FuelCellsWorks

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released the report titled Pathways to Commercial Success: Technologies and Products Supported by the Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies Program (PDF 7.6 MB).

This report documents the results of an effort to identify and characterize commercial and near-commercial (emerging) technologies and products that benefited from the support of the Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Infrastructure Technologies Program and its predecessor programs within DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

antherm Air Handling and Dantherm Power have developed the integrated outdoor cabinet solution, which has been chosen for Denmark’s new public safety network – SINE.

Graphic: Christine Daniloff

A new type of natural-gas electric power plant proposed by MIT researchers could provide electricity with zero carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere, at costs comparable to or less than conventional natural-gas plants, and even to coal-burning plants. But that can only come about if and when a price is set on the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases — a step the U.S. Congress and other governments are considering as a way to halt climate change.

In findings recently published online in the Journal of Power Sources, postdoctoral associate Thomas Adams and Paul I. Barton, the Lammot du Pont Professor of Chemical Engineering, propose a system that uses solid-oxide fuel cells, which can produce power from fuel without burning it. The system would not require any new technology, but would rather combine existing components, or ones that are already well under development, in a novel configuration (for which they have applied for a patent). The system would also have the advantage of running on natural gas, a relatively plentiful fuel source — proven global reserves of natural gas are expected to last about 60 years at current consumption rates — that is considered more environmentally friendly than coal or oil. (Present natural-gas power plants produce an average of 1,135 pounds of carbon dioxide for every megawatt-hour of electricity produced — half to one-third the emissions from coal plants, depending on the type of coal.)

Natural gas already accounts for 22 percent of all U.S. electricity production, and that percentage is likely to rise in coming years if carbon prices are put into effect. For these and other reasons, a system that can produce electricity from natural gas at a competitive price with zero greenhouse gas emissions could prove to be an attractive alternative to conventional power plants that use fossil fuels.

The system proposed by Adams and Barton would not emit into the air any carbon dioxide or other gases believed responsible for global warming, but would instead produce a stream of mostly pure carbon dioxide. This stream could be harnessed and stored underground relatively easily, a process known as carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). One additional advantage of the proposed system is that, unlike a conventional natural gas plant with CCS that would consume significant amounts of water, the fuel-cell based system actually produces clean water that could easily be treated to provide potable water as a side benefit, Adams says.

Although no full-scale plants using such systems have yet been built, the basic principles have been demonstrated in a number of smaller units including a 250-kilowatt plant, and prototype megawatt-scale plants are planned for completion around 2012. Actual utility-scale power plants would likely be on the order of 500 megawatts, Adams says. And because fuel cells, unlike conventional turbine-based generators, are inherently modular, once the system has been proved at small size it can easily be scaled up. “You don’t need one large unit,” Adams explains. “You can do hundreds or thousands of small ones, run in parallel.”

Adams says practical application of such systems is “not very far away at all,” and could probably be ready for commercialization within a few years. “This is near-horizon technology,” he says.

Costs and benefits

Adams and Barton, with funding from the BP-MIT Conversion Research Program,  used computer simulations to analyze the relative costs and performance of this system versus other existing or proposed generating systems, including natural gas or coal-powered systems incorporating carbon capture technologies.

Combined-cycle natural gas plants — the most efficient type of fossil-fuel power plants in use today — could be retrofitted with a carbon-capture system to reduce the output of greenhouse gases by 90 percent. But the MIT researchers’ study found that their proposed system could eliminate virtually 100 percent of these emissions, at a comparable cost for the electricity produced, and with even a higher efficiency (in terms of the amount of electricity produced from a given amount of fuel). Jack Brouwer, associate director of the National Fuel Cell Research Center at the University of California, Irvine, says that the high efficiency and the carbon separation capabilities of solid-oxide fuel cell technology “are indeed impressive.”

Absent any price for carbon emissions, Adams says, when it comes to generating electricity “the cheapest fuel will always be pulverized coal.” But as soon as there is some form of carbon pricing — which attempts to take into account the true price exacted on the environment by greenhouse gas emissions — “ours is the lowest price option,” he says, as long as the pricing is more than about $15 per metric ton of emitted carbon dioxide. Such a pricing mechanism would be put in place, for example, by the Waxman-Markey “American Clean Energy and Security Act” that was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in July, through its “cap and trade” provisions. (A corresponding bill has not yet reached the floor of the U.S. Senate.) If the program becomes law, the actual price per ton of carbon would vary, being determined through the free market.

CCS is considered the only practical way of meeting reduced emissions targets under a cap-and-trade program, because alternatives to the use of fossil fuels are not far enough advanced to be able to quickly replace them at reasonable cost. CCS involves separating out the carbon dioxide from other gases in the plant’s exhaust, and then injecting them into deep geological formations (for example, in depleted oil wells) to keep them from going into the atmosphere. Most approaches to capturing the carbon dioxide emissions from a fossil-fuel power plant require the use of a chemical solvent that absorbs the carbon dioxide from a mixture of gases — a process that is inherently inefficient and adds significantly to the cost of the power produced. Adams and Barton’s system eliminates this inefficient separation step.

One of the critiques most often leveled against proposals for fuel-cell power plants is that the technology has high initial costs compared to conventional combustion technologies. But the new study found that once carbon pricing is in effect, even if the cost of fuel cells remains more than double that targeted by the U.S. Department of Energy for 2010, the solid-oxide fuel cell system would be the cheapest option available in terms of lifecycle costs of electricity produced, even though the up-front capital costs could be three to four times greater than for natural gas or coal combustion systems.

In fact, the system’s predicted efficiency is so high that it beats the lifecycle cost of a combined-cycle natural gas plant, even without carbon pricing. And the study shows that a very low level of carbon tax, on the order of $5 to $10 per ton, would make this technology cheaper than coal plants, which are currently the lowest cost option for electricity generation.

Hydrogen is a promising alternative energy carrier that can be efficiently converted into electrical energy in fuel cells. One hurdle to the introduction of sustainable hydrogen technology is the fact that the large-scale industrial production of hydrogen through reforming processes is still largely based on fossil fuels, and thus is not carbon neutral. “One of the most important goals for chemists is to use solar energy for the generation of energy carriers like hydrogen,” says Matthias Beller of the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis in Rostock (Germany). “The biggest attraction is the use of water as a source of hydrogen.” Beller’s Rostock team, in collaboration with scientists in Rennes (France), has now developed a new catalytic system that can make this dream come true. As the researchers report in the journal Angewandte Chemie, their efficient system is based on simple, inexpensive iron carbonyl complexes (“Light-Driven Hydrogen Generation: Efficient Iron-Based Water Reduction Catalysts”).

By means of photosynthesis, plants are particularly good at converting light into chemical energy. Their success relies on complicated reaction cascades that are activated by light energy. Electrons are passed on through multiple reaction steps that involve a number of “helper agents”. Based on this principle, light-driven reaction cascades for the reduction of water to hydrogen are currently being developed around the world. The significant components for Beller’s novel cascade are a photosensitizer, a source of electrons (electron donor), and the actual water-reduction catalyst. The photosensitizer absorbs the incoming light, capturing its energy. Subsequently, the electron donor transfers an electron to the excited photosensitizer. Now negatively charged, the photosensitizer transfers its extra electron to the water reduction catalyst. The catalyst uses the electron to reduce protons (H+ ions) from the water to hydrogen (H2). In order for the whole process to proceed, the individual components must be well tuned to each other. The team selected a known photosensitizer that contains the metal iridium; their electron donor is triethylamine. Whereas most researchers have concentrated on expensive precious metals as water reduction catalysts, the Rostock research team settled on an affordable alternative: simple, readily available iron carbonyls (coordination complexes made of iron atoms and CO molecules). “Our new catalytic system demonstrates that simple and affordable iron complexes can be used for the production of hydrogen from water,” says Beller. “In order to carry out this reaction on a larger scale in the future, we are currently working on improvements to the photosensitizer and the use of water as the electron donor.”

French scientists have demonstrated the potential of a new fuel cell catalyst inspired by hydrogenase enzymes. Although its activity doesn’t yet match that of platinum, the researchers say it is the first useful biomimetic catalyst capable of operating under fuel cell conditions.

In a hydrogen economy, power would be generated by oxidising stored hydrogen in fuel cells. This reversible reaction – the opposite of which produces hydrogen through the electrolysis of water – can be driven by platinum-based catalysts. Nature, however, in hydrogenase enzymes, has evolved a way of doing this without the need for such rare metals and thus borrowing from nature’s design may be a way to create fuel cell catalysts on the cheap.

Vincent Artero at Joseph Fourier University and colleagues have achieved a significant step towards this goal with a nickel bisdiphosphine-based design. Artero explains that it is the first time this has been shown for such a sophisticated bio-inspired compound. ‘Most people think these compounds are nice achievements of academic research, but that they will never be stable under technological conditions – under pressure, under heat and in very acidic solutions,’ he says. ‘We have demonstrated that we can use these compounds under the conditions that are used in the fuel cells, or electrolysers, that are developed at the moment.’

A close look at the catalyst reveals a striking similarity to the metalloproteins on which it is modelled. At the centre is a nickel atom, as in nickel-iron hydrogenases, combined with a diphosphine ligand bearing a basic N-H that mimics a co-factor in iron-iron hydrogenases and helps to control proton movement as hydrogen is either produced or oxidised. Artero’s team grafted their complexes onto electrically conducting carbon nanotubes that drive electrons to or from the active site and embedded them in a polymer to protect them from acidic electrolytes – mimicking the protection afforded by polypeptide chains in enzymes. The result is a catalyst that shows impressive efficiency and stability under operating conditions.

Dan DuBois, at the Institute for Interfacial Catalysis in Richland, Washington State, developed the original design on which Artero’s catalyst is built. ‘They’ve really shown that you can take these catalysts and put them in an operating cell,’ he says. ‘They’re actually functioning quite nicely, and I think that if we can get another one or two orders of magnitude in rate, which is doable, then they will be useful.’

Artero explains that the rate difference may be due to bulky functional groups used to anchor the catalysts to the nanotubes. ‘We think that may have slowed the catalytic activity,’ he says. ‘So we can now try to imagine another way to graft the catalyst and to keep the catalytic activity high.’ But he also points out that, crucially, the overvoltage – the amount of energy ‘wasted’ to drive the reaction at a sufficiently high rate – does approach that of platinum, unlike most other non-Nobel metal designs.

Hayley Birch

Company’s XX25 Fuel Cell Systems to Power Electronics, Recharge Batteries During Army Field Trials

LIVERMORE, Calif.–UltraCell Corporation, a leading producer of fuel cells for mobile power applications, today announced that it has been selected to provide portable power for electronic devices and recharge military batteries during the Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE), taking place at the Maneuver Battle Lab (MBL) in Fort Benning, Ga., beginning in early 2010.

The AEWE, in coordination with the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) and the Army Capabilities Integration Center (ARCIC), will conduct experiments over a seven-week period through live force-on-force and constructive, virtual-land simulations to provide a credible and repeatable venue for network-enabled experimentation. The program, which began in 2004, focuses on emerging technologies and supports the Army’s effort to shorten material development and examine future force requirements and constructs through a linked campaign of experimentation.

UltraCell’s XX25 fuel cell systems will power military equipment including PRC-119F ASIP radios, rugged notebook computers and Long Range Thermal Video (LRTV) systems. Additionally, the XX25s will be used to recharge BB-2590 and Li-80/145 military batteries. The XX25 is capable of delivering 72 hours of continuous runtime using a single fuel tank, making it an extremely mobile and lightweight source of power.

“We continue to demonstrate that our fuel cell systems deliver the most efficient, lightweight and portable power solutions for military applications and off-grid environments,” said UltraCell CEO Keith Scott. “UltraCell’s participation at AEWE further underscores that commitment and is another example of the XX25’s field readiness and validation.”

Berlin-based provider of innovative energy storage solutions acquires two more orders for autonomous fuel cell-based power supply solutions

Berlin –Heliocentris Fuel Cells AG, a specialist in clean energy storage solutions, is pleased to report two more orders for the supply of autonomous power supply solutions. The clients are the oil company Bahrain Petroleum from Bahrain and a university from Germany.

The solutions are hybrid energy storage systems consisting of batteries, fuel cells, electrolysers and adapted power electronics that store the locally generated solar or wind power. For the oil company project, Heliocentris will also deliver the photovoltaic and wind solution.

The projects have a total volume of approx. EUR300,000.

Dr Henrik Colell, CEO, commented: ‘After just recently receiving an order for a complete energy storage system, we are pleased about the two additional projects for similar energy solutions. The associated significant increase in sales confirms our growth strategy towards hybrid storage solutions.’

About Heliocentris Fuel Cells AG

Heliocentris Fuel Cells AG is a specialist for clean energy storage solutions based on a smart combination of batteries, fuel cells and energy management. Areas of application are mobile and stationary applications that require longer ranges than current batteries can provide. Examples are electric vehicles, onboard and emergency power supplies as well as electricity supply for off-grid applications such as monitoring stations or energy self-sufficient houses.  Heliocentris has been developing and marketing fuel cell-based energy solutions for more than 10 years now. Heliocentris initially targeted the training and lab markets as typical pioneer markets, where it has successfully positioned itself as one of the worldwide market leaders. Since 2006, Heliocentris has been entering selected industrial markets with considerable growth potential. With customers in over 60 ountries and a broad distribution and partner network, Heliocentris is globally well positioned. Heliocentris Fuel Cells AG is listed at the Frankfurter Wertpapierbörse (Entry Standard) and employs in total 50 staff with its head office in Berlin and a subsidiary in Vancouver, Canada. Further information is available at: www.heliocentris.com.

By Brian Schorr, PATH Program Manager

Copenhagen, Denmark –Today, a coalition of 16 associations from around the world issued a joint statement to underscore how hydrogen technologies can help to curb global greenhouse gas emissions. The statement, addressed to the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework on Climate Change, Yvo de Boer, points out many significant benefits to the environment and other areas including the elimination of 80% of the emissions from light duty vehicles, according to studies by Japan, the European Union and United States.

“Hydrogen provides so many benefits and works cooperatively with such a wide variety of alternative energy technologies, no national government can afford to leave hydrogen out of its climate change plans.”

“The significant investments by national governments and private companies around the world have resulted in rapid technology advancements recently compared to just a few years ago,” said Terry Kimmel, Chairman of the Partnership for Advancing the Transition to Hydrogen (PATH).  “And as recently as a couple months ago, several countries like Japan and Germany made large commitments to take advantage of these advancements by investing in hydrogen infrastructure, while the United States continues to support technology development and deployment.  Each country around the world has something to gain from using hydrogen technologies and the global community will benefit from the resulting reduction of greenhouse gases.”

“In addition to hydrogen’s ability to replace or more cleanly use carbon-based fuels, hydrogen technologies encourage the widespread use of renewable energy,” added Jeffrey Serfass, PATH’s General Manager. “Hydrogen provides so many benefits and works cooperatively with such a wide variety of alternative energy technologies, no national government can afford to leave hydrogen out of its climate change plans.”

In addition to this statement, PATH is participating in today’s Bridge to Hydrogen event, organized by the European Hydrogen Association.  The event is showcasing the latest hydrogen vehicles next to battery electric cars and second generation biofuel vehicles. The Parade will conclude at the Danish Parliament where executives of the main fuel cell vehicle and hydrogen infrastructure companies will present their plans for the future.

The statement can be downloaded at www.hpath.org

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About the Partnership for Advancing the Transition to Hydrogen (PATH)

The Partnership for Advancing the Transition to Hydrogen (PATH) is a not-for-profit international coalition of hydrogen associations that seeks international cooperation to help advance the transition to hydrogen as a carbon-free energy carrier and a solution to environmental and energy issues. PATH was established in 2002 in collaboration with the governments and national hydrogen associations of Canada, Japan and the United States. Today, members of the 16 PATH associations represent 39% of the world’s population and 76% of the world’s gross domestic product.  www.hpath.org

• Jayco Inc. and SFC Smart Fuel Cell have established a joint research,  market development and testing project on fuel cell products for the North American recreational vehicle market
• EFOY fuel cells by SFC Smart Fuel Cell are tested in a new generation of lightweight and low energy consumption vehicles
• Fuel cells provide lightweight, silent, zero-emission off-grid power supply and deliver 24/7 power availability in any season and weatherBrunnthal/Munich, Germany and Middlebury/Indiana, USA- On the occasion of the 47th Annual National RV Trade Show in Louisville, KY, USA, Jayco Inc., largest privately-held manufacturer of recreational vehicles in North America, and SFC Smart Fuel Cell, leading supplier of fuel cell products for mobile and off-grid power applications, announce the establishment of a joint research and market development alliance to study the feasibility of the utilization of fuel cell technology in North American recreation vehicles.

  In the past months, Jayco has tested the EFOY product series for a new lightweight, low energy consumption series of recreational vehicles. The EFOY fuel cell series, consisting of three models with a charging capacity of 900 to 2,200 watt hours each per day, depending on individual power requirements, ensures 24/7 power availability in any season and weather. Based on the European success – with currently 48 manufacturers offering EFOY in their catalogues and over 15,000 units sold – target of this project is to provide US recreational vehicles users with lightweight, no noise and emission-free power generation for off-grid use.

  “We are enthusiastic about this research and market development alliance which has the capability of providing our customers with a reliable power and zero-emission solution for their Jayco RV”, says Derald Bontrager, Jayco’s president and chief operating officer. “Reliable, comfortable and environmentally-friendly power supply is a significant concern for RV owners and the EFOY provides an excellent alternative: The fuel cell does not generate smell or noise, is small and lightweight, fully automatic and always available”.

  “We are very proud that Jayco, largest privately-held manufacturer of recreational vehicles in North America, has integrated our EFOY fuel cell in a market testing program”, says Dr. Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC Smart Fuel Cell. “We are excited about this joint project and hope that US RV users will be able to enjoy comfort of the EFOY fuel cells as caravan owners all across Europe in the future”.

  This is how the EFOY works: The fuel cell is directly connected to the on-board battery. In operation the fuel cell continuously monitors the battery’s charge state. Once this drops below a predefined level, the EFOY will automatically start operation and recharge the battery. When the battery is full, it will just as automatically return into stand-by. The fuel cell produces off-grid power reliably without requiring maintenance or user intervention and is powered by the liquid fuel methanol which comes in safe 5 and 10 liter (1.3 and 2.6 gallons) cartridges. An EFOY M10 cartridge with 10 liter (2.6 gallons) fuel contains 11.1 kilo watt hours of power. In form of these convenient cartridges RV owners can store a lot of energy at very low weight in their vehicle. The EFOY fuel cell works extremely silently – a decisive advantage over generators which produce a lot of noise, exhausts and disturb to nature. By-products of power generation in the EFOY fuel cell are just water steam and carbon dioxide in amounts equivalent to the breath of a child.

  Visitors of 47th Annual National RV Trade Show, Louisville, KY/USA, can experience the EFOY fuel cell live in operation at the Jayco booth 1200 in the South Wing, December 1 to 3, 2009 including an appearance by Dirk Kempthorne, former secretary of the interior and RVer of the year 2007, on December 2, 2009.

  Visit www.jayco.com, www.efoy.com and www.sfc.com for more information.

  About Jayco

  Jayco, Inc. is the largest privately-held manufacturer of recreational vehicles in North America. The company makes and markets Jayco RVs under the Jay Series, Baja, Select, Jay Flight, Jay Feather, Eagle, Octane ZX, Designer, Greyhawk, Precept, Melbourne, Seneca, Embark, and Insignia nameplates. In addition, the company markets Starcraft, R/T, Centennial, Travel Star, Rock Star, Homestead and Lexion RVs through its Starcraft RV division and upscale Aspire, Anthem and Cornerstone motorhomes through the Entegra Coach division.

  About SFC Smart Fuel Cell

  SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG (www.sfc.com) is market leader in fuel cell technologies for mobile and off-grid power applications serving the leisure, industrial and defense markets.  As one of Germany’s technology pioneers, SFC has won numerous innovation awards.  SFC has alliances with leading companies in a wide range of industries.  Unlike most other fuel cell manufacturers, who are in the research and development phase or run subsidized demonstration projects, SFC has shipped more than 15,000 fully commercial products to industrial and private end users for more than five years, and has created a convenient fuel cartridge supply infrastructure. SFC is DIN ISO 9001:2008 certified. SFC is based in Brunnthal, Germany, and has a sales and technical service office in the U.S.

The Viking Lady has been designed by Wärtsilä and is equipped with a complete, integrated Wärtsilä propulsion and power electronics system. Picture by Oddgeir Refvik.

Welcome on board the offshore supply vessel Viking Lady and a cleaner future for shipping. Join us
16 December, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP15), for a press tour of the first and only ship with a fuel cell integrated as part of its power generation.

The Viking Lady will be docked at a unique location in Central Copenhagen, surrounded by the city’s new playhouse, opera and old dock storages.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario– Hydrogenics Corporation (Nasdaq:HYGS) (TSX:HYG), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, today announced that Hydrogenics Europe N.V., its Belgium-based operating subsidiary (the “Borrower”), has secured a EUR 3.5 million operating facility from Dexia Bank S.A., a Belgium-based financial institution. The facility will be used to finance working capital requirements for Hydrogenics’ OnSite Generation business in 2010.

“This operating facility will provide increased working capital for our electrolyzer operations next year and speaks to the increased availability of attractive credit in our end markets,” said Daryl Wilson, President and CEO. “The facility will allow our European operations greater flexibility to more rapidly respond to customer orders and ship equipment in a more timely manner. Given our growth plans for 2010, we felt that now was the best time to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Pursuant to the terms of the credit facility, the Borrower may borrow a maximum of 75% of the value of awarded sales contracts, approved by Dexia Bank, to a maximum of EUR 2.0 million, along with a maximum of EUR 1.5 million for general business purposes.

The credit facility bears interest at a rate of Euribor plus 1.45% per annum. It is secured by a EUR 1.0 million first secured charge covering all of the assets of the Borrower, which may be increased to EUR 1.5 million in certain circumstances, and contains a negative pledge precluding the Borrower from providing security over its assets. Additionally, the Borrower is required to maintain a solvency covenant, defined as equity plus current account divided by total liabilities, of not less than 25% and ensure that its inter-company account with Hydrogenics Corporation does not decrease to less than EUR 5.0 million at any time. As of November 30, 2009, the inter-company account was approximately EUR 5.1 million.

ABOUT HYDROGENICS

Hydrogenics Corporation (www.hydrogenics.com) is a globally recognized developer and provider of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products and services, serving the growing industrial and clean energy markets of today and tomorrow. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Hydrogenics has operations in North America and Europe.

IRVINE, Calif. — Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc., (Nasdaq: QTWW) today announced that it has supplied hydrogen refueling technology and key hydrogen infrastructure equipment for the Shell Hydrogen public re-fueling station in New York City, located prominently at the entrance to John F. Kennedy International Airport. This station is part of a cluster of hydrogen refueling stations opened by Shell in New York, in partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the US Department of Energy and General Motors. The cluster of stations, located within approximately 30 miles of each other, is configured to provide New York drivers of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles with greater flexibility and convenience.

Quantum’s hydrogen infrastructure equipment and systems offer simple, yet safe and reliable refueling solutions, based on patented, proprietary underlying technology that was initially demonstrated in a series of mobile and portable refueling systems for hydrogen vehicles since 2001. The Quantum refueling systems use oil free gas compression technology to deliver hydrogen at high-pressure from a variety of sources, including high pressure cascade systems, industrial hydrogen bottles, bulk tube trailers, and electrolyzer hydrogen generating systems.

Key features of the Quantum hydrogen refueling systems include:

• Temperature-compensated 10,000 psi (700 bar) or 5,000 psi (350 bar) fast-fill options
• High pressure cascade storage up to 15,000 psi (1,000 bar)
• Available gas pre-chiller system to enable faster fills
• Compression capacity of up to 9.0 kilograms per hour
• Automated purge procedure for elimination of air and particle contamination
• Hydrogen sensors and safety systems including automated continuous monitoring.

“We are honored to partner with, and support Shell Hydrogen in their efforts to establish an effective foundation for a hydrogen fueling infrastructure”, said Alan P. Niedzwiecki, President and CEO of Quantum. “Hydrogen continues to be an integral part of Quantum’s business strategy. I believe that clean hydrogen fuel, produced from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, has the potential to become an integral part of the energy mix for the 21st century”.

About Quantum:

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc., a fully integrated alternative energy company, is a leader in the development and production of advanced propulsion systems, energy storage technologies, and alternative fuel vehicles. Quantum’s portfolio of technologies includes electronic controls, hybrid electric drive systems, hydrogen storage and metering systems and alternative fuel vehicle technologies that enable fuel efficient, low emission hybrid, plug-in hybrid electric, fuel cell, and alternative fuel vehicles. Quantum’s powertrain engineering, system integration, vehicle manufacturing, and assembly capabilities provide fast-to-market solutions to support the production of hybrid and plug-in hybrid, hydrogen-powered hybrid, fuel cell, natural gas, and specialty vehicles, as well as modular, transportable hydrogen refueling stations. Quantum’s customer base includes automotive OEMs, dealer networks, fleets, aerospace industry, military and other government entities, and other strategic alliance partners.

More information can be found about Quantum’s products and services at www.qtww.com.

SOUTHBOROUGH, MA; Protonex Technology Corporation (LSE: AIM: PTX and PTXU), a leading provider of advanced fuel cell power systems today announced that it has received a contract award of up to $1.0 million, through the University of South Carolina (USC) Research Foundation and WinTec Arrowmaker, to build, test and deliver solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power systems to the U.S. Army.

Under the terms of this 12-month contract, Protonex will continue to develop a fully integrated liquid fuel generator system. As part of the program, Protonex will increase the specific energy of the system through advanced fuel cell and stack development, and will increase the lifetime and reliability through rigorous testing of the completed systems. At the conclusion of the program, Protonex is expected to deliver multiple liquid-fuelled SOFC power systems to the Army for further testing and evaluation.

There is growing military and commercial interest in the use of common liquid fuels, including alternative or renewable fuels to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Solid oxide fuel cells, with their low emissions and high efficiency, are well-suited to generate electricity from these high-energy-density fuel sources. Fuel- flexible generators capable of operating on both traditional and alternative liquid fuels can provide highly efficient electricity generation from both today’s transportation fuels and the biofuels of tomorrow.

Development of these small SOFC systems will provide the military with lightweight, extremely quiet and fuel efficient power systems that can be used as auxiliary power units (APUs), portable generators or field battery chargers. With further anticipated improvements, Protonex’ portable SOFC systems could save more than 60% of the weight of existing power solutions and when used to power equipment directly, the fuel cell systems offer potential savings of more than 80% of the weight burden of primary batteries.

“We are very pleased to have received another significant award to further evolve our SOFC systems,” stated Dr. Caine Finnerty, Director, SOFC Development for Protonex. “The U.S. military has shown much interest in advanced portable power solutions for military applications with even greater interest in systems that can operate on multiple liquid fuels. This program will allow us to develop further our liquid-fueled systems for military testing and enable us to accelerate the conversion of our leading edge SOFC systems for military and commercial markets.”

COPENHAGEN – A Parade of 14 vehicles featuring the latest innovations in fuel cell and hydrogen technology from the world’s main manufacturers has crossed the bridge between Malmö, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark, to demonstrate the potential of these zero-emission vehicles.

The Parade started at the hydrogen refuelling station in central Malmö and, after stopping at the recently-inaugurated Copenhagen refuelling station, finished at the Danish Parliament building. There, an Industry Update meeting was held where key players in the industry updated stakeholders on their work toward commercialisation of hydrogen vehicles and infrastructure. Panellists included leaders of the automotive industry, Europe’s major fuel and technology companies and representatives from

significant hydrogen projects in Europe.

The following hydrogen cars featured in the Parade:

• Fiat Panda Fuel Cells and H2/CNG Mixture

• Honda FCX Clarity

• Mercedes Benz B-Class F-Cell and A-Class

• Opel HydroGen 4

• TH!NK Hydrogen

During the COP15, the UN Climate Change Convention commencing on 7 December, these vehicles will be used to shuttle delegates around Copenhagen. The organisers are offering test-drives to interested participants and observers.

Aksel Mortensgaard, director of the Danish Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells commented: “The world’s energy security problem is critical for the transportation sector but the industry is working with very clear targets which perfectly complement the ones to be developed in Copenhagen. Clear support from COP15 delegates will boost this technology to a level which allows viable commercialisation.” Mr.

Mortensgaard added: “Just imagine: only clear drops of water coming out of your exhaust pipe and a fuel that can be produced from renewable energy!”

The message from the industry players at the Danish Parliament meeting was clear: the use of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies offer significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions and will play a major role in the transformation of the world’s energy and transport infrastructure based on fossil fuel to an electricity-based system.

Hydrogen and fuel cell technology supplements batteries in electric vehicles and therefore provides the same convenience as gasoline and diesel with regards to fast refuelling and a long driving range. Many companies worldwide are investing in this technology aiming for a market introduction by 2015.

VIDEO FROM THE HYDROGEN CAR PARADE

Source: Copenhagen Voice (opens in new window)

Kilde: Copenhagen Voice (opens in new window)

Mercedes B-Class crossing the bridge

HyRaMP, in collaboration with Danish hydrogen supplier H2Logic, the European Hydrogen Association, EHA and the NEW IG, the Industrial Grouping of the JTI organised the Hydrogen vehicle bridge crossing from Malmoe to Copenhagen  on November 30.

HyRaMP chair Andreas Ziolek and Board members Silvana di Matteo, Iris Flacco and Sven Wolf attended the event in which “15 minus 1″ hydrogen and fuel cell cars crossed the bridge between Malmoe and Copenhagen.

The drive was kicked off at the Malmoe hydrogen station where a hydrogen Th!nk car was refuelled. A stop was made at the new Copenhagen hydrogen station developed by H2Logic.

Th!nk Hydrogen Car crossing the bridge

Silvana di Matteo drove one of the three Fiat Panda’s, sponsored by the Region of Lombardy, as the only female driver. Sven Wolf,  HyRaMP Board member for special projects, presented the Sandanivian Partnership at an industry press event afterwards that was moderated by EHA president Lars Sjunnesson.

Background:

Before and during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP15) a number of hydrogen and fuel cell showcase and communication activities are under planning, to ensure visibility of the technology.

Honda FX Clarity refueling at hydrogen station

The aim is to exhibit a large fleet of hydrogenpowered vehicles and other fuel cell products and solutions and demonstrate their use in various transport and energy applications.

The initiative is organized by a task force consisting of representatives from the hydrogen & fuel cell Industry & Community and is lead by NEW-IG, together with the European Hydrogen Association.

The showcase will consist of three main elements:

1. Execution of a communication platform ensuring international visibility & strong communication

2. 30th Nov. 2009 FCH Vehicle Parade & Industry Update Meeting in Malmö and Copenhagen

3. Several showcase events before & during COP15 in December, among others use of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles

Official EHA Press Release:

Copenhagen– The European Hydrogen Association, EHA, in collaboration with Danish Hydrogen supplier H2Logic, HyRaMP, the European 30-member Regions and Municipalities Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells, the Joint Undertaking for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells (JU FCH) and its Industrial Grouping, NEW IG, is organising a Hydrogen Vehicle Parade that will be crossing the scenic bridge between Malmoe and Copenhagen today.

The tour will mark the coming of “commercial age” of hydrogen vehicles and their potential to significantly reduce transport emissions, next to battery electric cars

and second generation biofuelled vehicles. The Parade will be concluded in the Danish Parliament where executives of the main fuel cell vehicle and hydrogen infrastructure companies will present their plans for the future moderated by EHA president Lars Sjunnesson.

Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation/Opel, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, the alliance Renault SA and Nissan Motor Corporation and Toyota Motor Corporation, recently announced that they are anticipating that a quite significant number of electric vehicles with fuel cells, a few hundred thousand units over life cycle on a worldwide basis, could be commercialised from 2015 onwards.

EHA Industry members, Shell and Linde are among the partners of the “H2 Mobility” initiative established last month. Together with Daimler, EnBW, OMV,Total, Vattenfall and the NOW GmbH National Organisation for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology they are collaborating in evaluating options for an area-wide roll-out of hydrogen fuelling stations, starting in Germany, to support the introduction of series produced hydrogen powered vehicles.

Hydrogen, used as an energy carrier to power energy and electric transport systems, will play an important role to achieve the EU’s energy efficiency, renewable energy and CO2 emission reduction targets. The advantage of hydrogen over the other energy carrier, electricity, is that it can be stored in high quantities and distributed to urban areas to be used as a zero emission fuel in hydrogen vehicles. This makes hydrogen a strong partner of renewable energy and smart grid systems enhancing the uptake of the use of renewable sources in the coming decades.

The EHA therefore encourages the EU and the rest of the world to step up their efforts in Copenhagen to reach an international climate agreement to accelerate the deployment of clean energy and transport technologies, not only in industrialised countries. As many European companies are frontrunners in the development of these technologies, concrete and effective transfer of innovative technologies, like hydrogen and fuel cells, to the developing world, including India and China, as part of global, energy technology transfer framework, will facilitate widespread use and speed up the development of a truly global market for these technologies.

The EHA, promoting the use of hydrogen as a clean and efficient energy carrier for transport and stationary power applications, is representing fifteen national associations (BE, CH, CZ, DE, ES, F, H, IT, LV, N, NL, PT, PL, SE, UK) and the main hydrogen infrastructure development companies in Europe: Shell Hydrogen, ENI, StatoilHydro, Air Liquide, Air Products, the Linde Group.

A set of fuel cells were set up in downtown Seoul Tuesday in an attempt of Seoul City to promote production of “green” energy.

Fuel cell is a device that produces electricity from a tank of fuel, such as city gas, in electrochemical reaction without transformation of combusted energy to heat. It is generally called a hydrogen fuel cell as hydrogen is mainly used in the prevailing technology.

The device is composed of two 1kW cells at the Central Building in Seorin-dong, which is is capable of producing 1,440kWh of electricity one month and 400 liters of warm water 60 degrees Celsius an hour, a Seoul City spokesman said.

The fuel cells will be used as a test on how much well they produce electricity for two years as a project to monitor hydrogen fuel cell for home being carried out by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, he said

Citizens and dignitaries attending the ceremony also conducted a campaign to preserve energy at the main gate of the Central Building.

The Naval Research Laboratory’s Ion Tiger, a hydrogen-powered fuel cell unmanned air vehicle (UAV), has flown 26 hours and 1 minute carrying a 5-pound payload, setting another unofficial flight endurance record for a fuel-cell powered flight. The test flight took place on November 16th through 17th.

The electric fuel cell propulsion system onboard the Ion Tiger has the low noise and signature of a battery-powered UAV, while taking advantage of hydrogen, a high-energy fuel. Fuel cells create an electrical current when they convert hydrogen and oxygen into water and heat. The 550 Watt (0.75 horsepower) fuel cell onboard the Ion Tiger has about four times the efficiency of a comparable internal combustion engine and the system provides seven times the energy in the equivalent weight of batteries. The Ion Tiger weighs approximately 37 pounds and carries a 4- to 5-pound payload.

The Ion Tiger fuel cell system development team is led by NRL and includes Protonex Technology Corporation, HyperComp Engineering, and Arcturus UAV. The program is sponsored by the Office of Naval Research.

This latest flight test improves on Ion Tiger’s previous unofficial flight endurance record of 23 hours and 17 minutes that took place on October 9th and 10th.

NRL has now demonstrated that PEM fuel cell technology can meet or surpass the performance of traditional power systems, providing reliable, quiet operation and extremely high efficiency. Next steps will focus on increasing the power of the fuel cell to 1.5 kW, or 2 HP, to enable tactical flights and extending flight times to 3 days while powering tactical payloads.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Hydrogenics Corporation (Nasdaq:HYGS) (TSX:HYG), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, today announced that the Company has been awarded a contract for two HySTAT electrolyzers for the Surgutskaya GRES-2 power plant in Siberia. The Russian facility, which provides electricity to roughly 40% of the region’s population, uses hydrogen as a cooling agent, and the systems are expected to be delivered during the first quarter of 2010.

“Once again, our world class electrolyzers have proven to be the most desirable in terms of quality and reliability,” said Daryl Wilson, President and CEO. “Given the sometimes harsh Siberian climate, the equipment needs to be fully compliant in temperatures as low as minus 60 degrees Centigrade, and Hydrogenics’ track record speaks for itself. The GRES-2 plant is currently being upgraded by the German energy conglomerate E.ON, which is aiming to expand power capacity from 4,800 MW to 5,600 MW by the end of 2010 — making it one of the world’s highest capacity power stations. We look forward to being a partner in this historic endeavor.”

ABOUT HYDROGENICS

Hydrogenics Corporation (www.hydrogenics.com) is a globally recognized developer and provider of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products and services, serving the growing industrial and clean energy markets of today and tomorrow. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Hydrogenics has operations in North America and Europe.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario– Hydrogenics (Nasdaq:HYGS) (TSX:HYG), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, announced that V. James Sardo has resigned from his role as a director of Hydrogenics’ board of directors due to limitations on his availability because of other business activities and professional commitments. Mr. Sardo’s resignation is effective as of today, November 30, 2009. Mr. Sardo has been a member of the board of directors since May, 2003 and has been a member of the audit committee and human resources and corporate governance committee of Hydrogenics.

“Due to other commitments, Jim felt he could no longer devote the time necessary to serve the interests of Hydrogenics to the best of his ability,” said Daryl Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer. “On behalf of the company and its shareholders, I would like to thank Jim for all of his hard work and dedication to our board during his tenure as a director. We are grateful to have had his counsel and insights over the years.”

Commenting on his resignation, Jim Sardo added, “I want to thank the other board members as well as Daryl and the management team for their support and fine contribution to the company. These last seven years on the board have been highly rewarding, and I leave with the knowledge and confidence that the interests of the shareholders are in capable hands.”

Hydrogenics has no immediate plans to fill the vacancy in the board left by Mr. Sardo’s departure.

ABOUT HYDROGENICS

Hydrogenics Corporation (www.hydrogenics.com) is a globally recognized developer and provider of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products and services, serving the growing industrial and clean energy markets of today and tomorrow. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Hydrogenics has operations in North America and Europe.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Hydrogenics Corporation (Nasdaq:HYGS) (TSX:HYG), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, today announced that Hydrogenics Europe N.V., its Belgium-based operating subsidiary (the “Borrower”), has secured a EUR 3.5 million operating facility from Dexia Bank S.A., a Belgium-based financial institution. The facility will be used to finance working capital requirements for Hydrogenics’ OnSite Generation business in 2010.

“This operating facility will provide increased working capital for our electrolyzer operations next year and speaks to the increased availability of attractive credit in our end markets,” said Daryl Wilson, President and CEO. “The facility will allow our European operations greater flexibility to more rapidly respond to customer orders and ship equipment in a more timely manner. Given our growth plans for 2010, we felt that now was the best time to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Pursuant to the terms of the credit facility, the Borrower may borrow a maximum of 75% of the value of awarded sales contracts, approved by Dexia Bank, to a maximum of EUR 2.0 million, along with a maximum of EUR 1.5 million for general business purposes.

The credit facility bears interest at a rate of Euribor plus 1.45% per annum. It is secured by a EUR 1.0 million first secured charge covering all of the assets of the Borrower, which may be increased to EUR 1.5 million in certain circumstances, and contains a negative pledge precluding the Borrower from providing security over its assets. Additionally, the Borrower is required to maintain a solvency covenant, defined as equity plus current account divided by total liabilities, of not less than 25% and ensure that its inter-company account with Hydrogenics Corporation does not decrease to less than EUR 5.0 million at any time. As of November 30, 2009, the inter-company account was approximately EUR 5.1 million.

ABOUT HYDROGENICS

Hydrogenics Corporation (www.hydrogenics.com) is a globally recognized developer and provider of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products and services, serving the growing industrial and clean energy markets of today and tomorrow. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Hydrogenics has operations in North America and Europe.