The federal government is giving the University of Victoria a $405,000 grant to do research into fuel cell technology. 

UVic's Institute for Integrated Energy Systems (IESVic), one of Canada's leading fuel cell research institutions, will use the money to develop a laser imaging system that can study the inside workings of a fuel cell to help develop 3-D computer models. 

An experimental energy system will also be set up to supply a typical B.C. home with electricity. Renewable energy sources such solar cells, wind turbines, micro-hydro or tidal systems will be evaluated in the experiment.

Senators defeated an amendment to draft energy legislation that would have required automakers to produce specific numbers of fuel cell vehicles and deliver them to market in the
coming decades. The amendment was one of three Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) offered to expand the hydrogen title that will be part of the Senate's comprehensive energy legislation.

Instead, members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed with minor amendments Chairman Pete Domenici's (R-N.M.) version of "Title VIII - Hydrogen" during a mark-up Tuesday. The Chairman's mark does not require automakers to produce any fuel cell vehicles.

Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and Japanese automakers are spending fortunes developing cars that run on hydrogen-powered fuel cells and emit only water from their tailpipes. And in January, President Bush made similar technology a national priority, laying out plans for $1.2 billion in federal spending to develop commercially viable hydrogen-powered fuel cells. 

Now a Hobart and William Smith Colleges economics professor is leading a national research effort that will answer questions for policy makers on the costs of getting to a future when cars -- and perhaps factories and power plants -- run on hydrogen. 

Assistant Professor Tom Drennen is the principal investigator on a two-year project that started last fall with Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico. The research team is using past research and data on hydrogen, as well as doing some investigating and projecting of its own, to create a computer simulation that will allow people to compare different options for hydrogen-based power sources.

Toronto City Council has approved a three-year project in which the City's Energy Efficiency Office, Fleet Services Division, in partnership with Hydrogenics Corporation (Nasdaq: HYGS; TSX: HYG), and Exhibition Place, will demonstrate the unique ability of fuel cell technology to provide mobile and stationary power with no harmful emissions. The demonstration will allow the
public to learn about hydrogen and fuel cells as the energy of the future in a hands-on setting.

County Executive Ron Sims and US Sen. Maria Cantwell joined other project partners to launch the innovative demonstration project at the county’s South Treatment Plant in Renton.

Working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and FuelCell Energy Inc. of Danbury, Conn., King County will build, install and operate a unique fuel cell that uses gas produced during sewage treatment as fuel. Using that biogas, the fuel cell will produce up to 1 megawatt (MW) of electricity—or enough to serve 1,000 households—to meet some power needs at the treatment plant.

NEW YORK - Vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells could be competitive with conventional combustion engine powered cars within 10 years, the CEO of fuel cell developer Ballard Power Systems Inc. (BLD.TO) (BLDP.O) said. 

At the moment, cars powered by fuel cells are almost entirely crafted by hand and come with sky-high price tags of up to $2 million each. 

But Ballard President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Campbell said soon the price will drop. 

Ballard plans to unveil its next generation of fuel cell engines by 2008 and a more advanced engine a few years after that. 

Allan Rock, Minister of Industry, today spoke to key Japanese business leaders about the benefits of expanded investment in Canada and building partnerships with Canadian companies.
 
"More than 35 000 Canadians work for Japanese companies and their affiliates at facilities across Canada. These companies recognize that our countries share many qualities, including a dedication to education, a high quality of life for their citizens, and a creative and energized work force," said Minister Rock at an investment lunch with Japanese business leaders.

"Canada has a growing economy, a healthy balance sheet, and continues to invest in research and development in key technologies. Canadian businesses are ready to work with Japanese investors and to expand our already flourishing partnerships with international companies."

Millennium Cell Inc. (NASDAQ: MCEL), a leading technology solutions company that has created a proprietary technology to safely store, generate and deliver pure hydrogen, has teamed up with Seaworthy Systems and Duffy Electric Boat Company in a demonstration project for California's Center for the Commercial Deployment of Transportation Technologies (CCDoTT) to show the utility of hydrogen fuel for generating power for ships and facilities in ports.

The first boat is expected to be in use in Newport Beach (CA) harbor in August of this year.

The Millennium Cell Hydrogen on Demand(TM) system will be installed in a 22-passenger water taxi from Duffy Electric Boat Co. The water taxi will serve the public 10 to 12 hours daily. Seaworthy Systems will provide system integration and engineering for Millennium Cell's technology.

Author:  Mark Cropper, Stefan Geiger and David Jollie, Fuel Cell Today 

Description:  This survey is the most in-depth report yet to be published on the UK fuel cell industry. It appraises various aspects of current developments, as well as looking at the United Kingdom in the context of the global industry. The survey also looks at government support and funding sources for fuel cells in the UK. In addition, it gives a comprehensive listing of relevant organisations involved or interested in fuel cells, hydrogen, materials, components and related areas. 

The Chrysler Town & Country Natrium, DaimlerChrysler's fuel-cell concept vehicle running on clean, nonflammable, and recyclable sodium borohydride fuel, will participate in a ride-and-drive
display program at the Pentagon at the request of acting Secretary of the Navy, Honorable H.T. Johnson.  This program takes place on April 21 as part of Earth Day celebrations and is an opportunity for top military officials to experience the advantages of the Chrysler Natrium fuel-cell vehicle.
 

Delphi Corporation will exhibit its Generation-2 solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) at the U.S. Department of Defense's (DOD) Earth Day event scheduled for Mon., April 21 in the courtyard of the Pentagon. This year's event will preview the American automobile industry's fuel cell vehicles and technology developments.

WINNIPEG - A provincial task force wants Manitoba to get a clean jump on hydrogen development. The province's hydrogen steering committee examined possibilities around hydrogen production, transportation, fuel cell applications, research, and other applications. The group's report identifies hydrogen as the "ultimate fuel of the future." When burned, hydrogen emits no pollution. It can be used in fuel cells to supply power to everything from cell phones to homes to cars. One way to produce hydrogen for energy use is to use electricity to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen molecules. They hydrogen is then collected and stored. The government says Manitoba's abundance of water and hydroelectric power make it the ideal location to produce hydrogen. However, the province's energy minister says a full-blown hydrogen industry is decades away. 

Two new microfluidic fuel cells developed at Brown University may help make long-running medical implants a reality. 

The new fuel cells offer features sought after by manufacturers to provide long-term power for medical devices such as implants that monitor glucose levels in diabetics. 

A large glass bioreactor in the corner of Suellen Van Ooteghem's lab at the National Energy Technology Laboratory is filled with what appears to be murky champagne. The pale yellow solution even has tiny bubbles streaming to the top. The liquid is arguably as precious as any champagne, and the bubbles are even more valuable: They are almost pure hydrogen.