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| The Basics | Fuel Cell News | |
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| The Basics | Fuel Cell News | |
| This
weeks highlights:
-GM Gives Up on Fuel-Cell Reformers
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| GM
Gives Up on Fuel-Cell Reformers
A huge obstacle to broader use of fuel cells is storing hydrogen onboard a vehicle. General Motors reports that it is moving away from producing hydrogen with an onboard reformer, which is basically a mobile refinery that generates hydrogen from conventional liquid fuels. GM has used gasoline on its experimental vehicles, whereas other manufacturers such as DaimlerChrysler use methanol. GM, which found that the bulky devices pose a variety of problems, will work instead on hydrogen production systems that produce hydrogen at refineries or filling stations. The company predicts that viable fuel-cell technology could first reach
the public by the beginning of the next decade.
Fuel Cell Technologies and Siemens Westinghouse Sign Joint Development Agreement for Next Generation Product Fuel Cell Technologies Ltd. (FCT) has signed an expanded Joint Development
Agreement with Siemens Westinghouse Power
FCT and SWPC have been working together for the past 30 months under an existing Joint Development Agreement signed in November 2000 for FCT's first generation 5-kilowatt solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power system. SWPC developed the 'Generator Module,' or fuel cell stack, for the FCT-designed Power System. Meanwhile, FCT developed, tested, and integrated the 'Balance of Plant' and control systems with the SWPC fuel cell stack to create a functional fuel cell system. The goal the two corporations set is to produce 5-kW fuel cell units that are clean, quiet, reliable, and highly efficient power systems that provide electricity and heat for homes, farms, and commercial buildings in both remote and urban locations. FCT is now in the process of placing the first four demonstration units in the field and commissioning them for operation at customers' sites in Germany, Japan, Michigan, and Alaska. With the new Agreement, FCT and Siemens Westinghouse will work together to develop a newly integrated fuel cell stack that will realize the benefits of utilizing standard length bundles as configured for Siemens Westinghouse planned 250 kW CHP standard stationary base load power system. The Joint Development Agreement continues the efforts of the two companies, in the development of a 5-kW solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. "The combined co- operative efforts of both teams of engineers continue to improve products and key lessons-learned from current first generation systems", said Dr. John H. Stannard, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fuel Cell Technologies Corporation. "This is a positive indication of the pending mass commercialization of fuel cell products."
Solar Energy Center gets hydrogen energy grant The Florida Solar Energy Center has received a $4.95 million research grant for continuing its study of hydrogen as an energy source. The Solar Energy Center now has received $10.4 million in total for its hydrogen research. The grant comes from NASA Glenn Research Center. Hydrogen as a fuel has some intriguing prospects. Using hydrogen to launch vehicles into space could save money because it weighs less than conventional rocket fuels. The center also is looking at ways to produce hydrogen locally. The Kennedy Space Center ships in hydrogen from Louisiana at a cost of $2 million annually for its current uses. Producing it locally would save money and reduce risk of tanker trucks hauling the stuff halfway across country. The center is a research institute in Cocoa affiliated with the University of Central Florida. It is the largest state-supported
renewable energy and energy efficiency research center in the nation.
