FuelCellsWorks

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Hydrogenics Corporation , a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, today announced that it will sell common shares and warrants in a registered direct offering with two institutional investors, resulting in gross proceeds of US$5,000,000 before placement agent’s fees and other offering expenses.

Under the terms of the transaction, Hydrogenics will sell 12,500,000 common shares for US$0.40 per share. Investors will also receive warrants for the purchase of one common share for each common share purchased; 5,983,886 of these warrants will be exercisable at any time on or after the date of issuance until January 14, 2015 at an exercise price of US$0.52 per common share. The remaining 6,516,114 warrants will be exercisable for a period of five years beginning six months and one day after issuance, at an exercise price of US$0.52 per common share. Each of the warrants contains “full-ratchet” anti-dilution protection as to the exercise price but not the number of shares issuable thereunder.

“As Hydrogenics prepares for what we anticipate will be an active 2010, we felt it prudent to bolster the company’s financial position as we implement our growth plans to capture a number of compelling market opportunities this year,” said Daryl Wilson, Hydrogenics President and CEO. “We are grateful to the institutional investors for their support and interest in our business and in the expanding hydrogen economy unfolding around the globe.”

The closing of the offering will take place on January 14, 2010.

Chardan Capital Markets, LLC acted as the sole placement agent for this transaction.

The securities described above are being offered by Hydrogenics Corp. pursuant to a registration statement on Form F-3 previously filed and declared effective by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering may be made only by means of the prospectus supplement and the related prospectus relating to the offering, copies of which may be obtained, when available, from Chardan Capital Markets, LLC by mail at 17 State Street, Suite 1600, NY, NY 10004 or by telephone at (646) 465-9091.

BOTHELL, Wash. — Neah Power Systems, Inc. (’Neah’) (OTCBB:NPWZ) the Company developing fuel cells-based renewable energy solutions, announced that it is taking orders for its Infinity eLTM series fuel cells as stand alone products as well as integrated solutions and are available in 25W, 50W, 75W and 100W sizes. These fuel cells provide 400 Whr per cartridge; with instant re-charge capability based on swapping out cartridges and will provide 12V DC output, which can also be tailored for specific applications.

“This is a significant occasion for the company to have demonstrated constant operation for excess of 2,000 hours and see the fruits of $40M of research and development in such a compelling way. Neah enables our customers with the superior power density, anaerobic functionality, and cost effective manufacturing capability of our products to meet their critical power needs,” said Dr. Chris D’Couto, President and CEO of Neah Power.

For product enquiries, please contact products@neahpower.com

About NEAH Power

NEAH Power Systems, Inc. (NPWZ) is developing long-lasting, efficient and safe power solutions for the military, industrial and consumer applications. NEAH uses a unique, patented, silicon-based design for its micro fuel cells that enable higher power densities, lower cost and compact form-factors. The company’s micro fuel cell system can run in aerobic and anaerobic modes. The company is developing energy generation and storage solutions based on its patented technology. Further company information can be found at www.neahpower.com.

Designer Daizi Zheng has designed an eco friendly phone for Nokia, which runs on Coca-Cola drinks. Yes, its fuel cells generates electricity from carbohydrates(sugar) in the Coke and it can run on any sugary water, not just Coke. Daizi writes: “The concept is using bio battery to replace the traditional battery to create a pollution free environment. Bio battery is an ecologically friendly energy generates electricity from carbohydrates (currently sugar) and utilizes enzymes as the catalyst. By using bio battery as the power source of the phone, it only needs a pack of sugary drink and it generates water and oxygen while the battery dies out. Bio battery has the potential to operate three to four times longer on a single charge than conventional lithium batteries and it could be fully biodegradable. Meanwhile, it brings a whole new perception to batteries and afternoon tea. “

Via geeky gadgets, treehugger

The world’s largest fleet of hydrogen-powered buses will debut at the Winter Olympics in Whistler, B.C., next month amid criticism that the move is environmental window dressing.

The Suzuki Foundation is questioning the 20 buses, meant to showcase the ecological correctness of the Olympic Games.

Ian Bruce, a foundation climate change campaigner, said he did not disagree with B.C. seeking potential clean technologies, but added that the project must be financially viable.

The federal government contributed $45 million and the B.C. government provided $44.5 million for the manufacture of 20 hydrogen buses and to cover the capital and operating expenses of BC Transit until 2014.

Based on those figures, Bruce said, each hydrogen bus costs an average of $2.1 million, or four times that of a diesel-powered bus.

Since the hydrogen will be transported from Quebec because B.C. can’t produce enough, the greenhouse gas emission savings would be reduced to 62 per cent from 100 per cent, according to the Suzuki Foundation.

And during the Olympics, bus emissions are expected to increase as BC Transit brings in more than 100 additional diesel buses to handle demand.

Former BC Transit planner Stephen Rees said there are better ways to spend the money.

“If you just wanted zero emission buses, the same money would buy you 40 trolley buses. Or if you wanted to increase transit use, 80 conventional buses,” he wrote in his blog on Thursday.

But if the goal is to increase transit use, he said, service must be attractive and reliable, and “we also need to have a land use pattern that makes transit use feasible.

“Outside of Vancouver, there are not many places where that is the case … As long as we are spending billions on widening one freeway and building another one, not much chance of that pattern emerging either,” he wrote.

John Tak, president of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, defended the project.

“The only thing that is coming out of the tailpipe is water vapour and heat,” he said. “So that’s where we need to go in terms of transportation in getting rid of pollution and greenhouse gases.”

