From left, Jeffrey Long, Christopher Chang and Hemamala Karunadasa have discovered an inexpensive metal that can generate hydrogen from neutral water, even if it is dirty, and can operate in sea water. Credit: Photo by Roy Kaltschmidt, Berkeley Lab Public Affairs

Hydrogen would command a key role in future renewable energy technologies, experts agree, if a relatively cheap, efficient and carbon-neutral means of producing it can be developed. An important step towards this elusive goal has been taken by a team of researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and the University of California, Berkeley. The team has discovered an inexpensive metal catalyst that can effectively generate hydrogen gas from water.

“Our new proton reduction catalyst is based on a molybdenum-oxo metal complex that is about 70 times cheaper than platinum, today’s most widely used metal catalyst for splitting the water molecule,” said Hemamala Karunadasa, one of the co-discoverers of this complex. “In addition, our catalyst does not require organic additives, and can operate in neutral water, even if it is dirty, and can operate in sea water, the most abundant source of hydrogen on earth and a natural electrolyte. These qualities make our catalyst ideal for renewable energy and sustainable chemistry.”

Karunadasa holds joint appointments with Berkeley Lab’s Chemical Sciences Division and UC Berkeley’s Chemistry Department. She is the lead author of a paper describing this work that appears in the April 29, 2010 issue of the journal Nature, titled “A molecular molybdenum-oxo catalyst for generating hydrogen from water.” Co-authors of this paper were Christopher Chang and Jeffrey Long, who also hold joint appointments with Berkeley Lab and UC Berkeley. Chang, in addition, is also an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI).

Hydrogen gas, whether combusted or used in fuel cells to generate electricity, emits only water vapor as an exhaust product, which is why this nation would already be rolling towards a hydrogen economy if only there were hydrogen wells to tap. However, hydrogen gas does not occur naturally and has to be produced. Most of the hydrogen gas in the United States today comes from natural gas, a fossil fuel. While inexpensive, this technique adds huge volumes of carbon emissions to the atmosphere. Hydrogen can also be produced through the electrolysis of water – using electricity to split molecules of water into molecules of hydrogen and oxygen. This is an environmentally clean and sustainable method of production – especially if the electricity is generated via a renewable technology such as solar or wind – but requires a water-splitting catalyst.

Nature has developed extremely efficient water-splitting enzymes – called hydrogenases – for use by plants during photosynthesis, however, these enzymes are highly unstable and easily deactivated when removed from their native environment. Human activities demand a stable metal catalyst that can operate under non-biological settings.

Metal catalysts are commercially available, but they are low valence precious metals whose high costs make their widespread use prohibitive. For example, platinum, the best of them, costs some $2,000 an ounce.

“The basic scientific challenge has been to create earth-abundant molecular systems that produce hydrogen from water with high catalytic activity and stability,” Chang says. “We believe our discovery of a molecular molybdenum-oxo catalyst for generating hydrogen from water without the use of additional acids or organic co-solvents establishes a new chemical paradigm for creating reduction catalysts that are highly active and robust in aqueous media.”

The molybdenum-oxo complex that Karunadasa, Chang and Long discovered is a high valence metal with the chemical name of (PY5Me2)Mo-oxo. In their studies, the research team found that this complex catalyzes the generation of hydrogen from neutral buffered water or even sea water with a turnover frequency of 2.4 moles of hydrogen per mole of catalyst per second.

Long says, “This metal-oxo complex represents a distinct molecular motif for reduction catalysis that has high activity and stability in water. We are now focused on modifying the PY5Me ligand portion of the complex and investigating other metal complexes based on similar ligand platforms to further facilitate electrical charge-driven as well as light-driven catalytic processes. Our particular emphasis is on chemistry relevant to sustainable energy cycles.”

This research was supported in part by the DOE Office of Science through Berkeley Lab’s Helios Solar Energy Research Center, and in part by a grant from the National science Foundation.

Berkeley Lab is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory located in Berkeley, California. It conducts unclassified scientific research and is managed by the University of California. Visit our website at http://www.lbl.gov.

Additional Information

For more about the research of Christopher Chang, visit the Website at http://www.cchem.berkeley.edu/cjcgrp/

For more about the research of Jeffrey Long, visit the Website at http://alchemy.cchem.berkeley.edu/

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (AIM/ASX: CFU) – a leading developer of high efficiency and low emission electricity generation units for homes and other buildings – has received a conditional order for 30 BlueGen gas-to-electricity generators from the Victorian Government’s Office of Housing.

The Office of Housing will install the units in public housing properties in metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. The project will demonstrate the operation of the units and the benefits to tenants, via the generation of low emission power and hot water for the home.

The Victorian Government announced the $1.35 million project on Friday 30 April as part of its Jobs for the Future Economy: Green Jobs Action Plan. The funding for the Green Jobs package, including the purchase of the BlueGen units, is conditional on the Victorian Parliament approving changes to the landfill levies proposed by the Government. The project is also conditional on the Office of Housing and Ceramic Fuel Cells jointly agreeing a model for the delivery of future BlueGen maintenance services. Provided these conditions are met, the 30 BlueGen units would be installed from late 2010 to early 2011, for an initial two-year project period.

BlueGen units generate electricity in the home at almost three times the efficiency of current Victorian coal-fired electricity generators, cutting energy bills and reducing carbon emissions by up to two-thirds.

About the size of a dishwasher, BlueGen uses fuel cell technology to convert natural gas into electricity. Over a year, each BlueGen can produce twice the electricity needed to power an average Victorian home – the excess power can be exported to the power grid. BlueGen also produces enough heat to meet the average home’s daily needs for hot water.

“We are delighted with the Victorian Government’s significant order for our BlueGen units and we look forward to deploying the units across the state,” said Ceramic Fuel Cells managing director Brendan Dow. “We are confident the Victorian Government will become an important strategic customer of Ceramic Fuel Cells, and that their involvement will assist with building momentum for the take-up of our units, both in Australia and overseas.

“The Federal Government recently suggested that Australia will need to invest at least $100 billion in electricity infrastructure during the next decade in order to meet growing demand for electricity and replace ageing infrastructure. Under the current system of centralised electricity production and distribution, the primary reason for increases in electricity prices is the cost of power production and distribution infrastructure.

“A smarter alternative, one that is gaining traction particularly in Europe, is distributed generation – the creation of power close to where it is used. A network of highly efficient gas-powered electricity generators installed in homes, offices, buildings and factories is significantly less expensive because it dramatically reduces reliance on large capital cost infrastructure.”

Announcing the project, Victorian Housing Minister Richard Wynne said “The truly exciting thing about BlueGen is that it is highly energy efficient and produces very low levels of greenhouse gases. That’s not only a win for the environment, but also a win for public housing tenants through lower gas and electricity bills.”

Ceramic Fuel Cells has achieved electrical efficiency of 60 percent, far higher than any other technology in the rapidly expanding global market for small scale power and heating generators. When heat is recovered from the electricity production process, total efficiency is up to 85 percent – more than twice as efficient as the average among current Australian power stations.

Ceramic Fuel Cells is continuing to build its order book for BlueGen units from major utilities and other foundation customers in Europe, Japan and Australia. Ceramic Fuel Cells is also installing BlueGen units with VicUrban in Melbourne and Energy Australia in Sydney.

Using the same fuel cell technology, Ceramic Fuel Cells is also developing fully integrated power and heating products with leading energy companies E.ON UK in the United Kingdom, GdF Suez in France and EWE in Germany.

Fuel Cell Today, the leading market intelligence provider for the fuel cell industry, has published its latest Legislation Review. The new report is the first of Fuel Cell Today’s half-yearly reviews, covering legislative and policy developments worldwide.

The latest review focuses on the outcome of COP15; the UK’s adoption of a feed-in tariff; the prospects for the US Department of Energy’s hydrogen programme and for climate change legislation in the US. It also contains a detailed review of recent funding and policy announcements in Japan, including developments in the large-scale residential fuel cell demonstration programme (EneFarm) and prospects for similar future activities in the area of SOFC. It also reviews recent policy developments in Korea including those on Korean fuel cell job creation.

Future editions of the half-yearly Legislation Review will continue to focus on the main markets for fuel cells including the North American, Japanese, and European super-regions, analysing developments by national governments, local and US State governments, and groupings of nation-states (such as the European Union).

