The first Russian power system based on a solid-oxide fuel cell is tested in Snezhinsk. By importance, this event is comparable with the first automobile construction. 

The first Russian power system based on a solid-oxide fuel cell had been tested in the All-Russia Research Institute of Technical Physics (Russian Federal Nuclear Center, Snezhinsk, Chelyabinsk oblast). In this system, hydrogen is obtained from natural gas, and oxygen - from the air. For the first time, such a system has been built up of units (air pump, reformer, and fuel cell) that all are made in Russia at factories of the Ministry of Atomic Energy (Minatom). Almost ten-year-long work of Minatom specialists on creating the solid-oxide fuel cell has been successful. The testing team has acknowledged an important financial support of the ISTC that helped to solve key technical problems. 

Viktor Emel’yanov, co-coordinator of the ISTC fuel cell construction initiative, has reported the following. The scientists launched an experimental system, which was operated several days and then turned off. But the main goal was attained: it has been revealed, which units are to be modified and how. The resource of the energy system functioning has been estimated in pilot experiments with separate fuel cells at 50 thousands of hours. Though the coast hasn’t been evaluated yet, it is expected to be acceptable. This event is comparable by importance with the first automobile construction. The experimental system power is 1 kW. This makes us sure that building 2.5 kW system under the ISTC project can be successfully accomplished. 

Fuel cells and power systems on their basis are the key elements of hydrogen energetic, which is a promising way to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and also to reduce or stop the air pollution by exhaust gases of vehicles and power industries. Hydrogen energetic in Russia is promoted by the alliance of Minaton, ISTC, and Gazprom under aforementioned project, plus the Norilsk Nickel Company and Russian Academy of Sciences under the complex program of research and experimental-construction works on hydrogen energetic and fuel cells signed in December of 2003. 

A fuel cell creates electricity through an electrochemical process that combines hydrogen and oxygen. For this purpose, hydrogen atoms are driven to the hydrogen electrode, turned to ions, and transferred by an electrolyte to the oxygen electrode, where they join up with oxygen atoms to form water and leave the fuel cell. There are several kinds of electrolytes that determine the construction of a fuel cell and respective power system. 

A solid-oxide fuel cell is a high-temperature fuel cell having an operating temperature of more than 800 degrees. At room temperature, this electrolyte does not conduct any ions. It is unsuitable for an automobile, but quite appropriate for generating electricity and heat for a severed cottage or supplementary equipment of transport means. The main advantage of this fuel cell is its adjustability to hydrocarbon fuels, primarily, natural gas. The decomposition of natural gas to hydrogen and carbon monoxide and dioxide results in the production of synthesis gas. Here carbon monoxide can serve as a fuel along with hydrogen due to the presence of oxygen anions in the electrolyte. But it would be a poison in alternative low-temperature fuel cells, where the electrolyte conducts hydrogen ions (protons). Solid-oxide fuel cells produce not only electricity, but also heat that can be used in heating of buildings as well as generating an additional power supply, e.g., with the use of gas or vapour turbine. 

Solid-oxide electrolyte is usually made of zirconium oxide substances with the addition of alkaline-earth and rare-earth metals. There are two ways of obtaining electricity with the use of solid-oxide fuel cells, one of which is based on a tubular construction developed in Snezhinsk. That fuel cell consists of many modules. Each module is a tube about 1 cm in diameter and 25 cm long, consisting of the same material as the electrolyte, i.e., zirconium oxide, in which the electrodes are implanted: the hydrogen one is made up of nickel and zirconium oxide, and the oxygen one of lanthanum-strontium manganate. The tube is filled up with a porous insulator, in which a smaller metal tube is incorporated. By this tube synthesis gas is supplied to the fuel cell, and the electricity exits the fuel cell. A tube can be made also from the material of cathode. In this case, it is clad in electrolyte 20-30 cm thick, which is covered by the anode layer. Such a tube having the power density 550 mW/sq cm at the temperature of 950 degrees can produce the electric current of 0.55 V and 13 W. And these values do not change during 1.5 thousand hours of the operation test that has been conducted by the scientists. 

An alternative idea is a planar fuel cell. In this case, the base is made of either a half-millimetre-thick plate of the same electrolyte carrying micron-deep layers of porous cathode and anode made of above-mentioned materials, or of a millimetre-thick anode plate with electrolyte and cathode layers. Such a plate up to 60 mm in diameter made of nickel/zirconium oxide with adjustable porosity and conductivity can be produced, for example, in the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering in Obninsk. That is commented by one of the members of the research team, N.I. Khramushin, as follows. The planar construction is more efficient and compact than the tubular one. Its use allows for obtaining a higher electric power density and decreasing power and heat losses. We have managed to obtain a maximal power density of 700 mW/sq cm at 950 degrees. Therefore, power systems based on such fuel cells will cost lower than tubular ones - the price for one kilowatt of power may drop to 400 dollars in case of a massive production.

Businesswire-PolyFuel, a leading provider of fuel cell membrane technology for portable electronic devices, today announced that it has released a breakthrough membrane specifically designed for direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) applications. The PolyFuel DMFC membrane delivers substantial performance and system cost advantages over both traditional lithium ion batteries and existing fuel cell membrane technology. PolyFuel is currently supplying its DMFC membrane samples to the world's leading consumer electronics manufacturers and other developers of DMFC systems. 

"Leading consumer electronics manufacturers acknowledge that limited battery runtimes today restrict the functionality that can be built into portable devices such as laptop computers, tablet PCs, PDAs and mobile phones," said Jim Balcom, President and Chief Executive Officer of PolyFuel. "This problem will only get worse as wireless and other capabilities are added to these devices. The solution to this problem is the direct methanol fuel cell, a new approach to portable power. The PolyFuel DMFC membrane will enable the development of highly efficient, simple, cost effective, small, light and quiet portable fuel cell power systems that will deliver unlimited, unplugged runtimes for consumers." 

Today, more than 35 companies, including the world's leading consumer electronics manufacturers, have launched DMFC development programs. Several of these organizations have plans to deliver commercially available fuel cell systems in the next one to three years. Until recently, these DMFC programs have been hampered by the lack of a suitable membrane technology for the methanol fuel cell environment -- the only membrane available to DMFC developers and consumer electronics manufacturers was a membrane developed more than four decades ago for hydrogen fuel cells. DMFC developers and consumer electronics manufacturers agree that direct methanol fuel cells are the only solution for smaller form factor devices such as laptop computers, tablet PCs, PDAs and mobile phones and have acknowledged the need for a high-performance fuel cell membrane designed specifically for direct methanol fuel cells. 

