Tuesday, April 16
11:40 am
Speaker: Jean-Marc Tixhon
200 years of science from explosive powder to fuel cells
"As many corporations around the globe, DuPont is highly interested to see the fuel cell industry taking off. The business opportunity is ample and the need for new energy supply system is extremely attractive (2-10Billion$ in 2010).
At the very beginning of Nasa space programs, the Dupont company developed the Nafion membrane for the first PEM fuel cell used for the Gemini and Apollo programs. A complete Nafion manufacturing line was built in the late 60's to meet the Nasa demand. As a consequence DuPont has developed over the years a strong experience about membranes and Proton Exchange Membrane for fuel cell applications. All chemicals needed to produce Nafion were developed internally and all by products are used by other DUPONT businesses like Teflon, Krytox and Viton fluoroelastomer.
Based on above experience DuPont decided to enter the fuel cell market announcing in FEB 01 a business unit dedicated to produce FC components such as MEAs and bipolar plates.. The MEAs are a logical extension to the Nafion membrane know how . Various elements and combinations wil be added to the membrane to meet the customers demands and to add value to the offering. All technologies will be developed internally using existing resource of the DUPONT company. Currently, hundred partners are working on fuel cell components. A large majority of this population resides in R&D. To illustrate existing sysnergy, the bipolar plates will be based on a unique technology developed by DuPOnt Engineering polymers where a unique compound and process will be assigned to the production of bipolar plates. This was obtained by using existing know how and process geared towards a new emerging market with defined needs.
One of the major concern for fuel cells in general is the high cost/price vs alternative energy supply system and on many occasions Nafion was accused being priced extravagantly. DuPont has reacted strongly to such concern in implementing a program that has allowed a Nafion price decrease of 50% over 3 years and it is anticipated that another 45% price drop will be accomplished in 3-4 years time. Need less to add that a volume effect would help tremendously to get the price exactly where the market would like to see it. Currently, 1Kw is priced at 3-4000$ and the automotive industry is looking at 150$/Kw to be competitive with a traditional ICE engine. This price target can be achieved but the volume effect is needed to drive the cost down.
As we all know the FC market has not yet taken off but to illustrate DuPont commitment, programs are in place to produce in the very near term FC components ie MEAs in significant quantity ie moving from hand made prototype to almost mass production. In deed it is risk as the market does not exist yet but the belief is there and DuPont will be ready to meet large customer demand with the right price at the right time.
As mentioned above the FC market does not exist yet but the belief is 2004-5 will be the commercialization of the FC technology. The FC market has been on probation for the last 30 years! Therefore it is a must that 2004-5 materialize, as major corporations will not indefinitely pump internal financial resource to develop an industry that will not materialize.
A vast panel of fuel cell technology is now offered to government bodies, private investors and to the customers. It is urgent to align the consumer needs to the technology and fine-tuned the offer to these needs thus creating the demand.
Several actions will be implemented to ensure that key individuals along value chain are aware about the traditional energy challenges that will emerged soon and what alternatives are available such as Fuel cells. Education programs, test programs, regulations, code and standard, credibility, alignment, sense of urgency are some of the key elements requiring modifications to allow the Fuel cell market to start up. These have to be done within 2-3 years, and will require a significant effort to be successful. The opportunity being so attractive it will be rewarding

Click here to see the Forum contribution HANNOVER FAIR '03

Click here to see the Forum contribution HANNOVER FAIR '01