FuelCellsWorks

Brunnthal/Munich, Germany, and Calgary, AB, Canada– SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG, technology and market leader for mobile and off-grid power solutions based on fuel cells, and Evergreen Energy Technologies Inc., a start-up company in Calgary, Canada, announce their further partnership to market clean fuel cell energy for the oil and gas industry in Canada.

With the innovation and strength of the two companies a reliable and environmentally friendly fuel cell stand-alone power solution for remote monitoring and service of oil and gas well sites has been created. The “Power Pod System”, developed by Evergreen Energy Technologies, is a completely new and eco-friendly approach which is used to replace pneumatic devices at well sites. For reliable autonomous operation, the system is powered by a hybrid combination of SFC’s EFOY Pro fuel cell and solar. This innovative solution powered by the EFOY Pro fuel cell just received a funding award of $50.000 under the “Alberta Innovation Voucher Pilot Program” by the Government of Alberta, that funds projects with environmentally friendly and energy efficient technologies in Western Canada.

So far, equipment used to monitor and service well sites and pipelines uses thermoelectric generators, diesel generators, the pneumatic power of venting propane or natural gas coming from the well, or solar power. Drawbacks to each of these systems are cost of fuels, cost and logistics of refuelling, effects of harsh weather conditions, and high greenhouse gas emissions. Powered by the EFOY Pro fuel cell the “Power Pod” generates reliable power for an electronically controlled solenoid injection pump, as well as other equipment. The system easily retrofits on existing well sites and provides automatic site electrical power, in extreme weather conditions with significant economic, environmental, and safety benefits. The cost and environmental advantages are enormous compared to regular pneumatic devices at well-sites, with typical 2.5 year breakeven, and 60% IRR (after tax) and increasing safety due to reduced combustible and toxic gas emissions at the production site. In this application, GHG emissions reductions of over 99% are achieved which corresponds to 170 tonnes CO₂ per year per pump.
”The EFOY Pro fuel cell is the solution of choice for Evergreen’s Power Pod System due to its decisive advantages: reliable, zero emission power supply at extremely low fuel consumption“, says Darryl West, President of Evergreen Energy Technologies Inc. “In combination with solar it creates one of the most innovative and green remote energy supply solutions for on-site oil and gas industry available with enormous advantages in total cost of ownership. The system is able to address a significant oil and gas industry problem: the use of gas venting pneumatic pumps and instruments resulting in lost revenue and high greenhouse gas emissions”.

“We are very pleased to join forces with Evergreen Energy Technology to adapt clean fuel cell technology for use at remote oil and gas well sites in Canada”, says Dr. Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG. “Evergreen’s Power Pod system ideally combines the advantages of the EFOY Pro fuel cell and solar: the solar cell provides power when it can, and is backed up by the fuel cell during times of low solar flux. It is the perfect solution for remote oil and gas well-sites, but it is only one example for the potential of the EFOY Pro fuel cell as enabling technology for reliable power supply of many more remote industrial applications”.

Trade visitors can experience the “Power Pod System” and EFOY Pro fuel cells at Global Petroleum Show in Calgary, AB, Canada, booth 9220, June 8-10, 2010

More information at www.sfc.com, www.efoy.com and www.evergreen-eti.com.

About SFC Smart Fuel Cell
SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG (www.sfc.com) is market leader in fuel cell technologies for mobile and off-grid power applications serving the leisure, industrial and defense markets.  As one of Germany’s technology pioneers, SFC has won numerous innovation awards.  SFC has alliances with leading companies in a wide range of industries. Unlike most other fuel cell manufacturers, who are in the research and development phase or run subsidized demonstration projects, SFC has shipped more than 17,000 fully commercial products to industrial and private end users for more than five years, and has created a convenient fuel cartridge supply infrastructure. SFC is DIN ISO 9001:2008 certified. SFC is based in Brunnthal, Germany, and has a sales and technical service office in the U.S. SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG is listed in the Prime Standard on the German stock exchange (WKN 756857).

About Evergreen
Evergreen Energy Technologies Inc is a small start-up company focused on bringing fuel cell technology to the oil & gas industry in Western Canada. Formed in 2009, Evergreen has developed the Power Pod system as a platform to supply electrical power at remote well sites for a variety of uses, reducing operating costs and GHG emissions. Applications include chemical injection, SCADA communication, and many others. For further details, please visit the web site at www.evergreen-eti.com .

The first high speed taxiing tests were successfully carried out on the Rapid 200-FC “zero emission” aircraft between 10 and 18 December of last year. The next step for the European team, coordinated by Professor Giulio Romeo of the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the Politecnico di Torino, will involve obtaining the flight permit from the aeronautical authorities and then conducting the first test flight. The aircraft has an entirely electric 40 kW propeller: power is supplied to the propeller through 20 kW hydrogen gas fuel cells. In order to guarantee absolute safety of the operations, the aeroplane also has a second source of energy that consists of a set of 20 kW lithium polymer batteries which are able to guarantee alternative or supple-mentary power during take off and initial climbing.

The electric engine is fed through the generation of high energy currents in an ioniza-tion and hydrogen re-combination system (PEM) which has a final product of 100-110 Amps of electrical current at 200-240 V, plus air and water vapours emitted at envi-ronmental temperature.

The aircraft and the electric and energy system have been developed, according to a design by Professor Romeo, and tuned by the team which consists of the 10 compa-nies and enterprises involved in the European Community “ENFICA-FC” project (Envi-ronmentally Friendly Inter City Aircraft powered by Fuel Cells). The team is made up of the Politecnico di Torino (IT) (Design of the modified aircraft and experi-mental test flights), Skyleader (CZ) (constructor of the aircraft), Intelligent Energy (UK) (designer and constructor of the hydrogen fuel cells), APL (UK) (in charge of the tanks and supply of the high pressure hydrogen), Mavel Elettronica (IT) (designer and constructor of the inverter and electronic control of the power) and the University of Pisa (IT) (laboratory tests on the electric system).

The exceptional and sophisticated power electronics system was specifically developed by Mavel to guarantee the supply of the 40 kW of power necessary for take off while satisfying the difficult requirement of limiting weights (less than 15kg) and encum-brance so that it could be installed on the airplane.

The ENFICA-FC project was chosen by the aeronautical and space planning committee from among hundreds of other programmes presented. The overall cost of the project is 4.5 million Euros of which 2.9 million Euros is financed, for the first time in Europe, with public funds allocated by the European Commission.

Summarising, Romeo says that “… the objective is that of building an aeroplane that works on hydrogen, taking advantage of the “fuel cell” technology at present available to create a demonstrator aircraft that is able to connect cities through flights while to-tally eliminating the environmental impact. The work plan financed by the EC is di-vided into two stages: modification of a light-weight two-seater airplane with an elec-tric engine completely supplied by hydrogen; the test flights on this are aimed at identifying the technical advantages and improvements in performance obtained with the new generation electrical energy.

At the same time, more theoretical type studies have been carried out (in collaboration with the Israel Aircraft Industry, Université Li-bre de Bruxelles and Evektor (CZ) partners). These will not have an immediate practi-cal application in the initial stages because of the present technological limits, but have the aim of using zero emission propellers in the future to equip aircraft for 20-30 passengers in the regional and intercity sector”.