The hydrogen buses will keep rolling after the Olympics, but their fate after 2014 is uncertain

LOS ANGELES– Vision Industries Corp. (OTC Bulletin Board: VIIC), producers of the zero emission plug-in electric/hydrogen fuel cell hybrid Tyrano(TM) truck announced that Capacity of Texas, Inc. and Vision have joined forces to build a Zero Emissions Terminal Tractor (ZETT(TM)). The ZETT will be built on Capacity’s PHETT® platform and powered by the Vision plug-in electric/hydrogen fuel cell technology. The PHETT® was the world’s 1st Hybrid Terminal Tractor.

Phillip Ford, President of Capacity stated, “The ZETT is the latest evolution of innovative hybrid technology, combining the advantages of hydrogen fuel cell technology to produce Zero Emissions. The ZETT is designed to operate for two full eight hour shifts without refueling which is a tremendous advantage over any battery powered only terminal tractor. With the advanced technology that Vision Industries has developed, the ZETT produces its own electricity and never will have to be recharged in the middle of a shift. Fueling of the hydrogen tanks can be accomplished in fifteen minutes. Capacity of Texas is dedicated to environmental stewardship by offering products with the latest technology in green propulsion.”

Martin Schuermann, President & CEO of Vision stated, “Terminal tractors typically operate in industrial settings in close proximity to heavily populated urban areas. This is a new market sector for Vision and we believe that the marketplace will readily embrace a zero emissions terminal tractor that features significant operating cost savings when compared to conventionally powered diesel terminal tractors.”

About Capacity of Texas, Inc.

Capacity of Texas, Inc., based in Longview, Texas, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Collins Industries, Inc., and is the largest American owned manufacturer of terminal tractors in North America, offering a full product line of terminal trucks used throughout the world. Capacity distributes products through a national and international authorized representative network. For a current listing of Capacity products and authorized representatives, visit www.capacitytexas.com.

Collins Industries, Inc., a subsidiary of BNS Holding, Inc., is also a leading manufacturer of ambulances (including medical attack vehicles, rescue vehicles and fire emergency vehicles), North America’s largest producer of Type “A” small school buses, and a leader in the road construction and industrial sweeper markets. Since 1971, Collins Industries, Inc. has grown to approximately 900 employees in three plants comprising over eight-hundred thousand combined square feet of manufacturing space. Collins Industries, Inc. sells its products throughout North America and abroad.

About Vision Industries Corp.

Vision is a provider of hydrogen fuel cell/plug-in electric powered vehicles and turnkey hydrogen fueling systems. Vision’s proprietary hydrogen fuel cell/plug-in electric drive system combines the superior acceleration of a battery powered electric vehicle with the extended range provided by a hydrogen fuel cell. Vision uses major manufacturers as partners or sub contractors to produce its vehicles. This business approach avoids massive outlays of startup capital. Many regional, state and federal alternative energy programs in the form of grants, subsidies, tax credits and loans exist or are planned. For more information on Vision Industries Corp., please visit www.visionindustriescorp.com

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada– Hydrogenics Corporation, a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, today announced the award of a contract for the development of a next generation power system to be used for surface mobility applications on the moon. The scope of the contract includes an electrolyzer that produces both hydrogen and oxygen using solar power and a fuel cell system to be used for mobility, auxiliary, and life support systems. Hydrogenics has partnered with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. (TSX:MDA), an internationally recognized leader in information systems, having provided advanced technology solutions to the Canadian space program for over three decades; Routes AstroEngineering, a leader in space related solar power, instrumentation, and control systems; and the University of Waterloo, known for its electric drivetrain modeling and energy storage optimization expertise.

“Hydrogenics can provide a unique energy solution for next-generation space exploration, leveraging the power of hydrogen in terms of both energy density and storage capability,” said Daryl Wilson, Hydrogenics President and CEO. “As we gain market traction with commercial installations across the globe, development contracts such as this help refine and advance our technology — making hydrogen an even more attractive resource for a multitude of applications in the years to come.”

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.

AFC Energy plc (AIM: AFC), the developer of low cost alkaline fuel cells that generate clean electricity from by-product hydrogen, is pleased to announce it has entered into an agreement with WSP Group plc with the intention of building and operating a power station based upon AFC Energy’s fuel cell systems.

During the first stage a 50 kW power station will be constructed to demonstrate AFC Energy’s fuel cell systems working as part of an integrated power station. During the second stage it is intended with commercial support to build a 1 MW power station.

Both AFC Energy and WSP Group will be inviting other organisations to participate in the project and contribute towards the power station with the aim of showcasing the technologies.

Commenting on the agreement Ian Balchin, Chief Executive, AFC Energy plc said,

“We are delighted to be working with WSP Group to set up a “SuperGreen” power station. This facility will showcase the our technology for generating electricity from hydrogen at almost twice the efficiency of combined heat and power turbines. This project is entirely consistent with both our commercial and technical development plans and we believe it will help to accelerate our commercialisation.”

Stuart McLachlan, Global Managing Director of WSP Environment and Energy stated,

“As a business that is at the forefront of supporting society and commerce to flex in to a low carbon environment, we’re extremely excited to be assisting AFC Energy to develop such innovative, clean, power generation infrastructure.”

