FuelCellsWorks

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii – A $1.1 million solar array project to power the base hydrogen production and fueling station was completed here May 8, marking a “first” for both the Air Force and the state of Hawaii.

After about six weeks of installation, 810 solar modules can now produce 146 kilowatts of energy per hour – equivalent to what it would take to power about 30 standard homes – which is enough to handle the maximum power demand of the hydrogen plant.

“In fiscal year 2008, the average cost of power on base was 21 cents per kilowatt hour,” said Josh Powell, vice president of construction operations at Sunetric.

At that cost, these solar panels will save an average of $43,000 per year, he said.
“In this energy-conscious environment, every little bit helps,” Mr. Powell said.

Now that the solar panels are installed, they will go through a week-long commissioning process, said Tom Quinn, Hawaii Center for Advanced Transportation Technologies director.

“We need to test the inverter box (which turns DC power into AC power) to make sure everything is working properly, then slowly ramp it from 25 percent working power to 50 percent power and higher,” Mr. Quinn said. “It’s a typical safety check we go through before we crank it up to full power.”

By May 22, the commissioning process should be finished, and the plant will be running on renewable energy, he said.

The $1.5 million hydrogen station was completed in November 2006; however, the fact that the hydrogen plant is now solar-powered means hydrogen is now a renewable fuel, Quinn said. This combination of solar panels with the hydrogen plant is what makes the project a dynamic, first-in-the-Air Force and first-in-Hawaii combination.

“The three principal players in this partnership are the Air Force Advanced Power Technology Office at Robins Air Force Base, Ga.; the HCATT; and the 15th Airlift Wing,” said Mr. Quinn.

The office at Robins AFB provides the funding and guidance for the program, and the 15th Airlift Wing operates and evaluates the equipment, he said.

“The Advanced Power Technology Office recognized that there is a wealth of military installations here as well as a need,” Mr. Quinn said, “which provide the potential for joint service projects.”

The way it works is simple, said Nolie Diakoulas, Sunetric project engineer. When the sun hits the photovoltaic panels, electrons move from front to back, creating a current that travels through small wires to a junction box in the back. The junction box takes the current from the small wires and moves it to larger wires, which travel to a combiner box and then to an inverter. There, DC power is converted to AC (usable) power, which runs the base hydrogen station.

“Solar panels have been around since the space program of the ’50s,” Mr. Powell said. “This is a long-lasting, well established material with a warranty for 25 years. We can expect this to produce at 80 percent effectiveness for at least the first 20 to 30 years of its life and continue essentially forever.”

This system was designed for the specific environment here, he said.

The solar panels are wind-rated and hurricane proof, Mr. Diakoulas said. They’re seismic-level four rated, hurricane proof, and designed not to blow away in the Hawaii trade winds.

The state of Hawaii formed a partnership with the Air Force and established the National Demonstration Center for Alternative Fuel Vehicles in 2001, Quinn said. The goal of the program was to develop non-petroleum-based power for vehicles. Early projects included both hybrid and all-electric vehicles, to include the electric shuttle bus operating at the passenger terminal. More recently, a lithium battery-powered step van was developed and demonstrated and will soon go commercial. The first hydrogen-powered vehicle here was developed in 2003, and because the hydrogen plant is now powered by the solar array they have achieved a major demonstration milestone in the program.

“We have a total of seven hydrogen powered vehicles, all different types, here, but this truck is unique as it is a new concept vehicle,” Mr. Quinn said. “Once we’ve tested and demonstrated its capabilities, we hope it will join the Air Force inventory.”

As the U.S. Energy Department announced a 60% budget cut on May 7, 2009   for hydrogen-related projects to $68.2 million for the next fiscal year, the EU together with 68 industries and top EU research insitutes in hydrogen and fuel cell system development are stepping up their efforts  in a 7 year, € 94o mln Joint Undertaking for fuel cells and hydrogen that will see its second call for proposals of around € 70 mln this summer. This united effort in combination with the recent  developments in the US therefore seem to give Europe anopportunity  to become market leader in  hydrogen transport development that can not be missed.

Despite US funding cuts  for hydrogen transport applications, several car makers  expressed their ongoing  commitment to the commercialisation of fuel cells vehicles.  Honda Motor Co., General Motors Corp. as well as  Toyota Motor Corp. all confirmed their intention to continue their development of hydrogen-powered cars  after the announcement of US Enerery Secretary Steven Chu that the Obama administration will concentrate  more on more near term biofuel and battery development, forgetting that  fuel cells significantly extend the short range of battery powered vehicles.

“Honda has a significant commitment to fuel cells and we’re going to pursue it,” said Ed Cohen, vice president of U.S. government and industry affairs for the Tokyo-based automaker, in an interview. “We have a limited number of options to achieve transportation objectives which include less use of petroleum and reducing greenhouse gases. Hydrogen is one of them.”

The US National Hydrogen Association, NHA and U. S. Fuel Cell Council published  a joint statement saying, “The cuts proposed in the DOE hydrogen and fuel cell program threaten to disrupt commercialization of a family of technologies that are showing exceptional promise and beginning to gain market traction.”Fuel cell vehicles are not a science experiment. These are real vehicles with real marketability and real benefits. Hundreds of fuel cell vehicles have collectively logged millions of miles.“Both the National Academy of Sciences and NHA’s recent Energy Evolution report conclude that a portfolio of vehicle technologies is needed to achieve the nation’s energy and environmental security goals and that hydrogen is essential to success. Hydrogen also advances the Obama Administration’s goals of greener power generation and a smarter power grid.”

Proton Energy and The Abraham Group team up to bring advanced onsite hydrogen technologies to energy markets worldwide

WALLINGFORD, Conn.– Global hydrogen energy leader Proton Energy Systems announced today a newly formed partnership with The Abraham Group. The cooperative agreement became effective as of March 1, 2009.

The Abraham Group, an international strategic consulting firm based in Washington D.C., will work with Proton Energy to expand Proton’s reach to additional Middle East and North American commercial sales territories. The Abraham Group brings extensive experience and contacts in the energy industry which can benefit from Proton Energy’s advanced onsite hydrogen technologies.

“Proton Energy is committed to bringing the latest and most innovative hydrogen technologies to our partners throughout the globe, and we are excited to work with The Abraham Group,” said Robert Friedland, President and Chief Executive Officer of Proton Energy Systems. “Our onsite HOGEN hydrogen generating systems produce hydrogen that is higher in purity, more reliable and safer for today’s power plants while our StableFlow hydrogen control system improves the operating efficiency of the power generator reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Together, Proton and The Abraham Group hope to share this compelling value proposition with additional partners in North America and the Middle East.”

Proton Energy is the world’s leading supplier of onsite hydrogen generators utilizing PEM (proton exchange membrane) technology, which creates high purity hydrogen from de-mineralized water and electricity. Proton’s HOGEN hydrogen generating systems employ state-of-the-art solid polymer electrolyte technology that extends the life, improves efficiency and reliability of onsite hydrogen generators, while also reducing the risk of injury to personnel and property damage caused by chemical exposure as is typical with traditional hydrogen generation technologies.

“The Abraham Group is an expert in the global energy sector and we are thrilled to work with Proton Energy Systems, a tested and reliable international energy leader,” said Secretary Spencer Abraham, Chairman and CEO of The Abraham Group.

The partnership with The Abraham Group is the latest of several contracts and partnerships Proton Energy has secured in recent months in the power industry, demonstrating its commitment to remaining a strong player in the market. Proton Energy’s commitment to innovation has also been recognized with several recent Department of Defense projects, developing Regenerative Fuel Cell Systems for backup power and creating advanced fueling systems capable of sustaining a military fleet of hydrogen-powered vehicles.

About Proton Energy Systems

Proton Energy Systems designs and manufactures proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrochemical systems to make hydrogen from water in a zero pollution process producing safe, pure, reliable onsite hydrogen to meet today’s global hydrogen requirements. Proton Energy Systems has been developing and manufacturing world-class electrolysis systems since 1996, with more than 1200 units deployed world-wide, on every continent. With a reputation for building robust, reliable, and safe systems, federal, state, and commercial partners repeatedly seek the creative solutions that Proton Energy Systems has proven it is capable of delivering. For more information, visit www.ProtonEnergy.com.

About The Abraham Group

The Abraham Group is an international strategic consulting firm headed by former Energy Secretary and U.S. Senator, Spencer Abraham. In addition to Secretary Abraham, the firm’s other Principals are: Joseph McMonigle, former Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Energy and Vice Chairman of the International Energy Agency; and Majida Mourad, former Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of Energy working on international affairs. Each of the firm’s Principals has extensive experience working at senior levels in Congress, the Executive Branch and international affairs.

NEW YORK, May 19, 2009 – The 7th International Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology Conference will take place June 8-10, 2009, at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa in Newport Beach, Calif.

The ASME Emerging Technologies Institute and ASME Advanced Energy Systems Division are sponsors of the conference, in which technical experts from academia and industry will report on the progress of fuel cell systems research and applications.

Focusing on the role of fuel cells in the transportation and electric utility sectors, the conference will include nine discussion tracks on low-temperature fuel cells, high-temperature fuel cells, and other related topics.  The 7th International Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology Conference also will cover the use of fuel cells in specialized applications, such as micro devices and hydrogen storage and recovery.

Including poster sessions and six plenary speeches, the three-day information exchange will bring together several of the institutions on the leading edge of fuel cell research and experimentation, among them the University of California at Irvine, the Connecticut Global Fuel Cell Center, Colorado School of Mines, Kettering University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

Other participants in the conference include the South Coast Air Quality Management District, California Stationary Fuel Cell Collaborative, Toyota, National Fuel Cell Research Center, and FuelCell Energy.

About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world.

PASADENA, Calif. — VIASPACE Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: VSPC – News), a clean energy company providing products and technology for renewable and alternative energy, today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with England-based Hayman Ltd. (Hayman), a worldwide packager and distributor of alcohols and solvents.

Under the MOU, Hayman Speciality Products will provide methanol filling and distribution services to Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Corporation (DMFCC), VIASPACE’s alternative energy subsidiary engaged in manufacturing disposable fuel cartridges for direct methanol fuel cell powered electronics such as notebook computers, mobile phones and military equipment.

Hayman Ltd. has been handling ethyl alcohol for over 100 years. For the last 50 years Hayman Speciality Products has developed a global business as a supplier of ethanol, methanol and isopropanol and other high quality solvents to the pharmaceutical, flavour, fragrance, personal care industries and research laboratories. Strong relationships with some of the largest chemical companies in the world have been developed.

A broad range of pack types is available to meet customer needs including bulk road tankers, intermediate bulk containers, drums, cans and cases of plastic containers and glass bottles. A worldwide distribution network has been established which is used to supply packaged methanol and other products globally, and this partnership with DMFCC is consistent with the strategy to seek continuously evolving opportunities in fuel cells and related industries.

VIASPACE Chief Executive Dr. Carl Kukkonen remarked: “Automated cartridge filling is a crucial element in the large-scale manufacturing and distribution infrastructure we are building for our fuel cell cartridge business. In that respect, Hayman, which has the proven capability to fill and distribute a wide variety of containers, makes an excellent partner, and we are very happy to have them on our team. Hayman can also provide bulk methanol with guaranteed quality to our cartridge partners worldwide for local filling.”

DMFCC is a cartridge partner with Samsung and other companies engaged in developing fuel cells as alternative power sources for a range of consumer, military and other applications.

http://www.thestate.com/local/v-print/story/794028.html