To access the new report, see http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/online/survey?survey=2010-04/2010-April-Legislation-Review

• First a fuel cell, now combined heat and power modules and diesel engines for emergency standby gensets
• For the first time all three MTU Onsite Energy technologies integrated on a single site
• Clean, high-efficiency heat and power from fuel cell and CHP modules

Friedrichshafen– The specialist for propulsion and power solutions Tognum has recently won an order to supply three combined heat and power (CHP) modules and two standby diesel genset engines to the “Energiezentrale Gießen GmbH” company. The company, which was founded jointly by Rhön-Klinikum AG and the Stadtwerke Gießen (municipal utility company of the city of Giessen) is to supply the Giessen location of the University Clinic of Giessen and Marburg with power. The clinic had already purchased a fuel cell last year. The MTU Onsite Energy brand CHP modules will follow in mid-April and are scheduled to go into service in fall 2010. In addition to the CHP modules themselves, the scope of supply also covers machine and process control systems and acoustic enclosures.

At the University Clinic of Giessen and Marburg all three MTU Onsite Energy technologies for continuous, peak and emergency standby power generation will be going into operation for the first time at the same site. The natural-gas-powered Type GR 385 N5 CHP modules and the HotModule HM346 fuel cell will be combined to generate power, heat and cooling for the clinic with the fuel cell covering the base load and the CHP modules being automatically switched in or off as required. The electrical power will be fed into the grid whilst the thermal energy will be used to provide hot water, heating and air-conditioning (via absorption chillers). The overall level of efficiency achieved will be around 90%.

The emergency standby gensets powered by MTU 12V and 20V 4000 G23 diesel engines with an output of 1.42 and 2.2 MW will take over power generation for parts of the clinic if the public supply fails.

The University Clinic Gießen and Marburg GmbH is one of more than 50 hospitals run by Rhön-Klinikum AG, a group of companies which has already purchased three fuel cells and more than ten MTU Onsite Energy brand CHP modules.

A new catalyst that generates hydrogen from sea water has been developed by scientists in the US. This new metal-oxo complex displays high catalytic activity and stability, whilst being low cost, the researchers say.

Hydrogen is very attractive as a clean source of power. Currently, it is produced by natural gas reforming – where steam is reacted with methane in the presence of a nickel catalyst to form hydrogen – but this method produces the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.

Jeffrey Long and colleagues from the University of California, Berkeley, prepared a simple molybdenum-oxo complex that can serve as an electrocatalyst, reducing the energy required to generate hydrogen from water on a mercury electrode. As an abundant metal, molybdenum is much cheaper than precious metal catalysts where the costs associated with large scale hydrogen production would be high.

Long explains that the stability of the catalyst is due to a ligand that bonds to the molybdenum in five places (pentadentate) making it a very strong complex. ‘The molecule is very robust and is stable in aqueous conditions for long periods of time so we don’t see degradation of the catalytic activity over three days of running the reaction,’ he says.

Significantly, Long’s catalyst is also stable in the presence of impurities that can be found in the ocean, meaning that sea water can be used without pre-treatment. The team used a sample of California sea water in the system and found the results to be similar to the results obtained for water at neutral pH. In addition, no other electrolyte is necessary when using sea water, which helps reduce costs and removes any need for organic acids or solvents that could degrade the catalyst.

‘The work clearly demonstrates that the molybdenum-oxo complex explored shows good catalytic activity, with at least an order of magnitude higher turnover frequency [the speed at which a catalytic cycle is completed] than alternative catalysts quoted,’ says Bruce Ewan, an expert in hydrogen production and renewable energy at the University of Sheffield, UK.   ‘This new catalyst also opens up new possibilities as a catalytic agent in other proton reducing scenarios,’ he adds.

Long and his team hope to develop this system so that ‘in the future a catalyst like this could be used in conjunction with a solar cell to produce hydrogen,’ he explains. The team is now working on modifying the catalyst to reduce the potential at which the electrochemical reaction proceeds and make the system more efficient.

Mike Brown

By Christopher Cadelago

Burbank officials on Wednesday unveiled the first plug-in hybrid fuel cell bus in Southern California. The 35-foot-long bus, which emits water as exhaust and uses a hydrogen fuel cell instead of a gas or diesel engine, will be put into service on city routes beginning next week and can travel 250 miles before recharging, tripling the fuel economy of a diesel, officials said. The California Air Resources Board and state Energy Commission awarded the city $1.37 million to fund the roughly $1.7-million program. Burbank operates a hydrogen station and a stable of converted gas-to hydrogen Toyota Prius models, City Manager Mike Flad said. “Growing up in Burbank I can remember more days than not Stage 2 and Stage 3 smog alerts during the summers, and you would swim or play basketball and your lungs would burn and your eyes would burn,” Flad said. “It is such a great day when we are tackling not only air quality, but tackling traffic and then forging ahead with new innovation in the investment in hydrogen.” Sustainability, a repeated goal for the council, has manifested itself in the city’s range of public transit options, with every resident living within a 1 1/2 -mile radius of a public park or recreational open space. BurbankBus operates in and around the city on four fixed routes during morning and evening rush-hour periods. The system connects commuters at two area Metrolink stations and Metro’s North Hollywood Station to the Media District, downtown and Golden State areas of Burbank, a national test site for zero-emission public transportation.. The fleet is made up of 17 compressed natural gas busses running on CNG. The fuel cell bus, designed and manufactured by Colorado-based Proterra, can carry up to 67 passengers and recharge in as few as 30 minutes, Mayor Gary Bric said. While the typical commercial bus averages between three and four miles per gallon, the fuel cell vehicle gets abouit 10 miles per gallon, Bric said.

State of the Art Fuel Cell Development Center Already Meets Specifications for New Navy Technology

The Navy Is Actively Searching for Locations for Fuel Cell Production

MURRAY HILL, N.J. & NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J.–Linde North America will showcase its next-generation hydrogen fueling technologies at the National Hydrogen Association (NHA) 21st annual conference, which will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center, Long Beach California, from May 3 to 5, 2010.

Linde North America, a member of The Linde Group, a world-leading gases and engineering company, will feature its ground-breaking technologies that provide safe, fast and efficient ways to fuel hydrogen vehicles. NHA, the world’s largest hydrogen technology trade association, was established in 1989 to foster the development of hydrogen technologies and their utilization in industrial, commercial, and consumer applications and promote the role of hydrogen in the energy field.

Visit Linde at booth # 109 to discuss the latest developments for supplying and fueling hydrogen-powered vehicles, including forklifts, buses and automobiles. Linde’s newly formed alternative energy team, created to focus the company’s North American efforts on its world-class technology capabilities in hydrogen and other fueling solutions, will be available to discuss all aspects of Linde’s existing systems along with those being commercially introduced this year, such as the Linde Ionic Compressor system.

This system has been used extensively in Europe for cars and buses and now is being introduced to North America for hydrogen powered buses and fork lift trucks. Unlike conventional mechanical systems which use a piston in the pressurizing process, the Ionic Compressor uses an ionic liquid in direct contact with hydrogen.

“The Ionic Compressor is a step-change in the area of hydrogen fueling,” said Mike Beckman, head of the Linde North America’s alternate energy team. “It is a high-efficiency, high-throughput, low-maintenance and low-noise compression solution to allow fast and safe filling of vehicles,” he said.

Coupled with Linde’s proprietary fueling protocol and advanced station design, the Ionic Compressor is part of a complete and compact indoor or outdoor compression, storage and dispensing solution for the hydrogen fuel cell bus and fork lift truck markets.

Linde will also introduce another high-performance hydrogen fuel system to the North American market — the MF-90 hydrogen fueling station. This containerized system, first developed and commercialized in Europe, is easy to deploy and can efficiently supply both 350 bar and 700 bar hydrogen to automobiles.

“We’re well beyond hydrogen-powered vehicles being a scientific curiosity. The technologies Linde has developed demonstrate that fueling these vehicles is a commercial reality. And, with increased emphasis on alternative fuels in Washington D.C. and an increasing number of state houses, I think we’ll see commercialization grow at a much faster pace over the next few years,” Beckman said.

Mike McGowan, head of strategic alliances for Linde’s alternative energy team, and who also serves as NHA chairman, said, “Linde is focused on finding ways to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and cut our greenhouse gas emissions. Expanding our North American vehicle fueling capabilities gives customers greater access to our strong hydrogen network and world-class engineering.”

Linde, one of the earliest entrants into the hydrogen energy arena, is a leader in the safe production, storage and distribution of hydrogen. Linde is the world’s only company with in-house technology to fuel gaseous or liquid hydrogen regardless of the mode of on-board storage.

Linde has equipped over 70 hydrogen fueling stations in 15 countries, supplying hydrogen for projects large and small. Amounts supplied range from a few hundred cubic feet of compressed hydrogen in cylinders to thousands of tons of liquid and gaseous hydrogen delivered by tank truck or pipeline.