It is a real pleasure to introduce this scientific and technical capsule by highlighting the top-end results achieved recently at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique – Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, and published earlier this year in Science under the title “Iron-based catalysts with improved oxygen reduction activity in polymer electrolyte fuel cells” (M. Lefèvre, E. Proietti, F. Jaouen and J.-P. Dodelet, Science 324 (2009), 71). The international research team, led by French Professor Jean-Pol Dodelet, has been involved in the development of non-platinum, iron-based catalysts for PEM fuel cells at INRS-EMT near Montreal, Canada, for many years. Further evidence is given today that consistent efforts and talent are paying back.

Michel Lefèvre, Frédéric Jaouen and their colleagues have successfully synthesized iron-nitrogen catalysts exhibiting an activity for the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) that has proved quite comparable with that of commercial platinum supported on carbon black. As in the case of platinum and platinum alloys, the compound’s microstructure is of utmost importance regarding the final activity: therefore, work has focused toward both a fundamental understanding of the relation between microstructure and activity, and the optimization of the catalyst’s preparation based on this knowledge. The overall rate of ORR reaction, i.e. volumetric activity of the Fe-N compound was eventually improved more than 35 times compared with the previous best non-precious metal catalyst (and within 10% of the best Pt-based catalysts to date), by increasing the number of active sites for ORR per unit volume thanks to proper choice of the reactants, reaction method and subsequent thermal conditions. Results are very close to the Department of Energy’s 2010 technical target for PEM fuel cells’ non-precious metal catalyst activity.

Prior to this work, the team had achieved promising ORR activities with iron-based catalysts synthesized by impregnation of microporous carbon black with a soluble Fe precursor (iron acetate, for example) and nitrogen-containing complexing agents like phenanthroline. Hat treatment in ammonia vs. neutral atmosphere was also investigated. It was hypothesized that the coordinating bridges between Fe and the C-N-C bounds formed in the carbon black micropores during heat treatment in NH3 were responsible for the catalytic activity. Results would also show that only micropores created during the heat treatment in ammonia might host active sites, and not pristine micropores present in carbon black material. In the current work, researchers at INRS have filled the pores with a Fe-N containing material (including the acetate Fe(II) precursor and a suitable N-bearing complexing agent) by using planetary ball-milling instead of impregnation. Due to lower thermodynamic limitations, ball-milling allows filling more pores than does close-to-equilibrium impregnation while hardly affecting carbon’s microstructure. The modified carbon black support was then pyrolised in argon and/or ammonia atmosphere. The most active catalyst contained 1 wt% of Fe content. At 0.9 V, the current density of a cathode made with a catalyst loading of 5.3 mg/cm², i.e., 90 µg/cm² of Fe, is 30-40 mA/cm², which is equivalent to a commercial Pt-based cathode with a Pt loading of 400 µg/cm². Losses at current densities > 100 mA/cm² arise from excessive mass transport limitations due to electrode thickness at high Fe loadings.

Being able to replace platinum by iron at the cathode of a PEM fuel cell means that, since most of the platinum loading is currently required for the sluggish ORR and iron is the cheapest among metals the related cost of the catalyst could drop in a terrific way. Maybe a major technical breakthrough in the world of fuel cells! I hope to hear follow-on news from this high-profile research field very soon… Durability tests and further optimization of the density of Fe active sites in the carbon support are still necessary. The complete set of results is available in the Science paper Science 324 (2009), 71. Dr.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking feedback from the research community and relevant stakeholders regarding development needs and technical barriers as they relate to the widespread commercialization of fuel cells for stationary and transportation market segments. Technical topic areas of interest include cross-cutting stack and balance-of-plant technology as well as other innovative concepts. DOE may decide at a later date to issue Funding Opportunity Announcements based on consideration of the input received from this Request for Information (RFI).

This RFI closes on January 29, 2010. The full announcement with information about providing comments is available on FedConnect under the “Search Public Opportunities” link. Search by reference number for DE-FOA-0000225.

Newbury, Berkshire, United Kingdom–UPS Systems’ Managing Director, Tom Sperrey, and his crew have been declared winners of the prestigious Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) racing division.

Tom and crew crossed the finishing line on 8th December having sailed his boat ‘Nightlife’ from Gran Canaria to St. Lucia. A portable fuel cell on board provided auxiliary power.

The annual transatlantic race is part of the largest ocean sailing event in the world, attracting over 200 yachts each year. The race starts in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and covers 2,700 nautical miles, finishing in Rodney Bay St. Lucia. Nightlife, skippered by Tom Sperrey, won the RORC IRC Racing Division of ARC 2009 and received their winner’s trophy in front of 800 people at the prize giving ceremony.

Nightlife had on board an EFOY 1600 methanol fuel cell. The unit generated 65W of electricity to power the navigation, computer and communications equipment.

“After being at sea for 16 days, we were absolutely delighted to reach St. Lucia and discover we had won the race,” said Tom Sperrey. “The fuel cell performed incredibly well, even under the hostile conditions of the mid-Atlantic. It’s perfect for sailing as it provided us with a quiet, clean, compact and reliable source of power that lasted for the whole trip. There isn’t much equipment on a boat that doesn’t require maintenance, but we didn’t have to worry about the fuel cell. Using the fuel cell for the communications equipment meant that we didn’t have to keep powering up the boat’s diesel engine to re-charge the batteries.”

About UPS Systems plc

UPS Systems plc (upssystems.co.uk) is the UK’s largest independent supplier of standby power solutions. Through its independent position, allied to close working relationships with the world’s leading manufacturers, the company is uniquely able to offer impartial technical advice on the widest range of standby power solutions. An authority on fuel cell technology, UPS Systems implemented the UK’s first two hydrogen fuel cells providing ac standby power, and is currently working on projects where the technology will be used for the supply of backup or prime power to utilities, telecommunications, remote telemetry, portable signage and renewable energy applications.