Commander Marco Locatelli, to whom the test flights have been entrusted, has under-lined that a maximum velocity of 120 km/h has been reached, that the maximum in-ternal temperatures of the electric system do not reach 60° C at maximum power and that the only fluid in the fuel cell supply circuit are the 8 litres of distilled water con-tained in the tank on the right wing.

The project, which began in 2006, foresees finishing positively with the final test flights in the months of February and March 2010; for this reason, the Politecnico di Torino research group, headed by Professor Romeo (Engineers Fabio Borrello, Gabriel Correa and Marco Pacino), has been offered hospitality at the Reggio Emilio airport.

The entire electric and energy system underwent intensive laboratory testing on a bench model in the first six months of 2009, in collaboration with the Department of Electrical Systems and Automation at the University of Pisa. The starting up, function-ing under power and taxiing tests of the aircraft with its definitive propeller have in-stead been carried out along the 1400 metre runway at the Reggio Emilia airport over the last few weeks. The hydrogen at high pressure (350 bar), the 20 kW LiPo battery set and the electric engine have proved to be reliable and offer continuity of supply of the more than 40 kW power necessary for take off. The sophisticated electronic con-trol system ensures redundancy and makes both sources of energy available to the pi-lot in order to guarantee the safe functioning of the single propeller, even in the case of breakdown of the hydrogen current generators.

The airplane (whose final lay-out was achieved with the technical assistance of the Italian Skyleader importer – T&T Ultralight) has a wing opening of about 10 metres; with the systems at present available, the airplane has autonomy of 1 hour and can reach a cruising speed of 150-180 km/h, thanks to the hydrogen alone. If this objective is reached during the next tests, the aircraft will establish the world speed and flight duration record.

LIVERMORE, Calif. — Sandia National Laboratories will host a workshop April 28 for industry and code development organizations designed to address research barriers to hydrogen-powered forklifts and other near-term fuel cell market applications.

The workshop will include a number of participants, including industry leaders from Plug Power, Nuvera Fuel Cells and Air Products who will address challenges they face in deploying new products. Plug Power develops, manufactures, integrates and services proprietary fuel cell solutions for pallet trucks, counterbalance rider trucks, narrow-aisle reach trucks and other industrial trucks. Nuvera Fuel Cells provides innovative fuel cell products for the material handling market, as well as cost effective on-site hydrogen generation and refueling equipment. Air Products is the world’s largest supplier of merchant hydrogen and an industry leader in hydrogen fuel infrastructure.

“This workshop is a rare opportunity for equipment manufacturers and integrators to come together with the code development community to discuss the challenges of a new, nonautomotive application space for hydrogen fuel cells,” said workshop organizer Daniel Dedrick, program manager for hydrogen codes and standards at Sandia. “Our intent is to populate the code development effort with those companies actually developing products and services, as those companies are the ones who really understand the operating environment and the technologies in question.”

Presentations by Plug Power, Nuvera Fuel Cells, and Air Products are expected to focus on product utilization and market transformation to hydrogen fuel cell systems. Code development agencies such as the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and CSA Standards will provide insight into existing gaps in hydrogen codes and standards.

The expected outcome of the workshop, said Dedrick, is for the code development organizations, the industrial stakeholders, and the R&D community to collectively identify the key areas of R&D that are necessary to enable the deployment of hydrogen fuel cell systems for a variety of everyday applications.

For more information on the workshop, code developers and hydrogen fuel cell systems, stakeholders may contact Sandia’s Daniel Dedrick at 925-294-1552, email dededri@sandia.gov.

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Sandia National Laboratories is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration. With main facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., and Livermore, Calif., Sandia has major R&D responsibilities in national security, energy and environmental technologies, and economic competitiveness.

Le Ann Hinkle, a former participant in the Project Driveway fuel cell demonstration program, will be back behind the wheel for at least six months more of zero emissions driving after getting the keys to the updated Chevy Fuel Cell vehicle on Monday from Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet Marketing.

Hinkle joins Los Angeles resident Stephanie White as ambassadors for the fuel cell program, which is moving into its next stage as Project Driveway winds down after 30 months and nearly 1.3 million miles of real-world driving by more than 6,000 people, including 80 families that had one of the 119 Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell electric vehicles for up to two months.

A production intent fuel cell system with a 2015 target date is in pre-production while some of the Project Driveway vehicles, like the one Hinkle received on Monday,  are being upgraded with technology advancements as part of a technology demonstration with businesses and governments and high-profile involvements in special events such as the 2010 Expo in Shanghai.

Conservative Treasury Spokesman, Greg Hands MP, paid a visit to ITM Power on Friday (March 26) to see how home grown, cutting edge technology developed by the Sheffield company can play a vital role in allowing the UK to meet strict renewable energy and carbon emissions reduction targets. Greg Hands was accompanied by the Conservative candidates for Sheffield Hallam, Nicola Bates and Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, John Sharp.

During his visit the Shadow Treasury Minister enjoyed a tour of the factory and took part in the refuelling of a car with green hydrogen, which had been generated by a solar panel installed at ITM. Mr Hands also saw the range of products which ITM is shipping to international hydrogen trade fairs in Hannover Germany and Long Beach USA.

Mr Hands refuelled ITM’s HICE Ford Focus, received a brief presentation on the company and visited ITM’s hydrogen home demonstration facilities, which is all on site at the company’s Sheffield HQ. On the factory floor Greg witnessed hydrogen being generated using ITM’s electrolyser technology.

Greg Hands told ITM that he was fascinated by the technology and most interested that Sheffield’s excellent academic and manufacturing base had helped ITM choose to base themselves in the City. He also said he was keen to see the concepts of better energy storage and the ability to harness energy from renewables being supported by the Conservative Party in the future.

Dr Graham Cooley, CEO ITM Power commented; “We are delighted that the Shadow Treasury Minister Greg Hands, visited ITM Power, at a time when the company is preparing to showcase its first generation of products this April in Germany and the USA. We believe that his visit is especially appropriate considering the global reach of our products, and the potential opportunities our technology presents to the economy in Sheffield and the UK.”

Nicola Bates stated “We are keen to support the growth of technologically advanced companies such as ITM. Our policies follow the advice of Sir James Dyson’s review setting out a road map to make Britain the leading high tech exporter in Europe. After the recession, we know our future prosperity has to be built on private sector enterprise and we will support firms by various means including cutting the tax on new jobs.”

ITM Power has developed a range of materials and technology to reduce the cost of hydrogen production. The company is developing equipment to convert renewable energy to a clean fuel; storing the energy as green hydrogen for decarbonising transport, industrial and residential applications. ITM is showcasing products for the first time at the Hanover Messe on 19-23 April and the NHA in California, USA on 3-6 May 2010.

ITM Power has developed a range of materials and technology to reduce the cost of hydrogen production. The company is developing equipment to convert renewable energy to a clean fuel; storing the energy as green hydrogen for decarbonising transport, industrial and residential applications. ITM is showcasing its products for the first time at the Hanover Messe on 19th -23rd April 2010.