In the U.S., Linde has supplied hydrogen fueling stations for fork lift trucks at distribution centers owned and operated by large retail and food service companies, and recently agreed to provide systems for automotive, food and soft drink companies. Linde also will supply a hydrogen vehicle fueling station for the San Francisco Airport.

The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with 48,000 employees working in more than 100 countries worldwide. In the 2009 financial year it achieved sales of EUR 11.2 billion (USD 15.3 billion). The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services.

Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment – in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development.

For more information, visit Linde North America online at http://www.lindeus.com

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. — Air Products (NYSE: APD) today announced that its hydrogen fueling technology for the material handling market is being installed at the Sarasota, Florida distribution center of United Natural Foods, Inc. ( UNFI).  Air Products’ technology will fuel 65 fuel cell powered lift trucks that will be mobilized at the distribution facility moving consumer goods on a daily basis.  The equipment for the 352,000 square-foot Sarasota facility, which serves as a regional distribution hub for customers in Southeastern United States, is targeted to be operational by the end of June 2010.

“It is exciting and understandable that UNFI has made this conversion decision to hydrogen powered material handling equipment.  Air Products’ portfolio in this market includes multiple installations around the United States fueling over 300 material handling units.  We have heard a lot of positive comments from our customers, the users of this new technology who are realizing the benefits of the hydrogen economy in this application,” said Mike Doud, business development manager for Hydrogen Energy Systems at Air Products.

Air Products will supply the hydrogen as well as its compression, storage and two indoor hydrogen dispensing units.  UNFI will add 29 new hydrogen fuel cell-powered lift trucks to its fleet and 36 existing lift trucks will be retrofitted to hydrogen fuel cell technology.  Details on Air Products’ hydrogen fueling station technologies are provided at www.airproducts.com/h2energy.

UNFI looked to this initiative to replace lead acid batteries and their associated charging equipment with hydrogen fuel cells as part of its culture of social responsibility and its commitment to using clean energy, as well as to improve efficiency, productivity and reliability.  ”We consider environmental stewardship an essential component in every facet of our business.  This hydrogen fuel cell project extends our commitment as an environmentally-conscious organization,” commented Steven Spinner, UNFI’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

As background, a hydrogen fuel cell produces energy by combining hydrogen and oxygen in an electrochemical reaction that yields electricity, heat and water.  Hydrogen is non-toxic, non-poisonous, the lightest of all gases, and the most abundant element in the universe.  By converting UNFI’s Sarasota lift truck fleet to hydrogen fuel cells, the company expects carbon emissions will be reduced by approximately 132 metric tons annually, an amount equivalent to the annual emissions of 35 automobiles.

Tom Dziki, UNFI’s senior vice president of Sustainable Development, commented, “Hydrogen fuel cells not only provide greater productivity and lower operating costs, but will be an important component of a clean energy future.  Once implemented, this fuel cell project is expected to create annual energy savings of approximately 640,000 kilowatt hours.”

There are many advantages to using hydrogen powered forklifts and other material handling equipment.  Hydrogen fuel cell-powered equipment needs refueling once or twice daily, depending on use.  In contrast, traditional battery-powered equipment must be placed temporarily out of operation for battery replacement and required battery recharging approximately every four to six hours.  Hydrogen fuel cell-powered equipment provides consistent power strength during use and does not experience decreased performance or wear down as traditional lead-acid battery units do as they near a required battery change out or recharge time.  Additionally, hydrogen fuel cell forklifts are not adversely impacted by temperature or by operating in coolers and freezers, in comparison to traditional battery performance.  Further, hydrogen-powered fuel cell equipment is more environmentally friendly because it does not involve lead-acid battery storage and disposal issues.

Air Products’ hydrogen fueling technology is currently being used to fuel over 300 material handling vehicles including: fuel cell powered pallet trucks at Wegmans Retail Service Center in Pottsville, Pa.; fuel cell powered lift trucks at Central Grocers’ new distribution center in Joliet, Ill.; hydrogen fuel cell powered forklifts at Nestle Waters North America in Dallas, Tex.; hydrogen fuel cell powered forklifts at the Defense Distribution Depot Susquehanna Pennsylvania in New Cumberland, Pa.; as well as hydrogen fuel cell powered forklifts at several other customers in the United States.  In addition, mobile fueling equipment unique and patented by Air Products has been and continues to be deployed to a variety of customers for the purpose of demonstrating the technology in real world conditions.

Air Products, the leading hydrogen supplier to refineries to assist in making cleaner burning transportation fuels, has unique experience in the hydrogen fueling industry. In fact, in certain market applications, fueling rates of over 10,000 refills per year are occurring. These applications provide an opportunity to assess consumer experiences, evaluate product performance and to advance product improvements.  The company has placed over 110 hydrogen fueling stations in the United States and 18 countries worldwide.  Cars, trucks, vans, buses, scooters, forklifts, locomotives, planes, other material handling equipment, and even submarines have been fueled with this trend-setting technology that involves Air Products’ know-how, equipment, and hydrogen. Use of the company’s technology is increasing and is currently at 175,000 hydrogen fills per year.

Air Products has more than 50 years of hydrogen experience and is on the forefront of hydrogen energy technology development. Air Products has an extensive patent portfolio with over 50 patents in hydrogen dispensing technology.  Air Products provides liquid and gaseous hydrogen, and HCNG (hydrogen/compressed natural gas) fueling, and has developed a variety of enabling devices and protocols for fuel dispensing at varied pressures.  Hydrogen for these stations is delivered to a site via truck, produced by natural gas reformation, biomass conversion, or by electrolysis, including electrolysis that is solar and wind driven.

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE: APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services. Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives. The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment. In fiscal 2009, Air Products had revenues of $8.3 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 18,900 employees around the globe. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

About UNFI

United Natural Foods, Inc. (http://www.unfi.com/) carries and distributes more than 60,000 products to more than 17,000 customer locations nationwide. The Company serves a wide variety of retail formats including conventional supermarket chains, natural product superstores, independent retail operators and the food service channel. United Natural Foods, Inc. was ranked by Forbes in 2005 as one of the “Best Managed Companies in America,” ranked by Fortune in 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010 as one of its “Most Admired Companies,” winner of the Supermarket News 2008 Sustainability Excellence Award, and recognized by the Nutrition Business Journal for its 2009 Environment and Sustainability Award.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario– Hydrogenics Corporation (Nasdaq:HYGS) (TSX:HYG) (”Hydrogenics”), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, today announced that the Company has reached a settlement with American Power Conversion Corporation (”APC”) regarding the litigation previously announced in a press release dated November 17, 2009. Under terms of the settlement, APC has paid Hydrogenics US$1,200,000.00, and both parties have terminated all pending claims with regard to this matter.

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.

Fuel Processing Center of Excellence Established With University of Maryland and Army Research Laboratory

    -   FuelWorks(TM) is a new center of excellence for development of fuel
        processing technology, to enable operation of fuel cell products with
        non-hydrogen fuels
    -   This initiative leverages the ongoing efforts of Ballard, the
        University of Maryland and U.S. Department of Defense

COLLEGE PARK, MD and VANCOUVER– Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD; NASDAQ: BLDP) today announced the launch of a new center of excellence for the advancement of fuel processing technology, with founding partners University of Maryland (UMD) and U.S. Department of Defense Army Research Laboratory (ARL). The new center – named FuelWorks(TM) – will be located at the University of Maryland in College Park.

FuelWorks(TM) has a mandate to develop technologies enabling fuel cells to operate with fuels such as JP-8, diesel, natural gas as well as LPG. It will be open to industry, academia and government agencies, providing a forum for collaboration to advance fuel-reforming technology for military and commercial applications. The center of excellence will leverage the on-going collaboration among highly skilled scientific and technical staff from UMD, Ballard and Army Research Laboratory.

“Ballard is committed to accelerating the implementation of flexible fueling approaches for fuel cell generators,” said Michael Goldstein, Ballard’s Chief Commercial Officer. “This capability is especially important for developing countries that can benefit from clean fuel cell power.”

At FuelWorks(TM), collaboration will advance the operation of fuel cells using hydrogen extracted from military logistics fuels, specifically JP-8/DF-2 fuels. Success will ensure low-noise and low-heat signatures, together with very high efficiency operation, which are desirable properties for military tactical generators. Related advancements in fuel processing are also expected to have direct commercial applicability for residential, commercial, mobile and utility applications. Ballard intends to apply its substantial intellectual property portfolio of over 2,000 patents and licenses.

Ballard will also continue its active participation in UMD’s Center for Environmental Energy Engineering (CEEE), an industry-sponsored consortium of public and private organizations collaborating on clean energy solutions for portable and distributed power.