TOKYO (Nikkei)–Nippon Shokubai Co. (4114) is preparing to start mass production this spring of electrolytes used in next-generation fuel cells. read full article… This article is available to Nikkei.com subscribers only. Full Article at Nikkei

Overview

Site: Dixons Creek, Victoria, Australia

Application: Backup power for telecom exchange

Product: ElectraGen™ XTi System

Configuration: 5 kW, 48 Vdc

Fuel: HydroPlus (methanol/water) (220 liter tank)

Customer Motivations: Reduced carbon emission, virtually maintenance-free and energy efficient

Background

Telstra is Australia’s leading telecommunications company providing over 9.2 million fixed line services and 9.7 million mobile services with 5.2 million 3G customers. Telstra’s major strength is providing integrated telecommunications services in a vast geographical coverage with an extensive network infrastructure. Making certain that its cell towers operate reliably with no disruption in service is a critical concern. Telstra decided to test alternative power sources and use fuel cells to provide clean and reliable extended backup power reducing the number of battery strings and diesel generators at its sites.

Challenge

Telstra’s base station sites are in remote locations that contain critical telecommunications equipment requiring backup power with over 8 hours of autonomy. Their standard backup power supply consists of 5 strings of batteries and a diesel powered generator in case of extended power failure. However, both can be unreliable and are costly to maintain. Telstra needed to find a solution that reduced carbon emissions and provided reliable extended run backup power for its remote sites.

Solution

In July 2009, Telstra chose IdaTech’s ElectraGen™ XTi System from KD Fisher, IdaTech’s international distribution partner in Australia. The initial testing of the ElectraGen™ XTi system was performed in Melbourne over several days. After successfully completing extensive technical field test requirements, the unit was then moved to Dixons Creek, Victoria, for installation.

IdaTech’s ElectraGen™ XTi fuel cell system was developed specifically to provide critical backup power for the telecom market. The ElectraGen™ XTi system includes a fuel processor that converts methanol and water liquid fuel into hydrogen gas to power the unit. By generating its own hydrogen as needed, the requirement for delivery and storage of bottled hydrogen is eliminated. The ElectraGen™ XTi fuel cell is ideal for extended run backup power in Australia’s remote geographic location, where fuel delivery is difficult and expensive.

Results

Within 24 hours of the installation at the test site, a power failure occurred and the fuel cell system responded, generating 1.5 hours of backup power. The test site supports a 3G node, fiber optics transmission and telephony services. Telstra recently reported that the ElectraGen™ XTi system has been working flawlessly since its site installation.

R ²Coupler Isolation Products Being Used for Electric Power Generation Automaker’s Premacy ‘Green Cars’

Avago Technologies (Nasdaq: AVGO), a leading supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial and consumer applications, today announced that Yaskawa Electric Corporation has selected two of its latest R ²Coupler™ isolation products for use in the futuristic Mazda Premacy hydrogen/gas powered hybrid vehicle. Yaskawa, which makes the electronic motor inverter system for the Premacy, is using Avago’s ACPL-782T automotive grade isolation amplifier and ACPL-312T gate drive optocoupler in its electronic motors.

Mazda’s Premacy hybrid vehicle is an innovative concept car, which combines a hydrogen rotary engine and a hybrid system. The vehicle is a bi-fuel version of Mazda’s compact MPV Mazda5 and has a fuel efficient hybrid system that substantially increases its driving range and power over other hybrid vehicles in its class. The ACPL-312T provides isolated gate drive switching capability to drive the vehicle’s high powered insulated gate bipolar transistors/metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (IGBTs/MOSFETS) while the ACPL-782T isolation amplifier is used for motor inverter current/voltage monitoring and measurement.

“We’re delighted that Yaskawa Electric Corporation, which is one of Mazda’s key electronic motor system suppliers has chosen our R ²Coupler products for integration into their electronic motors,” said Tze Siong Chong, vice president and general manager, Isolation Products Division, Avago Technologies. “The adoption of these products for use in the electronic motor that is being used in the Premacy is validation that our automotive-grade isolation products meet the stringent reliability and reinforced capabilities that designers of automotive electronic motor inverter systems require.”

Avago’s ACPL-782T isolation amplifier is designed with a tight +/-2 percent gain tolerance which provides high accuracy measurement and stability over the time needed to accurately monitor motor current or voltage in high noise motor control environments. The ACPL-312T grade gate drive optocoupler provides up to 2.5 amps of peak output current to drive high powered IGBTs/MOSFETs used in electric motor inverters. Additionally, it has a low proprogation delay of 0.5 µs which allows the circuit designer to reduce switching dead time and improve inverter efficiency. Both of Avago’s new R ²Coupler products offer enhanced construction with superior thermal conductivity making them ideal for providing isolation in inverter and power management systems.

“We used Avago’s ACPL-782T, which is indispensable, for the inverter control DC voltage detector in automotive applications and have succeeded in developing an instantaneous voltage monitoring system,” said Kiyotaka Fuji, Inverter Division Engineering Department, Yaskawa Electronic Corporation. “The system is enabled to control the vehicle’s power and allow us to provide a high output inverter control according to our customer’s specifications. In automotive (EMC) immunity environments, the isolation amplifier produced by Avago Technologies has provided distinguished performance while satisfying the criteria of the test environment. Additionally, we used Avago’s ACPL-312T for the IGBT drive to shorten the dead time, thereby achieving highly efficient inverter control.”

