Statkraft is to enter into an international collaboration to produce hydrogen from environmentally friendly energy sources. This commitment brings Statkraft an important step nearer to its goal of being a European leader in the field of environmentally friendly energy. Statkraft's business partners are Canadian Stuart Energy and Spanish EHN.

The intention of the cooperation agreement is to assess, test and develop ways of producing hydrogen using renewable energy sources. The goal is to develop a platform for long-term, commercial collaboration in this area. 

Shell Hydrogen, a global business of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies, today participated in the opening of the first hydrogen refuelling station in Luxemburg. The project is supported by Shell and is part of a European Union initiative to demonstrate how fuel cell buses could provide clean urban transport across the continent.

The hydrogen refuelling station is located at Luxemburg’s main bus depot and will supply fuel to three DaimlerChrysler Citaro fuel cell buses that will run on the city’s streets. The refuelling station carries Shell logos, as will the buses.

The Luxemburg hydrogen project is run by Ville de Luxembourg VdL (the municipal authority) and is a component of the Clean Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE) Project, a European Union initiative to demonstrate the feasibility of an innovative, highly energy efficient, clean urban public transport system.

Jeremy Bentham, Chief Executive Officer of Shell Hydrogen said today: “Projects like this one in Luxemburg are important because they demonstrate to the public that using hydrogen as a transportation fuel is practical, desirable and safe. One day it will be commonplace for buses and cars in Luxemburg and all over the world to be fuelled with hydrogen. I am proud that Shell Hydrogen is playing a leading part in bringing that day forward.”

In April, Shell Hydrogen opened the first Shell-branded hydrogen station, on the site of an existing Shell service station in Reykjavik, Iceland. In June, Showa Shell opened a hydrogen station in Tokyo, Japan. Shell Hydrogen is also a partner in a hydrogen refuelling demonstration project in California.

Next month Shell Hydrogen will participate in the opening of a hydrogen refuelling station in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Efforts are also underway to install a hydrogen dispenser at a Shell service station in the Washington DC area in the United States.

Shell is the only global energy group involved in hydrogen demonstration projects in all three of the key hydrogen markets North America, Europe and Japan
.

 Two parts hydrogen mixed with one part oxygen, as any grade-school student knows, creates water - a safe, indispensable liquid required for life as we know it.

But add just one more part hydrogen and the mixture becomes unstable, combustible and quite useful - as hydrogen peroxide.

The U.S. Department of Energy has given researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken $4 million for the next five years to figure out how to produce this ubiquitous chemical in a safe, convenient way.

If researchers can figure this out, billions of dollars that businesses now spend to transport hydrogen peroxide to production facilities could be saved. With the risk of explosion eliminated, companies could stir up their own batches of hydrogen peroxide.

"Dozens of industries use hydrogen peroxide, including medical companies - it's used for processing things like papper, in purification processes for other kinds of substances," explained Patrick Berzinski, the university's associate director for media relations.

The $4 million in research funding goes to the New Jersey Center for MicroChemical Systems at Stevens and comes in the form of two five-year grants.

One $1.6 million grant began in September 2002 and is for the creation of a "microchannel reactor system" for the safe, on-site production of the chemical.

A second $2.4 million-grant awarded in August is directed at combining hydrogen peroxide with other chemicals for the pharmaceutical industry.

The research team at Stevens is headed by Adeniyi Lawal, a professor in chemical biomedical and materials engineering, who is assisted by chemical biomedical professors Woo Young Lee and Ron Besser. Their goal for hydrogen peroxide production is safer and smaller.

"The micro-reaction technology itself is relatively new - it started only in the last 10 years. It is trying to replace the way we normally make chemicals," Lawal said.

"When we combine all these chemicals right now, they are not safe. With the micro-reaction technology you can do it safely without any explosion," he said.

He said the processing equipment currently used by companies to make the ubiquitous chemical "is gigantic."

"We want to shrink that down. If you desire you could have a small production plant in your backyard," he said.

The technique also could be used in the manufacture of hydrogen fuel cells and other alternative fuel sources, he said.

Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers will participate with the project, Lawal said.

Breakthroughs from this research will be co-patented by Stevens and the researchers, Berzinski said. 