Reinhard Radermacher, Director of CEEE and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maryland noted “FuelWorks(TM) will build on existing expertise at CEEE and, through collaboration between Ballard and other partners, it will address critical research needs for fuel cells operating in various applications, using existing and emerging fuels.”

About Ballard Power Systems

Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD; NASDAQ: BLDP) provides clean energy fuel cell products enabling optimized power systems for a range of applications. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.

DANBURY, Conn.–Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) and Praxair Canada have signed a strategic alliance with Powertech Labs, Inc. to jointly market and sell Praxair’s hydrogen and Powertech’s hydrogen fueling equipment to materials handling customers, specifically to distribution centers for hydrogen fuel-cell powered forklifts.

The alliance between Praxair and Powertech combines North America’s largest liquid hydrogen producer with a leader in innovative hydrogen fueling systems to provide reliable, cost-effective hydrogen fueling to fill a growing need. In 2002, Powertech designed and built the world’s first 700-bar fast-fill hydrogen fueling station, and has since designed, built and installed a host of increasingly innovative and technically advanced mobile and permanent high-pressure vehicle fueling systems.

“Praxair and Powertech bring many years of combined experience and expertise in both hydrogen supply and fueling equipment to successfully meet the growing needs of these leading-edge customers,” said Scott Sanderude, vice president, Marketing & Business Development, for Praxair’s North American Industrial Gases business unit.

“Powertech is a leader in providing clean energy consulting, testing and systems solutions,” said Eamonn Percy, PowerTech president. “Distribution centers with large materials handling fleets are realizing the benefits of hydrogen fuel-cell powered forklifts. This alliance will help increase their productivity while potentially decreasing costs associated with operating traditional battery-powered forklifts.”

About Powertech Labs, Inc.

Powertech Labs, based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, specializes in clean energy consulting, testing, and power solutions, and has been serving electrical, oil and gas companies, automotive and electrical equipment manufacturers since 1989 by meeting the complex and changing needs of customers around the world. As the world’s premier hydrogen fueling equipment testing facility, Powertech has played a key role in the development of hydrogen delivery infrastructure in North America. Powertech is a subsidiary of BC Hydro, the third largest electric utility in Canada.

About Praxair Canada, Inc.

Praxair Canada, part of Praxair’s North American operations, supplies atmospheric, process and specialty gases and is a recognized leader in the commercialization of new technologies that bring productivity and environmental benefits to a diverse group of industries.

About Praxair, Inc.

Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2009 sales of $9 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric, process and specialty gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair is a recognized leader in the commercialization of new technologies that bring productivity and environmental benefits to a diverse group of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, electronics, energy, food and beverage, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.

WILMINGTON, Mass. — Lilliputian Systems, a developer of portable power products for consumer electronic devices, will significantly expand its Wilmington manufacturing plant with help from a low-cost $5 million participation term loan issued by MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.  MassDevelopment, the lead lender, is providing $2.5 million from its Emerging Technology Fund.  The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) is also providing $2.5 million.

“High-tech manufacturing is a critical component of our economic future,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Robert L. Culver.  ”We’re proud that Lilliputian Systems has chosen to expand in Wilmington and keep on making its innovative products in the Bay State.”

Lilliputian Systems plans to use the funds to purchase equipment used in manufacturing and assembling key components of the company’s portable power product, USB Mobile Power System, as part of an expansion of the Wilmington site.

Lilliputian Systems is developing a revolutionary portfolio of portable power solutions. The company’s breakthrough Silicon Power Cell™ technology enables the only form-factor battery replacement for portable electronic devices that provides an order-of-magnitude run-time improvement over traditional batteries. Lilliputian Systems’ innovative solutions will provide major improvements in the use of mobile devices today and deliver the energy needed to support the power-intensive application of tomorrow’s wireless world. The company is targeting applications for mobile devices such as: cell phones, smart phones, MP3 players, Bluetooth headsets and portable games; laptops, tablets, and netbooks; and digital recorders such as cameras and camcorders.  Lilliputian Systems has completed the prototype development of its first product, the USB Mobile Power System, and is currently testing devices and signing commercialization agreements with select customers around the world.

“We are encouraged by the State’s support of our business and we are pleased to be expanding the local economy and reinforcing our Massachusetts roots,” said Lilliputian Systems CEO Ken Lazarus. “The loan from MassDevelopment will help fund the expansion of our Wilmington operations to manufacture key components of our Silicon Power Cells for delivery to customers worldwide.”

“Lilliputian is one of the most exciting innovative clean energy companies choosing to expand in Massachusetts,” said MassCEC Executive Director Patrick Cloney. “We are thrilled that they chose the Commonwealth to manufacture this game-changing technology.”

About MassDevelopment

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development authority, works with businesses, financial institutions, and communities to stimulate economic growth across the Commonwealth.  During FY2009, MassDevelopment financed or managed 229 projects statewide representing the investment of nearly $1.2 billion in the Massachusetts economy. These projects are supporting the creation of 1,488 new housing units and 8,232 jobs: 3,362 permanent and 4,870 construction-related.

About Massachusetts Clean Energy Center

Created by the Green Jobs Act of 2008, the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) mission is to foster the growth of the Massachusetts clean energy industry through seed grants to companies, universities, and nonprofit organizations, job training programs, workforce development grants, and support for renewable energy projects. As of November 23, 2009 MassCEC is the new home of the Renewable Energy Trust. This exciting transition comes as a result of legislation, passed by the Massachusetts Legislature and signed by Governor Deval Patrick, to provide the residents, businesses, and communities of the Commonwealth with a single source of support for clean energy.  More information is available at www.MassCEC.com.

About Lilliputian Systems

Lilliputian Systems, Inc. has developed the world’s first Personal Power™ solution for Consumer Electronics (CE) devices, a revolutionary family of products targeted at the $50 billion portable power market.  The Company’s breakthrough solution delivers the only viable small form-factor battery replacement that provides the enormous run-time improvements demanded by today’s CE devices.  Lilliputian’s patented Silicon Power Cell™ technology is based on highly-efficient and proven solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) wafer fabrication methods, and is fueled by recyclable high energy butane cartridges.  The technology is reliable, FAA approved and environmentally friendly.  Lilliputian’s solution enables longer run-time by providing a 5-10 improvement in volumetric energy density and 20-40X improvement in gravimetric energy density at a fraction of the cost.  The Company’s elegantly designed solution both complements today’s devices and can seamlessly integrate into future devices – all while ensuring the consumer enjoys an essentially infinite supply of Personal Power™ for their CE devices.  For more information, visit www.lilliputiansystems.com.

Technical staff at NREL's Safety Sensor Test Laboratory use this test chamber to assess hydrogen sensor performance

Scientists and engineers at the Safety Sensor Test Laboratory at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are collaborating with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) to assess the performance of various hydrogen sensor technologies. Because hydrogen is colorless and odorless, sensors are key safety equipment for fueling stations and other hydrogen facilities.

The Sensor Interlaboratory Comparison (SINTERCOM) Project features the independent assessment of commercial hydrogen sensors via round-robin testing at NREL and JRC. Both organizations are performing the assessments using mutually agreed upon test protocols based on international standards for hydrogen sensors.

“The first round of testing has been completed, and NREL and JRC have exchanged units for the second round of evaluations,” said William Buttner of NREL’s Hydrogen Technologies and Systems Center. “By independently testing the same sensors, both labs gain insight into their respective systems, facilitating improved testing capabilities, protocols, and data analysis.”

Technical staffers at NREL’s Safety Sensor Test Laboratory focus on closing sensor technology gaps and reaching specified sensor targets. NREL works with manufacturers to improve sensor performance and ensure that emerging commercial technologies meet end-user needs.

NREL’s Safety Sensor Test Laboratory was designed to test hydrogen sensors under precisely controlled conditions. Sensors are mounted in a stainless steel test chamber, which controls pressure, temperature, relative humidity, and gas composition. The apparatus can accommodate simultaneous testing of multiple sensors, and can handle all common electronic interfaces—voltage, current, resistance, controller area network, and serial communication. The lab is set up for around-the-clock operation; tests can be run and monitored remotely via the Internet.

NREL staffers visited JRC’s hydrogen sensor test facility in The Netherlands earlier this month. During the visit, the groups compared test procedures and results, proposed protocols for data analysis, and identified additional sensors for future assessment. NREL will present the latest results of the SINTERCOM Project at the National Hydrogen Association Conference in May.

Figure 1: SOEC cells function according to two different principles. In one SOEC cell with a proton-conducting electrolyte, the hydrogen ions pass from the anode through the electrolyte to the cathode. These cells can operate at lower temperatures and can be used to produce different kinds of synthetic fuels. In cells with an oxide ion-conducting electrolyte, the oxygen ions (oxide ions) pass from the cathode through the electrolyte to the anode. These cells require a high operating temperature which will cause the synthetic fuels to split. This type can therefore only be used to produce synthesis gas. The figure also shows how the processes at the anode correspond to photosynthesis in nature. As we know, this process results in nature’s fuel, sugar.