Acta Energy, a leader in research and development of systems for hydrogen production, proudly announces its partnership with the Marine Supply (Callegari and Shadow) company for years at the top in the production of tenders and boats. The purpose, shared by these two important Tuscan companies, is to use cleaner source of energy to offer to the marine sector, the first tender in Zero environmental impact, ensuring optimal performance. The best ally for this aim is definitely HYDROGEN.

Until now hydrogen has always been seen as the fuel of the future, or limited to industrial applications. Indeed hydrogen represents the most simple, clean and economical source of energy available in nature: the use of hydrogen does not generate C0₂ and pollution, but only water vapor. The production of hydrogen has become a process that is safe and within the reach of everyone, thanks to the technology of Acta Energy. Hydrogen is an energy source that can be used to produce electric current through a fuel cell, heat through burning, or motion through injection into a combustion engine.

A new way of conceiving the tender which exploits the silence of electric propulsion, the cost savings and Zero environmental impact of hydrogen, which can be produced directly on board through Acta Energy hydrogen generator. A small tool, compact and easy to install (just plug in the electrical and hydraulic plant of the boat), in order to supply not only the tender, but the whole range of products that Acta Energy and Marine Supply are developing.

The near future will see the two companies actively engaged in implementing a range of important products through the use of innovative technologies in propulsion, but also in the construction of the hulls through the use of special materials such as Carbon and Polyurethane for the tubes.

The first hydrogen tender prototype was presented exceptionally at the Big Blu exhibition in Rome from the 20 to the 28 of February 2010. It’s market launch will take place in Genoa on October 2 at the International Boat Show.

The tenth forum for producers and users of fuel cells, “f-cell”, on September 27 and 28, 2010, in Stuttgart will demonstrate: the stationary, mobile, and portable use of fuel cells is one of the sustainable energy supply solutions of the future. In 2010, the international congress and trade fair event will focus on the following points: “Fuel cells for household energy supply and industry application” and “Electromobility – fuel cells and batteries move the future”. The f-cell is once again sponsored by EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG. Information on the internet: www.f-cell.de.

Stuttgart (eos) – What sounded like speculation only ten years ago is a certainty today: in the meantime, the first fuel cell units supply buildings with power and heat. In the near future, electric cars as well as a wide variety of mains-independent devices will be driven by power from fuel cells. The fuel cell specialist forum f-cell, which will take place in Stuttgart on September 27 and 28, 2010, for the tenth time, also continues to support the exciting development process from laboratories all the way to applications in each market. The 2010 forum, which combines a congress and trade fair, will be focusing on the use of fuel cells to supply industrial facilities and apartment buildings, where they convince as miniature power stations in the basement with high levels of efficiency and dynamic power output. Large-scale field tests are currently running. At the f-cell, experts will report on the current situation.

Vehicles: fuel cells and batteries are equally important
“Electromobility – fuel cells and batteries move the future” is an additional special topic of the event. “We want to show that we use both for future sustained mobility – and how we do so: purely battery-electric cars as well as electric vehicles that draw the necessary power from hydrogen and fuel cells. The two technologies complement one another and, in contrast to frequently voiced opinions, they belong together,” explain the event organizers. f-cell thus reflects a trend in the industry that does not focus solely on fuel cell vehicles but on electromobility as a whole: “The days of a single drive concept for all applications, for passenger cars on short and long journeys, for trucks and buses, are finally over. In future, there will be various solutions side by side,” says Dr. Klaus Bonhoff, CEO of the National Organization for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology in Berlin (German acronym: NOW). As a logical step, NOW coordinates the implementation of not only the National Innovation Program for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology but also of the National Development Plan for Electromobility.

ANN ARBOR, MICH. –Adaptive Materials, the leader in manufacturing portable power through solid oxide fuel cells, was recently awarded $3 million through the Centers of Energy Excellence Program (COEE).  The company will use the funding to support the commercialization of its fuel cells within the consumer leisure market.
“Adaptive Materials is ready to move forward the fuel cell technology developed for soldiers in the field to provide portable power to consumers on the go,” explained Michelle Crumm, chief business officer.  “Funding from COEE provides the extra boost we need to break into the consumer market and deliver a truly game-changing technology.  This market expansion will create the meaningful company growth that leads to more jobs for Michigan.”

Adaptive Materials currently manufactures two different fuel cells. A 50-watt fuel cell that delivers portable power to soldiers in the field and a 250-watt unit that powers unmanned military vehicles.  The company’s 250-watt unit is the basis for its RV and consumer leisure market fuel cell; Adaptive Materials’ fuel cells can provide the auxiliary power needed for TVs, radios, laptops, microwaves, and other creature comforts in an RV.

Unlike other fuel cells that run on hydrogen or other hard to source fuels, inexpensive and globally available propane, butane and LPG power all Adaptive Materials fuel cells.  “By focusing our technology on readily-available fuels, Adaptive Materials solved a problem associated with fuel cells: Consumers could certainly find need for a fuel cell, but no fuel to actually sustain the unit,” Crumm added.

The COEE program, administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corp., supports the development, growth and sustainability of alternative energy sectors throughout the state.  Adaptive Materials was selected for the COEE program because of its collaborative work with MichiganWorks!, University of Michigan and its supply-chain infrastructure for commercialization of innovative energy technology.

The COEE program focuses on where the state has competitive advantages in areas of the workforce, intellectual property and natural resources but where funding is required to overcome technical and supply-chain hurdles that could prevent or stall the commercialization process.

Münster–The first reach truck in Germany with a fuel cell drive is being tested at BASF Coatings AG in Münster. The other partners in the project are Hoppecke (fuel cell system developer and integrator), Linde Gas (hydrogen fuelling station) and the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, as part of the “progres.nrw” funding programm.

This means that two different trucks with the future oriented drive will be operating at BASF Coatings in an industrial application: A Still FM-X 20 reach truck and an R 60-25 electric truck. The FM-X 20 reach truck delivers finished goods for despatch at the BASF Coatings distribution centre and the R 60 moves manufacturing raw materials from the logistics warehouse to the production. The two trucks are refuelled at the hydrogen fuelling station built on the site.

With this project, Still is the first intralogistics company with experience in operating fuel cell driven tractors, electric fork lift trucks and reach trucks.

Hamburg based Still GmbH has been involved with fuel cells as an alternative to conventional batteries since 2003. Since then Still has been able to gather experience in various projects using this future oriented technology. HHLA Logistics have been operating a Still R 60-25 fuel cell truck in a test operation at the port of Hamburg since 2008 and since the end of 2006 two Still R 07-25 fuel cell tractors have been transporting baggage at Hamburg airport. Hydrogen fuelling stations have also been erected at these locations.

In principle it would also be possible to operate these trucks at locations producing hydrogen (H2) as a by-product. The supply of hydrogen to trucks operating in such areas (H2 clusters) would also benefit greatly from this.

Fuel cell technology will become economically interesting when the production costs for the fuel cell package drop further. Savings are also generated in multi-shift operation because no replacement traction batteries would need to be held.

The opportunities for fuel cell technology will increase with eco-friendly production of hydrogen. This is possible, for example, with solar technology which does not produce any CO2 emissions. In the face of the climate debate, fuel cell technology is therefore gaining weight.

