FuelCellsWorks

AUSTIN, Texas — Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB:APNT) announced that it has been awarded a Phase I SBIR grant, in the amount of $149,426, from the US Department of Energy to develop ultra lightweight hydrogen fuel tanks using carbon nanotube reinforcement.

This grant was awarded for a 9-month program with an overall objective to significantly improve the mechanical properties of the carbon fiber/epoxy material used to construct the hydrogen fuel tanks using carbon nanotube reinforcement. The primary goal is to reduce the weight of the tanks by 20 to 30 percent. A weight reduction of this magnitude will not only significantly lower the hydrogen fuel tank costs but also increase the vehicle’s fuel efficiency.

The International Association of Natural Gas Vehicles reported that sales of composite pressure vessels are expected to reach $250 million by 2013, and upwards of $560 million by the end of the decade; the adoption of nanotechnology enhanced resins in high pressure hydrogen storage vessels represents an immense opportunity for near term commercialization. Today, the price of carbon fiber is the main driver of the hydrogen pressure vessel’s cost; by incorporating carbon nanotubes into the resin matrix, the resin itself can absorb much of the load currently absorbed by the carbon fiber reinforcement. Using carbon nanotube enhanced resins will undoubtedly decrease the carbon fiber required to construct a functioning hydrogen pressure vessel. The value of this decrease will not only be realized in lower material costs but also in lighter pressure vessels, enabling a more streamlined manufacturing and supply chain process and ultimately a more efficient vehicle.

Applied Nanotech has developed carbon nanotube reinforced epoxies, vinyl esters, and polyesters for carbon fiber and glass fiber reinforced composites. These composites can apply to a wide range of products including: sporting goods, aerospace, automotive, renewable energy, ballistics, and many other applications.

“I am very pleased to see that our nanocomposite technology, first commercialized for sporting goods – badminton racquets and golf club shafts – with Yonex Corporation, is starting to gain traction in other commercial applications with very large market potential,” said Dr. Zvi Yaniv, CEO of Applied Nanotech, Inc.

“Nanocomposite materials are a very important part of our business. We are currently working with a variety of companies across several industries to tailor our composite materials to improve the underlying products of our potential customers,” said Doug Baker, CEO of Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc.

About APPLIED NANOTECH HOLDINGS, INC.

Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc. is a premier research and commercialization organization focused on solving problems at the molecular level. Its team of PhD level scientists and engineers work with companies and other organizations to solve technical impasses and create innovations that will create a competitive advantage. The business model is to license patents and technology to partners that will manufacture and distribute products using the technology. Applied Nanotech has over 300 patents or patents pending. Applied Nanotech’s website is www.appliednanotech.net.

Guildford–AFC Energy, the world’s leading developer of low cost alkaline fuel cells, is pleased to announce that it is currently commissioning its first commercial-scale, Beta, alkaline fuel cell system. This is a significant step for AFC Energy as the Company finalises preparations for commercialisation.

AFC Energy is near to completing the Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) study of its Beta fuel cell system, which involves an analysis of all foreseeable deviations and is necessary to achieve the second installation. The Beta system, which is being constructed at Dunsfold, Surrey, will provide the test bed for future developments prior to, or in parallel with, deployment at partners’ premises.

Today’s announcement builds on a recent progress report from Dr Jon Helliwell, Project Manager of Fuel Cell Applications at the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI). Following a detailed assessment of AFC Energy’s technical activity, Dr Helliwell’s fifth report concluded that AFC Energy has made good progress on all actions needed to complete the HAZOP study.

Ian Balchin, Deputy Chairman of AFC Energy, commented:
“The Beta system is the tangible result of our continued rapid technical progress. With low lifetime-cost at its heart, this modular fully scalable fuel cell system is designed to place AFC Energy as a leader in clean energy generation.”

AFC Energy is inviting stakeholders to come and see the Beta system for themselves at the Company’s premises in Dunsfold. Open days will be held in the autumn, at which places are expected to be in high demand.

The rapid progress made by AFC Energy in the last few months has contributed to a number of key industry tie ups. Last month Linc Energy, the global leader in underground coal gasification, increased its shareholding in AFC Energy from 10 per cent to 12 per cent. Combined with funding from existing investors, this enabled the Company to raise £3.95 million net.

Earlier this year AFC Energy announced a Memorandum of Understanding with leading retailer the John Lewis Partnership, to evaluate the economic potential of using one of its fuel cell system to generate low carbon emission electricity for Waitrose supermarkets and John Lewis stores. The Company also signed a binding Heads of Terms with N2telligence GmbH relating to the use of alkaline fuel cells for fire protection, opening up yet another avenue for AFC Energy’s fuel cells.

Beta System Update & Notice of Results

First Installation of Commercial Scale System

AFC Energy PLC (AIM: AFC), the developer of low cost alkaline fuel cells, is pleased to confirm that it continues to make good progress and is currently commissioning its first Beta alkaline fuel cell system.

Highlights

· Completion of first stage of Beta system commissioning at Dunsfold, Surrey;

· Good progress on completion of HAZOP (see footnote) with no onerous re-design requirements;

· On track to deliver its commercial-scale Beta system once the HAZOP study is successfully complete;

· Shareholder open days to be held in September/October.

The Company has made significant progress on completing the hazard and operability (”HAZOP”) study and has incorporated the emerging improvements from that study into its first Beta alkaline fuel cell system. This system, which is being constructed at Dunsfold, Surrey, will provide the test bed and demonstration for future developments prior to, or in parallel with, deployment at partners’ premises.

AFC Energy is also pleased to announce that this Beta alkaline fuel cell system has successfully completed the first phase of the commissioning process.

The Board of directors of AFC Energy (”Board”) considers that the investment of time and effort in addressing the HAZOP systematically will have long term benefits in terms of partner confidence and commercial deployment of future systems. The Board is pleased to confirm that none of the issues arising from the HAZOP require a significant re-design of the system but acknowledges that it slightly under-estimated the time required to address all points comprehensively.

AFC Energy remains on track to deliver its commercial-scale Beta system once the HAZOP study is successfully complete.

AFC Energy is also pleased to advise shareholders that they will be able to see the first Beta system at the Company’s premises in Dunsfold, Surrey during open days on 15 September and 12 October 2011. It is anticipated that this system will incorporate all of the improvements from the HAZOP. Places at the open days will be limited and are offered to all shareholders on a first come first served basis through the Company’s website.

Ian Balchin, AFC Energy’s Executive Deputy Chairman, said: “We are pleased with the continued rapid progress of this modular, commercial-scale product. We have found the HAZOP process to be extremely valuable and believe that it will stand us in good stead for the future. We are working closely with our commercial partners on the first sites for field demonstration.”

Notice of Results

AFC Energy expects to update shareholders with further announcements concerning its progress with the Beta system shortly. The Company will also be announcing its results, for the six months to 30 April 2011, on Thursday 7 July 2011.

ENDS

Note: HAZOP stands for hazard and operability analysis. A hazard and operability study is a systematic analysis of all foreseeable deviations from the normal situations (including disruptions of operations), the causes of these deviations, the consequences and the necessary actions.

For further information, please contact:

About AFC Energy

AFC Energy is a world leading developer of low-cost alkaline fuel cells that uses hydrogen to produce clean electricity. AFC Energy’s technology is focused on large-scale industrial applications and the objective of producing the lowest possible unit cost electricity. AFC Energy’s alkaline fuel cell has the capability to significantly reduce carbon emissions for businesses of all shapes and sizes. The technology is the most efficient method of converting hydrogen into electricity, and by-products, such as low grade heat and water, further increase energy efficiency and commercial value.

CAESAREA, Israel–Energy Technology Ventures – a GE, NRG Energy and ConocoPhillips joint venture – is making its first non-US and first water-related investment by providing capital to Emefcy Ltd, an Israeli company that can turn wastewater treatment from a huge energy drain to an electricity generator.

Emefcy’s technology uses naturally occurring bacteria in an electrogenic bioreactor to treat wastewater. The organic material in the waste produces power and treated water, transforming wastewater treatment from an energy-intensive, cost-intensive and carbon-intensive process, into an energy-generating and carbon-reducing process.

The benefits are both economic and environmental: Conventional wastewater treatment uses 2 percent of global power capacity (80,000 megawatts and 57,000,000 tons per year of carbon dioxide), costing $40 billion per year. Rather than using conventional energy-intensive aerobic processes or methane-producing anaerobic digestion to treat wastewater, Emefcy harvests renewable energy directly from the wastewater and feeds it to the power grid, enabling the energy-positive wastewater treatment plant. The primary initial applications are for wastewater treatment in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and chemical industries, with total market potential of US$10 billion annually.

Energy Technology Ventures was joined in the funding round for Emefcy by Pond Venture Partners, Plan B Ventures and Israel Cleantech Ventures. Financial details were not disclosed.

“We will use Energy Technology Ventures’ investment to continue development of our technology into full-scale commercial implementation by the end of this year for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment,” said Emefcy’s CEO, Eytan Levy. “All told, wastewater treatment is a US$100 billion industry, and our technology can significantly reduce the economic and environmental costs.”

One of the partners in Energy Technology Ventures, GE, is active in wastewater treatment and is expanding its technology focus on Israel, called the “Silicon Valley of water technology.

Israel is an important center for innovation and scientific discovery. GE this month opened its newest multi-disciplinary Research and Development Center, in Haifa. A dozen researchers will be hired to evaluate and work on clean energy, water and healthcare technology projects. The new Israel Technology Center will facilitate the introduction of advanced technologies to GE through partnerships with local technology companies and academia.

The GE investment was made through business unit GE Energy Financial Services, which has made one other investment in an Israeli technology company — SolarEdge, a provider of smart, holistic solar photovoltaic power harvesting and monitoring solutions for maximum energy and cost efficiency. SolarEdge is based in Hod Hasharon, Israel.

About Emefcy

Emefcy www.emefcy.com was founded in early 2008, by serial water technology entrepreneurs Eytan Levy and Ronen Shechter, who also founded AqWise www.aqwise.com Marked as one of the most promising water technology start-up companies, Emefcy is a laureate of many technology leadership awards such as Guardian’s Cleantech 100, Global Water Technologies top 10, Artemis Top 50 and more.

About Energy Technology Ventures

Energy Technology Ventures is a joint venture involving GE (NYSE: GE), NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG), and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) focused on the development of next-generation energy technologies. Bringing together three market-leading companies with a wide range of deep technical and financial expertise, relationships, services and products, the joint venture invests in, and offers commercial collaboration opportunities to, venture- and growth-stage energy technology companies in the renewable power generation, smart grid, energy efficiency, oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear energy, emission controls, water and biofuels sectors, primarily in North America, Europe and Israel. For more information, visit www.energytechnologyventures.com.

About GE Energy Financial Services

GE Energy Financial Services’ experts invest globally with a long-term view, backed by the best of GE’s technical know-how, financial strength and rigorous risk management, across the capital spectrum, in one of the world’s most capital-intensive industries, energy. GE Energy Financial Services helps its customers and GE grow through new investments, strong partnerships and optimization of its US $21 billion in assets. GE Energy Financial Services is based in Stamford, Connecticut. For more information, visit www.geenergyfinancialservices.com.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) is an advanced technology, services and finance company taking on the world’s toughest challenges. Dedicated to innovation in energy, health, transportation and infrastructure, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.ge.com.

Tiny metallic particles produced by University of Adelaide chemistry researchers are bringing new hope for the production of cheap, efficient and clean hydrogen energy.

Led by Associate Professor Greg Metha, Head of Chemistry, the researchers are exploring how the metal nanoparticles act as highly efficient catalysts in using solar radiation to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

“Efficient and direct production of hydrogen from solar radiation provides a renewable energy source that is the pinnacle of clean energy,” said Associate Professor Greg Metha. “We believe this work will contribute significantly to the global effort to convert solar energy into portable chemical energy.”

The latest research is the outcome of 14 years of fundamental research by Associate Professor Metha’s research group investigating the synthesis and properties of metal nanoparticles and how they work as catalysts at the molecular level.

The group works with metal “clusters” of about one-quarter of a nanometre in size – less than 10 atoms. Associate Professor Metha said these tiny “magic clusters” act as super-efficient catalysts. Catalysts drive chemical reactions, reducing the amount of energy required.

“We’ve discovered ways of producing these tiny metallic clusters, we’ve explored their fundamental chemical activity, and now we are applying their catalytic properties to reactions which have great potential benefit for industrial use and the environment,” said Associate Professor Metha.