Today, most energy is produced at large centralised power stations based on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas. And then there is the energy produced by hydroelectric power stations, nuclear power stations and wind farms. The energy flows only one way, from the central power stations to the electricity grid and on to consumers. The idea now is that much more renewable energy should be fed into the grid. This calls for new solutions that take account of the considerable variations in the amount of wind energy, hydropower, solar energy etc. One of the solutions is a distributed energy system.

A distributed energy system consists of many small, geographically dispersed production units and a few large, central units. The different parts of the transmission systems function independently of each other but can play together using IT, making it possible to utilise both central and local technologies to meet the energy needs of the moment. Locally, energy will be produced to a greater extent from local energy resources such as the sun, wind, straw etc.

Energy storage important

Locally this will entail a need to be able to transform surplus electricity from renewable sources to energy which can be stored. One of the options is to store surplus production as chemical energy. This might be in the form of compounds such as liquid methanol (CH3OH) or gasses such as natural gas (CH4) or synthesis gas (CO+H2). Once the energy has been transformed into these chemical compounds, known as synthetic fuels, it is easy to store in tanks and pressure tanks. The synthetic fuels can be used directly in cars and as starting materials for the chemical industry. There is basically nothing new in this principle. The only problem is that today’s technologies are best-suited for large-scale central plants operating at high temperatures. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new types of plants that operate at lower temperatures and are thereby suitable for installing together with local wind turbines.

The objective is to realise these goals through a new research initiative, Catalysis for Sustainable Energy (CASE), which will develop catalysts to transform local renewable energy into chemical energy, for example hydrogen or methanol. CASE is headed by Professor Jens K. Nørskov from DTU Physics.

Electrolytic cells can turn CO2 into a useful fuel

Making the step from electricity to chemical energy requires an electrolytic process. Through electrolysis, water is transformed into hydrogen and oxygen (and CO2 to CO and oxygen) using electricity. The ABF (Fuels Cells and Solid State Chemistry Division) develops electrolytic cells for this purpose in the form of SOEC electrolytic cells. “An SOEC electrolytic cell is built up of ceramic materials and is, in principle, a reversed SOFC fuel cell which Risø is developing in conjunction with, among others, Topsoe Fuel Cells,” says Research Professor Mogens Mogensen from ABF (Fuels Cells and Solid State Chemistry Division).

The process in the electrolytic cells corresponds in reality to part of nature’s own photosynthesis, which takes CO2 out of the air and transforms it into a store of chemical energy in the form of sugar. Electrolytic cells can therefore contribute to removing CO2 from the air. In other words, they resemble the role of forests in absorbing CO2.

By transforming CO2 to liquid synthetic fuels in an electrolytic cell, our means of transport can use sustainable energy, power from wind turbines and solar cells. When a car runs on synthetic fuel, CO2 is released to the atmosphere. However, no more CO2 than has been used to produce the synthetic fuel, which in effect means that no CO2 is added to the atmosphere.

High temperatures for large central synthetic fuel plants

High-temperature cells are very efficient compared with other electrolysis methods as they produce more oxygen and carbon monoxide from a given amount of electricity. This is because at high temperatures water and carbon dioxide can be split into synthesis gas (hydrogen + carbon monoxide) and oxygen using the heat, and the SOEC cell is thereby self-cooling: The heat which is inevitably produced when electricity runs through something – this is needed for the electrolytic process. Moreover, it is possible to utilise the heat which is often available as surplus heat from, for example, power stations and industry.

“These high-temperature electrolytic cells will be good for large, central plants for manufacturing synthetic fuel from synthesis gas. The catalytic processes which follow the electrolytic process require a complete facility with a catalytic reactor coupled to an electrolytic cell plant because the synthetic hydrocarbons are not stable at such high temperatures (over 650 C). Such a facility probably needs to exceed 100 MW for it to be financially viable,” says Mogens Mogensen. In addition, you avoid heat loss in the large plants.

Work has been conducted on the high-temperature cells for some time in SERC (Strategic Electrochemistry Research Center), where a number of enterprises and research centres are collaborating on the development of these types of electrolytic cells.

Low temperatures in local production of synthetic fuel

For local production conditions, it is necessary to develop cells which can operate at temperatures in the 200-400° C range. This way, small, local electrolysis plants can be established, which can be connected directly to a local wind turbine and produce synthec fuel for the local area. “The vision is to be able to build small, modular plants, with one standing beside each wind turbine in the local area,” says Mogens Mogensen.

The lower temperature means less heat loss and makes it easier to build small and modular electrolysis plants.
For this to succeed, it is necessary to develop completely new materials. These will be developed within the CASE research initiative. ABF is working with two electrolyte types. One is a mesoporous ceramic material, which can absorb liquid electrolytes in their nanopores and retain them. The second type is low-temperature proton-conducting materials (see Figure 1), which uses a solid ceramic electrolyte.

Figure 1: SOEC cells function according to two different principles. In one SOEC cell with a proton-conducting electrolyte, the hydrogen ions pass from the anode through the electrolyte to the cathode. These cells can operate at lower temperatures and can be used to produce different kinds of synthetic fuels. In cells with an oxide ion-conducting electrolyte, the oxygen ions (oxide ions) pass from the cathode through the electrolyte to the anode. These cells require a high operating temperature which will cause the synthetic fuels to split. This type can therefore only be used to produce synthesis gas. The figure also shows how the processes at the anode correspond to photosynthesis in nature. As we know, this process results in nature’s fuel, sugar.

Limestone from the Danish subsoil can be used in the production of sustainable synthetic fuels

It is hard and costly to directly separate CO2 from the atmosphere. Professor Mogens Mogensen therefore envisages the necessary CO2 coming from other sources. For example breweries and second-generation bioalcohol plants, where fermentation produces large volumes of CO2. Another possibility is using Denmark’s most widespread raw material, limestone (calcium carbonate). Heating limestone liberates CO2, leaving quicklime (calcium oxide). Water is mixed – or ‘slaked’ – with quicklime, producing slaked lime (calcium hydroxide), whereby most of the heat which was used is again released.

It is very well known that slaked lime reabsorbs CO2 from the air relatively quickly. Slaked lime mixed with sand is called mortar, which has traditionally been used as a binding paste in masonry. The wet mortar between the bricks absorbs CO2 from the air and hardens through the formation of lime to a stone-hard substance that binds the bricks together.

In other words, the lime is part of a carbon cycle. The CO2 which is released when the lime is burnt is absorbed again when the slaked lime absorbs CO2 and is thereby converted back to lime. It is precisely this cycle which can be used to manufacture synthetic CO2-neutral fuel. “You can therefore produce synthetic fuel with a clear conscience based on CO2 from lime and use it for motor transport, as the liberated CO2 is reabsorbed by the slaked lime which the CO2 originally came from,” says Mogens Mogensen.

Researchers including Hirohito Ogasawara (left), Anders Nilsson (center), and Mike Toney (right) used SSRL's bright X-ray beam to study a new form of platinum that could be used to make cheaper, more efficient fuel cells.

Menlo Park, Calif.—A new form of platinum that could be used to make cheaper, more efficient fuel cells has been created by researchers at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and the University of Houston. The process, described in the April 25th issue of Nature Chemistry, could help enable broader use of the devices, which produce emissions-free energy using hydrogen.

“This is a significant advance,” said scientist Anders Nilsson, who conducts research at the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, a joint institute between SLAC and Stanford University. “Fuel cells were invented more than 100 years ago. They haven’t made a leap over to being a big technology yet, in part because of this difficulty with platinum.”

Fuel cells hold significant promise for clean energy because the cell’s only byproduct is water. But current fuel cell designs can require as much as 100 grams of platinum, pushing their price tags into the thousands of dollars. By tweaking platinum’s reactivity, the researchers were able to curtail the amount of platinum required by 80 percent, and hope to soon reduce it by another 10 percent, greatly trimming away at the overall cost.

“I think with a factor of ten, we’ll have a home run,” Nilsson added.

Fuel cells work much like batteries—an anode provides electrons and a cathode collects them on the other end of an electrical circuit. But unlike batteries, fuel cells use hydrogen and oxygen to drive their energy-producing reactions; when oxygen enters the metal cathode, it is broken down into individual atoms before it forms water with hydrogen.

