FuelCellsWorks

Company Achieves 20% Increase in Power Density for Mobion® Fuel Cell

ALBANY, N.Y.–MTI Micro Fuel 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 initiated a $1.5 million field testing program for the company’s Mobion^® micro fuel cell with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

The program will enable MTI Micro to obtain feedback on Mobion^® products from key stakeholders, including the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the DOE, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), industry experts, and consumer testers.

In addition, the company announced a 20% improvement in the power density of its Mobion^® technology after demonstrating an increase in performance from 84mW/cm2 to 100mW/cm2 at the company’s Albany, NY-based lab. MTI Micro believes this is the highest performance achieved in a vapor feed, passive water management direct methanol fuel cell which will enable more energy dense micro fuel cells systems.

“This program is putting our Mobion® product in the hands of consumers making it a major milestone for MTI Micro and the entire hand-held DMFC industry,” said Peng Lim, President and CEO of MTI Micro. “These mobile users will finally experience the benefits of a new green energy source, and the freedom of having on-the-go power to match their lifestyle.”

This announcement follows the receipt of a $1.2 million grant from the DOE, and a $295,000 award from NYSERDA to support next-generation power technologies with the potential for advancing New York toward a clean energy economy. Both funding awards are being used to support the company’s field testing program.

About MTI MicroFuel Cells

MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc. (“MTI Micro”) (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.

Arvind Varma, from left, Purdue University

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A new process for storing and generating hydrogen to run fuel cells in cars has been invented by chemical engineers at Purdue University.

The process, given the name hydrothermolysis, uses a powdered chemical called ammonia borane, which has one of the highest hydrogen contents of all solid materials, said Arvind Varma, R. Games Slayter Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering and head of the School of Chemical Engineering.

“This is the first process to provide exceptionally high hydrogen yield values at near the fuel-cell operating temperatures without using a catalyst, making it promising for hydrogen-powered vehicles,” he said. “We have a proof of concept.”

The new process combines hydrolysis and thermolysis, two hydrogen-generating processes that are not practical by themselves for vehicle applications. 

Research findings were presented June 15 during the International Symposium on Chemical Reaction Engineering in Philadelphia. The research also is detailed in a paper appearing online in the AIChE Journal, published by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and will be published in an upcoming issue of the journal.

Ammonia borane contains 19.6 percent hydrogen, a high weight percentage that means a relatively small quantity and volume of the material are needed to store large amounts of hydrogen, Varma said.

“The key is how to efficiently release the hydrogen from this compound, and that is what we have discovered,” he said.

The paper was written by former Purdue doctoral student Moiz Diwan, now a senior research engineer at Abbott Laboratories in Chicago; Purdue postdoctoral researcher Hyun Tae Hwang; doctoral student Ahmad Al-Kukhun; and Varma. Purdue has filed a patent application on the technology.

In hydrolysis, water is combined with ammonia borane and the process requires a catalyst to generate hydrogen, while in thermolysis the material must be heated to more than 170 degrees Celsius, or more than 330 degrees Fahrenheit, to release sufficient quantities of hydrogen.

However, fuel cells that will be used in cars operate at about 85 degrees Celsius (185 degrees Fahrenheit). Hydrogen fuel cells generate electricity to run an electric motor.

The new process also promises to harness waste heat from fuel cells to operate the hydrogen generation reactor, Varma said.

The researchers conducted experiments using a reactor vessel operating at the same temperature as fuel cells. The process requires maintaining the reactor at a pressure of less than 200 pounds per square inch, far lower than the 5,000 psi required for current hydrogen-powered test vehicles that use compressed hydrogen gas stored in tanks.

In some experiments, the researchers used water containing a form of hydrogen called deuterium. Using water containing deuterium instead of hydrogen enabled the researchers to trace how much hydrogen is generated from the hydrolysis reaction and how much from the thermolysis reaction, details critical to understanding the process.

At the optimum conditions, hydrogen from the hydrothermolysis approach amounted to about 14 percent of the total weight of the ammonia borane and water used in the process. This is significantly higher than the hydrogen yields from other experimental systems reported in the scientific literature, Varma said.

“This is important because the U.S. Department of Energy has set a 2015 target of 5.5 weight percent hydrogen for hydrogen storage systems, meaning available hydrogen should be at least 5.5 percent of a system’s total weight,” he said. “If you’re only yielding, say, 7 percent hydrogen from the material, you’re not going to make this 5.5 percent requirement once you consider the combined weight of the entire system, which includes the reactor, tubing, the ammonia borane, water, valves and other required equipment.”

The researchers determined that a concentration of 77 percent ammonia borane is ideal for maximum hydrogen yield using the new process.

The research has been funded by the U.S. Department of Energy by a grant through the Energy Center in Purdue’s Discovery Park.

Future work on hydrothermolysis will explore scaling up the reactor to the size required for a vehicle to drive 350 miles before refueling. Additional research also is needed to develop recycling technologies for turning waste residues produced in the process back into ammonia borane.

The technology may also be used to produce hydrogen for fuel cells to recharge batteries in portable electronics, such as notebook computers, cell phones, personal digital assistants, digital cameras, handheld medical diagnostic devices and defibrillators.

“The recycling isn’t important for small-scale applications, such as portable electronics, but is needed before the process becomes practical for cars,” Varma said.

Ilika plc (AIM:IKA), the advanced cleantech materials discovery company, has signed an agreement with Taiwan’s premier not-for-profit R&D organisation, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (“ITRI”), to scale-up and commercialise jointly the next generation fuel cell catalysts. The Company believes this agreement will be a vital component of the energy industry’s efforts to develop consumer-friendly fuel cell technology.

Since initially developing and patenting a lower cost, platinum-free fuel cell catalyst in 2006, Ilika has undertaken further development of the compound and is now confident that it offers cost and availability benefits relative to competing technology.

ITRI possesses state-of-the-art integrated abilities in fuel cell technology, including material and device development, manufacturing, application and evaluation, and has agreed to enter into a non-exclusive collaboration to scale-up Ilika’s catalyst materials.

Under this agreement the parties aim to have samples available to potential customers in approximately 18 months. ITRI will meet the cost of this scale-up work. Thereafter catalyst material should be available for large scale supply during the following 12 months.

The parties have also agreed to co-operate in the commercialisation and marketing of the new catalyst, taking full advantage of their global network of potential users.

Ilika’s Chief Executive, Graeme Purdy, said, “This agreement is a great example of how Ilika develops innovative materials that solve complex industrial challenges together with our partners and shares in the commercial upside that these technological advances make possible. ITRI is a world leader with renowned capability in the field of fuel cell catalysts. We are very pleased it has agreed to enter into this agreement.”

The global market for fuel cells is growing rapidly, with sales in Europe alone expected to grow to €3.6 billion by 2016. Catalysts make up about 40% of the cost of a typical fuel cell.

Dr. Jonq Ming Liu, Vice president and General Director Of Material and Chemical Research Labs, ITRI, concluded, “ITRI hopes to establish more opportunities for international cooperation and technology transfer, and we are delighted to have this opportunity to work with Ilika.”

ITM Power plc, the energy storage and clean fuel company, is pleased to announce its first product sale and field trial – to the University of Birmingham (UoB). The HPac®10 unit will supply hydrogen to the fuel cell laboratory, removing its dependency on bottled gas. Excess electrolytic hydrogen not used by the laboratory, will be used by the UoB’s fleet of fuel cell vehicles.

HPac® is a high gas rate hydrogen generator producing a minimum of 10 litres/min of hydrogen. This product is targeted at the built environment for energy storage and backup power.

The HPac® unit will be delivered in Q4 2010 and installed and commissioned by ITM staff. Training will be given to UoB staff on how to operate the unit and a procedure for product support has already been established. Telemetry is being integrated into the unit so that ITM can monitor its performance and schedule testing from its sites in Sheffield.

The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell group at UoB will work closely with ITM and provide important feedback on the performance of the unit in a variety of modes and performance profiles.

Commenting for ITM Power, Dr Graham Cooley said: “HPac® is a very important product for ITM and we are delighted to partner with the University of Birmingham to trial the first unit. The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell group at Birmingham is world class and is well known for early adoption of new technology – notably installing the UK’s first Hydrogen refueller in 2008. I can think of no better partner for this important assessment.”

