ENERGON ESA – Innovation Triangle Initiative November 21, 2005 Energy / H 2 Storage System

Summary The Team Organization Introduction to the H 2 Problem Possible Solution Experimental Work & Results RoadMap, Market and Conclusions

Omnidea Portuguese / Dutch SME Portuguese / Dutch SME Start Up intending to have Proprietary Energy Technology Start Up intending to have Proprietary Energy Technology Incubated in ESTEC Incubated in ESTEC Feasibility Study winner of New Venture 2004 Business Plan Competition in The Netherlands Feasibility Study winner of New Venture 2004 Business Plan Competition in The Netherlands

Team Organisation ESA and Omnidea. ESA and Omnidea. TU Lisbon (IST/IDMEC), TU Lisbon (IST/IDMEC),Portugal TU Graz, TU Graz,Austria

Energy Storage and Transport Problem Batteries Batteries Energy density (150 Wh/Kg) Energy density (150 Wh/Kg) Start aging the instant Start aging the instant that are produced Li-ion: 30% charge ratio Li-ion: 30% charge ratio PEM Fuel Cells PEM Fuel Cells Difficult to achieve: Difficult to achieve: – reversibility – high H 2 density

Preferred Technology Energy Storage System Energy Storage System Room Temperature Room Temperature Atmospheric Pressure Atmospheric Pressure H 2 Density Higher then 7% H 2 Density Higher then 7% Provides either: Provides either: Electric Power Electric Power Hydrogen Gas Hydrogen Gas

Possible Solution: NaBH 4 Solid material or liquid solution Solid material or liquid solution 18MJ/Kg - Efficiency = 84% 18MJ/Kg - Efficiency = 84% Source Material: Borax  Source Material: Borax  Hydrogen Density = 11% Hydrogen Density = 11% > €1 / Kg

Description: H 2 /Energy Storage System

Advantage Borohydride to Hydrogen Borohydride to Hydrogen BH H 2 O BO H 2 BH H 2 O BO H 2 Challenge: Challenge: Recovery of the spent fuel: Recovery of the spent fuel: BO H 2 O + 8e - BH OH - BO H 2 O + 8e - BH OH -

The Problem Sodium Borohydride Electrosynthesis Sodium Borohydride Electrosynthesis Three patents claiming production in aqueous solution Three patents claiming production in aqueous solution Four Additional Different Approaches: Four Additional Different Approaches: Molten Salts Molten Salts Ionic Liquids Ionic Liquids Organic Solvent Organic Solvent Chemical Reactor Chemical Reactor

Aqueous BH 4 - hydrolysis BH 4 - hydrolysis H 2 electrochemical H 2 electrochemical production is a competitive process Yet, The MEA (membrane/electrode assembly) affects such properties The MEA (membrane/electrode assembly) affects such properties

Aqueous Investigation of electrode’s best combination Investigation of electrode’s best combination Analytical Techniques Analytical Techniques

Analytical Techniques Suitable analytical techniques Suitable analytical techniques for BH 4 - are being optimized Techniques already existent Techniques already existent 11 B NMR and 1 H NMR 11 B NMR and 1 H NMR InfraRed Spectrophotometry InfraRed Spectrophotometry Potentiometry Potentiometry Voltammetry Voltammetry

Molten Salts Non-Aqueous System Non-Aqueous System NaOH NaOH Melting point = 350ºC Melting point = 350ºC Eutectic Eutectic NaOH + KOH: 200ºC NaOH + KOH: 200ºC Protected environment system under construction (total water absence) Protected environment system under construction (total water absence)

Ionic Liquids Non-Aqueous System Non-Aqueous System Environmental Temperature Handling Environmental Temperature Handling Electrochemical Characterisation Electrochemical Characterisation Expensive Compounds Expensive Compounds Partnership initiated with IL Producer Partnership initiated with IL Producer New ionic liquids more suitable for our purposes need to be synthesized and investigated New ionic liquids more suitable for our purposes need to be synthesized and investigated

RoadMap Investigate further the 3 electrochemical approaches mentioned Cyclic thermal production of NaBH 4 from the NaBO 2 spent fuel in a Mg/Si bed Investigate other chemical alternatives to high density hydrogen storage (AlH 4 ) “Innovative Gas Storage in Satellites” -

Spin Off Markets Small Vehicles Small Vehicles Energy Production Energy Production Automobiles Automobiles Others Others Laptops Laptops Cellular Phones Cellular Phones

Competitors DOE Total project funding $ 30M (over 4 Years) DOE Total project funding $ 30M (over 4 Years) Funding for FY05 $ 4M Funding for FY05 $ 4M

Conclusion Patent process (aqueous system) with lower yields than claimed Patent process (aqueous system) with lower yields than claimed Promising approaches: Promising approaches: molten salts and ionic liquids molten salts and ionic liquids Chemical reactor (Mg / Si) Chemical reactor (Mg / Si) R&D of extraction and purification techniques of BH 4 - R&D of extraction and purification techniques of BH 4 - Interest of Primes needs to be accessed Interest of Primes needs to be accessed High technology transfer potential High technology transfer potential

Questions? Thank You!