The choice of metal for the cathode is extremely important, as some metals cannot break apart the oxygen atoms while others try to bind too strongly to the oxygen atoms, taking them away from the key reaction. Scientists seek the perfect “balance point,” where the number of oxygen bonds broken is maximized and the oxygen atoms bind more weakly to the catalyst. They achieved the balance with platinum, which is strong enough to break the oxygen bonds but does not bind to the free oxygen atoms too strongly. Unfortunately, it also costs enough to make platinum-electrode fuel cells untenably expensive.

In 2005, University of Houston researcher Peter Strasser started looking for ways to crack the platinum problem not by replacing platinum outright, as other researchers sought to do, but by making platinum more reactive.

To do this, Strasser and colleagues used a process called dealloying. First, they combined platinum with varying amounts of copper to create a copper-platinum alloy. Then they removed the copper from the surface region of the alloy. When they tested the binding properties of the dealloyed platinum-copper catalyst, they found it was much more reactive than it would be otherwise.

To find out why, Strasser, Nilsson and colleagues Mike Toney and Hirohito Ogasawara put dealloyed samples under the extremely bright X-ray beam at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource. By studying how X-rays scattered from the dealloyed samples, they were able to create detailed pictures of the metal’s internal structure, revealing that the increased reactivity was caused by lattice strain—a phenomenon in which the arrangement of platinum atoms is modified. By compressing the surface platinum atoms closer together, the process causes platinum atoms to bind a little more weakly to oxygen atoms and inch closer to that magical balance point between molecule dissociation and catalytic binding.

“The distance between two neighboring atoms affects their electronic structure,” Strasser said. “By changing the interatomic distance, we can manipulate how strongly they form bonds.”

The next step for the researchers will be to use the SSRL beam to get a closer look at the reactions between oxygen and platinum, and to determine what can be done to make the process even more efficient. The ultimate goal is to create a potential replacement not only for gasoline engines but also for the batteries found in small electronic devices.

The majority of this research is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science through its programs at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource and the Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University. Collaborating institutions also include Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Technical University Berlin and the University of Houston.

SLAC is a multi-program laboratory exploring frontier questions in photon science, astrophysics, particle physics and accelerator research. Located in Menlo Park, California, SLAC is operated by Stanford University for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. The Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource at SLAC is a national user facility which provides synchrotron radiation for research in chemistry, biology, physics and materials science to over two thousand users each year.

Technology Combines Company’s Existing XX25 and XX55 Fuel Cells With an Innovative Power Manager to Create a Unique Multifunctional System

LIVERMORE, CA– UltraCell Corporation, a leading producer of portable fuel cells, today announced the availability of its 3-Up battery charging system for military devices and electronic equipment. The 3-Up, which has already shipped to the U.S. military, operates as an integrated soldier portable power generator and battery charger, making it an ideal multifunctional military solution for remote, off-grid environments where powering electronic devices is crucial. The system combines UltraCell’s existing reformed methanol fuel cell (RMFC) technology and award-winning extended runtime fuel tanks with a flexible nylon bundling system and an innovative power manager, called the Director.

The 3-Up is designed to deliver a modular, scalable portable power solution by combining various fuel cell platforms to operate as a customizable system based on the user’s needs. Mobility is enhanced by the innovative nylon bundling system, providing convenient personal carriage, as well as fast reconfiguration of the system for higher or lower power outputs. This approach is ideal for soldiers in the field who are required to power and charge a range of electronic equipment including rugged laptops, satellite communications devices and military radios.

“One of the most pressing problems for soldiers serving in remote locations across Afghanistan, Iraq and across the globe is a lack of reliable, portable power for military equipment and electronic devices,” said UltraCell CEO Keith Scott. “UltraCell is now delivering a solution, which not only provides a lightweight, extended runtime power supply, but also offers the ability to recharge batteries in the field — a key element for both the successfulness and safety of soldiers in the field. We’re excited to be able to offer this technology and look forward to continuing to deliver innovative portable fuel cell solutions.”

At the heart of the modular capability is the Director, which enables up to four UltraCell XX25 or XX55 UltraCell fuel cells to be linked together as a single device. The Director provides precise power management and system level control with a single user interface.

By utilizing a “building block” approach, the 3-Up creates a portable and highly flexible power supply delivering a maximum peak power of 250 watts and continuous output from 50 to 225 watts. Additionally, the 3-Up delivers smart battery charging capabilities to safely charge military batteries such as the BB-2590 and Li-80/145.

About UltraCell
UltraCell is a leading producer of fuel cell systems for mobile devices. The company has developed new micro fuel cell technologies and intellectual property in the field of methanol-based fuel cells. Its patented, award-winning portable fuel cell, the XX25™, achieved Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 status, a significant U.S. Army milestone and certification for military use and commercial production. For more information about UltraCell, please visit http://www.ultracellpower.com/.

WASHINGTON–Fuel Cells 2000, a non-profit outreach organization, has chosen its Top 5 Fuel Cell States in a new report, “State of the States: Fuel Cells in America.” They are: (alphabetical order) California, Connecticut, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina.

Fuel Cells 2000 analyzed the seven regions of the United States, compiling state activities including supportive fuel cell and hydrogen policies, installations and demonstrations in each state, Road Maps and the overall level of activism. Each of the Top Five was selected for different reasons, but “they all recognize that establishing a fuel cell-friendly climate brings environmental benefits and jobs to their state,” said Jennifer Gangi, program director, Fuel Cells 2000.

• California is the world leader in vehicle demonstrations, hydrogen fueling stations and strict emissions standards, and has aggressive policies supporting fuel cell power generation utilizing renewable biofuels.
• Connecticut has high profile installations, offers substantial financial support for fuel power generation systems and is the headquarters for several major fuel cell manufacturers.
• New York has a long history of support for fuel cell research and deployment.
• Ohio has a well funded business development strategy aimed at fuel cells and the supply chain.
• South Carolina universities take a collaborative approach; there is an aggressive economic development program and activism in forklift demonstrations.

Said Gangi, “We hope that our report encourages lawmakers, local officials and average citizens, to want to emulate the Top 5 and move their state forward. With many major fuel cell manufacturers and suppliers located in the United States, this industry is poised to deliver on the promise of green growth, clean energy and American jobs.”

There are more details on all the fuel cell activity in the Top 5 as well as the rest of the 50 states and District of Columbia in each state listing and the Appendices. Download the report for free at: http://www.fuelcells.org/statereport.html.

First Commercial Warehouse in Pennsylvania to Use Hydrogen for Material Handling

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. — The produce at Wegmans Retail Service Center (RSC) just got greener.  Wegmans, a supermarket chain leader and innovator, has launched a fleet of 50 hydrogen fuel cell-powered pallet trucks using Air Products’ (NYSE: APD) hydrogen and hydrogen fueling station technology at its Pottsville, Pa. warehouse to move produce on a daily basis for shipment to its stores in a five state area.  The warehouse installation is the first commercial site in Pennsylvania to use this advanced technology to move consumer goods using hydrogen-powered material handling equipment.

“We’ve commissioned hydrogen infrastructure projects all over the world and for the material handling market at several U.S. locations, but this marks a milestone for the Commonwealth and is the first commercial operation in our home state.  The hydrogen economy has arrived in Pennsylvania and Wegmans’ Pottsville warehouse will be a showcase site to demonstrate the benefits of hydrogen fueling for the lift industry,” said Dave Taylor, vice president, Energy Businesses at Air Products.  ”There was a team involved in this project, including the public and private sector, and all should be commended for their efforts.”  Taylor noted the support of Congressman Tim Holden, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger, State Senator Dave Argall, State Representative Neal Goodman, and Frank Zukas, President of the Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation, in helping to make this project a reality.

Dave Allar, Wegmans’ RSC maintenance manager, had been anxious for this changeover to hydrogen to arrive, as were employees at the Pottsville facility.  “Our folks tested the equipment early last year and could immediately see what it would mean to equipment performance and productivity.”  Allar compared the experience of converting to hydrogen-powered equipment to that of driving a car.  “Whether a gas tank is full or down to a quarter-tank, a car will travel at 60 mph.   Not so when battery power is used, performance diminishes as the battery discharges,” he said.

Beyond productivity improvements, Wegmans also pointed to the environmental benefits of the changeover.  A hydrogen fuel cell produces energy through an electrochemical reaction.  Because hydrogen is the fuel source, heat and water are the only byproducts.  ”We are always looking for ways to improve our sustainability,” said David DeMascole, general manager–Pottsville Distribution Facility for Wegmans.  ”There is also pride associated with being the first in Pennsylvania.  Wegmans tries to be on the cutting edge for our industry.  To have this opportunity with new hydrogen fuel cell lifts is great.  We are proud of what we can achieve for our environment, community and employees.”