Commenting for the University of Birmingham, Prof Kevin Kendall, said: “We are delighted to be working with ITM to make this assessment of their first HPac® unit. Green hydrogen production coupled with high efficiency fuel cells has a wide range of exciting applications and we are pleased to be working with such a prominent company in this field.”

BEND, OR — IdaTech plc (AIM: IDA), a global leader in the development and manufacture of clean and reliable extended run backup power fuel cell products, in conjunction with its partner Cascadiant Inc., is pleased to announce its participation at CommunicAsia.

CommunicAsia is the 21st International Communications and Information Technology Exhibition & Conference. The four-day exhibition is a perfect showcase to present the latest technological developments and product innovations for backup power fuel cells.

Participating for the fourth year, IdaTech, together with Cascadiant will promote its next generation ElectraGen™ ME Fuel Cell System — a five kilowatt fully integrated solution that enables extended run backup power for telecom base stations. The ElectraGen™ product family can be powered by hydrogen gas or by IdaTech’s proprietary fuel reformer system which converts liquid fuel (methanol-water) into high-purity hydrogen onsite as needed. The ElectraGen™ ME provides 24 or 48 VDC backup power for telecommunications applications and is a replacement for traditional solutions such as batteries and diesel generators, but with greater reliability and significantly reduced maintenance.

Visit IdaTech and Cascadiant at the Singapore Expo, booth#SK1-12, during the CommunicAsia Conference, June 15-18th.

About IdaTech

IdaTech plc is an advanced fuel cell products company which is operationally headquartered in Bend, Oregon, USA and is listed on AIM with the ticker code IDA. IdaTech designs, develops, and manufactures extended run backup power fuel cell products for Telecom applications requiring 100 W to 15 kW of backup power. IdaTech’s unique PEM fuel cell technology provides solutions for a wide range of applications to directly support efforts towards sustainable energy. IdaTech’s portfolio of industry-certified fuel cell products are based on the company’s fuel processing, purification and fuel cell system integration capabilities. With the support of strategic partners and customers, the company’s extended run backup power products are being deployed worldwide for stationary applications.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting the company direct or by visiting its website at http://www.idatech.com.

About Cascadiant

Cascadiant is a venture backed technology solutions company with offices throughout Asia and in Portland and Chicago in the USA. The firm partners with best in breed technology companies to deliver value added, integrated solutions and hosted services in an environmentally conscious way. The Cascadiant portfolio targets wireless and broadband carriers and includes state-of-the-art hydrogen fuel cells, hosted application platforms and advanced software solutions.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC- – Xebec Adsorption Inc. (TSX:XBC) (”Xebec”), a provider of biogas upgrading, natural gas and hydrogen purification solutions for the clean energy market, announced today that it has signed a multi-year supply agreement — and has received the first multi-unit purchase order under the agreement — with Nuvera Fuel Cells (”Nuvera”), a leading supplier of fuel cell and hydrogen re-fueling systems in the U.S. and Europe.

Under the terms of the non-exclusive agreement, Nuvera will purchase Xebec’s proprietary H-3300 pressure swing adsorption (”PSA”) systems for incorporation in Nuvera’s PowerTap™ Hydrogen Generator and Hydrogen Stations to provide customers with a cost-effective source of hydrogen for refueling of fuel cell powered vehicles. The agreement expands on cooperative work done by Xebec and Nuvera over the past several years to develop advanced products that support the commercialization of clean energy technologies such as fuel cells for forklift truck applications. The H-3300 PSA will purify hydrogen to 99.999% or better to provide a clean fuel for the fuel cell whose only emission is water. 

“We are extremely pleased that Xebec’s H-3300 hydrogen purifier was selected as a key component in Nuvera’s product line,” said Kurt Sorschak, President and CEO of Xebec. ”Nuvera is a leading and visionary supplier of fuel cell power systems and hydrogen generation and refueling systems for clean energy applications. As hydrogen purification is one of Xebec’s four primary business growth segments, Xebec shares this vision and sees our proven hydrogen purification technology as a key enabler for the global clean energy and hydrogen infrastructure future,” says Sorschak.

“We have great faith in Xebec and believe that our missions are aligned in creating a clean energy future. After careful evaluation of all available technologies, Xebec’s proven advanced PSA technology was selected since it provided us with the most reliable, cost-effective and efficient solution for our critical applications,” commented Roberto Cordaro, Nuvera’s President and CEO.

The initial term of the agreement is for three years. Shipment of the first units will take place in the third quarter of 2010. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. 

About Xebec Adsorption Inc.

Xebec Adsorption Inc. is a global provider of clean energy solutions to corporations and governments looking to reduce their carbon footprints. With more than 1300 customers worldwide, Xebec designs, engineers and manufactures innovative products that transform raw gases into marketable sources of clean energy. Xebec’s strategy is focused on establishing leadership positions in markets where demand for biogas upgrading, natural gas dehydration and hydrogen purification is growing. Headquartered in Montreal (QC), Xebec is a global company with two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Montreal and Shanghai, an R&D facility in Vancouver (BC) as well as a sales and distribution network in North America, Asia and Europe. Xebec trades on the TSX under the symbol XBC. For additional information on the company and its products and services, please visit the Xebec web site at www.xebecinc.com.

About Nuvera Fuel Cells

Nuvera Fuel Cells is a global leader in the development of fuel cell systems and fuel processors for both end users and OEMs. With offices located in the U.S. and Europe, Nuvera provides clean, safe, and efficient products for industrial vehicles and equipment in addition to furthering the development of power systems for automotive and transportation applications. For additional information on Nuvera, please visit the company’s web site at www.nuvera.com.

Britain’s ITM Power (ITM.L), whose devices create fuel for hydrogen-powered vehicles, said the hydrogen industry could get a boost from the catastrophic BP (BP.L) Gulf of Mexico spill, as consumers and policymakers seek alternatives to oil.

“If you use renewable electricity, hydrogen can be made with zero carbon and reduces dependency on oil,” Chief Executive Graham Cooley told Reuters on Tuesday after the group completed its in-house manufacturing processes, moving it a step closer to commercialisation and boosting its shares.

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday promised to reduce the country’s addiction to oil as lawmakers there prepared to grill BP on the April rig explosion. [ID:nN14163920]

Cooley said ITM was especially interested in the U.S. and German markets, where hydrogen infrastructure is more advanced than in Britain.

ITM is hoping for commercial sales of its hydrogen creation devices next year and said completion of the manufacturing system represented the last major milestone ahead of completion of CE product accreditation, which it expects by the end of the year.

“2010 is our product year, 2011 is our commercial year,” Cooley said.

Shares in the group rose 17 percent to a two-month high of 37 pence, extending a run commenced last week when ITM announced logistics firm DHL and London’s Stansted Airport would trial its hydrogen refuelling device.

ITM’s technology separates the hydrogen from oxygen in water. The hydrogen created can be used in a wide range of applications from laboratory work to vehicle refuelling and can be stored indefinitely until it is needed.

Hydrogen refuelling for fleets of commercial vehicles is a key focus for Sheffield-based ITM Power, Cooley said.

“We’re talking to many more people, you’ll see some newsflow in the next few months,” Cooley said.

(Reporting by Victoria Bryan, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)

Microcab Industries of Coventry, UK, and Denmark’s Serenergy A/S of Denmark have announced an agreement for the supply of 10 Serenus 3kW fuel cell systems for use in Microcab’s next generation of demonstration fuel cell hybrid vehicles.

Serenergy manufactures High Temperature PEM technology which the company says can facilitate the use of otherwise wasted thermal energy for heating of the vehicle interior, thus increasing overall system efficiency. Microcab employs lightweight construction techniques and fuel cell hybrid powertrains with electric drive in vehicles intended for urban and suburban transport.

Microcab and Serenergy say they intend to work closely together to develop this and future automotive applications. Initially Serenergy will supply a system module comprising the fuel cell, its control system, and power-conditioning circuitry to supply the hybrid battery and electric drive. Microcab and its associates will initially manufacture 8 vehicles to the new design, which will be supplied to Coventry University for participation in a 12-month trial as part of the Coventry and Birmingham Low Emissions Demonstrator project.

Making its public debut at ILA is Antares DLR-H2, the world’s first manned aircraft to take off using only power from onboard fuel cells.

Based on a Lange Aviation Antares 20E sailplane, it was developed at the DLR Institute for Technical Thermodynamics to demonstrate new standards in high-efficiency, zero-emissions energy conversion that are possible thanks to the progress in fuel cell technology.