In the long term, fuel cells could replace diesel and LPG engines to further reduce the production of CO2.
Which of the alternative drive technologies will win the race in the future is still an unanswered question. To answer it much more experience from tests is needed.
A further crucial factor is the development of the energy prices.
We see the development of fuel cell technology for materials handling vehicles as an important investment in a sustainable future.

The Hydrogen Technologies Department of AJUSA Company has developed a new power unit that will soon be in the market.

This power unit “NOIL 5000 AC UPS” has as a great innovation the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system. This power unit is capable of delivering up to 5000W continuously with a pure sine wave at 230VAC 50Hz, the time switching between the grid and the fuel cell system is 0ms.

This power unit is completely finished, ready for use by the final user, because it has a cooling system of fuel cell, air supply and humidification, power electronics and control and storage of electrical energy. The user only needs supply hydrogen.

Courtesy of ShellThe Cicero-North Syracuse High School Performance Engineering Team poses with its re-designed hydrogen fuel-cell car at the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas 2010 competition in Houston.

Houston – The Cicero-North Syracuse High School Performance Engineering Team and a hydrogen fuel-cell car it designed won third place overall out of 39 teams Sunday at the national Shell Eco-Marathon Americas 2010 competition in Houston.

The team, led by C-NS technology education teacher Marty Miner, designed a one-person car that can travel the equivalent of 1,837 miles per gallon on a six-mile course on Houston streets, said Ted Kliszczewicz, a professional engineer and senior training instructor for Carrier Corp., who was in Houston with the team.

That mark won the team first place in the hydrogen fuel-cell classification, ahead of four college teams that entered hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, Kliszczewicz said.

The students participating are Kevin Thyne, Joe Scheuer, Michele “Mike” Madonna, Max Desousa, Nick Pietricola, Dan Pietricola, Steve Cusumano, Michael Ann Baker, Alex Julian and Tyler Mannise.

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Fremont, California-With stationary fuel cells hot again, Oorja Protonics is jumping into the market.

In a few months, the company, which specializes in methanol fuel cells, will release a fuel cell capable of generating 5 kilowatts of power, enough to run a home or small business or to provide backup power to cell towers.

It’s somewhat small in size, as well. Check out the video: the 5-kilowatt fuel cell fits on top of a gurney. It is about the same size as a 500-watt device Oorja produced a few years back.

“This will sit on large forklifts. You could use it for auxiliary power for trucks, RVs or marine applications, or for off-grid power for homes or farms,” said CEO Sanjiv Malhotra. “This opens up a plethora of other markets.”

For larger applications, the fuel cells can be chain-ganged together. Connect twenty of them and they would be capable of generating 100 kilowatts of power — as much energy as the recently unfurled Bloom Energy Server.

Declining prices, federal and state incentives, growing demand for cleaner power and improving technology have begun to revive the fuel cell industry. Panasonic began to sell residential fuel cells to the Japanese market approximately a year ago while start-up ClearEdge Power sells 5 kilowatt systems in California. And last month, Bloom Energy came out with its server amid a worldwide frenzy of publicity.

Oorja will largely try to distinguish itself on two grounds. First, the company can point to a somewhat large file (for fuel cell makers) of real-world customer experience. Last year, it introduced a 1.5-kilowatt fuel cell and over 200 of these have already been installed by customers such as Nissan and Safeway.  Last year, Nissan estimated that 60 of the methanol fuel cells in its Smyrna, Tennessee factory will save it close to $500,000 in operating and battery costs. The new 5-kilowatt system is effectively a larger, improved version of the 1.5 -kilowatt Model 3.

Second, Malhotra says Oorja will be able to undercut others in price. Whether or not the company succeeds in that regard remains to be seen, but it will make for an interesting debate.

Bloom’s Energy Server sells for around $700,000 to $800,000 (or $7,000 per kilowatt) before incentives, which can cover around half of the price. After incentives, Bloom claims its server generates power for 9 to 11 cents a kilowatt hour, a calculation that includes fuel, maintenance and hardware expenses. ClearEdge Power sells a 5-kilowatt fuel cell for $56,000, or more than $10,000 a kilowatt. ClearEdge initially sold its machine for $50,000 but subsequently raised the price.

Malhotra declined to give a price for the 5-kilowatt machine, but said it will cost less than Oorja’s Model 3 fuel cell, which generates 1.5 kilowatts and sells for $15,000, or $10,000 a kilowatt, before incentives. The 5-kilowatt machine is approaching the point where it can provide electricity for 20 to 25 cents per kilowatt hour, he said, including maintenance, fuel, replacement parts and other incentives. Federal and state incentives can cover half of the costs. The fuel cell also produces about as much heat as energy and that heat isn’t included in the 20 to 25 cent figure.

Thus, in many respects, Oorja seems to be ahead of ClearEdge, a more direct competitor, and trailing Bloom in terms of electricity by a few cents. Oorja, though, can provide customers heat for free, unlike Bloom, and address a wider market. Advantage, possibly, Oorja.

“It will offer the customer a payback in less than 12 months,” Malhotra said. “It is extremely competitive with the grid” when the added incentives are considered.

Oorja’s fuel cells produce both heat and power. Only around 35 to 37 percent of the methanol gets converted to electricity. If the heat is added into the equation, the fuel cell becomes 70 to 75 percent efficient. ClearEdge claims it is close to 90 percent efficient with its heat and power fuel cell while Panasonic sells a 1 kilowatt fuel cell in Japan that is about 80 percent efficient when heat and power are both exploited.

Bloom’s server is about 56 percent efficient, but it only produces a marginal amount of heat. Most of the power generated is electricity, which tends to be a higher value form of energy. Thus, Oorja will likely more directly compete against ClearEdge and companies like Panasonic initially and aim for combined heat-and-power applications, such as hospitals, food processors or certain industrial sites where water needs to be boiled, rather electricity-only deployments.

One of the primary underlying differences between Oorja and the other large fuel cells lay in the type of fuel it consumes. Oorja’s fuel cell runs on methanol, similar to the fuel cells produced by Toshiba and others for consumer electronics. Most methanol fuel cells are small. Oorja’s is about 50 times larger than the others. The fuel cells from ClearEdge and Panasonic run on methane. Bloom’s fuel cell runs on methane, biogas and other fuels, but methane remains far and away the easiest to obtain.

Naturally, each camp claims to have the superior idea: methanol proponents claim that the methane-to-electricity process is unduly complex while methane proponents say that methanol fuel cells can require a more rapid turnover of components. The debate, though, will be decided by buyers.

Regardless of the type of fuel, all of these fuel cells can produce power at prices lower than solar, which costs 10 to 19 cents a kilowatt hour in California after incentives, with residential, distributed solar power costing them most. Wind costs less than power from fuel cells, but wind power is subject to weather conditions and generally gets generated in large, centralized power stations. Fuel cells deliver power locally. Fuel cells are also more efficient than the grid — only about one-third of the power created in power plants makes it to your home — so they can be considered clean forms of power.

Oorja to date has largely produced methanol fuel cells for forklifts. Because the lead acid packs can only produce power for around four hours, large grocery stores and warehouses have to maintain battery swapping stations. Oorja’s fuel cells, which fit onto the forklift, continually recharge the battery packs and allow the forklifts to go a full shift without any swaps.