Partial funding for the project was received at federal and state levels.  In April 2009 the United States Department of Energy (DOE) announced a funding program for fuel cell technology to expand use of clean and renewable energy sources to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.  DOE said these efforts will accelerate the commercialization and deployment of fuel cells and will create jobs in fuel cell manufacturing, installation, maintenance and support services.  The effort is designed to improve the potential of fuel cells to provide power in stationary, portable and specialty vehicle applications, while cutting carbon emissions and broadening our nation’s clean energy technology portfolio.  The project also received a $1 million grant from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority.

Air Products’ fueling infrastructure at Wegmans includes an outdoor liquid hydrogen storage and compression system, along with multiple indoor fueling dispensers for operator refueling.  Details on Air Products’ hydrogen fueling station technologies are provided at www.airproducts.com/h2energy.  Air Products will fuel the fleet of pallet trucks all fitted with Plug Power’s (Nasdaq: PLUG) GenDrive(TM) hydrogen fuel cell power units.  The GenDrive systems can be quickly refueled in less than five minutes, completely eliminating the need to change, store, charge and maintain multiple lead acid batteries per lift truck.  Wegmans hopes to convert its entire lift truck fleet at the Pottsville facility to hydrogen fuel cells over the next few years.  To this point, Wegmans’ material handling equipment was all powered with lead acid batteries.

There are many advantages to using hydrogen-powered forklifts and other material handling equipment.  Hydrogen fuel cell-powered equipment needs refueling once or twice daily, depending on use.  In contrast, traditional battery-powered equipment must be placed temporarily out of operation for battery replacement and required battery recharging approximately every four to six hours.  Hydrogen fuel cell-powered equipment provides consistent power strength during use and does not experience decreased performance or wear down as traditional lead-acid battery units do as they near a required battery change out or recharge time.  Additionally, hydrogen fuel cell forklifts are not adversely impacted by temperature or by operating in coolers and freezers, in comparison to traditional battery performance.  Further, hydrogen-powered fuel cell equipment is more environmentally friendly because it does not involve lead-acid battery storage and disposal issues.

Air Products’ hydrogen fueling technology is currently being used to fuel approximately 300 material handling vehicles including: fuel cell powered lift trucks at Central Grocers’ new distribution center in Joliet, Ill.; hydrogen fuel cell powered forklifts at Nestle Waters North America in Dallas, Tex.; hydrogen fuel cell powered forklifts at the Defense Distribution Depot Susquehanna Pennsylvania in New Cumberland, Pa.; as well as hydrogen fuel cell powered forklifts at several other customers in the United States.  In addition, mobile fueling equipment unique and patented by Air Products has been and continues to be deployed to a variety of customers to demonstrate the technology in real world conditions.

Air Products, the leading hydrogen supplier to refineries to assist in making cleaner burning transportation fuels, has unique experience in the hydrogen fueling industry.  In fact, in certain market applications, fueling rates of over 10,000 refills per year are occurring.  These applications provide an opportunity to assess consumer experiences, evaluate product performance and advance product improvements.  The company has placed over 110 hydrogen fueling stations in the United States and 18 countries worldwide.  Cars, trucks, vans, buses, scooters, forklifts, locomotives, planes, cell towers, material handling equipment, and even submarines have been fueled with this trend-setting technology that involves Air Products’ know-how, equipment and hydrogen.  Use of the company’s technology is increasing and is currently at 175,000 hydrogen fills per year.

Air Products has more than 50 years of hydrogen experience and is on the forefront of hydrogen energy technology development.  Air Products has an extensive patent portfolio with over 50 patents in hydrogen dispensing technology.  Air Products provides liquid and gaseous hydrogen, and HCNG (hydrogen/compressed natural gas) fueling, and has developed a variety of enabling devices and protocols for fuel dispensing at varied pressures.  Hydrogen for these stations is delivered to a site via truck, produced by natural gas reformation, biomass conversion, or by electrolysis, including electrolysis that is solar and wind driven.

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE: APD) serves customers in industrial, energy, technology and healthcare markets worldwide with a unique portfolio of atmospheric gases, process and specialty gases, performance materials, and equipment and services.  Founded in 1940, Air Products has built leading positions in key growth markets such as semiconductor materials, refinery hydrogen, home healthcare services, natural gas liquefaction, and advanced coatings and adhesives.  The company is recognized for its innovative culture, operational excellence and commitment to safety and the environment.  In fiscal 2009, Air Products had revenues of $8.3 billion, operations in over 40 countries, and 18,900 employees around the globe.  For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

About Plug Power

Plug Power Inc., an established leader in the development and deployment of clean, reliable energy solutions, integrates fuel cell technology into motive, continuous and backup power products.  The Company is actively engaged with private and public customers in targeted markets throughout the world.  For more information about how to join Plug Power’s energy revolution as an investor, customer, supplier or strategic partner, please visit www.plugpower.com.

About Wegmans

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a 75-store supermarket chain with stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, and Maryland.  The family-owned company, founded in 1916, is recognized as an industry leader and innovator.  Wegmans has been named one of the ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ by FORTUNE magazine for 13 consecutive years.  In 2010, Wegmans ranked #3 on the list.  For more information please visit www.wegmans.com.

In addition to its Retail Service Center, Wegmans now operates 13 stores in Pennsylvania, with plans for 2 more in the future.  One of the future stores will open in Malvern, Pa., later this year.  Wegmans has approximately 7,000 employees in the state of Pennsylvania.

In a breakthrough that should help to solve one of the biggest problems holding back development of affordable fuel cells, a team of University of Massachusetts Amherst scientists has discovered a way to improve proton conductivity under very low humidity conditions, where few materials perform well at present.

The current generation of hydrogen fuel cells produces electricity by first splitting hydrogen into protons and electrons, where electrons go through the fuel cell electrical circuit while protons have to pass through a synthetic membrane. On the other side of the circuit, the protons and electrons combine with oxygen to produce water. This chemical reaction produces electrical energy and because the byproduct is water, the technology is environmentally friendly.

One of the basic problems in this clean energy technology is that these fuel cells prefer operating temperatures well above the boiling point of water, that is, they like low humidity. However, there are few efficient materials that conduct protons under such conditions. Now chemist Sankaran “Thai” Thayumanavan, director of the National Science Foundation’s Fueling the Future Center for Chemical Innovation at UMass Amherst, in collaboration with polymer scientist Ryan Hayward and physicist Mark Tuominen and their graduate students, has developed a materials design principle capable of addressing this need. Their findings are reported in the current issue of Nature Chemistry.

The UMass Amherst researchers have shown that materials that assemble into a structure that provides nanometer-size channels are capable of efficiently transporting charge. These channels provide an excellent conduit for moving protons from one side of the membrane material to another, which is critical for efficient fuel cell operation. Their discovery will help to design materials that could lead to commercial development of longer-lasting membranes that stay chemically and mechanically stable much longer than the current type, while maintaining efficiencies at the desired operating temperature.

Thayumanavan says this is an “incredibly exciting development” relying on a polymer nanostructure that achieves superior results in a completely non-intuitive way, by combining both conducting and non-conducting domains in the membrane. As he explains this special assembly, “One would think that using a 100 percent conducting domain between the electrodes would be most efficient for proton conduction, but that’s not the case. What we’ve found is that by combining two opposing domains, conducting and nonconducting, in the membrane’s nanostructured assembly, we could improve its conductivity performance.”

This solution was inspired by nature, he adds. “We took a cue from these naturally occurring proteins which can transport proton groups inside our bodies over distances of a few nanometers at extremely fast speeds without using water. We hypothesized that just as in these proteins, certain shapes or combinations of block copolymers that combine some conducting and some nonconducting nanostructures might conduct protons better than a uniform matrix.”

This nonintuitive approach paid off, Thayumanavan reports, confirming that a 100-percent conducting domain is not as efficient as their mixed-property domain. “It turns out that a nanoscale assembly packed with domains that are mutually not attractive to each other, and are not usually found together, will create enhanced conductivity by about 1,000 times.” He and colleagues have now tried the new membrane design in four different sets of polymers with subtle variations and “it’s not a fluke.”

A new method that combines silicon and water to produce hydrogen could serve as a source of emergency gas for future fuel cell vehicles.

The technique developed by an Oxford University research team led by chemist John Foord generates hydrogen locally at low temperatures.

Project manager Dr Jamie Ferguson, who is helping commercialise Foord’s work through the university’s spin-out company Isis Innovation, explained combining silicon and water to produce hydrogen has been considered by others before but technical hurdles stood in their way.

Under normal conditions, silicon does not largely react to water. While it initially rapidly reacts, Ferguson said, it stops abruptly as soon as an oxide layer is formed.

