FuelCellsWorks

DANBURY, Conn. — FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL), a leading manufacturer of high efficiency ultra-clean power plants using renewable and other fuels for commercial, industrial, government and utility customers, today urged support for a proposal by U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd that would encourage federal agencies and private business to increase their use of fuel cells as a source of electricity.

At FuelCell Energy’s manufacturing plant in Torrington, Conn., on Friday, Sen. Dodd (D.-Conn.) publicly announced a program to foster an immediate demand for fuel cell power plants. Building on aspirations set forth in the 2005 Energy Policy Act, the proposal seeks to expand the number of U.S. government facilities powered by this form of clean energy.

The program also seeks to broaden fuel cells’ use in the private sector by boosting the investment tax credit (ITC). Currently, when a business purchases a fuel cell for a highly efficient Combined Heat and Power (CHP) application — where heat naturally generated by the power plant is used in a related, energy-saving operation — it is eligible for an ITC of up to 30 percent of the plant’s cost (up to $3,000 per kilowatt). The new plan increases the ITC to up to 40 percent of cost (up to $3,500 per kilowatt) for CHP applications.

Many federal facilities are well-suited to the compact, quiet profile that on-site fuel cell power plants represent. Under the Dodd proposal, government agencies would be required to identify qualified locations. FuelCell Energy power plants provide increased power reliability, improved energy security by distributing smaller power plants, and energy independence by utilizing domestic fuel sources. The resulting demand for fuel cell power plants would be expected to drive U.S. manufacturing and create new jobs.

“The U.S. government is far and away the No. 1 user of energy in the world; no one else even comes close,” said R. Daniel Brdar, Chairman and CEO of FuelCell Energy. “A program like this is a chance for the government to lead by example, and put these home-grown technologies to use for creating jobs, building a market for clean-tech products and sustaining American manufacturing. The positive effects would ripple through our economy for years to come.”

About FuelCell Energy

FuelCell Energy is the world leader in the development and production of stationary fuel cells for commercial, industrial, municipal and utility customers. FuelCell Energy’s ultra-clean and high efficiency DFC® fuel cells are generating power at over 50 locations worldwide. The company’s power plants have generated approximately 450 million kWh of power using a variety of fuels including renewable wastewater gas, biogas from beer and food processing, as well as natural gas and other hydrocarbon fuels. FuelCell Energy has partnerships with major power plant developers and power companies around the world. The company also receives funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and other government agencies for the development of leading edge technologies such as fuel cells. For more information please visit our website at www.fuelcellenergy.com.

TOKYO–Sumitomo Corp. (TSE:8053) will help the British start-up ACAL Energy Ltd. license its technology for platinum-free cathodes for proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuels cells in Japan.

PEM fuels cells are now relatively costly because platinum is required as a catalyst at both the anode and the cathode.

ACAL Energy’s technology replaces the platinum at the cathode with a liquid compound catalyst which circulates through the fuel cell stack. The anode still requires a platinum catalyst, but the overall need for platinum in the PEM fuel cell can be reduced by as much as 90 per cent.

ACAL Energy is still at the prototype stage with the technology. Sumitomo will seek out battery makers, automakers and other companies in Japan that can help develop practical versions, with the goal of having commercial products ready within two years.

The trading company will also act as an intermediary for the outsourcing of production. The plan is to manufacture a broad range of PEM fuel cells with power outputs of 1-100kw for applications ranging from homes to cars.

Sumitomo has invested in other foreign ventures with fuel cell technologies, but none of these promise to bring a product to market as quickly as ACAL Energy.

(Nikkei)

Berlin-based supplier of energy storage solutions to supply an autonomous energy supply solution to a training centre in Kuwait

Berlin — Heliocentris Fuel Cells AG, a leading specialist in clean energy storage solutions, is pleased to report a further order for the supply of an autonomous power supply solution for the laboratory area. The client is PAEET (Public Authority for Applied Education and Training), a recognised training centre in Kuwait.

“This order from Kuwait is a further project for us in the Middle East, following the order we just recently received from an oil company in Bahrain”, Dr. András Gosztonyi, CFO of Heliocentris, is happy to report. “We have been working intensively in the region for more than three years now, and already have other projects in the pipeline. Heliocentris is well positioned to accompany the Gulf into the renewable future”, he adds.

Heliocentris will supply PAEET with a fully-integrated energy solution consisting of PV modules, a wind generator, an electrolyser and a fuel cell system as well as the associated energy storage management solution. This will make the storage of renewable energies and the use of such energies in an integrated energy supply concept a reality. In this way, PAEET is making a fully-integrated renewable energy system available to its students – and is introducing them today to the energy supply of tomorrow.

In December, Heliocentris received an order from Bapco (Bahrain Petroleum Company) to supply a complete system, including a PV module and a wind power plant, for a building.

Global Hydrogen Leader Unveils Complete Product Line Featuring On-Site Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and Zero Air Equipment

Wallingford, CT — Global hydrogen leader Proton Energy Systems announced today the launch of a complete line of advanced equipment for the LCMS and GC lab market.

The state-of-the-art equipment offers the analytical laboratory market a highly reliable, safe and high performance solution for onsite hydrogen, nitrogen and zero air generators. Proton is now showcasing this advanced portfolio at Pittcon – the world’s annual, premier conference on laboratory science. Proton is located in booth #2627.

“Proton Energy is thrilled to announce the launch of our new analytical laboratory product line,” said John Speranza, Proton Energy’s Vice President of Hydrogen Product Sales. “We believe our ability to offer affordable, dependable, high-purity equipment, along with first class service, provides a new, innovative and exciting solution for our laboratory partners worldwide.”

Proton Energy’s new product line highlights the company’s growing presence and expansion in the national and international laboratory market. The LCMS and GC lab equipment offers all the needed components for analytical laboratory energy generation. Products such as the AirComp, AirGen, NiGen, and HyGen operate as both independent units and as a completely compatible and stackable system. The equipment, which has a variety of capabilities and an easy-to-use, low-maintenance capacity, enables more uses for any laboratory.

The arrival of Proton Energy’s analytical lab line on the market follows the recent announcement of a partnership between Proton Energy and 30-year-old Italian gas generator manufacturer Claind. The partnership was designed to capitalize on Claind’s many years of experience and world leading position in the generation of hydrogen, nitrogen and zero-air products with Proton Energy’s expertise in the development and manufacturing of on-site hydrogen generation systems that utilize PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) technology.

Proton’s PEM electrolysis systems, which are deployed world-wide, on every continent, are utilized across a variety of markets – including the electric utility, heat treating, semiconductor, laboratory, military and aerospace industries. Proton Energy is also actively involved in hydrogen fueling stations for next generation vehicles and other cutting edge research and development work targeted at renewable energy markets and opportunities.

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