New Industry Products

Ballard Introduces Next Generation Air-Cooled Fuel Cell Stack

September 11, 2006 by Jeff Shepard

Ballard Power Systems Inc. announced successful completion of alpha trials and plans for accelerated beta trials and managed commercial rollout of its air-cooled fuel cell – the Mark 1020 ACS. The Mark 1020 ACS, a product primarily focused on the backup power market, provides a range of power outputs from 1 to 5kW, and leverages Ballard's air-cooled fuel cell technology expertise to deliver several significant improvements over earlier product prototypes.

The Mark 1020 ACS uses 33% fewer parts than the previous generation air-cooled product, incorporates new, lower cost materials, and reduces precious metal catalyst content significantly. The unit operates without the need for external humidifiers, thereby reducing both part count and cost. By dropping operating pressure of the fuel cell stack, Ballard has removed the need for an air compressor, again reducing system cost and improving reliability. Utilizing air-cooled fuel cell technology for lower power output applications enables system integrators to develop fuel cell products that can compete effectively with today's technologies. With reduced balance of plant costs, integrators can offer customers a lower cost, clean energy alternative.

"Ballard's Mark 1020 ACS offers a strong value proposition in the backup power market, including telecom backup applications, and we are confident that it will help Ballard and our customers capitalize on this significant near-term market opportunity," said Noordin Nanji, Ballard's Chief Customer Officer. "In the same way that Ballard's Mark9 SSL™ product platform offers a clean, quiet alternative in materials handling applications, Ballard's Mark 1020 ACS, with its reduced cost and improved performance, provides system integrators with a high value, cost-effective alternative to conventional battery and generator backup systems being used today."

Fuel cell advantages for backup power applications include: lower life cycle costs due to long design life and limited maintenance; few moving parts; a wide operating temperature range (-40 to +46°C) in comparison to batteries; extended run capability during lengthy blackout periods; reduced footprint and weight; and zero emissions The introduction of the Mark 1020 ACS rounds out Ballard's product offerings for its key markets of backup power, residential cogeneration, materials handling, and automotive.