ISO TC197 Meets in China

by Karen Quackenbush

ISO TC197 working group and plenary meetings were held in Foshan, China during the week of December 4th.  Thirteen countries were represented. Active projects are primarily focused on hydrogen filling stations and associated components including the stationary pressure vessels. 

Dr. Mao presented the status of Hydrogen Energy in China.  China is tremendously ramping up their development and manufacturing readiness efforts of fuel cells and hydrogen in the Foshan-Guangzhou area. China has opened the largest throughput and highest pressure pipeline in the world.  The pipeline operates at 4 MPa. Fuel cell powered trams are getting a lot of attention, in addition to standard rail road locomotives.

A brief status of the active TC/197 Working Groups (WGs) is provided below:

  • WG5 DIS ballot was very successful but plans to go DIS2 because a H35HF drawing is being changed, as well as to confirm numerous other changes before FDIS.
  • WG15 on stationary hydrogen storage vessels is preparing for DIS ballot.  There was approval to advance of ISO 19884 to DIS ballot and conduct the parallel effort to resolve problems identified in Annex B.
  • WG 17 has been disbanded following the document on PSAs being published.
  • WG18 DIS ballot for TPRDs was unanimously approved, but the tanks document had three disapprovals.  The next WG18 meeting will take place in Torrance after the February GTR meeting.
  • WG19 on dispensers plans to “suspend” ISO 19880-2 until ISO 19880-1 stabilizes.
  • WG20 on valves has resolved all comments from the successful DIS ballot and is in ISO publishing for preparation of FDIS 19880-3.  FDIS should start later this month or early 2018.
  • WG 21 on compressors will complete CD ballot shortly.
  • WG22 on hose assemblies is preparing ISO 19880-5 for DIS ballot. 
  • WG23 on fittings will process a CD in 2018. 
  • WG24 on hydrogen filling stations is preparing to submit the draft to ISO publishing for DIS 19880-1. 
  • WG25 on Metal Hydrides is developing a Technical Report for systems beyond the scope of ISO 161111.  Stationary applications, fixed ground storage, and systems greater than 150L will be addressed.
  • WG26 on electrolyzers has a high quality CD and is requesting to skip the CD ballot and go directly to DIS. 
  • WG27 is revising ISO 14687 on hydrogen quality specification.  CD2 was unanimously approved, and the DIS document will be submitted for ballot in December 2017. The timeline for this document has been extended to 48 months.
  • The WG28 document on hydrogen quality control (DIS 19880-8) passed DIS ballot.  FDIS 19880-8 to be submitted in January of 2018.  Members of TC197 are having difficulties participating on JWG7 ballots.  Spencer Qoung (as secretary of WG28) will (with assistance of Jim Ferrero) set up ballots for TC197 to mirror ballots within TC158.  The comments from various countries can then be compiled and sent to the convenor of JWG7.

TC 197 approved extending convenorships of Livio Gambone, Dr.Watanabe, and Karen Quakenbush for three additional years. 

The next TC197 Plenary and WG meetings will be held in Vancouver, BC (December 3-7, 2018).

Update on International Fuel Cell Standards

by Karen Quackenbush

IEC/TC 105, the International Standards body responsible for Fuel Cell Technologies, held their 2017 plenary meeting on November 9th, 2017, in Seoul, Korea. There were 25 participants representing nine countries. No-one attended from the USA.

Laurent Antoni has been appointed as new TC 105 chair. Fumio Ueno, the outgoing chair, was presented with an IEC scroll and a letter signed by the IEC General Secretary as tribute for his outstanding work as TC 105 Chair.

Kelvin Hecht stepped down from the role of convenor for Working Group 3: Stationary fuel cell power systems – Safety; responsible for project IEC 62282-3-100 Ed. 2, following the posting of the document as a Committee Draft for Voting. TC 105 noted the appointment of Steve Maurer as new convenor of WG 3 and thanked the outgoing convenor Kelvin Hecht for his outstanding work.

A decision was taken on Working Group 8, responsible for Micro Fuel Cells – Safety (associated with IEC 62282-6-101), to create only one Part 2 document, for methanol, at this time.

An amendment of IEC 62282-3-300 (Working Group 5: Stationary Fuel Cells – Installation) shall begin in the Spring of 2018 with publication in 2020.

The next edition to IEC TS 62282-7-1 (Working Group 11: Single Cell Test Methods - PEM) will commence in late 2019.

