FuelCellsWorks

Shanghai – The China International Industry Fair was held ceremoniously in Shanghai. With “Green SAIC, Innovation for Better Future” as the theme, SAIC Group displayed 6 models of new energy vehicles, which would serve the Expo 2010. Of those models, two made their premiere for the first time. They were inter-pavilion vehicles within the Expo Zone, i.e. the Shenchi Brand 4 seat pure electric car, and sight-seeing vehicles within the Expo Zone, i.e. the Shenchi Brand 11 seat fuel cell vehicle. They will serve the public in the Expo Zone together with the VIP service cars, i.e. Shanghai Brand fuel cell cars. As for the daily service outside the Expo Zone, the Expo extramural taxies — Buick hybrid sedans, and the Expo extramural VIP service cars — Shanghai Brand hybrid sedans, will be responsible. As is planned, SAIC Group will provide the Expo 2010 with nearly 1,000 units of new energy vehicles, including pure electric vehicles, super-capacitor vehicles, fuel cell vehicles and hybrid vehicles, so as to help the World Expo realize the green objective of “zero emission inside the Expo Zone and Low emission outside it” for the visitor transit during the Expo 2010.

SAIC takes the lead in industrializing the new energy vehicles based on the strong industrial chain

Shenchi Brand 11-seat fuel cell sight-seeing car (for service within the Expo Zone)

Of high efficiency and producing low noises, this is a new energy car of “zero emission” in the real sense for sight-seeing purposes. Using front and rear independent suspension, four-wheel disc brake, electric power steering and vacuum brake booster, the car offers excellent driveability and riding comfort. The maximum speed is 40 km/h and the continued driving mileage is up to 80 km.

Shanghai Brand fuel cell car (for VIP service inside the Expo Zone)

Shanghai Brand fuel cell car is the first electric-electric fuel cell hybrid with SAIC’s self-owned brand, and is also a new generation fuel cell hybrid vehicle independently developed by SAIC. Using the plug-in technology, with battery as the main power source (rechargeable with 220 V direct current of civil purpose) and with a small pressurized fuel cell system as auxiliary power (using hydrogen as fuel), the car can run on multi-source power. On the basis of the first generation “Shanghai Brand” plug-in fuel cell technology, the vehicle adopts modular assembly and its front cabin is a “powertrain” in the real sense. For short distance driving, the car can run on pure electricity. For long distance driving or when the battery runs out, the cart can shift to the hybrid driving mode, when the fuel cell generates electricity and produces enough electricity to drive the car while supplementing the power battery with electricity in the meantime.

UNDP fuel cell bus (for service on the Expo Avenue inside the Expo Zone)

This vehicle is specially developed for implementing the phase II project of GEF/UNDP, i.e. Demonstration Project of China’s Fuel Cell City Bus Commercialization. It adopts the advanced dual fuel cell system independently developed by China. Using the advanced ultra-low-floor structure, this model is a high-end mainstream city bus used in developed countries embodying good economy, strong power, zero emission and environmental friendliness, and indicating the trend for the development of future city bus transit.

HAMBURG – As the Copenhagen conference nears, every effort to reduce greenhouse gas counts. With that in mind, hydrogen-powered buses can be one route towards clean public transport, results presented at a conference on 17-18 November showed. “Hydrogen transport is no longer just some engineers’ dream but a working reality,” Anne Houtman, director Internal Market and Sustainability DG TREN, European Commission, told the conference.

The European Commission has co-funded the HyFLEET:CUTE Project 2006-2009, which successfully operated more than 40 hydrogen powered buses over four years in 10 cities on three continents.

A hydrogen vehicle is a vehicle that uses hydrogen as its onboard fuel for motive power using one of two methods: combustion, or electrochemical conversion in a fuel-cell. In Germany, the Berlin trial was with combustion engines (H2ICE buses operated by MAN) and the Hamburg trial was with fuel cells (H2FC buses operated by Daimler) with the industry seemingly becoming more interested in the latter because fuel cell propulsion systems have higher efficiency, Heinrich Klingenberg, managing director of hySOLUTIONS GmbH, a public-private partnership with the objective of fostering hydrogen and fuel cell applications in Hamburg, told New Europe on 17 November.

Daimler last week unveiled the first of its new generation Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid transit buses. Thirty of these new buses will be going into service in 2010 with the first 10 going to Hamburg where previous-generation fuel cell buses have already been in service for several years. “The HyFLEET:CUTE project itself has really proven in all these cities that the technology is very close to market viability,” Klingenberg said.

In order to tackle the world problem of CO2, original equipment manufacturers, or OEMs, would have to come out with some bigger numbers of buses. But for now it is important to not only do the research work but to do the day-to-day public transport trials to prove that the technology is available and can be operated properly, Klingenberg said.

According to information at the Hamburg conference from the transport industry, manufacturers and the hydrogen production, the technology will be viable between 2015 and 2020. “Most of the homework is done. They’re very close to the market – very close. The cost has to come down and a little more experience, but we are not at an experimental stage anymore – not at all. There is a period of 20-30 years of this technology and it’s a matter of political will,” Boris Jermer of HyCologne, told New Europe. “What we need is buses which are cheap enough.” A fuel cell bus currently has a price tag of €1.5-1.4 million. “Price depends on the volume. If you produce one bus with 20 engineers it costs you a fortune. But as soon as we enter the first volumes that means 100 buses per year, then the price goes down to 600,000 which is already okay. It’s a lot of money but it’s okay,” he said.

Hydrogen fuel does not occur naturally on earth and thus is not an energy source, but is an energy carrier just like electricity. “When it comes to the question of how clean is hydrogen as a fuel certainly we have to be aware that we need hydrogen from clean resources to have it 100 percent emission free,” Klingenberg said. He explained that in the northern regions they have started to use wind energy for the production of hydrogen which then can be stored and therefore be easily available for a longer time and can be used for example for powering buses or ships. “The refueling unit with the production of hydrogen we will set up here in the city of Hamburg is the biggest one in Europe,” he said. Moreover, it makes sense to produce hydrogen from renewables rather than dirty sources.

Producing hydrogen from coal would still damage the environment, with the only advantage being that when burned it produces water and spares city residents from breathing harmful exhaust fumes.

In advance of the international climate summit in Copenhagen, Worldfocus examines the green revolution in Denmark.

Last week, we showed you how everyday Danes profit from pioneering wind power. But there’s a challenge — how to store that power when the wind isn’t blowing, or in the case of solar power, when the sun isn’t shining.

Denmark is searching for answers, including building Europe’s first “hydrogen neighborhood” — homes that are powered and heated with the help of hydrogen fuel cells. John Larson reports from Denmark.

