Deadline: 31-Jan-23
The Bell Canada is inviting applications for the Fuel Cells for Emergency Power Generation Challenge.
Bell is committed to making its operations carbon neutral by 2025 and to achieve a science-based emissions reduction (SBT) target by 2030 in accordance with the 1.5°C warming scenario.
Bell seeks adapted technological solutions in order to achieve its ambitious targets, while meeting objectives of growth and sustainability for its network. Bell wants to adopt a strategy of deployment and integration of new technologies and combining reliability and efficiency, for some or all of the 4,600 buildings and shelters.
Areas Of Interest
Bell has a strong interest in innovations and technologies in the following area:
- Fuel cells
- Rationale: Fuel cells may offer an alternative to diesel fuel for emergency power generation. Different fuel cell technologies may be proposed, with varying fuel sources.
- Constraints: Desired autonomy is 24 to 48 hrs; limited space for aboveground gas storage (as required for hydrogen fuel cells)
- Known vendors: Phynergy, Aspectair
Context for Challenge
- Bell and its subsidiaries own and lease buildings across Canada, with most sites located in Ontario and Quebec and a large number of sites in Manitoba and the Atlantic provinces.
- Electrical load varies greatly from site to site. Approximately 600 to 700 sites are in the 100 kW to 1 MW range, while 1600 to 2000 sites are in the 30 kW to 100 kW range. Sites typically have ~60% of the total building load on 48 Volts DC power for the network equipment, with the rest on AC power (347/600V, 120/208V, 120/240V).
- Telecom / IT equipment is air-cooled. No liquid-cooled equipment is installed in Bell facilities.
- Bell is therefore looking for solutions to improve energy management in its buildings housing server rooms and other related equipment used to support its network and thus minimize energy consumption and carbon footprint. Bell would like to implement a more integrated approach between network / IT equipment and the buildings hosting it, in order to reduce the corresponding energy needs while ensuring the reliability of the systems.
- The proposed solutions will have to take into account the current and future legislative context (in particular, at the level of refrigerants, abolition of halocarbons, alternative energy sources (natural gas, renewable, etc.). The latter must also have a favorable impact on reducing energy consumption, including fossil fuel consumption.
Benefits
- As part of the LCBA Canada Project you may have the opportunity to:
- Pilot or deploy your solution with Bell, if your solution is selected and deemed suitable.
- Meet new customers and explore new markets for your solution.
- What the LCBA Canada Program Offers:
- Participation in a high-quality EU programme that seeks to streamline state-of-the-art technologies and sustainable solutions into the Canadian Market;
- Tailored delivery of technical assistance and business coaching to enable Joint Business Concepts (JBCs) between EU SMEs & Canadian Buyers.
- The opportunity to work directly with a Canadian buyer that is actively seeking innovative solutions.
Eligibility Criteria
- You could be eligible for support to access the Canadian markets from the LCBA Canada Project, if you satisfy the following criteria:
- EU Company Size: Applicant is a company with less than 500 employees and annual turnover not exceeding 300 Million EUR.
- Geographic Location: Headquartered in one of the 27 EU Member States.
- Ownership: Possess majority corporate ownership by EU nationals.
- Environmental Solutions: The company offers low-carbon or circular economy solutions.
- Whether or not you have experience outside the EU: companies that present a relevant, innovative technology with high environmental and commercial potential are also eligible to participate. Having experience working outside the EU is an added value to the application.
Response Criteria
- The cost of the solutions should be subject to a break-even point based on an investment-benefit analysis including, but not limited to, the following aspects:
- Impact on climatic conditions
- Total CO2 reduction
- Cost per ton of CO2 reduction
- Total cost of acquisition and maintenance
- Bell is interested in solutions at the research and development / pre-commercial / already commercial stage. While it would be preferable to aim to integrate solutions that have already been proven in the short term, Bell is open to supporting the development and testing of new technology as long as it is in line with the objectives and timelines of this project.
For more information, visit Bell Canada.