Although it landed a number of high-profile engagements and funding from Sequoia Capital, Oorja endured difficult times in 2009. The company came back from the brink with the Model 3, which both increased the power and dropped the price of its products.

“With 1,500 watts, you can fill the bill with a lot of applications,” according to CEO Malhotra.

And what are the incentives? Buyers can get a federal tax credit for 30 percent of the cost of a fuel cell and California kicks in another $2.50 per watt. Oorja’s 1.5 kilowatt Model 3 therefore goes for $6,750 after subsidies ($10,500 adjusted federal price minus $3,750 in California incentives). That comes to $4,500 a kilowatt. If the 5-kilowatt model stayed level with the Model 3 pricing, it would cost $22,500 not including operations or maintenance.

Consumers can also get credits for feeding power into the grid via a feed-in tariff.

A new hydrogen fuelling station planned to be built by Air Products in Fountain Valley, California, is to incorporate FuelCell Energy’s ‘DFC-H2’ fuel cell technology to produce clean on-site power and heat – and renewable hydrogen.

The contract, to demonstrate a renewable hydrogen fuelling station was awarded to Air Products by the California Air Resources Board and supported by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and US Department of Energy (DOE). The fuelling station is to be installed at the Orange County Sanitation District’s (OCSD) wastewater treatment facility.

The system will be fuelled with biogas from wastewater treatment operations and produce 300 kW of power and up to 300 pounds of hydrogen per day. This hydrogen could be used for early market fuel cell applications such as back-up power and forklifts and is sufficient to fuel roughly 100 fuel cell cars.

The electricity will be available for use by OCSD for its operations.

Christopher Bentley, FuelCell Energy’s Executive Vice President of Government Research & Development Operations, said: ‘Our research indicates that hydrogen efficiently produced as a by-product by the DFC-H2 can be less costly than hydrogen produced by other methods and can enable the expansion of ultra-clean, hydrogen production systems worldwide, while providing the benefits of distributed power generation.’

Recent advances in hydrogen fuel cells have brought the technology back to the forefront of environmental thinking.

It’s only right then that Sustainabilitylive! will hear from one of UK’s leading experts on the technology.

Dr Bruno Pollet, part of Birmingham University’s highly regarded fuel cells group, will be talking about the role of hydrogen in transport.

He also heads up the £5.5M Doctoral Training Centre in Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and their applications and a £1.3M hydrogen fuel cell vehicle project, making him arguably one of the nation’s leading voice on the technology.

He said: “As reserves of fossil fuels run out and current issues with energy security we need to look for alternatives.

“Hydrogen is naturally abundant and produces only one waste product as a fuel: water when either burnt or used in a fuel cell.

“We are working to make hydrogen a cost-effective practical alternative to fossil fuels, but also to work with collaborators in business to make sure its potential is fully understood and exploited.”

Dr Pollet will be speaking between 11.30pm and midday at the SB the event part of sustainabilitylive! on Wednesday April 21.

Luke Walsh

Police and firefighters will help to test Britain’s first fleet of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, which is to be introduced in time for the 2012 Olympics.

A network of hydrogen filling stations will be built across London to refuel about 150 vehicles — including 50 taxis, eight buses, and 50 cars and vans that will be used by public bodies such as the Metropolitan Police and the London Fire Brigade. The vehicles will emit only water instead of exhaust fumes, and represent the first steps towards a long-term aim to switch all motorists from petrol and diesel to renewable fuels.

Unlike battery-powered electric cars, which take up to eight hours to charge, fuel-cell vehicles can have their high-pressure tanks filled with hydrogen gas in only three to four minutes.

The Greater London Authority is borrowing the concept of a “hydrogen highway” developed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California. This aims to encourage manufacturers to supply fuel-cell vehicles by providing a cluster of refuelling stations. Previous attempts to introduce fuel-cell vehicles in Britain have failed because they depended on a single fuelling point — with drivers forced to return to base every time they needed to fill up.

In an interview with The Times, Kit Malthouse, London’s deputy mayor and chairman of the London Hydrogen Partnership, said: “We are in a chicken-and-egg situation: if we are going to bring in the vehicles, we need the fuel stations. We are putting them in on the basis that if you build it, they will come.”

Mr Malthouse said that car manufacturers and the Government were focusing too much on battery-powered cars, which have only a limited range and are unsuitable for most families.

“We are going to need instant refuelling. A battery is only going to get you so far and, over time, batteries lose their rechargeability.”

The partnership is also planning to install fuel cells in dozens of office buildings to generate electricity and heat.

General Motors aims to start mass producing a hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle in 2015.

How should that breakthrough vehicle be launched? What customer base should be targeted? More than 100 MBA students in the University at Buffalo’s School of Management are answering those types of questions in a semester-long project with marketing research professor Arun Jain.

Twenty teams of students are developing marketing plans for rolling out the fuel cell vehicle, and GM is an active partner in their work. The plans chosen as the three best will be presented to a panel of judges in late April to select a winner.

Students said they relish the chance to possibly influence how GM’s vehicle is launched through their research.

“We feel that our opinion matters, we are working on a real thing,” said Marta Nyeso. “We could really contribute. Who knows, maybe if we come up with very good ideas, we’re going to see them implemented in a couple of years.”

Part of their challenge is to envision the new-car market of a few years from now and how GM will fit into it, said Ingmar Haffke.

“Thinking four years ahead is not easy,” Haffke said.

Last year, UB MBA students tackled a similar effort with the tiny Smart car. Interest then turned to doing a project with impact on the local auto industry and economy, and GM was approached, Jain said.

Jain credited Steve Finch, the GM Town of Tonawanda engine plant’s manager, with the idea to focus on the hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Its technology produces no emissions, aside from water vapor, and does not use gasoline.

Jain sees potential for Western New York to play a role in fuel cell vehicle growth, whether by supplying hydrogen from local sources, or the GM Tonawanda plant producing the propulsion systems. Another nearby tie: GM is developing the technology in Honeoye Falls, near Rochester.

In January, GM brought in an Equinox equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell system for the students to try out. Friday, the students test-drove several new GM products, along with the fuel cell vehicle, on the UB North Campus, to get a flavor of the automaker’s new direction. (The student line for the flashy red Camaro was the longest.)

Finch briefed the students on GM’s newest models and business outlook, saying he believes the automaker has turned the corner after a tumultuous 2009.

A student asked Finch what the rise of fuel cell technology could mean for the Tonawanda engine plant’s future production.

Finch said it will take some time for the fuel cell vehicles to hit the market and become widely used, the way internal combustion engines are today.

“I still think there’s going to be ample opportunities for us to build very efficient internal-combustion engines going forward, as we begin to improve the other aspects of our fuel-delivery systems, like hybrids and electric vehicles,” he said.

The vehicles the students test-drove were from GM’s “Vehicle Advocate Program,” which allows employees to borrow some new vehicles overnight or for a weekend and become “ambassadors” for them, said Nina Price, a GM spokeswoman. Locally, the vehicles were also taken to some community organizations for test drives.

Jain said the MBA students were given specific objectives for their fuel cell vehicle marketing plans: sales of 100,000 units in its first year, rising to sales of 250,000 units in its third year.