Denmark is searching for answers, including building Europe’s first “hydrogen neighborhood” — homes that are powered and heated with the help of hydrogen fuel cells. John Larson reports from Denmark.

Polaris Venture Partners has pumped an additional $1 million in seed capital into Cambridge, MA-based solar fuel startup Sun Catalytix, bringing its total investment in the MIT spinout to $3 million, Polaris general partner and company director Bob Metcalfe tells Xconomy.

The startup, which we first covered in April, has also gained an exclusive license to patents based on discoveries made by company founder and chemist Daniel Nocera at MIT. Nocera has invented a catalyst that mimics photosynthesis to turn water and an energy source such as sunlight into renewable fuel. Sun Catalytix is at work to increase the scale at which the technology can produce fuel, Metcalfe said. The U.S. Department of Energy is also supporting the firm’s research, awarding it a $4.1 million grant through its Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program this fall.

Sun Catalytix, which garnered its first seed investment from Polaris last year, is among a growing number of companies and research groups that aim to harness the abundant energy from of the sun in the form of fuel. Cambridge, MA-based Joule Biotechnologies, formed and backed by Flagship Ventures in 2007, and Maynard, MA-based Nanoptek are part of this pack as well. It’s not been proven that any of these technologies can work at a scale and cost that is competitive with crude oil, but the promise of these technologies has motivated venture investors and the government to reach deep into their pockets to make them commercially viable.

“We’re still seed-stage,” Metcalfe says of Sun Catalytix, “which means the future is bright but uncertain.”

Metcalfe, a leader of the clean technology practice at Waltham-based Polaris, didn’t seem afraid to tell me that Sun Catalytix doesn’t have a definite plan for how it plans to bring its technology to market. The startup, which now has five employees, has been focused on building systems that can demonstrate how well the technology works with different types of water and with larger volumes of water than Nocera used in his lab at MIT. (Separate experiments have successfully demonstrated the technology using water from the Charles River and Boston Harbor, Metcalfe says, but yet another experiment that tested antifreeze as an alternative to water for using the system in freezing weather didn’t quite work.) Nocera has been a proponent of so-called “personalized energy,” with individuals using systems that incorporate technologies like his water-splitting catalyst to meet their own energy needs.

Sun Catalytix is developing several different catalysts to perform a water-splitting reaction. Nocera’s research, published last year in Science, showed that a catalyst could be used to separate oxygen from water, leaving hydrogen molecules that could be used to make hydrogen fuel. The catalyst used in that published research consisted of a metal electrode placed in water containing cobalt and phosphate. Metcalfe says that a key feature of Nocera’s catalyst is that it is self-repairing, meaning that it can repeat the water-splitting reaction over and over again.

The company is still assembling an executive team to lead its nascent operation. Amir Nashat, a general partner at Polaris, serves as founding CEO of the startup on an interim basis and shares some of the company-building duties with Metcalfe, Metcalfe says. The chairman of the company is Arthur Goldstein, the retired chairman and CEO of water purification and desalinization giant Ionics, which General Electric scooped up for $1.1 billion in 2005. The plan at Sun Catalytix is to recruit a more permanent CEO to lead the company in and also close a Series A round of venture capital that includes multiple backers. (For now, Metcalfe says, Polaris is the sole venture investor supporting the company.)

Metcalfe says that he expects the new chief executive to complete a business plan for the company. It’s likely that the company will seek corporate partnerships that would help it to integrate its technology with solar panels, wind turbines, and/or fuel cells, he says. The startup’s technology would use power from these systems to make fuels, so that people who rely on solar panels for electricity could have power when the sun isn’t shining, for example. Gaseous and liquid fuels generally pack much more energy density than batteries, which are the standard for of energy storage used with wind turbines and solar panels.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario– Hydrogenics Corporation (Nasdaq:HYGS) (TSX:HYG), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, today announced that, as expected, the Company’s ticker symbol on the NASDAQ Global Market has reverted back to “HYGS” after temporarily trading under the symbol “HYGSD.” The temporary ticker symbol change was a result of the NASDAQ’s internal procedures following the completion of the non-dilutive financing transaction involving Algonquin Power Income Fund and did not reflect any change in Hydrogenics’ operations or trading status.

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.

ADDITIONAL FUEL CELL VEHICLES & HYDROGEN STATION FOR HOLSTEBRO YEAR END 2010/2011

At year end 2010/2011 an additional hydrogen refueling station will open in the city of Holstebro in West Denmark. Also the local municipality will start using three hydrogen powered fuel cell cars.

The full financing on €5 million for R&D and demonstration of a 700 bar hydrogen refueling station and fuel cell vehicles in the city of Holstebro in West Denmark have now been secured. The named LINK2009 will act as the next step for hydrogen for transport in Denmark during 2010, thus contributing to the overall efforts of the Scandinavian Hydrogen Highway Partnership of becoming one among the first regions in the world where hydrogen powered cars are market introduced. The station and vehicles are planned to commence operation around the year end 2010/2011.

The successful West Denmark Project and the recent Copenhagen Project have together secured additional 7 hydrogen stations and 15 fuel cell vehicles in operation in Denmark (out of a total of respectively 12 stations and 23 vehicles in Denmark, covering both road and non-road use).

The first ideas for the LINK2009 project was made during 2008 and first round of funding from the Danish Energy Agency program EUDP was secured in summer 2009. This was also the start of R&D of the 2nd generation fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen station, thus pushing the technology further from the 1st generation technologies that were developed and tested in the previous projects in Denmark.

In late 2009 the last round of funding for the demonstration of the 2nd generation technology was secured, also from the Danish EUDP program, totalling the public support to €1,9 million out of a total budget of €5 million, with the remainder provided by companies and vehicle end-users.

In the LINK2009 project a 700 bar hydrogen refueling station will be established in the city of Holstebro in West Denmark, by year end 2010/2011. Already two hydrogen stations are operated in the city for supply of hydrogen to various non-road fuel cell vehicles. The new 700 bar station will be owned and operated by the local energy company Vestforsyning and hydrogen will be supplied from the existing central electrolysis production plant that the company established in early 2008.

The Municipality of Holstebro will receive three fuel cell vehicles as part of the LINK2009 project and will use these for daily transportation purposes within the municipality departments. The Danish company H2 Logic will provide fuel cell systems for the vehicles and construct the 700 bar hydrogen station.

Besides being part of the Hydrogen Link Denmark network and contributing to the efforts of the Scandinavian Hydrogen Highway Partnership, the LINK2009 is also a continuation of the public private partnership model that was introduced in previous hydrogen projects in Denmark.

