FuelCellsWorks

A demonstration model of the Delphi Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Auxiliary Power Unit is shown mounted to a commercial vehicle.

Delphi Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Technology

Delphi is focusing on the development of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) that generate electric power for commercial vehicles, stationary power generation, and military applications. The SOFC converts chemical energy in conventional fuels directly into useful electrical power without combustion resulting in minimal emissions. And with very few moving parts, it operates at a low level of sound.

As a result of its fuel flexibility, the Delphi SOFC can be engineered to operate with many types of fuels including natural gas, diesel, bio-diesel, propane, gasoline, coal-derived fuel and military logistics fuel. It will also be able to use tomorrow’s next generation fuels.

Delphi began work on solid oxide fuel cells in 1998 and has been a leader in the technology ever since. Delphi is the only member of the U.S. Fuel Cell Council that has developed and demonstrated a practical, operational SOFC auxiliary power unit (APU) for heavy duty commercial trucks.

Delphi has partnered with private industry and leading academic institutions in the development of solid oxide fuel cell technology and has received funding from the U. S. Department of Energy and the U. S. Department of Defense for fuel cell development.

Commercial Vehicle Applications

Delphi’s solid oxide fuel cell auxiliary power unit operates independently from a heavy duty commercial truck’s main internal combustion engine to power in-cab electrical accessories such as cab lights, refrigerators, microwave ovens, and audio systems. Currently, operators power those features by idling their main engines or with diesel engine APUs. According to development testing, Delphi’s SOFC APU can reduce fuel consumption by up to 85 percent.

In future applications, Delphi’s SOFC APU will also be able to provide power to replace belt-driven components such as engine cooling fans and water pumps. Thus, it will remove loads from the primary engine, resulting in improved vehicle fuel economy and engine performance.

Delphi’s SOFC APU can be incorporated into the architecture of a commercial vehicle by the manufacturer with minimal modifications. Operators will also appreciate the quiet operation of Delphi’s SOFC APU.

Delphi is field testing its SOFC APU with a heavy duty truck manufacturer and the technology is scheduled to be in production in 2012.

ALBANY, N.Y.–MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. (MTI Micro), the developer of the Mobion^® off-the-grid portable power solution, and a subsidiary of Mechanical Technology, Incorporated (MTI) (OTC: MKTY) announced today that it has received a $1.2M grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), broadening the cost-shared program fund that supports the manufacturing process for Mobion^® fuel cell systems and reducing the overall cost of micro fuel cell systems.

“We are extremely grateful for the confidence and continued support that the U.S. Department of Energy has taken to maintain micro fuel cell technology leadership in the U.S.,” said Peng Lim, President and CEO of MTI Micro. “This grant will bring us to the next phase of our development – field testing – which is a precursor start to our Mobion^® production process, helping to bring a more efficient and environmentally friendly power source to the global market.”

This $1.2M grant supplements the cost-shared program awarded to MTI Micro in April 2009, bringing the aggregated amount to about $6 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grant is being used to support the acceleration of fuel cell use to power portable electronic devices in the consumer electronic device market.

About MTI MicroFuel Cells

MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. (“MTI Micro”) (OTC:MKTY), a subsidiary of Mechanical Technology, Incorporated, is the developer of Mobion® off-the-grid portable power solutions. MTI Micro has a team of entrepreneurial business executives, researchers and scientists; a proprietary direct methanol micro fuel cell power system and a number of system prototypes demonstrating size reductions and performance improvements; and related intellectual property. MTI Micro has received government funding and developed strategic partnerships to facilitate efforts to achieve commercialization. More information is available at www.mtimicrofuelcells.com.

Proton Power Systems plc (PPS.L) said its wholly owned subsidiary, Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH, has signed an agreement with SPower GmbH to collaborate on the development, market launch and sales of UPS systems supported by fuel cells.

The companies aim to develop and provide back-up solutions combining fuel cell technology with flexible modular UPS systems, which are tailored to customers’ specific needs. Following product sales, the companies will provide customer support via a complete service package from fuel logistics to remote system monitoring.

The product portfolio will incorporate hydrogen supply for Proton Power’s proton exchange membrane fuel cell modules, system cooling, fuel cell modules of different power ratings, converters and UPS products for DC and AC applications, battery packs and manual bypasses.

Next week, Fuel Cell Markets Ltd travel to Essen, Germany for the World Energy Hydrogen Energy Conference to find partners and distributors for our fuel cell and hydrogen system developers. We are happy to announce that we will be operating independent of the national grid, as our exhibition stand will be completely powered by a modular hydrogen fuel cell unit courtesy of Dantherm Power A/S.

“It is the first time that the power for our business has been solely reliant on a fuel cell,” Said Duncan Bott, MD, Fuel Cell Markets Ltd. “Any one who is interested in seeing a hydrogen fuel cell operating silently inside the hall, I would warmly welcome them to come and see us on Stand 246. These systems are ideal for long run time applications, and offer a real costs effective alternative to batteries in business or telecoms UPS applications over the life time of an installation.”

John Kjaer, Sales Manager, Backup Power for Dantherm Power A/S commented that “Dantherm Power is proud to power the stand of Fuel Cell Markets Ltd, which is one of our strategic partners in developing the world market for fuel cells. We are happy to be able to give them “backup” as it is usually the other way around.”

The Dantherm Power fuel cell has been designed to provide backup power solutions for the telecoms industry and is specifically designed to be mounted in 19inch racks. Powered by hydrogen fuel which is supplied in two 2L compressed gas cylinders, this robust system can generate 10 hours of power with 1 kg of hydrogen. The technology works at 230VAC with a peak capacity of 1.6 kW and will power in this instance the Fuel Cell Markets stand at the exhibition (lights, laptops and TV) although this should only require a small amount of power.

About Fuel Cell Markets Ltd

Fuel Cell Markets Ltd established in 2002 are an independent company headquartered in the United Kingdom. We provide services to a global network of leading companies involved in the commercialisation of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies across all applications, and operate one of the largest online resources serving these industries – www.FuelCellMarkets.com. Our team has unrivalled global experience and is connected at the highest level both in industry and the public sector, speaking and chairing numerous events around the world, establishing fuel cell and hydrogen projects and consulting for leading OEM’s and advising governments.

About Dantherm Power A/S

Dantherm Power is a young, dynamic and pioneering company. Since 2003 we have focused on the development and production of commercially viable solutions using fuel cell and hydrogen technologies. Our primary customers are international IT and telecom network suppliers, who rely on backup power units to provide uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Other customers include relief organisations and military units who need a reliable mobile power supply when operating in the field. http://www.fuelcellmarkets.com/dantherm_power/1,1,11472.html

FARMINGTON, Ark.– Highline Technical Innovations, Inc. (Pink Sheets: HLNT) completed demonstrations of its most current hydrogen generator for David Tai, liaison to Dong Feng Motors. Mr. Tai presented Highline with specifications for the CITROEN 1.6 liter, 16 valve motor, a very common engine used throughout the Asian market in smaller vehicles. Prototype application for this engine would equip a multitude of engines for this region. Mr. Tai said, “The fuel in China is much higher than it is in this country and our expanding economy greatly increases the demand for fuel.” Efficiency is the primary goal, but with ever growing environmental concerns, emissions reduction is also a concern.

