Recovery specialist Axion Consulting, Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Limited and Technical Fibre Products (TFP) have developed a new recycling process to recover high-value materials from waste fuel cells.
Funded by Innovate UK, the UK government's innovation agency, the Recover project aims to establish the technical and economic feasibility of recovery and reuse of high value materials from fuel cell membrane electrode assemblies and ultimately to establish the potential for a new UK-based global recycling business.
Having proven the initial process steps, further research is underway on evaluating the viability for commercial operation and developing a take-back system for end-of-life fuel cells—such as those from forklift trucks, mobile phone masts, electric vehicles and in small portable power packs for laptops and other products. Axion is leading the development of the primary recycling routes, TFP is working on the recovery and reuse of the carbon fibers and Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells is leading on the reuse of materials in fuel cells and the final recovery and recycling of the precious metals.
The ability to recycle fuel cells is important because they will be powering many of the vehicles and technologies of the future, which needs to be cost-effective if they are to be acceptable to both consumers and manufacturers, Axiom says. But to do this, we need to reduce their whole-life cost and maximise the value of the resources they contain, such as platinum, high-value polymers and carbon fiber. Recycling them would also improve resource-efficiency and security of supply for these expensive and critical materials.
Earlier this month, Toyota announced it will invite royalty-free use of approximately 5,680 hydrogen fuel cell related patents held globally, including critical technologies developed for the new Toyota Mirai. The list includes around 1,970 patents related to fuel cell stacks, 290 associated with high-pressure hydrogen tanks, 3,350 related to fuel cell system software control and 70 patents related to hydrogen production and supply.
Fuel cell electric vehicles are gradually expanding to new markets across the globe. Late last year, Hyundai announced it will be the first automotive company to make hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles available to the Canadian public. The Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) will be available to Canadians on a 3-year lease beginning early this year in the Vancouver area.
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Founder, Hower Impact
Mike Hower is the founder of Hower Impact — a boutique consultancy delivering strategic communication advisory and support for corporate sustainability, ESG and climate tech.
Published Jan 22, 2015 8am EST / 5am PST / 1pm GMT / 2pm CET