The fuel cell system, developed in collaboration with BASF Fuel Cells and Denmark’s Serenergy A/S, uses hydrogen, converting it into electrical energy—up to 25 kilowatts of power—in a direct, electrochemical reaction with oxygen without any combustion. The only by-product is water. The fuel cell is carried under the port wing and the hydrogen tank under the starboard wing. If the hydrogen fuel is produced using renewable energy sources, then the motor glider flies with zero CO2 emissions.

In cruising flight Antares DLR-H2 only needs about 10 kilowatts of power, with the fuel cell operating at 52% efficiency. Total efficiency of the drive system from tank to power train, including the propeller, is around 44%, making it about twice as efficient as conventional propulsion technologies based on combustion processes. The aircraft has a maximum speed of 170 km/h, cruising range of 750 km, and five hours’ endurance.

The Antares DLR-H2 will be based with Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg over the next three years, acting as a platform for flight test activities aimed at employing fuel cells as a reliable supply source for onboard power in commercial transport aircraft. DLR is collaborating with Airbus Germany on a fuel cell system for providing emergency power to the hydraulic pumps used to control its Airbus A320 ATRA research aircraft.

Following demonstration flights at Hamburg in the summer of 2009, DLR’s Antares project manager, Dr. Ing. Josef Kallo, commented, “At this stage, we have only tapped into a fraction of the performance capabilities of this technology for aerospace applications.”

HOPKINTON, Mass. – (Business Wire) Trenergi Corp, located at 116 South Street, Hopkinton, MA has successfully completed the proof-of-concept development phase of its TrionTM residential microCHP product. Trenergi is developing 1KW, 3KW and 5KW versions of the TrionTM to provide clean, dependable distributed energy solutions for homes in markets throughout the world.

The TrionTM is being designed to operate on a variety of fuels. The 1KW system successfully operated from a gas mixture simulating natural gas feedstock. Dr. Mohammad Enayetullah, Trenergi’s CTO, stated: “We are pleased that our stack power output exceeded engineering expectations.”

While the TrionTM, powered by a high temperature PEM fuel cell, generates electricity, its thermal management system also provides heat for both residential hot water and residential heating systems. Charles Myers, President, noted that Trenergi’s new system “advances the concept that fuel cell-based solutions can offer a cost effective three-energy solution meeting the needs of a global market by providing electricity, heat and hot water from a single package”.

About Trenergi

Trenergi, founded in 2009, is developing 1KW, 3KW and 5KW versions of the TrionTM to provide clean, dependable distributed energy solutions for homes in markets throughout the world. Trenergi’s high temperature PEM fuel cell technology allows it to use lower fuel grades while simplifying the balance of plant and dramatically extending fuel cell life. Next steps for Trenergi are to refine product packaging and control interfaces.

Developer’s CleanTech One building to be first of its kind here in 2011

By Grace Chua

THE first building in the upcoming CleanTech Park in Jurong will be the first in Singapore to run on hydrogen power generated in-house.

To be completed late next year, the developer JTC Corporation’s CleanTech One building will have a one-megawatt power plant that will generate hydrogen when it is fed wood chips, plant waste and other biological material.

The fuel-cell plant, expected to provide about 20 per cent of CleanTech One’s power needs, is the latest foray into hydrogen-fuel technology here.

The fuel produces no polluting carbon dioxide when turned into energy and is hence regarded as ‘clean’.

Companies and institutions worldwide are trying to adopt hydrogen-fuel technology as a possible replacement for fossil fuels, which produce carbon dioxide when burned to generate electricity.

The accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been identified as a key factor behind climate change.

Besides chugging along on hydrogen power, CleanTech One has other eco-friendly features, including the generous use of natural ventilation, a dehumidifier powered by solar energy and a biodigester to decompose food waste cleanly, a JTC spokesman said.

JTC’s director of its aerospace, marine and cleantech cluster Tang Wai Yee said CleanTech One would be a test-bed for such technology, and expressed hope that other clean technologies would be discovered or commercialised there.

Hydrogen fuel cells work by converting the chemical energy of hydrogen into electricity and water. The gas can be obtained from hydrocarbon-containing fuels like natural gas, biogas and diesel.

Cost is one obstacle to its wider use.

Producing power from hydrogen fuel cells now costs about $4,000 per kilowatt (kW), said Mr Avier Lim, the founder of fuel-cell firm GasHub Technology.

This price tag makes hydrogen power generation competitive only in places like rural Indonesia, for instance, where the costs of diesel-power generation and generator maintenance are relatively high.

Statistics from the United States Department of Energy put the cost of diesel-power generation at US$800 to US$1,500 (S$1,130 to S$2,120) per kW.

Developer JTC would not disclose the cost of its hydrogen fuel cell plant; it would say only that it was included in the $90 million it cost to design and build its building.

GasHub’s Mr Lim reckons a plant that size can take three to four years to recoup its costs, depending on its efficiency.

Hydrogen fuel projects have had a patchy record here.

In last year’s Shell Eco-Marathon, a hydrogen fuel cell car built by a National University of Singapore team travelled 484km on a single litre of the fuel.

But previous hydrogen-fuel pilot projects, such as a scheme to make small, powerful power generators, have failed.

The Rolls Royce one costing US$100 million to US$200 million started five years ago, in which the Singapore Government had a stake, could not progress to production stage due to technical issues.

Mr Lim said fuel cells need more support infrastructure and government endorsement, as is available in other countries.

Associate Professor Lu Wen Feng of the National University of Singapore, who supervises the Eco-Marathon hydrogen car team, said the efficiency and reliability of fuel cells need improving.

Award Recognizes Cutting Edge Private Companies Driving the Future of Innovation

For Immediate Release

IVYLAND, Pa./EWORLDWIRE/June 14, 2010 — Power+Energy is pleased to announce that it has been selected as a winner of the annual New York Venture Summit Top Innovator award by youngStartUp Ventures. The list of privately held companies recognizes those that play a leading role in innovation for the Technology, Life Sciences and Clean-tech sectors.

As one of the winners, President and COO of Power+Energy Noel Leeson, will present the company at the exclusive 2010 New York Venture Summit on June 17th at The Hotel Penn in New York City, where a select group of 450 entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate developers will gather to be the first to meet this next wave of leading edge companies. Power+Energy is honored to be in this very elite group of youngStartUp Ventures Top Finalists.

Honoring the Best

To Honor the youngStartUp Ventures Top Innovator recipients, youngStartUp Ventures has invited their CEOs and founders to present at The New York Venture Summit, a forum for the most exciting early stage and emerging growth companies, and to share their insights on the future of innovation,and the entrepreneurial journey. Held at The Hotel Penn in New York City, this intimate, invitation-only conference is the premier venue for today’s promising startups. For more information on the summit visit: YoungStartUp.com(http://www.youngstartup.com/newyork2010/overview.php).

About Power+Energy

Power+Energy is leading the way to the hydrogen economy with proprietary manufacturing and patented hydrogen purification, separation and generation technologies. Power+Energy’s Micro-Channel palladium-alloy hydrogen purifiers purify any grade of hydrogen to nine-nines purity, meeting the most stringent requirements for semiconductor fabrication processes, including light emitting diode manufacture, solar cell manufacture and the manufacture of other compound and silicon semiconductors. Power+Energy’s Micro-Channel hydrogen purifiers are also ideal for metallurgy, R&D, and instrumentation applications. Power+Energy’s Micro-Channel membrane systems can also be used to efficiently separate hydrogen from reformed fuels and synthesis gas mixtures.

Power+Energy is now applying its hydrogen expertise to the fuel cell vehicle refueling market. Power+Energy has recognized that highly compact, low cost, and efficient hydrogen generators that can convert existing liquid fuels to hydrogen at the refueling station will enable the rapid development of the hydrogen refueling infrastructure that fuel-cell vehicles will require. The company’s expertise in the design and manufacture of micro-channel gas processors provides the basis for this exciting new venture.

ACCELERATING COMMERCIALISATION OF FUEL CELLS IN THE UK: FUEL CELLS UK MANIFESTO FOR THE NEW UK GOVERNMENT

The UK fuel cell and hydrogen sector has the potential to become Britain’s low carbon energy success story – contributing to the achievement of the UK’s environment and energy goals and driving the transition to a low carbon future. At this crucial time for both the UK economy and the global environment, Fuel Cells UK calls on the newly established Government to adopt new measures to support the fuel cell and hydrogen sector in the UK so that it can play its role in delivering low carbon jobs together with a range of other policy benefits.