Foord and his team were able to overcome this, he said, by developing a new method for grinding silica, otherwise known as sand, into silicon nanopowder. When in this nano-state, it is claimed silicon will readily generate hydrogen when contacted with water at temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees Celsius.

Ferguson said one of the main advantages is the only byproduct is sand, which can be safely disposed or recycled.

In addition to developing a new method for milling sand into silicon nanopowder, Foord’s team also developed a material that encapsulates the silicon nanopowder particles. Ferguson said this was done to shield the particles from the air because the silicon nanopowder is so reactive it could theoretically generate hydrogen with exposure to even minimal amounts of water.

While initially being targeted for emergency supplies of hydrogen or lower power fuel cell applications such as laptops or communication devices, the technology has potential to be scaled up.

Foord and his team view local generation of hydrogen as a more plausible alternative to other methods proposed for fuelling portable hydrogen fuel cells.

While hydrogen is energy rich compared to petroleum on a per-weight basis, it is relatively poor on a volumetric basis. This means in portable fuel cell applications, significant volumes of hydrogen will need to be carried on-board unless high pressure or cryogenic hydrogen storage is used. These methods, however, both have significant energy penalties.

Ferguson said the new Oxford method could be considered as a different way of looking at hydrogen storage, ‘except the hydrogen storage here is the water,’ he added.

Ferguson said the team is now currently open to offers from company to license its technology.

Gov. M. Jodi Rell said Thursday FuelCell Energy Inc. in Danbury won a $100,000 federal energy grant to investigate the commercial application of one of FuelCell’s research projects.

FuelCell is developing technology for producing high-purity hydrogen that could be used at refueling stations for hydrogen-powered automobiles  and equipment.

Rell said FuelCell was among 1,862 applications submitted nationwide to the U.S. Energy Department’s Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

FuelCell is primarily involved in manufacturing and marketing high-efficiency electric generators powered by an assortment of renewable fuels.

Raymond and Plug Power Hold Press Conference to Discuss Distribution Agreement

LATHAM, N.Y. – Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG), a leader in providing clean, reliable energy solutions, today announced it will be displaying its GenDrive™ product suite at the NA 2010 trade show in Cleveland, OH, April 26-29. NA 2010 is the largest material handling and logistics show in North America, attracting over 15,000 industry professionals. Plug Power will display its class-1, class-2 and class-3 GenDrive fuel cell power units in sit down counterbalanced, stand up reach and rider pallet trucks, respectively. GenDrive fuel cells replace lead-acid batteries in electric lift trucks, offering the customer increased productivity and lower operational costs with quick refuel and constant voltage.

Also on display will be a compact hydrogen fueling dispenser, highlighting the ease and convenience of opportunity fueling for lift truck operators. By eliminating large battery rooms and charging infrastructure, customers are able to expand valuable floor space for its business. GenDrive power units can be fueled in as little as 60 seconds, substantially reducing vehicle and personnel downtime. And by utilizing hydrogen as a fuel source, greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. The only byproducts generated by fuel cells are heat and water.

“During 2009, Plug Power saw considerable traction in the material handling market with significant customers. These customers have realized increased productivity as high as 15% and reduction in its carbon footprint up to 90%,” said Andy Marsh, CEO of Plug Power. “The NA 2010 show expands our network base, allowing attendees to see first hand how GenDrive fuel cell solutions are a real and viable solution to improve their operations today.”

Taking advantage of the focused material handling audience in Cleveland, Plug Power and The Raymond Corporation will be holding a press conference in the NA 2010 press conference room (Room 10) on Tuesday, April 27 at 9:00 am. Andy Marsh and Chuck Pascarelli, President of Sales and Marketing Division for The Raymond Corporation, will expand upon the recently announced distribution agreement between the two companies.

As an independent distributor, The Raymond Corporation and its network of authorized Sales and Service Centers will sell, rent and lease Plug Power’s GenDrive fuel cell units to material handling customers in North America. This relationship couples Raymond’s leading AC technology with Plug Power’s proven GenDrive solution, bringing superior power and performance to the electric lift truck market.

“Raymond understands that hydrogen fuel cells will have a firm place in the material handling industry moving forward,” said Chuck Pascarelli. “And as industry leaders, we want to always provide our customers with the most cutting-edge lift truck power solution available. As the fuel cell market leader, Plug Power offered the ideal supplier.”

Plug Power will be exhibiting in booth 605 and The Raymond Corporation will be in booths 632 and 637. The show is open to the public. Investors and customers are encouraged to attend. For more information about NA 2010, visit www.nashow.com. The press release announcing the distribution agreement with The Raymond Corporation on March 11, 2010 can be located on the Plug Power Web site at www.plugpower.com/newsroom.

About Plug Power Inc.

Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG) is an established leader in the development and deployment and commercialization of alternative fuel cell technology. Revolutionizing the way the world thinks about clean energy, Plug Power has installed more commercial fuel cell systems in the motive and continuous power markets than anyone else in the industry. The Company is actively engaged with private and public customers in targeted markets throughout the world. For more information about how to join Plug Power’s energy revolution as an investor, customer, supplier or strategic partner, please visit www.plugpower.com.

An oxygen membrane can separate atmospheric air into pure oxygen and nitrogen. It consists of a sandwich of three layers of ceramic materials with different properties. The first layer is an electrode where the separation of oxygen and nitrogen starts. The intermediate layer is an electrolyte which allows the oxygen to pass through as ions. The last electrode transforms the oxygen ions into pure oxygen

Ceramic materials are used, for example, for components which can separate pure oxygen from air. The component is a sandwich of three different ceramic layers and its manufacture currently involves a three-stage process. With a new grant from the Danish Council for Independent Research, Technology and Production Sciences, the Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry Division at Risø DTU will seek to manufacture complex ceramic components by means of well-known, simple methods. The components can also be used for magnetic refrigerators, cleaning exhaust gases and much else besides.

Functional ceramics are ceramic materials which have special electrochemical, electrical or magnetic properties. Functional ceramic materials can be used for countless purposes.

At Risø, by far the biggest application area is the development of ceramic SOFC fuel cells and SOEC electrolysis cells. However, research is also being conducted into using functional ceramics for flue gas purification, magnetic refrigeration and oxygen membranes.

“You can imagine an oxygen membrane shaped like a pipe with atmospheric air on the outside and pure oxygen flowing through the hollow in the middle. This is the sort of component we want to be able to make in one go. However, it means that the properties of the ceramic materials must be changed through the component from the outside to the inside, so it is, as it were, built up of three layers, each with its own function,” says Nini Pryds from the Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry Division at Risø DTU, who is responsible for the project.

This is the basic idea of the research project. To find ways of varying the relevant properties (e.g. electrical, electromechanical or magnetic) in a controlled fashion along the length of the component. Such multi-material or graded functional components can be manufactured using familiar, simple methods known from the ceramics industry. Methods such as tape casting and extrusion.

“So far we know very little about the processes which determine the properties of the finished component. The aim of our project is therefore to generate the knowledge required to optimise the manufacture of graded ceramic components,“ says Nini Pryds.

The actual outcome of the project will be simple and inexpensive components for using in three promising energy technologies: magnetic refrigeration, oxygen membranes and electromechanical flue gas purification.

A Cambridge, Mass., company founded by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) scientists and graduates wants to solve the water treatment problems of the ethanol industry. IntAct Labs LLC has been awarded a $46,770 U.S. EPA grant to further research ethanol stillage treatment using a microbial fuel cell process, according to Justin Buck, chief technology officer for the company.

The microbial fuel cells harness the power of microbes to take organic matter and waste and break it down into water and CO2. The main benefit of this, Buck said, was that the process generates clean water without leaving as much waste behind. Typical wastewater treatment at an ethanol plants results in 3 to 5 liters of waste solids for every liter of ethanol. (Or, roughly 3 to 5 gallons of waste for every gallon of ethanol.) The IntAct system, on the other hand, results in smaller amounts of solids to be collected and processed.

Secondly, instead of consuming electricity, this system produces it. It’s a small amount of electricity—not enough to sell to the grid or power the ethanol plant, Buck said. However, the goal is that the system will generate enough electricity to power the water treatment system, making it energy neutral instead of an energy drain.

Currently, IntAct is focusing its efforts on making the technology work for the biofuels sector. The company is actively searching for partners in that field for testing and pilot-scale research, Buck said. The technology is workable for traditional ethanol production as well as cellulosic ethanol plants.

The microbial fuel cell process could, however, be used in a variety of industries, from agricultural waste or industrial food production waste. The first application the company worked on for its microbial fuel cells received funding from the NASA Institute of Advanced Concepts. The long-term goal was to use it in space travel, to recycle wastes and cut the electricity consumption of the life support system, he said.