack which eliminates the need for an external humidifier, according to the manufacturer. The stack is internally humidified and dehumidified automatically to keep it at optimum humidity.

 

Toshiba expands fuel cell business – pv magazine International (pv-magazine.com)

Toshiba expands fuel cell business