Key priorities for the newly established Government include addressing the economic downturn and national debt in the short term while, simultaneously, reducing greenhouse gases emissions and improving Britain’s energy security through into the medium to long term. Achieving these require immediate action to stimulate the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Fuel cells and hydrogen could revolutionise the energy landscape, bringing high efficiency, low carbon solutions for transport, residential, portable and premium power applications. While the technology has been perceived as a future technology this is decidedly not the case; the technology is ‘here and now’ with commercialisation of fuel cells and hydrogen energy in early markets well underway and the rate of installation and deployment is accelerating rapidly – for example:

•More than 14,000 fuel cells units for the niche transport application have been sold internationally, including materials handling devices such as forklifts

•More than 11,000 small stationary fuel cells units have been deployed globally

•In 2008, the installed capacity of fuel cells in large scale stationary applications reached 170MWe

Over the past years, the UK’s environmental and energy policy focused on financial and regulatory support for renewable energy generation; however meeting the ambitious 80% carbon emissions reduction target by 2050, requires the UK to improve its energy efficiency and maximise use of existing and future resources. The Government needs to recognize the importance and role of the whole range of low-carbon solutions – including environmental and economic benefits offered by widespread deployment of fuel cells. The following illustrate how fuel cells can help deliver key policy objectives:

•Fuel cells produce between 0g (for hydrogen produced from renewable sources) and ~85g (for hydrogen produced from fossil fuels) of CO2/km, compared to a gasoline internal combustion engine, which produces approximately ~170g of CO2/km

•A mass produced fuel cell vehicle with 350-mile all-electric range is projected to cost less than plug-in hybrid and full battery-electric vehicle

•6,000 fuel cell CHP units, commercially available today, rated at 400kWe (each sufficient to power a supermarket or school) would deliver the same level of CO2 reductions as the proposed Severn Barrage, and could be in place in 5 years at more than 3 times lower capital cost

•…if 5.6 million homes had microCHP installed by 2020, the saved CO2 emissions would be equivalent to the emissions from eight new 750MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power stations

If the UK is to benefit from growing the fuel cell and hydrogen industry, the Government needs to fast track legislative and fiscal incentives at this pivotal point in the industry’s evolution. Fuel Cells UK calls on the newly established Government to support the industry through the following key measures:

1. Extending support for fuel cells as part of the Feed-In Tariff scheme:

Support should be expanded to low-carbon fuel cell electricity generation to 5MW, to fuel cell CHP up to 5MWe, and gas-fired microCHP up to 50kW, as enabled by the Energy Act 2008. This will help fuel cells to achieve their potential in delivering key policy objectives, whilst accelerating the development of the UK industry.

2. Focusing support for commercial development:

There is a need for focused support for the development of near-commercial fuel cells (including materials, components and manufacturing scale-up techniques). This could play an important role in helping to bridge the gap between research and demonstration, and facilitate longer-term cost reduction through manufacturing volume increases.

3. Providing ongoing demonstration support activity:

Demonstration programmes are an essential tool to accelerate the development of emerging energy technologies and solutions and to ensure the UK fuel cell industry plays a leading role in the emerging European market.

4. Using Forward Commitment Procurement:

Forward commitment procurement provides the market with the certainty necessary to justify intensive product development effort and “underwrite” significant financial risk.

5. Changing existing regulation:

Planning and health and safety ‘red tape’ which is currently hindering hydrogen and fuel cell projects should be reviewed with a view to facilitating faster, cheaper and easier installation.

6. Introducing Enhanced Capital Allowances and tax breaks for the low-carbon industry:

These will help to promote investment in decentralized generation, including fuel cells and hydrogen.

Adopting these measures will enhance fuel cells’ and hydrogen’s competitiveness and allow the market to stimulate further low-carbon technology development. We call on the new Government to act promptly to ensure that this ‘window of opportunity’ for fuel cells and hydrogen is not closed before the benefits for our economy, climate and wider energy market can be realised.

This document is accompanied by two annexes providing further detail on the rationale for Government’s support for fuel cells (Annex 1) and detailed description of suggested policy measures (Annex 2).

This document has been produced by Synnogy Ltd, which manages Fuel Cells UK on behalf of its members. Whilst every care has been taken on compiling this information in this guide, Synnogy Ltd, cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. The views and judgements expressed in this document are those of the various contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of Synnogy Ltd.

Annex 1

The rationale for UK Government support for fuel cells and hydrogen

Fuel cells and hydrogen can:

• contribute substantially to a global low carbon economy;

• improve urban air quality and the health of urban populations;

• enhance energy security by allowing a wider choice of fuels;

• contribute to the alleviation of fuel poverty through superior efficiency relative to conventional technologies and ensure that every home is adequately and affordably heated; and

• provide essential intermediate and final components of any future hydrogen economy.

Further details of the greenhouse gas reduction potential as well as benefit to the UK economy that fuel cells and hydrogen can offer are presented below.

1.1 The energy and climate change benefits of fuel cells

- Greater efficiency in extracting energy embedded in various fuels:

Fuel cells can operate on the range of different fuels including: natural gas, biogas, hydrogen, methanol and many others. They offer the potential to deliver clean, quiet heat and power at efficiencies in the 80-90% range, with power only generation fuel cell systems provide equally impressive benefits (this compares with an efficiency of 35% for conventional power generation).

The hydrogen needed to power fuel cell vehicles can be produced directly from a wide range of zero carbon sources such as biomass (at a much lower carbon footprint than second generation biodiesel), nuclear or solar (directly from the heat, not via electricity) as well as from conventional fossil fuels and via electrolysis.

- Similar CO2 savings to those offered by other technologies supported by the Government at lower cost:

6,000 fuel cell CHP units, commercially available today (range of 250-400kW, rated at 400kWe (sufficient to power a supermarket or school)) would deliver the same level of CO2 emissions reductions as the proposed Severn Barrage, and could be in place in 5 years at more than 3 times lower capital cost. There are already many examples of working installations (e.g. at the Transport for London Palestra Building in Southwark). Depending on the installation, a 2kW stationary fuel cell unit can save up to 5 tonnes of CO2 per annum. It has been estimated that, if 5.6 million homes had microCHP installed by 2020, the saved CO2 emissions would be equivalent to the emissions from eight new 750MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine power stations. The benefits of fuel cell microgeneration are already being realised worldwide, including in Japan where more than 5,800 units have been installed to date.

Results from a full lifecycle analysis, comparing CO2 emissions from a traditional petrol internal combustion engine, with CO2 emissions from a hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicle, show that the internal combustion engine accounts for 167g/km, while the fuel cell system produces from 0g/km (when fuelled by renewably generated hydrogen) to 85g/km (when fuelled by hydrogen generated using fossil fuels).

- Improved air quality

By excluding combustion from the process of electricity generation, fuel cells improve general air quality by eliminating nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides and particulate matter from exhausts.

1.2 Grid balancing: additional benefits of deployment of fuel cells and hydrogen

- Energy Storage

Fuel cells in partnership with electrolysers and hydrogen storage systems can help to address situations when electricity production from renewables exceeds demand. Excess electricity can be used to produce hydrogen, which can be stored and then used in a fuel cell to meet demand for either stationary power or motive power for a fuel cell powered vehicle.

- Managing intermittency of renewables

Storage, in combination with fuel cells, can also be used to assist with peak shaving when demand is high and renewable electricity production is insufficient to meet demand. In addition to increasing the reliability of supply, this negates the need for traditional spinning or standing reserve, which tend to be either open gas turbine generators, or fossil fuel power plants that are used as back-up to provide emergency power at peak times. This traditional approach has negative implications both in terms of carbon emissions and the renewable energy challenge.

- Systems already operating in the UK

An example of a working fuel cell installation in this type of application is the PURE Project on Unst in the Shetland Islands. The system consists of two 15kW wind turbines, a high pressure hydrogen electrolyser, high pressure hydrogen storage device, a fuel cell and an inverter. The output provides power and heating for five businesses on the island, with the stored hydrogen being also used to power fuel cell / battery hybrid vehicles.

1.3 The Economic Case

- Value of the global and UK fuel cell market

Recent estimations suggest that the global fuel cell market could be worth over $26bn in 2020 and over $180bn in 2050. The UK share of this market could be $1bn in 2020 rising to $19bn in 2050. In recent year the fuel cell sector has continued to grow, despite the global economic downturn; experiencing a 41% increase in shipments in 2009 relative to 2008.

