Viridis Innovations Inc.

Mr. Rossetto’s expertise was fundamental in introducing Vancouver to the world as Canada’s hub for FC vehicle deployment through the Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program, North America’s first multi-partnered FC vehicle demonstration. He served as Fleet Operations Manager, on industry secondment to the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association for nearly two years, and managed support infrastructure for the 8 year span of the program (2005-2013). His initiative and dedication to keeping the technology on the road was instrumental in enabling Ford to accumulate in excess of 300,000 kilometres and 10,000 hours on 5 vehicles operated in Vancouver within a fleet of 30 worldwide. The demonstration was an important communications tool for NRC, attracting thousands of visitors and significant media including the web-based organization Faircompanies who interviewed Mr. Rossetto in July 2007 to provide insight on the future of transportation.

In 2015, Mr. Rossetto significantly contributed to a 4 year TC project valued at nearly $700k. He was responsible for a major deliverable within the Lithium Battery Transport Research Program in which the client required NRC support to conduct high-priority, time-sensitive research to gather information to assess and mitigate the potentially high risk that lithium batteries (LiBs) pose on air transport. Mr. Rossetto led a market data collection on LiB commodity flows in Canada. He specifically developed an industrial survey in which domestic and global trade data were collected, analyzed and reported. The 2015 federal election delayed survey launch but, within 3 months, Mr. Rossetto issued a comprehensive report for public access through the client’s Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) website. Mr. Rossetto enhanced the client’s understanding of the volume of LiBs flowing into and out of Canada and around the world. The project strengthened the client’s position within the UN TDG, IATA, and ICAO regulatory bodies and showcased Canada’s commitment to ensuring a safe and cost-effective air transportation industry. This work was recognized internally within NRC and was an NRC-TechX 2016 first place award recipient and was the precursor for a continuing collaboration with TC with over $2.0M revenue.

In an internal project involving multiple teams and RCs spanning 2014-2018, Mr. Rossetto responded to a challenging task involving H2 testing. He was invited by Aero RC as a H2 subject matter expert, to support design and commissioning of a $4.8M automated H2 gas supply facility that supports high pressure combustion and energy research using alternative fuels. Due to his extensive knowledge and experience working with H2, he reviewed, verified, and identified technical design and operational deficiencies during the facility’s design phase, and provided on-site support during facility start-up and commissioning. Mr. Rossetto supported the establishment of a leading edge H2 facility, contributing to one of ARC’s key new strategic R&D focus areas: H2 combustion for green aviation. This critical infrastructure was vital to the successful completion of a $500K Siemens’ test program evaluating experimental combustion technology.

In 2019, Mr. Rossetto leveraged 18 years of expertise in system integration, testing, and commissioning to provide TC a functional experimental apparatus for LiB thermal runaway testing to SAE AS6413 Draft Standard “Performance based packaging standard for LiBs as cargo on aircraft” – project work valued at more than $500k. NRC developed a new test method that was adopted by the SAE-G27 technical committee that reduced testing time by 95%, increasing the likelihood that the standard will become a regulation. His efforts support development of improved mitigation strategies that will permit LiBs onboard passenger aircraft as requested by ICAO’s Air Navigation Commission and support alignment of North American and international efforts to harmonize/align shipping regulations. This work has been well received by TC and led to an additional $750k of work currently in progress. This research resulted in to two technical reports, presentations at committee meetings in Germany, Spain, and the US, the International Aircraft Fire and Cabin Safety Research Conference in October 2019, presented at the 2020 SAE AeroTech® Americas event and then published in the SAE International Journal of Advances and Current Practices in Mobility, March 2020.

Mr. Rossetto’s expertise in H2 contributed to the market readiness and regulations improvements to support vehicle applications of the technology. Acting as technical advisor, in 2010 he teamed up with modeling researchers to conduct a H2-vehicle-related study sponsored by TC valued at $350k. As no safety standards existed for parking H2 vehicles in underground garages, NRC performed a gas-dispersion analysis and leveraged Mr. Rossetto’s H2 vehicle expertise as input to the simulations – specifications of high-pressure fittings, H2 tank, safety relief, regulator, locations of components, characterizing failure scenarios. The findings from this study lead to further development of safety standards that eliminate technology barriers – Canadian national building codes and standards, as well as vehicle manufacturing standards. These efforts strengthened NRC’s client relationship putting the organization in the enviable position as a key resource for expertise in H2 and FC technology.

Mr. Rossetto developed a strong working relationship with one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world, Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA), enabling them to understand the risks and benefits of using H2 and FC technology onboard aircraft through two demonstrations totalling $350k. In 2011, NRC and BCA integrated a FC in a training aircraft owned by BCIT Aerospace to power the aircraft galley, as a proof-of-concept. Mr. Rossetto led EME’s contributions to this project including design, testing, installation, and commissioning. In 2012, Mr. Rossetto enabled BCA to integrate a regenerative FC system from a major Japanese heavy equipment corporation on-board a brand new narrow-body aircraft. He was relied upon by BCA as the principal H2 expert to make decisions on acceptable risk mitigation strategies to approve the flight. He also provided H2 safety training for 171 Boeing emergency and operations personnel. This project was the most complex portion of the 2012 EcoDemonstrator Program, a $50M effort between BCA, American Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration to advance progressive environmental technologies. Serving as the onboard H2 expert, he represented NRC by participating in the 4-hour test flight over the Pacific Ocean. Mr. Rossetto facilitated an historic event for Boeing - their first commercial aircraft to utilize a H2 FC to advance the more-electric-aircraft strategy.

In 2016-2020, Mr. Rossetto was an integral contributor to a capability project with a budget of $900k supported by NRCan involving the construction of a micro-grid demonstration facility with biomass fuel capability, offering a new specialized service previously unavailable to small industrial clients. The project addressed the lack of public facilities for SMEs to test biomass CHP and micro-grid components and systems, and to support training programs for end-users. Mr. Rossetto provided engineering support and contractor management, producing engineering drawings and bills of materials for site modifications and equipment installation. Recent research conducted at the facility has produced a Metro Vancouver approved air dispersion model of exhaust emissions from a typical CHP system that is now available to be studied by industrial clients, academia, and OGDs, removing barriers to future demonstrations. Mr. Rossetto has enabled capabilities, unique to NRC and within Canada, to support SMEs and showcase technology that can displace diesel fuel, electrify remote communities, promote economic growth opportunities, and reinvigorate the forestry sector.

Photo References

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse