FuelCellsWorks

LONG BEACH, Calif.–UK-based hydrogen producer ITM Power will enter the US market, the company announced today. ITM will market a suite of integrated electrolyzer products for a range of markets, including research facilities, manufacturing processes and clean fuel generation for hydrogen powered vehicles. Electrolyzers generate hydrogen utilizing electricity and water, opening the door to 100% renewable hydrogen generation.

“ITM electrolyzers deliver hydrogen at a pressure and quality appropriate to the application, at purities of up to 99.9999%,” said ITM Power’s chief executive Dr. Graham Cooley. “We can meet the requirements of a hydrogen fuel cell, a hydrogen engine, a hydrogen compressor, a hydrogen store (steel cylinder, composite tank or metal hydride system) or gas chromatography equipment.” Each product has been designed to be simple to use and to require a minimum of maintenance, Cooley said.

“This is a significant milestone for ITM,” said Ruth Cox, executive director of the US Fuel Cell Council, an industry association dedicated to fostering the commercialization of fuel cells. “We want to congratulate them on this notable success. ITM is joining the growing list of USFCC members that have commercially available products today. These industry successes, like ITM’s announcement, are further proof that the US market for hydrogen and fuel cells is robust and poised for growth.”

ITM Power will have a booth at the National Hydrogen Association’s Conference and Expo in Long Beach, CA, May 3-6, 2010, but their product samples are marooned in Europe, victim of the travel disruption caused by the Icelandic volcano eruption. “We are delighted to be exhibiting at NHA,” said Cooley, “and we do not intend to let volcanic activity delay our launch! We urge all to come and discuss our products and the exciting applications that they bring to the market place today.”

ITM will be at Booth #415 at the NHA conference, and will be presenting on “Application of Optimization Techniques for Efficient Hydrogen Refueling Station Design” at 1:30pm on Wednesday May 5^th in Parallel Session 3, Room 202B. To arrange a meeting please call Steve Hallet at ITM Power at +44 7834 693226.

ITM Power is ISO certified. All products are developed in accordance with best practice and are presently subject to CE approval. For further information please visit www.itm-power.com.

Brunnthal/Munich und Cologne– For on-board power supply of its official vehicles far from the grid, the German Federal Office for Goods Transport relies on EFOY Pro fuel cells by SFC. The special vehicles, equipped with fuel cells, have been used successfully over several months now as mobile offices for road and toll control services by the German Federal Office for Goods Transport. The EFOY Pro fuel cell by SFC guarantees reliable and environmentally friendly on-board power 24/7.

To provide reliable power in special purpose vehicles with no access to the public grid – especially when the vehicle is not moving – was challenging so far, because battery capacity is very limited. The vehicles had to drive back to the electrical grid and plug in, or recharge the battery standing with the engine idling, resulting in high noise impact and environmental pollution. Now, the fuel cell, installed in the trunk or in a cabinet system, automatically and without any user intervention recharges the battery whenever needed, quietly and without emissions. There is no need for recharging at an electrical outlet. This enables enormous logistic benefits as well as reduced operating cost, and enables significantly more flexibility is using the vehicles. Empty trips for recharging can be avoided, and equipment runtimes are remarkably increased.

„The fuel cells offer a significant added value for us. They do not only provide reliable power whenever needed but also entail tremendous logistical advantages in field use. We have tested the systems and are absolutely convinced by the technology and the products. By using fuel cells we were able to lower fleet operating cost while, at the same time, increasing operational flexibility”, says Ralf Muelhausen, Fleet Manager at the German Federal Office for Goods Transport.

„We are very proud of our cooperation with the Federal Office for Goods Transport and very delighted that our mobile fuel cells have successfully proven themselves as on-board APU“, says Dr. Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG. „We know that for professional users reliable and sustainable off-grid  power supply is extremely important. We deliver groundbreaking solutions for mobile applications – and offer a true enabling technology with our products”.

Almost 400 vehicles of the German Federal Office for Goods Transport with fuel cells are currently on Germany’s roads. At this year’s Hanover Fair, the German Federal Office for Goods Transport and SFC together presented the advantages, which already convinced numerous customers. To date, SFC has sold over 18,000 fuel cells to international industry and end users worldwide. Fuel cells are ideal solutions wherever reliable and eco-friendly power supply far from the grid is required. The independent small and quiet energy packs play a decisive role in many commercial applications in the governmental sector and security field. They can easily be installed in unmanned, isolated, and numerous remote security systems. They are deployed in border control, traffic, surveillance, monitoring, observation, events security. The fuel cells can also be seamlessly combined with other energy sources, such as solar panels. They obtain fuel from EFOY fuel cartridges, which deliver week-long autonomous energy, depending on their size (5, 10, 28 liters) and are available at more than 1,500 sales points in Europe. SFC has created a voucher infrastructure for fuel cartridge logistics for the Federal Office for Goods Transport which is extremely comfortable and efficient for operators as well as drivers.

Trade visitors can experience a vehicle by the German Federal Office for Goods Transport as well as the EFOY Pro fuel cells at the booth F04 of Goettinger Sonderfahrzeugbau GmbH&Co KG, Mai 4-6, 2010 at GPEC in Leipzig, Germany.

Additional information at www.sfc.com,

About SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG

SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG (www.sfc.com) is market leader in fuel cell technologies for mobile and off-grid power applications serving the leisure, industrial and defense markets. As one of Germany’s technology pioneers, SFC has won numerous innovation awards.  SFC has alliances with leading companies in a wide range of industries.  Unlike most other fuel cell manufacturers, who are in the research and development phase or run subsidized demonstration projects, SFC has shipped more than 18,000 fully commercial products to industrial and private end users for more than five years, and has created a convenient fuel cartridge supply infrastructure. SFC is DIN ISO 9001:2008 certified. SFC is based in Brunnthal, Germany, and has a U.S. sales and technical service office in the U.S. SFC Smart Fuel Cell AG is listed at the Deutsche Boerse Prime Standard (WKN 756857).

About German Federal Office for Goods Transport
The German Federal Office for Goods Transport is an independent higher federal authority in the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development. It is headquartered in Cologne. For task accomplishment and close cooperation with the federal traffic authorities, corporations and other authorities, the German Federal Office for Goods Transport has eight outposted sections. The range of tasks reaches from driving personnel and traffic law to truck toll and market observation, civil emergency precaution and goods traffic statistics to toll bequest proceedings. By performing its operational tasks, the federal office makes a significant contribution to road safety, duty equity and competitive egality on Germany’s roads. At the same time, reports and statistics of the federal office serve as basis and decision guidance for law proposals in the field of traffic goods and movements of people.

National report cites Ohio’s aggressive recruitment of fuel cell companies coupled with innovative policy and funding to attract business to the state

COLUMBUS, Ohio– Ohio is one of the top five fuel cell states in 2009, according to a new report published by Fuel Cells 2000, a nonprofit outreach organization. The report, titled “State of the States: Fuel Cells in America” outlines Ohio’s aggressive and innovative focus on business attraction and business development as well as the state’s strategies for building its fuel cell supply chain and world-class manufacturing base as reasons for the top ranking.

According to the Ohio Business Development Coalition, the nonprofit organization that markets the state for capital investment, the report is further proof that Ohio’s fuel cell industry is helping to transform the state’s economy by adding new programs to educate and train a new generation of green collar workers to meet the advanced energy needs of the 21st century.

“Ohio is one of the few places in the world where all phases of fuel cell development take place,” said Governor Ted Strickland. “Ohio is quickly becoming an attractive location for fuel cell companies seeking a state partner that understands what it takes to build and grow a successful business here.”

The “State of the States: Fuel Cells in America” report attributes much of Ohio’s success in the fuel cell industry to the Ohio Fuel Cell Initiative, developed under the Ohio Third Frontier program, an unprecedented and bipartisan commitment to create new technology-based products, companies, industries and jobs.

