 Fueling a Plug Power equipped forklift |
US Department of Energy stimulus funding and private projects such as one involving Nestlé are spurring the introduction of fuel cell technology in forklifts.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced awards for forklift-related projects in these amounts:
- USD6.1 million to deploy 156 fuel cell systems as battery replacements for fleets of electric forklifts at six distribution centers of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Genco Supply Chain Solutions. Three of the centres are in Pennsylvania, two are in Ohio and the sixth is in South Carolina. Success could lead to further conversions at some or all of Genco's other 109 distribution centres
- USD1.3 million to deploy 35 fuel cell systems as lead-acid battery replacements for powering electric forklifts at a Springfield, Missouri service center of Memphis, Tennessee-based logistics services provider FedEx Corp. Success with this project may lead to other conversions at some or all of FedEx's other 470 service centres.
- USD1.2 million to deploy 90 fuel cell systems as battery replacements for a fleet of pallet trucks-a first global green field pallet truck installation-at a Houston, Texas distribution center that Houston-based foodservice distributor Sysco Corp plans to open in August. Success may lead to further fleet conversions at some or all of Sysco's other 169 distribution centres.
- USD1.1 million to deploy 23 fuel cell systems as battery replacements for powering electric forklifts at a Fort Collins, Colorado facility of Brussels, Belgium-based brewing giant Anheuser-Busch InBev NV. Success could lead to further conversions at some or all of 11 US facilities of Anheuser-Busch.
- USD1.1 million to deploy 10 fuel cell-powered forklifts in the Topton, Pennsylvania facility of East Penn Manufacturing Company Inc. A natural gas reformer, storage device and dispensing system from Nuvera Fuel Cells Inc of Billerica, Massachusetts will supply fuel. East Penn is based in Lyon Station, Pennsylvania.
Chu announced total funding of USD41.9 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for 13 projects to deploy fuel cells. He says industry participants would provide USD72.4 million as their cost-sharing portion. The Washington-based department says several projects relate to emergency backup-power installations and demonstrations of stationary fuel cells for combined heat and power in the larger residential and commercial markets.
Nine of the programs were awarded to customers of Latham, New York-based Plug Power Inc and involve more than 304 GenDrive units replacing lead-acid batteries in electric forklift trucks. These product installations allow for fleet conversions within warehouses and distribution centres in Arkansas, Colorado, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas.
Meanwhile, Nestlé Water North America Inc is moving to fuel a fleet of 32 Class 1 Yale forklifts with hydrogen-powered fuel cells in the firm's Dallas, Texas facility.
Christopher Lyon, process improvement manager for Nestle Waters fleet services, says the project is getting "support from the front lines to senior management" and demonstrates an exploration of alternative energy options.
Air Products & Chemicals Inc of Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania will provide hydrogen and hydrogen fueling station technology at the Dallas location.
Tom Joseph, business development manager for hydrogen energy systems at Air Products, says, "This project further strengthens our collaboration with Plug Power in providing alternative energy solutions."
Nestle, a unit of Vevey, Switzerland-based multinational food packager Nestlé SA, expects to have the fueling station operational in Dallas during the second quarter.