- Creation of the new ‘green collar’ jobs

Recent reports indicate that global fuel cell industry could create as many as 700,000 jobs in the manufacturing sector by 2019, rising to over one million if installation, service and maintenance jobs are included.

- Growth of intellectual property within the UK: Strong research and development activity means that the UK is the second most successful country in the EU (behind Germany) at securing new fuel cell related patents.

- Improved competitiveness on the emerging energy markets globally: The UK represents one of the strongest global markets for fuel cell investment. In 2008, there were 10 times as many companies listed on the AIM market as the NASDAQ. These developments ensure that the UK is able to compete globally and continue attracting investors and creating wealth.

Annex 2

Detailed description of suggested policy measures

2. 1 Extending support for fuel cells as part of the Feed-In Tariff scheme.

Fuel Cells UK would like to see expansion of the existing feed-in tariff scheme in line with the Energy Act 2008, which includes electricity generated by fuel cells in the list of sources that are eligible for FIT support.

Fuel Cells UK strongly advocates that:

a. The limit for fuel cell power generating installations (whether powered with fossil or renewable fuels) is set at 5MW to encompass the larger systems which are commercially available today. This would allow larger scale decentralised low carbon generation to benefit from the scheme, contributing to carbon reduction objectives (through greatest efficiencies in extracting energy from fuels when compared to conventional generation) and accelerating progress in reducing the costs of fuel cell installations.

b. Fossil fuelled (as well as biogas and anaerobic digester gas fuelled) fuel cell CHP installations up to the limit set in the Energy Act 2008 (i.e. 5MWe) are included in the FIT during the first revision of the mechanism. This would allow the UK to use all available approaches to achieving the Government’s carbon reduction budgets and the long term target of 80% carbon emissions reductions by 2050, and would be complementary to the development of strong renewable energy capacity to meet the 2020 renewables target.

c. Fuel cell microCHP is fully incorporated in the scheme following the trial period. It would fall under the category of natural gas-fired CHP under 50kW, as stated in the Energy Act 2008.

2. 2 Focusing support for commercial development

In any innovative product development process, the final phase (taking a prototype from the laboratory and turning it into a cost-competitive, engineered and quality assured product) is typically the most costly point on the curve. In established businesses this phase is usually funded internally via retained profits from other products. Given the new-to-world status of many fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies these internal sources are not available at the levels required to achieve timely product development. External assistance is required to accelerate this phase and to avoid UK companies losing their competitive advantage or relocating to more supportive countries, particularly Germany.

Assistance of this sort (at a materials and components as well as at a system level) would play a key role in bridging the gap between research and demonstration, and facilitate longer-term cost reduction through manufacturing volume increases. Making such support available not only through cooperative / consortium programmes but also to single companies to efficiently pursue their development would also accelerate this process and can be achieved through a long term commitment (at least 5 years).

Whilst the Technology Strategy Board and the Carbon Trust provide established mechanisms to support research and technology development, we believe that there is a growing need for focused support (e.g. in the form of grants and / or rolled up tax breaks) for fuel cell product development as well. Grant programmes can be very successful in stimulating technologies in their very early stages of commercialisation, as has been proved by the Low Carbon Building Programme and Clear Skies list (now the Microgeneration Certification Scheme).

There is also a need for funded work on safety, codes and standards and education in support of hydrogen production, storage and consumption.

Fuel Cells UK recommends that:

a. Total funding of £75 – £100 million over 5 years is allocated for commercial fuel cell products development. This will create certainty in the market, and work in harmony with European funding strategy, such as the Joint Technology Undertaking (JTU), maximising the ability of such support to accelerate the development process.

b. The Government should commit to the extension of capital grants in order to help the deployment of fuel cells and hydrogen in the energy market at a faster rate than would otherwise be the case

c. The level of grant available for a particular technology, whether it be fuel cells or other low carbon technology, should reflect the potential contribution of that technology to the realisation of policy objectives such as the reduction of CO2, as well as other environmental and social objectives, such as the alleviation of fuel poverty, improved energy security and minimisation of other pollutants. This will help to ensure that technologies that offer considerable energy and carbon saving potential, but which, due to low production volumes at present, are less commercially developed and consequently more expensive, receive the necessary support to bring them to market.

d. Support should be analogous to that previously adopted under the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. For instance, a purchaser of a fuel cell system could receive a capital grant of £1,000 for each kW of electrical capacity installed. Such a scheme was initiated by the US Department of Defence under their Climate Change Rebate Project, which provides $1,000/kW installed capacity. This support also applies to US operations outside of the USA (such as in Woking, Surrey, where the first stationary fuel cell was installed in the UK). Support under this scheme must not exceed one third of the overall project costs.

e. Fuel cells and hydrogen are eligible for credits under the emissions trading scheme.

f. Research to facilitate the development of codes and standard for hydrogen production, storage and use be supported.

2. 3 Providing ongoing demonstration support activity:

Demonstration programmes are a vital element in bringing high value, high cost new energy systems to market. Unlike in the USA, there is extremely limited late-stage venture capital funding available for demonstration and product development in the UK; consequently, most fuel cell companies are reliant upon State support to assist with this element of the innovation chain.

Fuel Cells UK believes that:

a. There is a clear need for a firm commitment from the Government for ongoing demonstration support programme in fuel cells and hydrogen, to build investor confidence and ensure that the UK industry continues to expand.

b. Whilst Fuel Cells UK welcomed the earlier demonstration programmes as first steps in supporting demonstration in the UK, there is a need for an ongoing strategy of support. In order for the UK to compete effectively, we believe a minimum figure of £100–£150 million over five years from 2011 is required.

d. Demonstration programmes are a key support tool in the funding landscape along with forward commitment and regulatory support. It is vital that they are well designed and tailored to the needs of the industry, and that different support mechanisms dovetail to provide access to funds at all stages of development, ensuring that the risks of investment are rewarded.

e. The Government should learn from successful programmes and strategies adopted overseas, e.g. Japan, USA and Germany, where there are currently major development programmes.

2.4 Using Forward Commitment Procurement

Forward Commitment Procurement (FCP) is a valuable tool for underwriting the investment required in scaling up production, and in placing the risks of new technology introduction with those parties best placed to manage them (technology risk with the supplier and market risk with the purchaser). An FCP process helps to set clear objectives for the technology and create the market confidence that is required to attract further investment and development, despite requiring no additional funding.

Forward orders under forward procurement deals have a proven track record of stimulating growth and development. Recent FCP examples include deals for tens of thousands of products between fuel cell CHP companies and utilities – including two leading fuel cell companies, Ceramic Fuel Cells and Ceres Power that entered agreements with EWE and Centrica respectively.

Internationally, a number of governments have used FCP to stimulate commercialization of new technologies. One example is a Swedish procurement competition for heat pumps in 1990s that led to significant reduction in ground source heat pump costs and expansion of sales. Other Swedish procurement competitions resulted in similarly impressive results for energy efficient ventilation systems as well as small scale solar heating and household water appliances.

Fuel Cells UK:

a. Strongly supports the principles of Forward Commitment to Buy (FCB) as an economic tool within the business to business sector, to drive investment and innovation.

b. Strongly supports the previous Government’s commitment, set out in its Sustainable Procurement Action Plan, to Forward Commitment Procurement (FCP) in the public sector, to promote socially and environmentally beneficial technologies and as a tool for realising policy objectives.

c. Believes that the Government should design a framework for managing and evaluating FCP projects to ensure that costs and specifications are appropriately set and that the needs of the market have been adequately taken into account in the design of any programme.

d. Recommends that the Government facilitates the development of a suite of Forward Commitment Programmes to support the use of fuel cells and hydrogen energy in a range of applications, thus helping to accelerate commercialisation of fuel cells and development of hydrogen infrastructure, in turn bringing forward the associated policy benefits. These could be applied at central, regional or local level, with economies of scale being achievable where several regions / locations collaborate on the procurement.

2.5 Ensuring appropriate regulation

In order to deliver policy objectives, the Government should, over time, introduce legislative requirements to purchase fuel cells and use hydrogen as a low carbon fuel. The introduction of a microgeneration obligation into building regulations is one of the most effective ways of supporting uptake of modern microgeneration technologies including fuel cells. In the UK, an example of how such regulations can work effectively is the requirement to install high efficiency boilers. At the same time, the planning barriers to the use of hydrogen and fuel cells must be removed, and local / regional governments should be provided with hydrogen and fuel cell projects implementation training from central Government.

