FuelCellsWorks

Hydrogen and fuel cells can’t wait to improve your quality of life…all of the huff, none of the puff.

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–Today the BC Hydrogen Highway announced a host of hydrogen and fuel cell product demonstrations and public exhibits during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games in British Columbia.

“The BC Hydrogen Highway has created an opportunity for Olympic visitors to connect with our clean energy initiatives,” said John Tak, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Association (CHFCA). “The 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a celebration of sport, culture and the environment. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Canada to showcase the most advanced hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to the world.”

Fuel cells are clean power generation devices. When hydrogen is fed into a fuel cell, it creates an electrochemical reaction that produces electricity very efficiently, with water vapour as the only emission. However, unlike a battery, a fuel cell never needs recharging. It continues to produce electricity as long as a fuel is supplied – and hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe.

With more than 50 hydrogen and fuel cell product demonstrations and technology exhibits, the BC Hydrogen Highway is the place for visitors and residents of British Columbia to see this clean energy technology in action. These include:

• Buses – In Whistler, ride one of 20 fuel cell-powered transit buses that emit nothing but a wisp of water vapour. Operated by BC Transit, this is the largest single fleet of zero-emission fuel cell buses worldwide. On-board exhibits will educate and inform riders regarding the energy path of hydrogen as it is transformed in a fuel cell into electricity that powers the bus.
• Cars - In Vancouver, keep an eye out for over 15 hydrogen and fuel cell electric cars and shuttle buses that are transporting visiting dignitaries, press and guests during the Games. Fuel cell electric cars will also be on display at Edgewater Casino and Oakridge Mall.
• Olympic Rings Barge - At night, take in the view of the Olympic Rings Barge glowing in Coal Harbour, which is now using supplemental power from zero-emission hydrogen fuel cells.
• BC Canada Pavilion - Capture the magic of zero-emission power generation by visiting the interactive “fuel cell bus exhibit” at the BC Canada Pavilion (4^th Floor of Vancouver Art Gallery).
• BC Showcase Theatre – View the BC Showcase’s digital gateway, one of the world’s largest interactive walls, highlighting hydrogen fuel cell-powered buses operating in Whistler.
• Stationary Power - Visit the National Research Council’s Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (NRC-IFCI) at UBC to see leading technology innovations including a stationary fuel cell unit that can provide back-up power for a telecom or data communications site.
• Hydrogen Fuelling Stations – Throughout Greater Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler, an early network of eight fuelling stations are producing and delivering hydrogen cleanly and economically. These include the world’s largest hydrogen fuelling facility in Whistler.
• Waste Hydrogen Capture Facility – In North Vancouver, the world’s first waste hydrogen capture facility is providing fuel for fleets of hydrogen vehicles as well as a fuel cell-powered carwash. With the capability of fueling over 20,000 fuel cell cars per year, this facility will also become a local source of environmentally-friendly hydrogen fuel for the Whistler bus fleet.

“We are welcoming the world to experience our clean energy innovation and leadership through advancements like our hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, which will set the pace for all future Olympics as well as the green economy of the future,” said Blair Lekstrom, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. “We remain committed to putting B.C. at the forefront of clean energy development. By doing so, we will support our economy and lower greenhouse gas emissions.”

By showcasing these clean energy demonstrations, international visitors to BC can learn first-hand about technologies that support sustainable practices and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With the world’s largest fleet of fuel cell-powered buses, the largest share of the fuel cell forklift market in the U.S., and one of the largest automaker fuel cell research and development centres worldwide, British Columbia is globally recognized for its leadership in the development, demonstration and deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

“I’d like to congratulate the partnership, our members and government partners for working to showcase our hydrogen and fuel cell advancements to the world,” said John Sheridan, Chairman of the BC Hydrogen Highway. “This commitment and progress secures the path to a sustainable environment for all, and signifies that we are open –for business.”