The two main actors in the LINK2009 project, the Municipality of Holstebro and the energy company Vestforsyning, have joined forces in creating the local initiative Climate Circles.

The purpose of Climate Circle is to ensure, coordinate and expand cooperation within the business area of renewable energy in the greater Holstebro area in West Denmark.

The motivations for Climate Circle and partners to support and catalyze the LINK2009 project are clear: “If we are to move away from fossil fuels in the long term, we have to invest now in developing the alternative solutions. The planned opening of an additional hydrogen station in Holstebro and further fuel cell vehicles shows that the Holstebro area is on the forefront. We don’t expect to become the a centre of gravity for future fuel supply worldwide, instead the potential to produce fuels for transport locally whilst also ensuring business potentials on zero emission transport technologies are sufficient motivation for us” states manager of Climate Circle John Sohn.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has revised technical and cost targets for fuel cells used in combined heat and power and auxiliary power applications. Revisions are based on results of a recently issued Request for Information (RFI) on proposed targets.

DOE received RFI responses from 18 entities, including a variety of industrial and government laboratory representatives. Based on these responses, DOE revised a set of targets.

Final targets will be published in the next revision of the Fuel Cell Technologies Program Multi-Year Research, Development and Demonstration Plan due to be released in 2010.

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited [AIM/ASX: CFU], a leading developer of high efficiency and low emission electricity generation units for homes and other buildings, has appointed Neco, Australia’s leading green retailer, to distribute the company’s BlueGen power and heating units in Australia.

The non-exclusive agreement gives Neco the right to market, sell, install and service BlueGen units throughout Australia.

The BlueGen units, which convert gas to electricity via ceramic fuel cells, will be available for installation in Australian homes and buildings early next year.

BlueGen is the latest breakthrough in small scale electricity generation. Each BlueGen unit, about the size of a dishwasher, can produce up to 17,000 kilowatt hours of power a year – twice the electricity needed to power an average Australian home. Surplus electricity can be sold back to the grid.

BlueGen units can generate electricity at up to double the efficiency of the current power grid, providing significant cost savings off energy bills.

Neco is currently preparing a range of purchase options that will allow customers to achieve attractive financial paybacks whilst drastically cutting their greenhouse gas emissions.

BlueGen units can cut carbon emissions by up to two-thirds compared to coal-derived electricity. The first BlueGen units will be used for demonstration programs and showcase sites. Installation in residential and commercial buildings will begin from March 2010, when Bluegen units will also be available in Europe.

Neco is Australia’s largest retail and online eco store, selling more than 3,500 products that support sustainable living practices, including solar PV and solar hot water products. Neco provides end-to-end services in green markets, including product installation and after-sales service.

“Ceramic Fuel Cells sees Neco as an ideal local partner to market, sell, install and service our BlueGen units,” said Ceramic Fuel Cells Managing Director Brendan Dow. “Neco is focussed on retailing green products to passionate green consumers and has vast experience in the eco product space. They have undertaken significant research on the market’s appetite for the BlueGen product, and are very excited about adding BlueGen to their product list.”

Neco CEO Julian Smith added ”Neco is excited about this appointment and the difference BlueGen will make to reducing carbon emissions through producing much cleaner electricity, and allowing businesses and individuals to actively move to new energy production frontiers that hand them control and ultimately save them piles of money.”

About Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited is a world leader in developing solid oxide fuel cell technology to provide highly efficient and low-emission electricity from widely available natural gas. The company is developing micro combined heat and power and distributed generation units that generate electricity and heat for homes and other buildings. Ceramic Fuel Cells is developing products with leading appliance partners and utility customers in Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Japan. In May 2009 the company launched its BlueGen gas-to-electricity product.

Headquartered in Melbourne, and with operations in the UK and Germany, Ceramic Fuel Cells is listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market and the Australian Securities Exchange (code CFU).

www.cfcl.com.au

The latest step in fuel cell flight has taken to the skies with the world’s first hydrogen helicopter flew for more than 20 minutes. The technology demonstrator developed by United Technologies Corp. features a proton exchange membrane fuel cell.

EAST HARTFORD, Conn.– United Technologies Research Center (UTRC), the central research and innovation arm of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE:UTX), achieved first flight of a hydrogen/air fuel cell-powered rotorcraft. The successful technology demonstration was accomplished using a remote-controlled electric helicopter model modified to incorporate a custom Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell power plant.

“Achieving vertical flight represents a key milestone in fuel cell-powered flight as the power density requirements are much greater than for fixed wing aircraft,” said Dr. David Parekh, Vice President, Research, and UTRC Director. “In addition, this environmentally friendly power system produces zero pollution, zero emissions of greenhouse gases and operates with very low noise.”

The pioneering flight using a high power-density PEM fuel cell took place on Oct. 11, 2009, at 10:30 a.m., on the East Hartford campus of UTRC. The remote-controlled helicopter originally designed to run on batteries had a rotor diameter of 2 meters and a takeoff weight of 10 kg. The duration of the fuel cell powered flight was approximately 20 minutes. The team plans to demonstrate longer flight durations in the future.

Additional detail:

• The power plant is a PEM fuel cell prototype developed by UTRC and based on UTC Power proprietary fuel cell technology.
• A 4200 psi hydrogen source and air were used.
• Controls, power electronics and telemetry were implemented by UTRC.
• Maximum output power was 1.75 kW.
• System power density exceeded 500 W/kg.
• Self sustained system, with the power plant automatically started with hydrogen supply and no additional batteries.
• 5 lb. payload capable

UD's new hydrogen fuel cell bus, the second of its kind on campus

The University of Delaware’s newest bus, a 22-foot, 22-seat vehicle that runs on hydrogen, tooled around downtown Wilmington on Monday, Nov. 16, carrying some very important riders. U.S. Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.), U.S. Rep. Michael N. Castle (R-Del.) and Wilmington Mayor James Baker sat inside chatting about various options for transport in the region.

The ride was part of a briefing session to update Delaware’s congressional delegation about the progress of UD’s fuel cell research, research for which they secured $1.7 million in funding in 2007.

The paint job on the bus illustrates its place in the progression of fuel cell research at UD. It reads “Zero Emission Fuel Cell Hybrid Bus x2,” as the bus is the second in the hydrogen fleet; the first rolled out in 2007 and currently runs as a shuttle on UD’s Newark campus.

Additionally, the “x2” relates to the fuel cell capacity of the bus. Where the first bus contained just one fuel cell stack, this bus houses two, making it more powerful and capable of reaching higher speeds.