Global Receives Competing Proposal Global Thermoelectric Inc. ("Global") announced today that it has received an unsolicited competing proposal that the Board of Directors of Global has determined to be a "superior proposal" under the terms of the Combination Agreement relating to the transaction previously announced with Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. ("Quantum"). Global intends to commence negotiations with the party making the proposal once a confidentiality agreement is executed. The competing proposal is subject to confirmatory due diligence, negotiation of definitive documentation and the full approval of the Global Board. Global can give no assurances that any transaction will result from these negotiations. In addition, Global's Board of Directors, pursuant to a request by Quantum,
has reconfirmed its previous advice to Global common shareholders in respect
of the previously announced combination by way of a Plan of Arrangement
under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) with Quantum. The Global
Board has reconfirmed its determination to submit the Plan of Arrangement
to its common shareholders for their consideration and is not making a
recommendation as to how common shareholders should vote. The Global Board
has reconfirmed its advice to common shareholders to carefully consider
the opportunity presented in the Arrangement and to review all of the information
provided in the Joint Proxy Statement, and that common shareholders, having
regard to their own personal circumstances and investment
Global will make a further announcement when either an agreement is
entered into with respect to the competing proposal or discussions are
Safe Hydrogen Selected for Funding by U.S. Department of Energy The days of hydrogen-powered vehicles driving down Main Street are one step closer with the U.S. Department of Energy's decision to award a contract for Safe Hydrogen's unique hydrogen storage technology. President Bush made hydrogen a research priority in this year's State of the Union Address. Safe Hydrogen's unique chemical-hydride slurry technology addresses the critical safety, storage and infrastructure challenges of using hydrogen powered vehicles and has been chosen to be part of the "National Hydrogen Energy Roadmap," according to Sig Tullmann, President and CEO of Safe Hydrogen, LLC. The Department of Energy (DOE) is facilitating this technology's development and implementation with an annual funding level that may hit $600,000 for three years. Much more research, according to the DOE, is required to overcome the challenges of achieving a pollution-free, oil-free hydrogen economy. One critical challenge is the market's acceptance of hydrogen fueled vehicles and their need for new hydrogen storage technologies. The current storage options of carrying highly compressed hydrogen fuel in an automobile pose safety issues and provide limited driving ranges. According to Tullmann, the DOE has identified chemical hydrides as a very promising storage solution. Safe Hydrogen's unique chemical-hydride slurry technology can provide the storage safety and storage volume to give future hydrogen powered vehicles the "one-tank" 300-plus mile driving range required by American drivers. Safe Hydrogen's safe and fully recyclable, patented, hydride slurry can be energy-cost competitive with gasoline. And, according to Safe Hydrogen's chief technology officer, Andrew McClaine, "the real killer benefit is that the Safe Hydrogen technology can use much of the current gasoline distribution infrastructure to deliver hydrogen to tomorrow's motorists". Safe Hydrogen's slurry - a liquid mix not unlike thick paint - both stores and generates 99.999 percent pure hydrogen on demand by the addition of water. This is achieved by a very simple and low cost mixing system using any available water. Additionally, the Safe Hydrogen slurry provides the handling and safety benefits of a non-explosive and non-flammable storage format, according to McClaine. Safe Hydrogen storage technology provides that 300-plus mile driving range to a car in a fuel tank about 20 percent larger than the average gasoline tank. Or in general terms, according to Ken Brown, one of the founding investors and Vice-President of Business Development, Safe Hydrogen technology stores hydrogen ten times more compact than compressed hydrogen and twice as compact as liquefied hydrogen. Today, compressed and liquid hydrogen are the two most common ways of storing and transporting hydrogen, Brown explains. Safe Hydrogen LLC is a start-up company based in Lexington, Massachusetts. The company was founded in 2001 and owns all intellectual property and relevant patents generated by a $3 million, three year research effort to evaluate the properties of various hydride slurries as potentially efficient and safe hydrogen storage and hydrogen generating fuels. Andrew McClaine, Safe Hydrogen's CTO, managed that research at a division of Thermo Electron Corporation in Waltham, Mass. Safe Hydrogen is in discussion with several large energy companies who can act as a strategic partner and share some costs of executing the DOE project. DOE funding typically does not cover all costs associated with projects. The company will also seek additional funding as the project gets under
way later in the year.
FuelCell Energy European Partner, MTU, Announces Strategic Investment By RWE AG, FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: FCEL) today announced that RWE AG, Germany's largest electric utility and one of the largest in Europe, will establish a joint venture with MTU, a DaimlerChrysler AG company and FuelCell Energy's European technology and distribution partner to market carbonate fuel cells to a broad European market. Under the terms of the agreement, RWE Fuel Cells GmbH will hold a 25.1 percent stake in the new company. The joint venture, MTU CFC Solutions GmbH, will seek to develop a leading market position for high temperature stationary fuel cells. Under the agreement, MTU said it will contribute its considerable lead in technology for stationary fuel cells, while RWE, as one of the leading European power companies, will provide the corresponding market access, thus ensuring the broad-based introduction of the fuel cell. MTU has been operating a 250 kilowatt combined heat and power fuel cell power plant at an energy park operated by RWE. The fuel cells were manufactured by FuelCell Energy and shipped to MTU for incorporation into their power plant known as the "Hot Module." Other MTU fuel cell power plants are operating in Germany at a Michelin tire plant in Karlsruhe, a Deutsche Telecom telecommunications center in Munich, a university medical clinic in Magdeburg, a hospital in Bad Neustadt/Saale, and a shipbuilding facility in Cartagena, Spain. "We are pleased with market progress in Europe for our stationary fuel cells as evidenced by this strategic investment by Germany's largest electric utility, " said Jerry D. Leitman, chairman and CEO of FuelCell Energy Inc. "The partnering of MTU and RWE brings broad based distribution opportunities for fuel cell power plants and we look forward to supplying the fuel cells to support the joint venture's product deliveries in the future." "Fuel cell systems are a long-term strategic addition to our present
product range, especially in the area of power generation systems," said
Dr.
MTU said that in contrast to conventional cogeneration plants, its fuel cell power plant, based on FuelCell Energy technology, has a considerably higher efficiency as well as a much lower environmental impact. Emissions from the MTU systems are so low that, according to the German clean air code, the emissions can be classed as "exhaust air" instead of "exhaust gas," according to MTU. The exhaust air consists mainly of hot air and water vapor. Emissions of nitrogen and sulfur oxides are virtually zero, MTU said. Westport to collaborate with Ford to advance the automaker's hydrogen engine program Westport Innovations Inc. (WPT: TSX) announced today that it has signed
an agreement with Ford Motor Company to support the
Under the agreement, Ford will purchase Westport's fuel injection hardware,
electronic controls and engineering support, including a set of
Michael Gallagher, Westport's Chief Operating Officer, added, "Our past work with Ford in developing light-duty natural gas fuel systems helped build the confidence to continue working with us on other gaseous fuel programs. We believe the fastest and most economical pathway to hydrogen is through the development of gaseous fuel engines and we are proud to be part of Ford's research in this area." Westport Innovations Inc. is the leading developer of gaseous fuel engine technologies. It develops, manufacturers and sells a wide range of engines for commercial transportation applications such as trucks and buses through its joint venture with Cummins, Inc. Technology development alliances are in place with a number of other leading engine manufacturers, including MAN, Isuzu, and BMW.
Report on the Lucerne Fuel Cell Forum 2003 
One of the fuel cell conference highlights during the year, the Lucerne Fuel Cell Forum 2003 recently took place for the sixth time. The event, which takes place on the shores of Lake Lucerne in Switzerland, was this year separated into two sections. The European PEFC Forum addressed technical issues relating to polymer electrolyte fuel cells, while the Fuel Cell World 2003, had a commercial focus, concentrating on fuel cell products and applications.
Honda Makes World's First Fuel-Cell Car Delivery to Company Honda Motor Co., Japan's second- biggest automaker by sales, started leasing its low-pollution fuel cell-powered car to Iwatani International Corp., the world's first delivery of such a vehicle to a company. Honda, one of two automakers to market hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, in December 2002 delivered a total of six FCX fuel-cell vehicles to the Japanese government and to the City of Los Angeles. Osaka-based Iwatani supplies hydrogen to Honda. Honda and rivals are investing billions of dollars in fuel cells as a long-term solution to stricter environmental regulations. Fuel cells, used for decades in spacecraft, make electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen, with only steam or water as a byproduct. High costs and a lack of hydrogen fuel stations limit the technology to small test programs. ``There are many issues that need to be solved, including offering it for a lower price, making hydrogen more available to supply fuel-cell cars, making the vehicle more compact and fuel- efficient,'' Honda Senior Managing Director Hiroshi Okubo said at a Tokyo press conference. He declined to say how much Honda is charging Iwatani. Honda, which uses a stack developed by Ballard Power Systems Inc. for its fuel-cell vehicle, plans to use its own developed stack for the next version, Okubo said. A stack is an auto part where oxygen and hydrogen generate electricity in a fuel-cell vehicle. Okubo didn't say when the new version will be released. Honda plans to lease a total of 30 fuel-cell vehicles in the first two to three years to companies, governments and other organizations, the automaker said. Toyota Motor Corp., which is the other automaker that leases fuel-cell vehicles commercially, had to repair six fuel-cell vehicles after one of them leaked hydrogen when refilling its high- pressure fuel tank. The repairs delayed its plans to be the first automaker to lease a fuel-cell vehicle to a company.
