BIC Group (Paris:BB) today announced that its Canadian subsidiary, BIC Inc. has acquired the assets of Angstrom Power Incorporated, Vancouver, B.C., a company specializing in the development of portable fuel cell technology. The purchase price is CAD 18.7 million (approximately EUR 13.5 million¹).

A portable fuel cell device works with a replaceable fuel cartridge and provides charging capability to consumer electronic devices that have rechargeable batteries (e.g. smart phones, tablets, cell phones, gaming, GPS, etc.) and direct power to other electric indoor and outdoor devices. By offering instant, constant and extended power, portable fuel cells will give the consumer convenient access to power whenever and wherever needed, as an alternative to electricity from a wall outlet.

For nearly ten years, BIC has been developing hydrogen fuel cartridges which are connected to the fuel cell device and replaced once the fuel is depleted. During this time, Angstrom has been developing portable fuel cell devices. BIC’s hydrogen fuel cartridge technology and the Angstrom fuel cell technology work very well together. BIC and Angstrom prototype designs have demonstrated high levels of performance and efficiency.

Companies whose devices rely on rechargeable batteries have shown a keen interest in the promise of such fuel cell technology. BIC expects to bring a portable fuel cell device and fuel cell cartridge to market in 2 to 5 years.

Mario Guevara, Chief Executive Officer, said: “BIC’s vision for the portable fuel cell industry remains to manufacture and commercialize a replaceable hydrogen fuel cartridge. With the purchase of Angstrom, BIC will also be able to provide a total power solution.”

Bruno Bich, Chairman of the Board, added: “Since 2003, BIC has been working on fuel cell research and development by leveraging its expertise in lighter valve technology to produce cartridges. The acquisition of Angstrom confirms our commitment to be active in the portable fuel cell industry and expand our product portfolio of high-quality consumer goods.”

Angstrom Chief Executive Officer Paul Zimmerman added: “Angstrom has advanced its fuel cell technology to the point where investment is required in new areas including marketing and distribution. BIC’s complementary capabilities in these areas combined with their state-of-the-art fuel cartridge technology make BIC the ideal acquirer for Angstrom.”

WASHINGTON, DC – - For the third consecutive year, the Hydrogen Student Design Contest has welcomed the most teams to ever participate in the competition. A record 33 university teams have completed the first stage of the Contest to develop a combined heat, hydrogen and power system for their university campus. All now qualify to compete for the grand prize: a trip to the 2012 World Hydrogen Energy Conference in Toronto to showcase their design to over a thousand industry professionals from around the world.

“This unprecedented participation from around the world shows that the younger generation wants to use fuel cells and hydrogen energy to solve America’s energy challenges” said Jeff Serfass, President of the Hydrogen Education Foundation. “We need more energy professionals to recognize what these students already know: that fuel cells and hydrogen energy enable a clean energy portfolio, and are unparalleled in efficiency, cleanliness, reliability, versatility, and safety.”

The 8th annual Hydrogen Student Design Contest, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, challenges students to design a tri-generation system that yields heat, hydrogen, and power, while utilizing local resources.

Other supporters of this year’s Contest include the Environmental Protection Agency’s Combined Heat and Power Partnership, the International Association for Hydrogen Energy, and the World Hydrogen Energy Conference 2012.

For more information: www.hydrogencontest.org

BEND, OR — IdaTech, a global leader in the development and manufacture of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell products for telecommunications and other critical backup power applications, is pleased to announce its contribution to worldwide sustainability by providing clean energy, for communications equipment, at COP17 in Durban, South Africa.

IdaTech’s ElectraGen(R) ME fuel cell system is providing power to a Base Transceiver Site (BTS) that is supplying cellular phone coverage during the event for COP17 participants. United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP17) runs from 28 November to 09 December in Durban, South Africa.

The ElectraGen ME fuel cell system has many benefits that support the environment including reduction of carbon footprint and significant exhaust emissions savings which would normally be emitted into the atmosphere. When compared to a diesel generator, there is a 50% reduction in CO2 and more than 95% reduction in CO, NOx, and SOx emissions, as well as no particulate matter (PM) emissions. In contrast to diesel generators, fuel cell systems are reliable, efficient, and a clean technology which directly supports global sustainability.

Network operators are increasingly implementing clean technology solutions to lower their environmental impact, improve network reliability and reduce operating expenses through the use of more efficient equipment. Today, IdaTech has more than 75 fuel cell systems installed in telecom networks throughout South Africa.

About IdaTech

IdaTech is an advanced fuel cell products company which is operationally headquartered in Bend, Oregon, USA.

IdaTech designs, develops, and manufactures extended run fuel cell products for Telecom applications requiring up to 15 kW of power. IdaTech’s unique PEM fuel cell technology provides solutions for a wide range of applications to directly support efforts towards sustainable energy.

IdaTech’s portfolio of industry-certified fuel cell products are based on the company’s fuel processing, purification and fuel cell system integration capabilities. With the support of strategic partners and customers, the company’s extended run backup power products are being deployed worldwide for stationary applications.

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

OSAKA (Nikkei)–Panasonic Corp.  is planning to market bundled environmental and energy services that would help businesses save money and reduce emissions.

Panasonic is targeting sales of 1 trillion yen in fiscal 2018 from the new solutions business, which will combine such environmental products as fuel cells and energy-conservation equipment, a senior official said Monday.

“We will create a new business model in which we solve the problems of customers,” Panasonic Electric Works Co. President Shusaku Nagae told reporters in Tokyo.

For supermarkets and other stores, the group will propose systems that control lighting, refrigerators, air conditions and other equipment. It also hopes to market so-called smart towns across the world, Nagae said.

Panasonic intends to achieve growth by focusing on green and energy-related operations amid a slump in its core electronics business, which includes televisions.

The group hopes to create about 100 solutions businesses and develop them so that each eventually will generate around 10 billion yen in revenue. A new department that will promote such efforts is to be established in January. Plans call for investing 10 billion yen in this field in fiscal 2012, with a goal to have the new business log more than 100 billion yen in sales that year.

Wendy Gibson, EEF compere; Steve Hallet, Project Leader for ITM Power and Mark Alston of ENER-G

The Sheffield-based business specialises in clean fuel hydrogen generation and energy storage and won the award after developing a transportable hydrogen refuelling unit called HFuel which can be used as a zero carbon fuel for modified internal combustion engines and fuel cell vehicles.

The company’s Hydrogen On Site Trials (HOST) programme resulted in 22 companies – including Stansted Airport, Sheffield CC, Carillion plc, and Tarmac– signing up to demonstrate the benefits of HFuel. The company now receives enquiries from around the world.

The annual awards are hosted by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, and recognise excellence in enterprise, innovation, environmental performance and skills development among UK manufacturers.

Andrew Tuscher, EEF Regional Director North, said: “Manufacturing is crucial to the economic recovery of our region. Companies like ITM Power are leading the way by developing truly transformational zero carbon technology. Congratulations to them on this well deserved success.”

The judging panel, led by Cranfield University, praised ITM Power’s achievements, stating: “The judges praised this business as revolutionary. This is a great story of pioneers in UK manufacturing addressing the biggest cause of carbon emissions, transportation, and developing a transportable hydrogen re-fuelling unit, HFuel. We were particularly impressed by ITM Power’s long term investment plan, its initiative in being the first to take something from research to market, high uptake and its genuine level of innovation.”

Cedric Rodrigues, Divisional Director for ENER-G, environmental partner to the EEF, said: “We salute the achievements of ITM Power and their powers of innovation. This is an extraordinary product that has major implications for improved sustainability in commerce and industry. Judging by the high standard of entries this year, the future of sustainable manufacturing is in great hands.”

ITM Power will now go forward to compete against other regional winners from across the UK in the national awards final on January 26 in London.

They will be joined by Tata Steel apprenctice Rush Garfitt, aged 19, won the Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award, sponsored by EAL.

Rush, from Rawmarsh, works for Sheffield-based Tata Steel’s speciality steel’s business, which manufactures products for the aerospace, oil & gas, energy and automotive sectors.

He demonstrated his commitment to his chosen career by relocating from Scunthorpe to Rotherham in order to pursue his apprenticeship.

Liam Jones of DavyMarkham was runner-up in the same category.

Meanwhile, Sheffield Forgemasters was runner-up in the Environmental Efficiency Award and highly commended in the Outstanding Export Award

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/business/local-business/itm_power_handed_top_

Extension of North-Rhine Westphalia Grant

Ceramic Fuel Cells (ASX / AIM: CFU) (”the Company”) announces that the NRW Bank has extended the term of the grant received by the Company.

In December 2009 the Company received a grant of EUR1,386,000 from the NRW Bank. NRW Bank is the government-owned development bank in the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia, where the Company has built and is operating its volume manufacturing plant.

Under the terms of the grant certain conditions had to be met in order to retain the grant monies.

In the Overseas Offer Circular mailed on 8 November 2011 the Company noted that it was in ongoing discussions with the NRW Bank and the Government of North-Rhine Westphalia about the grant conditions, specifically relating to the number of staff employed at the plant.

The Company is pleased to announce that the NRW Bank has given an extension until December 2012, in order to meet the final grant condition.

MARLTON, N.J. and NEW CASTLE COUNTY, Del. — Hill International HIL , the global leader in managing construction risk, announced today that it has received a contract from Diamond State Generation Partners LLC, a related company of Bloom Energy Corporation, to provide construction management services in connection with the development of the Red Lion Energy Center in New Castle County, Delaware.

The Red Lion Energy Center will be a fuel-cell technology, grid-tied, base-loaded generating station, using natural gas for fuel. Major equipment will include 135 fuel cell units, or “Bloom Boxes”, grouped in clusters. The plant facilities will also include a natural gas regulating station, well, deionized water plant, water storage, administration and control building, and stormwater management systems.

“We are proud that Bloom Energy has entrusted Hill to manage the construction of its Red Lion Energy Center,” said Michael V. Griffin, P.E., Hill’s Senior Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager. “This is truly a groundbreaking project utilizing groundbreaking green energy technology,” Griffin added.

Bloom Energy is a provider of breakthrough solid oxide fuel cell technology that generates clean, highly-efficient power onsite from a wide variety of fuel sources. Bloom Energy’s mission is to make clean, reliable energy affordable for everyone in the world. The Bloom Energy Server is currently producing power for several Fortune 500 companies. The company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information on Bloom Energy, please visit their website at www.bloomenergy.com .

Hill International, with 3,100 employees in 100 offices worldwide, provides program management, project management, construction management and construction claims and consulting services. Engineering News-Record magazine recently ranked Hill as the 8th largest construction management firm in the United States. For more information on Hill, please visit our website at www.hillintl.com .