The bus, like its predecessor, does not require diesel like traditional buses; instead its fuel cells combine hydrogen and oxygen to directly produce electricity to run the bus. The reaction produces no greenhouse gas emissions and its exhaust consists only of water and water vapor.

“There are only about a dozen fuel cell buses in service across our entire country and two of these buses are on UD’s campus. I think we can be rightfully proud of that achievement,” said Ajay Prasad, professor of mechanical engineering, director of the UD Center for Fuel Cell Research and host of the event.

“These two fuel cell buses are a tremendous step forward,” said Castle. “The University has been a leader in this. We have pulled hard to try to help with the funding of it. We hope this expands exponentially from here on.”

Carper commented that the buses and the green economy they represent are where the country needs to be headed. “It will be reduce our dependence on foreign oil, cleaning up our environment, providing not only safe and affordable transportation but also a lot of jobs to drive them and a lot of jobs to build them, and that’s a great combination,” he said.

U.S. Sen. Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) is traveling out of the country and could not make it to the event, but sent a representative and his best wishes.

The delegation prepares to board the UD hydrogen fuel cell bus.

“This is just another example of Delaware setting an example for all states. This fuel cell bus highlights the fantastic work that University of Delaware’s Fuel Cell Research Lab is doing,” Kaufman said in a statement. “Developing this technology in Delaware will be a boon to our state’s economy and reaffirm our position as a leader in cutting edge technology.”

Mark Barteau, senior vice provost for research and strategic initiatives at UD, noted this and other projects undertaken by researchers working within the University of Delaware Energy Institute aim to be solutions to the world’s complex energy problems.

“When we launched the Energy Institute, one of the things we said we wanted to do was to take research out of the laboratory and into public demonstration, and I think that’s a critical component of our fuel cell bus program,” Barteau said. “This is very much out there on the street where our students can use it and the public can see it.”

While the buses are visible all around campus, what might be hidden is all the work that goes into making them possible.

“We have about 20 people currently working on these projects,” said Michael Chajes, dean of the UD College of Engineering. “It’s critical for our nation to both do the research but also educate the people who will carry this forward.”

Chajes remarked that in order to do that important work, UD needs more facilities, stating the planned Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering building will allow for more of this sort of innovation.

Article by Andrea Boyle
Photos by Evan Krape

The new Model 840 is targeted for applications requiring gas flow rates up to 12 SLPM

Scribner Associates, Inc. (Southern Pines, North Carolina) is pleased to announce the release of the Model 840 Integrated Fuel Cell Test Stations. The new Model 840 is targeted for applications requiring gas flow rates up to 12 SLPM and is intended for use with single cells and short stacks.  Its design is based on the time-tested 850 series of turn-key fuel cell test stations.

The Model 840 uses Scribner’s 890e Multi-Range Electronic Load (10/50/100A 125W 20V or 12/62/125A 500W 20V) for accurate, wide-range current measurement. The 840 features dual range anode and cathode mass flow controllers for wide range flow measurement and control, auto-water fill and software controlled wet/dry gas switching, ideal for RH cycling. Also included are input selector valves and  a 16-channel data acquisition module for additional voltage and temperature measurements.  Available options include internal reformate simulation, stack voltage monitor and Scribner’s 880 FRA for EIS and HFR measurements. As with Scribner’s other fuel cell products, the Model 840 comes with FuelCell^®, the industry’s most powerful and user-friendly application software.

A product data sheet is available for download at www.scribner.com/files/840.pdf. For more information on customized fuel cell testing options contact Scribner Associates, Inc.  +1-910-695-8884  Email: info@scribner.com Web: www.scribner.com

Zurich, Switzerland–C.En Ltd., developer of a breakthrough hydrogen storage technology, has announced that it has completed a round of equity financing with global insurance and financial giant Generali Group.

Generali Group is one of the largest insurance groups in Europe, operating in over 60 countries, with more than 460 subsidiary companies in the insurance, financial and property fields.

Generali Group is committed to the development of various realms of sustainability, and is focused on pioneering technological innovations in the environmental sector.

Funding by Generali Financial Holdings (FCP-FIS) – as well as by other leading global partners- will be used to further enhance environmentally sustainable applications of C.En’s hydrogen storage technology.

C.En’s unique and innovative technology enables the storage of hydrogen, at very high pressures, in special glass capillaries, thereby offering the first compact, lightweight, safe and economical hydrogen storage solution. “We are fortunate to add Generali to our strong group of existing investors who support our vision and unique technology,” notes Mr. Moshe Stern, President and C.E.O. of C.En Ltd., and adds, “The funding will help advance our vision of turning hydrogen into the leading clean energy source of the future.”

Lifeloc Technologies, Inc. is introducing LifeGuard – a personal breathalyzer which uses platinum fuel cell technology to provide the most accurate breath alcohol content (BAC). Now, fuel cell technology will be in the reach of the average consumer.

Denver, Colorado — Monitor yourself and your loved ones like law enforcement officials monitor the roads with LifeGuard – a personal breathalyzer which uses platinum fuel cell technology to provide the most accurate breath alcohol content (BAC), the amount of alcohol in ones system.

The majority of personal breathalyzers on the market today are inaccurate and unreliable due to the use of semiconductor sensors. For the first time, Lifeloc Technologies, Inc. is putting fuel cell technology, the only choice for United States law enforcement, in the reach of the average consumer with LifeGuard. LifeGuard stands above all others in terms of accuracy, quality and ease of use and is ideal for those wanting to test themselves or their loved ones. When buying a hand-held alcohol tester, your best option is a fuel cell option, which is rated highest in personal and professional use.

“We wanted people to have the ability to bring the best technology into their homes for alcohol screening – which is exactly what LifeGuard does,” said Barry Knott, president of Lifeloc Technologies, Inc. “LifeGuard meets every consumer and family’s alcohol screening needs from testing a family member to conducting morning-after testing.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every day 36 people in the United States die and approximately 700 more are injured in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. In one year, that equates to more than 13,000 deaths and more than 250,000 injuries. The costs associated with driving under the influence (DUI) are staggering – the emotional cost of injuring someone, the potential loss of job or income, the reality of jail time and an average cost of $10,000 per offense. For just $299, consumers can purchase a LifeGuard breathalyzer allowing them to monitor their BAC and making the most informed decisions for themselves and their family.

Born from more than 25 years of leadership experience in designing and manufacturing breathalyzers for law enforcement and workplace testing, LifeGuard’s uses are endless. It allows you to be a responsible host, testing friends or family before allowing them to drive home or to screen minors to detect underage drinking. Most importantly, LifeGuard allows you to make informed decisions about your behavior.