The PolyFuel DMFC membrane has the following features and advantages over existing membranes: 
-- State of the art performance 
-- Higher fuel efficiency 
-- Lower methanol and water crossover 
-- Stability in high levels of methanol concentration 
These advantages enable PolyFuel's customers to develop systems that will be: 
-- Simpler and more robust 
-- More efficient and able to run longer 
-- Smaller, lighter, quieter and less expensive 
-- Capable of being stored, started and operated in sub-freezing temperatures 
Product Availability 
PolyFuel is currently supplying its DMFC membrane samples to most of the world's leading consumer electronics manufacturers. PolyFuel has established a pilot scale roll-to-roll manufacturing facility at its headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., in the heart of Silicon Valley. Additional samples are available to prospective customers and partners. 

About PolyFuel 

Direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) systems with their hot swappable fuel cartridges will satisfy consumer demands for longer runtimes in numerous portable devices such as laptop computers, PDAs and cell phones. The PolyFuel patent pending membrane will enable DMFC systems to be smaller, lighter, quieter, less expensive and more robust than systems made with competing membrane materials. PolyFuel also has world-class fuel cell systems technology, used in prototypes developed for mobile phones and laptop computers. This systems expertise provides the company with critical real-world direction for the development of its membrane technology. Spun out from SRI in 1999 and based in Mountain View, Calif., PolyFuel is privately held and venture-funded by Mayfield, Ventures West, Technology Partners, Intel Capital, and Chrysalix Energy. For more information, please visit www.polyfuel.com or call 650-429-4700.

3.) Conduit Ventures and Carbon Trust invest in new Fuel Cell Company

Conduit Ventures, a leading energy technology venture capital firm specialising in fuel cells and related hydrogen technologies, today announced that it has led a Series A venture capital investment in CMR Fuel Cells Limited. The co-investor was Carbon Trust Investments Limited. CMR is a Cambridge-based fuel cell company, dedicated to the development of a revolutionary flow-through fuel cell utilising mixed reactants. The investment is the latest for the Conduit Ventures Fund.  

CMR Fuel Cells was spun out of The Generics Group (Generics), the international technology and business consulting organisation, based in Cambridge. The Generics Group remains a significant minority shareholder in CMR Fuel Cells Limited.  
CMR is a radical new fuel cell stack technology that has the promise of unlocking this enormous market potential. CMR's patented design architecture aims to make fuel cells 10 times smaller and more powerful and up to 80% cheaper than competing products, thereby overcoming the key hurdles delaying mass-market global sales. Whereas current fuel cells are complex, tightly toleranced stacks of individual multi-component cells with precious metal catalysts, CMR delivers a radical architecture simplification and a robust porous "solid state" stack with dramatically fewer and cheaper components.  

CMR is developing fuel cell stacks for use in applications such as battery chargers, auxiliary power units, laptops, power tools, robotic devices, portable generators, and portable military applications.  

The core team is led by Michael Priestnall, previously Head of Fuel Cell Consulting at Generics, and Michael Evans, previously a Principal Researcher at Cambridge University. The team has over twenty years of experience in the fuel cell industry.  

Michael Priestnall, CEO of CMR Fuel Cells Limited commented: "Cost, durability, system complexity and fuelling are key barriers delaying mass-commercialisation of fuel cell technology. Our Compact Mixed-Reactant stack technology addresses each of these head-on. We are applying it first in portable direct methanol fuel cells where we believe the market opportunity is closest. I believe that one day all fuel cells will have to be built this way and appreciate the support that our investors and development partners have brought to enable this to happen."  

Daniel Carter, a Principal at Conduit Ventures, commented: "Conduit Ventures has been actively seeking an investment with 'game-changing' potential and we are impressed by CMR's unique technology, team and its development and progress to date. CMR's stack technology has the potential to achieve superior cost, size and reliability targets affording the company a position as an enabler in significant segments of the small-scale premium power fuel cell market."  

Russell Pullan, Private Equity at the Carbon Trust said: "This investment will help advance the emerging fuel cell industry in the UK which is part of the Carbon Trust's drive to promote a low-carbon economy. CMR Fuel Cell technology could offer ultra-low emissions for distributed generation, producing heat and electricity in small units at the point where the energy is needed."  
Martin Frost, Managing Director of Generics commented: "We're delighted to announce the formation of CMR to exploit this latest breakthroug technology developed at Generics over the last two years and look forward, with our partners, to building a company of substantial value." 

4.)TEXAS unveils first propane-powered fuel cell in San Antonio

Officials from three state agencies will be in San Antonio Tuesday to introduce and demonstrate Texas' first propane-powered fuel cell. 

The Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Railroad Commission of Texas will be at TransGuide at 10 a.m. to flip the proverbial switch on the on-site generation unit. 

HyRadix Inc. of Des Plaines, Ill., developed a propane reformer and Plug Power Inc. of Latham, N.Y. installed the fuel cell at TransGuide under grants from the Propane Education & Research Council and the U.S. Department of Energy. 

The project has been under development for the last two years. 

In a fuel cell project, hydrogen is extracted from propane by a reforming unit and combined with oxygen to produce electricity with little or no pollution. The only byproducts are clean water and a small amount of carbon dioxide. 

The unit can generate four to five kilowatts of electricity -- delivering enough juice to power a portion of the central panel of the TransGuide Intelligent Transportation System video wall. 

The product was independently tested for performance, efficiency and emissions by Southwest Research Institute prior to installation. 

Other partners of the Texas Fuel Cell Partnership initiative include City Public Service, the Texas State Energy Conservation Office and Good Company Associates. 

Sponsors of the partnership are hoping to open a market for propane-powered fuel cells in future public and private sector projects. 

CBC -A New Brunswick inventor thinks he has found a new, cheap way to produce hydrogen gas. If he's right, we may someday use old pop cans to help fuel cars. 

Hydrogen gas is often touted as the fuel of the future, but freeing up the gas can be difficult and expensive. The fuel is also difficult to store and transport. 

Jim Andersen of New Denmark, N.B., may have come up with a solution. Andersen says he can make lots of hydrogen gas by mixing caustic soda, water and aluminum over a wide range of temperatures. 

