FuelCellsWorks

Fuel cell installation marks completion of Cox’s 14th alternative energy project in California

ATLANTA – Cox Enterprises announced today the installation of five fuel cells at its Cox Communications subsidiary in San Diego. The fuel cells join nine previous alternative energy projects in the state. Combined, Cox’s 14 alternative energy installations in California annually prevent 15,500 tons of carbon emissions from entering the environment, the equivalent of removing 367 cars from the road.

The five new fuel cells are Bloom Energy Servers and utilize a unique fuel cell technology, which converts fuel into electricity via an electro-chemical process without any combustion and no harmful, smog-forming particulates. These fuel cells are powered by biogas, a renewable fuel, to make them even more eco-friendly.

The new fuel cells in San Diego include two 200kW units that power 100 percent of Cox Communications facility on Copley Drive and three 200kW units that power 90 percent of its building on N. Cuyamaca Street.

“Twenty-five percent of Cox Communications’ electricity in California is now being generated through our alternative energy projects,” said Steve Bradley, Cox Enterprises’ director of energy, alternative energy and business continuity. “These projects yield positive results for the environment and the bottom line.”

Cox Enterprises’ alternative energy projects in California, include:

• Four 100kW fuel cell units at KTVU-TV in Oakland
• Two 400kW fuel cell units at Cox Communications in San Diego (Federal Boulevard facility)
• Two 400kW fuel cell units at Cox Communications in Rancho Santa Margarita
• One 100kW photovoltaic solar installation at Cox Communications in Rancho Santa Margarita

“It’s important for us to positively impact the communities we serve, and where our customers live,” said Dave Bialis, senior vice president and general manager of Cox Communications’ operations in California. “These newly installed fuel cells in San Diego will help us continue our efforts to be good environmental stewards, and hopefully, inspire other businesses to implement eco-friendly practices.”

In addition to California, Cox Enterprises has alternative energy installations in Phoenix, Ariz.; Atlanta, Ga.; Macon, Ga.; Bordentown, N.J.; and Portland, Ore. Nationwide, Cox’s alternative energy projects annually prevent 17,400 tons of carbon emissions from entering the environment.

Cox Communications has been recognized as a Waste Reduction Award winner by Cal Recycles, the state’s leading authority on recycling, waste reduction, and product reuse. Cox Communications also has been named the City of San Diego’s Recycler of the Year and the #1 green company in Orange County by OC Metro Magazine. Through the Cox Conserves Heroes program, more than $100,000 has been donated to local environmental nonprofits in Southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area.

AFC Energy (AIM:  AFC), a leading developer of low cost alkaline fuel cells, is pleased to announce that it has received a further positive independent review of its progress from Dr Jon Helliwell, Project Manager, Fuel Cell Applications at the Centre for Process Innovation (“CPI”).  The CPI last carried out a review of the Company’s technical activity in May 2011.

The CPI reports that there have been a number of important developments since the last review, which have given it further confidence that the performance targets agreed with AFC Energy’s main customer will be achieved. In summary these developments are:

• Established two Beta systems at a customer site in Germany and a third on its own site in Dunsfold. This is significant as AFC Energy is:
  • demonstrating the robustness of its Beta-system outside the laboratory
  • generating important operating data
  • openly sharing data and planning progress with a prestigious partner
  • delivering system enhancements in the field

• Frozen system and electrode designs.

• Separated its manufacturing and development activities demonstrating an increased maturity within the organisation which fits well with its desire to commercialise at the earliest opportunity.

• Commenced a project in December, known as LASER-CELL, in which it is the lead of a consortium of European organisations (as announced on 1 December 2011).

• Strengthened its management team through the appointment of Ian Williamson as CEO (as announced on 13 September 2011).
• Ian has a wealth of commercial experience in the hydrogen and energy fields and has established a clear plan for the business focussed on developing its commercial and production capability, whilst maintaining cost control.

AFC Energy provided Dr Helliwell with complete, unrestricted, access to all areas of the Company and its staff and he was able to examine each in detail. A version of the full CPI report, edited to remove confidential technical details, will be made available on the Company’s website later today.

Dr Jon Helliwell, Project Manager, Fuel Cell Applications, CPI said:

“This has been an extremely important period for AFC Energy. I am highly encouraged by the operational and technical developments since the last review and I firmly believe the Company is now in a significantly stronger position.

“AFC Energy is highly likely to deliver low cost, modular fuel cell systems to the stationary power industry in accordance with its technology and commercialisation plans. The systems are simple, as they use clever engineering and elegant design to minimise cost and complexity.

“The cells themselves have been designed for manufacture and are capable of using a range of materials. The technology is no longer ‘laboratory based’ and in what has been a particularly exciting period for the Company, it is clearly starting to deliver the promise of its robust, low cost fuel cell systems.”

Ian Williamson, AFC Energy’s Chief Executive, said:

“We are delighted and encouraged that Dr Helliwell’s review recognises the important milestones reached by the Company in the last few months and it is again a testament to the hard work of our development team.

“AFC Energy continues to optimise the performance of its Beta fuel cell system using the highly valuable data generated by the field trials currently underway and we remain firmly focussed on commercialising our fuel cell technology.”

Coca-Cola has added 37 hydrogen-powered fork lifts and 19 pallet jacks to its bottling plant in San Leandro, California. The hydrogen-powered fork lifts and pallet jacks will help decrease greenhouse gas emissions and increase productivity. This alternatively-fueled equipment is the latest addition to Coca-Cola’s growing alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) fleet in California.

“We are dedicated to expanding our AFV fleet and continue to look for innovative ways to move and deliver Coca-Cola products throughout California,” said Rene Hom, Coca-Cola Northwest Region Vice President of Field Operations and Supply Chain. “The addition of hydrogen-powered fork lifts and pallet jacks to our current 125-AFV fleet in California further strengthens our ongoing commitment to energy conservation, recycling and zero waste, while driving down operating costs and improving process efficiencies.”

The Coca-Cola Company’s goal is to grow its business, but not the system wide carbon emissions from its manufacturing operations, as compared to a 2004 baseline. To help accomplish this goal, the Company is working to incorporate more fuel-efficient modes of product delivery and to reduce fleet and transportation emissions.

The hydrogen-powered fork lift and pallet jack units will provide consistent, more sustainable power when moving product at the 500,000 sq. ft. San Leandro facility. This technology increases productivity by up to 15 percent on average and lowers operational costs by up to 30 percent.

The fork lifts are powered by fuel cells that use hydrogen to produce a constant flow of electricity. They can be refueled in minutes and emit only heat and water – no greenhouse gases. The new fork lifts replace older models using lead acid batteries, which needed to be changed, charged, stored and maintained, a process that was timely and involved costly infrastructure. With this conversion, Coca-Cola is able to eliminate its battery room and open up the valuable floor space for storing and moving product.

Currently, Coca-Cola’s hybrid electric commercial truck fleet is the largest in North America. The hybrids reduce emissions by approximately 30 percent and use roughly 30 percent less fuel than standard delivery trucks.

Coca-Cola now has more than 750 AFVs in North America. The AFV fleet includes hybrid-electric, all-electric, liquid natural gas and compressed natural gas vehicles.

Utilizing alternative energy sources is a key component of The Coca-Cola Company’s Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection strategy in North America. Other initiatives include the Company’s goal of phasing out the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in all its new vendors and cooling equipment by 2015 and testing fuel cell technology in production facilities to provide electricity while reducing the facility’s carbon footprint.

Efficiency and Climate Protection is one of seven focus areas that make up Coca-Cola’s Live Positively platform, the Company’s commitment to making a positive difference in the world by growing business in economically, environmentally and socially sustainable ways.

Total Transportation Services, Inc. (“TTSI”), in conjunction with Vision Motor Corp., announced the official deployment of the “Tyrano”, the world’s first plug-in electric / hydrogen fuel cell Class “8” truck into drayage service at the Port of Long Beach.  Vision Motors, the manufacturer of the “Tyrano”, is also in the process of securing new manufacturing space in the Long Beach area.

Mayor Foster speaks at the press conference. (Left to right) Vic LaRosa (president of TTSI) and Martin Schuermann (CEO/founder of Vision Technologies) stand near by.

Mayor Foster gets ready to jump into the Tyrano for a test ride.