Lifeloc Technologies, Inc. does not advocate drinking and driving on any level, even one drink can cause impairment. What we do offer is a tool to allow you to make the most informed decision for you and your loved ones. To learn more about LifeGuard and how to purchase your own personal breathalyzer, visit www.lifeguardbreathtester.com today.

About Lifeloc Technologies, Inc.:
Lifeloc Technologies, Inc., is a leading global designer and manufacturer of personal and professional portable breath alcohol testers commonly known as “breathalyzers.” More than 35 countries currently utilize Lifeloc’s breath alcohol testing equipment for workplace, law enforcement, education and corrections testing. Lifeloc products are recognized worldwide for their ease-of-use, accuracy and reliability. For more information on Lifeloc, please visit www.lifeloc.com, www.lifeguardbreathtester.com or call 1-800-722-4872.

The Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) issued a broad agency announcement (BAA) on November 12, 2009, for the demonstration of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells for backup power at federal facilities. This project is funded through a partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) Fuel Cell Technologies Program, along with cost share from U.S. Army RDECOM-TARDEC and support from multiple federal host sites.

The BAA is available electronically at FedBizOpps under solicitation number W9132T10BAA01. Hard copies are not available.

For consideration for award under FY10 funding, pre-proposals must be submitted no later than December 30, 2009. All responsible sources who are either PEM fuel cell manufacturers or who can provide a signed letter of agreement to work with a PEM fuel cell manufacturer for the supply of fuel cell(s) may submit a proposal for consideration.

ERDC intends to award firm fixed-price contracts as a result of this BAA announcement. For more information, see the full solicitation announcement.

New technologies have potential to reduce costs, improve efficiency and make fuel cells economically viable.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — UC Riverside (UCR) Professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering Yushan Yan’s proposal “Quanternary Phosphonium-based Hydroxide Exchange Membranes” is one of 37 selected for negotiations for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) newly formed Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) awards for transformative energy research projects.

DOE Secretary Steven Chu announced the funding decisions, which were the result of reviewing more than 3,700 qualified concept papers that were submitted.

Yan’s proposed project focuses on the development of a new generation of high-performance hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells (HEMFCs). In the letter informing him of the selection, the DOE cited Yan’s application as “…among those of the highest scientific and technical merit, and is part of an ARPA-E portfolio of high impact projects that have great potential to revolutionize the U.S. energy sector.”

By switching fuel cell electrochemical reactions from an acidic medium to a basic one and utilizing a highly conductive hydroxide exchange membrane (HEM), high-performance hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells (HEMFCs) are innovative and radically different from the proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) that have been intensively researched and developed in the past two decades.

HEMFCs have ability to solve some of the most significant commercialization barriers of PEMFCs, including catalysts cost and durability, while at the same time achieving PEMFCs’ high power and energy density. Yan’s ARPA-E project will develop a series of technologies to produce commercially viable high-performance Quaternary Phosponium (QP)-based HEMs with high hydroxide conductivity, outstanding alkaline-stability and suitable dimension-stability.

The project will help the U.S. maintain its technological lead in developing and deploying advanced energy technologies. More specifically, the proposed fuel cell technology can be used to replace international combustion engines for powering vehicles, resulting in much-reduced or zero emissions. The fuel cell technology and its reverse operation as an electrolyzer together can also be used for energy storage that is necessary for the efficient use of wind/solar-based electricity.

If successful, and assuming a reasonable market share, the technology will reduce gasoline consumption by 163 million barrels and eliminate 60 million metric tons of CO2 emissions every year.

Modeled after the Department of Defense’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), ARPA-E was established under the America Competes Act of 2007. Yan’s project is part of the first round of projects funded under ARPA-E, which is receiving a total of $400 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

NYK ‘Super Eco Ship 2030’

JAPAN – With shipping emissions and pollution very prominent in the news recently and the Copenhagen Climate Change talks upcoming all of the worlds shipping lines are under increasing pressure to introduce ‘greener’ ships. Now Japanese carrier NYK Lines, in common with other major shippers such as Toyota and Mitsui O.S.K Lines, has revealed its own concepts for a low emission container freight vessel that the company states it wishes to have in service by 2030.

The NYK ‘Super Eco Ship 2030’, which is being designed in cooperation with the Monohakobi Technology Institute, Finnish marine consultants Elomatic and ship designers Garroni Progetti S.r.l. of Italy, will produce 70% less CO2 emissions than current vessels by the use of some very innovative design.

The vessel will be powered by Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) fuel cells which produce 30% less CO2 than comparable marine diesels, whilst the 2030 will also have 31,000m2 of solar panels in addition to retractable sails.

The design also features a bow-mounted bubble projector to reduce friction as the ship moves through the water and it is proposed that the vessel will actually break into segments in port so as to facilitate freight handling and thus aid efficiency.

NYK state that they plan for their fleet to produce zero emissions by 2050.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today announced the lease of a X-TRAIL Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) to Sacramento Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc. Nissan, which began development of fuel cell vehicle technology in 1996, has previously used FCVs in demonstration fleets in Japan and in California through the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP), but this is Nissan’s first commercial FCV lease in North America. The Sacramento Coca-Cola lease is for one year, with an option for two additional years.

“Sacramento already has the beginning of a hydrogen infrastructure in place, and Sacramento Coca-Cola has a track record of utilizing low emissions cars, so the two companies share a green philosophy as well as a common love of things ‘zero’,” said Eric Nozier, vice president, Corporate Planning, NNA

The zero emissions X-TRAIL FCV is being used by the bottler for sales calls and public events in the Sacramento area in promotion of its Coca-Cola Zero® soft drink. “This is a big step in furthering our commitment to environmental sustainability,” said Bob Brown, executive vice president of Sacramento Coca-Cola. “We are really excited about the promise of fuel cell technology.”

Nissan’s comprehensive fuel cell research and development program is part of a range of eco-friendly technologies — including FCVs, electric vehicles, hybrid and improved internal combustion engines — being pursued under the Nissan Green Program 2010, a plan focused on developing new technologies, products and services leading to real-world reductions in CO2 emissions, cleaner emissions and expanded recycling of resources.

The Nissan X-TRAIL FCV is based on the X-TRAIL SUV, which is available in Mexico, Japan and Europe. It is fitted with a Nissan-developed compact fuel cell stack, a compact Lithium-ion battery and a high-pressure hydrogen storage cylinder. Performance is close to that of a similarly sized internal combustion engine-based vehicle. Versions of this generation X-TRAIL FCV are capable of speeds in excess of 95 miles per hour, with a cruising range of up to 300 miles.