"We use pie plates, aluminum foil, car block wire that is coated, pop cans," said Andersen. "All we have to do is shred it and put it in our process." 

The discovery flies in the face of what chemistry textbooks predict will happen. 

Since Andersen never finished high school, he had trouble convincing the patent office he was right. 

With the help of chemist George Jenkins at the University of New Brunswick, Andersen got the U.S. patent and the attention of auto makers developing hydrogen-fuelled cars. 
Scientists knew metals can produce hydrogen, but the reaction normally stops. In Andersen's invention, corrosive sodium hydroxide acts as a catalyst that doesn't break down so long as more water and aluminum are added. 

Jenkins says the invention solves the problem of having the hydrogen where you want, when you want it. 

"With our system, all you'd have to do is move the aluminum around," said Jenkins. "If you had water, you could make it wherever you wanted to, so you'd have hydrogen on demand, on site." 
The inventor says the product is also of interest to the aluminum industry, which is looking for some way to recycle old pop cans.

6.) A strong European technology partnership to move towards the hydrogen economy

Innovations-Report - European Commission President, Romano Prodi, today launched the “European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology” Platform, whose Advisory Council includes key players of the European hydrogen sector, at its first assembly in Brussels. The Platform has the task of drafting a blueprint to smooth the EU’s transition from a fossil fuel-based to a hydrogen-based economy. The creation of this platform follows the presentation of a report by an EU high-level expert group on June 16, 2003, and the inclusion of a hydrogen and fuel cell initiative in the “QuickStart” list of transport and research projects. This list was presented by the Commission on November 11, 2003, in the framework of the “European Growth Initiative”. World-wide energy demand will double in the next 50 years, and Europe still has very limited home-grown resources. The EU currently imports 50% of its demand for oil, and, if nothing is done, this figure will rise to 70% in 20-30 years time. Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies could form an integral part of future sustainable energy systems. This will contribute to improving Europe’s energy security and air quality, whilst lessening climate change. Developing the new hydrogen society while gaining worldwide leadership will require a coherent EU strategy, which this European Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Technology Platform will help devise. 

“At the current pace, Europe’s oil import dependency is set to grow from around 50% today to 70% or more in 2025. Current trends are clearly unsustainable. We have to act now in order to change them,” said Commission President Romano Prodi. “Our objective is to realise a step-by-step shift towards a fully integrated hydrogen economy, based on renewable energy sources, by the middle of the century. To turn this vision into reality, however, Europe needs more research, larger demonstration and deployment projects, and regulations and standards appropriate to the future hydrogen economy. These efforts will be successful only if national and European resources, both public and private, are pulled together in a co-ordinated way. This is why we are launching the European partnership for the hydrogen economy.” 

The creation of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform is sponsored by President Prodi, along with Vice-President and Energy and Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio and Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin. 

A Technology Platform: what for? 

The EU effort in developing and consolidating this technology is fragmented and spread across a number of member states, often with overlapping activities. This is why last year the Commission decided to set up a high level group. The group’s vision report was strongly endorsed at the major European conference, "The hydrogen economy – a bridge to sustainable energy". Foremost amongst the group’s recommendations was the establishment of a “European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Partnership”, guided by an Advisory Council. 

The expected outcome of this Technology Platform will be the development of a broad and far-reaching hydrogen and fuel cell strategy at the EU level. The intention is to secure the EU’s position as a leading world-wide player in the supply and deployment of hydrogen technologies. The Technology Platform Advisory Council comprises 35 members representing the relevant stakeholders, and distinguished by their leadership in the field (See the list in Annex 1). 

The first assembly of this Technology Platform, to be held on January 20-21 in Brussels and opened by Commission President Romano Prodi, will address the three cornerstones for implementing the new Hydrogen Economy in Europe: “Transport applications” (by 2020, 5% of road transport fuels could be based on hydrogen, as proposed by the EU Communication on alternative fuels for road transportation); “Stationary applications” and “Hydrogen infrastructure”. It will stimulate the formation of working groups which will support the Platform’s operations and objectives. 

The Technology Platform will have the opportunity to build consensus and drive forward a coherent European research and deployment strategy in the hydrogen and fuel cell sector, including public-private partnerships, lighthouse projects, standards and regulations. In so doing, it will build critical mass and rally stakeholders to make Europe a leading player and a stronger partner at the international level. 

Hydrogen: a clean energy vector 

Hydrogen, like electricity, is a clean energy vector. It can be produced from a wide variety of primary energy sources. It is possible to de-carbonise fossil fuels by carbon capture, allowing for the production of hydrogen from these traditional fuels with negligible carbon emissions. But, more importantly, hydrogen produced through a range of renewable primary energy sources such as wind, biomass and solar energy is ideal for gradually replacing fossil energy - in particular, oil. 

A concrete application: fuel cells 

The energy conversion principle in a fuel cell is clean and silent: hydrogen combines with oxygen from the air in the fuel cell to produce water and electricity. The electrochemical conversion processes are not limited by the same physical laws of thermodynamics that govern combustion processes and are, therefore, more efficient. Fuel cells generally use hydrogen as a fuel but others, such as natural gas and methanol, can also be used. In the long term, fuel cells have the potential to replace a very large proportion of current energy systems in all fields, from mobile phone batteries to vehicle propulsion to centralised or decentralised stationary power generation. They also represent a potential paradigm shift in the way we produce and consume energy. 

The European Union has been supporting fuel cell research since 1989, and the growing importance of this field is reflected in the substantial increase in the financial support to fuel cell research, from €8 million in the 1988-1992 programme, to €150 million for 1999-2002. At present, after a first call of proposals for the 6th Research Framework Programme (FP6 2002-2006), the EU contribution to these activities amounts to €95 million; two more calls for proposals are expected before 2006. Around €300 million should be allocated to hydrogen and fuel cell research within FP6. 

The European Initiative for Growth and QuickStart Programme 

In November 2003 the Commission also launched the European Initiative for Growth to accelerate EU economic recovery. The Growth Initiative includes a “Quick Start Programme” of projects of public and private investment in infrastructure, networks and knowledge. The aim is to encourage the creation of public-private partnerships, in co-operation with the European Investment Bank, to leverage finance. 