About The BC Hydrogen Highway

The BC Hydrogen Highway, formed in 2004, is a forward-looking group of hydrogen and fuel cell technology providers, organizations, and government agencies who are promoting the development, deployment and commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cell powered products as a vital part of the solution to our environmental challenges. The BC Hydrogen Highway is managed by the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association. For further information, visit the BC Hydrogen Highway at www.poweringnow.ca, www.facebook.com/hydrogenhighway or www.twitter.com/poweringnow.

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 sold another BlueGen power and heating unit in Germany, to leading German gas utility E.ON Ruhrgas.

E.ON Ruhrgas AG is part of the E.ON Group and is responsible for the European gas business from exploration, transmission and supply to major customers. With a purchasing and sales volume of approximately 700 billion kWh of gas and revenue of 27 billion Euros a year, E.ON Ruhrgas is one of the leading gas companies in Europe and the largest in Germany.

From Q2 2010 E.ON Ruhrgas will operate a BlueGen unit at its micro power and heating test facility in Essen, Germany.

Ceramic Fuel Cells is also working with E.ON UK, another member of the E.ON Group, to deploy fully integrated power and heating products in the United Kingdom market.

About the size of a dishwasher, each BlueGen unit can produce twice the electricity needed to power an average home, with the surplus electricity sold back to the grid. BlueGen also produces heat, to make enough hot water for an average home. BlueGen units can generate electricity more efficiently than the current European power grid, significantly reducing a home’s carbon emissions and cutting energy bills.

Ceramic Fuel Cells has achieved electrical efficiency of 60 percent, far higher than any other technology in the rapidly expanding market for small scale power and heating generators. When heat is recovered from the electricity production process, total efficiency is up to 85 percent – twice as efficient as the average among current European power stations.

By generating power close to where it is used, Ceramic Fuel Cells’ products can meet the future demand for electricity without the need for huge investments in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure.

The order from E.ON Ruhrgas follows recent BlueGen orders from other German utilities RheinEnergie and EWE, and Dutch gas utility Gasterra, as well as customers in Australia and Japan. Ceramic Fuel Cells has also deployed fully integrated power and heating products with leading energy company Suez GDF in France.

Acta, the provider of clean energy products and environmental catalysts, is delighted to announce that its EL100 Hydrogen Generator has won the prestigious Qualitec Technology Award 2010 at the international Seatec trade exhibition for boats, yachts and ships. The award recognises innovation in the nautical sector.

The Seatec exhibition, which ran from 10 to 12 February, is Italy’s leading nautical and marine supplies exhibition attracting thousands of visitors and exhibitors. The Company exhibited its hydrogen generator coupled with a 1KW fuel cell power generator used to power an electric outboard motor. The technical judges of the Qualitec panel selected Acta’s hydrogen generator for its innovation, low cost and environmental profile, three features which were judged to promote the nautical sector’s aspirations for sustainability and zero environmental impact.

This award represents significant industry recognition for Acta, whose inexpensive hydrogen conversion technologies are making fuel cell applications more practical and accessible for everyday use. The EL100 Hydrogen Generator is a simple, compact, low-cost and highly efficient system which is ideal for markets with high volume demand for reliable, local energy, including marine, light transport, UPS and domestic and commercial power.

Acta shared the First Place award with Volkswagen for their introduction of a new marine propulsion system.

Paolo Bert, Chief Executive, commented: “It is a great honour for our unique hydrogen generator to have won the Qualitec Technology Award and we have been delighted with the commercial and technical feedback that it has received. 2010 is going to be a very exciting year for Acta and this award is a huge acknowledgement of what we have achieved to date. We believe that this product is ideally suited for the nautical sector, as well as for UPS systems, energy-independent homes,automotive accessories, consumer applications, and others. The award and recognition will be valuable to Acta as we continue with commercialisation of the technology in the coming year.”