The ACPL-782T and ACPL-312T are designed to operate over a wide operating temperature range and are qualified to AEC-Q100 Grade 1 automotive stress test requirements and manufactured under TS16949 automotive quality standards. Moreover, these R ²Couplers from Avago provide reinforced insulation and reliability that delivers safe signal isolation which is critical in automotive and high temperature industrial applications. More information on Avago’s R ²Coupler series can be found at the following URL: http://www.avagotech.com/pages/en/optocouplers_plastic/plastic_automotive_optocoupler/.

About Avago Technologies

Avago Technologies is a leading supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial and consumer applications. By leveraging its core competencies in III-V compound and silicon semiconductor design and processing, the company provides an extensive range of analog, mixed signal and optoelectronics components and subsystems to approximately 40,000 end customers. Backed by strong customer service support, the company’s products serve four diverse end markets: wireless communications, wired infrastructure, industrial and automotive electronics, and consumer and computing peripherals. Avago has a global employee presence and heritage of technical innovation dating back 40 years to its Hewlett-Packard roots. Information about Avago is available on the Web at www.avagotech.com

Singapore – CONSISTEL announced that it has won another contract to supply Spiro hydrogen fuel cells (“Spiro”) in Asia. The contract was awarded by PT. Telkomsel (Telekomunikasi Selular), a leading operator of cellular telecommunications services in Indonesia. The contract will cover the deployment of SPIRO hydrogen fuel cells within the states of Sumatra.

The award reaffirms the growing trend among the service providers in opting for green backup power solutions against service impacting issues. Today’s telecommunications wireless market demands quality-of-service; high reliability and availability, particularly in severe conditions. Hence, the ability for wireless networks to remain operational in adverse conditions is very critical. With an increase in service life and decrease in maintenance costs, Spiro hydrogen fuel cells provide the best cost-effective backup solution.

“Sustainable green and eco-friendly initiatives are gaining importance today with many service providers opting for alternative power sources like hydrogen fuel cells to maintain a reliable network and to minimize impact to the environment. “At Consistel, we see great potential in providing robust and green power solutions to our customers and we excited to have PT. Telkomsel, another Telecommunication service provider opting for alternative energy sources as part of the green movement.” said Masoud Bassiri, Chief Executive Officer of Consistel Pte. Ltd. “And, we believe that with the superior reliability of Spiro, service providers can now be closer to the reality of maintaining a stable and robust network for continuous delivery of service at all times.” added Masoud.

Building on decade-plus heritage in the In-building wireless industry and over 3,000 deployments worldwide, Consistel’s strength lies not only in its sterling reputation record in the In-building wireless industry but also in its ability in recognizing the importance in providing eco-friendly solutions that integrate with the natural environment. Spiro hydrogen fuel cell is a further affirmation of the Consistel’s commitment to furthering the environmental cause in the In-building wireless industry.

The project to provide a low-cost, ‘open source’ design for a fuel cell car that anyone can access and build has taken a step closer to reality with the publishing of the first engineering drawings online.

All of the designs for River Simple’s Hyrban will be published on the web, starting with the car’s rear suspension layout. The idea is to speed up development by gathering criticism and comment from users, which will also help to cut the costs of the technology.

Hyrban plans revealed

Upgrades Target High Volume Production of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.–Optomec announced today that it has received a new contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to deliver high throughput enhancements to its Aerosol Jet^® system. The upgrades will be made to a system that is being used by AFRL to develop and prototype high efficiency solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) based on Aerosol Jet’s unique material mixing capabilities. These advances will significantly increase the output of the system and will demonstrate high volume production feasibility. The new contract brings the total amount of project funding to more than $1.5 million.

The AFRL system and its enhancements will remain housed at the Thermal and Electrochemical Branch-Propulsion Directorate Energy/Power/Thermal Division at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The system will continue to be primarily used to develop deposition processes for SOFCs. Dr. Thomas L. Reitz, Chief of the Thermal and Electrochemical Branch, states, “The Optomec system brings a unique capability to our lab in not only the area of solid oxide fuel cell development, but in thick film material deposition, in general, with a wide range of potential applications.”

Optomec’s systems offer both cost and functional benefits for the production of fuel cells. First of all, the Aerosol Jet process is a “digital” additive manufacturing approach that creates structures and patterns without the cost of screens, masks or other tooling. Plus, the process provides for high material utilization rates, which lowers the consumption of expensive catalysts and other materials. Additionally, the system has the unique capability to dynamically mix multiple materials during deposition, which allows the user to create smooth transitions between the material layers of a fuel cell as opposed to abrupt interfaces. This architecture creates a larger functional zone that results in higher efficiencies and increased power densities. In addition, it produces better mechanical stability at the interface compared with traditional approaches, which can result in delamination due to mismatches in the coefficients of thermal expansion between different materials. Finally, the Aerosol Jet system can also be used for deposition on non-planar supports for producing cylindrical-type SOFCs or ceramic membranes.

Dave Ramahi, Optomec President/CEO, states that “Optomec is proud to be working closely with the AFRL team, a recognized leader in the field of SOFC development. Their guidance has provided a critical understanding of the needs of this industry, and we are confident that the high volume enhancements being developed under this contract will meet with strong demand from the fuel cell and other industries.”