This programme foresees a major ten year initiative for hydrogen-related research, production and use, with an indicative total budget of €2.8 billion of public and private funding. The technology platform can help shape this initiative, which has already received the political backing of Member States at the highest level. 

The international framework 

In June 2003, hydrogen was discussed during the EU-US summit. In a joint statement with the US, the EU committed to collaborate on a global scale in accelerating the development of the hydrogen economy. Behind this collaboration is the aim to enhance security of energy supply, increase diversity of energy sources and improve local and global air quality. 

The growing commitment to developing a global hydrogen economy was further strengthened in November 2003, when the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy was launched with the United States, fourteen countries and the European Union in Washington. This International Partnership includes, notably, India and China, which will become major consumers of energy as their economies rapidly expand. It is a step forward for building international collaboration on both technical, regulatory and policy related matters.

7.) SatCon Receives $900,000 Order from FuelCell Energy

SatCon Technology Corporation® (NASDAQ NM:SATC - News), a manufacturer of electronic power control systems, today announced that FuelCell Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ NM:FCEL - News), a leading manufacturer of stationary fuel cell power plants for distributed power generation, has placed an order in excess of $900,000 for 300-kilowatt (kW) Power Conditioning Units (PCUs) to be delivered in early 2004. 

SatCon manufactures a family of power conditioning units that are specifically designed to provide high performance power conversion for distributed power and alternative energy generators including fuel cells, photovoltaic arrays and wind-turbines. The PCUs are at the heart of these innovative distributed power systems. They enable new energy applications to be applied to critical power applications such as FuelCell Energy's Direct Fuel Cell® (DFC®) power plants. These power plants are used to generate clean, efficient and reliable electricity on-site at customer locations such as hospitals, schools, universities, hotels and other commercial and industrial facilities. Using SatCon's PCUs, Fuel Cell Energy's DFC power plants generate more electric power from less fuel and with less harmful emissions than traditional combustion methods of similar sizes. 

The power conditioning units are part of a family of products invented by SatCon that also includes the Rotary Uninterruptible Power Supply Systems (UPS), which was recently installed at the Toronto facility of Deluxe Film Processing, one of the world's largest movie film processing companies. 

"We are experiencing and believe we will continue to experience increased demand for fuel cell technology, particularly for commercial sized units like the DFC power plants for commercial and industrial applications being built and delivered by FuelCell Energy," said David Eisenhaure, SatCon's president and chief executive officer. "We are pleased that our research and development in the area of power conversion systems for fuel cell technology is now showing returns. Our vision of developing next-generation products for alternative energy use appears to be paying off. We think we are well-positioned for both short and long-term growth in this sector." 

8.) Millennium Cell Announces $10 Million Private Placement Financing

Business Wire-Millennium Cell Inc. (NASDAQ: MCEL), announced today that it has signed a $10 million private placement financing through the sale of debentures convertible into common stock. Initially, $6 million will be made available in the form of unsecured convertible debentures, with $4 million additional unsecured debentures available at the company's option. 
"This financing is an important step at this point in Millennium Cell's development," said Dr. Stephen S. Tang, Millennium Cell President, CEO and acting CFO. "We continue to aggressively pursue our business plan to grow revenue from key near term markets in consumer electronics, standby power and military portable power. This financing gives us additional flexibility as we work to reach positive cash flow and pursue new revenue prospects from public sector funding and international partnerships, over and above our current business plan." 

The initial $6 million funding will be available upon the effectiveness of a registration statement covering the underlying shares of common stock. The debentures are initially convertible into common stock at 120 percent of Millennium Cell's average closing prices for the five business days prior to the closing date. 

Founded in 1998, Millennium Cell is based in Eatontown, N.J. and has developed a multi-faceted patent portfolio, which the company is pursuing in the United States and internationally surrounding a proprietary process called Hydrogen on Demand(TM). Hydrogen on Demand(TM) safely generates pure hydrogen from environmentally friendly raw materials. In the process, the energy potential of hydrogen is carried in the chemical bonds of sodium borohydride, which in the presence of a catalyst releases hydrogen. The primary input components of the reaction are water and sodium borohydride, a derivative of borax. Borax is found in substantial natural reserves globally. Hydrogen from this system can be used to power fuel cells or fed directly to internal combustion engines. Millennium Cell also has a patented design for boron-based longer-life batteries. 

The company is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol MCEL. For more information on Millennium Cell, visit www.millenniumcell.com or call 866-532-2783. 
  

9.) Energy Visions Inc. Announces Commencement of Prototype Fuel Cell Stack Development

Jan. 20, 2004--Energy Visions Inc. ("EVI") (OTCBB: EGYVE)(TSX Venture: EVI.S) announced today that it has begun development of its proprietary flowing electrolyte direct methanol fuel cell ("FE-DMFC") stack. 

Working with Hibar Systems Inc. ("Hibar"), EVI has now commenced engineering refinement of its novel fuel cell stack design for its prototype hybrid FE-DMFC / rechargeable battery portable power supply. Hibar, a leader in battery manufacturing equipment, precision metering pumps and process and dispensing systems, will produce stack component prototypes for EVI. EVI recently achieved a significant milestone in its FE-DMFC development project with the presentation of the high efficiency and general applicability of its flowing electrolyte technology at the 2003 Fuel Cell Seminar in Miami, Florida. 

National Research Council Canada has awarded EVI a grant through its Industrial Research Assistance Program ("IRAP") for approximately Cdn. $160,000 in partial support of the project. 

Dr. Douglas James, VP and GM, Fuel Cell Division of EVI said, "We look forward to be working with Hibar. Their vast experience with composite materials and the manufacturing of electrochemical devices and pumps will greatly speed the development of our proprietary FE-DMFC technology." 

"We are excited about moving into this important phase of this project. Upon completion we will initiate tests of our hybrid fuel cell/battery system using both our nickel-zinc batteries and our new XL(TM) rechargeable alkaline batteries. We believe that our fuel cell will be the first truly commercial portable fuel cell technology. Our DMFC technology is based on using a proprietary "flowing electrolyte" technology that has shown up to a 30% efficiency and voltage improvement over other DMFC systems which consequently will, we believe, lead to the lowest cost projections in the industry," stated Dr. Phil Whiting, President of Energy Ventures Inc. (Canada).
 