Mr. Wang Shun Li, owner of Foshan Products, a manufacturer and exporter of farm related equipment, accompanied Mr. Tai to Highline’s facility with an interest of how Highline’s technology can impact the agricultural community, particularly farming equipment that utilizes diesel engines. Mr. Li and Mr. Tai are working together to integrate green technologies in each of their particular fields. CEO Charlton Coats stated, “We are excited to have had Mr. Tai and Mr. Li visit our facility. We hope that this is a positive step in our relationship with them and those they represent.”

U.S., China team show new electrolyte could lower internal temperatures and costs

Oxygen (red spheres) migrates from one vacancy to another inside the scandia-doped cubic zirconia. The cations the oxygen must brush past are marked by the letter E.

Results: Using specialized cubic zirconia or artificial diamonds, scientists from Nanjing Normal University in China and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory designed a membrane that could allow solid oxide fuel cells to operate at lower temperatures and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. This new membrane, created by adding scandium to cubic zirconia, passes oxygen faster and at temperatures far lower than the more common yttria-stabilized zirconia.

Why It Matters: Affordable fuel cells could reduce the need for imported oil. However, solid oxide fuel cells currently don’t fit the budget of most homeowners. The cost is tied to the internal temperature of the cell, around 1000 degrees Celsius. This temperature means the cell must be built using very durable, very expensive ceramics.  Lower temperatures mean the cells could be built from stainless steel and other less expensive materials. The trick to dropping the temperature, and thus the cost, is the membrane or solid electrolyte that quickly passes oxygen from one side of the cell to the other.

Methods: In this study, the team investigated why some materials are better than others at passing oxygen along. “We could take an Edisonian approach—trying 10,000 materials, but it would be expensive, and we’d be here forever,” said Dr. Ram Devanathan, a materials scientist at PNNL. “So, we are using all of the tools we have in EMSL—experimental, computational, and theoretical—to look into the materials.”

Using oxygen-plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy, the researchers grew scandia-stabilized zirconia films on sapphire substrates. The films were examined using x-ray diffraction, electron spectroscopy, and microscopy.

However, experimental data alone was not enough, Devanathan explained. Imagine taking photos at the beginning and end of a raucous party. The photos, like the experiments, show you where you began and where you ended. However, theory shows what happened and why. Theory also allows predictions about what will happen next and what would happen under different circumstances.

So, the team applied theoretical calculations and models to the experimental data. They determined that the nanoscale, nanosecond interactions occurring in the scandia-doped cubic film conducted oxygen faster than the yttrium doping in current electrolytes.

This study provides a fundamental understanding of how ions move in scandia-doped zirconia, and shows the material is very stable. “Our integrated approach takes the science to the next level,” said Dr. Theva Thevuthasan, who worked on the project and currently oversees the deposition and microfabrication capability at EMSL.

What’s Next: The scientists are using resources at EMSL and PNNL to provide a more detailed understanding of the atomic interactions in another promising material for fuel cells: nano layers of zirconia and ceria.

Acknowledgments: This research was led by Zhongging Yu of the Nanjing Normal University in China, in partnership with Ram Devanathan, Weilin Jiang, Ponnusamy Nachimuthu, Shuttha Shutthanandan, Lax Saraf, Chongmin Wang, Satya Kuchibhatla, and Theva Thevuthasan at PNNL.

Funding was provided by the Department of Energy’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences and the Office of Biological and Environmental Research through the EMSL user program.

Reference: Yu Z, R Devanathan, W Jiang, P Nachimuthu, V Shutthanandan, LV Saraf, CM Wang, SVNT Kuchibhatla, and S Thevuthasan. 2010. “Integrated Experimental and Modeling Study of Ionic Conductivity of Scandia-Stabilized Zirconia Thin Films.” Solid State Ionics 181(8-10):367-371.

UK investment fund Pond Venture Partners led the round, joined by current Emefcy investors Israel Cleantech Ventures Funds and Plan B Ventures, according to Globes and IVC Online.

Emefcy, co-founded by serial entrepreneurs Eytan Levy and Ronen Shechter, is developing the MEGAWATTER™ technology. This technology produces low cost electricity (at $0.10/kWhr) and hydrogen in a bio-electro-chemical process from wastewater treatment by leveraging Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology.

Levy and Shechter previously founded wastewater treatment company AqWise. In February 2009, this blog detailed Emefcy’s efforts to raise a $3.5-$5.0 million Series A financing. That same month, Levy presented at a public event at MIT organized by the Boston Israel Cleantech Alliance. Plan B Ventures is based in Boston and its principal, Barbara Goldman, is a member of the Boston Israel Cleantech Alliance.

Emefcy’s Scientific Advisory Board includes Prof. Bruce Logan of Pennsylvania State University, Prof. Derek Lovely of the University of Massachusetts (Amherst) and Prof. Bruce Rittmann, Director of the Biodesign Institute at the University of Arizona.

Levy told Globes, “The capital raised will help us set up a commercial pilot. We’ve already established laboratory pilots on increasingly larger scales. Progress to a commercial pilot is based on the successful results of the laboratory pilots.”

Collaboration with The Gas Company Plans Stations on Oahu for Fuel Cells

DETROIT and HONOLULU– Abundant hydrogen is available on the island of Oahu to power a ramp up of fuel cell vehicles through a General Motors collaboration with The Gas Company (TGC), Hawaii’s major gas energy provider, the two companies announced Tuesday.

TGC produces hydrogen along with synthetic natural gas and delivers it in its utility gas stream, with more than 5 percent hydrogen content today. Through a proprietary separation process, TGC plans to tap into its 1,000-mile utility pipeline system at key locations and separate the hydrogen for use by local fueling stations for fuel cell vehicles.

“This is the type of enabler that a hydrogen transportation infrastructure needs because it addresses both the source of the hydrogen and a feasible way to deliver it for fuel cell vehicle use,” said Charles Freese, executive director of GM Global Fuel Cell Activities. “The Hawaii infrastructure could eventually support tens of thousands of fuel cell vehicles.

“Hawaii is uniquely positioned and motivated to make hydrogen-powered fuel cell transportation a reality because it depends on imported petroleum for 90 percent of its energy,” he said.

The state is committed to reducing petroleum use by 70 percent through a combination of renewable energy resources, conservation and efficiency. The use of hydrogen as a transportation fuel could be a key contributor.

“We have been delivering as much as 12 percent hydrogen made from renewable sources to our gas customers over the last two to three years and expect we can deliver even greater quantities of hydrogen as demand increases,” said Jeffrey Kissel, president and CEO of TGC. “By delivering hydrogen through our existing infrastructure as vehicle fuel wherever we have gas, The Gas Company expands its key role of supporting Hawaii’s clean energy future.”