Sacramento-based Nissan X-TRAIL FCVs have already logged nearly 300,000 miles in ongoing internal tests, with one vehicle very close to the 100,000-mile mark. “The future of sustainable mobility will depend on the simultaneous development of many technologies. Test programs like Sacramento Coca-Cola X-TRAIL FCV lease help us keep our momentum going in this arena, even as we’re getting ready to roll out the new Nissan LEAF electric vehicle in the next year,” said Nozier.

In addition to the current generation X-TRAIL FCV, Nissan earlier this year announced testing of a next-generation fuel cell stack that is 25 percent smaller than the current model and will be less expensive to build. Nissan North America recently opened a new Fuel Cell Laboratory at the Nissan Technical Center in Farmington Hills, Mich. The new lab will support other global Nissan research centers and will work with suppliers and universities on various related fuel cell projects.

“Any 5th grade math student can tell you that 0+0+0=0, yet in this case zero (carbs) plus zero (calories) plus zero (emissions) adds up to a great partnership and a great way to promote both the Nissan and Coca-Cola Zero® brands,” added Nozier.

“We are delighted to have this opportunity to team up with Nissan to employ zero-emissions technology in a real life business setting,” said Don Quinn, Director of Operations for Sacramento Coca-Cola. “What better way to showcase zero-emissions technology than with North America’s most popular new zero-calorie soft drink?”

Noble Park, Victoria–Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (AIM/ASX: CFU) – a leading developer of high efficiency and low emission electricity generation units for homes and other buildings announced that Paloma, a leading global home heating manufacturer and owner of the Rheem, Solahart and Raypak brands, will install a BlueGen power and heating unit in its warehouse and sales office in Sapporo, Japan.

BlueGen is the latest breakthrough in small scale electricity generation. About the size of a dishwasher, each BlueGen unit can produce up to 17,000 kilowatt hours of power a year – twice the electricity needed to power an average home. Surplus electricity can be sold back to the grid.

Each BlueGen unit can significantly reduce carbon emissions, producing low emission power and hot water for homes and other buildings.

Under the agreement with Paloma, Ceramic Fuel Cells will supply a BlueGen unit for a 12 month demonstration, beginning in the first quarter of 2010. BlueGen will be connected to the existing Japanese natural gas pipeline and the power grid.

Ceramic Fuel Cells has been working with Paloma since early 2008.

In September 2008 Ceramic Fuel Cells installed a demonstration system at Paloma’s facilities in Nagoya. The unit was successfully operated on one fuel cell stack for the agreed six month trial, until the end of March 2009.

The unit exported power to the local grid and met all Paloma’s technical performance requirements, including daily modulation (where the power output of the unit is turned up and down each day, to mimic the power needs of the average Japanese home).

Ceramic Fuel Cells is also deploying fuel cell products with leading utility customers and appliance companies in Germany, France and the United Kingdom.

Noble Park, Victoria–Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (AIM/ASX: CFU) – a leading developer of high efficiency and low emission electricity generation units for homes and other buildings announced that Paloma, a leading global home heating manufacturer and owner of the Rheem, Solahart and Raypak brands, will install a BlueGen power and heating unit in its warehouse and sales office in Sapporo, Japan.

BlueGen is the latest breakthrough in small scale electricity generation. About the size of a dishwasher, each BlueGen unit can produce up to 17,000 kilowatt hours of power a year – twice the electricity needed to power an average home. Surplus electricity can be sold back to the grid.

Each BlueGen unit can significantly reduce carbon emissions, producing low emission power and hot water for homes and other buildings.

Under the agreement with Paloma, Ceramic Fuel Cells will supply a BlueGen unit for a 12 month demonstration, beginning in the first quarter of 2010. BlueGen will be connected to the existing Japanese natural gas pipeline and the power grid.

Ceramic Fuel Cells has been working with Paloma since early 2008.

In September 2008 Ceramic Fuel Cells installed a demonstration system at Paloma’s facilities in Nagoya. The unit was successfully operated on one fuel cell stack for the agreed six month trial, until the end of March 2009.

The unit exported power to the local grid and met all Paloma’s technical performance requirements, including daily modulation (where the power output of the unit is turned up and down each day, to mimic the power needs of the average Japanese home).

Ceramic Fuel Cells is also deploying fuel cell products with leading utility customers and appliance companies in Germany, France and the United Kingdom.

MONTREAL– Air Liquide announces that Vancouver International Airport is the second of the two Canadian airports in its 14 million dollar hydrogen and fuel cell demonstration project, joining Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau International Airport in Montréal.

Air Liquide Canada leads this project in collaboration with Natural Resources Canada, the governments of British Columbia and Quebec, and 14 participating companies. Vancouver International Airport will deploy several hydrogen transportation technologies in shuttle buses, as well as passenger and utility vehicles provided by the Vancouver Airport Authority and Air Canada.

“We are extremely pleased to contribute to British Columbia’s Hydrogen Highway initiative by showcasing our hydrogen technologies at Vancouver International Airport,” said President and CEO of Air Liquide Canada, Luc Doyon. “As we near the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, this exciting demonstration program will be observed by millions of travellers coming to Vancouver for the Games and beyond. Air Liquide is privileged to have a front row seat with British Columbia to show the world how innovative fuel cell technologies and hydrogen energy can power important sectors of the Canadian economy while protecting our environment. ”

“This is just another example of why British Columbia is a recognized world centre for hydrogen and fuel cell technology,” said Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. “The hydrogen fueling station complements our green highway initiative, and the hydrogen and fuel cell technologies demonstrated here are a critical part of B.C.’s and Canada’s low carbon economy.”

“This cutting edge technology demonstrates our Government’s commitment to encouraging alternative energy sources while reducing our carbon footprint,” said Alice Wong, MP for Richmond, on behalf of the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources. “We are pleased that YVR will be one of two airports in Canada to showcase this new fuel cell technology.”

Air Liquide is actively engaged in meeting energy needs and preserving our atmosphere, investing 60 percent of its R&D budget in developing technologies for sustainable development. Among these, working closely with partners in the private and public sectors, Air Liquide is developing the entire hydrogen energy supply chain, from the production, storage, distribution and safe handling of hydrogen to the development and manufacture of advanced fuel cells.

Hydrogen vector of energy

Used in a fuel cell, hydrogen combines with oxygen in the air to produce electricity with only water as a by-product.

Hydrogen can be produced from any energy source including natural gas and coal, but also from renewable energy sources. Hydrogen thus represents a fabulous potential for providing renewable, clean, silent energy, and guarantees a secure supply.