Fuel Cells UK would like to see the Government:

a. Introducing a requirement that a certain level of fuel cell capability should be installed in new buildings. This will help bring this technology forward and will be similar to the one already existing for high efficiency boilers.

b. Minimise planning and other constraints associated with the implementation of fuel cell and hydrogen projects through appropriate regulations, and provide training to local and regional governments.

2. 6 Introducing Enhanced Capital Allowances and Tax Breaks for the low carbon industry

Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECAs) are a mechanism which allows businesses to write off the whole of the capital cost of their investment in eligible technologies against their taxable profits of the period during which they make the investment. They are a strong incentive for utilities in the context of installed capacity. Under current rules, whereas 1GW centralised capacity would qualify for ECAs, 1GW decentralised capacity would not.

Fuel Cells UK advises that:

a. There is a need for a level playing field to address this inconsistency. The introduction of such an incentive would effectively be cost neutral for the Government and go a long way to incentivising the development of a sustainable, low carbon energy network.

b. In addition, the Government should consider supporting product development through the existing corporation tax system. This could include measures such as an extension of the current R&D tax credit system to enable claims to be made against a wider range of expenditure and against part-funded development programmes, or additional tax credits against product development expenditure payable in cash rather than offset against future taxable profits.

Fuel Cells UK will be delighted to work with all parts of the newly established Government to help ensure that fuel cells deliver their potential to help grow the UK economy and address energy and environmental policy goals.

Producing energy and recovering copper from waste water at the same time: this is what Wageningen UR environmental technologists are doing with their new microbial fuel cell.

‘We obtain quite a lot of electricity from the process. In addition, copper dissolved in water is turned into a layer of copper on the electrode of the microbial fuel cell’, says Annemiek ter Heijne, who published the basic principles of the microbial fuel cell in Environmental Science & Technology in the beginning of June.
In microbial fuel cells bacteria grow on anodes. They break down the organic waste in water and produce electrons. These electrons transmute the copper solution in the water into solid copper on the cathode of the fuel cell. Here an orange layer emerges which consists of pure copper. To make this process possible a special type of membrane is needed that regulates the pH value in the fuel cell.Scaling up
Ter Heijne has now described the principles underlying this microbial fuel cell. Further research is needed to scale up and apply the process. She is thinking of applying the process in Chile, for example, to purify waste water from the copper mines and simultaneously convert biomass into energy. An elegant feature of the microbial fuel cell is that it enables environmental technologists to vary the extraction of copper and energy. Under oxygen-free (anaerobic) conditions 85 percent of the electrons produced by bacteria reclaim copper in solid form; under oxygen-rich (aerobic) conditions this is only 43 percent. In the latter case the fuel cell produces more energy. ‘If your particular aim is to remove copper, it’s better to work under oxygen-free conditions. But if you want to produce electricity, you have to add more oxygen’, says Ter Heijne. The energy output of her prototype is high. Her guess is that copper acts as a catalyst in the production of energy. / Albert Sikkema

Fuel Cell Seminar & Exposition President, Sam Logan today announced the appointment of Mike Hicks to the Board of Directors. The appointment comes just 5 months ahead of the Fuel Cell Seminar & Exhibition. Mr. Hicks’ replaces outgoing Board Member Jerry Hallmark, Manager of Micro Technologies Research Lab at Motorola. Mr. Logan said “Jerry’s dedicated service contributed to the success of the FCS&E during his 3 years on the Board. I, along with the rest of the Board, thank him for the leadership and insight that he brought to the team.”

Of Mr. Hicks’ appointment, Mr. Logan went on to say “Mike is perfect individual to continue the passionate energy that Jerry brought to the team. His years of experience and deep understanding of the industry’s needs enable the FCS&E to continue providing a Conference that focuses on commercializing fuel cells and moving the industry forward.”

Mr. Hicks, a Fuel Cell Engineer at IdaTech LLC and a current member of the US Fuel Cell Council Board of Directors, highlighted his honor of being nominated by saying, “I am very grateful for the appointment and look forward to working with the FCS&E Board to ensure that the FCS&E remains the premier Fuel Cell Conference.”

The 2010 Fuel Cell Seminar & Exposition, will be held October 18-21, 2010 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, in San Antonio, Texas. With many major fuel cell manufacturers and suppliers located in the United States, this industry is poised to deliver on the promise of green growth, clean energy and American jobs. With over 140 international exhibitors anticipated, the 2010 Fuel Cell Seminar & Exposition continues its reign as one of the largest expos of its kind.

This year’s conference, Fuel Cells: Delivering the Power of a Greener Future, expands on the conference’s mission to advance the global energy, environmental, and economic benefits offered by fuel cell technology. Featured activities include the popular , “Women in Fuel Cells” event, plenary sessions, short courses and industry receptions.

IdaTech, LLC of Bend, Oregon, designs, develops, and manufactures extended run backup power fuel cell products for telecommunications and other critical power applications.

Learn More about the Fuel Cell Seminar & Exposition by visiting: FuelCellSeminar.com

The Fuel Cell Seminar & Exposition is managed by the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance.

The South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance is a non-profit partnership of government, business, academia and citizens working together to grow the economies of local communities, the state and the nation, to enable energy security and to limit our environmental footprint with the use of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies that are cost-effective, convenient and produced with local resources.

Washington, DC–The Electric Drive Transportation Association, the National Hydrogen Association and U.S. Fuel Cell Council added their support today to dramatically increase the U.S. investment in clean energy technologies.

“Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are an essential part of America’s energy solution. Commercial fuel cells will deliver clean, efficient energy at home and at work, create hundreds of thousands of American jobs and, together with other technologies, eliminate the need for gasoline for passenger vehicles,” the organizations said in a joint statement.

“Fuel cells make energy electrochemically, without combustion, from hydrogen and hydrogen rich fuels. Some of the largest and most progressive companies in America are already using fuel cells for highly reliable heat and power, to guarantee computer and telephone communications, move goods, keep food cold and travelers and students warm. Thousands of average Americans have driven fuel cell electric vehicles and hundreds of thousands are expected on the road in the next decade.

“Fuel cells and hydrogen energy are American engineered, American manufactured and domestically fueled. America can capture 250,000 jobs in the next 10 years making, installing and servicing fuel cells, according to Fuel Cell Today. But those jobs are not guaranteed. There is an intense international competition. A stronger public investment in fuel cells will allow America to keep its lead, and capture its share of green jobs, profits and energy security benefits,” the organizations said.

“The industry and government have had a strong partnership in developing hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, although federal investment has been decreasing in recent years. Going forward, a clarification of priorities is needed,” the organizations said. “To achieve our national goals for increased security and reduced pollutants, the U.S. must expand its commitment to the clean energy options that hydrogen and fuels provide. We have learned from other advanced energy opportunities lost that it will be more expensive to buy these technologies back from foreign competitors if we let them finish what the U.S. has started.”

· Fuel cells and hydrogen can help free America from the menace of oil dependence. Fuel cell passenger vehicles are 2-3 times more efficient than today’s gasoline powered vehicles and can achieve the equivalent of 60 to 70 miles per gallon. In combination with other technologies, fuel cell vehicles can reduce light duty demand for gasoline nearly to zero by 2050 and can achieve an 80% CO2 reduction, according to the National Academies of Science and the NHA’s Energy Evolution study.

· Fuel cells advance integration of renewables, such as solar and wind power, into the electricity grid by enhancing their stability. Whatever the source, fuel cells save energy, save customers money and reduce emissions.

· Fuel cell power systems are 80% to 90% efficient when both heat and electricity are generated for homes or businesses. Systems optimized to produce electricity achieve 50% or greater electrical efficiency-many times greater than generators. Residential fuel cells reduce home energy use by one-third or more.

· Fuel cells reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Compared to conventional technologies, reductions start at a minimum of 20% to 60% for power systems and 50% from passenger cars when natural gas is used. These reductions increase to 100% when renewable energy is used to make hydrogen to fuel the fuel cell.

EDTA, NHA, and USFCC collectively represent more than 200 companies and organizations.