Optomec is the world-leading provider of additive manufacturing systems for high-performance applications in the Photovoltaic, Electronics, Biomedical, and Aerospace & Defense markets. These systems utilize Optomec’s proprietary Aerosol Jet and LENS^® powder-metal fabrication technology. The company has a global customer base of industry-leading manufacturers.

Aerosol Jet and Optomec are registered trademarks of Optomec, Inc.

LENS is a registered trademark of Sandia Corporation.

Overview

Site: Metro Manila

Application: Standby backup power for a mobile base transmission station

Product: ElectraGen™ XTi System

Configuration: 48 Vdc

Fuel: HydroPlus (220 liter tank)

Customer Motivations: Fuel cell solutions are reliable, low maintenance, and environmentallyfriendly.

Background

Smart Communications, Inc. (SMART) is the Philippines’ leading wireless services provider, with 36.9 million subscribers. SMART operates a nationwide cellular network, a fixed wireless broadband service and a satellite phone service. It has the most extensive and modern digital communications GSM network and infrastructure in the country, covering over 99 percent of the population. Making certain that its cell towers operate reliably with no break in service is a critical concern. The company also wants to use alternative power sources like fuel cells, which will allow Smart to conduct its business with minimal impact on the environment.

Challenge

Cellular sites contain critical telecommunication equipment requiring backup power with more than 4 to 6 hours of autonomy. The classic backup power supply consists of a battery bank and a diesel powered generator, both of which are not reliable and are costly to maintain. Smart needed to find a reliable, autonomous, and environmentally friendly solution for its backup power.

Solution

Smart tested the capabilities of the IdaTech ElectraGen™ XTi Fuel Cell System as a source of reliable backup power for its cell site close to Manila. The system was installed in place of a diesel generator outside of the shelter on a concrete pad. Operating on HydroPlus, methanol and water liquid fuel, the ElectraGen™ XTi System generates its own hydrogen onsite and on demand, eliminating the need for delivery and storage of hydrogen bottles.

Results

The ElectraGen™ XTi fuel cell system supported SMART at the cell tower site reliably for over four days. The system ran without interruption for 86 hours, with no faults, and passed the Smartcom Test.

Smartcom will deploy backup power fuel cell technology as part of its “Alternative Power for Cell Sites” program throughout Manila.

By James Jose
New Delhi (IANS)– Britain-based Intelligent Energy, a pioneer in the hydrogen fuel cell technology, is pursuing Indian auto firms to produce vehicles that run on this clean fuel, a senior company official said here Tuesday.

“We are in talks with some car makers and two-wheeler manufacturers here. But the talks are in nascent stages,” Murali Arikara, the company’s executive vice president for emerging markets, told IANS at the ongoing Auto Expo here.

Intelligent Energy is in the advanced stages of developing a hydrogen fuel cell-powered scooter and bike with Suzuki. “This is in the testing phase and the progress has been very satisfactory,” Arikara said.

The bike, the first in the world to be powered by this technology, can attain a top speed of 50 km per hour and has a range of 100 miles on full charge. Refuelling time is short — about three minutes — and there are no emissions.

According to auto experts, the cost of manufacturing is prohibitive with many vehicles still in the testing stage. The cost of making such a car was around $1 million a few years ago, they said.

Nevertheless, they maintained that the cost has been coming down considerably with players like US-based General Motors and Japan’s Toyota planning to sell electric cars powered by hydrogen by 2015.

“What you need is infrastructure. A few years ago, there were no CNG (compressed natural gas) stations in Delhi. Now you have so many vehicles running on it. If you have the infrastructure, costs can come down significantly,” said Arikara.

“So when it eventually happens — which is not very far — the cost will be competitive with conventional vehicles.”

An international student participating in a scholarship program to help promote Canadian values around the world is quickly learning one of the most important of them: staying warm.~

Sathish Thadikamala, a PhD student in pharmaceutical microbiology from the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, brought two winter jackets with him when he travelled here from Hyderabad, India in early November.

“It’s very cold here,” he said. “The coldest temperature I’ve ever experienced is 21 degrees.”

Thadikamala is the only student at UWindsor to have received the Canadian Commonwealth Exchange Scholarship sponsored by the Canadian Bureau of International Education. He is working in civil and environmental engineering associate professor Jerald Lalman’s lab on a project to convert organic agricultural wastes into hydrogen.

“He comes very highly recommended,” said Dr. Lalman. “He’ll be a good resource because of his background in microbiology and in statistical analysis.”

Lalman’s team of researchers is working on generating hydrogen from low-value crops and wastes such as switchgrass, corn stover, wheat stalks and bagasse rather than valuable food sources. They extract sugars from these materials then convert them to hydrogen by breaking them down through bacterial processes.

One problem with the process, however, is the reduced hydrogen yield that results from the production of carbon-based by-products. Thadikamala’s expertise in microbiology and statistics will help to optimize the process by increasing the hydrogen production.

Another of the scholarship program’s goals is for Canada to help meet the human capital needs of developing countries, and while Thadikamala will return to India to defend his Phd after his six-month placement, he hopes to eventually move here with his wife and three-year-old daughter.

“I’m feeling very happy to come here and see different ways of thinking and working,” he said. “I get to work with some very sophisticated instruments here. It’s all very good.”

New Holland’s NH₂ fuel cell tractor will make its first UK appearance at the LAMMA show, Newark, in January.