“So the challenge is to identify where they should be selling it, what should be the market segment they should focus on, and how should they position the car,” Jain said. The plans they create will begin with the year 2013, to lay the groundwork for a successful launch, he said.

Jain has urged the students to use their imaginations about the vehicle’s look and features, just as the iPhone was a departure from the typical cell phone.

“We believe the type of customers for this car will be like our students,” Jain said. “So we think, and GM thought, that they will be the best people to tell them what the car should look like, what benefits it will deliver.”

In late April, the three marketing plans picked as the best of the 20 will go before a panel with non-GM judges from venture capital, banking, advertising and manufacturing, along with two GM representatives. The winning team will receive a cash prize of about $500, and a reception for the students will be held.

Jain says the project has value beyond the competition element. “We want our students to have real-world experience. We want them to hit the ground running, instead of just having book knowledge and so on.”

Jain also sees a broader payoff. “This is a way that UB is increasingly partnering with the local Western New York business community,” he said. “We are here to serve the needs of the community.”

mglynn@buffnews.com

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Coventry joins Birmingham and Loughborough Universities in landmark hydrogen infrastructure in the Midlands, UK

LONDON, UK– Air Products’ (NYSE:APD). Today, Coventry University announced its decision to commission an award-winning Series 100 hydrogen fuelling station from leading provider Air Products.

Coventry University’s decision to house a hydrogen fuelling station on campus, makes it part of a cluster of Air Products’ stations dominating the region. Joining the Universities of Birmingham and Loughborough, Coventry adds to the Midlands Hydrogen Ring of fuelling facilities that will form the heart of planned UK hydrogen fuelling infrastructure spanning the country.

Air Products, the world’s largest manufacturer of hydrogen fuelling stations, is expected to install their Series 100 fuelling station at the University in March.   The station will be used as part of the Government’s Technology Strategy Board and Advantage West Midlands funded CABLED project – Coventry and Birmingham Low Emission Vehicle Demonstrators- which will see 110 low carbon vehicles operating between locations.

Ian Williamson, Hydrogen Energy Systems Director at Air Products Europe said:

“We are delighted that Coventry University chose Air Products to install its hydrogen fuelling station and strengthen the Midlands Hydrogen Ring. Creating a link of refuelling points strategically placed around the Midlands is a vital first step as the UK moves closer to a hydrogen economy.  As investment in fuelling infrastructure continues to grow along with car manufacturer’s continued investment in hydrogen vehicle development, a significant reduction in carbon emissions through a hydrogen economy is not too far away.”

John Latham, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Business Development, Coventry University:

“For 25 years Coventry University has supplied the automotive industry with world class graduates, research, training and facilities.  The installation of the Air products hydrogen fuelling station and the provision of hydrogen vehicles from our spin out company, Microcab, underlines the University’s commitment to provide state-of-the-art expertise to the automotive industry. The hydrogen vehicle and fuelling infrastructure is concurrent with the University’s plans for continued significant investment in low emissions related automotive research, education and facilities.”

Welcoming the announcement, Jim Cunningham, MP for Coventry South said:

“This is good news for Coventry University and is yet another example of their commitment to research and development.  This partnership is very exciting. The West Midlands is known throughout the country for its innovation and high skill level.  We need to ensure that we remain at the forefront of research and development by encouraging the development of low carbon infrastructure.”

“The development of the low carbon economy in the West Midlands will also help create new jobs and develop new manufacturing technologies.  This is crucial to helping businesses and families recover from the recession.”

London to create a ‘hydrogen network’ by 2012, under plans unveiled today, in time for the city’s Olympic games.

The plan also aims to encourage a minimum of 150 hydrogen-powered vehicles on the road in London by 2012. These could include cars, vans, taxis, motorbikes, and lorries. Fifty of the vehicles are expected to be operated by the Greater London Authority’s functional bodies – including Transport for London (TfL); the London Development Agency (LDA); the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority (LFEPA); and even the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA).

The London Hydrogen Partnership (LHP) is working across London boroughs on plans to deliver over the next two years at least six refuelling sites to refuel hydrogen-powered vehicles in the capital. One is already being built in east London for the refuelling of hydrogen-fuelled buses that will begin running on the RV1 route later this year.

Hydrogen vehicles emit no pollution from their tailpipes and could deliver huge benefits for cities by improving air quality, cutting carbon emissions and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

The London Hydrogen Partnership and the Greater London Authority are already working with BAA on a hydrogen feasibility study to explore ways to use hydrogen and fuel cell technologies at Heathrow airport. This study could then act as a model that BAA can use in its other airports.

Kit Malthouse, London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and chair of the LHP said: “By 2012, we want to have hydrogen on the ground, in the capital, propelling vehicles and powering buildings. Once the public can kick the tyres and breath the fresh air again, we will have succesfully kick started a new era in London’s energy future.”

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, added: “Harnessing low-carbon technology is key to solving the pressing issues of energy security, cutting climate change emissions and improving air quality. We are ploughing millions into plans to encourage the widespread uptake of electric vehicles, to boost cycling, to expand the use of hybrid bus technology to make London a more pleasant, less polluted city. The use of hydrogen technology, which emits only water vapour, is an exciting part of our vision for the future.”

In February this year, Kit Malthouse opened the UK’s largest in-house hydrogen fuel cell at TfL’s Palestra building in Southwark. This fuel cell will provide a cheaper, local source of energy for the building, which is also the home of the LDA. By 2012 the LHP wants to see five large-scale fuel cells in London like the one at Palestra, as well as 10 fuel cell back-up systems, which can be used to keep powering essential systems such as computer data centres and lighting in the event of a power cut.

March 25 (Bloomberg) — Ceres Power Holdings Plc, which began trials of its fuel cell products in the U.K. this year, is negotiating further tests in mainland Europe, North America and Asia, Chief Executive Officer Peter Bance said.

The company based in Crawley, England, began production at a factory in Horsham in December and can now make “hundreds into low thousands” of its fuel cells a year, Bance said in an interview. Ceres, which now employs 98, will add in the “low tens” of jobs this year, Finance Director Rex Vevers said.

Ceres Power is working to commercialize by the second half of 2011 a fuel cell that can heat and power homes with less energy than conventional sources. It has agreed to supply products to Centrica Plc’s British Gas unit and Ireland’s Bord Gais Eireann. Trials that began this year in empty homes will be expanded mid-year to occupied homes, once regulatory approval has been granted, Bance said.

“In parallel with the trials, we’re building the sales pipeline to underpin growth from 2011 onwards,” Bance said today. “We’re delivering on today as well as building tomorrow.”

Fuel cells generate heat and electricity using fuel and air, and units can be stacked to provide different amounts of energy. Other companies working on the technology include South Borough, Massachusetts-based Protonex Technology Corp. and Bloom Energy Corp. of Sunnyvale, California, which on Feb. 24 said its fuel cell products can power about 100 typical U.S. homes from a plot the size of a parking space.

Loss Widens

Ceres Power’s first-half loss widened to 5.9 million pounds ($8.8 million) from 3.3 million a year earlier, the company said today in a Regulatory Newswire statement. Shares today fell by 7.5 percent to 137.5 pence as of 12:03 p.m. London time.

