24 February 2014
Details
* Toyota Tsusho Brings Fuel Cells to Multiple Applications
in Japan
Through Exclusive Agreement with Oorja Protonics
* Toyota Tsusho and Oorja aim for
wide commercial adoption of fuel cells
to help solve energy and transportation challenges in Japan
* Toyota Tsusho, the trading arm of Toyota Group
with $71 billion in revenue,
48,000 employees, 150 offices and
900 global subsidiaries,
today signed an agreement with
Oorja Protonics,
the world leader in liquid Methanol fuel cell technology,
to serve as
the exclusive distributor of
the Oorja Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) in Japan.
Toyota Tsusho will introduce
the OorjaPac family of fuel cell products
in several large markets in Japan
with the intent of providing
a safe, economical and clean power solution
for critical energy and transportation uses in Japan.
It is expected that
the OorjaPac fuel cell,
which ensures secure, cost-effective power
without the safety and environmental risks of
natural gas and diesel,
will provide a market catalyst that
will support Japan's path to achieving economic leadership
through renewable energy.
Through its groundbreaking partnership with Oorja,
Toyota Tsusho opens
a new era of affordable fuel cells for the market.
Mr. Takahiro Sugitani of Toyota Tsusho.
"Global markets have long waited for
an economical, advanced technology breakthrough
in fuel cells to provide better on-site power and
obviate the need for dirty and inefficient diesel generators,"
"In Japan, where the market is on a path to
recovery and growing beyond recent economic and
disaster-related challenges,
the OorjaPac provides
a power upgrade for any customer seeking
safer, lower-cost energy and transportation fixes."
Oorja fuel cells are powered by
a safe, abundant and economical liquid chemical,
methanol.
Methanol is a common industrial chemical that
is widely available around the world.
Methanol has the added advantage of
being created locally anywhere in the world
using sources such as Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
and Carbon Dioxide thus
establishing energy security and independence.
Unlike other fuel cell technology
based on different fuel sources,
minimal infrastructure support is needed to
supply the Oorja fuel cells with methanol.
Effective immediately in the Japanese market,
Toyota Tsusho will distribute
the OorjaPac family of products which
includes fuel cells ranging in power from 1 to 5 kilowatts.
Dr. Sanjiv Malhotra, CEO and president of Oorja.
"Oorja's Direct Methanol Fuel Cells are
the only viable energy alternative
with both an economic and environmental advantage
for off-grid applications,"
"Japan is the latest of several new global markets
Oorja is expanding into this year,
after establishing a foothold in the U.S. and Mexico
with several Fortune 50 customers.
Our relationship with the Toyota Tsusho powerhouse
in particular strengthens our position in
other attractive Asian markets."
Potential Markets
1.Telecommunications
The compact, self-contained OorjaPac ensures
an uninterrupted power supply for telecommunication towers.
Unlike other fuel cell technology,
the OorjaPac has a quick start time,
allowing it to act as an immediate backup power supply,
capable of replacing diesel generator systems.
The OorjaPac requires minimal retrofitting and
offers fast return on investment.
2, Refrigerated Trucking
The OorjaPac acts as an onboard power system for
truck refrigeration units.
To keep the refrigeration unit running
while the truck is stopped,
many refrigerated trucks currently in use
are required to idle the engine.
Prolonged idling is
noisy, bad for the environment and expensive.
Powering a refrigeration unit with an OorjaPac fuel cell
greatly reduces emissions and
provides a strong economic payback
by eliminating wasteful fuel consumption.
WWW.CHEMWINFO.COM BY KHUN PHICHAI
