The Swiss company is one cleantech play on the rise.
Switzerland is a relatively minor play in the cleatech/renewable energy space but GRT Group is breaking that stale Toblerone-infested mould.
The company, with its operational base close to Lausanne in Switzerland and with offices in Rome, Trento (a town in Northern Italy) and London is specialising in technology that will help use formic acid to store hydrogen. Its key technology is called HYFORM-PEMFC. It is the world’s first formic acid based fuel cell.
The PEMFC unit has a peak power of 1000 watts with a nominal power of 850 watts. It emits no nitrous oxide and produces clean gas emissions.
It is a fuel cell independent of the gas grip that is aimed at areas that have no access to the power grid. Examples could include a remote off grid cabin that is provided with heating and electricity in the hardy winter months. Anywhere where hydrogen compression is not possible is a potential market for the technology.
The company cites other examples of potential usages including in telecommunication towers and in refugee camps where there is no grid access. Crucially, formic acid allows for fast refuelling when compared to batteries.
The advantage of formic acid is that it stays liquid at ambient temperatures, making it easier to transport, store and to handle when compared to hydrogen, which can be tricky to transport given the low temperatures required to move it.
Another advantage worth considering is that formic acid can be fed directly into the fuel cell. GRT’s device includes a catalytic reformer to extract the hydrogen. The reformer produces no sulfur and can be engineered for different applications.
GRT itself was founded in 1971 and is led by CEO Luca Dal Fabbro. The former chairman of hybrid storage specialist Electro Power Systems as well as the former chairman of E.ON Italia, he oversees the action at the company.
Note: GRT Group paid for the cost of Renewables Investor to visit the company in Switzerland to attend a presentation on its technology offerings.