MGE UPS SYSTEMS INC. the technology leader in providing unsurpassed power protection solutions to computer data centers, telecommunications and industrial operations, and Ballard Power Systems, the world leader in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology, celebrated the official launch of field trials for MGE's Evolution Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) powered by Ballard's Nexa(R) RM Series fuel cell modules. The event included a series of live demonstrations for reporters and customers in New York City beginning with a simulated blackout on the 21st floor of a midtown high-rise. During the "blackout," the 3KVA Evolution UPS provided power to a rack of computer networking equipment and a large plasma screen display while Ballard's AirGen(TM) Portable Fuel Cell generator kept a small refrigerator, lighting and other small electronics operating for the duration of the hour-plus presentation.

As part of the first demonstration of these unique hydrogen-fueled systems in a high-rise environment, MGE announced the availability of the rack-based Evolution/Nexa RM systems for field trials. By integrating Ballard's recently introduced Nexa RM Series power modules with MGE's proven UPS platform, MGE will be able to offer a realistic and reliable alternative to meet the growing customer demand for long-duration power backup for business critical applications. In addition, the companies highlighted the ease of operation and commercial availability of Ballard's AirGen backup fuel cell generators through MGE's extensive sales network. MGE also offers service and maintenance contracts for these products.

"Recent events where extended blackouts struck millions of people and thousands of businesses have served as a compelling reminder of how much we depend on the digital infrastructure and the electricity that powers it," explained Jack Pouchet, MGE's director of marketing. "In today's competitive economy, business continuity is key and new technologies are required to assure continuous operations. Traditional solutions for long-duration backup have involved UPSs with large battery banks or large diesel generators, both of which have many environmental and operational limitations. By incorporating the established power protection and communication capabilities of our Evolution UPS with Ballard's innovative Nexa RM Series fuel cell modules, we can provide a more compact, more reliable, lower maintenance, extended-run, and zero-emission solution that also offers lower total cost of ownership over the life of the product."

The integrated fuel cell UPS system provides 3KVA of power in a convenient rack-mounted package that is well suited for providing continuous power to small networks, internetworking equipment, call center infrastructure and other applications where business continuity is critical. Because fuel cells will operate as long as fuel is supplied, duration of backup is determined by the size and quantity of fuel storage tanks and typically ranges from 4 to 24 hours. Hydrogen is provided via an adapter kit from standard 31-inch high Q- or 51-inch high K-style pressurized gas cylinders from Praxair, Inc. (www.praxair.com), the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, or other existing hydrogen gas suppliers. The pipes used for delivery of the gas to the fuel cell power modules can be rigid, flexible, or any combination as required by the specific site. The Nexa RM Series produces a DC voltage that is then bused to the Evolution. This implementation combines state-of-the-art PEM fuel cell technology, with an established line-interactive UPS product, to provide a high level of reliability as well as cost and space optimization.

"Teaming up with MGE to provide this complete power protection solution utilizing Ballard(R) fuel cells for extended-run backup power validates the commercial viability and appeal of our unique offering," observed Ballard's president and chief executive officer, Dennis Campbell. "In addition, we have the benefit of MGE's recognized global expertise about backup power requirements for mission critical applications, and the support of their worldwide factory service network, and their well established UPS power electronics to assure uninterrupted power."

Ballard's Nexa RM Series is ideally suited to meet the needs of the UPS market, where the limitations of batteries have long presented difficulties for applications requiring backup times in excess of one hour. Like the Evolution UPS, the scalable Nexa RM Series is designed for installation in industry standard 19-inch racks and includes electrical connections, N+1 redundancy capability, and a host of safety features. Each 1kW Nexa RM Series module has +/-24VDC output and produces 40A of current. Three of the 85-pound, 5U (8.7-inch) modules are used in the Evolution configuration. The line-interactive Evolution UPS itself uses only 2U (3.5 inches) of rack space and weighs 80.4 pounds. It includes connectors to accept DC input from the Nexa RM Series modules and six standard 15A NEMA receptacles as well as USB, serial and SNMP/web connection options for advanced monitoring and control with MGE's Solution-Pac or Management-Pac Power Management Software. Power distribution options with additional receptacles are also available.

"Although MGE and Ballard's first product offerings, the AirGen(TM) fuel cell generator and the fuel cell-powered Evolution, are available for 1 to 3 KVA power requirements respectively, the flexibility and versatility of Ballard's Nexa RM Series will enable us to offer increased power levels, up to 30KVA, with our online UPS models or with the Nexa RM Series unit as a component for utility or telecommunications back-up power in the very near future," Pouchet added.