Depending how the pricing for the hydrogen is set, it could be available at the equivalent price of gasoline or less.

GM, which has invested more than $1.5 billion in fuel cell transportation in the last 15 years, is developing a production-intent fuel cell system that could be ready for commercialization in 2015. Current Chevrolet Fuel Cell vehicles are part of Project Driveway, the world’s largest demonstration of fuel cell vehicles, which has amassed nearly 1.4 million miles of real-world driving by thousands of people since 2007.

U.S. Senator Dan Inouye, D-Hawaii, said he supports the pilot project.

“My small role was one of introduction between these two companies, not that many months ago, which resulted in this business announcement today,” Inouye said.  ”It is an important step forward in the establishment of a hydrogen transportation infrastructure upon which new fleets, both military and civilian, can be tested and utilized.  I am committed to support the resourcing of this endeavor.

“Every step to reduce our dependency on foreign oil is a move forward,” he said.

The GM-TGC collaboration is the leading edge of a broad consortium of federal and state, non-profit and education organizations that is forming to develop a Hawaii Hydrogen Initiative as part of an integrated energy solution for Hawaii’s future.

About General Motors: General Motors, one of the world’s largest automakers, traces its roots back to 1908.  With its global headquarters in Detroit, GM employs 217,000 people in every major region of the world and does business in some 140 countries.  GM and its strategic partners produce cars and trucks in 34 countries, and sell and service these vehicles through the following brands:  Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, FAW, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling.  GM’s largest national market is the United States, followed by China, Brazil, Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Italy.  GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services.  General Motors acquired operations from General Motors Corporation on July 10, 2009, and references to prior periods in this and other press materials refer to operations of the old General Motors Corporation.  More information on the new General Motors can be found at www.gm.com.

About The Gas Company: The Gas Company LLC has been in business since 1904 and has a workforce of 300.  It provides clean, reliable and energy-efficient gas to residential, business and government customers throughout the state of Hawaii — Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai.  TGC manufactures synthetic natural gas (SNG) and hydrogen at its high-capacity plant located on Oahu for delivery through a 1,000-mile pipeline network, and supplies propane gas (LPG)

MINNEAPOLIS - Cummins (NYSE: CMI) successfully demonstrated a tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) in a hybrid-configured auxiliary power unit (APU) configured to power a Class 7/8 truck’s “hotel loads” while running on commercial ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel. The Cummins APU incorporated hybrid power electronics, system controls, and balance-of-plant components combined with SOFC modules supplied by Protonex Technology Corporation (LSE: AIM: PTX and PTXU).

The SOFC power unit was integrated with a modified power electronics section derived from Cummins Power Generation’s Hybrid Quiet Diesel™ (HQD) recreational vehicle power system. The hybrid power electronics provide dynamic load sharing between the SOFC and a battery pack.

The testing replicated the ten-hour rest period that is part of the daily routine of a typical over-the-road truck. Specific achievements demonstrated were:

· Operation on “straight from the pump” ULSD fuel during the entire test

· Operating a truck cab’s air conditioner and lighting solely from the SOFC sub-system power

· Hybridization of APU for instant-on capability and increased peak loading capacity-up to 3,800W AC available from the combination of fuel cell and battery boost

· Combined heat and power (CHP) generation

· Recharging batteries from the SOFC sub-system

· 1,260W net peak demonstrated DC power

· 940W net peak demonstrated AC power

· Average net power produced over test period: 1,100W DC or 820W AC

This demonstration, held at Cummins Power Generation facilities in Minneapolis, leveraged development supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The APU combines Cummins Power Generation’s HQD hybrid power electronics, controls and systems integration expertise with Protonex’ SOFC technology to address increasingly stringent anti-idling requirements aimed at reducing commercial truck emissions, noise and fuel consumption.

The HQD architecture-which can combine power from an engine-driven generator or fuel cell and a battery pack to supply AC and DC loads-potentially provides a versatile platform for a wide range of power system applications such as recreational vehicles, consumer marine, commercial mobile, truck APUs, and off-grid power for telecom or remote residences.

The SOFC APU system form factor and mission capabilities are comparable to commercially available diesel engine-based APU generators, highlighting the ability of the SOFC APU to be integrated into the same form factor as existing production hardware.

The hybrid-configured APU provides both AC power and DC power to the truck’s hotel loads. It intelligently controls charging of the energy storage system by regulating the power output of the SOFC sub-system and dynamically distributing loads between the fuel cell and stored energy. The SOFC sub-system efficiently converts chemical energy in the ULSD fuel directly into useful electrical power.

The inherent efficiency and nature of the SOFC reduces the carbon footprint and dramatically limits harmful emissions. This technology shows the potential to provide truck operators with a viable method to eliminate main-engine idling during rest periods. This demonstration of SOFC technology points the way toward significant fuel savings, while virtually eliminating noise and exhaust emissions. It also represents a significant step forward in Cummins’ evaluation of SOFC technology for possible future products.

“This demonstration marks a real milestone in Cummins’ experience: an integrated SOFC power system-in a package consistent with conventional technology-operating on the main engine fuel without supplemental water that’s capable of supporting a real-world mission of providing heating, cooling, and electrical convenience to a Class 7/8 truck sleeper,” said Dan Norrick, manager, Advanced Development, Cummins Power Generation.

“This is a testament to the feasibility of tubular-based SOFC systems in real-world applications. The cycling stability and robustness of the tubular architecture, combined with the inherent ability of SOFCs to operate on hydrocarbon-based fuels, makes it an ideal candidate for APU systems of this nature,” stated Dr. Caine Finnerty, vice president, SOFC Operations, Protonex Technology Corporation.

About Cummins Power Generation

www.cumminspower.com

Cummins Power Generation, a subsidiary of Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI), is a global leader dedicated to increasing the availability and reliability of electric power around the world. With more than 90 years’ experience, its global distributor network in over 190 countries delivers innovative solutions for any power need-commercial, industrial, recreational, emergency, peaking and residential.

Products include alternators, generator-drive engines and pre-integrated power systems, combining generator sets and power control and transfer technologies. Services range from system design, project management, and operation and maintenance contracts to development of turnkey power plants.

About Protonex Technology Corporation

www.protonex.com

Protonex Technology Corporation develops and manufactures compact, lightweight and high-performance fuel cell systems for portable power applications in the 100- to 1000-watt range. The Company’s fuel cell systems are designed to meet the needs of military, commercial and consumer customers for off-grid applications underserved by existing technologies by providing customizable, stand-alone portable power solutions and systems that may be hybridized with existing power technologies. The Company is headquartered in Southborough, Massachusetts.

The Clean Energy Partnership (CEP) in Berlin brings the everyday usability of hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure to life:  a rally with hydrogen vehicles from Berlin to Hamburg via Stolpe will demonstrate this while creating a symbolic bridge to CEP’s new site in Hamburg.

On the same date a new high-tech hydrogen fuelling station will be opened in Holzmarktstraße, Berlin.