About Energy Visions Inc.: EVI develops and commercializes advanced battery and direct methanol fuel cell technologies and products. EVI recently acquired a major interest in Pure Energy Inc. whose subsidiary, Pure Energy Visions Inc., manufactures and markets rechargeable and single-use alkaline batteries globally sold under the "Pure Energy", XL(TM) and "Pure Power" labels and to private label customers worldwide. The Company also markets several electronic products including battery operated radios and the new Pure Power Saver(TM) kit. 

The website of Energy Visions Inc. is http://www.energyvi.com. The website of Pure Energy Visions Inc. is http://www.pureenergybattery.com. 
 

10.) DoE Hydrogen Research Funds reduced by 50 Percent

Fuel Cell Today- Lawmakers intent on delivering federal dollars to their home districts have undermined a major Department of Energy hydrogen research program by robbing it of half of its funding, forcing DOE to delay several key fuel cell studies until 2005, department officials say. 

DOE's "Grand Challenge" program, introduced last June, quintupled the administration's commitment to hydrogen storage research. DOE requested $30 million for the project in 2004, up from $6 million in 2002, justified by the fact that fuel storage questions are seen as one of the biggest barriers to the development of hydrogen-powered vehicles. 
In the FY '04 Energy and Water appropriations bill, which passed in November, Congress provided $28 million for the Grand Challenge program, only slightly less than DOE requested. But in a department announcement dated Dec. 20, DOE officials said lawmakers earmarked more than half of the budget, diverting money toward activities in their home districts, some of which are unrelated to DOE's hydrogen storage efforts. 

"About 50 percent of the 2004 hydrogen appropriation was earmarked by Congress for specific organizations (not necessarily for hydrogen storage)," DOE told potential grant applicants in the memo. "Therefore, the 2004 hydrogen storage budget is approximately $14 [million]." 

With that scaled-down budget, DOE said it will continue with ongoing projects and launch seven new projects selected in 2002. But the department will not be able to pay for this year's hydrogen storage research projects, the first year of an estimated $125 million for 15 storage projects over a five year period. 

DOE officials said that despite the funding shortfall, they will announce the Grand Challenge solicitation awards next month as scheduled. "However, due to the lack of funds, it is highly unlikely that DOE will be able to initiate the new Grand Challenge awards during FY 2004," DOE said. Those projects will likely be deferred until FY '05, subject to congressional appropriation. 

The program was one of two major research efforts launched by DOE after President Bush upped the White House's commitment to fuel cells during his State of the Union address last year. The other major program will establish hydrogen vehicle and fueling demonstration programs. 

Robert Rose, executive director of the U.S. Fuel Cell Council, an industry coalition, said the earmarks in the Energy and Water spending bill "obliterated" one of DOE's most important hydrogen research programs. 

"The net result is there's still a hydrogen research program, based largely on pre-existing contracts," Rose said. "The expansion proposed by the president is on hold this year. There's no money for it." 

The fuel cell industry has not yet determined the best hydrogen storage method. Automakers, government researchers and fuel cell startups are experimenting with a range of options, including storing hydrogen in liquid, solid or gaseous form. "Advances in hydrogen storage will open the commercial box for hydrogen and fuel cells," Rose said. 

Details are scant concerning the projects earmarked for funding in the FY '04 Energy and Water appropriations bill. Majority staffers in both chambers did not return calls seeking comment. But House Democrats agreed that the earmarks will undercut the core research program. 

"Earmarks in the energy supply sections of the Energy and Water appropriations bill were extensive," said a minority aide on the House Appropriations Committee. "The Department of Energy's statement pretty much speaks for itself, and it appears in this case the priorities of individual Republican members of Congress trumped those of the administration." 

Rose pointed to a few projects that appear to have little to do with storage research. "A lot of these winners were distinguished by location and political connections, not their current posture in the hydrogen world," Rose said. 
"If the nation is going to be serious about fairly evaluating the transition to hydrogen ... Congress has got to find the money for the core program," Rose added. "This doesn't seem to have reached the consciousness of a critical mass of appropriators." 

The earmarks include: 
$300,000 for the residential fuel cell demonstration by the Delaware County Electric Cooperative; $2.2 million for the Expanding Clean Energy Research and Education Program at the University of South Carolina; $1 million for the Shared Technology Transfer Program by Nicholls State University; $2 million for fuel cell development for distributed generation and carbon sequestration in Northwest Indiana. To view the DOE notice regarding Grand Challenge project funding in 2004, click here. 

To see more of Environment and Energy Daily, or to subscribe online, please visit http://www.eenews.net. 

11.) UQM Technologies Announces Order From Ballard Power Systems for Additional Fuel Cell  Compressor Drive Motors

PRNewswire- UQM Technologies, Inc.(Amex: UQM), a developer of alternative energy technologies, announced today
that it has received an order from Ballard Power Systems for additional fuel cell compressor drive motors. The Company has been supplying its custom designed motors to Ballard since early 2001 for use in its fuel cell engines.
    
Proton exchange membrane fuel cells manufactured by Ballard combine hydrogen fuel with oxygen from air to create electricity without combustion.

A compressor driven by an electric motor powers and controls the delivery of compressed air within the fuel cell and consumes a portion of the electricity produced by the fuel cell.  Improvements in the efficiency of fuel cell auxiliary systems improve the overall energy efficiency of the fuel cell engine and the automobiles that are powered by them.  UQM(R) motors are compact and highly efficient and this particular design application has been optimized to meet the specific operating requirements of Ballard(R) fuel cell engines.
    
Ballard(R) fuel cell engines have been placed in service in a variety of technology demonstration vehicles from DaimlerChrysler, Ford and Nissan.

These fuel cell vehicles are providing Ballard with invaluable learnings in its effort to achieve its targets for durability, reliability, cost and performance.
   
Commenting on the latest order, William G. Rankin, President and Chief Executive Officer of UQM Technologies, Inc., said, "Ballard continues to expand the deployment of its fuel cell engine for automotive fuel cell applications.  Fuel cells are continuing to gain interest as a promising solution to our country's dependence on foreign oil, and we expect our participation in this emerging growth market to continue to expand.  In particular, fuel cell powered vehicles operate on the electricity generated by the fuel cell requiring components that are now powered by the rotating shaft
of an internal combustion engine to be replaced with electric motor driven systems, including the propulsion system and all of the under-the-hood belt, hydraulic and gear driven auxiliaries such as power steering and air conditioning.  UQM(R) products are ideally suited for both primary propulsion and the wide range of under-the-hood auxiliary applications envisioned as fuel cell engines become the clean and energy efficient powerplant of the future.
 