Field trial units of the fuel cell-powered Evolution and Nexa RM Series are available now, with commercial production slated for 2004. Production models of the 1kW AirGen fuel cell generator for industrial use are available now from MGE. Recently named as an authorized worldwide (excluding Japan) distributor and service provider for Ballard fuel cell generators, MGE offers service and support for Ballard's Nexa RM Series and AirGen fuel cell generator products from more than 170 factory service centers throughout the world. For more information, contact MGE at 800-523-0142 or via their web site at: www.mgeups.com.

 Agreement Will Expand Market Development for Its DFC Products

FuelCell Energy, Inc. (NasdaqNM: FCEL), a leading manufacturer of stationary fuel cell power plants for distributed generation, announced today that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Enbridge Inc. (NYSE:ENB), a leader in energy transportation and distribution in North America and internationally, to develop a strategic distribution alliance agreement for its Direct FuelCell(R) (DFC(R)) products in Canada. The alliance agreement, the definitive terms still subject to negotiation by both companies, is expected to include an initial term of three years, and incentive warrants issued to Enbridge which will vest based on order commitments for DFC power plants. The alliance agreement is expected to be completed prior to the special shareholder meetings required to approve the combination agreement between FuelCell Energy, Inc. and Global Thermoelectric Inc. (TSX: GLE) ("Global") scheduled for October 31, 2003.

"Developing this distribution alliance agreement with Enbridge is consistent with our strategy to partner with global energy industry leaders to introduce and develop markets for our DFC products," said Jerry D. Leitman, president and CEO of FuelCell Energy, Inc. "We have demonstrated successes in Japan, Europe and the U.S., and we look forward to building upon those with Enbridge in Canada."

Enbridge has agreed to not oppose the FuelCell Energy/Global combination agreement.

Swiss moulder Weidmann Plastics Technology has developed a mass production method for bipolar plates, which are critical components in fuel cells.

Frank Ehrig, director of engineering at the firm’s automotive division, said: “We are taking the specifications of the Tier One suppliers into account with this method.”

The company has developed an injection compression moulding process that can produce a 1.65mm-thick plate in less than three minutes. Ehrig said existing stamping methods produce 4mm-thick plates in around 20 minutes.

The plates are made from highly filled thermoplastic, comprising more than 80% by weight of graphite. Weidmann has developed the compound in-house.

“We must make sure that the material does not freeze during injection moulding,” Ehrig said.
 

FuelCell Energy, Inc.(Nasdaq: FCEL) and its U.S. distribution partner, PPL Energy Plus, a PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) subsidiary, today announced the installation of a clean and efficient Direct FuelCell(R) (DFC(R)) power plant for Starwood
Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT), one of the world's largest hotel and leisure companies.

The dedication ceremony marked the completion of the installation, commissioning and testing of the DFC300A power plant, which will provide 250 kilowatts of electric power as well as heat to the Sheraton Parsippany Hotel in Parsippany, New Jersey.

The DFC300A power plant, similar to the one installed at the Sheraton Hotel Raritan Center in Edison, N.J., provides about 25 percent of the hotel's electricity and hot water.  PPL will own, operate and maintain the DFC power plant.

The hotel projects in both Parsippany and Edison are part of a master energy service agreement that PPL and Starwood signed that could eventually lead to PPL installing DFC power plants at other Starwood properties across
the United States.

"We are delighted to be working with PPL and Starwood, leaders in their commitment to implementing innovative and reliable energy solutions," said Herbert T. Nock, senior vice president of marketing and sales for FuelCell Energy, Inc.  "Recent global blackouts revealed the vulnerability of constrained electric grid infrastructures and this dedication demonstrates
that our DFC power plants are clean, efficient distributed generation solutions that are commercially ready today."

"We are pleased to see that our first hotel application of fuel cell system technology has been brought to successful closure with the installation of both the Sheraton Parsippany and Sheraton Edison energy fuel cell units," said David King, Vice President, Staff Operations, North America for Starwood. "It has been a rewarding experience working with both PPL and FCE on this important initiative and we look forward to working with them again on future energy fuel cell projects."

"PPL is proud to supply Starwood with an efficient, reliable on-site DFC power plant," said Micheal E. Kroboth, president - PPL Energy Services Holdings. "Today's ceremony in Parsippany marks the fourth customer installation of DFC power plants in the last six months."

PPL also has DFC power plants operational in Cape Cod, Mass. and Bozeman, Mont.  PPL has an equity investment in FuelCell Energy and is a distributor of its DFC products in the United States.

The DFC300A uses natural gas that will be supplied by New Jersey Natural Gas of Wall, N.J.  H.T. Lyons, a PPL subsidiary based in Allentown, Pa., was responsible for the installation.

The New Jersey Clean Energy Program provided $860,000 in funding to PPL as part of its incentive program to encourage the use of clean and efficient technology.

 Following a meeting with Minister of Natural Resources Canada Herb Dhaliwal, U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced Canada's intention to join the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy.

"We are pleased to learn of Canada's decision to join the partnership for hydrogen and fuel cell technology research, development and demonstration activities," Secretary Abraham said. "International cooperation is key to achieving the hydrogen and fuel cell program goals outlined by President Bush in his last State of the Union address."

Secretary Abraham called for international hydrogen collaboration in his speech to the International Energy Agency Ministerial Meeting last April in Paris, France. The Secretary will host a Ministerial Meeting of the International Partnership this fall in the United States.

Several other countries have shown interest in joining the partnership.

The International Partnership will support the deployment of hydrogen energy technologies, establishing collaborative efforts in hydrogen production, storage, transport, and end-use technologies; common codes and standards for hydrogen fuel utilization; and the sharing of information necessary to develop hydrogen fueling infrastructure.

A growing number of countries have committed to accelerate the development of hydrogen energy technologies in order to improve their energy, economic, and environmental security. For example, the United States has committed $1.7 billion for the first five years of a long-term research and development program for hydrogen, hydrogen infrastructure, fuel cells, and hybrid vehicle technologies. The European Union has committed up to 2 billion Euros to long-term research and development of renewable and hydrogen energy technologies. Canada has a well developed hydrogen and fuel cell technology research and development program addressing applications in the transportation and electric utility sectors.

The use of hydrogen as an energy carrier offers several important advantages relative to existing systems. Hydrogen can be derived from multiple feedstocks, which fosters fuel versatility. End-use technologies that employ hydrogen, such as fuel cells, are more efficient and can be used safely while improving the environment and public health. "The vision of the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy is that a participating country's consumers will have the practical option of purchasing a competitively priced hydrogen power vehicle, and be able to refuel it near their homes and places of work, by 2020." Secretary Abraham said.

---

-- Joint Statement by the United States Department of Energy and the Department of Natural Resources Canada:

We affirm our commitment, on behalf of the United States and Canada, to collaborate on accelerating the development of the hydrogen economy as part of our broadening cooperation on energy. We aim to enhance the security of energy supply, increase diversity of energy sources, and improve local and global environmental quality. Our cooperation will contribute to laying the scientific, technical, legal, and regulatory framework needed to accelerate the commercial penetration and trade of emissions-free hydrogen technology worldwide, in cars, buildings, portable applications and power generation, to secure to our citizens the abundant, secure, and clean energy required to sustain growth, ensure security, and protect the environment.

In this context, we see the potential of the hydrogen economy in establishing a secure energy supply through clean and environmentally sound systems for production, storage and use of hydrogen. We will seek to build on our ongoing collaboration and complementarities in our research efforts and actively explore and understand technology options, including renewable energy sources, for boosting the development of hydrogen energy.

We agree to:

-- further the goals of future energy security as well as sustainable development which carefully balances sustained economic growth, preserves the environment, and achieves related social benefits;

-- strengthen joint cooperation to work for universally compatible codes, standards, and regulations;

-- strengthen joint cooperation on research, development and demonstration; and

-- work together to foster public-private collaboration.

These joint efforts will assist us to make the most of our domestic investments; bring to bear the expertise of the public and private sector to solve the complex challenges surrounding the hydrogen economy; establish sound, universally compatible codes, standards, and regulations for hydrogen fuel storage and utilization. They will provide a strong and broad foundation for bilateral and multilateral cooperation, such as under the proposed International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy, the International Energy Agency and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Energy and Natural Resources Canada for collaboration on Energy Research and Development.

Energy Visions Inc. ("EVI") (OTCBB:EGYV) (TSX VENTURE:EVI.S) announces today that it has signed a deal with Rabih Holdings Ltd. ("Rabih") to provide Cdn. $1,000,000 in debt financing to Energy Ventures Inc. (Canada) ("EVI Canada") for the purpose of permitting the closing of the previously announced acquisition (November 13, 2002) of ultimately 50.5% of Pure Energy Inc. ("PEI" or "Pure Energy"). The final closing is expected to be completed within a few days, subject to the approval of the TSXV. PEI is a manufacturer and seller of rechargeable alkaline manganese ("RAM(TM)") batteries with the capability of producing over 100 million batteries per year in Amherst, Nova Scotia. PEI has its sales office in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

Under the terms of the commitment, Rabih will provide the loan to EVI Canada for two years, but the loan may be prepaid by EVI Canada at its option. EVI Canada will provide an interest rate of 10% per annum to Rabih, as well as Warrants to purchase 600,000 EVI shares. The Warrants will have a term of 2 years, will be exercisable at a conversion price of Cdn. $0.25 per share, and are subject to TSXV approval. The loan is conditional on the completion of the previously announced restructuring involving Nova Scotia Business Inc. EVI is also seeking a further investment of up to Cdn. $1,500,000 from a syndicate of investors, under similar financial terms as with Rabih.

EVI Canada President Dr. Phil Whiting has been appointed President of Pure Energy. "The ongoing potential for development of Pure Energy, combined with the new EVI products, creates an exciting future. Pure Energy is already showing excellent growth, and is in the process of launching its own new very much improved Pure Energy XL battery, which is expected to accelerate that growth."

EVI Canada has signed a letter of intent to sell its fuel cell related laboratory assets from its Ottawa laboratory. The sales arrangement will provide a total of U.S. $120,000 in cash and marketable securities over the next few months. "With our new office and laboratory location in Toronto, EVI will have access to superior laboratory facilities, so raising funds by selling surplus lab equipment seemed the logical thing to do," said Dr. Phil Whiting, President of EVI Canada.

On August 27, 2003 EVI management received notice from TSXV that EVI was considered not to be in compliance with certain TSXV policies. As a result, EVI was placed on notice to comply with all TSX Venture Exchange Requirements, failing which a review may be commenced and applicable disciplinary actions may be initiated by TSXV against EVI and its management, directors and officers.

Energy Visions Inc. is a developer of advanced battery and fuel cell technologies.

PEKIN -- In medieval times, alchemists labored unsuccessfully to turn lead into gold.

Today, a demonstration project at Aventine Renewable Energy Inc. in Pekin that uses ethanol to power fuel cells might one day turn Illinois corn fields into gold mines for farmers across the state.

Aventine, in conjunction with Caterpillar Inc., and Nuvera Fuel Cells of Cambridge, Mass., was asked by the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct the $2.5 million demonstration project that is funded in part by the State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The components arrived Friday and should be assembled by Nov. 1.

The demonstration project will be conducted in a new special building at Aventine. Aventine will use its ethanol to power a Nuvera fuel cell for 4,000 hours -- or about six months. Caterpillar Inc. will provide a power converter to convert the direct current from the fuel cell to an alternating current so it can be used as a power source. The companies would like to run uninterrupted for that time period, but expect some breakdowns.

"Aventine's part is to provide the site for the demonstration and the fuel, which will be ethanol for this demonstration, which makes it the first of a kind in the nation because it's the first commercial demonstration using ethanol as a fuel in a stationary application," said Gary K. Welch, Aventine technical support manager. "The unit will produce about 10 to 15 kilowatts.

"If you had a fuel cell to run your house and it would provide all your electricity, heat, air-conditioning and everything -- that would be in the 5 to 7 kilowatt range. Fifteen kilowatts is enough electricity for a couple of houses. The goal is to run this 4,000 hours uninterrupted, and things will go wrong like they always do ... And we will prove that the system is reliable and to prove that ethanol is a viable fuel."

Welch said the first fuel cell was invented in 1839 as a laboratory demonstration and manufactured in the late 1800s. But commercial use has been limited to the last 20 years or so because of the high cost. He said NASA uses fuel cells to provide electricity to the shuttle and used them for Apollo missions in the 1960s. Because of the cost and the size of converters, fuel cell use has been limited to places where electricity could not be accessed.

"Obviously you cannot run a power line or an extension cord to space," said Welch. "What the fuel cell manufacturing companies are concentrating on now is getting the cost down so we can put one in a car and not triple the cost of the car or put one in a house and not triple the cost of the electric bill.

"They have made some great strides. Depending on what expert you talk to, some are saying by 2010 to 2020, most people think they will be available to anybody at competitive prices. The advantages -- a lot of people say zero emission, but they are not really zero emission. But they are very low emission. If you buy a car that runs on hydrogen, it uses a fuel cell. The car itself is zero emission. But how you get the hydrogen generally involves some level of emissions. The hydrogen can come from natural gas, gasoline, ethanol, methanol or water -- you can make it from water. There are no emissions, but it is very costly."