Based on the shell of a T6000, this is the first solely hydrogen-powered tractor to be shown by a tractor manufacturer, and had its debut at the  SIMA show in February of this year, where it won a Gold medal for innovation.

Hydrogen, stored at 350 bar in a tank under the bonnet, is passed over one electrode, while oxygen (from the air pump) is passed over the other, after which a catalyst extracts electrons from the hydrogen. The electricity produced then passes to a pair of electric motors, one supplying drive, the other providing power for pto and auxiliary services.

Because it runs purely on hydrogen and oxygen, the only by-product is water, a result of the hydrogen recombining with air at the end of the process.

The fuel cell used in the NH₂ generates 106hp but, according to Christophe Lemaitre, product marketing manager for New Holland, there will be no limit in terms of horsepower available, as long as there’s room for additional stacks in the vehicle (in the NH₂, there’ are three).

Fuel cells are prohibitively expensive, admits NH, but technology in this area is developing quickly. “We could see commercially viable cells coming online as soon as 2018,” reckons Mr Lemaitre.

One limiting factor is where would farmers get the hydrogen from. And this is where NH’s Energy-Independent Farm concept comes in – here’s a video explaining it.

The idea is that farms would generate the electicity needed to produce the hydrogen through renewable sources on-farm like wind, solar or via biogas.

And, if fuel prices start escalating again, it won’t be long before paying nothing for your fuel becomes very attractive.

Companies Announce Strategic Development Agreement

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario– Hydrogenics Corporation (Nasdaq:HYGS) (TSX:HYG), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, and Rosetti Marino S.p.A., an established provider of engineering and construction services and technology for the oil and gas industry, today announced an agreement to jointly design, develop and commercialize utility-scale hydrogen power plants for peak shaving and energy management.

The plants will incorporate Hydrogenics’ electrolyzer and fuel cell systems for turnkey applications that produce hydrogen for energy storage and electricity generation. Rosetti Marino will provide expertise in large-scale gas compression, storage, and facility design; the complete systems are planned to provide for renewable energy, peak shaving, grid optimization and ancillary services. Other potential applications include large-scale fueling and hydrogen production for industrial uses.

“We firmly believe that hydrogen can provide energy storage solutions with greater versatility and economic benefit than compressed air storage and pumped hydro systems,” said Daryl Wilson, Hydrogenics President and CEO. “While already focused on the market for hydrogen-based energy coupled with renewable power, Hydrogenics will accelerate its presence in the field by partnering with a large, well-respected company such as Rosetti Marino. Hydrogen remains the key to sustainable energy storage going forward — particularly in regions with grids stressed by unreliable, intermittent power.”

“Rosetti Marino believes that the combination of Hydrogenics’ technology and product platform with our experience in large scale gas plants and storage facilities creates a clear path towards the commercialization of hydrogen energy storage systems in the gigawatt-hour range,” said Gianfranco Magnani, President of Rosetti Marino Group. “These systems will help expand the market for renewable energy and serve to catalyze the transformation and optimization of the next generation of electrical infrastructure.”

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.

ABOUT ROSETTI MARINO

Rosetti Marino (www.rosetti.it) is an Italian company providing solutions and services to the Oil & Gas industry. It has strong engineering and project management capabilities, state-of-the-art fabrication expertise, and is a reliable and cost effective partner supporting customer’s investment in capital assets. In 2008, Rosetti Marino had consolidated annual revenue of EUR 326.8 million.

SINGAPORE–– “A hydrogen station in every home” is a futuristic vision that is about to become reality this week as Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies unveils what could be its biggest breakthrough to date: a small home hydrogen refueling and storage solution that could begin our transition to a hydrogen-based economy.

In addition to making many new fuel cell products possible, the refueling device enables a lower cost, scalable, and consumer-centric hydrogen supply model which eliminates the dependence on large-scale fueling infrastructure investments. Horizon’s game-changer innovation can unlock the age-old dilemma over which comes first: clean cars, or clean fuels.

“We no longer need to rely on nationwide networks of hydrogen fueling stations to enable large-scale fuel cell commercialization,” comments Taras Wankewycz, one of the company’s founders. “Horizon is initiating a transition that places consumers in the driving seat. Thanks to our innovation each household can gradually become a major part of tomorrow’s hydrogen fuel supply infrastructure.”

Named HYDROFILLTM, the world’s first personal hydrogen station designed by Horizon will be unveiled at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The small desktop device simply plugs into the AC, a solar panel or a small wind turbine, automatically extracts hydrogen from its water tank and stores it in a solid form in small refillable cartridges.

Horizon believes this new development is the first step towards private refueling of new generations of fuel cell electric vehicles. Fuel cell technology can greatly improve the features and usability of many battery or engine-powered devices, and create the possibility for lower cost electric cars that drive longer distances and recharge instantly.

Toshiba Corp. has been a constant front runner in the competition to develop fuel cells for mobile equipment. While the firm has exhibited a host of prototypes at various shows, it has never brought any to market … until now. Construction puts safety first, making extensive use of metal parts such as stainless steel and aluminum alloy. We took one apart to see how it works, in cooperation with development engineers involved in fuel cells, mobile equipment, and other items.

“I’m impressed simply by the fact they actually went commercial,” says one engineer in the mobile gear field.

At the end of October 2009, Toshiba released a limited 3000 units of the “Dynario” fuel cell for mobile equipment. That act—releasing a fuel cell to the market in spite of the current depression—earned praise and astonishment from engineers in mobile equipment, fuel cells, and other fields.