The rally is taking place only days before the opening of the World Hydrogen Energy Conference in Essen that will feature an opportunity for the general public to Drive and Ride  the vehicles

Scientists decrypt the action mechanism of highly-active noble metal catalysts.

The decryption of the action mechanism of a new catalyst can reduce the amount of platinum and hence the costs for hydrogen fuel cells by over 80 percent.

The researchers produced spherical catalysts with a diameter of only a few nanometres by mixing platinum particles with copper. In a following segregation process, the copper was partly removed which lead to the formation of a platinum shell having a thickness of only few atoms. Due to the mixing and segregation processes, the distance between the platinum-atoms at the surface is much smaller compared to conventional platinum.

This unnatural compressive stress of the structure of the top atom layer leads to a reduced binding strength of the oxygen atoms. Thus, these new platinum alloys become better catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells because the total rate of formation of water and therefore the electric wiring is much higher.

Using this method, the structural stress and hence, the activity of the catalysts can be changed continuously which results in an optimisation of the catalysts. Similar structural changes might be even possible for other noble metals and reduce costs, for example of water electrolysers.

Hydrogen-powered fuel cells represent a “green” alternative to conventional diesel and gasoline engines since their operation only produces electrical energy and water. The biggest challenge in the development of  hydrogen fuel cells is the reduction of material expenses. There are still considerable amounts of the expensive noble metal platinum neccessary to transform hydrogen and atmospheric oxygen into electricity and water rapidly enough.

Long Beach, CA – The California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) released their Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle and Station Deployment Plan: Progress and Next Steps report at the National Hydrogen Association Conference & Expo. The “next steps” report further refines CaFCP’s 2009 action plan with specific steps needed in 2010 and 2011 to prepare for fuel cell vehicles to enter the commercial market in 2015.

CaFCP’s executive director, Catherine Dunwoody said, “The most important next step is to build retail-ready stations. Today just a few publicly accessible hydrogen stations are serving a handful of customers, and stations being developed now will enable more customers to fuel. Expanding the retail-ready network in 2011 will prepare California to move from hundreds of fuel cell vehicles to thousands over the next few years.”

The Next Steps: Positioning California for Success
The next steps report calls for specific actions that move us closer to the commercial market:

• New stations – seven new stations and four expanded or upgraded stations are needed in early market communities to be operational by the end of 2011. These stations will provide fuel to passenger vehicles and transit buses coming in the near future.
• Synchronize and augment regulations and policies – The California Air Resources Board this year will propose new regulations for renewable hydrogen, propose revised Zero-Emission Vehicle regulations to launch California on a path to meet 2050 climate goals, and adopt changes to existing fuels regulations, such as the Clean Fuels Outlet, that will help coordinate fuel and vehicle deployment.
• Complete codes and standards for retail sales of hydrogen – The Division of Measurement Standards will develop the tools and methods for measuring hydrogen dispensed and fuel quality, so that hydrogen can be sold as a retail transportation fuel.
• Support business models developed by the private sector – CaFCP will identify practical approaches that independent fuel retailers can use to develop business models for hydrogen to compete with gasoline and yield profits for business.
• Support early market communities – Hydrogen and fuel cells can help communities meet their environmental and energy goals, reducing local emissions as well as their carbon footprint. Communities can identify local resources, renewable in many cases, to make hydrogen in their region and be more energy independent. CaFCP is working closely with early market communities to help them make these connections.

Fuel Cells 2000 recent report State of the States: Fuel Cells in America identified California as the nation’s leader in fuel cell vehicle and hydrogen infrastructure development and demonstration. The actions in the next steps report will help California retain that position. Download the report for free at: http://www.fuelcells.org/statereport.html.

Please visit: www.cafcp.org for the overview or full version of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle and Station Deployment Plan: A Strategy for Meeting the Challenge Ahead and Progress and Next Steps.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Paul Tonko has introduced a new bill that would add hydrogen fuel cell-powered industrial vehicles to an existing tax credit program, which will lead to new investment in technology and possibly create thousands of new jobs, including some right here in the Capital Region. H.R. 5174, The Fuel Cell Industrial Vehicles Jobs Act of 2010, would make material handling fuel cell vehicles, such as forklifts, eligible for the existing Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit for Qualified Fuel Cell Motor Vehicles.

“Fuel cell technology has gained widespread traction in the material handling industry because of the efficiency and productivity gains that are realized,” said Congressman Paul Tonko. “This legislation creates an improved and robust tax credit that will provide the incentive for large scale conversions to this clean technology at manufacturing and distribution centers across the country, which will ultimately lead to new jobs.”

Currently, there is a tax credit on the books that is applied to fuel cell-powered material handling vehicles, however the credit only applies to the fuel cell itself. Under the legislation submitted by Congressman Tonko, the Alternative Motor Vehicle Tax Credit would be modified to include vehicles that carry or tow loads in commercial or industrial settings, and would provide a calculation based on the weight of the entire vehicle. The result would be a larger credit which will serve as an incentive for companies to build, buy, and operate fuel cell powered forklifts and other material handling vehicles. This would lead to job creation in design, manufacturing, and sales – clean energy jobs produced domestically – and potentially lead to exports of this technology overseas.

Companies like Plug Power of Latham would benefit if this bill were to become law. Plug Power is the leader in providing commercially viable fuel cell technology for the motive and stationary power markets.

“We applaud Congressman Tonko for introducing this forward-thinking and effective legislation,” said Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power. “This bill can create thousands of green jobs in his district, in New York State and throughout the country.”

The North American market for material handling vehicles is currently about $4 billion annually. Fuel cell powered material handling vehicles have been shown to dramatically increase productivity in many applications in comparison to electric lift trucks because they can be refueled quickly by operators. They also increase efficiency by eliminating the need to charge, store and maintain batteries. Fuel cells also produce constant voltage, so there’s no decrease in performance as there would be in an electric battery.

Air Liquide will provide delivery service and back-up hydrogen supply for the hydrogen refilling stations serving the Shanghai World Expo. Following an agreement with ENN, the official operator of the hydrogen filling stations, Air Liquide will provide all logistical means, including trailers and tractors, for the transportation of hydrogen. In addition, Air Liquide’s hydrogen sources will be used as a back-up to ensure a safe and reliable supply of hydrogen throughout the World Expo. About 200 fuel cell vehicles will be used to transport visitors and guests during the event. These vehicles do not generate any pollution. Air Liquide has over 40 years of experience in hydrogen, covering the entire chain, from production, storage and distribution to application.

Air Liquide is also the main sponsor of the Franco-Chinese symposium on pre-hospital emergency medicine, which will take place on May 12th in the French Pavilion’s auditorium at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo. This symposium will contribute to better sharing of international expertise in the field of emergency care. Organized by the SAMU de Paris – the French System of Emergency Medical Assistance – and the Shanghai Health Bureau, the symposium will bring together internationally known French and Chinese medical experts, who will address around 120 Chinese emergency and respiratory practitioners, with the support of Air Liquide Medical Systems, dedicated to respiratory assistance equipment. This symposium is the first in a series of Franco-Chinese healthcare meetings scheduled under the auspices of the “Science and Thought” programme of the French Pavilion.