Extended target dates were granted for the following projects:

  • Granted extension for CD of IEC 62282-2-201 (Working Group 2: Fuel Cells Modules - Performance) until 4/28/2018 and publication in 2020.
  • Extended target date for IEC 62282-6-200 Ed.3 (Working Group 9: Micro Fuel Cells – Performance) to 2021.
  • Extended target date for IEC 62282-6-300 Ed.2 (Working Group 10 (Micro Fuel Cells – Interchangeability: Fuel Cartridges) to 2021.
  • Extended target date for IEC 62282-6-400 Ed.1 (Working Group 10 (Micro Fuel Cells – Interchangeability: Power and Data) to 12/2018.
  • Extended target date for next edition of IEC TS 62282-7-2 (Working Group 11: Single Cell Test Methods - Solid Oxide) to 2020
  • Extended target date for IEC 62282-8-101 (Working Group 13: Energy Storage – Reversible/Regenerative Fuel Cells - Solid Oxide Single Cell Performance) to 2/2018.
  • Extended target date for IEC 62282-8-102 (Working Group 13: Energy Storage – Reversible/Regenerative Fuel Cells - PEM Single Cell Performance) to 2/2018.
  • Extended target date for IEC 62282-8-201 (Working Group 13: Energy Storage – Reversible/Regenerative Fuel Cells - Power to Power Performance) to 2/2018.

TC 105 requested all convenors to identify the relevant European laws under which their standards should be harmonized and to inform the Secretariat accordingly to enable it to undertake the necessary actions at European level.

IEC/TC 105 has increased focus on Strategic Planning, and is interested in hearing from stakeholders regarding additional standards activities they should consider starting.

China has offered to host the next TC 105 Plenary in conjunction with the IEC GM in Shanghai in October 2019

IEEE Explores Formation of Drones Working Group

by Karen Quackenbush, FHEA

On Saturday, January 13, 2018, IEEE held a meeting to explore the need for standards for consumer drones as a potential new activity within the IEEE P2025 Standards Series. The meeting took place in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The following preliminary activities were discussed:

  • IEEE P2025.1 - "Standard for Consumer Drones: Taxonomy and Definitions"
  • IEEE P2025.2 - "Standard for Consumer Drones: Privacy and Security"

The scale of the drones under discussion involved drones that could carry a human as a passenger; although the passenger would not have control of the drone; i.e., a drone taxi. Such drones might also be used in rescue operations.

Due to the timing of the meeting, it was not well attended. It was agreed that future meetings would be a combination of web-based meetings as well as in-person meetings held in conjunction with other related events.

If you are interested in hearing about future meetings, please contact Yu Yuan at y.yuan@ieee.org.

Data Tools Update

by Karen Quackenbush, FCHEA

The Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) offers a large collection of helpful tools. These calculators, interactive maps, and data searches can assist fleets, fuel providers, and other transportation decision makers in their efforts to advance alternative fuels and energy-efficient vehicle technologies. The AFDC Is now reporting 24,712 alternative fuel stations in the United States, excluding private stations. Thirty-nine of these are hydrogen stations. For further details about these stations, please view the interactive map available at https://www.afdc.energy.gov/locator/stations/.

In addition, the AFDC is currently gathering data on retail hydrogen stations that includes the pressures available, as well as compliance with SAE J2601. This information is anticipated to be added to the website sometime this year.

The Fuels Institute recently announced the release of its latest report, “Consumers and Alternative Fuels 2017.” This report is based upon an annual survey of consumers which explores what attributes are most important to them when buying a new vehicle, including the importance of alternative powertrains such as electric and diesel powered vehicles.

To view the press release for this report, please click here.  Additionally, you may download the full report from our website here.

Information on codes and standards for fuel cells and hydrogen infrastructure is available on https://www.h2tools.org/fuelcellstandards-view.  In addition, The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association keeps track of the active related codes and standards activities with quarterly updates to a priority matrix. Always available to FCHEA members, the matrix is also reviewed by the National Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Codes & Standards Coordination Committee during monthly web-based meetings.

 If you have a tool you would like us to include in a future article or make available on our Technical Resources page, please let us know.

Sustainability Accounting Standards Board Standards Last Call

by Karen Quackenbush, FCHEA

The current public comment period for Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards closes on January 31, 2018. So far, there has been more than 3,200 downloads of the exposure drafts of the standards, which are the provisional standards updated to reflect extensive feedback from stakeholders. This is your final opportunity to help shape the SASB standards before they are codified for use by companies and investors later this year.

The SASB’s industry-specific standards illuminate material risks and opportunities, providing guidance on capturing and reporting organizational performance specific to environmental, social, and governance-related (ESG) factors. The public comment period is one of the many ways in which the SASB remains transparent and accessible to all stakeholders. Your feedback ultimately will ensure the standards facilitate better information, thereby enhancing the efficiency, stability, and resiliency of the capital markets.

For further information or to download and comment on the standards, please visit www.sasb.org.