Plug Power Inc.(Nasdaq: PLUG) today announced accomplishments and milestones achieved during 2003.
Increased product deliveries

Plug Power delivered 145 fuel cell systems to new and repeat customers throughout the United States, Germany, Japan, France and the United Kingdom. Systems at customer locations operated for a cumulative total of 618,000 hours and generated more than 1.6 million kilowatt-hours of electricity during 2003.

Significant deliveries included:

-- The Company's first 19 GenCore(TM) 5T systems shipped to a variety of customers within the telecommunications, industrial, research and government sectors.
-- 50 fuel cell heating appliances delivered to customers and partners of Vaillant in connection with the European Union's Virtual Power Plant Program.  Systems are operating in multi-family homes and small businesses throughout Europe.
-- 15 GenSys(TM) systems delivered to military and other federal facilities under the Department of Defense Residential Fuel Cell Demonstration Program managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center.

Enhanced product portfolio

In June, Plug Power announced GenCore(TM) 5T, the Company's first direct hydrogen product.  The GenCore(TM) 5T is designed to provide extended-run back-up power specifically for the telecommunications industry in the demanding outside plant market.   The product is being marketed to system operators concerned with reducing life-cycle maintenance and total equipment expenses.

In July, Plug Power delivered to customers the GenSys(TM) 5P, the Company's first grid-parallel fuel cell system fueled by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).  The GenSys(TM) 5P is being marketed to rural electric cooperatives, propane dealers and federal and state government agencies that require the remote fuel capability that LPG provides.

In December, Plug Power announced a new product line intended to provide reliable on-site generation of compressed hydrogen gas for industrial applications such as generator cooling and metals processing. GenSite(TM)
leverages Plug Power's core reformer technology that has been embedded in more than 380 GenSys(TM) fuel cell systems, which have cumulatively operated for more than one million hours.

Secured additional strategic partners

In October, Plug Power completed the first major milestone of the Company's collaboration with Honda, announcing the successful demonstration of a Home Energy System at Honda R&D Americas' facility in Torrance, California.
The system, fueled by natural gas, demonstrated its ability to generate, store and deliver hydrogen fuel to Honda's FCX fuel cell vehicle and export electricity to the grid.  The Home Energy Station is a fully integrated system
that was co-developed by Plug Power and Honda, using proprietary technologies from both companies.

In 2003, Plug Power signed Joint Marketing Research Agreements with Tyco Electronics Power Systems and Sharp Corporation Solar Systems Division to explore market opportunities in a variety of geographic regions for the
GenCore(TM) product line. In June Tyco Electronics displayed the GenCore(TM)5T at SuperComm 2003, a telecommunication trade show, as part of its next-generation telecom power display.

Improved capitalization

In 2003, Plug Power improved the Company's capitalization and strengthened the balance sheet by adding approximately $85.0 million in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities through a private placement of common stock and a merger transaction with H Power Corp (H Power). During 2003, the Company was awarded government contracts with the U.S. Department of Energy, National Institute of Standards and Technology and the
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority under which the Company expects to receive approximately $15.0 million in funding over the next 30 months.

Reduced net cash used in operating activities

Net cash used in operating activities, for the year ended December 31, 2003, was $34.7 million, excluding $3.6 million for acquisition fees, severance and other integration costs associated with our merger transaction with H Power, below the Company's guidance of $35.0 to $40.0 for cash used in
operating activities.  This compares to cash used in operating activities of $36.9 million during the year ended 2002.

Increased technology portfolio

During 2003 Plug Power increased the Company's technology portfolio by adding 24 new U.S. patents and acquiring 18 patents from H Power.  The Company currently holds 102 U.S. and eight foreign patents; 147 patents are pending
worldwide.  Additionally, joint patents were filed with Honda relating to development work for the Home Energy Station.

13.) Ionotec receives grant from UK Department of Trade and Industry

A RUNCORN company has won a £75,000 business grant from the department of trade and industry. 

Ionotec will use the money to research a component used in fuel cells. 

Fuel cells are a new 'green' power source which creates electricity directly from fuels like methanol or hydrogen. 

Dr Steve Heavens of Ionotec said: It's like a battery but you put fuel in and get volts out. 

It's now attracting a lot of attention. 

It's very efficient and very clean and environmentally friendly. 

When you use hydrogen what you get out is basically water vapour, so you have no nasty exhaust fumes. 

There is a lot of excitement surrounding fuel cells as a replacement for petrol engines or fossil fuel fired petrol stations. 

Commercial fuel cell development is undergoing rapid growth, particularly in the USA and Japan. 

Three fuel cell powered buses have just been introduced in London at a cost of £800,000 each. 

Ionotec is researching the 0.1mm thick ceramic wafer that is used in the cells. 

The Manor Park company was set up seven and a half years ago and employs nine staff. 

It will try and create a prototype production line for the ceramics but will probably continue to specialise in research and development work. 
 

14.) The Carbon Trust Invests in Fuel Cell Company CMR Fuel Cells Limited

The Carbon Trust is pleased to announce an investment in CMR Fuel Cells Ltd based in Cambridge. This investment will help advance the much broader emerging fuel cell industry in the UK which is part of the Carbon Trust’s drive to promote a low-carbon economy. CMR has successfully completed a first round private equity investment with the Carbon Trust investing alongside Lead Investor Conduit Ventures. 
  
Fuel cells (FC) are electrochemical devices that convert fuel (e.g. hydrogen, methanol, methane) directly into electricity at higher efficiency than internal combustion engines and have the potential for higher power storage capacity than lithium-ion batteries.  Fuel cells have the potential to become the dominant technology for automotive engines, power stations and the power packs for portable electronics. 
  
CMR is a radical new fuel cell stack technology that has the promise of unlocking this enormous market potential.  CMR’s patented design architecture aims to make fuel cells 10 times smaller and more powerful and up to 80% cheaper than competing products, thereby overcoming the key hurdles delaying mass-market global sales.  Whereas current fuel cells are complex, tightly toleranced stacks of individual multi-component cells with precious metal catalysts, CMR delivers a radical architecture simplification and a robust porous “solid state” stack with dramatically fewer and cheaper components. 
  