Wärtsilä’s fuel cell unit WFC20 started its journey in Espoo, Finland. It was in May installed onboard the car carrier ‘Undine* of Wallenius

Wärtsilä’s WFC20 fuel cell unit has been installed onboard the ’Undine’, a car carrier, owned by Swedish Wallenius Lines and managed by Wallenius Marine. This unique power unit is the first of its kind in the world, and will during the test period provide auxiliary power to the vessel while producing close to zero emissions. This project is an important step towards more environmentally sound shipping and cleaner seaborne transportation.

The fuel cell unit, which has a nominal output of 20 kW, is based on planar solid oxide fuel cell technology (SOFC), and fuelled with methanol. Methanol is particularly suited for fuelling the WFC20 since it can be easily reformed to a composition suitable for the unit. Methanol can be produced from natural gas, or from renewable raw materials such as gasificated biomass. Methanol is a commonly used liquid in the oil and process industries, and is available in all major harbours.

Installation of the WFC20 fuel cell unit onboard the ‘Undine’ is the result of a joint project by the international METHAPU consortium. The participants in the consortium are Wärtsilä, Wallenius Marine, Lloyd’s Register, Det Norske Veritas, and the University of Genoa, each of whom is globally active in the field of fuel cell system integration, sustainable shipping, classification work or environmental assessment. The project has been funded with EUR 1 million from the European Union, and is part of the European Community Framework Programme (FP6).

The principal aim of the METHAPU project has been to validate and demonstrate new technologies for global shipping that can reduce the environmental impact of vessels. In addition, a further major aim is to establish the necessary international regulations for the use of methanol onboard commercial vessels, and to allow the use of methanol as a marine fuel.

“The development of sustainable sea transportation is a long term target and one that Wallenius Marine is strongly committed to. The METHAPU project supports this vision, not only through developing sustainable fuel cell technology for commercial transportation applications, but also by providing the opportunity to utilize a new renewable marine fuel. Furthermore, Wärtsilä’s deep expertise in SOFC fuel cell technology provides us with a solid platform from which to gain useful experience for the future,” says Per Croner, President, Wallenius Marine.

The ‘Undine’, with the Wärtsilä FC20 unit installed, sailed from the German port of Bremerhaven in May. From there it has headed for the USA, via Sweden and the UK. The validation process carried out at sea will provide excellent feedback and valuable information for the future development of this technology for marine environment applications.
Essential part of Wärtsilä’s strategy

Fuel cells are considered to be one of the most exciting energy technologies for the future. In addition to methanol, Wärtsilä’s fuel cells can efficiently utilize various gases as fuel and produce almost zero nitrogen oxide (NOx), sulphur oxide (SOx) and particulate emissions, all of which are harmful to the environment. It is expected, therefore, that fuel cell technology will also offer significant benefits to the shipping industry, where international emission regulations are becoming increasingly stringent.

The development of fuel cell technology is a part of Wärtsilä’s long-term product development, aimed at supplementing the company’s product portfolio. The development of environmentally friendly and sustainable energy production technologies is an essential part of Wärtsilä’s strategy. In 2008, Wärtsilä delivered a unique fuel cell unit, producing electricity and heating to the Vaasa Housing Fair site in Finland. The WFC20 unit, used in this project, runs on methane rich gas originating from a nearby landfill, and was developed and is operated by Wärtsilä.

Solvay Group, a chemical company based in Belgium, will seek cooperation with Korean companies to jointly develop fuel-cell battery and solar energy products.

The chemical company plans to create a $40 million venture fund for the joint projects with Korean companies and also to establish an R&D center here, officials at the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the state-run Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, said.

To find its partners, the company said it will take part in Global Alliance Project Series program, designed and operated by KOTRA. The program is aimed at bridging global corporations and domestic firms, institutions and universities for joint technology research and business alliances.

GE, Qualcomm, Johnson & Johnson, Novatis and Sanofi-Aventis are currently participating in the program.

Solvay is to unveil it plans on development and production of renewable energy and lithium batteries on Friday in front of executives from Korean companies and institutions. On the same day, it will announce its participation in KOTRA’s GAPS program in Seoul, a KOTRA official said.

The chemical company plans to consult with Korean firms who wish to join the venture, she said.

Solvay Group recently sold its pharmaceutical unit for $6.6 billion to make investments in the renewable energy sector. The company has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Ulsan city government to establish an R&D center for fuel cell and solar energy production in April, KOTRA said.

Proton Power Systems plc (AIM:PPS), a leading designer, developer and producer of fuel cells and fuel cell electric hybrid systems, is delighted to announce that it has received approval and support for non refundable grant funding in relation to projects worth in total €9.2 million from the National Innovation Programme (”NIP”) of the German Government and has secured a bank facility of €2 million for advances against the grant income. The non refundable grants are being provided in relation to R&D expenditure and to the Company’s agreement with Smith Electric Vehicles announced on 2 February 2010.

The NIP will grant fund 48 per cent. of R&D expenditure incurred by Proton up to €5.4 million.

The NIP will also make available to the end customers grant funds of 48 per cent. of the cost of purchasing electric vehicles up to €3.8 million.

John Wall, Chairman of Proton Power, commented: “This is a major new development in the external funding of the company and will facilitate the rapid expansion of our design, testing and stack development for transport and high power applications. It will in particular support our project for the supply of 20 light-duty vehicles with Smith Electric Vehicles.”

bout Proton Power Systems plc

Proton Power Systems plc is a developer and manufacturer of fuel cells and fuel cell hybrid systems for motive and stationary power supply.  Its sales-driven strategy focuses on identifying applications with the greatest market needs and supplying large volumes of cost-competitive systems to fulfil those needs.  Proton Power is gaining access to a broad range of markets through partnerships with leading OEMs such as Skoda Electric and Smith Electric Vehicles, in addition to contract manufacturers such as Deutsche Mechatronics.

Proton Power’s motive applications include forklifts, city buses, municipal utility vehicles, commercial vehicles and ferries.  Stationary applications focus on the Uninterruptible Power Supply (”UPS”) sector, where there is a large demand for mission-critical, grid-independent secure power supply in places such as telecommunications stations, data centres, hospitals, and power substations.

Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH (”Proton Motor”), the Group has developed and deployed fuel cell modules that can be integrated with energy storage media to create hybrid fuel cell systems.  Proprietary, intelligent energy management software balances the power output across the system to maximise efficiency and improve power delivery.  The system therefore boasts lower fuel consumption and more consistent levels of power delivery than conventional diesel/combustion engine or fuel cell-only systems, while producing zero harmful emissions.

Proton Power Systems plc was admitted to trading on AIM on 31 October 2006 and is incorporated in the UK.  Proton Motor has more than 15 years of experience in the fuel cell market and is located in Puchheim, near Munich, Germany.

www.protonpowersystems.com

Acta (AIM:ACTA), the clean energy products company, has unveiled the world’s first hydrogen-powered tender, at the European Sailing Championships being held this week in Viareggio, Italy.  The new tender, branded “HIDRO” incorporates Acta’s award-winning hydrogen generator at the heart of the HIDRO concept, and demonstrates the potential of the hydrogen generator to transform the way in which recreational boats and vehicles are powered.

Acta has developed the tender in partnership with Callegari S.p.A., a leading Italian brand in the production of inflatable boats and dinghies.  Two HIDRO tenders have been servicing sailing boats at the Championships, prior to their full commercial launch at the forthcoming Genoa Boat Show in early October. The tenders run on a hybrid battery / fuel cell outboard motor system, powered by hydrogen from Acta’s highly innovative hydrogen generator which is, in turn, powered by solar PV panels.

Acta is demonstrating a number of ground breaking products at its hydrogen village, established in Viareggio during the championships, which have received an enthusiastic reception from spectators and competitors alike. Visitors have been able to test drive Acta’s hydrogen bikes, which are also recharged via a hydrogen generator connected to solar PV panels. These panels have been built into a 1kW collapsible aluminium canopy, under which the bikes are stored; an arrangement that has been purpose-designed by Acta to facilitate the usability of such recreational vehicles.

Paolo Bert, Chief Executive, commented: “We are very proud to have introduced the world’s first hydrogen-powered tender to the public. This year has seen our market-leading hydrogen generator become the crucial foundation for a new age of clean energy mobility in recreational boats, vehicles and camping equipment.

Acta’s presence at the championships has enabled us to demonstrate, in an engaging and striking way, how these technologies complete the missing hydrogen link in the renewable energy value chain.  We have been able to demonstrate the ease with which these products can be recharged from solar energy in a cheap and environmentally-friendly way. We now look forward to promoting and developing this domestic-scale solar-hydrogen infrastructure into many new markets.”

