Ballard Power Systems president and CEO John Sheridan said, "Our joint efforts could lead to cost-effective products for use in stationary and motive power applications at mining sites and as well as for use in broader market applications."
Anglo American Platinum plans to start ground testing of five fuel cell-powered locomotives at its Dishaba mine in Limpopo province, South Africa over the next several months, following public launch.
US-based Vehicle Projects has designed the locomotives which employ Ballard-made fuel cell stacks in a system.
The locomotives will be used transporting equipment underground at mining sites.
The partnership is also undertaking a market feasibility study and test of a proof-of-concept system for a small-scale electric generator which will utilize onsite propane or natural gas.
An integrated fuel reformer will be employed by the system to extract hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuel, which will be channeled to a fuel cell stack.
Ballard is involved in developing Proton Exchange Membrane, a fuel cell stack technology which uses platinum as a catalyst material.
It also has expertise in fuel reformer technology and other components required to build a complete system, which could supplement the power grid for homes and businesses.
The partnership demonstrated a 150 kW fuel cell system near the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Durban, last year.