CMR is developing fuel cell stacks for use in applications such as battery chargers, auxiliary power units, laptops, power tools, robotic devices, portable generators, and portable military applications. 
  
The core team is led by Michael Priestnall, previously Head of Fuel Cell Consulting at Generics, and Michael Evans, previously a Principal Researcher at Cambridge University. The team has over twenty years of experience in the fuel cell industry. 
  
Michael Priestnall, CEO of CMR Fuel Cells Limited commented: “Cost, durability, system complexity and fuelling are key barriers delaying mass-commercialisation of fuel cell technology. Our Compact Mixed-Reactant stack technology addresses each of these head-on. We are applying it first in portable direct methanol fuel cells where we believe the market opportunity is closest. I believe that one day all fuel cells will have to be built this way and appreciate the support that our investors and development partners have brought to enable this to happen.” 
  
According to Russell Pullan of Carbon Trust Investments, “We are actively investing in a range of new businesses that will help the UK achieve a low carbon future and fuel cells are widely recognised as an important part of this story.  Fuel cells are expected to lead to more efficient means of producing electricity and heat than traditional methods of power generation. CMR Fuel Cell technology could offer ultra-low emissions for distributed generation, producing heat and electricity in small units at the point where the energy is needed. Moreover, we are excited by CMR’s ‘disruptive technology’ which has the potential to reshape the fuel cell industry.” 
  
The Lead Investor in the round was Conduit Ventures. The Generics Group remains a minority shareholder in CMR Fuel Cells Limited.

15.) Kyocera develops solid oxide residential fuel cell

Fuel Cell Today- According to reports in Nikkei Weekly, Japanese manufacturer, Kyocera has significantly improved the performance of its 1kW residential fuel cell. First prototypes of the system were made public in early 2003 but the efficiency of the system has now been increased to an impressive 54 per cent.

Details are relatively rare but the company hopes for initial commercialization in 2005, at the same time as Japanese residential PEMFC manufacturers. Target sales price is likely to be 1.2 million Yen (roughly US$11,000 or GB£6,000) and the first year is expected to see total sales of perhaps 800 units.

The system is powered by city gas, operates at approx. 780'C and uses 200 tubular flat cells. The company is also working on larger SOFC systems, up to a range of 10kW.

16.) Millennium Cell and PSA Peugeot Citroen Announce Next Phase of Work on Fuel Cell Vehicle

Business Wire- Millennium Cell Inc. (NASDAQ: MCEL), a leading technology development company that has created a proprietary process to safely store, generate and deliver pure hydrogen, and European automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen announced today that they will work together to enhance the Millennium Cell Hydrogen on Demand(TM) fuel system in the fuel cell concept vehicle H2O, introduced at the 2002 Paris Auto Show. 

PSA Peugeot Citroen has two Hydrogen on Demand(TM) systems, which were provided in the first phase of a working agreement between the two companies to test the systems for use in electric-powered vehicles. Successful validation of the Hydrogen on Demand (TM) fuel system concept for range extension led to this second phase of development. PSA Peugeot Citroen is the global leader in the manufacture of electric cars, having produced more than 9,000 electric vehicles to date. 

"For nearly two years, we have benefited from our cooperative relationship with PSA Peugeot Citroen," said Dr. Stephen S. Tang, Millennium Cell President and CEO. "This work is well aligned with the current technology development effort surrounding our 5kW Hydrogen on Demand(TM) fuel systems for standby power platforms." 

"We are looking forward to continuing the relationship with our colleagues at PSA Peugeot Citroen," said Rex Luzader, Millennium Cell Vice President of Sales. "Our collaboration to date has been excellent, and this phase of our collaboration will result in the improvement of our system as it is applied to range-extension in battery-powered vehicles and will address the fueling infrastructure issues important in meeting consumer demand." 

Included in the multi-phase program will be studies of on- and off-board fuel and borate management based on more concentrated forms of sodium borohydride fuel followed by a prototype system to validate the new concepts. 

"The work done on the two first systems that have been evaluated, has confirmed an attractive potential for automotive application on safety and range aspects. In the frame of a nice collaboration with Millennium Cell in a first phase, PSA Peugeot Citroen has decided to enter in a second phase to improve fuel and borate management in our fuel cell vehicle," said Mr. Jean Pierre Goedgebuer, Scientific Director of PSA Peugeot Citroen. 

At the unveiling of the H2O at the Paris Auto Show in 2002, it was described as a unique concept car, which is "the conjunction of a child's dream and an engineer's dream." H2O is an urban emergency response vehicle, which uses the Millennium Cell Hydrogen on Demand(TM) system as a range extender for the battery power. 

The Hydrogen on Demand(TM) system generates hydrogen from sodium borohydride, which is derived from sodium borate, commonly known as borax. Dissolved in water and passed through a proprietary catalyst chamber, the sodium borohydride releases a perfect stream of pure hydrogen - on demand - to power a fuel cell or an internal combustion engine. The fuel's byproduct is water and borax. 

Hydrogen on Demand(TM) systems are scalable to applications from small (notebook personal computers, cellular phones and personal digital assistants) to medium (auxiliary power units for standby power to boats, scooters) to large (automobiles). Because Millennium Cell's hydrogen generation technology is safe, flexible and environmentally friendly, it is an attractive alternative to existing technologies for many applications, solving the critical problems related to the use of hydrogen as a fuel: safe, low-cost and energy dense storage and generation of pure hydrogen gas. 

17.) Ballard Announces Chief Technology Officer Change

Business Wire -Ballard Power Systems (TSX:BLD) (Nasdaq:BLDP) today announced, by mutual agreement, that Fred Vasconcelos, Chief Technology Officer, is leaving Ballard to pursue other professional interests.

Until a successor is named, the responsibilities of the Chief Technology Officer will be shared by three members of Ballard's management team. Dr. Charles Stone, who leads Ballard's research and development activities, will take on added responsibility for technology planning. Dr. Fred Flett will continue to be responsible for electric drive and power conversion product development, and Mr. Jim Sturek will assume responsibility for all fuel cell product development activities in Vancouver and Nabern. Each of them will report directly to Mr. Dennis Campbell, President and Chief Executive Officer. 

"We appreciate the many contributions that Fred has made to Ballard during his tenure and wish him well in his future endeavours," said Dennis Campbell, Ballard's President and Chief Executive Officer. "We are confident that the experience and capabilities of our interim leadership team will provide a seamless transition." 