Vevers said he expects the company to be profitable by the end of 2015, when a four-year contract to supply at least 37,500 units to British Gas ends. Two million pounds ($3 million) in “milestone” payments from British Gas will likely be received next year, he said.

Because field trials of Ceres’ product have been delayed, there’s also a risk commercial rollout will take place later than expected, analyst KBC Peel Hunt said today. He has a “hold” recommendation on the stock.

“We are not convinced that mass manufacture of a fully tested, final product beginning in the second half of fiscal 2011 for delivery to the open market is credible,” KBC analyst Andrew Shepherd-Barron wrote in a note to investors.

Fuel Cell Boilers

In September, Ceres said Daalderop BV, a boiler maker based in Tiel, the Netherlands, would make the condensing boilers that house the company’s fuel cells.

Bance said Ceres is in “active dialogue” about holding trials in North America, Europe and Asia. He declined to provide further details.

“By 2015 we anticipate a significant number of international customers across not just the U.K. but Europe, North America and possibly Asia,” he said.

Feed-in tariffs introduced this year by the U.K. government to spur the installation by homeowners of combined heat and power boilers will help “kickstart” demand for Ceres’ products, Bance said. Vevers said hiring plans for this year are in the “broad range” of the teens and 20s, and that next year, more jobs will be created.

“We currently employ around 98 people,” Vevers said. This year, “that’ll go up to the tune of low 10s. Then, obviously, as we scale up through 2011 to market launch, the jobs growth will be more significant than that.”

Contracts Signed

Ceres on Nov. 6 said it signed an agreement with Bord Gais Eireann to sell 16,000 residential combined heat and power products in Ireland over four years, its first international sales. The company has also moved from testing cells in its own facilities to trials in houses, and has opened its first factory in the past half-year.

“During the last six months, the company has gone through three pretty radical transformations in its growth,” Bance said, referring to the trials, the factory and the Irish deal. “The company is making these critical transitions from small to big.”

THOUSAND PALMS, California – BAE Systems plans to develop a zero-emissions bus for a Southern California regional transit agency under a project to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of fuel cell technology. Under a planned work effort, the company will serve as systems integrator to deliver the vehicle to SunLine Transit in an effort funded by the Federal Transit Administration, CALSTART, California Air Resource Board, and California South Coast Air Quality Management District.

The fuel cell bus, which will use no fossil fuel, will demonstrate technology that can reduce dependence on diesel fuel and compressed natural gas. It is scheduled for delivery in December 2011.

“This new-generation fuel cell bus is the result of a true partnership with SunLine Transit Agency, CALSTART, bus manufacturer ElDorado National (California) Inc., Ballard Power Systems, and the Federal Transit Administration, and continues BAE Systems’ ongoing development of environmentally friendly, heavy-duty vehicles,” said Rich Hopf, general manager of vehicle systems for BAE Systems. “We look forward to furthering our work as a systems integrator and showcasing the evolution in technology from partial to zero emissions.”

C. Mikel Oglesby, General Manager, SunLine Transit Agency said, “SunLine is extremely pleased to join in the partnership for the demonstration of the new-generation fuel cell bus that will help to advance  the commercialization of this technology in transit operations.”

The bus developed under the program will use a fuel cell module supplied by Ballard Power Systems as the main power plant, combined with BAE Systems propulsion and power management systems to propel a 40-foot transit bus. It will help form the basis for a clean, commercially viable hydrogen-powered transit bus that eliminates fossil fuel-consumption and the associated greenhouse gas emissions.

The new vehicle is based on BAE Systems’ HybriDrive propulsion system, used by transit agencies across the U.S., Canada and in the UK. The demonstration vehicle will use an advanced lithium-ion-based energy storage system that increases battery life and substantially reduces vehicle weight. The battery system, which will augment the fuel cell, is self-monitoring for easy service and reduced maintenance costs.

BAE Systems is a leading producer of efficient, low-emission hybrid electric propulsion systems for transit buses. HybriDrive propulsion technology has been in daily revenue service on buses in New York and other cities since 1998. More than 2,500 buses use HybriDrive technology to carry more than a million passengers daily.

To date, these buses have traveled more than 150 million miles, saved 10 million gallons of diesel fuel, and prevented more than 100,000 tons of carbon emissions.

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems is a global defense, security, and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land, and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions, and customer support services. In 2009, BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US $36.2 billion).

SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. — BMW Forschung und Technik (Research and Technology) today displayed a new hybrid electric vehicle that uses a UTC Power fuel cell system. The vehicle was unveiled at the 25th anniversary BMW ZT celebration in Munich, Germany.

UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company, has been working with BMW since 1999 to develop highly efficient, emission-free and freeze-capable fuel cell systems.

“We have highly valued our relationship with BMW for over 10 years and we look forward to continuing our work on emission-free fuel cells that help BMW develop efficient, fun-to-drive vehicles for the marketplace,” said Ken Stewart, Vice President of the UTC Power Transportation Business.

Stewart said the fuel cell system in the BMW Series 1 vehicle represents the culmination of more than 10 years of development work on durability and freeze capability technology. “From a fully frozen state, the fuel cell is half way to full power in less than 30 seconds,” he said. “The system uses UTC Power’s proprietary ambient pressure technology, which does not require a compressor to deliver air to the cell stack. This results in a quieter, more efficient system.”

The 5-kilowatt UTC Power fuel cell system is completely self-contained and features simple vehicle interfaces, which allows for easy integration and installation.

UTC Power is part of United Technologies Corp., which provides energy-efficient products and services to the aerospace and building industries. In business more than 50 years, UTC Power is a world leader in developing and producing fuel cells for transportation applications and for on-site power at buildings. For more information, visit www.utcpower.com

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario– Hydrogenics Corporation (Nasdaq:HYGSD) (TSX:HYG) (”Hydrogenics” or the “Company”), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, today announced that the company has been awarded a contract for two HySTAT-60 electrolyzers by The Linde Group (Frankfurt:LIN) for installation as part of a fueling station in HafenCity, Hamburg. The fueling station will be integrated and managed by Vattenfall, the Swedish power conglomerate and one of Europe’s leading energy producers.  In Germany, Vattenfall is the third-largest producer of electricity, serving the states of Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Berlin, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Saxony.

The HafenCity fueling station is expected to supply hydrogen for both cars and buses, including the new Mercedes Citaro zero-emission fuel cell bus. The project is part of the Clean Energy Partnership in Hamburg and Berlin, supported by the German government as part of the National Innovation Program for hydrogen and fuel cell technology. The Hydrogenics HySTAT-60 units will, combined, produce about 260 kilograms of fuel daily, and Linde will supplement this capacity with delivered hydrogen as needed.  Commissioning of the completed station, in a redesigned industrial park within the city center, is expected in 2011. Additional information on HafenCity can be found at http://en.hafencity.com.

“This most recent award continues to highlight Hydrogenics’ key role in supporting Germany’s ambitious hydrogen vision,” said Daryl Wilson, President and CEO. “Hydrogenics is one of the largest suppliers of hydrogen fueling stations, with over 35 facilities across the globe, and we are proud to play a part in Germany’s strategy to build the infrastructure – including hundreds of stations – necessary for a cleaner, more fuel-efficient economy. This contract is indicative of the many opportunities currently being pursued in Europe and elsewhere, as the benefits of hydrogen gain greater acceptance worldwide.”