The fuel is "reformed," said Welch, by a converter. In that process, hydrogen is extracted from the fuel by passing the protons and neutrons through a membrane and forcing the electrons around the membrane. The electrons going around the membrane through a wire create the electricity.

Welch said there are cars that currently run on fuel cells, but the converters are so large that they fill the vehicle's entire trunk. Manufactures are looking for ways to make fuel cells more compact. The converter is a must, said Welch, because "nobody wants to drive a car around with a tank full of hydrogen -- it is very combustible," said Welch.

The test has even broader implications as researchers work to develop a new generation of vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells, said Phil Shane, marketing development director for the Illinois Corn Marketing Board.

"If ethanol can make hydrogen for electricity, it certainly will work for transportation, too. That would be the bigger market, for sure," Shane said.

He thinks most fuel cells for electricity will likely be powered by natural gas or propane because a network already exists to distribute those fuels to homes and businesses.

"If I were a homeowner, I'd want natural gas because the infrastructure is already there to tap into. On a farm, I might use ethanol but I also might use propane," Shane said.

Cars powered by fuel cells are probably at least 10 to 20 years away as scientists fine-tune the technology and customers warm to the new energy source, he said.

The test program would use ethanol to generate about 15 kilowatts of electricity by the end of the year at Aventine Renewable Energy Inc., a Pekin ethanol plant.

Federal and state grants will fund the experiment, along with contributions from Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc. and Nuvera Fuel Cells of Cambridge, Mass.

The test is among many fuel cell research projects funded by Caterpillar, the world's largest supplier of power generation equipment, said company spokesman Carl Volz.

In September, Caterpillar and an alternative-energy partner sold their first ultra-low emissions fuel cell generator. The fuel cell is powered by natural gas, but the fuel is not burned so there are virtually no emissions. Beginning late next year, the 250-kilowatt unit will be used by a California sanitation district that treats about 530 million gallons of wastewater a day and serves about 5.4 million residents in Los Angeles County.
 

Boat Demonstrates Potential For Marine Vehicles To Have Less Polluting, Quieter Engines

Plug Power Inc. (PLUG.O: Quote, Profile, Research) filed on Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission to periodically sell up to $60 million in common and preferred stock.

 The Latham, New York-based fuel cell systems company plans to use the net proceeds for working capital, funds for operations, capital expenditures, research and product development, manufacturing and market development, potential future acquisitions and other general corporate purposes, it said in the shelf registration filing.

 A shelf registration gives a company advance regulatory approval to sell securities, allowing the company flexibility in the amount and timing of an offering.

Global Thermoelectric Inc. ("Global" or the "Company") announced today that Enbridge Inc. ("Enbridge") has agreed not to
oppose FuelCell Energy, Inc.'s ("FuelCell") acquisition of Global.

FuelCell announced today that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Enbridge to develop a strategic distribution alliance for FuelCell's Direct FuelCell(R) (DFC(R)) products in Canada.

A Joint Management Information Circular and Proxy Statement has now been mailed to Global shareholders. Global's Board of Directors has unanimously recommended that Global shareholders vote in favor of the combination with FuelCell and encourages shareholders to vote their shares accordingly.

People using the 800 or so telephone lines served by Verizon's Albany International Airport substation hear the same dial tone today they heard a year ago.

But the technology powering it is different.

Since August, the telephone giant has been testing a Plug Power Inc. fuel cell as a backup power source at its airport equipment shed. Verizon is auditioning the made-in-Latham unit as a potential replacement for the batteries that have been the industry standard for years.

"Batteries have served us well probably for more than my whole life," said Thomas Bean, Verizon's team energy manager for new technologies. But he's looking for something else.

Because those batteries need to be replaced every three years. And their charge lasts only eight hours before they need to be spelled by smelly, noisy gasoline generators.

Fuel cells convert hydrogen to electricity. They are almost silent; the six-foot-tall model near the airport, connected to a bank of six hydrogen tanks, gave off a quiet, high-pitched hum. When those hydrogen cylinders run low -- each lasts about three hours -- they can be replaced with another costing about $10. And the only emissions are heat and water vapor.

The installation was paid for with a $170,000 grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. That money covered two Plug cells -- an updated model will be installed in February -- as well as service for a year.

Plug's products now target the backup power industry. While the company would love if someday homes across the world got electricity from its fuel cells, today, the technology remains too pricey for mass-market acceptance.

Some users, though, are willing to pay extra for reliable power. Such as the telecommunications industry, which needs electricity at all times to make sure every call can get through.

Right now, Verizon's equipment operates between 99.99 and 99.999 percent of the time -- known in the industry as "five nines" reliability. A reliability rate that high means being down for about six seconds a week.

Plug's fuel cell promises to get reliability to six nines -- or six-tenths of a second worth of downtime every week.

The fuel cell Plug installed isn't as up-to-date as its GenCore unit, which sells for $14,995. Roger Saillant, Plug's president and chief executive, joked with Verizon officials Wednesday that he was hoping to get a purchase order for many more.

Verizon's not ready to do that yet. The company is speaking with other fuel-cell makers. And it wants to put the cells through their paces before jumping aboard.

The price, though, is about right. With battery sets costing about $8,000 apiece, "that's starting to break even with our battery solution," Bean said.

Ultimately, fuel cells could provide backup power to about 20 percent of the 876,000 lines in the 518 area code, said Paul Buehler Jr., a Verizon planning manager based in Menands.

Fuel cells can claim a multibillion dollar stake of the backup power market, said Atakan Ozbek, director of energy research for Allied Business Intelligence, a Long Island market research firm.

"This is just showing how the fuel cell systems could target or have potential in a wide variety of market segments," Ozbek said. But there is still a long way to go, he said, before they really take off. They're still too new to know just how durable they are, he said. Will they last five years? Or three?

That's one reason why testing is so important, he said.

Saillant, who said Verizon's acceptance of the technology would go a long way to making it popular, was confident that others would latch onto fuel cells soon.

"I'm very optimistic that the value proposition is going to become very apparent to the OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) very soon," Saillant said. 

TOKYO — German-American automaker DaimlerChrysler AG said Thursday it has signed deals to deliver a hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle each to Tokyo Gas Co and Bridgestone Corp.

DaimlerChrysler chose the gas supplier and the automobile tire maker as the first Japanese companies under a program to offer a total of 60 F-Cell fuel cell passenger cars in Japan, the United States, Germany and Singapore over two years beginning this year.

ATLANTA – Foster Bryan Ltd., an independent market analysis firm, has calculated fuel cell shipments during the first half of 2003 at approximately $45 million. Second half 2003 shipments will be somewhat lower, according to James Throckmorton, Managing Director of Foster Bryan. 

The updated forecast is contained in a new Foster Bryan service offering tailored specifically for corporate executives and corporate staff functions. This new service offering is in addition to Foster Bryan’s analysis services for institutional investors. Fulfilling Foster Bryan Ltd.’s May 2003 forecast, shipments of production units will not exceed $75 million. Companies shipping production or near-production fuel cell systems include Ballard (Nasdaq:BLDP), Fuel Cell Energy (Nasdaq:FCEL), Plug Power (Nasdaq:PLUG), UTC Fuel Cells (NYSE:UTX) and others. Hydrogenics (Nasdaq:HYGS) is shipping production fuel cell systems in the form of fuel cell test equipment. “Revenues from development, engineering and R&D contracts will continue to roughly equal fuel cell systems revenues,” continued Throckmorton. “Total revenues for the global industry will be approximately $150 million in 2003.” 

A recent survey described 2002 fuel cell revenues as in excess of $200 million. The oft-quoted, overly optimistic forecast of $1 billion in fuel cell sales in 2006 continues to appear in some news releases. Foster Bryan’s more thorough reports of revenue are built using detailed analyses of each company in the industry including public and privately held companies. Foster Bryan’s forecasts are based on facts and interviews with industry and technology experts. 

More information is available at ww.fosterbryan.com/fuelcells. Foster Bryan Ltd. has been providing independent, conflict-free analysis of emerging technologies and businesses in the small and large cap sectors, both publicly and privately held, for its clients for more than seven years. As evidence of its independence, Foster Bryan makes no buy or sell recommendations. The firm’s interactive service gives its clients unique access to the authors, scientists and engineers who developed the analysis. Foster Bryan is the only independent market analysis firm in the U.S. providing authoritative technology analysis through a contractual relationship with a major research institution, the Georgia Tech Research Institute. 

Medis Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ:MDTL)  announced that it extended its offer to exchange loyalty program warrants for a corresponding number of new warrants (the "Exchange Offer").

The Exchange Offer was scheduled to expire at midnight, New York City time, on October 28, 2003. As of today's date, 825,294 loyalty program warrants out of approximately 848,000 loyalty program warrants had been confirmed as tendered for a like number of new warrants by 253 persons. The exercise of such new warrants would result in Medis Technologies receiving approximately $3,656,000 had the Exchange Offer expired on today's date, inclusive of over $1,200,000 attributable to loyalty program warrants that had been tendered by the chairman and chief executive officer and the president of Medis Technologies and their affiliate.

The new expiration date for the Exchange Offer is midnight, New York City time, on November 13, 2003, unless extended. Any person who tendered loyalty program warrants may withdraw such tendered warrants upon delivery to Medis Technologies of a properly completed withdrawal form no later than midnight, New York City time, on November 13, 2003 (or such later date and time if such Exchange Offer is extended).

The Exchange Offer is being extended in order to distribute an updated prospectus and a supplement to the Offer to Exchange and Exercise dated October 3, 2003.

Astris Energi Inc. (OTC BB:ASRNF), leading developers of alkaline fuel cell technology, reported  that it has notified CareAutomotive Inc., formerly CareAction Inc. (Care) of Montreal, Quebec, that it intends to proceed to arbitration on the three agreements that comprise the joint venture pact signed by the two companies last February.

"We have waited six months for Care's management to secure the funds required to fulfill their financial obligations to Astris," said Jiri K. Nor, president and CEO of Astris Energi. "Regretfully, they have been unable to uphold their side of the agreements. If they cannot provide the funding now, we will seek to withdraw from this proposed venture and focus our attention and resources on new and greater opportunities which have recently presented themselves."

"All the agreements were subject to Care receiving its financing. We have waited to this day for that financing to take place and receive the funding contracted to us," commented Lynnwood Farr, president of Care.
    
The arbitration provision is contained in the investment agreement and the license agreement covering exclusive access to Astris' world-leading alkaline fuel cell technology for all modes of transportation. The agreements state that a decision by an arbitrator shall be final and binding upon both parties.
    
Further action, Nor said, must now await the arbitrator's decision on Astris' right of termination under existing circumstances.
    
The joint venture provided for establishment of Astris Transportation Systems Inc. (ATSI), which would manufacture and market fuel cell energy systems, primarily for vehicular use. If termination is effected, Astris will quickly pursue this market with another partner, Nor asserted.

QuestAir Technologies Inc. announced today that it has installed a HyQuestor(R) hydrogen purification system as part of
the Senju Hydrogen Station located in Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan. The station, operated by Tokyo Gas Corporation, is the first hydrogen fueling station located in Metropolitan Tokyo.
    
In this hydrogen station, QuestAir's HyQuestor(R) system purifies hydrogen extracted or 'reformed' from liquefied petroleum gas ("LPG"). The hydrogen 'reforming' system was supplied by Mitsubishi Kakoki Kaisha, Ltd ("MKK"). The purified hydrogen will be used to fuel a number of fuel cell vehicles participating in the Japan Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Demonstration
Project, including a Toyota FCHV fuel cell car operated by Tokyo Gas.
    
The Senju hydrogen station has sufficient capacity to fuel a single large fuel cell bus or 5 fuel cell passenger cars per day. The station is the result of a joint venture between Tokyo Gas and Nippon Sanso Corporation, and forms part of the Japan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Project directed by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ("METI").
    
Jonathan Wilkinson, President and CEO of QuestAir, said that the Japanese Government and industry have both made significant commitments towards the demonstration of fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen infrastructure in Japan. "This is the first application of QuestAir's hydrogen purification technology in a Japanese fueling station, and it is a great honor for QuestAir to be involved in such a high profile project. This project demonstrates the flexibility of QuestAir's advanced pressure swing adsorption technology to purify hydrogen generated from a range of fuels, including natural gas and LPG. We look forward to working with MKK and the other project participants on future hydrogen-related initiatives", Wilkinson said.
    
"We are extremely pleased with the operation of QuestAir's HyQuestor(R) hydrogen purification unit", said Mr. Hiromasa Ariga, Manager of the Process Design Group of MKK, "The unit provides the high level of hydrogen purity required at the Senju hydrogen station. In addition, the HyQuestor(R) is less than half the size of other pressure swing adsorption systems that were considered for this station, which means that the hydrogen generation and purification system could be packaged into a very compact space".