Jul 15, 2003 (Waterbury Republican-American - Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News via COMTEX) -- FuelCell Energy Inc., which in May cut about a quarter of its jobs, said Monday it is now furloughing some employees because of the soft economy. About 7 percent of FuelCell's work force, primarily in Torrington, would be affected by the furloughs, said spokesman Steven P. Eschbach. The move comes after FuelCell laid off 45 to 50 people in a variety of positions at each location, or about 90 people in all. Until recently, the Danbury-based company employed about 150 people making its power plants in Torrington and about 330 people overall. That means about 24 people would be furloughed, though the company would not specify how many employees were affected at either facility. "It's a small portion of our staff," Eschbach said. "It's primarily related to the economy. As activity picks up, these guys will definitely be on target for coming back." Fuel cells convert fuels such as natural gas into electricity and operate like large batteries. They run more efficiently than conventional power plants and without combustion, so the primary byproducts are water and heat. They can be as small as a filing cabinet or as large as a trailer. Some companies are developing fuel cells to run automobiles and homes, but FuelCell is developing its power plants for hospitals, schools, apartment buildings and other commercial or industrial facilities. Its 250-kilowatt unit can produce enough electricity to power about 250 homes or the basic electricity needs of a small hotel. Market adoption of the new technology, however, has been slower than expected. FuelCell executives have consistently said they would manage production capabilities with market demand. "They're not alone," said Jarett Carson, research analyst with RBC Capital Markets. "A number of the companies in this sector have been fighting, in general, a (capital expenditure) headwind, and specifically, one that's affected the energy markets." Carson, who continues to think the company will receive additional orders later in the year, said the move may be painful, but necessary for the health of the overall business. "The good news is their on top of it," said Neal McAtee, who follows FuelCell as managing director with Memphis-based Morgan Keegan & Co. "One of the things I've always liked about them is they're in this for the long haul." McAtee said he still believes it's not a question of "if," but a question of "when" for FuelCell's product. "I don't think it's any fault of theirs," he said. "Times are slower across the board. Very few people are moving forward on any type of power project, much less one with a new technology." FuelCell has invested heavily in both employees and equipment at the Torrington plant, which employed just 55 people when it opened in early 2001. The plant still has enough equipment to make enough fuel cell components annually to produce about 50 megawatts of electricity, and the company has said it plans to ramp up production there as demand for its products emerges. Eschbach said the factors FuelCell believes will ultimately drive demand for its products remain in place, including the need for clean, reliable, efficient energy and continued concerns about the traditional power infrastructure. However, many companies have shown a reluctance to make significant capital investments, and that has put a drag on the rest of the economy. "That's a headwind we still face," Eschbach said. "Unfortunately, the
economy is the driver now. We're still optimistic."
Japan to Conduct Fuel Cell Tests at 31 Locations TOKYO -(Dow Jones)- A group of Japanese firms, organizations and local governments will join forces this year to carry out large-scale field tests of home-use fuel cell systems, as Japan seeks to lead the world in the lucrative next-generation energy market. Japanese companies are shaping up as pioneers of the new technology and hope to commercially launch in 2005 a stand-alone fuel cell co-generator that provides power and hot water to the home. Fuel cells generate electricity, without pollutants, via an electrochemical reaction that uses oxygen and hydrogen. By using such co-generators, homeowners can cut their power and gas costs, as well as cut carbon dioxide emissions. The market for the cleaner fuel cell systems - dubbed mini home power plants - is widely expected to take off by 2010. "We started field-testing from last October in 12 sites mainly in major metropolitan areas. This year we will add 31 new sites throughout the country," an official at the New Energy Foundation said Tuesday. The government-backed foundation is leading the subsidized project. The next round of testing will commence around September, he said. The number of companies providing fuel cell systems will also increase to 11 from last year's six, he said. New entrants include Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. (J.ISH or 7013), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. (J.MHI or 7011) and Hitachi Ltd. (HIT or 6501). Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (MC or 6752), Sanyo Electric Co. (SANYY or 6764) and Toyota Motor Corp. (TM or 7203) were among the original providers. Firms and organizations, which will cooperate by installing the systems and conducting on-site testing, include major power suppliers Tokyo Electric Power Co. (J.TER or 9501) and Kansai Electric Power Co. (J.KEP or 9503), oil refiners Japan Energy Corp. and Idemitsu Kosan Co. , and the Japan Gas Association, an industry body representing city gas suppliers. Before the commercial launch of the systems, "we need to accumulate field data under various working environments, including cold regions," the official said. Most of necessary field testing will probably be completed in the annual project starting this year, he added. The fuel cell co-generators will use city gas, liquefied petroleum gas, naphtha and kerosene to extract hydrogen. The domestic market for such co-generators is forecast to grow to about Y290 billion in 2010 - Y180 billion in the home-use market and Y110 billion in the business-use market, Osamu Tajima, general manager at Sanyo's fuel cell research department, told Dow Jones Newswires in April. Sanyo expects that by 2010 fuel cell co-generators will replace about one third of Japan's annual gas-powered water heater shipments of about 1.2 million units. But to make that happen, Sanyo and other makers will have to overcome a daunting task - reducing the price of the state-of-the-art device to an affordable level. "We don't expect users to start feeling they are reaping benefits unless the unit price is lowered to Y500,000 or so," Tajima said. His view seems to be an industry consensus. With that price, and based on current power and gas rates, the combined cost of initial investments and running costs for fuel cell systems will fall below those for conventional full-automatic water heaters about five years after installation, Sanyo estimates. Five other system providers in the project are Ebara Corp. (J.EBA or 6361), Kurita Water Industries Ltd. (J.KUW or 6370), Nippon Oil Corp. (J.NPO or 5001), Marubeni Corp. (J.MRB or 8002) and Toshiba International Fuel Cells - a joint venture between Toshiba Corp. (J.TOS or 6502) and International Fuel Cells Llc. of the U.S., according to the New Energy Foundation.
Masterflex AG wins AIRBUS development contract for the development and construction of a fuel cell system July 15, 2003. Masterflex AG (WKN 549 293, ISIN DE 000 549293 8) has won a contract from AIRBUS Deutschland GmbH for the development and construction of a fuel cell system. This system will allow to test areas where fuel cells could be employed in commercial aircraft. Masterflex AG is convinced that fuel cells will be the energy source of the future, and that aircraft manufacturers will also be able to benefit from the advantages they offer. Masterflex AG plans to launch its first hydrogen-based fuel cell for series production in 2004. They will initially be used as a power source for mobile office equipment, such as laptop computers and printers. Further information: Masterflex AG, Investor Relations, Willy-Brandt-Allee 300, D-45891 Gelsenkirchen, kniep@masterflex.de, Fon +49 (0)209 97 077 44, Fax +49 (0)209 97 077 20, www.masterflex.de, www.masterflex-bz.de
Yuasa and Yamaha Plan on Joint development of Fuel cells Storage battery maker Yuasa and Yamaha, Japan's second-largest motorcycle maker, plan to jointly develop fuel cells for 50cc-class motor scooters, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said on Thursday.
MTI Micro Receives New York State Grant To Advance Micro Fuel Cell Development MTI MicroFuel Cells Inc., a subsidiary of Mechanical Technology Inc., today announced it has received an award of $41,000 from New York State's "Building Skills in New York State" (BUSINYS) program. The grant, administered by the state Department of Labor, will fund advanced education courses for MTI MicroFuel Cell (MTI Micro) technicians, engineers and scientists. Employees will receive training in the world renowned Six Sigma(R) Green Belt program, a business improvement process designed to achieve the highest possible quality in a process or a product. The program is designed to enhance MTI Micro employees' skill sets and be applied to the Company's development of micro fuel cell products as a future power supply for portable electronics. MTI Micro has a targeted market entry date of 2004 for its first product. "New York's workforce is among the most highly-skilled in the nation and BUSINYS grants are helping to ensure that we continue to make significant investments in our workforce," said Lt. Governor Mary Donohue. "Through our BUSINYS grant awards and other job training initiatives, we are helping businesses in the Capital Region build a solid foundation for their future right here in the Empire State." "Governor Pataki's commitment to New York State's workforce is helping thousands of workers statewide to diversify their skills. We are pleased that businesses are taking advantage of this worthwhile endeavor," said State Labor Commissioner Linda Angello. "We are delighted to receive this BUSINYS grant," said Dr. William Acker, president and CEO of MTI Micro. "This award will help us provide our employees with specialized training designed to further strengthen our product development processes as we prepare for our first launch next year." MTI Micro, founded in 2001, currently has more than 50 people devoted to the micro fuel cell effort. Most recently, MTI Micro expanded its facilities and is completing construction on an adjoining office area bringing its total space to more than 23,000 square feet.
Palcan Signs Japanese Joint Marketing Agreement With Japanese Conglomerate Nagase & Co., Ltd. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--Palcan Fuel Cells is pleased to announce a joint marketing agreement with Nagase & Co., Ltd. of Japan to distribute fuel cell stacks and systems for the Japanese marketplace. Nagase, founded in Kyoto, Japan in 1832, has 100 subsidiary companies in Japan and overseas and sales of $4.19 billion U.S. The two companies will lever Nagase's expertise as a technology and intelligence oriented trading company to deploy Palcan's fuel cells to the Japanese markets. Palcan's fuel cell is aimed directly at low output applications where smaller internal combustion engines (ICE) and batteries are the power source. These include personal transport NEV and fleet type vehicles used in closed range environments (airports, amusement parks, golf courses, malls, delivery circuits), two and three wheeled scooters, in addition to including stationary, marine and portable power applications. "Japan which is 100% dependent on the importation of fossil fuels for
its energy requirements, is the perfect candidate to embrace
MTU Friedrichshafen and RWE Set Up Fuel-Cell Joint Venture Munich - MTU and RWE have joined forces to advance their future fuel-cell operations through a joint venture agreement signed by MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH and RWE Fuel Cells GmbH, Essen, effective July 2003 pending approval by the EU cartel authority. The joint venture is called MTU CFC Solutions GmbH. Its main purpose is to introduce carbonate fuel-cell systems on a broad market base and to give the company a leading market position in the field of high-temperature fuel cells. RWE Fuel Cells holds a 25.1 percent stake in MTU CFC Solutions GmbH, an independent legal entity which formerly was a wholly-owned subsidiary of MTU Friedrichshafen. For Dr. Rolf A. Hanssen, President and CEO of MTU Friedrichshafen and head of DaimlerChrysler Off-Highway, and Dr. Gert Maichel, member of the Board of Management of RWE AG, the joint venture is of considerable strategic and economic importance. Both men are convinced that fuel cells are the key to an environment-friendly and resource-conserving method of power generation for the 21st century: "Fuel-cell systems are a long-term, strategic addition to our present product range, especially in the area of energy-supply systems. They are the stepping stone for the next technological quantum leap in energy and drive technology and will win a global market for themselves with their outstanding technical characteristics. MTU is actively pushing this trend and playing a key role in shaping it," said Dr. Hanssen at a press conference held on the occasion of the establishment of the joint venture. According to Dr. Maichel, the proportion of power generated by distributed small-scale power plants is set to grow, with the fuel cell playing an important role in this process owing to its efficiency and low environmental impact: "We are convinced that MTU is on the right track with its HotModule. This is why we want to participate actively in its further development. Together, we will offer customers a complete package tailored to their needs with regard to the use of fuel cells. We are proud, in collaboration with our partner MTU, to be the first mover in the industrial applications field for MCFC technology." MTU CFC Solutions plans to start the series production of fuel-cell systems in 2006. Within the joint venture, the two partners will combine their respective strengths, which are required for the market introduction of fuel cells. MTU will contribute the necessary technology aided by its considerable lead in R&D in the field of stationary fuel cells, while RWE, as one of the leading European power generators, will provide the corresponding market access thus ensuring the broad-based introduction of the fuel cell. MTU CFC Solutions will be managed by Michael Bode (President) and by a person still to be appointed by RWE.
Planners put a stopper on BP's eco-friendly gas pump IT’S CLEAN, it’s green and it may be the fuel of the future, but they won’t have it in Romford. Britain’s first hydrogen refuelling station has been rejected by a planning committee in the London Borough of Havering on grounds of safety. Havering council threw out BP’s application to install a hydrogen pump at a petrol station a couple of miles outside Romford. The site, which also boasts a wind turbine, was earmarked to supply three buses powered by fuel cells, part of a European pilot scheme. Fuel cells create electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen in a chemical process without polluting emissions. Shell recently launched its first hydrogen production station in Iceland, which will fuel a fleet of buses in Reykjavik. Matthew Gallagher, a Havering planning officer, said his department had approved BP’s project but the elected committee had reservations about the safety of the explosive gas. “We did have some objections from local residents,” he said. Don Peacock, a local Green Party member, called the council small-minded.
“They cannot see the historic significance of this,” he said. “Would they
have banned petrol stations when they were invented?” A BP spokesman said
it was considering an appeal. “We have thousands of petrol stations selling
LPG gas. It isn’t that different.”
Energy Department Awards $75M for Advanced Hydrogen Fuel Cell WASHINGTON, July 17 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham today announced the selection of 13 firms and educational institutions in twelve states to receive $75 million in cost-shared awards to fund new research in advanced fuel cell technology for vehicles, buildings and other applications. Combined with recent awards to an additional 11 firms and universities in eight states for $21 million in hydrogen storage, production, and sensor technologies, the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a total of $96 million in new awards in support of the President's FreedomCAR and Hydrogen Fuel Initiatives. Several additional solicitations are in process or planned that address other key hydrogen technologies. "In his 2003 State of the Union Address, President Bush launched his Hydrogen Fuel Initiative by proposing $1.2 billion over five years in research funding to enable America to lead the world in developing clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles that would free us from our dependence on foreign petroleum," Secretary Abraham said. "The projects selected today will enable us to move forward to carry out the President's vision of a clean and efficient energy future." These projects are integral to DOE's commitment to research, develop, and validate hydrogen storage and fuel cell technologies. Hydrogen technology will play a major role in enabling our nation to: -- Dramatically reduce dependence on foreign oil. -- Promote the use of diverse, domestic, and sustainable energy resources. -- Reduce carbon emissions from energy production and consumption. -- Increase the reliability and efficiency of electricity generation. The projects will enhance the nation's ability to achieve the FreedomCAR goal of producing vehicles that are more efficient and cleaner than today's vehicles. In particular, the projects on Hydrogen Storage technologies support DOE's priority to develop methods to safely store hydrogen to enable at least a 300 mile vehicle range - a critical requirement for successful vehicle commercialization. Fuel cell research will primarily focus on overcoming technical barriers to commercialization, including durability, high costs, heat utilization, and catalyst development. Hydrogen technology research will focus on overcoming the technical barriers of storage capacity and cost, along with improving life cycle cost and energy efficiency, improving methods of hydrogen production, and sensors for detecting hydrogen. DOE will negotiate cost-shared agreements with the 24 firms and educational institutions for a total of approximately $136 million ($96 million government and $40 million applicant cost sharing). The selected organizations are: Fuel Cell Technology Company, Location, Project Technology -- 3M Company, St. Paul, MN, MEA and Stack Durability -- IdaTech LLC, Bend, OR, Stationary Fuel Cell Power System -- UTC Fuel Cells LLC, South Windsor, CT, Stationary Fuel Cell Power System -- Plug Power, Inc., Latham, NY, Back-up/Peak Shaving Fuel Cells -- Atofina Chemicals, Inc., King of Prussia, PA, Low Cost, Durable Membranes -- E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Wilmington, DE, MEA Durability -- Plug Power, Inc., Latham, NY, High Temperature Membranes -- Texaco Energy Systems, Houston, TX, Fuel Cell Fuel Processor -- Honeywell International Inc., Torrance, CA, Thermal and Water Management -- UTC Fuel Cells LLC, South Windsor, CT, Stationary Fuel Cell Demonstration -- Engelhard Corporation, Iselin, NJ, Platinum Recycling -- Ion Power, Inc., Bear, DE, Platinum Recycling -- 3M Company, St. Paul, MN, Non-Precious Metal Catalysts -- Ballard Power Systems Corp., Dearborn, MI, Non-Precious Metal Catalysts -- University of South Carolina Research Foundation, Columbia, SC, Non-Precious Metal Catalysts -- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, Economic Analysis Hydrogen Technology- Hydrogen Storage, Production, and Sensors -- Air Products & Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA, Hydrogen Storage -- Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, Hydrogen Storage -- Intelligent Optical Systems, Inc., Torrance, CA, Sensors -- Iowa State University, Ames, IA, Hydrogen Production -- Millennium Cell, Inc., Eatontown, NJ, Hydrogen Storage -- Nanomix, Inc., Emeryville, CA, Hydrogen Storage -- QUANTUM Technologies, Inc., Irvine, CA, Hydrogen Storage -- Safe Hydrogen, LLC, Lexington, MA, Hydrogen Storage -- United Technologies Research CenterEast, Hartford, CT, Hydrogen Storage -- University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, Sensors -- UOP, LLC, Des Plaines, IL, Hydrogen Storage
Fuel Cell Technologies Ltd. has completed the installation of its pilot VOC reformer and SOFC system KINGSTON, ON – Fuel Cell Technologies Ltd. has completed the installation of its pilot VOC reformer and SOFC system at the Ford Motor Company’s Dearborn Assembly Plant (DAP) in Michigan. This hardware forms part of Ford’s ‘Fumes-to-Fuel’ System that Ford announced on July 17, 2003. The collaboration between FCT and Ford has resulted in an industrial application of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology that transforms a waste into useful energy. The pilot system consumes emissions from Ford’s vehicle paint shop and turns them into electrical energy and heat for the facility. The process begins with the collection of airborne paint solvent (volatile organic compounds, or VOCs) and their concentration into a rich mixture. The concentrated paint solvent is then fed into a reformer system that breaks the paint solvent down into hydrogen rich gas. The reformer was developed and built by FCT specifically for this application in partnership with Ford. The resulting hydrogen rich gas is then fed into FCT’s 5 kilowatt (kW) SOFC unit where electrochemical reactions convert the fuel into useable electricity and heat for use in the facility. The DAP Paint Shop pilot project is a proof -of-concept integrated system. It will be operated to assess SOFC operation using this unique fuel source. In addition, it will showcase advanced pollution abatement technology being developed and advanced by Ford. Larger industrial systems are planned for the future. “The Ford and FCT engineers have worked well together on this first collaboration. This industrial application shows the product’s adaptability and usefulness controlling and reducing emissions,” commented Dr. John Stannard, President and CEO of FCT. “We welcome Ford’s commitment to the environment and its willingness to support innovative initiatives.” FCT is a leading developer of small-scale power systems (1 kW to 50 kW) that provide for the on site generation of electricity. FCT’s SOFC power units can operate on any one of several readily available fuels to provide electricity and heat for stationary applications such as homes, small commercial enterprises, industrial applications, and remote sites. Concurrently, FCT continues as a world leader in the development of aluminum energy systems, and produces these systems on a contractual basis for autonomous underwater vehicles, diver-heating systems, and stationary, remote-site applications. FCT’s research and production facilities are located in Kingston, Canada.
Japan's Iwatani develops new Hydrogen Storage Device TOKYO, July 17 Asia Pulse - Iwatani International Corp. (TSE:8088) has developed a small, mobile hydrogen storage device for use in providing hydrogen to fuel cell vehicles. This device weighs 30 per cent less than previous devices, but has twice the capacity to fill the tank. Currently, Iwatani has set up hydrogen filling stations only in Osaka, Tokyo and Kanagawa. There are still no hydrogen filling stations in most cities in Japan, even from other companies. The device will make it easier to supply hydrogen to vehicles requiring it from any location. Iwatani's new device can hold 12 50-liter containers of hydrogen, enough
to fill the tanks of two fuel cell vehicles, at 400 atmospheres. Previous
devices could hold more containers, but at lower pressure.
Sulzer Hexis and Gastec Technology sign development agreement of a heat exchanger with integrated back-up heater for a fuel cell system Sulzer Hexis Ltd and the Dutch company Gastec Technology B.V. have signed an agreement for the development of a heat exchanger with integrated back-up heater for a fuel cell system that is close to production. Gastec is a leading company worldwide in the field of gas technology. The next generation of fuel cell systems from Sulzer Hexis is planned to be delivered by the end of 2004/beginning of 2005. Gastec Technology, with headquarters in Apeldoorn
(Netherlands), is a 100% subsidiary of Gastec Holding NV, which made a
turnover of 44.7 million euro in 2002. Gastec Technology offers its services
in research and development, consulting, engineering, certification and
The Sulzer Hexis fuel cell of type SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) covers the entire heat requirements and basic power needs of a single-family home. A back-up heater supplies additional thermal power on demand. In order to obtain as compact a design as possible for the next generation of fuel cell systems, this back-up heater is integrated in the system's heat exchanger. The latter decouples the heat generated in the electrochemical reaction in the fuel cell and during the combustion process in the back-up heater. This heat is fed into storage and used for heating purposes and hot water production. This compact heat exchanger with integrated back-up heater will be developed by Gastec Technology with the support of Dejatech. Sulzer Hexis (www.hexis.com) develops, manufactures
and distributes fuel cell systems of type SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell)
for operation on natural gas. The systems cover the entire heat requirements
and basic power needs of a typical Central European single-family home.
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