To support car manufacturers in the development of their hydrogen-powered vehicles, Air Liquide has developed fueling stations to fill fuel tanks with pressurized hydrogen up to 700 bars. These stations complete the fill up in less than five minutes and as easily and safely as for a gasoline stop. Air Liquide has already supplied nearly 40 hydrogen fueling stations throughout the world.

Air Liquide hydrogen sales in 2008 reached (euro)1.2 billion.

Air Liquide’s hydrogen energy projects in North America

In British Columbia, Air Liquide is providing the fueling infrastructure and hydrogen to support BC Transit’s 20 fuel cell powered buses, the world’s largest such fleet. Air Liquide is also participating in numerous projects to fuel cars, buses and lift trucks in Prince Edward Island, Quebec and Ontario.

In the U.S., Air Liquide has supplied four 700-bar, portable fast-fill hydrogen fueling systems to General Motors and Shell Hydrogen in Washington, D.C., California and New York.

Air Liquide has also installed a hydrogen fueling station at Albany International Airport.

staxera and EBZ have begun a joint SOFC system development program, focusing on high electrical efficiency and based on steam reforming of natural gas.  The commercial focus of this program is a 20 kW system with an electrical efficiency of between 50 and 60%.  The basic design will also be used to develop other products such as systems which operate on biogas or landfill gas.

The first phase of the program involves the construction and testing of a system demonstrator based on a peak stack power of 3 kW, using two of staxera’s integrated stack modules (ISMs).  The system demonstrator has been in operation since September 2009, and is at present using two of staxera’s 1.1 kW ISMs.  With this configuration the peak stack power has been measured at over 2 kW, which matches expectations.  The full design power of 3 kW will be demonstrated in 2010, when the 1.5 kW ISMs become available.

staxera will use this system demonstrator to analyze and characterize the performance and operation of the ISM when fuelled with steam-reformed natural gas.  Additionally, EBZ and staxera offer the system demonstrator as a commercial product, which provides customers with an ideal method of gaining SOFC experience in a system-relevant environment.

In order to accelerate the development and marketing of the system, staxera and EBZ welcome other partners to join their cooperation.

FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL), a leading manufacturer of high efficiency ultra-clean power plants using renewable biogas, natural gas, and other fuels for commercial, industrial, government, and utility customers, today issued the following statement by R. Daniel Brdar, the company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, prior to his participation in Representative John Larson’s Town Hall Forum on the Economy and Energy with T. Boone Pickens tomorrow at 4 pm.

“As a company that relies on the use of natural gas for a large number of our stationary fuel cell applications, we are pleased that Rep. John Larson and T. Boone Pickens are here today letting the people of Connecticut know the vital role natural gas can and must play in our effort to reduce carbon emissions and expand job opportunities. Our fuel cell power plants use natural gas more efficiently than any other distributed generation technology available today.

“FuelCell Energy, which employs over 460 people manufacturing state-of-the-art high efficiency, 24/7, clean stationary fuel cells, agrees with T. Boone Pickens and Rep. Larson, on expanding natural gas production and use. By using natural gas in our fuel cells, we are helping states like California, Connecticut, and countries like South Korea and Japan achieve significant carbon reductions, while generating electric power more efficiently and cleanly than conventional power generation.

“Our stationary fuel cells, which employ an electro-chemical process, rather than combustion, produce near-zero criteria pollutants and roughly half the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of the average U.S. fossil fuel central generation power plant. Today, our advanced fuel cells provide reliable baseload power to the grid, wastewater treatment plants, manufacturing and food and beverage processing plants, as well as hotels and universities in the U.S. and other countries around the world.

“By using our increasing supply of domestic natural gas with our high-efficiency domestic fuel cell technology, we can increase jobs here in Connecticut and the US as we confront the challenges of clean energy supply and climate change.”

The town hall will be in the Goodwin College Auditorium, River Campus, One Riverside Drive, East Hartford, Conn. from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm.

About FuelCell Energy

FuelCell Energy is the world leader in the development and production of stationary fuel cells for commercial, industrial, municipal and utility customers. FuelCell Energy’s ultra-clean and high efficiency DFC® fuel cells are generating power at over 55 locations worldwide. The company’s power plants have generated over 340 million kWh of power using a variety of fuels including renewable wastewater gas, biogas from beer and food processing, as well as natural gas and other hydrocarbon fuels. FuelCell Energy has partnerships with major power plant developers and power companies around the world. The company also receives funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and other government agencies for the development of leading edge technologies such as fuel cells. For more information please visit our website at www.fuelcellenergy.com

New York, NY – SiGNa Chemistry, Inc., a developer of stabilized reactive metals for safer, more efficient industrial chemistry, recently announced the successful design, assembly, and initial testing of its H300 Hydrogen Generation System. The H300 utilizes real-time swappable cartridges that generate hydrogen on demand using SiGNa’s proprietary sodium silicide (NaSi) powder. The H300 uses two hydrogen canisters that generate more than 800 liters of H2 at a combined flow-rate of up to 4 slpm (continuous) and 10 slpm (peak). This level of continuous hydrogen flow supports a broad range of portable fuel cell applications including back-up power systems, emergency responder work-stations, military battery recharging, and electric bicycles. SiGNa has demonstrated hydrogen generation for applications ranging from 1 to 500 Watts.

“With its award-winning technology, including inherently safe, air stable reactive metal powders, SiGNa continues to develop ground-breaking products for industrial applications,” says Michael Lefenfeld, President and CEO, SiGNa Chemistry, Inc. “The H300 Hydrogen Generator System allows us to easily showcase our effective materials to portable fuel cell system developers.”

The H300 demonstrates truly unique characteristics with a real-time hydrogen fuel gauge, on-demand hydrogen generation, and rapid canister insertion/removal. In collaboration with Trulite, Inc., a leading developer of portable and semi-portable hybrid power systems, SiGNa utilized Trulite’s FCS-300 PEM fuel cell system to demonstrate the technology. The FCS delivers 300 Watts of continuous power and has multiple electrical outputs including: 12 V auto, 12 V military, and 110 VAC.

“Hydrogen storage continues to be the single most important piece of technology limiting portable fuel cell commercialization, “says Ken Pearson, COO, Trulite, Inc. “High energy density, low cost, and start-stop capability are all critical market requirement areas that SiGNa’s NaSi powder technology has the potential to meet.”

“The H300 platform provides the only high-performance, portable hydrogen generation system to the fuel cell industry,” according to Andrew Wallace, Director of the Alternative Energy Research Center, SiGNa Chemistry, Inc. “This system will enable hydrogen fuel cell developers to readily evaluate sodium silicide and adapt their systems to be compatible with SiGNa’s technology.”