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.

Las Vegas, NV. – Dantherm Power Inc., Denmark is introducing a high density 5kW redundant fuel cell power system and announcing its Partnership with Leap Power LLC, Richardson, TX, USA to accelerate commercialization of its fully integrated fuel cell product line. Dantherm Power and Leap Power today announced the initiation of a Partnership and VAR Agreement. Dantherm and Leap have agreed to form the Partnership to aggressively market their products to North American telecom Service Providers (SPs), Data Centers, and Solar Power Generation Plants.

Las Vegas, NV. CTIA NEWS – Dantherm Power Inc., Denmark is introducing a high density 5kW redundant fuel cell power system and announcing its Partnership with Leap Power LLC, Richardson, TX, USA to accelerate commercialization of its fully integrated fuel cell product line.

Dantherm Power and Leap Power today announced the initiation of a Partnership and VAR Agreement. Dantherm and Leap have agreed to form the Partnership to aggressively market their products to North American telecom Service Providers (SPs), Data Centers, and Solar Power Generation Plants.

Leap and Dantherm have formed the Partnership to:

• Provide for the joint localization, implementation, and commercialization of Dantherm’s fuel cell products in North America.
• Generate revenues from hybrid solutions by integrating Dantherm’s fuel cell products with Leap Power’s solutions.
• Leverage Leap Power’s capabilities as a VAR, and expertise in developing economies to expand integrated alternative power generation and backup solutions.

Claus Munkholm, Sales Director of Dantherm Power, commented on the Partnership, “Throughout our relationship, we have been impressed with Leap Power’s understanding of global telecom Alternative Power Generation market and, improvements to next-generation technology and the overall focus of Leap Power to bring affordable primary and backup power solutions to the market. Working together as one team, we will deploy best-of-breed solutions to customers in North America. It’s exciting to have the new product DBX5000 introduction along with a strong partner in North America.”

Dantherm and Leap Power teams have initiated their collaborative efforts on perfecting products to respond to identified opportunities in North America market. Dantherm Power’s recognition as the technology leader in fuel cell industry has already resulted in significant success with Telecom Service Providers in Europe and Canada. Incremental growth and parallel operation of DBX5000 also allows deployments of large (100KW) systems for AC & DC power generation market.

“This partnership is very exciting for both Leap Power and Dantherm,” stated Syed I Ali, GM & VP of Sales, Leap Power LLC, based in Richardson, TX, USA. “Dantherm’s products are the most suitable products for telecom power and solar applications. The environment friendly and highly reliable fuel cell power systems provide a single unified primary and backup power solution by eliminating and/or

reducing redundant elements like AC Genset, Batteries, AC Transfer Switches and DC Rectifiers. We have been receiving a very positive response from global customers to our initiative of drastically reducing operating costs and now with the addition of best-in-class fuel cell offering from Dantherm, we can accelerate our drive to help telecom operators reduce their OpEx and provide a unique architecture for their infrastructure power needs. Our collaborative efforts strengthen the two companies’ endeavors into telecom and solar deployments in North America and other markets. Today’s solar plants can only provide power during peak sun hours unless equipped with large battery reserves and significantly larger (4-6 times) solar power plants. The solar power plants now have an affordable 24/7 revenue generation option that will allow seamless integration of fuel cell with solar plants and allow significantly higher return on their assets.  The Partnership opens up a new market for Dantherm and brings added strength to Leap Power’s efforts to broaden acceptance and deployment of Leap’s SunLeap™ and EcoLeap™ product lines.”

About Dantherm Power

Dantherm Power is owned by Ballard Power Systems, Burnaby, Canada, Dantherm A/S, Skive, Denmark and Danfoss, Nordborg, Denmark. Dantherm Power focuses on the commercialization of Backup Power products based on fuel cell technology; from development and production, to sale and support of complete solutions to customers in the Telecom, Information Technology and Government Markets.

For further information, please contact:

Dantherm Power

sales.power@dantherm.com
+45 8843 5500

About Leap Power

Leap Power is a fast emerging Renewable and Hybrid Power Company with it’s headquarter based in Richardson, Texas, USA. Leap Power is dedicated to reducing multiple power elements present in today’s telecom power architecture to improve overall infrastructure efficiency and reliability.  Its primary and backup power solutions, with a special focus on harsh outdoor environment, allow customers to reduce CapEx and OpEx in today’s challenging environment. Its Hybrid Grid-Tied or Independent power solutions will allow flexibility to power generation and commercial customers to maintain 24/7 revenue generation with maximum productivity while significantly reducing the installation costs.

For further information, please contact:
Leap Power Solutions,

Info@leap-power.com
469-757-1787

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif.–BAE Systems plans to develop a zero-emissions bus for a Southern California regional transit agency under a project to demonstrate the commercial feasibility of fuel cell technology. Under a planned work effort, the company will serve as systems integrator to deliver the vehicle to SunLine Transit in an effort funded by the Federal Transit Administration, CALSTART, California Air Resource Board, and California South Coast Air Quality Management District.

The fuel cell bus, which will use no fossil fuel, will demonstrate technology that can reduce dependence on diesel fuel and compressed natural gas. It is scheduled for delivery in December 2011.

“This new-generation fuel cell bus is the result of a true partnership with SunLine Transit Agency, CALSTART, bus manufacturer ElDorado National (California) Inc., Ballard Power Systems, and the Federal Transit Administration, and continues BAE Systems’ ongoing development of environmentally friendly, heavy-duty vehicles,” said Rich Hopf, general manager of vehicle systems for BAE Systems. “We look forward to furthering our work as a systems integrator and showcasing the evolution in technology from partial to zero emissions.”

C. Mikel Oglesby, General Manager, SunLine Transit Agency said, “SunLine is extremely pleased to join in the partnership for the demonstration of the new-generation fuel cell bus that will help to advance the commercialization of this technology in transit operations.”

The bus developed under the program will use a fuel cell module supplied by Ballard Power Systems as the main power plant, combined with BAE Systems propulsion and power management systems to propel a 40-foot transit bus. It will help form the basis for a clean, commercially viable hydrogen-powered transit bus that eliminates fossil fuel-consumption and the associated greenhouse gas emissions.

The new vehicle is based on BAE Systems’ HybriDrive® propulsion system, used by transit agencies across the U.S., Canada and in the UK. The demonstration vehicle will use an advanced lithium-ion-based energy storage system that increases battery life and substantially reduces vehicle weight. The battery system, which will augment the fuel cell, is self-monitoring for easy service and reduced maintenance costs.

BAE Systems is a leading producer of efficient, low-emission hybrid electric propulsion systems for transit buses. HybriDrive propulsion technology has been in daily revenue service on buses in New York and other cities since 1998. More than 2,500 buses use HybriDrive technology to carry more than a million passengers daily.

To date, these buses have traveled more than 150 million miles, saved 10 million gallons of diesel fuel, and prevented more than 100,000 tons of carbon emissions.

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems is a global defense, security, and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land, and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions, and customer support services. In 2009, BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion.