Resource World Magazine

60 www.resourceworld.com a u g u s t / s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 6 Developments in Green Technology by Jane Bratun grEEN TECHNOlOgiES introDucing our new name Green Technologies encompasses an evolv- ing group of methods and materials, from techniques for generating energy, to non- toxic cleaning products. The goals that inform developments include: sustainabil- ity (meeting society's needs in ways that can continue indefinitely into the future without damaging or depleting natural resources), cradle to cradle design (ending the cradle to grave cycle of manufactured products by creating products that can be fully reclaimed or re-used), source reduction (reducing waste and pollution by changing patterns of production and consumption), innovations, and viability (creating a center of economic activity around technologies and products that benefit the environment, speeding their implementation and creating new careers that truly protect the planet). We hope you find our articles on green technology inter- esting and informative. new proDucts help oem's builD lithium-ion battery systems In May 2016, Electrovaya Inc. [EFL- TSX] announced two new products: the LITACORE1000, and the EV4823, as building blocks for lithium-ion bat- tery systems. "The 1 kilowatt hour (kWh) LITACORE1000 and 2.3 kWh EV4823 intel- ligent modules are now available to OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) in Europe, North America and elsewhere, where the market demands highest safety and lowest holistic lithium-ion costs," says Dr. Rajshekar Das Gupta, Vice President Business Development, Electrovaya. "These products enable OEMs to seamlessly use them as building blocks for lithium-ion battery systems for diverse electric vehicle and energy storage markets and usage will rapidly grow later this year, as these prod- ucts are qualified by increasing numbers of OEMs," says Dr. Das Gupta. Electrovaya, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Litarion GmbH, also pro- duces cells, electrodes and SEPARION® ceramic separators (flexible ceramic membranes that separate batteries in large- format lithium-ion cells). Matched to the active electrochemical cell components, LITARION® electrodes and customized electrolyte formulations, SEPARION® is the enabling technology for high perfor- mance lithium-ion battery systems for automotive applications and a key to suc- cess in full electric and hybrid vehicles. In mid-June, Electrovaya signed a Letter of Intent with a major residential energy storage provider for delivery of lithium-ion battery modules for residential energy stor- age worth $288 million. Headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, with US headquarters in Saratoga County, New York, Electrovaya became a public company in November 2000. Electrovaya has production facilities in Canada and Germany. proviDing energy from hyDrogen Hydrogenics [HYG-TSX], with headquar- ters in Mississauga, Ontario and with manufacturing facilities in Germany and Belgium, designs, manufactures, builds and installs industrial and commercial hydrogen systems. Applications include hydrogen generators for industrial pro- cesses and fueling stations, hydrogen fuel cells for electric vehicles such as urban transit buses, commercial fleets, utility vehicles and electric lift trucks, fuel cell installations for freestanding electrical power plants and UPS systems (uninter- ruptible power supply). As noted on the Hydrogenics website, the periodic table of elements starts with hydrogen. Although it is the oldest and most common element in our universe, pure hydrogen is not a natural resource. All hydrogen on earth is stored in a compound with other molecules. Water, essential for all life processes surrounding us, consists of 66% hydrogen. Water is a very stable element, from which hydrogen can be extracted using an electrolysis process. Electrolysis requires electrical energy input. However, because hydrogen is an energetic fuel, the resulting energy pro- duced is almost equal to initial energy input. The only product of this hydrogen combustion is water. Like any other fuel, hydrogen can be stored and used for com- bustion and can serve many purposes. Thanks to its high energy density, hydro- gen is the ideal gas to store renewable energy overcapacity for seconds, minutes, weeks or months giving us the possibility of 100% green energy supply. This stored hydrogen can also be used to run fuel cell cars, which are simply recombining hydrogen and oxygen, creating a flow of electrons and electricity that will be used to run an electric engine. You could drive your car indefinitely just by refueling it at a station for five minutes like a normal gas- oline car, but only emitting water vapor.

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