Many of the other companies engaged in fuel cell development immediately bought sample units to verify operation. A variety of opinions have already been released, such as, “It’s a pretty mature design, with air inlet humidity stabilized and no smell of the methanol fuel left” and, “It feels hot to the touch, although only as hot as bathwater.”

We picked up a sample ourselves to analyze its operating characteristics, and asked Toshiba to help us take a closer look at its components.

Actual Cost 30,000 Yen or More?

The Dynario (Fig. 1) is a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) with a USB connector that allows it to charge mobile equipment. The maximum output, together with the internal Li-ion rechargeable battery, is 2 W (5 V, 400 mA). It is charged with 14 mL of methanol, which, according to Toshiba, “is enough to charge a piece of mobile equipment about two times.” We used an LED lamp with a power consumption of 1 W to verify that it generated enough output for about 11 (11 Wh).

The Dynario is priced at 29,800 yen, which is pretty expensive for an external charger. Toshiba explained “There are a number of custom components that just pushed the price up.” In fact, when we took it apart we were surprised at how many parts were inside (Fig. 2). In addition to the actual fuel cell, there were ultra-miniature pumps and valves, as well as microcontrollers, control ICs, control boards, and other circuit components. The case was so sturdy it almost seemed like overkill, with a metal exterior and reinforcing members. Most of the people who looked inside, including mobile equipment and fuel cell engineers, agreed that it was almost certainly impossible to sell it for only 30,000 yen, considering components, manufacturing and other costs.

Signs of Struggle in the Fuel Valve

The Dynario has the all-important generating units mounted in the center of the case, one on the front and other on the back. The center of the case also holds a cylindrical Li-ion rechargeable battery manufactured by Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., and two control boards mounting the power switch and input/output (I/O) pins, among other things.

The fuel tank is located on one side of the case. The case itself has aluminum alloy front and back, with plastic on top and bottom. An engineer in the fuel cell industry commented Toshiba seems to have used a lot of metal parts to maximize durability, strength and other characteristics, given that this is the first volume-production model.

The generating unit positions the generating cell between a stainless steel lattice and a plastic holder that acts as the fuel supply plate. The two are riveted together, making it impossible to remove the generating cell without destroying them.

The stainless steel lattice is the air inlet for the generating cell, while the generating cell control board, fuel pump, fuel valve, and a few other components are mounted on the fuel supply plate side (Fig. 3). The control board holds the ICs controlling the fuel pump, fuel valve, an 8-bit microcontroller, and more.

It is interesting to note that fuel valve and fuel pump are mounted on the generating unit (Fig. 4). Both components are mechanically driven, so key design goals would have been minimizing power consumption and ensuring durability. In addition, application in mobile equipment imposes strong demand for small size, thinness, etc, leading one fuel cell engineer to suggest this is where manufacturers have the toughest problems.

It appears that Toshiba had a tough time designing the fuel valve, as it protrudes 6 mm beyond the other components. While the fuel pump and control board have all been thinned down, only the fuel pump appears to have had insufficient development time. For this reason, it has been positioned off-center and the two generating units adjusted to make room for it, keeping case thickness to a minimum.

The fuel pump itself was manufactured by Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. It uses a piezoelectric device, and is quite thin (24 mm × 33 mm × 1.325 mm). The pump discharge rate is probably 0.001 mL/s, with a pressure of 35 kPa.

When methanol fuel is supplied to the generating cell, it first passes through the fuel valve, then through the fuel supply plate inlet. The fuel pump then distributes it throughout the cell from the two holes in the center of the plate.

The generating cell consists of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) measuring 81 mm × 52 mm, and a collector. The MEA uses four single cells, each measuring 81 mm × 9 mm (Fig. 5). As each cell probably has an electromotive force of about 0.3 V, that means the generating unit would generate a bit over 1 V. The step-up circuit on the generating unit control board probably boosts this to about 5 V.

Cell output density can be calculated as about 25 mW/cm², leading a fuel cell engineer to theorize it was deliberately kept low because of heating issues. Toshiba has said that it developed fluorine- and hydrocarbon-based solid polymer films, but it is unclear which was used in this product. Several fuel cell experts, however, commented that it is most likely the fluorine-based design.

Test Board Used As-Is.

The power switch and I/O pins are both mounted on the control boards. The Dynario is equipped with a Li-ion rechargeable battery, which supplies electricity to the load until output from the generating unit stabilizes at start-up, as well as powering the generating unit control circuit and other components.

The Li-ion rechargeable battery and generating unit both seem to be controlled by the 8-bit microcontroller (with internal flash memory) on the control board that also holds the power switch. Judging from the fact that the microcontroller is a rewritable chip, the number of test lands left on the board and other points, one fuel cell engineer pointed out that they seem to have used the test board design in this product.

The board with the power switch also has a 2 Mbit flash memory, probably used to log an operating history, including charge times and temperature change. The Li-ion rechargeable battery is connected to the board with the I/O pins, supplying power to drive the generating unit circuit through it.

Given that this is the first volume-production fuel cell for mobile gear, Toshiba gave top priority to assuring safety. For example, an auto-stop function has been added to halt operation when it becomes too hot. A temperature sensor at the generating unit air inlet ensures that surface temperature does not exceed a preset maximum. Our tests showed that the auto-stop function triggers when the surface temperature reaches about 45°C.

The fuel cell is said to incorporate other functions as well, such as disabling operation at temperatures of 100°C or higher, and breaking high input currents through the I/O pins.