Ohio Third Frontier has invested over $80 million in fuel cells through a variety of different programs, which has resulted in the creation or retention of 430 jobs with an average salary of $68,431. Overall, the Ohio Third Frontier has created, capitalized or attracted more than 600 companies, has created nearly 55,000 direct and indirect jobs and helped create $6.6 billion in economic impact in Ohio, a 9:1 return on investment.

Additionally, the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition, the largest state fuel cell association in the nation with more than 80 members including industry, academic, and non-profit organizations, is working to strengthen Ohio’s fuel cell industry and to accelerate the transformation of the region to global leadership in fuel cell technology.

“In Ohio, business owners gain world-class access to research and development, a diverse supply chain, significant state support, and a great business environment,” said Pat Valente, executive director of the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition. “What’s more, they also have the added advantage of cross-sector support from business, government and educational institutions to further innovation and commercialization opportunities.”

To view the complete report, visit www.fuelcells.org/statereport.html.

About the Ohio Business Development Coalition

The Ohio Business Development Coalition is a nonprofit organization that provides marketing strategy and implementation to support Ohio’s economic development efforts. For more information, visit www.ohiomeansbusiness.com.

Announcements build anticipation for industry’s largest event

Washington, DC–In just the last few days, auto manufacturers, hydrogen producers and fuel cell and component manufacturers have revealed breaking news or new products, creating a wave of energy to open the largest hydrogen and fuel cell event of the year.  The NHA Hydrogen Conference and Expo starts Monday, May 3 in Long Beach, CA at the Long Beach Convention Center.

“Companies often pick this venue to show off their latest technologies and services,” said Jeffrey Serfass, President of the National Hydrogen Association. “We’re proud to show that our industry has been hard at work, investing in and improving the technologies that will reduce fuel imports, reduce greenhouse gases and create new jobs and business.  Next week, we’ll share more announcements and reveal the identity of a special guest speaker.”

At the NHA event, for the first time, attendees and the public will be able to test-drive the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL fuel cell electric vehicle and the Mazda RX-8 hydrogen rotary on U.S. streets. It will also be the first time the public will have the opportunity to ride in the Class 8, heavy-duty, fuel cell Tyrano truck from Vision Industries used in the Port of Long Beach to reduce emissions related to the shipping industry. These vehicles will be a part of a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles and hydrogen engine vehicles available for rides and test-drives during the event.

In the hydrogen production sector, Proton Energy Systems will unveil their new electrolyzer platform for hydrogen fueling. The FuelGen 65 produces the hydrogen equivalent of up to 65 gallons of gasoline per day from water, using electricity.  Industrial gas supplier Linde’s newly formed Alternative Energy Team will be on hand to discuss the first on-road application of Linde’s novel Ionic Compressor technology. And, for the first time, WEH Technologies will have a hands-on demonstration of how to use their TK17 patented fueling nozzle.  It feels and works like a gasoline dispenser, but this nozzle makes an airtight seal to dispense odorless and environmentally-friendly hydrogen gas.

In other news, ITM Power has chosen the 2010 NHA Hydrogen Conference Expo to roll-out its first range of products for the US market. ITM has developed several electrolyzer products for a range of applications, from the laboratory, through soldering and joining, to fueling hydrogen-powered vehicles.  Also, RIX Industries will announce a new oil-less compressor which allows hydrogen users to fit a lot of hydrogen into a small space.

While not every company is making an announcement, more than one in every three exhibitors are new to the NHA’s Expo this year compared to 2009.

“This year, we have more than 40 companies who will bring their technology and services to the Expo Hall for the first time in at least two years-a lifetime in the development of hydrogen technologies,” said Bruce Cole, NHA”s Expo Manager. “They highlight every sector of the industry and even some related industries who have come to the Expo to explore new business opportunities.”

Activities begin Monday, May 3 and end on Thursday, May 6. For a complete listing of presentations, workshops and events, visit www.hydrogenconference.org. The Ride and Drive and Expo are open free to the public on Tuesday, May 4 from 10-4:30pm.