Clean power systems company will travel to Silicon Valley to showcase market-leading technology; Wins place on prestigious Clean & Cool Mission 2010

Loughborough, UK– Intelligent Energy, the leading clean power systems company, has been given a place on the Clean & Cool Mission 2010 to San Francisco, meaning that the company will meet with investors, potential partners, media and peers on the US West Coast at the end of February 2010.

The Clean & Cool Mission 2010 gives the UK’s twenty most innovative and growing clean technology companies the opportunity to engage with the top technology businesses in Silicon Valley. The mission is a collaboration between the Technology Strategy Board, UK Trade and Investment, market intelligence company Polecat, and is supported by Orrick, BP Alternative Energy and the Cleantech Group. Intelligent Energy will now travel to the US West Coast from 20th February to 26th February.

“The real story here is about these very successful UK business people who have embarked on innovative ventures in a new but growing sector,” said Iain Gray, Chief Executive of the Technology Strategy Board. “They are pioneers and we are working with them because we want to see them find their place in what looks set to become a successful international market.”

Intelligent Energy has already got off to a flying start in 2010, following the launch of the Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter at London’s City Hall. The scooter is the product of Intelligent Energy’s successful partnership with the Suzuki Motor Corporation, and is the next step towards offering cleaner, more efficient motorcycles in a practical and accessible form with the potential to significantly reduce emissions around the world. The company is also leading a programme to develop a fleet of fuel cell London taxis in time for 2012.

“This Clean and Cool Mission is very timely for Intelligent Energy, and being able to engage with the financial community and those who set the public policy agendas relevant to clean technology businesses in the US, is a great opportunity for us,” explained Dr. Mark Lawson-Statham, Director of Corporate Finance at Intelligent Energy. “In addition, the chance to meet with USA’s top technology businesses and discuss new market opportunities will help continue to accelerate our commercialisation plans at a time when our clean power systems are taking centre stage in the market.”

About Intelligent Energy

Intelligent Energy is a clean power systems company, with a range of leading fuel cell and hydrogen generation technologies. The company is focused on the provision of cleaner power and low carbon technologies. Intelligent Energy partners with leading companies globally, in the transportation, oil and gas, aerospace, defence, distributed generation and portable power markets. Current partners and customers include Scottish & Southern Energy plc with whom the company has formed a joint venture to commercialise fuel cell combined heat and power (CHP) systems, and The Suzuki Motor Corporation. Intelligent Energy’s successes in recent years include the development of the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell motorbike and supplying the fuel cell system to Boeing which powered the world’s first manned fuel cell aircraft. The company also recently supplied Airbus with a multi-functional fuel cell auxiliary power unit (APU) aimed at on-board power and other loads in future commercial airliners.
www.intelligent-energy.com

Last April, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced an impressive $114.3 million in funding—$41.9 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and $72.4 million from industry—for the rapid deployment of approximately 1,000 fuel cell systems. Many of these systems are now operating in backup power, combined heat and power, and material handling (i.e. forklift) applications across the United States.  And the technology validation team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is watching.

Jennifer Kurtz, Todd Ramsden, Keith Wipke, and Sam Sprik of the Hydrogen Technologies and Systems Center are charged with providing an independent assessment of how these fuel cell systems fare in the real world, with a focus on performance, operation, and safety.  The team is poised to release its first set of findings later this month.

“DOE selected these applications for fuel cell system deployment because they’re seen as key early markets where fuel cells can compete with conventional power technologies,” Kurtz said.  “The unprecedented speed and scale of this deployment provide us with a unique opportunity to gather a significant amount of operational data very quickly.”

Accelerating the use of fuel cell technologies in these early market applications supports commercialization and helps build a domestic manufacturing and supplier base. It also expands the growth of the green job market, with new opportunities in manufacturing, fuel cell maintenance and support systems, and hydrogen production.

This new assessment builds on NREL’s six-year history of working with automotive companies and fuel providers to evaluate the performance of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and the refueling infrastructure.