FuelCellsWorks

Toho Tenax Co. announced Sept. 15 that it has developed a carbon-fiber gas diffusion layer for use as an electrode component in fuel cells.

It said the new fabric-type layer is more durable and reliable than contemporary paper components and will facilitate lower manufacturing costs in the future and substantially improve performance.

Gas-diffusion layers supply hydrogen and oxygen to fuel cells while collecting electrons and discharging water.

Toho Tenax is part of the Teijin Group.

A Florida State University engineering professor’s innovative research with nanomaterials could one day lead to a new generation of hydrogen fuel cells that are less expensive, smaller, lighter and more durable — advantages that might make them a viable option for widespread use in automobiles and in military and industrial technology.

Jim P. Zheng

Jim P. Zheng is a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the Florida A&M University-Florida State University College of Engineering, as well as a researcher at FSU’s Center for Advanced Power Systems. Working with a material known as carbon nanotubes — essentially a form of carbon that is extraordinarily light and that easily conducts heat or electricity — he has designed a thin material, or membrane, that could reduce the need for expensive platinum components in hydrogen fuel cells.

“The driving issue involved in mass production of such fuel cells is one of cost,” Zheng said. “Current hydrogen fuel cells use a platinum catalyst, making them too expensive to even consider producing on a large scale. However, by using carbon nanotube membranes, which are highly conductive and with unique properties, it might be possible to reduce the amount of platinum that is required. And since the membrane is thinner and lighter than current components, the fuel cell can be smaller and yet still provide the same amount of power.”

Known as polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells, or PEMFCs, this technology was initially developed for military and spacecraft applications at GE. To date, the technology has been extended to a wider scope of applications, with the potential to power a range of devices from mobile phones and laptops to cars, buses, boats, houses and even spacecraft.

Zheng’s research has captured the attention of a technology company that hopes to develop it further. Bing Energy Inc., a manufacturer of state-of-the-art components for PEMFCs based in Chino, Calif., has entered into a commercialization agreement with Florida State that gives it exclusive use of Zheng’s patented technology. As part of the agreement, Zheng’s team will develop several prototypes of fuel cells employing the carbon nanotube membranes; Bing Energy representatives will then evaluate them to gauge their effectiveness and potential for mass-production.

“What Dr. Zheng has developed is truly the ‘better, faster, cheaper’ story applied to fuel cells,” said Richard Hennek, Bing Energy’s vice president for business development. “He has cleverly utilized the latest in nanotechnology to provide a dramatically better solution for the PEM fuel cell. Performance improvements of 40-plus percent, durability improvements of 25 percent, and all at a lower cost make for a compelling story. We at Bing Energy Inc. are truly excited to be working with Dr. Zheng and FSU to bring this technology to the marketplace.”

While a commercialization agreement provides no guarantee that a product will ultimately make it to the marketplace, Florida State officials nevertheless expressed satisfaction that university-generated technology was deemed worthy of a formal relationship  with Bing Energy Inc.

“What this means is that someone outside the university with significant knowledge in the energy field has recognized the commercial potential of Professor Zheng’s work,” said John Fraser, director of FSU’s Office of Intellectual Property Development and Commercialization. “They’re essentially saying, ‘We like this technology and we want to license it because we believe it can lead to a significant breakthrough in the production of affordable hydrogen fuel cells.’

“Partnerships like this one between university researchers and outside organizations contribute to Florida State’s core mission by helping to develop products and knowledge for the benefit of society,” Fraser said.

FSU Vice President for Research Kirby Kemper emphasized the importance of energy research such as Zheng’s at a time when the many economic, environmental and national-security issues related to the United States’ dependence on oil make headlines every day.

“The ability to put into production a cheaper fuel cell than currently exists on the market has the potential to move society toward the affordable-energy storage and production processes that are needed to make full use of renewable energy sources,” Kemper said.

Cape Town — Naledi Pandor, the Minister of Science and Technology, wants South Africa to achieve 25 percent of the global market in the production of hydrogen and fuel cell catalysts, using novel platinum group metal catalysts.

With platinum being a key component for most fuel cells, Pandor believes the country is well placed to do so, particularly as it has three quarters of the world’s platinum reserves.

Speaking at the official opening of a hydrogen fuel cell research laboratory in the Cape Town, Pandor said the country must compete with the UK and Korea, who were world leaders in hydrogen fuel research.

She said while Daimler, Hyundai, Honda and Toyota have all announced plans to have fuel-cell vehicles ready for the market by 2015, there were reports that the UK was planning to have hydrogen driven black cabs in time for the 2012 Olympics.

The UWC Competence Centre on Hydrogen Technology Validation and Systems Integration, University of the Western Cape (HySA Systems), which Pandor officially opened today, is part of the South African Institute for Advanced Materials Chemistry based at the University of the Western Cape.

The centre is one of three hydrogen fuel research institutes, or HySA centres, set up by the government following the approval of the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Research, Development and Innovation Strategy by Cabinet in May 2007.

Mintek and the University of Cape Town co-hosts the Hydrogen Catalysis Centre of Competence, while the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the North-West University co-host the Hydrogen Infrastructure Centre of Competence.

Pandor said the HySA centres were working towards developing capabilities in three main areas, namely in combined heat and power systems, portable power systems, and hydrogen fuelled vehicles – with human capital development as a cross-cutting focus.

The centres have developed strategic collaborations with academia and industry both locally and abroad, with leading players in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in Germany, Norway and China.

Turning to the HySA Systems unit which she officially opened today, Pandor said her department had so far spent R59 million on baseline and project funding for the laboratory.

She heaped praise on the Director of HySA Systems and Norwegian expert, Dr Oystein Ulleberg, pointing out that since the appointment of Ulleberg in September 2008 the centre had developed in leaps and bounds.

“My department realised early on that South Africa, which entered the field rather late, will not be able to succeed on its own, and we therefore made it a contractual obligation for HySA to recruit internationally recognised experts like Dr Ulleberg in the field of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies,” said Pandor.

The large amount of project funding that the centre had won since its launch, R56 million, was indicative of the progress Ulleberg and his colleagues were making, she said.

