In Germany, SFC Energy AG, a leading international provider of hybrid power solutions to the stationary and mobile power generation markets, has signed a development partnership with adKor GmbH, Wildau, Germany. In the framework of their agreement, both companies will market the existing “Jupiter” series fuel cells and together will develop a new, powerful hydrogen fuel cell generation with energy management for power-intensive industrial off-grid and back-up applications.
The strategic extension of SFC’s product portfolio opens attractive new applications in critical infrastructure and telecommunication, in back-up power and – in the long run – also in e-mobility. Both companies will develop the new hydrogen fuel cell generation together and sell it to their individual core markets.
Our entry into the world of hydrogen and the new powerful H2 fuel cell technology perfectly complements our successful direct methanol fuel cell technology. The new, powerful products will open new applications with existing customers as well as completely new big markets at the same time. Ongoing public tenders for emergency power systems and federal incentive programs in Germany are visible proof of a strongly growing industry demand – an ideal entry market for the existing product generation. Together with adKor, we will first target critical infrastructure, telecommunication, and back up scenarios. For this, we can build on proven technology. In the long run, we see the additional potential for the new product generation in e-mobility and smart grids. Adkor with their decades of expertise and experience as an integrator and general contractor for public customers is an ideal partner for fast commercialization and customer-centric further and new development in attractive markets, said Dr Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC Energy.
Since SFC Energy can build on a technology that has been developed for 30 years, the company expects significant savings for the development of the new generation of hydrogen fuel cells: shorten development time to two years, and approximately 50 percent lower development cost compared to new development.
We have known the FutureE, Heliocentris, and P21 technology for many years. Based on 30 years of telecommunication expertise we took over their know-how and patent portfolio because we saw a major potential there. SFC has been successfully developing and commercializing fuel cells in demanding markets for many years. This makes them an ideal partner for technology development and market growth alike, said Hartmut Kordus, Managing Director of adkor GmbH.
In the context of their agreement, both companies together will further develop the new H2 fuel cell generation and sell it to their individual core markets. SFC Energy will use its corporate technology expertise to optimize cost structures and operations of the new fuel cell generation, including power management.
AdKor will handle energy management and periphery development. In addition, adKor grants SFC Energy a non-exclusive license to the IP rights of former FutureE, P21, and Heliocentris.
