This funding will go a long way towards development of new fuel cell technology that will help communities meet critical water needs by ensuring water treatment plants run on efficient, self-sustaining, and environmentally friendly energy," U.S. Representative Thomas M. Reynolds (R-Clarence) said. "NanoDynamics is quickly becoming a leader in cutting-edge nanotechnology and I'm pleased to support this funding in Western New York."

The availability of clean water is critical to our nation.  The single most significant expense in operating a water treatment facility is electrical power.  Without power, for any extended period of time, these facilities would be unable to address the industrial and residential needs of our communities.  One by-product of waste water treatment is methane gas.  Many, if not most, water treatment facilities burn this gas and recover little, if any, value from its heat.  Recent advances by NanoDynamics in the use of nanotechnology and nanomaterials have resulted in a solid oxide fuel cell technology which is capable of operating on a wide range of hydrocarbon fuels, including methane.  Fuel cells generate electricity without noise, without external power sources, and are environmentally friendly.  The waste products of a fuel cell are heat, water, and carbon dioxide. 

This project is intended to design and construct a demonstration fuel cell, enabled by nanotechnology, which can be fueled by the "waste" methane gas being generated in a water treatment facility; generating "free" electricity for the facility and providing the potential of fully independent operation in the time of power disruption - due to natural emergencies or terrorism.