“Last month we saw the fruits of HySA’s research efforts at the launch of Ahi Fambeni, a hydrogen-fuelled bicycle powered by HySA Systems’ innovative metal hydride storage technology. I am sure that many more innovative ideas will be coming to the fore,” she said

The minister said she was particularly pleased to note that in just one year Ulleberg had been able to more than double the number of student research assistants, but she hoped however that he would soon be able to attract more women and black students to the laboratory

She said her department was also running an awareness campaign through the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement, to publicise the message that hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are a clean, safe, and sustainable energy solution for the future.

The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Public Awareness, Demonstration and Education Platform targets pupils and students, the general public, the private sector, key decision makers and entrepreneurs.

The objectives of the HySA Public Awareness is to spread the word about hydrogen and fuel cell technologies as clean, safe, and sustainable energy solutions for the future, as well as to facilitate the demonstration of such technologies through a visual programme.

Pandor said hydrogen and fuel cell technologies were part of the energy grand challenge, one of the department’s five “grand challenge” fields.

“Grand challenges are an important organizing principle for science, technology, and innovation policy. This is how the US organises its innovation strategy and how the EU is planning to organise its innovation strategy,” she said.

The launch of Hydrogen South Africa Infrastructure, attached to the University of the Western Cape, follows the release last week of the department’s National Survey of Research and Experimental Development report for 2008/2009, which revealed the country was still falling short of its target of spending one percent of gross development product (GDP) on research and development (R&D).

The report revealed the country’s spend on R&D dropped slightly from 0.93% of GDP to 0.92% of GDP last year.

Pandor said the country had an obligation to use science and technology to develop the country and assist South Africans and boost economic growth.

She said at the launch today that it was necessary for South Africa to also assist other African countries to develop their research capabilities, pointing out that South Africa would not advance if the continent itself remained failed to grow and develop.

Myron Kukla | The Grand Rapids Press

HOLLAND — The stage is set for West Michigan to capitalize on its edge in the developing green energy fuel-cell industry, says an economic development leader.

“We have an elephant-sized opportunity to be the North American center for excellence in battery production — an opportunity with the potential for $2 billion in investment and 10,000 jobs by 2020,” Randy Thelen, Lakeshore Advantage president, told Holland Chamber of Commerce members on Tuesday.

That potential started with Johnson Controls-Saft and Korean battery manufacturer LG Chem investing a combined $550 million plus $151 million in federal stimulus funding in ion-lithium battery plants on the city’s south side. The batteries are expected to power the upcoming generation of electric vehicles.

Johnson Controls-Saft is expected to start small-scale production this fall with expansion in 2011, while LG Chem plans to open in early 2012. Assembly line jobs are in the $14-an-hour range, with the two companies expected to need 850 to 1,000 employees when in full production.

Thelen, who heads up the area’s economic development group, said that for West Michigan to become a true leader in the new fuel cell industry, it must:

• Promote itself to the world market.
• Develop a supply chain to support the cell industry.
• Provide trained and educated employees.
• Leverage the region’s engineering and design capabilities.

“There’s a lot of hard work yet to be done, (and) we all need to have that fire in the belly to get out and do it,” said Thelen speaking before 300 at the Haworth Inn and Conference Center.

The new industry’s trickle-down effects are working into the plans of local companies and manufacturers.

Dan Nally, Holland Board of Public Works business systems director, said he forecasts a 15 percent to 30 percent increase in power use for the utility.

“We currently have a demand of 200 megawatts per day, and the two plants will increase that by 30 megawatts,” he said. “At night, we drop to 100 megawatt demand, but those operations will continue at 30 megawatts, boosting our nightly power output by 30 percent.”

Saugatuck-based Diverse Global Industrial Solutions, which manufacturers reusable packaging, also has an eye on possible new business from the plants.

“Those batteries have to be packed securely for shipping and transport to distributors and buyers, and we see an opportunity in that area for us,” said company controller Rick Kraai.

A just-released study (PDF) by Lakeshore Advantage’s advanced energy storage task force recommends attracting additional support companies to West Michigan to build an “economic cluster” of world-class businesses.

“The objective is to establish an advanced energy storage cluster by attracting supply chain companies to the region, which will result in billions of dollars in new investment and thousands more new jobs in the next nine years,” Thelen said.

He said his group is already meeting with companies looking to open new plants here, although he declined to name them.

To make the area a global fuel-cell center will take a regional effort that ranges from communities welcoming a diverse work force from around the world, to residents seeing the value of increased employment opportunities, to colleges and universities gearing courses to provide educated top-tier workers, Thelen said.

“What we do as a community to support the idea is also important,” he said. “We should be creating charging stations (for electric and hybrid cars) all over town. Cities and companies should be looking to change their fleet vehicles to electric. Every convertible carrying Tulip Time (dignitaries) should be electric.”

 By Richard Scott Transport correspondent, BBC News

As such, Honda’s hydrogen car could be seen as a brave move; previous models made by other carmakers in the past, often as derivatives of conventinoal models, have not been put into production.

One of the big problems with electric cars is providing enough power to help a car accelerate up to a decent speed, while at the same time having enough capacity for a decent range.

Honda thinks the future development of batteries is limited, and that they will never be able to satisfy motorists wanting to use their cars for longer journeys.

But there is another way to power an electric car – hydrogen.

The car is still electric, in that it has an electric motor which turns the wheels.

The difference is in how the electricity for that motor is generated.

How it works

In cars with batteries, the electricity comes from the national grid, with owners plugging their cars in.

In a hydrogen fuel cell car, the power is stored in the form of gaseous hydrogen.

The gas – stored under pressure in a tank behind the rear seats – flows forward to the fuel cell.

In the Clarity, that sits between the front seats.

In the fuel cell a controlled reaction takes place between hydrogen and oxygen from the atmosphere.

That produces two things: water, which is the waste product and comes out of the exhaust, and electricity that is sent to the electric motor at the front of the car.

‘Seismic shift’

The big advantage, according to the car maker, is that hydrogen is a much more efficient store of energy than batteries – so the car can be used just the way you would a petrol or diesel version.

The Clarity, for example, has a top speed of 100mph (160km/h) and a range of 270 miles.

“Ever since the car has been around we’ve been dependent on fossil fuels,” says Professor David Bailey from Coventry University Business School.

“What we need to do is to move on to electric power and in the long term, hydrogen.

“This is the seismic shift in terms of technologies under-pinning how we power our cars.”

But he has a warning too.

“There’s a long way to go yet because it’s expensive, because consumers need to be educated, because the infrastructure needs to be put in place.”

Poor infrastructure

Hydrogen tanks can be filled much more quickly than batteries can be charged.

But filling up is still one of the things that are holding them back.

Honda’s Clarity is in production in Japan, but is only being leased to customers – often government officials and celebrities – in that country and California.

They have the infrastructure in place for drivers to fill up with hydrogen – but in the UK such facilities are not widespread.

At the moment there are only about 10 places across the UK where you could fill up your hydrogen car

Honda admits it will be many years before a suitable network exists.

Online info session on the Contest to be held on Sept. 21 at 3PM ET

Washington, D.C. — Today, the official rules and guidelines for the 2010-2011 Hydrogen Student Design Contest: Residential Fueling were released online at www.HydrogenContest.org. Teams have until October 15 to register for the university-level competition.

For this year’s Contest, teams are tasked with planning and designing a residential hydrogen fueling system for a home, apartment complex, dorm, or other single residential building. As a part of their entry, teams will develop a technical design; conduct an economic analysis; and develop business, marketing, and public education plans for their systems.

The Contest organizer, Hydrogen Education Foundation, will be holding a free informational webinar on the Contest for prospective participants on September 21 at 3PM ET. Information on the webinar can also be found on the Contest website. Those interested can register directly by clicking this link.

This year’s Contest is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and Proton Energy Systems. Teams of university students worldwide can now register to compete at www.hydrogencontest.org.

For more information on the Contest, please contact:

Josh Lieberman, Hydrogen Education Foundation

liebermanj@hydrogenassociation.org

202.223.5547 x322

Elsevier, a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, announced that J. Robert Selman, University Distinguished Research Professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology (Chicago, USA) and author of over 135 journal papers, will be awarded the prestigious Grove Medal at the forthcoming Grove Fuel Cell Science & Technology Conference in Zaragoza, Spain, 6-7 October 2010.

The Grove Medal is a distinction awarded to those who have made valuable contributions towards the development and success of fuel cell technology. Candidates for the Grove Medal award are selected and voted for by the Grove Steering Committee. The Medal is presented at the annual Grove Fuel Cell Event.

Robert Selman has over 30 years of experience in battery and fuel cell research and development, and the global commercialization of these technologies. His expertise is the electrochemical engineering of batteries and fuel cells and electrode materials for batteries and high-temperature fuel cell electrodes. He has six patents, among which are the basic patents for phase change material in Li-ion batteries. Following receipt of the award on Wednesday 6 October, he will give the Grove Medal Lecture to officially open the two-day conference programme.

Prof. Lars Sjunnesson, Chair of the Grove Steering Committee, is pleased to honour a fellow pioneer of fuel cell technology, “The Grove Committee is very pleased to announce this year’s Medal recipient. Robert Selman has contributed greatly to international fuel cell research and, more importantly, to the commercialization of the technology. It is fitting that he should be honoured in this way and at this important event in the fuel cell calendar.”

The storage, transportation and use of fuels are basic to our current way of life. Whether fuel is solid (coal), liquid (petroleum) or gas (methane, propane, hydrogen), each provides its own set of hazards to an emergency responder. We’re starting to see nontraditional vehicle filling stations that include methane, hydrogen, biofuels and electric charging stations.

All this provides unique and unexpected hazards emergency responders need to prepare for. The changes are generating the need for updated emergency-response equipment and techniques. They’re increasing the hazards emergency responders will encounter, requiring them to change incident-management and response tactics.

Hydrogen—An Up-and-Coming Alternative Fuel

Hydrogen—the most common gas in the universe—is quickly becoming a frequently used alternative fuel. While it’s been in use for various applications for years, the emergency service has had very simplistic interactions with its storage and use.

The typical fire department is aware of the hazards of hydrogen only as it relates to its storage, its use in some chemical labs and power plants and certainly battery applications. The development of hydrogen-powered cars and hydrogen filling and recharge stations, along with the preexisting and more common use of hydrogen, poses significant hazards to the public and the emergency service.

In most cases, a hydrogen-powered vehicle is going to be equipped with significant electrical voltage and amperage that creates a hazard in itself. In addition, such hardware is relativity expensive, and even in emergency situations, the emergency service needs to make a careful effort not to cause unnecessary damage.

The emergency-response aspect of such filling stations is a new challenge, but the demands also extend to roadways. In the case of electrical vehicles, whether hybrid or battery-powered, hazardous voltages—up to 600 VDC—are present; not only is simply cutting a wire a personnel-safety issue, but it won’t necessarily help resolve the emergency.

Some hydrogen applications are for internal-combustion engines while others involve fuel cells. With fuel cells, some designs utilize a hot, reactive liquid that precludes water-extinguishment methods. This and the electrical hazards within these cells pose a new set of considerations and hazards.

The concern is that any significant amount of hydrogen, regardless of end use and storage type, must be either stored at a high pressure (thousands of PSI) or at a very low temperature (-423F). Hydrogen has a very wide explosive range (4-75%) and burns very hot—up to 3200C or 5792F dependent on conditions. In addition, a hydrogen flame is nearly invisible in daylight.

All these properties pose great hazards to an emergency responder, no matter what type of emergency is encountered.

There’s been a lack of significant incidents involving hydrogen, so it has yet to catch the attention of the emergency service in general. Many hydrogen incidents that have occurred were in industrial settings where a department wasn’t involved.

Likewise, the standard fire in a small local garage involving hydrogen cylinders won’t attract much attention. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports are a good source for such incident data. OSHA standards relate to industrial uses and are well publicized. NIOSH reports are also available and must be reviewed by the emergency services.

Standards and Rules Concerning Alternative Fuels

There are many standards, regulations, rules and laws relating to the transportation, storage and use of these various fuels for a variety of end users. Some have been created through OHSA, NFPA, the Society of Automobile Engineers, the Department of Transportation and various industries.

In addition to staying on top of the many standards and rules, a department must also be aware of what facilities are within their jurisdictions. Appropriate preplanning is needed, with particular attention to any new apparatus and equipment required for the right response.

The Necessary Hazmat Training for Safe and Appropriate Response

Regardless of what codes and standards apply to a department (depending on what codes are adopted or cited locally), there’s an ongoing challenge with training. Firefighting operations in hydrogen environments may be covered in basic hazmat training, which can vary from rudimentary hazmat awareness to the hazmat-technician level, which covers more-detailed operations.

Resources in terms of funding and time are limited, especially in smaller, mostly volunteer departments. Adding additional training—even at a simple awareness level—requires resources that may not be available.

In reviewing state-specific listings of hydrogen-related standards, regulations and training, it is noted that more attention can be given to automotive and other applications. The fixed-installation aspects are covered in the basic hazmat work for some study, but only the very basic chemistry of hydrogen would normally be covered and then only in conjunction with other gaseous materials.

As hydrogen becomes more and more common, a growing need will develop for departments to be aware of what the potential problems are, how to handle them and how to mitigate their effects. Departments should be proactive with training to keep responders and the community safe.

A.K. Rosenhan, PE, FIFireE, CFO, serves as the fire services coordinator for Oktibbeha County, Miss., and is a professor of engineering at Mississippi State University.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CA – SEPTEMBER 13, 2010) ACAT Global, a leader in clean air technology, announced today the introduction of catalytic conversion solutions for fuel cell power sources that are one third smaller than existing products. The proprietary fuel cell applications incorporate hollow-core design and nickel-free construction for improved reformer efficiency. The firm expects to begin delivery of the revolutionary technology by year’s end.

ACAT Global’s innovative catalytic converter technology is already at work in vehicles worldwide, dramatically cutting emissions and contributing to cleaner air. ACAT’s other patented technology, including a truck emissions retrofit device, and an APU reefer emissions solution capitalize on aggressive emissions policies worldwide, and in North America, as set by both the EPA and CARB.

“ACAT Global has built an enviable name for itself by making the most efficient catalytic converter monoliths on the market,” notes Director of Communications, Leisa Cuddy. “The company has a deep commitment to research and development, an is exploring partnership opportunities with various progressive companies to bring about industry-changing solutions to emissions challenges.”

The County of Los Angeles, last month, approved a $33M allocation of Recovery Zone Bonds to ACAT Global.

ACAT Global’s technology, developed by GM/Delphi, is recognized internationally for its cutting-edge catalytic converters that are essential components in clean air technology.

Shanghai – Two Chevrolet Fuel Cell Equinox vehicles were presented today to the Shanghai World Expo Bureau for use in the VIP fleet at World Expo 2010 Shanghai.

The two vehicles will shuttle special guests at Shanghai’s Expo Park while introducing GM’s vision of sustainable mobility to government officials, industry leaders and members of the academic community, stimulating dialogue on the future of urban transportation.

Equipped with GM’s most-advanced fuel cell propulsion system to date, the Fuel Cell Equinox is a fully functional crossover vehicle. It generates no greenhouse gases and its only tailpipe emission is water vapor.

“The Fuel Cell Equinox will demonstrate the promise of fuel cell vehicles and provide a window into GM’s vision of a future that is free from petroleum and emissions,” said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. “Fuel cell vehicles offer one of the best solutions for the transportation challenges facing our society today.

“They represent a building block for the electrification technology that is part of GM’s vision of future urban transportation, which is being introduced at our Expo 2010 pavilion,” Wale said. “It also demonstrates GM’s commitment to World Expo 2010 Shanghai as a global automobile partner.”

The Fuel Cell Equinoxes join the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended-range capability, which earlier this month joined the Expo 2010 VIP fleet, as well as the 350 Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid cars, which are part of the official Expo 2010 taxi fleet showing visitors from around the world the possibilities that exist today regarding electric vehicles.

Since 2007, GM has deployed more than 100 Fuel Cell Equinoxes on the road in the U.S., Europe and Asia through Project Driveway. More than 80,000 people in New York, Washington, D.C., and Greater Los Angeles have volunteered to drive the vehicles. The vehicles have already covered more than 1.4 million miles. The program is providing valuable feedback on the real-world application of fuel cell vehicles.

The Fuel Cell Equinox, Volt and LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid also joined GM’s EN-V concept vehicle at the SAIC-GM Pavilion. They represent GM’s commitment to electrification and pursuing multiple pathways to sustainable urban mobility.

Senator Byron Dorgan Receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Advancing Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Energy

Senator Dorgan Helped Create More than 10,000 Jobs in Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Related Fields

Washington, DC – Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), who has been credited with helping create more than 10,000 fuel cell and hydrogen energy related jobs, has received the US Fuel Cell Council’s (USFCC) 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award.

The USFCC announced today they will present the award at the Energy and Environmental Research Center’s Hydrogen Summit in Grand Forks, N.D. Lifetime Achievement Awards are given to individuals for their exceptional vision and leadership in advancing fuel cells and hydrogen energy.

“The country that can harness the power of hydrogen – the most abundant element in the universe – will be the country with the healthiest economy, the cleanest environment, and the strongest energy and national security,” said Senator Dorgan. “I will continue to fight for fuel cells and hydrogen energy program funding because it is the right thing to do for America’s energy independence and economic future.”

Fuel cells and hydrogen energy are integral components of the clean energy infrastructure, generating efficient, clean and reliable power from existing domestic fuels, like coal and natural gas, and storing or converting power generated by intermittent sources, such as solar and wind. Fuel cells and hydrogen energy systems can be scaled to power anything from hand-held devices to cars to central power stations, and play a vital role in meeting increasing demands for efficient, clean, and reliable power through distributed generation at businesses, government installations, and homes.

“We are honored to present Senator Byron Dorgan with our 2010 Lifetime Achievement award,” said Ruth Cox, Executive Director of the USFCC. “He understands that now is not the time to abandon the country’s considerable investment in fuel cells and hydrogen energy – it’s time to finish the job so America can retain its competitive advantage and secure its energy future.”

Senator Dorgan authored major portions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 which firmly established the position of fuel cells and hydrogen energy in the clean energy portfolio. In his role as the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Energy and Water, he continued to champion this cause. Senator Dorgan was instrumental in restoring DOE funding for programs in the fiscal year 2010 budget which resulted in the demonstration of fuel cells and hydrogen energy servers in Smart Grid configurations using renewable energy from solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass.

Equally important was program funding to deploy stationary fuel cells for mission-critical applications in the telecommunications, health care, hospitality, food processing/retail industries; for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles and their refueling infrastructure – vital to reducing our dependence on foreign oil and meeting our emissions reduction goals; and, for the SECA (Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance) program for use of fuel cells to sequester CO2 and efficiently generate clean electricity in coal power plants.

According to the Breakthrough Technologies Institute (BTI), Senator Dorgan’s support for fuel cells and hydrogen energy programs over the years has yielded more than 10,000 industry-related jobs.

“Senator Dorgan’s leadership has been essential in building the foundation for a strong clean energy economy that includes fuel cells and hydrogen. He is a remarkable public servant who puts the best interests of the country first, and has the strength to go against the tide when necessary,” said Cox. “His leadership will be sorely missed in the Senate and we hope he will remain an Ambassador on behalf of our industry to leaders in Washington and the private sector when he leaves office.”

About the U.S. Fuel Cell Council:

The USFCC is an industry association dedicated to fostering the commercialization of fuel cells and hydrogen energy. Our members include the world’s leading fuel cell and hydrogen energy developers, manufacturers, suppliers and customers.

About the EERC: The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) was designated as the National Center for Hydrogen Technology (NCHT) in 2004 in recognition of over 50 years of hydrogen research involving fossil and renewable energy. Since then, the program has had completed and funded contracts worth more than $66 million for the development of innovative hydrogen on-demand production systems, production of hydrogen from both fossil and renewable fuels, development of hydrogen dispensing systems, and integration of new technologies for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

ITM Power plc (ITM), the energy storage and clean fuel company, is pleased to announce that Scottish Water has signed an agreement to participate in Hydrogen On Site Trials (HOST) of ITM’s transportable high pressure refueling unit (HFuel), which will be used to power two Revolve Technologies hydrogen Ford Transit Vehicles for use in Scottish Water operations.

Scottish Water is the fourth largest water and waste water services provider in the UK and has a turnover of £1 billion, making it one of Scotland’s top 20 businesses by turnover. The Group operates and maintains thousands of assets and has around 5 million customers in 2.4 million households, meaning that it currently uses a fleet of 1500 vehicles to service all areas of its business operations. Joining HOST will enable Scottish Water to analyse the suitability of using hydrogen to decarbonise a sizeable fleet which travels the breadth of the country on a ‘return-to-base’ principle.

Commenting for ITM Power, CEO Graham Cooley stated “We are delighted that Scottish Water, a major UK water company, have joined the HOST programme in order to appraise the potential of ITM’s energy storage: clean fuel technology, for decarbonising return to base logistics fleet vehicles. We have been delighted with the support that HOST has attracted to date and we expect companies from other sectors to be joining the scheme in the near future.”

Ian Summers of Scottish Water’s Procurement and Supply Chain said: “With five million customers the length and breadth of the country including some of the most remote and rural communities, it is vital that Scottish Water’s fleet of 1500 vehicles is as sustainable as possible going forward. Further to our recently announced green vehicle trials, we are pleased to support ITM Power in the development of its Transportable High Pressure Hydrogen Refuelling Station to demonstrate the proposition of de-carbonising vehicle fleets, using green hydrogen, derived from water and renewable energy, commodities of which Scotland has in plentiful supply.”

About HOST

HOST will begin in 2011, and comprises the operation and refueling of two Revolve Technologies hydrogen 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.  Scottish Water joins DHL Supply Chain, London Stansted Airport, The Forestry Commission, and local authorities Sheffield City Council and the London Borough of Camden who have recently joined the programme.

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

LIVERMORE, CA — A Montana company has found a low-cost, environmentally safe solution to power electric vehicles for generations to come, thanks to a technology developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL).

Kalispell, Mont.-based Zinc Air, Inc. (ZAI) announced today that it had obtained exclusive rights from LLNL for the zinc air fuel cell (U.S. Patent 5,434,020) invented by John Cooper, a retired LLNL chemist.

Nearly continuous use of fleet vehicles, such as buses, is possible with 10-minute refueling at 4 to 6 hour intervals, using the process illustrated here. Click for high resolution image

“At the moment, most in the auto industry are currently looking to lithium batteries as the power solution for electric vehicles, but those batteries are manufactured primarily outside of the United States and are not cost effective for widespread use,” said ZAI Co-Founder and President Dave Wilkins. “There is enough readily available zinc just in the United States to produce billions of these batteries,” he continued.

By contrast, lithium primarily is found outside the United States.

Worldwide resources of zinc total more than 1.8 gigatons – with more than 35 percent of that in the United States alone.

Global zinc production in 21 months would be sufficient to produce one billion 10 kWh zinc air batteries – by contrast it would take 180 years of lithium production to produce those same batteries. These figures were quoted in a recent white paper by Meridian International Research, which stated, “Lithium supply and future production will be far from adequate to sustain global electric vehicle production.”

According to Cooper, “In the short-term, this new technology has the potential to positively impact fleets of electric vehicles, such as FedEx, UPS and the U.S. Postal Service, that combine high daily usage, low-power requirements, and an in-place service infrastructure.” There is an enormous market for lightweight, low-power, zero-emission delivery vehicles that can operate multiple shifts. Rapid refueling – as opposed to overnight recharging – makes multiple shifts a reality. With 10-minute refueling, this technology allows battery use up to 24 hours a day.

In the longer term, this technology and other zinc/air and zinc/metal battery technologies represent an opportunity for the United States to establish itself as the dominant global leader in battery technology and development.

“The contrast with lithium batteries in terms of environmental consequences must not be overlooked,” said Wilkins. “The byproduct – zinc oxide – is 100 percent recyclable.”

The technology enables safe, lower-cost, clean, quiet, reliable and environmentally friendly power generation. Zinc Air Fuel Cell (ZAFC) products combine atmospheric oxygen from the air we breathe with zinc metal pellets as the fuel to generate electricity.

In operation, the fuel cell consumes all of the zinc and is operationally quiet, providing instantaneous electrical energy with no greenhouse gas emissions. It also doesn’t contain any of the toxic elements found in lithium batteries or other battery chemistries.

“In truth, new technology often matures in fits and starts over decades,” observes Annemarie Meike, the business development executive who has stewarded the development of this and other clean tech at LLNL. “A previous licensee brought marketing and manufacturing expertise to our inventions. Some of that developmental understanding will seep into new incarnations of the zinc air fuel cell.”

Zinc Air technology is now seeing life because of the anticipated demand for efficient, low-cost alternatives to lithium for electric vehicle battery production. One of the many benefits of this technology is that it enables continuous fuel feed while the system is under load, making it ideal for electronic vehicle and fleet power supply.

This technology on a small scale also may provide portable power as a generator (1-3 kW) or can be scaled up to provide enough power to operate high-use fleet vehicles and buses.

ZAI is in discussions with multiple fleet vehicle manufacturers to develop products for their immediate needs. The company intends to begin development and testing in late 2010 with full-scale field testing in the second quarter of 2011.

ZAI is a privately held corporation headquartered in Kalispell, MT. It is focused on the development of sustainable energy storage solutions for transportation and smart grid applications intended to provide high levels of efficiency at low costs. ZAI is also committed to providing the “greenest” battery technology using zinc chemistry, which is abundant, inexpensive and environmentally friendly. In addition to the Zinc Air Fuel Cell, ZAI is in the process of developing a grid-scale storage technology to provide the next generation of batteries for smart grid applications, which will allow for the integration of wind energy and other renewable generation. For more information on ZAI, please contact the company by email at info@zincairinc.com.

Founded in 1952, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is a national security laboratory, with a mission to ensure national security and apply science and technology to the important issues of our time. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is managed by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration.

A conference in Grand Forks this week will focus on hydrogen energy development in the region.

Sen. Byron Dorgan is spearheading the event Monday and Tuesday at the Energy and Environmental Research Center on the University of North Dakota campus.

The North Dakota Democrat says speakers will include officials from General Motors and the federal Energy Department. He says there also will be panel discussions featuring regional energy leaders about how to increase North Dakota hydrogen energy development and production.

In the small town of Bella Coola, located in Canada’s British Columbia, an innovative energy storage project is now operational and was officially commissioned in a ceremony on September 9. The inspired operation takes the clean-energy generated from a river’s nearby hydroelectric plant and uses advanced technologies to convert that power into hydrogen so that it can be stored for later use. The system, which is managed with smart grid technologies, is a breakthrough for remote towns in Canada and around the world that — like Bella Coola — are too isolated to be part of the main electrical grid. The problem is that while the local river produces clean electricity, the power previously couldn’t be stored for use during peak demand or during low water flows. Instead, they had to rely on pollution-emitting diesel generators for their excess power needs. The new system, which is a demonstration project for the technologies, is expected to reduce Bella Coola’s annual diesel consumption by 200,000 liters — lowering greenhouse gas emissions by 600 tons annually.

Having a gas: As greencarcongress.com explained in its story, the Hydrogen Assisted Renewable Power system, known as HARP, “works by converting electricity from a renewable source (run-of-river), in off-peak periods, into hydrogen through an electrolyzer, and subsequently into electricity through a fuel cell for power during periods of peak demand.” Image: GE and Powertech

Racked and stacked: Part of the system produces hydrogen through electrolysis, which is when an electric current is used to separate an element. The hydrogen is then stored as a gas in high pressure tanks, such as those pictured above, and during peak periods, the stored hydrogen is fed into a 100-kilowatt fuel cell to generate electricity, which is produced when the hydrogen reacts with oxygen.

Bella Coola is located about 400 kilometers north of Vancouver. The project is a partnership between the utility BC Hydro, GE, and Powertech, the clean energy subsidiary of BC Hydro. It’s supported by the province of B.C. and Sustainable Development Technology Canada.

At the same time, GE’s Microgrid Control System functions as the “brain” of the power chain. It provides the intelligence on when to use certain power sources — the renewable hydroelectric power, the fuel cell or diesel — so that the community can find the most economical way to provide power. The smart grid technology wirelessly monitors the power chain and automatically responds to changes in supply and demand — ensuring energy is managed efficiently.

So-called microgrid systems are also well-suited to other smaller areas like college campuses, industrial campuses, ports, and islands (such as Hawaii) that often rely on their own power sources and need more efficient solutions, but still bear the same energy regulations, costs and security needs of traditional grids.

Microgrids are also usually better at integrating renewable energy sources like wind and solar. And as with Bella Coola, it’s easier to store energy during blackouts — which is especially useful for emergency-centered locations such as hospitals or military bases, such as the Twentynine Palms Base in California that is part of a GE demonstration project.

Living off the grid: Bella Coola, with a population of about 2,000 in the entire valley, is one of 50 B.C. communities not connected to BC Hydro’s electricity grid. For residents of Bella Coola, the Clayton Falls run-of-river facility, seen at the far right, serves as the primary source of electricity. There are more than 100 communities like Bella Coola in Canada that are “off the grid,” and utilities operating in those regions incur tremendous daily costs by importing energy into those areas.

Going with the flow: The demonstration system is designed to store excess electricity generated at Clayton Falls, seen above, by either producing hydrogen or directly charging a flow battery.

GE also recently launched its “ecomagination Challenge: Powering the Grid,” which is a $200 million commitment to find the best ideas from researchers, entrepreneurs and start-ups that will help create smarter, cleaner, and more efficient electric grids — and accelerate the adoption of power grid technologies. The 10-week challenge is one of the largest of its kind and is still attracting ideas on how to make the grid smarter from all over the world.

The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking Governing Board appointed Bert De Colvenaer as Executive Director of the JTI, with effect from 1 September 2010.

“The Joint Undertaking is ready to deliver on the potential of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies to create a cleaner energy system for the future”, says Mr. De Colvenaer. “Expectations from the fuel cells and hydrogen stakeholders are high, and time has come to seize the opportunity to make Europe a leader in these green technologies.”

Bert De Colvenaer brings to the partnership a thorough experience in the field as he has been involved for more than 20 years in the automotive industry in the field of power-train production engineering and advanced research. He has been working on fuel cell research from the early 90’s and was involved in high level group activities and initiated major EU research projects. In 2002 he established and led the Advanced Technology Division of Toyota Europe, focusing on breakthrough research in the field of robotics, fuel cell and hydrogen and new automotive production technologies.

In addition to his academic background in mechanical engineering and industrial management, Bert De Colvenaer speaks Dutch, French, English, German and Italian fluently.

GL releases market study for fuel cell systems on seagoing vessels.

The installed auxiliary power onboard of seagoing vessel has a market potential of approximately 160 GW worldwide and can, in principle, substituted by fuel cells in order to reduce emissions to air. This is one of the conclusions of a market study for fuel cell systems carried out by Germanischer Lloyd (GL) and the Hamburg City Administration for Urban Development and Environment.

GL experts examined the technical possibilities, the currently available technology, integration concepts and the legal background for the use of fuel cells on board of ships. The target prices for fuel cell systems have been analysed as well as the market size onboard seagoing vessels. For the study approximately 53 % of the world merchant fleet have been analysed.

The study also shows that five years after the finalisation of the development of first systems for commercial shipping, fuel cell systems can be competitive in comparison with traditional diesel engines from an economic point of view – even if the prices for fuel cell systems will be higher at this time.

The first identified markets for fuel cell application are cruise vessels, RoPax vessels and mega yachts. With fuel cell system reaching economic competitiveness, a much larger market for ship types like container feeders will be open.

“The study concludes that fuel cell systems have a high market potential in shipping in the future”, says Dr Gerd-Michael Würsig, GL’s expert for fuel cell technology and one of the authors of the study. “Today, still some technical challenges have to be overcome. But current and ongoing projects already demonstrate the suitability of fuel cells systems for power generation on board of ships. Fuel cell will be one technology of the future for environmental friendly power generation on board!”

Environmental concerns, environmental regulations and high energy prices force the shipping industry to more efficient and greener vessel. One solution to achieve this goal is the use of fuel cell systems for power generation on board.

Apart from the high efficiency of the fuel cell system of more than 50 %, the very low or no emissions (depending on the fuel type) are a big argument for the use of fuel cell systems on board of ships. Further more, the modular design and the negligible noises and vibrations give the fuel cell system a big advantage compared to traditional power generation on board of ships.

GL has been involved in developing ships, storage and transfer facilities for hydrogen. As the world’s first classification society, it has developed its own guidelines for the use of fuel cells in watercraft. These not only cover fuel cells and fuel systems but also standards for the materials used, ventilation systems, fire-fighting equipment, explosion protection and other safety systems. They also give guidance on testing the fuel-cell system.

Recently, Hefei Institute of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Dr. Tao Wei Bao research team to complete the “materials of solid oxide fuel cell and battery stack sealing technology research” project, successfully passed the provincial technically identified, the technology can provide new energy and auto zero contaminated “fuel cell.”

According to reports, the research project lasted five years, the key to solid oxide fuel cell materials and preparation of technical breakthroughs and achieve cell stack bonding between the various components and thermal expansion coefficient match. Provincial technically identified in the Commission’s experts agreed that this results in sealing and interconnect materials, the composition design on innovative materials and the connecting plate has excellent thermal Pipei performance of these materials by the construction of Pingban solid oxide fuel cells reactor can be run under thermal cycling conditions for power generation, in the preparation of the stack technology in the domestic advanced level.

It is understood that solid oxide fuel cell with fuel, wide adaptability and high efficiency energy conversion, solid state, modular assembly, zero pollution, etc, can use hydrogen, carbon monoxide, natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, biomass gas and more gas, etc. kind of hydrocarbon fuel. Concentration of power in large, medium and small household electrical sub-cogeneration power plants and other civilian areas as fixed, as well as marine power supply, power supply and other transport vehicles, mobile power, have broad application prospects. (Xiaoxiao, Wu Jing)

LATHAM, N.Y — Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG), a leader in providing clean, reliable energy solutions, highlights activities of its senior management team intended to promote its GenDrive™ product for the material handling market. During the month of September, upper-level management will travel across the United States targeting investment, sales and educational audiences.

On September 14, 2010, CFO, Gerry Anderson, will present to investors at the Wedbush Clean Technology and Industrial Growth MAC 2010 conference in San Francisco, California. Mr. Anderson will give an overview of Plug Power’s strategy to commercialize its fuel cell power solution in material handling applications. Mr. Anderson’s presentation will begin at 11:35 am ET (8:35 am PT). Interested parties are invited to view the webcast by going directly to the Plug Power Web site ( www.plugpower.com ) and selecting the conference link on the home page. A playback of the webcast will be available online for a period following the conference.

Following Mr. Anderson’s presentation in California, Plug Power’s Vice President of Marketing and Investor Relations, Reid Hislop, will present to investors at the Modern Energy Investor Forum on September 23, 2010. Taking place in Denver, Colorado, the Modern Energy Investor Forum will give Mr. Hislop a platform to address the market potential seen in the material handling space, and where Plug Power will focus its sales efforts to maximize sales momentum in the upcoming quarters.

Plug Power will participate alongside premier customer, GENCO Supply Chain Solutions, in the CSCMP Annual Global Conference, September 26-29, 2010 in San Diego, California. Plug Power’s class-3 GenDrive product will be featured in booth 809 at the Supply Chain of the Future exhibit where attendees can learn why fuel cell solutions are a large piece of building a high-performance supply chain operation. Plug Power’s GenDrive is an example of the cutting edge solutions being used by material handling customers today to increase productivity and lower operational costs of their businesses. To learn more about the CSCMP Conference, visit cscmpconference.org.

Plug Power has also been invited to present at the California Hydrogen Business Council’s next quarterly meeting on September 30 on the Company’s recent successes. Additional support will be given at a Technology Summit sponsored by GE Global and the Advanced Energy Conference, where CTO, Adrian Corless, will join a panel discussion on Energy Storage Options for Fuel Cells. More information about these events and others can be found on the Plug Power Web site at www.plugpower.com .

By Jan Harvey

LONDON (Reuters) – AngloPlatinum said it is targeting the development of a potentially significant sector of platinum demand with the creation of a new fuel cell joint venture, Clean Energy Investments.

The affiliate, created in July by AngloPlat, U.S. fuel cell specialist Altergy Systems and the South African Department for Science and Technology, is aimed at developing new applications of the cells, from mobile phone batteries to back-up generators.

It will focus specifically on the sub-Saharan African market, which has run into significant power issues in recent years as demand grows faster than generating capacity.

“It is potentially a very large platinum demand segment,” said Anthea Bath, AngloPlat’s head of market development and research. “We don’t see it as a short-term demand growth driver, but over the long term it will have a role to play.”

“Long term, it is an important part of our business,” she said, without providing financial details.

AngloPlatinum, which is majority owned by diversified miner Anglo American, is the world’s largest platinum miner, with output of 2.452 million ounces in its last full year, representing some 40 percent of global platinum supply.

The white metal is a key catalyst in fuel cells, which chiefly create electricity through a reaction of hydrogen and oxygen, with water as a byproduct.

According to platinum group metals refiner Johnson Matthey, demand for platinum for use in fuel cells grew last year at a time when overall consumption of the metal was falling, although the overall market segment remained small.

Bath says she hopes Clean Energy will start construction of a factory to produce fuel cells within the next two to three years, as part of its strategy to develop fuel cell technology for the southern African market.

MAINSTREAM USAGE

Bath said while fuel cells are already in use in many niche areas, they lacked widespread commercialisation. “Once they start getting full volume, they are going to become much more affordable and then start gaining traction,” she said.

She said she hoped to see more mainstream usage of fuel cells over the next decade, in areas from telecommunications and transportation.

“The African market is the fastest growing telecommunications market in the world,” she said. “So clearly there is an opportunity.”

She added: “A fuel cell is a very environmentally friendly technology. Cars are very important — an ideal eco car will be a fuel cell car.”

Fuel cell-powered generators are likely to be particularly attractive to the sub-Saharan African market, she added, where a number of industrial and other facilities are far from conventional power sources.

South Africa in particular has suffered a number of power outages in recent years, as its fragile electricity infrastructure struggles to keep up with rising demand. This has led more users to buy in back-up generation capacity.

CENTENNIAL, CO– Early production stage hydrogen generation company AlumiFuel Power Corporation (OTC.BB:AFPW ) (the “Company”) announced today that its majority-owned subsidiary, AlumiFuel Power International, Inc. (”AlumiFuel International”), has completed its listing on the Deutsche Börse-Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The stock, trading under the symbol (”9AP”), has begun initial trading in the Open Market segment. The Company owns 40,000,000 shares of AlumiFuel International common stock.

AlumiFuel International is operated by the same management team as the Company’s wholly-owned operating subsidiary, AlumiFuel Power, Inc. (”API”), based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is focused on marketing the Company’s hydrogen generation products to countries outside of North America. The successful launch of this listing will enable the Company, through AlumiFuel International, to increase global awareness and marketing opportunities for the Company’s products while providing additional avenues through which the Company intends to pursue further funding opportunities.

The Frankfurt Stock Exchange, operated by Deutsche Börse AG, is one of the world’s largest trading centers for securities. The Frankfurt Stock Exchange facilitates advanced electronic trading, settlement and information systems. Thus, it is able to meet the steadily growing requirements of cross-border trading. Besides traditional floor trading, its fully electronic trading system Xetra® is one of the leading electronic trading platforms in the world. With its launch in 1997, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange succeeded not only in strengthening its own competitive position, it also created attractive framework conditions for foreign investors and market participants. Today, the Frankfurt Stock Exchange is an international trading center as approximately 140 of around 300 market participants come from abroad, while approximately 10,000 companies from over 70 countries trade on the Deutsche Börse.

About AlumiFuel Power, Inc.
API (www.alumifuelpowerinc.com) is an early production stage alternative energy company that generates hydrogen gas and superheated steam through the chemical reaction of aluminum, water, and proprietary additives. This technology is ideally suited for multiple niche applications requiring on-site, on-demand fuel sources, serving National Security and commercial customers. API’s hydrogen feeds fuel cells for portable and back-up power, fills inflatable devices such as weather balloons, and can replace costly, hard-to-handle and high pressure K-Cylinders. Its hydrogen/heat output is also being designed and developed to drive turbine-based underwater propulsion systems and auxiliary power systems, and as the fuel for Flameless Ration Heaters. API has significant differentiators in performance, adaptability, safety and cost-effectiveness in its target market applications, with no external power required and no toxic chemicals or by-products. For more news and information on API, please visit www.irgnews.com/coi/AFPW.

About AlumiFuel Power International, Inc.
AlumiFuel International holds a license agreement with the Company and API to market API’s hydrogen generation products globally to countries outside of North America.

About AlumiFuel Power Corporation
AlumiFuel Power Corporation operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, AlumiFuel Power, Inc., a Philadelphia-based early production stage alternative energy company that generates hydrogen gas and steam for multiple niche applications requiring on-site, on-demand fuel sources. The Company also operates through its majority owned subsidiary, AlumiFuel Power International, Inc., to market its products globally outside of North America.

EVP for Emerging Markets, Murali Arikara, to Highlight Business Opportunities and Challenges in Indian Telecom Sector

NEW DELHI– Intelligent Energy, the global clean power systems company, is sponsoring Green Telecom India 2010 International Conference, an event to identify the role of the telecom industry as India seeks to reduce carbon emissions with next generation green technology. Murali Arikara, EVP for Emerging Markets at Intelligent Energy, has been confirmed as a conference speaker and will focus on some of the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as India embraces a greener future.

The annual conference takes place on 10th September 2010 at Le Meridien, New Delhi and brings together thought leaders from the telecom and renewable energy communities with knowledge and experience in solving energy-related challenges for network operators. Murali Arikara is scheduled to speak during Session 1 ‘Business Drivers for the Indian Telecom Industry to Implement Green Strategies’, which starts at 11:30am.

“Over the next five years, Asia and the emerging markets will spend an estimated sum of around $510billion on green technology and this includes investment in projects such a rail infrastructure, efficiency and power grids and telecoms,” explains Murali Arikara, EVP for Emerging Markets at Intelligent Energy. “Smart decisions need to be made about this technology and events such as Green Telecom India 2010 International Conference play a crucial role in raising awareness on the key issues.”

Arikara has over 15 years in industry experience, including business development, marketing and power systems engineering, and he has been a team member of several technology start-ups related to fuel cell technology and portable power.

Intelligent Energy, headquartered in the United Kingdom, announced its intentions to expand into global emerging markets in 2009, with Arikara playing a central role in managing a broad portfolio of business. This has included strengthening efforts to enter exciting new markets such as the Indian telecom’s industry. Globally, Intelligent Energy is partnered with a number of leading companies across a range of industry sectors, including Boeing, Scottish & Southern Energy plc, and The Suzuki Motor Corporation. The company recently received worldwide recognition for its role as the lead partner in a consortium to deliver a fleet of zero-emissions Fuel Cell Hybrid London Taxis for introduction in London for 2012.