Balbuena views a model showing the detachment of a platinum atom (grey) from a nanocatalyst surface, driven by the presence of oxygen (red) and acid agents (yellow).

Long hampered by high manufacturing costs and durability issues, fuel cell technology could overcome those obstacles and take a significant step towards mainstream adoption thanks to a finding by a Texas A&M University chemical engineering professor.

Investigating the use of alternative materials as catalysts in fuel cells, Perla Balbuena, professor in the university’s Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, has found a class of composite materials that show early indications of being just as effective — and even more durable — than the costly platinum catalysts typically used in fuel cells.

The findings from her work, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), appear in the January edition of the Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters.

Because of their potential as a clean source of virtually continuous energy, fuel cells are a chief area of interest to a wide variety of entities, including automobile manufacturers and the U.S. government, which has invested nearly a billion dollars in research and development of the technology.

In a basic fuel cell, Balbuena explains, the platinum takes the form of incredibly small but expensive particles that are deposited on an electrode within the fuel cell. The electrode helps to trigger complex chemical reactions that ultimately result in the conversion of oxygen and hydrogen into water and electrical energy.

Previous attempts to find more affordable alternatives for pure platinum catalysts have been unsuccessful, Balbuena says, noting that the nickel and iron-based alloy substitutes used were less durable, dissolving inside the fuel cell at a faster rate than even the traditional platinum catalysts. This dissolution occurs, Balbuena notes, because of an acidic polymeric membrane located next to the catalyst within the fuel cell.

“This membrane, although necessary, creates another problem with regard to the design of the catalyst,” Balbuena says. “When nanoparticles of platinum or platinum alloys come into contact with this acid medium they can dissolve. The less ‘noble’ the metal, the easier to dissolve, and in that scale, platinum is the most ‘noble’ metal. When this happens, the catalyst can be negatively affected, rendering the chemical reaction less efficient.

“This is the issue we are trying to address – trying to understand the reasons behind the dissolution of these metals and the possible solutions for this problem,” Balbuena says.

Looking to overcome that problem, Balbuena, an authority on materials and catalytic processes, employed computational chemistry methods to investigate viable catalysts that would show enhanced performance as well as improved durability. In contrast to experimental models, computational chemistry makes use high-performance computers to find numerical solutions of fundamental equations involving interactions among atoms and electrons. These computational results translate into finding out the best materials for the desired task. It’s a pivotal first step in a process that saves scientists from costly trial-and-error approaches in the lab.

Through that approach, Balbuena and her research group at Texas A&M were able to demonstrate the potential durability and activity properties of a new “core-shell” composite material that can serve as a catalyst within a fuel cell. The material, she explains, still uses platinum but less of it, meaning it’s cheaper. What’s more, in its core, the material uses other key elements in a way that ensures the core particles will not segregate to the surface and dissolve in the polymeric membrane.

“In essence, we anchor less-expensive core elements that play a supportive role and let the ultra-thin platinum film on the surface exert its catalytic effect, that is to accelerate the desired reactions,” Balbuena explains.

It’s a finding with significant implications for the widespread adoption of fuel cell technology. The DOE’s Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance estimates fuel cells will need to cost $700 per kilowatt to serve as a viable energy alternative. Current technology, however, costs nearly 10 times that amount per kilowatt.

A more affordable, durable catalyst could help lower the cost of fuel cell production, says Balbuena, who notes the composite material she has found meets a set of standard properties that DOE has set for the durability and makeup of such catalysts.

Having successfully met those criteria, the next step for the composite material, Balbuena says, is actual production and laboratory testing — aspects of the research that she is planning on exploring with potential experimental partners who have taken note of her findings and hope to begin building the new electrode catalysts in the near future.

“It is superb because as a researcher you not only want to contribute basic fundamental knowledge but you also want such knowledge triggering practical applications,” Balbuena says. “When you discover something like this it is very exciting because we see that we can convert this study into something practical and useful — bringing fuel cell technology a step closer to realization.”

By John Funk, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Fuel cell pioneer Ballard Power Systems will put a one-million watt mobile power plant somewhere in FirstEnergy Corp.’s Ohio territory before summer, a top Ballard executive said Friday.

“We will do a one megawatt peak load demonstration project with FirstEnergy,” Ballard vice president Michael Goldstein told the more than 170 people at the 10th annual Ohio Fuel Cell Symposium at the Great Lakes Science Museum.

“The benefits are that it will be clean, low noise, have a fast response and have zero carbon emissions,” he said.

FirstEnergy Solutions, the utility’s unregulated subsidiary, will buy the mini-power plant, said company spokeswoman Ellen Raines, but has not decided where to put it.

The plant will be housed in a large trailer similar to a semi-tractor trailer and will be mobile. “We are very interested in this technology,” Raines said.

Based in British Columbia, Ballard is now growing at the rate of 35 percent annually, said Goldstein, and will soon be profitable.

Fuel cells generate electricity in an electro-chemical process that combines oxygen in the air with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst, producing only water as a by-product. The hydrogen used in the process is coming from fossil fuels, mostly from natural gas.

FirstEnergy’s demonstration project could use industrial hydrogen or make hydrogen on the spot from natural gas, Goldstein said.

But fuel cells can be completely green, he said, if they are combined with wind turbines and a device called an “electrolyzer.” Those devices take power and splits the hydrogen from the oxygen in water.

That is exactly what a Cleveland consortium including NASA Glenn, Parker Hannifin Corp, the Great Lakes Science Museum and Connecticut-based Proton Corp. plan to do.

They plan to use the power from the museum’s wind turbine and solar panels in an electrolyzer to make hydrogen from Lake Erie water.

That hydrogen would then be the fuel for small vehicles and ultimately an RTA bus.Fuel cell consultant Paul Prokopius, a retired NASA engineer, said the project could begin with a grant of $500,000.

Federal, state and private grants have played a major role in the creation of what some say is still a fledgling industry in Ohio.

Mike McKay, manager of the state’s Technology Business Assistance Office, said Ohio has allocated more than $75 million in Third Frontier Grants since the program’s founding in 2003. Companies and universities used those grants to leverage another $171 million, he said, creating 430 jobs, mostly in research and development.

One global company based here that landed several of those grants is GrafTech International, LLC. With headquarters in Parma, the company manufacturers in nearly 100 countries, including a manufacturing plant in Lakewood.

Lionel Batty, head of GrafTech’s research and development, said he company has recently hired about 30 employees and is looking for another 30 as it beefs up its engineered products division, which includes components for fuel cells.

Another Cleveland-based company, Technology Management, Inc. has played a development role in the new technology dating back to the 1980s.

TMI president Benson Lee is now working with Lockheed-Martin, a defense contractor, to toughen up his 1,000-watt fuel cell that is about the size of a large household dehumidifier. The Defense Department wants to use the fuel cells on the battlefield in place of noisy, inefficient diesel generators. Lee’s fuel cell can make electricity from any liquid fuel.

Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition Exective Director Pat Valente said fuel cells, once considered the direct competitor for automotive engines, are probably best used for now in conjunction with other renewable technologies.

The state has attracted or helped grow a number of companies now producing limited numbers of small, niche-oriented fuel cells.

Rebecca Santillo

Trumbull, Conn. (WTNH) – Following weeks of public hearings and outcry, the state has struck a deal with an energy company to move the site of their new plant out of a Trumball neighborhood.

FuelCell Energy wanted to put their new plant right in the heart of a residential neighborhood on Huntington Turnpike. Some residents were worried about explosions, like the one at a Middletown power plant that killed six workers back in March.

Gov. Jodi Rell even voiced her disapproval for the proposed site last month.

Under the agreement, FuelCell will work with various state departments to find an another site.

SOUTHBOROUGH, MA. Protonex Technology Corporation (”Protonex” or “the Company”), (LSE AIM: PTX and PTXU), a leading provider of advanced fuel cell systems, today announces that, further to its Strategic Update announced on 9 April 2010, the Company will be fully consolidating its Colorado Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) operations into its Southborough, Massachusetts Headquarters. This consolidation effort has begun and is expected to be completed by August 2010.

This move is integral to the Company’s recently communicated decision to accelerate the productisation of its SOFC platforms and will enable the Company to co-locate its SOFC technical team with its corporate product development and manufacturing teams located in Massachusetts.  It will also allow the Company to reduce operating costs associated with facilities and general overhead expenses.

While fuel cell technology has been around for decades, it has yet to be developed on a large scale. A lack of funding and reliability has slowed its deployment as a clean source of electrical power.

But in San Diego it is taking hold as more state and federal subsidies for green energy are making their way to companies developing the technology.

So far, locally installed fuel cell sites that successfully generate electricity through battery-like chemical reactions include:

• Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina on Harbor Island Drive, 1 megawatt.

• Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina West Tower, 500 kilowatts.

• Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, 750 kilowatts.

Meanwhile, UC San Diego has received $11 million from the California Public Utilities Commission in what is touted as the nation’s first advanced energy storage project to receive state incentive funds.

Planned is a 2.8-megawatt fuel cell at UCSD to be paired with another 2.8-megawatt energy storage system.

Electricity generated will be used to cool campus buildings and store electricity for use during peak demands. It is calculated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8,200 tons annually.

Methane trapped and cleaned from the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant will fuel planned fuel cells at UCSD and those at the city’s Point Loma and South Bay wastewater treatment plants. That methane is now burned off.

UCSD System Moving Forward

Key to the UCSD system is its ability to generate clean energy and store it for use when needed. But the system, while fully funded and formally announced last July, has yet to be implemented, says UCSD spokesman Rex Graham.

“It’s a complicated project,” said Graham. “We’re just in due diligence.” As for when it is expected to be up and running, he added, “I can’t give you a timeline.” Still, Graham says the project is “moving forward.”

Ken Frisbie, managing director of BioFuels Energy LLC of Encinitas, the company hired to deploy UCSD’s fuel cell and storage system, declined comment when contacted by the San Diego Business Journal.

Lee Krevat, director of smart grid projects for San Diego Gas & Electric Co., says 20 years ago the utility bought 10 200-kilowatt fuel cells.

They were costly, and had reliability and durability issues.

“We continue to visit fuel cell companies,” said Krevat. “It’s hard to know if they’re going to be around.”

Beyond getting affordable and reliable fuel cells from suppliers, he says, it’s important that there are some assurances that the company will be around over the long haul, so that it can warranty the fuel cells it sells.

Small fuel cell companies don’t provide any reason to believe that they will survive for years to come, and “are hard to get excited about,” said Krevat. “If it’s a big company with deep pockets you can get much more excited.”

Fuel cell technology still has to establish itself, he adds. “Everybody I’ve talked to has felt it is not yet proven.”

Technology in Remote Areas

If it works, he sees it as a way to provide power for a utility in areas where power is needed but where there aren’t many transmission lines.

Fuel cell energy doesn’t ramp up fast, he says, so it needs the support of the larger power grid. And because it can’t start up quickly, it wouldn’t be used to help handle peak power loads.

The bigger fuel cell companies such as Bloom Energy in Sunnyvale and Oregon-based ClearEdge Power are among those claiming to have cutting edge, reliable products. Krevat says the keys for these companies’ success is generating enough orders so prices go down, and of course, staying in business over the long haul.

Stu Aaron, Bloom Energy’s vice president of product management and marketing, answered an e-mailed question from the Business Journal about how the company responds to questions about technology reliability and its prospects for staying in business.

“Bloom Energy has been in business since 2001,” writes Aaron. “Following millions of cumulative hours of testing and validation and several years of successful field trials, we shipped our first commercial Energy Servers in 2008. Since that time our systems have continually produced clean, reliable, affordable electricity for some of the biggest and most demanding companies in the world. We are committed to continuing to scale our business to meet the significant demand for our product and look forward to partnering with utilities to help them address their numerous challenges with generation, transmission and distribution, and renewable portfolio standards.”

While companies like Bloom and ClearEdge try to supply the emerging commercial market for the technology, one online retailer in San Diego sells off-the-shelf fuel cell technology aimed at high schools, colleges and research institutes.

Off-the-Shelf Items Available Online

Fuel Cell Store manager Cathy Parker says the site was launched in 1989 in Boulder, Colo., and moved to San Diego in December 2007. It’s a division of publicly traded ECOtality Inc., which is traded on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board under the symbol ETLE. Based in Tempe, Ariz., ECOtality has a reported $1 million in annual sales. Sister companies include eTec, a company also known as Electric Transportation Engineering Corp. that makes fast-charging batteries for electric vehicles, and San Diego-based Innergy Power Corp., which manufactures renewable solar energy modules and rechargeable batteries.

Fuel Cell Store sells fuel cell kits, and fuel cells are matched to the power output of customers’ needs. Its biggest fuel cell is 5 kilowatts, which can power appliances and lab instruments, but costs $15,000. Hydrogen is needed to run it, and that can be supplied, or the user has to produce his or her own from water.

“The technology is still in its infant stages,” said Parker.

The store also offers components and materials needed to build fuel cells. The kits have been used to teach students from fourth grade all the way up to college, says Parker.

Overseas demand for products is coming from Egypt, Germany and India, where fuel cell research is in full throttle. Graduate students here are customers, but Parker figures fuel cell research in other countries is much more of a mainstream study than here, where the technology is still relatively unknown.

“A lot of people don’t understand what fuel cells are, how they operate and the cost of operation,” she said. “They think it’s easily installed, like a solar panel. But it’s a little bit more involved than that. They don’t quite understand.”

Mark Larson is a freelance writer for the San Diego Business Journal.

