VANCOUVER and HOBRO,
Denmark, April 4, 2019 /CNW/ - Ballard Power Systems
Europe A/S – a subsidiary of Ballard Power Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:
BLDP; TSX: BLDP) – today announced that it is establishing a Marine
Center of Excellence ("Marine CoE") dedicated to fuel cell marine
applications at the Company's engineering, manufacturing and
service facility in Hobro, Denmark. The Marine CoE will design and
manufacture heavy duty fuel cell modules to address zero-emission
powertrain requirements for the marine industry.
A new motive fuel cell system manufacturing hall is planned to
be constructed and operational at the Hobro location by year-end
2019, with expected annual production capacity of more than 15
megawatts (MW) of fuel cell modules. Fuel cell module development
work at the Marine CoE will be based on Ballard's new
FCgen®-LCS fuel cell stack and next-generation heavy
duty power module, which are planned for commercial launch later
this year, and will be designed to meet European marine
certification requirements.
Reduction of pollutants and carbon emissions is a high priority
for the marine industry and port cities. Regulations to restrict
diesel emissions are being introduced at the local and regional
levels in various parts of the world, and this is generating
interest in zero-emission fuel cell technology. In 2018 the United
Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) announced a
strategy to reduce GHG emissions from ships, including a 50%
reduction in GHGs by 2050 as compared to the 2008 level, and
complete elimination of GHG's as soon as possible in this century.
The IMO has estimated that 1.135 billion tonnes of CO2
was emitted by ships in 2008, representing 3.5% of the global total
that year.
Against this backdrop, Ballard's zero-emission fuel cell modules
offer a compelling value proposition for marine vessels, in both
stand-alone and hybrid deployments with batteries. Ballard fuel
cell modules deliver: (i) design flexibility, including modular
components and scalable power (from 100 kilowatts to over 1MW) to
support vessel propulsion, auxiliary power and/or system
redundancy; (ii) extended range, proportionate to the volume of
energy-rich compressed liquid hydrogen fuel stored on board a
vessel (which can also be rapidly replenished), rather than
creating a weight challenge through the addition of heavy
batteries; and (iii) positive economics, underpinned by the
compatibility of fuel cell DC power with battery hybrid electric
architectures.
Jesper Themsen, President and CEO of Ballard Power Systems
Europe A/S said, "We are now witnessing early indicators of
long-term disruption in the marine industry, with dirty diesel
engines being substituted by zero-emission fuel cell systems. Our
Marine CoE – together with our extensive experience and knowledge
in Heavy Duty Motive applications such as buses, trucks and trains
– will position Ballard at the epicenter of this critical
transition in the marine market."
In addition to work on MW-scale marine power solutions with ABB,
Ballard is actively involved in a number of sub-MW marine projects,
including: development of HySeas III, the world's first
sea-going renewables-powered car and passenger ferry, which will
operate in the Orkney Archipelago off the coast of Scotland; participation in the H2PORTS project
to facilitate a rapid transition at Europe's ports from fossil fuels to
low-carbon, zero-emission alternatives based on hydrogen and fuel
cells, initially at the Port of Valencia in Spain; and a Flagships project to
demonstrate fuel cell commercial readiness by powering a ferry in
Norway and a river barge in
France.
As noted in a September 2018 press
release, the benefits of Ballard's FCgen®-LCS fuel cell
stack, compared to the current generation liquid-cooled fuel cell
stack that it will replace, include: significantly lower life cycle
cost; ultra-long durability; higher power density; freeze-start
capability; high tolerance to operating conditions; simplified
systems integration; and sustainability.
About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems
(NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) provides clean energy products that
reduce customer costs and risks, and helps customers solve
difficult technical challenges or address new business
opportunities. To learn more about Ballard, please visit
www.ballard.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements concerning
planned product deployments, provision of services, market adoption
and demand for our products and available subsidies. These
forward-looking statements reflect Ballard's current expectations
as contemplated under section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. Any such forward-looking statements are based on Ballard's
assumptions relating to its financial forecasts and expectations
regarding its product development efforts, manufacturing capacity,
and market demand.
These statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause
Ballard's actual results to be materially different, including
general economic and regulatory changes, detrimental reliance on
third parties, successfully achieving our business plans and
achieving and sustaining profitability. For a detailed discussion
of these and other risk factors that could affect Ballard's future
performance, please refer to Ballard's most recent Annual
Information Form. Readers should not place undue reliance on
Ballard's forward-looking statements and Ballard assumes no
obligation to update or release any revisions to these forward
looking statements, other than as required under applicable
legislation.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy securities. The Ballard
Common Shares have not been registered under the United States
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any
other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an
applicable exemption from registration requirements.
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SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc.