FuelCellsWorks

Ohio’s fuel cell supply chain provides all phases of fuel cell development from R&D to commercialization

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Businesses in the fuel cell industry know that the challenge with taking fuel cell technology from the laboratory to the real world comes down to three things: cost, reliability and efficiency. Fuel cells have endless applications from powering a laptop to heating and cooling your home or business, to transportation and telecommunications applications. However, in order to become a reality, the industry needs to reduce the costs of large-scale manufacturing, enhance manufacturing capabilities for mass production and maintain strong research and development capabilities to spark innovation.

Fuel cell businesses require an ideal environment that combines a business-friendly climate, deep industry knowledge base, a well-educated workforce, dedicated universities and research institutions, and most importantly, a strong supply chain to get products to market.

“It’s safe to say, there is not a fuel cell manufactured in the United States that does not have at least one component that is made in Ohio,” said Pat Valente, executive director of the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition. “Ohio is home to one of the richest supply chains in the country and is able to accommodate every component needed for the fuel cell industry.”

This month, fuel cell industry leaders representing some of the world’s largest fuel cell businesses will explore the economic opportunities Ohio’s fuel cell supply chain can offer at the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition’s annual Fuel Cell Symposium. The event will be held at Kent State Stark University in North Canton, Ohio on April 18-19, 2011.

Ohio is committed to capitalizing on its strength in fuel cells to create and attract 21st century businesses and jobs. Having invested in 95 projects of over $88 million since 2002, which has been leveraged by more than $300 million of federal dollars, Ohio is internationally recognized as a global center in fuel cell research, development and deployment. The state’s innovative mix of public and private support, strategic location and highly skilled workforce make Ohio the ideal location for fuel cell companies to jump start their business and call Ohio home.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, one of the most necessary breakthroughs for the commercialization of fuel cell technologies is cost reduction in the large-scale manufacturing capabilities for fuel cells. Without decreased costs and manufacturing efficiencies, businesses will continue to face significant challenges in the costs and time associated with R&D as well as the business expenses of bringing a product to market.

As Valente told the Ohio News Network on its Ohio Means Business program, “If I’m a company, I want to make sure my fuel cell, before it gets to market, is dead-on reliable and relatively cost-efficient for the consumer, the industry or whoever’s going to buy it.”

That is where Ohio’s fuel cell leadership stands out. Ohio is the premier location in the U.S. to establish, grow or expand a fuel cell business. Ohio’s supportive business environment and significant government initiatives help companies research, develop and commercialize cutting edge technology in the fuel cell industry.

In order to propel those businesses faster and forward, Ohio offers unique support to fuel cell companies.

The Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition (OFCC) unites industry, academic and government leaders to promote and strengthen Ohio’s fuel cell industry and advance innovative fuel cell technology research. The OFCC is the fuel cell trade association in Ohio and is made up of more than 80 companies, academic institutions and government organizations with the shared goal of accelerating fuel cell technology and applications in Ohio.

Through the help of programs such as the Third Frontier Fuel Cell Initiative, Ohio is a prime location for companies dedicated to delivering fuel cell components and fuel cell products to the world. The Ohio Third Frontier Fuel Cell Initiative offers low interest loans, tax credits and infrastructure improvement for fuel cell businesses. Ohio has successfully attracted leading fuel cell companies to the state, including GrafTech and Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems.

Another advantage for fuel cell companies located in Ohio is that, once ready for market, components and finished goods quickly reach their destination anywhere in the U.S. or around the globe through the state’s central location and extensive transportation and world-class logistics infrastructure. Ohio is within 600 miles of 60 percent of the U.S. and Canadian population and is within a one-day drive of 70 percent of North America’s manufacturing capacity.

Ohio advanced energy companies maximize their productivity, quality and profits with the state’s highly skilled green-collar workforce. A dedicated cluster of more than 60,000 specialized workers support Ohio’s advanced energy industry, with a total workforce of 5.9 million, among the largest in the nation. A recent U.S. Department of Energy study estimates a net increase of 361,000 to 675,000 jobs is possible by 2035 in fuel cells and hydrogen. Ohio’s workforce is prepared to meet the steep rise in demand for skilled green-collar workers.

“As recognition of Ohio’s commitment and industry strengths, the State of Ohio was named one of the top five fuel cell states in the country,” Valente added.

Ohio’s comprehensive supply chain is just one of the key benefits for fuel cell businesses, according to Ed Burghard, executive director of the Ohio Business Development Coalition, the nonprofit organization that markets the state for capital investment. Today’s industry leaders have made Ohio a top choice to pursue their personal goals as well.

Ohio promises a perfect balance that allows business owners, their employees and their families the opportunity to achieve both their professional and personal aspirations without having to sacrifice one for the other. Ohio offers businesses an environment that makes it easy to foster work-life balance. The convenience of travel, with short commutes from work to home, lower stress and give more time to priority family activities.

“In Ohio, work-life balance is more than a buzzword; it’s the way we do business,” said Burghard. “Companies are trying harder to help their employees achieve better work-life balance because this positively impacts a company’s bottom line. Ohio’s Low-cost, low-stress communities and short commutes create the State of Perfect Balance, where you can achieve both professional and personal success without sacrificing one for the other.”

About the Ohio Business Development Coalition

The Ohio Business Development Coalition is a nonprofit organization that provides marketing strategy and implementation to support Ohio’s economic development efforts. For more information, visit www.ohiomeansbusiness.com.

By Adam Kula

A NEXT-GENERATION hydrogen pump is to be built at the Honda plant – and it could pave the way for the technology to be developed here in the future.

Forward Swindon, the council’s regeneration body, has received a £250,000 grant from the South West England Regional Development Agency to build the ultra-modern fuel station at car factory.

Called the Hydrogen Highway project, it is a bid to encourage Honda to research and develop new hydrogen cars in Swindon.

Because they don’t use petrol or diesel, they only produce water, not carbon dioxide and harmful chemicals.

Bill Cotton, Forward Swindon’s director of economic development, said: “The key is to look at hydrogen fuel cell technology.

“Honda are one of the few companies in the world to have produced a hydrogen fuel cell car.

“There’s only a handful of the cars at the moment. They’re very expensive.

“We want to encourage them to bring them to the UK and develop the technology over here.

“It’s a hydrogen refuelling station; like a petrol pump for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

“At the moment these cars are very rare and kind of experimental. Part of this project is to encourage new take-up of these vehicles.

“It’s a really small investment for a long-term hope that we can get a bit of edge developing these type of products in Swindon.

“It does open the door for more local companies and the likes of Honda to be able to test these vehicles and develop new vehicles. It’s a research-and-development project more than a mass-market type of thing.”

Mr Cotton is talking to bus companies in Swindon about whether they are interested in running vehicles on hydrogen.

A Honda spokesman said: “The plan is to create Hydrogen Highway, a number of refuelling sites in the south west, and we’re planning on installing a hydrogen refuelling station in the Honda site at South Marston.”

But there are no plans to manufacture the cars in Swindon – at the moment, they are all built in Japan.

There are already a small handful of such sites in the UK, he said.

He said the site would be ready by late summer and added: “We’ve got to sow the seeds of the future.

“We hope by putting it in Swindon it will encourage more people to think about using hydrogen.”

A 5.6MW hydrogen fuel cell power plant will be built in the Gangseo area of Busan. Busan City announced that it would build a 5.6MW hydrogen fuel cell power plant in the Hwajeon Industrial Complex of Gangseo-gu by attracting the private investment amounting to 30 billion won. The investment will be made by Cobalt Sky which is an energy and carbon market-specialized firm. The company will found a special purpose company (Cobalt Sky + POSCO + Busan City Gas) within this month, start to build the power plant in May and complete the construction in October. The power plant is expected to produce and sell electric power beginning in October after a test operation.

Busan expects the hydrogen fuel cell power plant to supply more new and renewable energy to its citizens and promote the development of the new and renewable energy industry. Considering its capacity, the power plant will be able to reduce about 6,000 tons of CO2 emissions (CO2 emissions from 1,250 cars or 5,000 households a year)

UC San Diego nanoengineering grad student Su-Wen Hsu is working on novel methods to boost fuel cell efficiency. His work will be displayed during Research Expo April 14.

San Diego, CA, – Engineers at UC San Diego are using nanotechnology to increase the efficiency and enhance the performance of fuel cells, which could boost renewable energy options and reduce toxic emissions.

Current fuel cell efficiencies are significantly limited, in part due to an inhibitive reaction from a byproduct. The UC San Diego researchers have synthesized bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs), which are promising materials for fuel cell catalysis due to combined properties from two metals.

Nanoengineering grad student Su-Wen Hsu will highlight this work in his poster titled “Polyelectrolyte-Templated Galvanic Deposition for Bimetallic Nanoparticles” during Research Expoon April 14.

Hsu and his research team are using bimetallic NPs to optimize the performance of current fuel cell catalysts by enhancing the catalyst activity and selectivity.

A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed or chemically altered, and does this by reducing the energy needed for the reaction to proceed. In order for fuel cells to become a viable economical solution, their catalytic processes must be optimized. For example, splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen to feed a fuel cell is a highly desirable process, but catalytic activity for this system needs to be improved.

“We modified the surface charges of Ag NPs using differently charged polyelectrolytes and used these as templates for galvanic displacement with Au,” Hsu said. “Positively charged NPs generated hollow bimetallic shell structures, and negatively charged NPs generated porous and aggregated bimetallic structures.”

“The synergistic effect of Ag/Au NPs makes them excellent catalysts for CO oxidation and may lead to potential application in fuel cells,” added Hsu, whose advisor is UC San Diego nanoengineering professor Andrea Tao.  “The ability to tailor NP morphology and composition will allow us to evaluate these bimetallic NPs as potential nanocatalysts for low-temperature reaction.”

For Hsu and his team, they are one step closer to advancing the development of fuel cells, which  may  be used to power production in portable, stationary and transportation applications like consumer electronics, residential units and specialty vehicles. Nanotechnology is expected to improve material properties, the functionality and performance of components, and decrease the price of fuel cells.

“There  are many special properties in nano-size material compared with bulk material. This is the most interesting part in nanoengineering,” Hsu said. “I hope I can understand this area more.  In the future, we will measure some properties of  the bimetallic nanoparticles  to prove those bimetallic NPs can be used in catalyst in different areas.”

The project FC-HyGuide, financed by the FCH JU aims to develop a Guidance Document for Life cycle assessment studies on hydrogen production and fuel cell technologies. After several months of project work, a Technical Expert Workshop , held mid February 2011 in Brussels and the revision of the draft Guidance Document the project team now wants to invite Stakeholders and interested people to critically comment on the advanced Guidance Document for hydrogen production and fuel cell technologies.

The main goal of this step is to make sure to meet reality requirements in a comprehensive way in the final Guidance Document.
Individuals and organisations involved in these fields here have the possibility to give their inputs to FC-Hyguide project team and articulate possible concerns.

This guide will ultimately serve as a reference tool for all FCH JU projects.

For information and templates for comments on this public consultation which will be carried out from April 1 2011 until April 30 2011, please consult www.fc-hyguide.eu/pc

NEW YORK–Newmark Energy Solutions, LLC, a Newmark company which provides cost-saving, sustainable, alternative energy solutions for commercial real estate owners globally, announced it has formed strategic relationships with UTC Power Corporation (“UTC”), Newmark Knight Frank, and Austin Energy Partners Solutions, LLC (“AEP”) to market, deliver, maintain and warranty the most advanced fuel cells to commercial real estate markets across the United States. The announcement was made by Paul Frischer, CEO of Newmark Energy Solutions.

Newmark Energy Solutions is exclusive distributor of UTC Power stationary fuel cell units in the United States for key market segments. In this capacity, Newmark Energy Solutions will permit, design, finance, construct, and operate a fleet of UTC fuel cells that will grow at a rate of 20MW installed capacity per year.

Under the strategic relationship with Newmark Energy Solutions, each party will provide added value to deliver a turnkey solution to property owners. UTC will provide superior fuel cell product and support, Newmark Knight Frank, one of the world’s largest independent commercial real estate services firms, brings client relationships, marketing and project management, and AEP will deliver development, operating and commodity risk management expertise.

“The Distributed Generation energy market represents the fastest growing segment of power delivery, increasing 5 GW every year,” said Mr. Frischer, who brings more than a decade of experience in the sustainability and energy business sectors to his role as CEO of Newmark Energy Solutions. “It’s an important business, and we are thrilled to offer the very best product in its class to office, data center and hotel real estate owners and managers. Demand for clean, renewable energy has never been higher, and we deliver clean, silent, continuous power at rates that can be controlled for a decade or more.”

According to Mr. Frischer, the Newmark Energy Solutions platform provides the following benefits for property owners: cost reductions of 20-30% over a 10-year period, a 50% reduction in a property’s carbon footprint, and significant cost reduction for heating and cooling through the provided cogeneration. In addition, under a Power Purchase agreement or Energy Service agreement there is no upfront capital investment.

UTC fuel cells have been installed at over 300 locations worldwide with more than 9.6 million hours of operation and 1.6 billion of kWh of operating experience. The technology is being used at One World Trade Center (Freedom Tower), currently under construction in Lower Manhattan. UTC Power is already the proven leader in heavy duty transportation fuel cell technology, evident in the efficiency of the nation’s largest fleets of clean-power buses.

“UTC Power is proud to partner with the world’s premier real estate service provider to provide clean, secure energy to property managers and owners across the United States,” said Joe Triompo, VP and General Manager of UTC Power. “With its proven track record of performance, durability and environmental savings, the PureCell^® system provides customers of Newmark Energy Solutions with the most advanced distributed energy system and the peace of mind of controlled energy costs for a decade or more.”

The distributed generation units – measuring 8 feet by 28 feet – can be provided under an Energy Service agreement or Power Purchase agreement from Newmark Energy Solutions on a kilowatt hour basis. In this way, property owners pay a fixed charge for their energy over 10 years, can extend for an additional 10 years, and house the unit in their building or campus. The cost for electricity from fuel cell technology is consistent with current-day prices for utility electricity and better in the future. It also has the advantage of pricing control and benefits to the environment. As a clean and silent source of energy, it is the most efficient technology on the market today, scaled for a building and providing 25-30% improved electrical efficiency with double the life-span of a micro turbine. This technology also enables thermal integration for either heating or cooling, providing total energy efficiency as high as 80% or more. Thermal integration further improves the control a customer has over their total energy cost.

“Owners are searching for ways to control their energy costs and to make significant contributions to the greening of their properties,” said Barry Gosin, CEO of Newmark Knight Frank. “We are fundamentally committed to reducing the carbon footprint of our business and the assets we own and manage. We are proud to work with Newmark Energy Solutions and AEP to offer the UTC Power distributed generation units, providing the very best energy solutions and helping our clients fulfill their sustainability initiatives.”

“We are very pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Newmark and UTC to add unique development and commodity risk management operating services to UTC’s current and Newmark Energy Solutions’ future fuel cell fleet. UTC and Newmark Energy Solutions have developed a technology and marketing platform that can significantly transform the US energy landscape and we look forward to supporting the Newmark Energy Solutions platform throughout its growth,” said Phillip P. Gennarelli, Managing Director at AEP Solutions.

About Newmark Energy Solutions

Newmark Energy Solutions provides cost-saving, sustainable, alternative energy solutions for commercial real estate owners globally. A Newmark company founded by CEO Paul Frischer, Newmark Energy Solutions reflects the company’s commitment to reducing the carbon footprint made by commercial real estate assets, while providing services and tools that increase energy efficiency and cost savings for property owners and users. www.newmarkenergysolutions.com

About UTC Power

UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company, is a world leader in developing and producing fuel cells that generate energy for buildings and for transportation, space and defense applications. The company, with more than 50 years of experience, is based in South Windsor, Conn. UTC Power is the only fuel cell company in the world to have worked with all five major fuel cell technologies and to produce fuel cells for both stationary and transportation applications. For more information, please visit www.utcpower.com.

About Newmark Knight Frank

Newmark Knight Frank is one of the largest independent real estate service firms in the world. Headquartered in New York, Newmark Knight Frank and London-based partner Knight Frank operate from over 220 offices in established and emerging property markets on six continents. With a combined staff of 7,300 and revenues last year exceeding $861 million, this major force in real estate is meeting the local and global needs of owners, tenants, investors and developers worldwide. For further information, visit www.newmarkkf.com.

About Austin Energy Partners Solutions LLC

Austin Energy Partners Solutions LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Austin Energy Partners LLC, an Austin, TX based private equity firm focused on investments in renewable energy investments in the US and abroad. Austin Energy Partners LLC is a company founded by CEO Phillip Gennarelli and President Monty Humble. Mr. Gennarelli is also President & CEO of Cavallo Energy and has over 30 years of international utility and energy development expertise. Mr. Humble, is the former Senior Vice President of Mesa Wind, Boone Pickens renewable energy company and former partner at Vinson & Elkins. For further information, visit www.austinenergypartners.net.

On Saturday, April 16, 2011, Chicago-area middle school students will use fuel cells to power model cars at equipment manufacturer Case New Holland (CNH) in Burr Ridge, Ill., as part of the Chicago Regional Science Bowl, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Argonne National Laboratory.

Chicago, IL –It may not be rocket science, but its close. Fuel cells have been used to power spacecraft for years and on Saturday, April 16, 2011, Chicago-area middle school students will use fuel cells to power model cars at equipment manufacturer Case New Holland (CNH) in Burr Ridge, Ill., as part of the Chicago Regional Science Bowl, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Argonne National Laboratory.

“Racing is just part of the excitement,” said Andrew Skipor who leads Argonne’s Division of Educational Programs. “Students not only compete in heats to see who has the fastest car but also participate in an engineering design competition to show off their knowledge and understanding of the technology.”

The competition provides students an opportunity to apply science and engineering principles to real-world applications as they explore alternative energy sources. It also incorporates different forms of learning to interest and motivate students while enhancing teamwork, experimentation and problem-solving skills.

Each team designs and builds a working, fuel-cell-powered model car using identical electrical motors. The model cars use a fuel cell to turn hydrogen gas and oxygen from the air into electricity to power the motor. The cars race in heats along a 10-meter course. Prizes will be awarded for the fastest cars, best design and best working knowledge of the principles for using fuel cells to power model vehicles.

“This event helps students see first-hand how science, creativity and collaboration work together,” said Argonne’s Lou Harnisch, event coordinator. “It’s a fun and exciting way to introduce students to principles like momentum, gearing, torque, friction and power generation together with an understanding of renewable energy and the environment.”

The competition requires students to use applied science and engineering skills to meet technical challenges similar to those that scientists and engineers face every day.

The design competition kicks off just after 9:00 a.m., and the race begins at approximately 11:00 a.m.    More information about the event is available at http://www.dep.anl.gov/science-bowl/

This year’s participants, include:

• Altgeld Elementary School, Chicago, IL
• Crone Middle School, Naperville, IL
• Daniel Wright Junior High School, Lincolnshire, IL
• Elm Middle School, Elmwood Park, IL
• George Washington Middle School, Lyons, IL
• Hadley Junior High School, Glen Ellyn, IL
• Homer Junior High School, Homer Glen, IL
• Jerling Junior High School, Orland Park, IL
• Maple Middle School, Northbrook, IL
• Oak Prairie Junior High, Homer Glen, IL
• Old Quarry Middle School, Lemont, IL
• Roosevelt Middle School, River Forest, IL
• Teach Homeschool, Oak Park, IL
• Troy Middle School, Plainfield, IL
• Stanley Clark School, South Bend, IN
• Yorkville Middle School, Yorkville, IL

The Model Fuel Cell Car Competition is also sponsored by CNH, the Chicago Section of the Society of Automotive Engineers and the University of Chicago.

CNH is the power behind leading agricultural and construction equipment brands of the Case and New Holland brand families. The company’s Burr Ridge headquarters is located at the northwest corner of the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) and County Line Road.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory seeks solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation’s first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America’s scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.

For the last three years American Trim has worked on a research and development project that will decrease the material and capital costs involved in producing fuel cell stacks. The company has made significant progress in the area of forming fuel cell plates using HVMF and is on the verge of bringing this capability to the manufacturing floor in Ohio. The Ohio Third Frontier Program agrees and is encouraging the next stage of development of this technology by awarding a $1 million grant to American Trim.

Fuel cell stacks are limited in power generation by size and cost. Today the fuel cell stack comprises almost half of the cost involved in manufacturing a completed fuel cell.
The value proposition that American Trim can provide to the fuel cell industry is the unique ability to use HVMF (high velocity metal forming) through the use of Electromagnetic Force (EMF) to produce these plates cost effectively in both low and high volumes. “We are very excited about the potential offered by this technology as we move toward actualization,” commented Larry Wilkerson, Program Manager for HVMF at American Trim. “With the continued support of the Ohio Department of Development this grant will provide the opportunity to help us achieve that goal.”

It is the goal during this next stage to work in conjunction with a global manufacturer of fuel cell components to prove out the ability of the HVMF process to efficiently produce fuel cell stacks. This manufacturer believes American Trim’s research has shown opportunities to improve and reduce manufacturing cost within the next 5 years. In which time, they project we will begin to see a demand for fuel cells in the area of 5 million units and the growth of demand increasing as successful applications are developed.

This grant also demonstrates a continued collaboration of American Trim, Ohio State University Department of Materials Science and Engineering (OSU), Ohio Northern University (ONU), and the Edison Materials Technology Center (EMTEC). It has been this team’s step by step process that has allowed for continued development of useful technology that will help to commercialize the fuel cell and allow for an efficient and alternate fuel source.

To learn more about our HVMF process and why it is a perfect fit for fuel cell production visit our website at http://www.amtrim.com/hvmf.asp or contact John Swigard, Director of Marketing for American Trim at jswigard@amtrim.com.

About American Trim American Trim was founded in 1951 and specializes in the forming, decorating, and coating of metal and composite substrates. These core competencies are supported and enhanced by American Trim’s Design, Research and Development activities ensuring the most advanced and cost effective solutions for its customer partners.

HOEVELAKEN, The Netherlands– BIOeCON [http://www.bioecon.com] a leading pioneer in the field of non-edible biomass conversion, has raised an additional 1 million Euros from existing shareholders, including a grant from the Dutch Ministry of Economic affairs, to design and build a prototype of a fuel cell which can convert cellulosic biomass directly into electricity.

This concept, code-named BiCEPS (Biomass Conversion to Electrical Power Systems), has been under development in cooperation with the Eindhoven University of Technology in the group of Prof. emeritus Rutger van Santen who recently was succeeded by Prof. Emiel Hensen. The fuel cell prototype will be built by a team led by Dr. Hans Heinerman, BIOeCON’s business development director.

This is BIOeCON’s third breakthrough technology since its formation early in 2006: In 2007 BIOeCON formed a joint venture called KiOR [ http://www.kior.com] financed by Khosla Ventures to develop and commercialize Biomass Catalytic Cracking (BCC) a process in which biomass waste can be converted into transportation fuels. KiOR, located in Houston Texas, has progressed into the demonstration phase with a first commercial plant now under construction in Mississippi.

In 2009 BIOeCON and PETROBRAS SA entered into a joint development agreement to scale-up and commercialize a process called BiCHEM in which cellulosic biomass is converted into platform chemicals suitable for polymers and/or fuel additives. An international research group led by Prof. emeritus Jacob Moulijn has been established at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven to demonstrate BiCHEM on a pilot scale.

Two Subcontracts for Renewable Biogas Processing Under U.S. Department of Energy Program

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Award to Research Carbon Capture

DANBURY, Conn. — FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL), a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power plants using renewable and other fuels for commercial, industrial, government, and utility customers, today announced two subcontract awards totaling $1.7 million to demonstrate advanced biogas de-sulfurization technology and a contract to evaluate the effectiveness of Direct FuelCells(R) (DFC(R)) to efficiently separate carbon dioxide (CO2) from the emissions of industrial operations such as refineries, cement kilns and pulp and paper mills.

Biogas processing

Direct FuelCells can utilize renewable biogas as a fuel to efficiently generate ultra-clean electricity. Biogas is a waste product generated by industrial processes such as food processing, agriculture and wastewater treatment and contains a high level of sulfur that must be removed prior to being used as a fuel. The demonstration sorbent has an expected lifespan that is up to 30 times longer than the technology currently in use, so may represent a significant cost reduction in biogas clean-up costs. The biogas demonstration projects will determine the market feasibility of a high capacity, expendable sorbent for efficiently removing sulfur from renewable biogas that if successful, could reduce the costs of fuel cells operating on biogas. FuelCell Energy currently has 20 megawatts of DFC biogas power plants, installed and in backlog.

TDA Research, Inc., the prime contractor under this U.S. Department of Energy program, developed the sorbents for the projects which will be demonstrated at a wastewater treatment facility and a family-owned dairy farm, both located in California. The demonstration projects are expected to last 18 months. Founded in 1987, TDA Research is located in Wheat Ridge and Golden, CO.

“Renewable baseload power from fuel cells operating on biogas is a powerful value proposition that FuelCell Energy offers to the market,” said Chris Bentley, Executive Vice President, Government R&D Operations, Strategic Manufacturing Development, FuelCell Energy, Inc. “Reducing biogas clean-up costs further enhances the value proposition for converting biogas waste disposal problems into ultra-clean electricity.”

Carbon Capture

Direct FuelCells combine fuel with oxygen from the ambient air to efficiently produce electricity and heat using an electrochemical process, without combustion. The award from the EPA will fund initial testing of the ability for Direct FuelCells to consume flue gas instead of ambient air for the power generation process and their capability to cost effectively separate the CO2 within the flue gas. Some types of industrial operations, such as refineries and paper mills, generate flue gas, a waste product that contains CO2. Efficiently and effectively separating the CO2 enables sequestration, preventing the release of this greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.

“Our Direct FuelCell technology is very versatile, providing multiple value streams including ultra-clean power, high quality heat and hydrogen suitable for vehicle transportation or industrial uses,” continued Mr. Bentley. “This contract from the US Environmental Protection Agency enables us to research the possibility of yet another value stream, which is the efficient and cost effective capture of carbon using our existing technology. Carbon capture is an important area of focus for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and our team is excited to be undertaking this leading edge research.”

The research under this initial $0.1 million Phase I award is expected to take up to six months. Successful results may lead to a demonstration project at an industrial site using a DFC power plant to provide ultra-clean electricity and usable heat to the industrial operation while separating CO2 from the flue gas for sequestration. Capturing CO2 for sequestration is a potentially large global market.

About FuelCell Energy

DFC(R) fuel cells are generating power at over 50 locations worldwide. The Company’s power plants have generated over 700 million kWh of power using a variety of fuels including renewable wastewater gas, biogas from beer and food processing, as well as natural gas and other hydrocarbon fuels. FuelCell Energy has partnerships with major power plant developers and power companies around the world. The Company also receives funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and other government agencies for the development of leading edge technologies such as fuel cells. For more information please visit our website at www.fuelcellenergy.com

Sale of First HFuel© Production Module

ITM Power (AIM: ITM), the energy storage and clean fuel company, is pleased to announce the sale of its first small-scale bespoke hydrogen production system to the University of Glamorgan (UoG) under a competitive tender process. The Proton Exchange Membrane electrolyser system will supply around 4kg of hydrogen per day, based on the Company’s HFuel© product platform. The ITM Power system will be integrated into UoG’s existing hydrogen dispensing system at its Renewable Hydrogen Research and Development Centre, located at Baglan Energy Park in South Wales.

The unit will be installed and commissioned by ITM Power staff and includes on-board telemetry to allow its performance to be monitored remotely from the Company’s production facility in Sheffield. ITM Power will also give ongoing support to the UoG to develop its renewable hydrogen system, incorporating the Company’s electrolyser and possible future capacity upgrades to the system.

Commenting for ITM Power Dr Graham Cooley said: “This is a key stage in the commercial development of ITM Power, having won our first competitive tender for an HFuel© system confirming our competitive price positioning. This sale will also allow ITM Power to gain valuable experience in integrating our technology with third party systems operating in real world applications. The Renewable Hydrogen Research and Development Centre at Baglan is a valuable national resource that I am sure will play a significant role in developing the future energy policy of the country. We are proud to play our part in its important work.”

ITM Power (AIM: ITM), the energy storage and clean fuel company, is pleased to announce the successful commercial launch of its CE marked product range, HPac, HBox and HFlame, at the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Fair at the Hannover Messe in Germany. The Company received a great deal of attention at the fair, speaking five times in the Public Forum and three times in the Technical Forum. The Company was also given significant exposure in the Hannover Messe web coverage of the event. The company video of the fair can also now be viewed.

Analysis of the enquiries shows 360 new contacts and renewed interest from existing contacts, keen to revisit enquiries made last year prior to product CE marking. 30 privately scheduled meetings took place to discuss partnerships for project development and EU funding, as well as potential product orders and channel partner discussions for the Company’s HFlame product.

Germany has the largest hydrogen refuelling infrastructure plans in the world. This coupled with the political will and allocated funding, makes Germany a key early hydrogen refuelling market. The Company is examining the possible commercial and grant support opportunities to launch phase two of the HOST programme in Germany with commercial fleet operators.

In addition to interest in the products offered for sale, the Company had a number of meetings concerning its proprietary membrane materials for potential use in numerous fuel cell applications. It is clear that the fuel cell materials are uniquely positioned, offering significantly higher power densities than existing state-of-the-art equivalents. The Company has been invited to present technical results to a number of organisations over the coming months.

The overwhelmingly positive feedback both from private meetings and the hydrogen and renewable energy community itself, is taken as evidence that the products launched are of a specification relevant to existing and emerging market opportunities. The Company issued price lists to interested parties at the fair and all three of the CE marked products were well received. The Company will now be responding to commercial enquiries with written quotations for each of the products.

The Company now has the supply chains in place for the procurement of components, as well as manufacturing routes for each of the CE marked products and is ready to fulfil orders. The Company’s integrated systems enable the seamless flow of information, from CAD drawing to final product dispatch.

It is clear that the key early markets for ITM Power’s products will be Germany and the United States, with the majority of commercial enquiries coming from these two territories. However, commercial enquiries were also received from other territories with significant investments in renewable energy resources.

ITM Power is continuing its presence at trade fairs and will be attending further shows over the next few months. The following list is not exhaustive:

13th April EUSEW 2011 Joint Workshop: European Initiative on Smart Cities

15th – 18th May HFC 2011: International Conference and Exhibition, Canada

16th May Intelligent Transport: But What About The Car, London

17th May All Energy, Aberdeen, Scotland

17th – 18th May UKERC – The Future of Energy Storage, London

6th – 12th June Drive the Future, Canary Wharf, London

8th – 9th June H2Expo, International Conference and Exhibition, Hamburg

17th June Technology Strategy Board Exhibition, City Hall, London

14th – 16th Sept WHTC, 4th World Hydrogen Technologies Convention, Glasgow

26th – 27th Sept F-Cell Forum, Stuttgart, Germany

Product sales figures will be summarized periodically with the final and interim results. The next results will be for the year ended 30 April 2011, which will be announced in July.

Commenting on the product range launch, Graham Cooley, CEO, said, “Once again the Hannover Messe has proved to be the event of the year for ITM Power. It has been a fantastic springboard for our products and technology, which are attracting increasing interest and validation. We look forward to building on this success in the coming year.”

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Fuel Cell Technologies Program has issued a Request for Information (RFI) seeking feedback from stakeholders for ongoing Technology Validation activities aimed at demonstrating and validating fuel cell and hydrogen technologies. Areas of interest include: 1) Innovative concepts for: a) stationary fuel cell systems for residential and commercial applications, including combined heat and power (CHP) and combined cycle operation and b) combined heat, hydrogen, and power (CHHP) co-production fuel cell systems; and 2) Technology Validation projects for other markets.

The Technology Validation activity is an extension of applied R&D efforts and is a key part of the DOE portfolio to demonstrate and validate technologies before the deployment phase. This activity helps identify issues to be addressed in the Program’s applied R&D efforts, and it aids in making accurate assessments of the status of the technologies in integrated systems, operating under “real-world” conditions.

Consistent with on-going activities under Technology Validation, DOE is interested in demonstrating and validating innovative concepts and approaches for stationary fuel cells for residential and commercial applications, combined heat, hydrogen, and power (CHHP) systems, and other markets. Some examples of other markets include fuel cell-based auxiliary power units for heavy duty trucks, ships, and aircraft and advanced hydrogen and/or fuel cell-based vehicles, including buses, passenger vans, and light duty vehicles as well as the accompanying infrastructure.

The deadline for responses is May 2, 2011. For details, read more on Grants.gov.

EL SEGUNDO, CA– Vision Industries Corp. (OTCBB: VIIC) (OTCQB: VIIC) The Port of Los Angeles has awarded Vision Motor Corp of El Segundo, California, a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced zero emission hydrogen fuel cell hybrid electric commercial heavy-duty trucks, a contract in an amount not to exceed $1,400,000 to retrofit a total of fifteen (15) Port owned electric trucks. The retrofits would upgrade the Port’s electric truck’s battery only system with Vision’s range extending, hydrogen fuel cell electric hybrid system. The Port will initially issue a purchase order for six (6) retrofits. The remaining retrofit orders are contingent on the availability of other grant funding.

The intent of the retrofits with Vision’s hydrogen fuel cell system is to extend the driving and operating range of the Port owned fleet of battery only electric trucks. Thus alleviating operating down-time caused by range limitations of battery only trucks pulling heavier cargo loads. “Vision’s technology combines the superior power of an electric drivetrain with the extended range of a hydrogen fuel cell system. This allows for zero emission operations without sacrificing driving range”, states Martin Schuermann, CEO of Vision.

As stated in a staff resolution for the April 7, 2011 Port of Los Angeles Harbor Commission Board Meeting “This is consistent with Harbor Department plans for testing drayage trucks using this same technology and for the same reasons. Improving the battery range will not only increase and extend truck operating time under heavier load conditions but will also provide a viable market option to meet overall trucking company demands. In order to better meet the demands and broad truck application across various types of port operations, each electric truck needs to operate eight to ten hours on a single charge even under the heaviest load conditions, as compared to current operating capabilities at four to five hours under those conditions”. Click here to view Board Meeting

As stated by Rudy Tapia Vice-President of Business Development for Vision Motor Corp, “Vision is pleased to provide a solution that enables the Port of Los Angeles investment in zero emission trucks to meet the demanding needs of the commercial market place as well as furthering the Ports commitment to improving air quality by reducing emissions

The world’s largest fuel cell power plant capable of powering 130,000 homes will be installed in Hwasung City, Gyeonggi Province.

Samchully Co., POSCO Power Co., Korea Hydro Nuclear Power Co., Gyeonggi Province Government, and Hwasung City exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding for “Gyeonggi Province Renewable Energy Development Project” on March 7.

The 60㎿ fuel cell power plant, in which a total of 320 billion won will be invested, is scheduled to be built in the Baran Industrial Complex in Hwasung City, Gyeonggi Province. As the first phase of the project, the construction of a 15㎿ fuel cell power plant will start this year and be completed in June, 2012. Once completed, a construction of a 45㎿ fuel cell power plant which is the second phase of the project, will follow aiming to complete its construction by June, 2013.

This 60㎿ fuel cell power plant will generate 464GWh of electricity and 200,000 Gcal heat, which is 70% of the residential electricity consumption of the city. Thanks to the plant, an annual reduction in CO₂ emissions is also expected to reach 60,000 tons.

A new catalyst for hydrogen evolution could see you carry around a fuel cell in your pocket to power electronic devices.

Commenting on a story for Chemistry World last year that employed a homogeneous catalyst to convert formic acid into hydrogen got Edman Tsang of the University of Oxford, in the UK, thinking. So he went into the lab and made a heterogeneous catalyst that does the same job at ambient temperatures, without the need for solvents or additives.

‘We went back and thought: why don’t we develop a room temperature heterogeneous catalyst using a cleaner system?’ says Tsang, who is part of an EPSRC funded consortium investigating hydrogen production from organic molecules.

Formic acid – a byproduct of biomass processing – is thought to be a great source of hydrogen for fuel cells, because it has a high energy density and is readily available. But so far, catalysts to produce hydrogen from formic acid have all had drawbacks. Heterogeneous catalysts incorporating noble metals have needed high temperatures, while homogeneous catalysts have managed to work at room temperature, but need organic solvents and additives like amines or bases.

Pocket sized fuel cells that use formic acid as a hydrogen source could power your mp3 player sooner than you think © Nature Nanotechnology

Tsang’s new catalyst combines the best of both worlds, it is a cleaner system and works at room temperature. The catalyst uses the unique properties of a core-shell system to do things that normal noble metals can’t. The palladium outer shell adsorbs the formic acid and splits it into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. To increase the catalytic activity, an electron rich core of silver modifies the properties of the palladium to maximise efficiency.

‘For mobile applications, low temperature hydrogen on demand is a big advantage’ says Henrik Junge, who investigates formic acid as a hydrogen source at the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis at the University of Rostock, Germany. Junge describes the work as a ‘big step’ towards using fuel cells to power electronic devices.

The new catalyst works at a turnover frequency comparable to other catalysts developed already. ‘You’ll have to make sure that the amounts of hydrogen produced could be scaled-up to the levels needed for applications’ says Junge, but Tsang’s back of the envelope calculations suggest in theory the catalyst should be good enough for a fuel cell to power small devices. Capsules of formic acid could be plugged into the fuel cell, in your pocket, to power your mp3 player. Bigger devices like laptops will require further improvement to the design.

‘There are lots of hurdles before you can get a real device’ Tsang says. He is now working to improve the turnover frequency of his device and then says he’ll need to work with engineers to work out how to make the concept of liquid fuel and fuel cell into reality.

Laura Howes

Last March the Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) and HyET agreed that part of ECN’s research activities will be transferred to HyET. This involves research that was previously conducted within the ECN unit Hydrogen and Clean Fossil Fuels. A number of ECN hydrogen experts have meanwhile started working at HyET. Moreover, HyET has taken over patent applications and research equipment.

This transfer is in line with the new programme strategy of ECN. In this strategy, ECN focuses on strengthening the main activities for which it has obtained a strong (inter)national position: wind energy, solar energy, biomass, sustainable process and heat technology and policy studies.
For 25 years, ECN has successfully contributed to the development of fuel cells. A large number of ECN inventions are currently being marketed by Dutch and foreign companies. Fuel cells convert fuels such as natural gas and hydrogen into electricity in a very efficient manner.

HyET BV, Hydrogen Efficiency Technologies, was established in 2008 with the aim of developing efficient hydrogen technology. In the mean time, the company possesses a technology that can be used to bring hydrogen under high pressure with very little energy. This discovery is very important for realising hydrogen filling stations.

‘Since HyET was established, we have collaborated successfully with ECN’, says Wiebrand Kout (Head of Process Design). “This is world class knowledge that is very relevant for us. Although we regret that ECN had to end its hydrogen research, we are satisfied that we managed to take over a large part of the knowledge and research. There is large interest in HyET technology worldwide. This agreement gives us the opportunity to accelerate these developments significantly’.

‘ECN is happy’, says Ruud van de Brink (ECN manager Hydrogen Productions & CO₂ capture), ‘that part of the knowledge, the people and the high-quality test equipment will be preserved for the Netherlands. To us HyET is an ideal party to continue the activities that we have started: marketing innovative hydrogen technology. Next to HyET, some of the fuel cell knowledge and equipment will be transferred to other Dutch businesses and universities. The development of CO₂ capture technology, which used to be part of the unit Hydrogen and Clean Fossil Fuels, has now been integrated in the unit Biomass, Coal and Environmental Research. Combining the knowledge in the field of CO₂ separation and conversion of biomass offers new significant opportunities for ECN’.

About ECN
The Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) is the largest research institute in the Netherlands in the field of energy and holds a strong international position. With its energy research, ECN focuses on a sustainable energy system: safe, reliable and environment-friendly. ECN develops knowledge and technologies for the Dutch government and trade and industry and transfers them to the market. Three basic elements are distinguished (the so-called trias energetica), i.e. reducing energy demand by means of energy saving, generating energy from sustainable sources and clean and efficient use of fossil fuels. ECN also conducts research on future opportunities and economic backgrounds in the field of energy.

About HyET
HyET develops very efficient hydrogen compressors. The compressor that was developed and patented by HyET has no moving components. Therefore there is no friction or heat, and the energy use is much lower than that of existing compressors. HyET is the only one in the world capable of realising a pressure of over 400 Bar with this electro-chemical compressor. The compressors will be used in industry and for hydrogen filling stations. A fast-growing team in Arnhem is working hard on transferring the innovative technology from the laboratory to the market.

After an event for representatives of the local media on April 1st, the
F-CELL World drive will embark on its 14th leg towards Adelaide on April 2nd. On this two-day journey the vehicles will cover a distance of 1,000 kilometres. Furthermore, the tour will have a reason to celebrate upon arrival in Adelaide: one half of the 125-day world tour will then have been accomplished.

Columbus – The Ohio Third Frontier is making another round of investments that will work to support Ohio’s advanced energy industry. The Ohio Third Frontier Commission today recommended more than $7.5 million in funding to eight companies through the Ohio Third Frontier’s Fuel Cell, Advanced Energy, and Targeted Industry Attraction programs. The Commission also recommended a $1.7 million funding commitment for a Research and Development Center in Cincinnati.

“The investments we make today will have a lasting impact on the economy of Ohio,” said James A. Leftwich, Director of the Ohio Department of Development and Chair of the Ohio Third Frontier Commission. “Ohio must keep pressing for results that contribute to economic development.”

The programs work to accelerate the development and growth of some of the state’s most promising green technologies. The grants will benefit both the industry and its supply chain by providing direct financial support to organizations seeking to investigate near-term specific commercial objectives; commercialize new products; commercialize manufacturing processes/technologies, or adapt or modify existing components that can reduce the cost and improve the efficiency of fuel cell systems and other advanced energy technologies; address technical and commercialization barriers; or demonstrate market readiness.

Fiscal Year 2011 Ohio Third Frontier Fuel Cell Program Awards

American Trim, LLC (Allen County) will receive $994,263, in collaboration with Ohio Northern University, The Ohio State University, and the Edison Materials Technology Center, for the project Low-cost Manufacturing System for Fuel Cell Components. The project is further developing low-cost manufacturing systems, utilizing high velocity metal forming technology to produce fuel cell components, including plates for heat exchangers.

Battelle Memorial Institute (Franklin County) will receive $1 million, in collaboration with Energy Technologies Inc., UES, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Research Laboratory, for the project Improving the Manufacturing Readiness of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Military Power Generator. The project is further developing a more efficient, quiet, lightweight, compact power generator for the military.

Lockheed Martin MS2 (Summit County) will receive $1 million, in collaboration with Technology Management, Inc., Catacel Corporation, Energy Technologies Inc., Gorman-Rupp Industries, Refractory Specialties Inc., and Core Technology, Inc., for the project Military Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Genset Demonstration. The project is further developing a fuel cell-based generator set critical for supplying electrical power for military missions and to soldiers in the field.

By Beata Mostafavi | Flint Journal

File | The Flint Journal

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Michigan — By summer, the first-of-its-kind hydrogen fueling station in Michigan could break ground in the township.

The $3.5 million gas station of the future, to be built by the Mass Transportation Authority at Maple Road and South Dort Highway, will be a test site for Kettering University engineering professors and students researching the feasibility of generating hydrogen for fuel — and possibly fuel cells someday.

“We would have the capacity for the largest hydrogen-generated facility in the state,” said MTA Chief of Staff Ed Benning. “It’s one of a kind. We are on the leading edge.”

The facility, on a 20-acre site next to an MTA Your Ride station, eventually will allow MTA to test three types of alternative energy: hydrogen, fuel-compressed natural gas and propane.

“We’ll be able to see the efficiency of moving to generating hydrogen and whether it would be realistic in the future to go to fuel cells,” Benning said. “We need to move away from diesel fuel. That can’t happen fast enough.”

Unlike the diesel-powered buses now used by the MTA, fuel cell vehicles emit no pollutants.

Diesel prices also have soared by more than $2 a gallon over last year.

MTA and Kettering would test a pilot bus running on the energy produced at the station and transporting MTA passengers on various routes.

Kettering mechanical engineering professor Mohamed El-Sayed, a former General Motors engineer, said some automakers use private hydrogen filling stations, but the Grand Blanc Township facility would be the first known facility for public vehicles in the state.

El-Sayed said the facility would be a “smart” station that could “talk” to the bus through the fuel hose, detecting problems such as a leak.

He said the idea for the facility was the brainchild of outgoing MTA General Manager Robert J. Foy, who wanted to see this area be at the forefront of the emerging technology and alternative energy.

“His vision was to first create a clean and efficient transportation system in Flint and several counties around it, and second, to use the station to spur creation of jobs and bring the Flint area into the advanced technology era,” El-Sayed said. “It is very significant because that’s our future.”

MTA hired Sorenson Gross Construction Services to design the project. MTA officials expect the facility to be up and running by fall of 2012.

WARRENDALE, Pa. — SAE International will host the first-ever A World In Motion® (AWIM) Fuel Cell Olympics on Thursday, April 14, during the SAE 2011 World Congress in Detroit.

The event features SAE International’s AWIM curriculum, and revolves around student teams building small car models that use hydrogen fuel cells. Students will be able to compete in a variety of events with these cars. The Fuel Cell Olympics will be held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. in Oakland Hall.

The Fuel Cell Olympics are sponsored by the GM Foundation.

“GM’s commitment to educational programs that focus on math and science is an investment in the engineers of tomorrow; young energetic students like the AWIM participants truly have the power to develop solutions that will transform tomorrow’s vehicles,” said Terry Woychowski, Vice President of Global Quality and Launches at General Motors.

AWIM is dedicated to providing K-12 students with hands-on experiences that demonstrate the relevance of science. It incorporates the laws of physics, motion, flight and electronics into age-appropriate hands on activities that reinforce classroom curriculum. The program shows the practical applications beyond the classroom, anchoring textbook concepts to real events and careers.

The technology behind the cars is available to educators, volunteers and young engineers. Using distilled water as the source for hydrogen fuel, the reversible fuel cell is used to electrolyze water and then the hydrogen produced is drawn back into the fuel cell to power the electric motor.

The Fuel Cell Olympics have four different events, covering different components of successful vehicle engineering: distance, weight, accuracy and speed. All of the events take place on a ten meter track. The goal of the distance event is for the car to travel as long as possible while staying in the guidelines of the track. The goal of the weight category is for the car to travel as far as possible with an attached weight. The goal of the accuracy event is to have the car stop at a specific point in the ten meter strip. The goal of the speed event is to have the car that crosses the ten meter line in the shortest time. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded to student teams for each event.

In 2011, AWIM celebrates its 20th anniversary. From a modest beginning in a handful of classrooms AWIM has reached more than four million students since 1991. Click here to hear Matthew Miller, director of the SAE Foundation and pre-college programs, talk about AWIM and its continued relevance as a proven and popular program that teaches STEM concepts to today’s children.

For more information on the Fuel Cell Olympics, the SAE 2011 World Congress, or to request press credentials, e-mail pr@sae.org.

SAE International also will host the JetToy Olympics, which also uses the AWIM program, on Wednesday, April 13, from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. in Oakland Hall.

SAE International is a global association of more than 128,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International’s core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International’s charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series.

About the GM Foundation

Since its inception in 1976, GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions to deserving American charities and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates. For more information, visit www.gm.com/corporate/responsibility/community.

- www.sae.org -

HOPKINTON, MA–Hy9 Corporation (http://www.hy9.com), a leading manufacturer of hydrogen generators and hydrogen purifiers for energy and transportation applications, announced the appointment of George Roberts as Vice President of Engineering. Mr. Roberts comes to Hy9 from UTC Power Corporation, where he managed UTC’s fuel cell technology cost reduction initiatives, and W. L. Gore & Associates, with engineering positions in the Industrial Products Division.

At Hy9, Mr. Roberts will lead the Company’s engineering and product development initiatives, initially focused on commercializing the company’s HGS family of hydrogen generator products, designed to power cellular tower telecommunication systems in emerging economies.

“I am very excited about George’s joining the Hy9 team and the strong leadership and engineering skills he is bringing in product development and cost reduction. George has an established track record for delivering complex products to market and all of us at Hy9 look forward to working with him as we expand commercial production,” said Brad Bradshaw, Hy9’s CEO.

“I am very pleased to be joining a company at the point where my skills can help shape and accelerate the introduction of industry leading commercial products to help power cellular communications in emerging markets around the world. This is an exciting time to join Hy9 and I look forward to working with the team,” said Roberts.

About Hy9 Corporation
Based in Hopkinton, Massachusetts (USA), Hy9 Corporation designs, manufactures and sells low-cost, high-performance hydrogen generators and hydrogen purifiers for the portable and stationary/backup power, industrial gas and transportation markets. Hy9 recently introduced our HGS family of hydrogen generators for backup and stationary power, targeting wireless telecommunications and combined heat and power applications. Hy9’s HGS family of hydrogen generators run on either methanol or natural gas, reliably, efficiently and cost effectively producing high purity hydrogen for PEM fuel cells. Hy9’s HPS purifiers give customers the assurance that they are consistently and reliably receiving hydrogen for their applications at greater than 99.9999% purity.

On 31 March 2010 the members of the Industry Grouping for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen technology (NEW-IG) elected its new Board, including three new board-members, Oliver Weinnman, (Vattenfal), Mikael Sloth (H2Logic), Karel Kapoun (Shell). The other members in the Board are Henry Winand (Intelligent Energy), Peter Froeschle (Daimler) and Pierre Etienne Franc 5Air Liquide).

Pierre Etienne Franc, Technologies of the Future Director at Air Liquide, is elected to be the new Chairman. He is taking over form Gijs van Breda Vriesman, Commercial Manager Europe – Global Hydrogen Lead Alternative Energies at Shell, who has lead the organisation for the past 4 years. The other Board-members are a good reflection of the broad scope of fuel cell and hydrogen technology, both in terms of sectors and in terms of geography.

Incoming chair Pierre Etienne Franc states “Fuel cell and hydrogen have an important role to play in the decarbonisation of the transport and energy-sector.  I am very pleased with my team reflecting the broad and strong commitment to this project”. Departing chair van Breda Vriesman adds “The commercialisation of fuel cell cars has entered a crucial phase and may become the first mass market for an FCH application. It is widely recognised that commercial deployment of fuel cell cars can only but benefit the development of other commercial applications”

Against the background of the EU ambition to decarbonise the Transport and Energy sector by 2050, the fuel cell and hydrogen sector have a very important role to play in contributing to the solution. The NEW-IG, as part of the Joint Undertaking for fuel cell and hydrogen technology, is an important driver of this development. Over the next months the NEW-IG will develop a concrete vision and roadmap for market-introduction of fuel cell vehicles and for the role of fuel cell and hydrogen technology can play in decarbonisation of the energy system. It is crucial that for the next decade not only sufficient funding for RD&D is secured, but also that a supportive regulatory framework is built for speeding up commercial deployment for FCH technology.

Pierre Etienne Franc points out that “fuel cell and hydrogen technology is already being applied in various early markets today like the back-up power sector and the logistics sector and the cars are close to commercial”. He concludes with stressing that “it is a strong signal that large companies like Daimler, Vattenfal, Air Liquide and Shell, together with one of the smaller but very successful companies like Intelligent Energy and H2Logic are putting their best people into the NEW-IG Board”

By Kerry-Ann Adamson at Matter Network

One of the most persistent myths is that fuel cells are always a decade away. Sadly, until recently, this was not far from the truth. In was in the last handful of years that the industry started to move to commercial production.

When I say commercial, though, it is not in the private finance sense of the word in terms of earning profits for the company, but in terms of availability to adopt (buy or lease) with warranty and service capability. Within the next couple of financial years, though, we will see a number of fuel cell companies turning the corner into profit. But getting back to the point of this myth, commercial availability.

Today if you want you can adopt a range of products with stationary fuel cells embedded into them. These include CHP units for commercial buildings such as hospitals and prisons and fuel cell UPS units for base stations. Outside of stationary fuel cells, which are increasingly becoming the foundation on which the rest of the industry is being built, there is forklifts and APUs for leisure vehicles in the transport sector and generators and units for remote monitoring in the portable sector. OK, that’s not an exhaustive list but already disproves the myth that fuel cells are always ten years away.

If we look forward just a little bit we see a massively expanded list of products becoming available. And trust me this table is not exhaustive, but a snapshot list. And this is my take on it. We get products a bit earlier or release dates may slip a year or do – but not a decade.

In ten years’ time, in 2021, the energy ecosystem we live in will be very different. It will be a lot more diverse, we will use as standard a much broader range of fuels and fuel cells that will be part of the everyday transport, stationary and portable mix. You don’t have to wait a decade though to use fuel cells. You can do it today.

Photo by Josep Ma. Rosell/flickr/Creative Commons

Kerry-Ann Adamson is a research director for Pike Research with a focus on fuel cells.