Well, thank you very much. This is really a great honor, I have to say. Steve, thank you for your nice introduction; that’s exactly the way I wrote it. (Laughter)

And this is really great, to finally receive this great, great award. And of course I want to thank the Academy (Laughter) and all the amazing Oscar –wait a minute, that’s the wrong speech. What’s the matter with me? Jesus. (Laughter)

Anyway, you know, I’m a little confused because I’m getting so many awards, so it gets a little bit all mixed up. But this was more like a dream, to get the Oscar, so this was a whole different category. But last week I got an award for having the most awards, (Laughter) so there are all kinds of awards that are coming my way and I really appreciate it.

But it is really a great honor to receive this award and also to be here at this great convention, the Hydrogen Convention and Summit where all of you leaders from all over the United States come together here.

But this award is great, because the 2010 Matsunaga Memorial Hydrogen Award means a lot to me because Senator Matsunaga was a great visionary. As you have already pointed out just before, the man really had big dreams and big visions and slowly all of those are becoming a reality. And this is what I liked about him. There is so much that he dreamt of, if it is the National Peace Academy or if it is the National Poet Laureate Program. And that, by the way, he has worked on for 20 years and for 20 years he has heard, “No, this won’t happen, it can’t be done.” And he kept fighting and fighting and after 20 years finally now we have it.

And the Hydrogen Future, which was another one of his great visions, which is evolving into a hydrogen economy and it’s evolving into green jobs for hardworking Americans and also reducing global warming. All of you here, of course, are America’s hydrogen entrepreneurs and you are the hardworking people and the geniuses that make his dreams become a reality. So I want to give a big hand, let’s give a big hand to all of you for the great work that you are doing. (Applause)

Now, you are making California the world leader in hydrogen technology and you’re pumping up our economy and you’re making us greener at the same time. And this is what I always said, that what is good for the environment also can be good for the economy. I want to congratulate all of you for the great actions that you are taking. You are the true action heroes.

California now has — and I’d just like to brag a little bit here, because I think it’s time that we brag a little bit of all the things that we have accomplished. For instance, California has now 31 hydrogen fueling stations that are open or under construction and they are popping up all over the place also on Main Street. As a matter of fact, this was one of the big visions that I had and big goals that I had, even though people thought I was crazy. But we went ahead.

Near my home, for instance, there is now a Shell station that sells the usual three grades of gasoline but it also has a hydrogen pump right there. And I went there to the ribbon cutting of that opening ceremony. Normally I don’t go to ribbon cuttings or opening ceremonies of fueling stations. (Laughter) But in this particular case I made an exception because of the hydrogen pump that was included in that gas station there. And it was a wonderful experience, the different models of hydrogen-powered cars that were standing in line there. And it was really great to see the new activities that are going on in that direction. It was truly amazing.

California also has hundreds of hydrogen-powered cars and buses. Just last week the city of Burbank began using the world’s first plug-in hybrid hydrogen buses, which is a combination of different technologies all coming together. In California many of you are already making hydrogen from wind and from solar power and from farm and municipal waste. You are even testing home fuels so that everyone can make transportation fuels in their own backyard. Of course, those that do will be laughing when the oil companies raise the price again and all of a sudden the price is $4 or $5 or $6 a gallon. It will not have any effect on those individuals.

And hydrogen is modernizing the way that we use electricity. Like Bloom Energy, for instance, has created a new fuel cell that powers homes and buildings. And this is really a wonderful development because the advantage there is that you don’t even have to go to the grid. You have your fuel cell right next to your building. And, of course, up in Silicon Valley a lot of the buildings are already using this technology and a lot of homes are using this technology. And now we are trying to do the same thing with government buildings. There will be many of the government buildings that will be soon powered by fuel cells. We want to be a perfect example.

But all of this is just the beginning. We are proving that these technologies are viable and they are marketable. We are doing this all together. This is one big family. We all have to do this together; not one person can do that.

Now, back in 2004, I launched our Hydrogen Highway. And the reason why we launched that here was because, simply, there was always the argument, what is first? Do we need to build a hydrogen highway, hydrogen fueling stations, or do we need first to build the cars? The car companies always said, “Well, we are not going to build any hydrogen-fueled cars if there are no fueling stations.” So that’s why we went ahead. We wanted to stop that argument. And as we are building more and more fueling stations, we will have more and more cars become available.

California set out to prove to the nation and to the world that hydrogen vehicles that are on the road and on our highways are safe and are affordable. We wanted California to be the place where it all happens and it is happening right now. We are developing hydrogen communities in Santa Monica, Irvine, Torrance, Newport Beach and Burbank will be added in 2013 and Los Angeles in 2014. Right now we are building state-sponsored stations in the Bay Area and in Los Angeles and in Orange County. And by 2017 we expect to have 45,000 hydrogen cars on the road here in California.

Now, this is all, of course, very important, even though it starts small. But think about it. Have you ever seen a great movement, a worldwide movement that did not start on the grassroots level? Everything starts small and then it starts blooming and growing and mushrooming and then it goes statewide, nationwide and then eventually worldwide. And this is exactly what we are seeing here also.

I love seeing the innovation in alternative vehicles. This is exactly what I envisioned when I challenged Detroit to think outside the box and not just to produce the same things over and over. Now, of course, in the beginning they were very resistant. And you saw what happened to Detroit because they were very resistant and because they did not develop alternative-fuel vehicles quick enough. All of a sudden they had to be bailed out by the government because they were not competitive anymore.

And this is why I had my big kind of debate with them already back in 2000, before I became governor. I said to the company that bought the franchise of Hummer, I said, “You’ve got to build the Hummer, the H2, H3 and H4, with hydrogen-fueled engines, because then the whole argument is off the table, that these are fuel, gas-guzzling cars.” I said, “Then you’re powered by hydrogen with zero emissions and the argument will be gone and you will have the greatest car in the world, the greatest SUV.”

They said it would take eight years. I said, “Why don’t you start working on it now?” I said, “If you wait until tomorrow it’s one day longer. Start working on it now.” Well, in 2008 I called them; they still were not ready yet. But now they are getting ready. We see the technology developing, we see the alternative-fuel vehicles now coming out of Detroit also. Finally they are learning.

And this is why it is so important that we all work together. And I said I wanted to see Californians drive vehicles powered by our most promising technologies. Now, we don’t pick winners. We don’t do that. We don’t care if it is biofuel, vegetable oil, natural gas, battery, electric or if it is hydrogen cars, as long as we stop relying on fossil fuel and as long as we get off fossil fuel, which is coming from foreign countries that hate us, that despise us. There’s no reason. (Applause)

And let’s not forget that hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. We can have it forever. We have already come a long way, of course but we know that we still have a lot of work ahead of us. But it’s wonderful work. It excites me. It is really wonderful to work on something that you believe in.

And that includes, of course, waking up the federal government. Think about that. We’ve got to wake up the federal government. I mean, here we have an energy secretary who is a bright guy — who is Californian, by the way — he’s a great leader but he’s not as enthusiastic about what we are doing.

