Common menu bar links
Announcements - Art Meets Science in New Fuel Cell Demonstration Project
National Research Council and Emily Carr University of Art and Design Partner to Create an Industrial Design Advantage for BC's Clean Energy Sector
March 15, 2010 — Vancouver, British Columbia
The National Research Council Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (NRC-IFCI) has teamed up with the Emily Carr University of Art and Design (Emily Carr) in a technology demonstration project that harnesses the clean power of hydrogen and fuel cells in a sustainably designed visitor kiosk. The kiosk will be located in the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Gateway technology demonstration and exhibit centre of NRC-IFCI's LEED Gold certified building on the University of British Columbia's south campus.
THE TECHNOLOGY
A fuel cell is an elegant device that generates electrical power quietly and efficiently, without pollution. When the fuel cell converts hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, the by-products are clean - just heat and water vapor. A 1kW fuel cell designed by the Burnaby, BC-based Ballard Power Systems for an uninterruptable power supply (UPS) system developed by Dantherm Power will provide 120VAC power to NRC-IFCI's new visitor sign-in kiosk.
THE DESIGN
Working closely with NRC researchers and technology experts, Emily Carr industrial design student Stephanie Vacher conceived of a kiosk design that could be constructed using sustainable and locally sourced materials such as FSC-certified plywood and recycled aluminum. The design team was rounded out by Defne Corbacioglu, an Emily Carr graduate student in communication design who ensured the kiosk designs, UPS system, displays and signage fits with the overall colour and design scheme of the Gateway.
THE PARTNERSHIP
This collaborative project was developed under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in Spring 2009 by NRC-IFCI Director General Maja Veljkovic and Emily Carr President and Vice Chancellor, Dr. Ron Burnett. The goal of this MOU is to develop new partnerships that create an industrial design advantage that can further the commercialization goals of Vancouver's cutting-edge cluster of fuel cell and clean energy companies.
As part of Canada's premier research organization, NRC-IFCI supports Canadian leadership developing and integrating fuel cells into clean energy systems by addressing industry-defined R&D and commercialization priorities. Emily Carr research in sustainable design complements those same priorities.
