FuelCellsWorks

BILLERICA, Mass.– Nuvera Fuel Cells announced today the sale of 14 PowerEdge(TM) fuel cell systems, along with a complete PowerTap(TM) Hydrogen Generator and Hydrogen Station, to H-E-B in San Antonio, Texas. The fuel cell units will power Class II forklift trucks used for the company’s distribution center operations. Delivery is scheduled for September, 2009. Partial funding is being provided by the Department of Energy’s hydrogen and fuel cell market transformation initiative.

The H-E-B partnership comprises a Total Power Solution for material handling installation which includes fuel cell hybrid PowerEdge systems for reach trucks and a PowerTap Hydrogen Generator and Hydrogen Station. The units will be placed in service at the San Antonio Perishables Distribution Center (PDC), and will enable H-E-B to validate lifecycle cost projections, productivity gains, and environmental benefits of the Total Power Solution.

“We are very pleased to be working in partnership with Nuvera,” said Bobby Greene, Director of Fleet Maintenance. “H-E-B is committed to being a leader in the use of clean energy technologies, and we believe that hydrogen and fuel cells offer tremendous potential in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously improving our productivity.”

“This installation displays H-E-B’s confidence in fuel cells for forklifts and its commitment to the environment,” commented Roberto Cordaro, CEO of Nuvera Fuel Cells. “Nuvera is delighted to be working with a company of this stature, and looks forward to moving ahead with H-E-B as it considers the adoption of fuel cells throughout its distribution network. We are also grateful for the support provided by the federal government, which helps to overcome the higher costs of emerging clean energy technologies in the early phase of market introduction.”

The Total Power Solution for material handling features PowerEdge, a fuel cell hybrid system that replaces standard lead acid batteries in forklift trucks, and PowerTap, a hydrogen generator and hydrogen station that provide cost effective on-site refueling. PowerTap produces hydrogen at a cost of $6/kg, based on average national utility rates, including federal incentives and all capital, operation and maintenance costs.

H-E-B, with sales of more than $15 billion operates more than 300 stores in Texas and Mexico. Known for its innovation and community service, H-E-B celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005. Recognized for its fresh food, quality products, convenient services, and a commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability, H-E-B strives to provide the best customer experience at everyday low prices. Based in San Antonio, H-E-B employs more than 70,000 Partners and serves millions of customers in more than 150 communities. For more information, visit www.heb.com.

Nuvera Fuel Cells is a global leader in the development of fuel cell systems and fuel processors for both end users and OEMs. Nuvera provides clean, safe, and efficient products for industrial vehicles and equipment in addition to furthering the development of power systems for automotive and transportation applications. www.nuvera.com

A ground-breaking hydrogen-powered city car, which has been designed in Britain and financed by the grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, is to be unveiled next week.

Autocar can reveal that the Riversimple Urban Car will have a far smaller fuel cell than in current industry prototypes and thus needs less hydrogen to be stored on board and in fuelling stations.

The vehicle is no bigger than a Smart car, weighing just 350kg, and has been developed over three years by teams at Oxford and Cranfield universities.

It can reach 50mph and travel in excess of 200 miles, consuming the equivalent petrol energy of 300mpg in hydrogen.

Power comes from a 6kw fuel cell, which is tiny compared to the 100kw system powering the Honda Clarity.

It uses a composite body to keep the weight down and four electric motors on each wheel, which double as brakes and electricity generators.

There is a bank of ultracapacitors to store this electricity, which in turn provides most of the accelerating power, allowing for a small fuel cell.

Design for the Riversimple cars will be placed online in an ‘open source’ environment, meaning any small manufacturer can lease the design, better suiting local environments and allowing for the car to be built almost anywhere in the world.

The cars themselves will also be leased over 20 years, with fuelling included in the leasing cost, and the materials will be recycled at the end of each car’s lifespan.

Hugo Spowers, head of Riversimple, said: “Cars evolved under very different constraints to those of today, so we must move on. The sale of cars still rewards the maximisation of resource use – whereas we now accept that we must minimize resource use.”

Sebastian Piech, grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, along with other members of the Piech family, have backed the project so far.

“The Riversimple Urban Car represents a major step towards practical 21st century personal transport and towards the fulfilment of my great-grandfather’s ambitions for accessible personal transport but this time combining his other passions: light weight and high efficiency,” said Piech.

Ten prototypes will initially be built and Riversimple hopes to team up with a city, possibly Cambridge or Peterborough, to roll out a pilot scheme.

The company says this will allow a hydrogen infrastructure to be developed alongside the introduction of the cars.

GS Group is determined to ensure its competitiveness is tied to the green industry.

“With the completion of the world’s biggest fuel-cell generator we now have the opportunity to ensure we are competitive in the green industry,” said Huh Chang-soo, GS Group chairman.

“These are difficult times when the future is hard to predict,” the chairman said. “We will overcome any adversity and establish GS’ future business structure.”

Huh was visiting the GS EPS fuel-cell generator in South Chungcheong yesterday. The visit was in line with his interest in and commitment to gathering information in the field, something he has emphasized of late.

GS EPS is a unit of GS Group focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the government’s green growth plan. GS EPS has been in operation since May 20, when the fuel-cell generator, the world’s largest with a capacity of 2.4 megawatts, was completed.

The generator produces electricity through chemical reactions between oxygen and hydrogen extracted from liquefied natural gas. The electricity generating efficiency is 47 percent higher than that of thermal power plants and 67 percent higher in terms of thermal efficiency. Above all, fuel-cell generators sharply reduce carbon emissions.