An executive search has been initiated for a new Chief Technology Officer. 
 

18.) Florida-Bush: Funding for fuel cells

St. Petersburg Times- The governor's budget proposal seeks $15-million for research into clean-burning hydrogen.
Amid the caps and cuts in the governor's proposed budget is a spending program he wants to more than double: hydrogen research.

Jeb Bush likes the idea so much he hopped into the driver's seat of a hydrogen-powered Toyota Highlander on Thursday and circled the Capitol.

He pronounced the ride "very smooth and quiet."

It's also billed as environmentally friendly. Of the potential replacements for the fossil fuels, hydrogen is the cleanest. Hydrogen cars use a fuel cell that produces electricity and emits water vapor, not air pollution. But it's very expensive.

When Bush unveiled his budget proposals this week, he called on the Legislature to spend $15-million in the next year on hydrogen research, $9-million more than what the state is spending on the subject this year.

Bush wants to use the money to attract to Florida companies like Ford and British Petroleum that already are experimenting with hydrogen, creating a public-private partnership that reduces their investment risk.

The plan calls for the state's first-ever hydrogen fueling station in the Orlando area next year and another in Tampa later.
But Joseph Romm, author of The Hype About Hydrogen, said it makes no sense for any state to risk millions on the fledgling hydrogen business now.

"Any companies investing in this are going to want all these guarantees from the government," said Romm, who was in charge of hydrogen research for the U.S. Department of Energy under President Clinton. "My view is this is long-term technology being developed. I don't think states should be spending a lot of money building fueling stations right now."

Yet, attracted by the promise of abundant federal funds and the possibility of new jobs, plenty of states are trying to hop on the hydrogen bandwagon, said Allan Bedwell, deputy secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

"If we make this small investment, then we could see tens of millions of dollars coming back as investments from the companies that are doing this," Bedwell said.

In his 2002 State of the Union speech, President Bush announced a billion-dollar federal effort to develop a car by 2020 that would run on hydrogen. He called it "Freedom Fuel."

The Freedom Fuel drive has sputtered, running into problems ranging from the name - several businesses were already using the term - to a lack of money, caused by Congress earmarking much of the Freedom Car cash for its own pet projects.

Yet hydrogen remains popular with politicians of all stripe. Most of the Democratic presidential candidates say they support developing hydrogen fuel technology, while Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has pledged to build a "hydrogen highway" with 200 hydrogen fueling stations lining interstates by 2010.

"He's trying to overcome the fact he drives a Humvee and he is feeling ashamed of that," Gov. Bush joked about his fellow Republican.

However, Schwarzenegger's budget for next year includes no money for hydrogen, Bedwell said. "We're putting our money where our mouth is."

Don't look for hydrogen-powered Highlanders to flood the highways any time soon. Energy experts say the day when there's a hydrogen car in every garage is a decade or more away. A big problem is the cost.
The fuel cells are at least 30 times more expensive than an internal combustion engine, Romm said, while the cost of producing hydrogen fuel is equivalent to paying $4 for a gallon of gas.

The $6-million Florida is spending this year on hydrogen is not even focused on transportation. DEP hopes to use hydrogen fuel cells to power a wildlife care center at Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park, for instance, and to light a student dormitory at the private University of Miami.

Meanwhile, DEP and U.S. Rep. David Weldon, R-Merritt Island, have created a consortium of experts called the Florida Hydrogen Partnership, and Weldon has lined up a possible $2-million federal grant. But at this point, the consortium has no definite plans for spending the money, said David Block of the University of Central Florida, who has helped lead the Florida Hydrogen Partnership.

"If the appropriation goes okay," he said, "then we could very well formulate to do something."

The Carbon Trust has just released a list of companies and organizations that it supported by the Carbon Trust following successful application through calls for proposals. 
  
Company/Organization Project Objectives Amount of Funding
Heriot-Watt University Low-cost modular proton-exchange membrane electrolysers: a feasibility study £48,750
C-Tech Innovation Ltd Enhancement of catalysis by a low energy electrochemical technique. £36,716
University of Birmingham The safe, efficient and economic large scale storage of hydrogen £128,400
University of Glamorgan Feasibility of Sustainable Hydrogen Production from Starch £64,850 
HILTech Developments Ltd Feasibility of developing novel high volume fuel cell hydrogen 
storage using thermally restructured d-developed PAN. 
  £47,160 
Ceres Power Electrode development for intermediate temperature SOFCs  £200,000 
Ceres Power  Intermediate Temperature SOFC electrolyte manufacture  £193,000 
Scottish Energy Environment 
Foundation Renewable energy sources promotion and 
integration in insular regions of Europe 
  £85,468 
Bristol Electric Railbus  Zero emission hybrid railcar  £48,800 
Hydrogen Solar Photocatalyic conversion of sunlight to hydrogen using the 
Tandem Cell £231,300 
Birmingham City Council  Demonstration of CHP Technologies  £51,943 
 Key facts 
Background to the Carbon Trust 
The Carbon Trust is an independent not for profit company set up by the Government in April 2001 with support from business to 'take the lead on low carbon technology and innovation in this country, and put Britain in the lead internationally' (Tony Blair). 
Aims and objectives 
The Carbon Trust's objectives are to: 
    * ensure that UK business and the public sector meet ongoing targets for carbon dioxide emissions 
    * improve the competitiveness of UK business through resource efficiency 
    * support the development of a UK industry sector that capitalises on the innovation and commercial value of low carbon technologies. 
Key functions 
The Carbon Trust is developing and implementing programmes that will accelerate the take-up of low carbon technologies. This includes: 
    * developing and delivering the Action Energy programme to provide independent information and impartial advice for energy users in the non-domestic sector 
    * developing and promoting the Enhanced Capital Allowances Scheme to encourage investment by business in qualifying energy efficiency measures. 
    * investing in the development of low carbon technologies in the UK 
    * coordinating and brokering between developing technologies and funding partners. 
Funding sources 
The Carbon Trust's annual funding amounts to approximately £50m a year in grants from DEFRA, the Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly, and in part from Climate Change levy receipts. 
Locations 
The Carbon Trust's offices are in England (London), Scotland (Glasgow), Northern Ireland (Lisburn) and Wales (Cardiff). 
 
 
 
 

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