Fuel Cell Systems Provide

Clean Backup Power in Telecom

Applications Worldwide

TTC 2011

www.idatech.com
info@idatech.com
63065 NE 18th Street
Bend, OR 97701
541.383.3390

Reserved..
IdaTech Confidential and Proprietary. © 2002 – 2011 IdaTech, LLC. All Rights Reserved
Clean Backup Power

The Growing Trend in Telecom is the use of Efficient,

Clean Technology for Backup Power Solutions

Telecom companies are increasingly choosing fuel cell systems to

lower their environmental impact, improve network reliability, and
reduce operating expenses through the use of more efficient
equipment.

IdaTech Confidential and Proprietary. © 2002 – 2011 IdaTech, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
 What Is A Fuel Cell?

A fuel cell is a solid state DC generator that converts chemical

energy into electricity. Fuel cells are typically fueled by Hydrogen.

Fuel Cell System:

Fuel: Hydrogen

Fuel Cell System

With Fuel Processor:
Fuel: Methanol-water
LPG (future)
What is a fuel processor?
A fuel processor converts fuel
(i.e., methanol-water or LPG) into
hydrogen on demand.

IdaTech Confidential and Proprietary. © 2002 – 2011 IdaTech, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
How Does It Work?

Liquid Fueled PEM Fuel Cell System

IdaTech Confidential and Proprietary. © 2002 – 2011 IdaTech, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
 Backup Power for Telecom Sites

Industry Drivers
•Increased network reliability requirements
•Grid losses (weak utility infrastructures, severe
weather and security concerns) require extended
runtimes
•Expansion into regions without electric grids
•Government initiatives & sustainability programs

Target Environment
•Sites that are susceptible to severe weather,
natural disasters, and poor electric grid reliability.
•Areas/regions with a local (cost effective) source
of fuel (hydrogen or liquid fuel).
•Priority sites with carrier based or regulatory
autonomy standards

IdaTech Confidential and Proprietary. © 2002 – 2011 IdaTech, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
 Backup Power for Telecom Sites

Replacing Diesel Generators with Fuel Cells

Generators: Fuel Cells:

High Emissions
Low Emissions

Maintenance Intensive
Less Maintenance

Hazardous Fuel Spill
Clean/Renewable Fuel

High Noise and Vibration
Quiet and No Vibration

IdaTech Confidential and Proprietary. © 2002 – 2011 IdaTech, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hydrogen Fuel

Bottled hydrogen is cost effective

for backup power applications:

Requiring approximately 10 hours

of backup time

With low power requirements

Where hydrogen access, siting and
fueling logistics are already
established and not an issue.

6 bottles of hydrogen ≈
10 hours of backup time @ 5kW

IdaTech Confidential and Proprietary. © 2002 – 2011 IdaTech, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
IdaTech’s Fuel Cell Systems Are Unique

What if more than 10 hours backup time is needed?

• Long unplanned power outage
• Severe weather inhibiting fuel delivery
• Difficult location to deliver hydrogen cylinders

ElectraGen™ ME

Liquid fueled Fuel Cell provides

40 hours
Continuous power at 5 kW
before refueling is required

IdaTech Confidential and Proprietary. © 2002 – 2011 IdaTech, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
The Hydrogen Challenge

Compressed H2 is a challenge for sites requiring more than 10 hours,

higher power, or sites not convenient for hydrogen refueling.

24 hydrogen cylinders ≈ 40 hours @ 5kW

IdaTech Confidential and Proprietary. © 2002 – 2011 IdaTech, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
 Liquid Fuel vs. Hydrogen Cylinders

40 hours of operation at 5 kW requires one of the following:

24 Hydrogen
Reformer with Cylinders
59 gallons of
HydroPlus
(Liquid Fuel)
OR

Images are approximately to scale

IdaTech Confidential and Proprietary. © 2002 – 2011 IdaTech, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Fuel Cell System Value Proposition
Value proposition
Clean, high efficiency, reliable, quiet, easy to install, and extended run backup power

Competition ElectraGen™ ME
Incumbent backup power technology: generators and batteries

Advantages over incumbent technologies

LOWER TOTAL COST
• Higher reliability lower repair costs improved availability
• Fewer moving parts lower maintenance costs
• Less theft
Lower environmental impact
Operates from -40C to +46C Product Configurations:
- 2.5 kW or 5 kW
Light & compact - +24 Vdc or -48 Vdc
- Fuel: HydroPlus (Methanol/Water)

Cases with strong value proposition

Geographies with poorer grid reliability (100 to 1,000 hours annual grid loss)

IdaTech Confidential and Proprietary. © 2002 – 2011 IdaTech, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Worldwide Deployment of Fuel Cells

Telecom operators worldwide are deploying backup power fuel cell systems to
support clean energy and gain the benefits of fuel cells in their network.
Deployment Examples:
•United States – more than 1000 fuel cell
systems.

•Indonesia – more than 500 fuel cell

systems on one network.

•Caribbean – more than 150 fuel cell

systems.

•South Africa – more than 100 fuel cell

systems.

IdaTech Confidential and Proprietary. © 2002 – 2011 IdaTech, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Summary

Backup Power
Fuel Cell Systems
Clean alternative backup
Significantly More
power solution to
Low Emissions Efficient Than Diesel
generators and large
Generators
battery banks

Very Quiet Extended Run Time

(Background Noise Level) 5kW + 59 gallon fuel = 40 hours

IdaTech Confidential and Proprietary. © 2002 – 2011 IdaTech, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Thank you!

IdaTech Confidential and Proprietary. © 2002 – 2011 IdaTech, LLC. All Rights Reserved.