GS Group has invested 15.5 billion won ($12.3 million) in the project.

The electricity generated from the fuel-cell generator will be sold on electricity exchange markets.

MHS Equipment SAS ,France’s energy sector MHS subordinates June 9 announced that its manufacturing out of the ultra-low platinum content of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell electrodes (0.1μg/cm2).
The study was conducted in the University of Orleans Gremi laboratory, and the use of magnetron sputtering technology, platinum jet to its E-Tek ® gas diffusion layer.
Platinum particle size, sedimentary structure and platinum are in favor of the redistribution of redox reaction of hydrogen efficiency. Proton exchange membrane fuel cell electrode of the amount of platinum so low, and reached the 400mW/cm2. The use of Nafion ® 212 and Nafion ® 115 membrane experiments, respectively,  the corresponding energy density fuel cells reached 0.4W/cm2and0.25W/cm2.
In addition to performance improvements, the cost of the technology ready and easy to industrialization on the fuel cell to generate a major promotion. The technology of the first batch of products will be named “TP2L2″, the content of platinum 20μg/cm2.

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – June 12, 2009) – Hydrogenics Corporation (TSX:HYG)(NASDAQ:HYGS), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with the trustees of Algonquin Power Income Fund (TSX:APF.UN), which will result in a non-dilutive financing to Hydrogenics with gross cash proceeds of approximately C$10.8 million, or approximately C$9.3 million net of transaction related expenses.

The transaction involves a Plan of Arrangement and an Exchange Offer pursuant to which, among other things, Hydrogenics will offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding units and convertible debentures of Algonquin Power in exchange for new securities of Hydrogenics.

Pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement, Hydrogenics will transfer its business and operations, including all assets and liabilities, excluding Hydrogenics’ tax basis, to a newly created subsidiary (”New Hydrogenics”). New Hydrogenics will have all of the same assets, liabilities, directors, management and employees as Hydrogenics has currently, except for certain tax attributes that will remain behind, and Hydrogenics shareholders will become shareholders of New Hydrogenics. Pursuant to the Exchange Offer, unitholders of Algonquin Power will be offered to exchange their units for a new class of common shares of Hydrogenics, and debentureholders of Algonquin Power will be offered to exchange their convertible debentures for convertible debentures or new common shares of Hydrogenics, which will result in, among other things, unitholders of Algonquin Power becoming shareholders of Hydrogenics and Algonquin Power becoming a subsidiary of Hydrogenics. Upon completion of the Plan of Arrangement, old Hydrogenics will be renamed “Algonquin Power Inc.” and New Hydrogenics will continue the Hydrogenics business as “Hydrogenics Corporation”.

Benefits of the transaction to shareholders of Hydrogenics include an increase to New Hydrogenics’ cash reserves and working capital without a dilutive impact on shareholders of Hydrogenics, and the transfer of Hydrogenics’ assets to New Hydrogenics under the transaction, creating a new Canadian tax basis – which New Hydrogenics may apply in sheltering future taxable income.

Daryl Wilson, Hydrogenics’ President and CEO, stated, “This non-dilutive financing transaction with Algonquin Power is both timely and in the best interests of our shareholders. Over the past three years, Hydrogenics has sharpened its market focus and strategy, and we have diligently sought innovative ways to finance our expected growth going forward. Through this agreement, the resulting increase in our cash reserves and shareholder equity will provide the means to our focused efforts in renewable energy storage, industrial hydrogen products and commercialization of fuel cells in commercial markets. The Canadian government, American government, Brazil, Germany and other European nations are investing heavily in the economic and environmental promise of clean, sustainable energy solutions, and Hydrogenics is ready to catch this wave.”

The board of directors of Hydrogenics and the board of trustees of Algonquin Power have each unanimously approved the transaction. Genuity Capital Markets acted as financial advisor to the Board of Directors of Hydrogenics and provided a fairness opinion with respect to the transaction.

The transaction is subject to various conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals, which include the approval of The Toronto Stock Exchange and Nasdaq. The transaction is also subject to approval by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and by shareholders of Hydrogenics and unitholders of Algonquin Power. The respective shareholder and unitholder meetings will be called to approve the Plan of Arrangement and amendments to Algonquin Power’s declaration of trust in connection with the transaction. In addition, completion of the transaction is subject to Algonquin Power unitholders tendering the requisite number of units to the Exchange Offer.

Details of the terms of the transaction are set out in the Support Agreement that will be filed by Hydrogenics and Algonquin Power on SEDAR, and also on EDGAR by Hydrogenics. Additional details regarding the transaction will be provided in proxy circulars to be mailed to shareholders and unitholders, respectively, with respect to special meetings to be held by Hydrogenics shareholders and by Algonquin Power unitholders in connection with the transaction. The mailing of the proxy circulars for these special meetings is expected to occur in late June with the meetings to be held on or about July 27, 2009.

Holders of Algonquin Power’s units and debentures will also receive a take-over bid circular, pursuant to which Hydrogenics will offer to acquire their respective units and convertible debentures of Algonquin Power for securities of Hydrogenics.

ABOUT HYDROGENICS

Hydrogenics Corporation (www.hydrogenics.com) is a globally recognized developer and provider of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products and services, serving the growing industrial and clean energy markets of today and tomorrow. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Hydrogenics has operations in North America and Europe.