Standards help power fuel-cell development

2002-05-30

Your company is at the forefront of an emerging new technology that offers an environmentally friendly source of power. How do you ensure that your industry takes off, and that you retain the lead? Ensuring that your product meets international standards is one way. Helping to develop those standards is an even better one.

Ballard Power Systems of British Columbia is an example of how innovative research, combined with standards and conformity assessment, translates into good business. Founded in 1979 to conduct research and development in high-energy lithium batteries, Ballard began developing proton exchange membrane fuel cells in 1983. Today, the Ballard fuel cell, and fuel cells in general, are widely viewed as viable alternatives to conventional technologies.

Fuel for the future
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity. The only by-products of the process are heat and water. Fuel cells offer a means of storing and producing power more efficiently and with less pollution than most other sources of energy.

Fuel cell technology has a number of potential applications, including as back-up power for homes and businesses, or for powering portable electronics such as laptop computers, cellular phones and even hearing aids.

Even more promising is its potential in larger scale applications, such as home heating and transportation. Fuel cell powered buses are already running in several cities including Washington, D.C., and Ballard Automotive is responsible for supplying fuel cells and fuel cell engines to auto makers world-wide.

Ballard is currently developing a range of fuel cell power products that will provide reliable, high quality, clean power. In order to remain competitive, Ballard must not only reduce costs and implement high volume manufacturing processes, but also work to ensure that partners and customers can incorporate fuel cell technology into their product lines. Long-term commercial success for Ballard and the entire fuel-cell industry depends on this compatibility.

One standard for all
Standards play an essential role in the evolution of this global energy resource. Ballard relies on international standards to set the stage for its growth and survival.

From Ballard Power's perspective, standards and conformity assessment are important to any emerging industry. Members of the Ballard management team put it this way:

"For any new technology to succeed, it has to earn the trust of the people using it. Standardization and conformity assessment allow consumers a measure of confidence in the safety of our new technology. Partnering with a body like the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) means bringing to the table their more than ninety years of safety expertise and credibility."

"Standards and conformity assessment also provide regulators with measures for evaluating the safety of fuel cell technology and related equipment. For example, a building code inspector will have a much easier time assessing the installation of an already certified fuel cell power plant. This is important in developing a hydrogen infrastructure that's friendly to our technology."

"Finally the development of fuel cell standards levels the playing field for fuel cells with respect to existing technology, such as internal combustion engines. We cannot afford to be at a disadvantage in putting our product on the market."

Ballard supports the development of 'performance based' standards. Rather than specifying how equipment is to be designed and constructed, which can be a barrier to progress, performance-based standards concern themselves with how a product or system actually performs in operation.

Standards support innovation
Ballard isn't simply applying the standards, however. With support from the Standards Council of Canada, Ballard is helping to develop the standards and conformity assessment that will nurture the Industry's development.

"We have a unique opportunity, because of the relative immaturity of our industry, to do things right the first time. Ballard espouses the model of 'one standard, one test, and one mark'. "Like most other industries, it is our goal to:

1) harmonize fuel cell standards internationally,

2) facilitate the international acceptance of test data through conformity assessment schemes, and

3) work with government and regulators to achieve acceptance of a single global fuel cell certification mark."

Partners in progress
Ballard has helped the Standards Council to develop a committee that will provide Canadian input to the International Electrotechnical Commission's technical committee on fuel cells. Ballard also holds the vice-chair position for the Canadian Standards Association's fuel cell committee. By working with both the Canadian and international committees, Ballard hopes to ensure that any national standards are in harmony with the IEC work.

To ensure the growth and survival of the industries using them, standards need to incorporate the latest knowledge and innovation of technology with an awareness of safety, the environment and consumer demand.

Ballard says fuel cell products are in a dynamic phase and all partners in the evolution of this exciting new energy resource need to work carefully to ensure products are designed to power a better world.

For more information on Ballard Power Systems, see www.ballard.com or contact Debby Harris, Manager, Corporate Communications (604) 412-4740 or [email protected].

Ballard Power Systems
4343 North Fraser Way
Burnaby, BC Canada V5J 5J9

Back