And so I think it is very important, (Applause) I think it’s very important that we all call him and we all write to him and that we all bombard him with emails and let him know how important it is for him to get on board and to go and not pick winners but to look at all of the different alternatives, including hydrogen. It’s very, very important. (Applause)

Because the fact of the matter is that we are creating the roadmap for energy security and sustainability for the whole country. Right now it is hydrogen that gives the average consumer the same driving experience as gasoline cars or diesel cars. We need to get them into the hands, we need to get those cars into the hands of more everyday drivers. And with the help of the federal government and with the help of the car manufacturers we can do that. We can really literally create an explosion.

Now, of course, every single time we talk about this vision people say it can’t be done. But you know, I never get discouraged that it can’t be done and neither did Senator Matsunaga. He didn’t get discouraged either when year after year they told him that it can’t be done. And I have heard that, of course, very early on. Imagine, you’re 15 years old and you’re in Austria and you say, “I want to be a bodybuilding champion.”

Of course everyone says, “It can’t be done. You’ve got to become a ski champion like everyone else, or a bicycle champion or a track and field champion or a soccer champion but not a bodybuilding champion. It can’t be done.” Well, I was the youngest to win the Mr. Universe contest at the age of 20 and I won 13 World Championship titles, even though they said it can’t be done.

And then, when I wanted to become an actor and I said, “I want to be a leading man,” I heard the same thing.

“You have an accent. No one ever did it with an accent.” (Laughter, applause) “You have this body with all those bumps sticking out. You can’t become an actor like that. The guys that are in are Woody Allen and Dustin Hoffman, all the little guys.” (Laughter) “You’re 20 years behind time. Hercules movies we did 20 years ago,” they said. “It can’t be done.”

Well, the rest is history. I became the highest paid actor with Terminator 3 with $30 million. So, I mean, that shows you that it can be done. Anything can be done if you have a very clear vision.

And the same is when I ran for governor. They said, “You cannot run for governor. You have to start little, like as a mayor or as a state senator.”

And I said, “Well, why would I do that? I want to be governor.” (Laughter) So I ran for governor and I won. I won twice. (Applause)

And they also said that it can’t be done that you can go and protect the economy and protect the environment all simultaneously. But it can be done. I think you are proving it every day.

So this is where the bottom line is, so this is why I want to just say in the end to you, I am 100 percent committed to this cause. I will continue fighting for it even when I’m out of office, because for me this is something that I love to do, to fight for the environment, to fight global warming and to go and fight for new technologies and new ideas. So you will have me as your partner forever, that I can guarantee you.

So let’s continue working together as one big family. We’re going to get it done. Yes, we can. Thank you very much. Thank you, all of you. (Applause)

SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn.– UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company, today announced that its new PureCell® Model 400 fuel cell has been certified to the American National Standards Institute/CSA American Standard for Stationary Fuel Cell Power Systems (ANSI/CSA FC-1).  This industry standard assures customers that the UTC Power 400 kW fuel cell meets rigorous safety and performance requirements.

“Having FC-1 certification brings us many advantages and will help us accelerate deployment of our new model stationary fuel cell,” said Neal Montany, Director, UTC Power Stationary Fuel Cell Business.

Fuel cells are one of the cleanest, quietest and most efficient on-site power generation technologies available and meet the strictest air emissions requirements. The PureCell Model 400 can provide up to 400 kW of assured electrical power, plus up to 1.7 million Btu/hour of heat for combined heat and power applications.  The system has a 20-year overall system operating life and a 10-year fuel cell stack life – twice that of the earlier model 200 kW UTC Power fuel stationary fuel cell.

Certification testing was performed by CSA International, a leading provider of product testing and certification services. The organization issues certification marks for qualified products, and CSA marks are accepted by regulatory authorities in the occupational health and safety, electrical, gas, building and other fields in the United States.

The advantages of receiving FC-1 certification include reduced cost and time of fuel cell installation; facilitation of approval by local inspectors; increased access to clean energy funding sources, and improved marketability.

Since the early 1990s, UTC Power has designed, manufactured and installed more than 260 stationary fuel cell power plants at diverse locations worldwide.  The fleet has accumulated more than 9 million operating hours.

Fuel cells fit a broad range of applications, and key market sectors for the new UTC Power fuel cell include supermarkets, hospitals, hotels and various industrial applications.

UTC Power is part of United Technologies Corp. (UTC), which provides energy-efficient products and services to the aerospace and building industries.  UTC is a founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index every year since it was launched in 1999.  Based in South Windsor, Conn., UTC Power is the world leader in developing and producing fuel cells that generate power for buildings and for transportation, space and defense applications.  For more information, please visit www.utcpower.com

Bill Would Accelerate Fuel Cell Commercialization in Material Handling Applications

LATHAM, N.Y. — Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG ), a leader in providing clean, reliable energy solutions, hails the announcement of the Fuel Cell Industrial Vehicle Jobs Act of 2010, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY) on April 28, 2010.

The Fuel Cell Industrial Vehicle Jobs Act of 2010 makes material handling fuel cell vehicles eligible under the existing Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit for Qualified Fuel Cell Motor Vehicles. In doing so, this bill extends financial incentives to material handling vehicles which will facilitate large-scale conversions to green technology at manufacturing and distribution centers across the country.

“Helping America’s businesses grow and rebuilding the economy are my top priorities,” said Congressman Paul Tonko. “The Fuel Cell Industrial Vehicles Jobs Act of 2010 enables a local, innovative business the opportunity to grow and create jobs, while also bringing parity between our neighbor, Plug Power, and major corporations. Our energy and tax policies should inspire growth, partnership and innovation in order to provide cutting edge jobs and products. I believe this bill will do just that.”‪

“We applaud Congressman Tonko for introducing this forward-thinking and effective legislation. This bill can create thousands of green jobs in his district, in New York State, and throughout the country,” said Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power.

“The North American material handling market currently represents a total available market of over $4 billion annually,” continued Marsh. “By encouraging growth in the fuel cell industry, this legislation promotes commercially viable green technology solutions in this sector.”

The passage of this bill and the projected sales momentum it will generate also strengthens commercial partnerships, such as the recently announced agreement with The Raymond Corporation to jointly sell and market GenDrive fuel cells in Raymond forklift trucks. Plug Power’s ability to seek and execute these critical business relationships will continue to drive purchase orders and sustain Plug Power’s leadership position in the material handling market.

“Clear guidance on the tax credit and grant programs will stimulate demand for manufacturing jobs, supply chain and field service positions in support of fuel cell powered lift trucks,” said Chuck Pascarelli, President of the sales and marketing division of The Raymond Corporation.

“I’m proud to support this bill and to fight for the economy of Upstate New York,” said Congressman Scott Murphy. “I will continue to work with Plug Power to build clean energy jobs and make our region a world leader in the 21st century innovation economy.”

About Plug Power Inc.

Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG ) is an established leader in the development and deployment and commercialization of alternative fuel cell technology. Revolutionizing the way the world thinks about clean energy, Plug Power has installed more commercial fuel cell systems in the motive and stationary power markets than anyone else in the industry. The Company is actively engaged with private and public customers in targeted markets throughout the world. For more information about how to join Plug Power’s energy revolution as an investor, customer, supplier or strategic partner, please visit www.plugpower.com.