Leicester and a second as yet unnamed UK city are to trial UK startup Riversimple’s hydrogen fuel cell powered cars.

The 12 month pilot in Leicester, which will be underway by spring 2012, hopes to attract both individuals and organisations to test drive 30 of the two-seater vehicles. Riversimple also plans to site and operate a refuelling point as well.

The company says it is in “serious discussion” with a second city to operate another trial in parallel. Last summer, the company was talking to Oxford and Worcester about a possible trial.

The car itself, which is currently being built at Silverstone, has a maximum speed of 50 mph and a range of 200 miles on a single tank of hydrogen. Its lightweight composite construction means it only weighs 350 kg and can do the equivalent of 300 mpg.

If the trial is a success, the company says it will talk to Leicester City Council about siting a production facility in the city to produce 5000 vehicles a year.

The vehicle first launched last summer and includes the Ernst Piëch family, part of the Porsche dynasty among its backers. The company is now in its second round of funding to raise £20 million.

Riversimple says that the vehicle will not go on sale to customers, but will cost around £200 a month plus 15p per mile including fuel, in a deal rather like a mobile phone contract.

The trial has been commended by new Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne, who said:

“A radical transformation of our transport network is needed in the next forty years and this is another great example of British innovation developing low carbon solutions to bring that about.”

For further information:
www.riversimple.com/
www.decc.gov.uk

ITM Power, the energy storage and clean fuel company, is pleased to announce that its CEO, Dr. Graham Cooley, has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the US Fuel Cell Council (USFCC).

The USFCC is a member-led industry association that aims to promote the development and use of fuel cells, as well as influence public policy for the industry.  Members of the USFCC include the world’s leading fuel cell developers, manufacturers, suppliers and customers.

Commenting on his appointment, Dr. Graham Cooley said; “I am delighted to have been elected to the Executive Committee of the USFCC.  We see the US as a vital early adopter of hydrogen technology and ITM’s novel membrane technology will have a significant role to play in the future development of the hydrogen economy. Our involvement in the USFCC builds on the relationship we have developed with the NextEnergy Center in Detroit.  We are very excited with how things are developing for us in the US”.

Ruth Cox, Executive Director of the U.S. Fuel Cell Council, commented: “We are pleased to have Dr. Cooley on our Executive Committee.  His knowledge of the clean energy industry and hydrogen technologies will be invaluable to our team. ITM Power’s range of electrolyzers and other clean energy products will also greatly enhance the portfolio of clean energy solutions available to American homes and businesses.”

For further information please visit www.itm-power.com or
http://www.usfcc.com/usfcc/members.html#Exec

The University of Glamorgan is helping to boost the economy and improve the environment, through the creation of 20 new posts that will drive forward the hydrogen economy in Wales.

The posts encompass chemists, physicists, engineers, biotechnologists, modellers and economists, and will be funded by the £6.3 million CymruH2Wales project that the University launched earlier this year.

CymruH2Wales aims to develop capacity for the industrial development of hydrogen technologies. Hydrogen could have huge environmental and economic benefits in several areas including:

•More efficient management of existing and future renewable electricity generating technologies such as wind, PV and marine through the generation of hydrogen as an energy store during times of peak generation (i.e. where generation exceeds demand). This energy can then be released back to the grid on demand.

•Use of hydrogen (or hydrogen / methane blends) as a transport fuel to replace fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel.

•The generation of biologically derived hydrogen (and methane) gas by using sustainable organic resources such as crops, crop residues, industrial co-products and wastes, recovery and clean-up of gases and utilisation of intermediates for use in manufacturing other low carbon products.

•More efficient generation of electricity and heat within a distributed grid system through the development and deployment of hydrogen fuel cell technologies (which are more efficient at generating electricity than traditional generators).

•The capture and utilisation of hydrogen rich industrial waste gases.

•The integration of hydrogen (and renewable methane) gas into the existing national gas grid.

It is intended that the new posts will conduct research and develop products and processes to support all of these.

Professor Alan Guwy commented, “These posts are a really positive sign that hydrogen research and development can deliver huge economic benefits. We are hoping to attract the best researchers in order to ensure a significant concentration of academic and industrial hydrogen expertise for the project.”

The posts will be spread across eight work packages that include:
H2 Energy Storage – research into the way that hydrogen technologies can integrate with renewables such as wind and solar power to store energy during times of excess generation.

H2 / CH4 Vehicles & Refuelling Infrastructure – development of engine test facilities and utilisation of these to bring hydrogen as a vehicle fuel closer to market. This work package also seeks to further the development of a fledgling hydrogen refuelling network in South Wales.

Bio H2 / CH4 Process Development – evaluation of the potential to generate hydrogen from organic resources available in Wales, and an analysis of the technologies and supply chains required to realise this. This work package will also develop a bio hydrogen production platform which is technically, economically and environmentally optimised for industrial application.

Recovery and Clean Up of Product Gases and Intermediates – investigation of the technologies available / required to clean up biological / industrial waste gases so that they can be used in fuel cells, engines and the gas grid. This work package also includes the development of processes for the separation, conversion and recovery of residues and intermediates from the bio hydrogen production process that will allow generation of valuable low carbon products.

Development of Product Gas, Intermediate and By Product End Uses – an assessment of how bio hydrogen can integrate with end use technologies and demonstrating how intermediates and by products from the biological process can be used to manufacture high value, low carbon products.
Economic and Life Cycle Assessment – quantification of the economic viability and environmental sustainability of the processes and products developed.

Project Management– this includes the administrative elements needed to ensure that the project is delivered on time, within budget and meets the objectives outlined below.

Communication, Reporting, Dissemination – dissemination of the knowledge gathered to industry or other relevant stakeholders to encourage the uptake of promising technologies and products.

Recruitment for the posts will start shortly with a view to successful applicants being in post over the summer. For further information on any of the positions please contact Professor Alan Guwy or Jon Maddy: jmaddy@glam.ac.uk

ITM Power, the energy storage and clean fuel company, is pleased to announce that DHL Supply Chain and London Stansted Airport have both signed agreements to participate in Hydrogen On Site Trials (HOST) of ITM Power’s transportable high pressure refuelling unit (HFuel). The unit under construction is supported by a Technology Strategy Board (TSB) grant (announced February 2010) and partners Gateway to London and Revolve Technologies.

HOST will begin in 2011, and will see the operation and refueling of two Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (HICE) Revolve Technologies Ford Transit vehicles with hydrogen produced on site at the point of use, at sites operated by participating companies and in the Gateway to London development area.

Membership of HOST provides each partner with a one week free trial of HFuel and the two Revolve HICE transit vehicles, and an option to lease both HFuel and vehicles for additional weeks. The demonstrations will be 100% managed and operated by ITM Power personnel, in liaison with site owners’ operations and management.

Commenting for ITM Power, CEO Graham Cooley said “We are delighted that such high profile transport logistics companies have agreed to join the HOST programme. They will appraise the potential of our technology to decarbonise return to base transport logisitics vehicles and address the important sustainability issue of eliminating the carbon footprint of their fuel supply. The trials are an important part of demonstrating the potential of ITM Power’s HFuel technology to the marketplace and we expect other transport logistics companies to be joining the HOST scheme in the near future.”

Keith Tress, Head of Engineering, Customer Management, DHL Supply Chain added “DHL is pleased to support ITM Power in the development of its Transportable High Pressure Hydrogen Refuelling Station and Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engines, which could make a significant contribution to our goal of reducing CO2 by 30 per cent by 2020.”

David Johnston, Managing Director of London Stansted Airport Ltd, said “Despite air quality at Stansted Airport being well within UK and EU standards, at Stansted we are continually looking for new and innovative ways in which we can further reduce our emissions.  This is reflected in the development of our new Air Quality Strategy and in this exciting new opportunity we are very proud to be part of with ITM Power.  We look forward to discovering and testing how hydrogen could be developed as a viable alternative fuel for airport vehicles.”

John Williams, Chief Executive of Gateway to London said “I am delighted to see major logistics companies have signed up to trial ITM Power’s green hydrogen refuelling system along with improved performance HICE transit vans.  Sustainable transport logistics will be vital for London to realise its recent launch of the Green Enterprise District.  I congratulate the participant companies in grasping ITM Power’s HOST opportunity and look forward to demonstration in the Thames Gateway development area of London”