UND’s Energy and Environmental Research Center is set to embark on a $7 million project to expand its hydrogen lab.

The National Center for Hydrogen Technology, completed in winter 2008, needs more room for more research projects, specifically focusing on different kinds of renewable fuels.

The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Energy with assistance from Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. The State Board of Higher Education will have to authorize the expenditure when it meets Thursday in Minot.

Tom Erickson, the EERC’s associate director of research, said he anticipates seeing more research in areas such as renewable jet fuels and gasoline, the conversion of coal into diesel fuel and the conversion of liquid fuels, such as ethanol, into hydrogen.

The last area of research, he said, would allow gas stations all over the country to turn into hydrogen fuel stations at minimal cost. Liquid fuels are easier to store than hydrogen, he said, and easier to convert into high-pressure hydrogen, than, for example, water.

Of the $7 million, $4 million would go toward construction of the building, including site preparation, landscaping, parking and furnishings, according to state board documents. Another $3 million would go toward test equipment.

Erickson said he projects that that would allow the EERC to win $20 million to $40 million in new contracts, the actual amount being dependent on the scope of the research, which isn’t known at this time.

Nevertheless, the hydrogen tech center has had a good track record.

Since it opened, it’s allowed the EERC to hire 28 new employees, which is about 8 percent of the group’s work force. The expansion, Erickson said, would allow the hiring of another 20 to 30.

The EERC conducts its research mostly through competitive federal and private contracts. Contracts for work through the hydrogen tech center now exceed $50 million, Erickson said.

The expansion is expected to be completed by December 2011 at the latest.

Washington, D.C.—Scientists at the Carnegie Institution have found for the first time that high pressure can be used to make a unique hydrogen-storage material. The discovery paves the way for an entirely new way to approach the hydrogen-storage problem. The researchers found that the normally unreactive, noble gas xenon combines with molecular hydrogen (H2) under pressure to form a previously unknown solid with unusual

This schematic shows the structure of the new material, Xe(H2)7. Freely rotating hydrogen molecules (red dumbbells) surround xenon atoms (yellow). Credit: Nature Chemistry

bonding chemistry. The experiments are the first time these elements have been combined to form a stable compound. The discovery debuts a new family of materials, which could boost new hydrogen technologies. The paper is published in the November 22, 2009, advanced online publication of Nature Chemistry.

Xenon has some intriguing properties, including its use as an anesthesia, its ability to preserve biological tissues, and its employment in lighting. Xenon is a noble gas, which means that it does not typically react with other elements.

As lead author Maddury Somayazulu, research scientist at Carnegie’s Geophysical Laboratory, explained: “Elements change their configuration when placed under pressure, sort of like passengers readjusting themselves as the elevator becomes full. We subjected a series of gas mixtures of xenon in combination with hydrogen to high pressures in a diamond anvil cell. At about 41,000 times the pressure at sea level (1 atmosphere), the atoms became arranged in a lattice structure dominated by hydrogen, but interspersed with layers of loosely bonded xenon pairs. When we increased pressure, like tuning a radio, the distances between the xenon pairs changed–the distances contracted to those observed in dense metallic xenon.”

The researchers imaged the compound at varying pressures using X-ray diffraction, infrared and Raman spectroscopy. When they looked at the xenon part of the structure, they realized that the interaction of xenon with the surrounding hydrogen was responsible for the unusual stability and the continuous change in xenon-xenon distances as pressure was adjusted from 41,000 to 255,000 atmospheres.

Why was the compound so stable? “We were taken off guard by both the structure and stability of this material,” said Przemek Dera, the lead crystallographer who looked at the changes in electron density at different pressures using single-crystal diffraction. As electron density from the xenon atoms spreads towards the surrounding hydrogen molecules, it seems to stabilize the compound and the xenon pairs.

“Xenon is too heavy and expensive to be practical for use in hydrogen-storage applications,” remarked Somayazulu. “But by understanding how it works in this situation, researchers can come up with lighter substitutes.”

“It’s very exciting to come up with new hydrogen-rich compounds, not just for our interest in simple molecular systems, but because such discoveries can be the foundation for important new technologies,” commented Russell Hemley, director of the Geophysical Laboratory and a co-author. “This hydrogen-rich solid represents a new pathway to forming novel hydrogen storage compounds and the new pressure-induced chemistry opens the possibility of synthesizing new energetic materials.”

This research was funded by the Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences hydrogen storage, and the National Science Foundation, Division of Materials Research.

The Carnegie Institution for Science (www.CIW.edu) has been a pioneering force in basic scientific research since 1902. It is a private, nonprofit organization with six research departments throughout the U.S. Carnegie scientists are leaders in plant biology, developmental biology, astronomy, materials science, global ecology, and Earth and planetary science.

Tel Aviv –Israeli company, EMEFCY, will locate a pilot project in Michigan.  EMEFCY technology involves energy generation directly from wastewater which can be used in industrial and municipal wastewater treatment plants, in the food-processing industry, and in the agricultural community for confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

During his investment mission, Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry, Jr., met with over 20 CEOs from leading Israeli water technology companies while making the case for locating their businesses in Michigan.  He also co-chaired a Michigan/Israel joint task group meeting, which resulted in the formulation of future economic development opportunities for Michigan.

The Oakland County water resources commissioner has been actively working with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to help identify innovative water technologies through their H2Opportunities initiative.

“EMEFCY’s technology will be utilized in municipal/industrial/agricultural wastewater facilities,” said John McCulloch, water resource commissioner of Oakland County.  “We hope the technology will help us to reduce energy costs at wastewater plants throughout Michigan.”

“This water technology initiative is an important part of the state’s economic development efforts,” said Greg Main, CEO of the MEDC and a member of the Michigan/Israel joint task group established under a memorandum of understanding signed by Governor Granholm last year and co-chaired by Cherry.

EMEFCY, an Israeli company, is working on the commercialization of microbial fuel cells.  This technology, which generates energy directly from wastewater, will reduce the high energy costs associated with wastewater treatment as well as reducing the carbon footprint of the operation.

“We are looking forward to successfully developing this project in the state of Michigan,” said Eytan Levy, CEO of EMEFCY.

Emefcy was founded in 2007 with a vision of fundamentally changing the energy economics of wastewater treatment. The systems developed by Emefcy produce electricity directly from the treatment of different types of wastewater. This conversion is made possible by use of microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology.

Microbial fuel cells feeding on wastewater will produce free, renewable, green energy. In the future, MFC technology will be applicable in additional environmental processes, while generating renewable energy.

For more information please visit http://www.emefcy.com/.