Queen’s-RMC Leading Fuel Cell Research

The Queen’s-RMC Fuel Cell Research Centre (FCRC) located at Innovation Park has been recognized for its international reputation when it comes to inventions for new fuel cell product development.

FCRC researchers are working with partners from Norway, the USA, Germany, and Brazil on innovative concepts for making fuel cells more reliable and affordable.

It has also been named the lead organization in the Ontario Fuel Cell Research and Innovation Network (OFCRIN), involving fellow researchers from eight Ontario universities. In collaboration with University of Ontario Institute of Ontario, they are working with Enbridge Gas to model and analyse the recently commissioned 2.2 megawatt combined turbine-fuel cell system demonstration in the centre of Toronto at a main natural-gas pressure reduction station.

This technology has the capability to produce 150 MW of electrical power to the Greater Toronto Area by recovering energy wasted during decompression and reheating it at pressure reduction stations. Modeling efforts at FCRC will determine the amount of GHG reduction that can be maintained by this technology and also provide critical details to assess the scalability of the systems so it can be used in smaller communities.

Researchers are also working on the development of low temperature fuel cells for a large range of power products.  The development of these new components are making fuel cells more competitive in products such as notebook computer power supplies, telecom power backup systems, forklift truck battery replacements, and advance rapid transit vehicles.

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Photo: Matt Howard | Argonne National Laboratory

Tags: Innovation Park, Queen's University, research, RMC

Category: Technology