PhD student Jason Alvino is exploring splitting water to make hydrogen (and oxygen) using solar energy – a process that is not viable for industry development at the moment.

“We know this catalysis works very efficiently at the molecular level and now need to demonstrate it works on the macroscopic scale,” said Associate Professor Metha.

“Splitting water to make hydrogen and oxygen requires a lot of energy and is an expensive process. We will be using solar radiation as the energy source, so there will be no carbon emissions and because the clusters work so efficiently as a catalyst, it will be a much better process.

“The ultimate aim is to produce hydrogen from water as a cheap portable energy source.”

Associate Professor Metha said there were also other industrial chemical reactions that could be made feasible by these catalysts, using solar radiation as the energy source – with potentially significant environmental benefits. One example was converting carbon dioxide into methane or methanol with water.

This project ‘Solar Hydrogen: photocatalytic generation of hydrogen from water’, has been funded under the three-year clean energy partnership between Adelaide Airport Ltd and the University’s Centre for Energy Technology.

LATHAM, N.Y. — Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG), a leader in providing clean, reliable energy solutions, today announces it has added Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) to its growing list of GenDrive^® customers. Plug Power will supply 161 GenDrive fuel cells to Kroger’s food distribution center in Compton, CA. The order includes 4 class-1 units for sit down counterbalanced trucks, 42 class-2 units for reach trucks and 115 class-3 units for pallet trucks.

With this partnership, Kroger will power its fleet of electric lift trucks with GenDrive fuel cells. Because GenDrive is fueled with hydrogen, the only byproducts created through the electrochemical energy-conversion process are heat and water.

Plug Power and Kroger have developed a hydrogen fueling infrastructure, placing compact dispensers strategically throughout the facility. Lift truck operators can fuel the GenDrive units themselves in as little as sixty seconds. Once fueled, trucks resume activity on the facility floor, moving products. Productivity improvements can be expected as the electric lift truck operates at full power as long as fuel is supplied.

“Kroger tested our GenDrive product and saw clear benefits to its operations which led them to engage with Plug Power on a full conversion of their facility,” said Andy Marsh. “Plug Power’s customers are leaders in the industry; forward-thinkers working toward building better, more efficient and more sustainable businesses for its customers, employees and communities. Kroger fits that mold perfectly.”

Environmentally conscious business operations with a positive economic impact are at the forefront of decision-making in the material handling industry. And, Plug Power’s GenDrive product is helping sustainably-progressive customers, such as Kroger, take charge of its greenhouse gas emission footprint.

State debuts new hydrogen bus: wtnh.com

• By: Annie Rourke

Years of researching new ways to store hydrogen efficiently – a vital prerequisite for any ‘hydrogen economy’ – have resulted in numerous exotic potential storage systems, from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to carbon nanotubes. But now theoretical chemists in the US have suggested a rather more commonplace solution: ice.

William Goddard, of the California Institute of Technology, and colleagues Tod Pascal and Christopher Boxe used complex quantum mechanical modelling coupled with high-powered statistics to investigate. They have now concluded that the common form of ice, made up of hexagonal crystals, could store hydrogen more effectively than existing materials.

‘It sounds like a crazy idea, and we were very nervous about publishing it,’ Goddard says. ‘But the simulations suggest that it could be a feasible approach.’

The idea came from modelling phase transitions of water. ‘We noticed that when you heat crystalline ice, as it starts melting, a molecule of water comes out of the ice framework and whizzes along little channels present throughout the crystal structure. We wondered that, if these channels were big enough to accommodate water molecules, could they hold hydrogen?’

Goddard has used his modelling methods extensively in the past to accurately predict the hydrogen storage capacity of a range of new materials such as MOFs. The team’s calculations suggest that hexagonal ice crystals can hold 3.8 per cent by weight of hydrogen if the crystals are loaded at a temperature of 150K. This compares with 1.3 per cent by weight for the current best performing MOF. The hydrogen can be stored at a few degrees below freezing then released by melting the ice.

There would be a range of engineering hurdles to overcome, Goddard says. For example at the surface of the ice, the crystalline structure breaks down so the ice would need to be crushed before loading with hydrogen to expose fresh crystals.

‘Current hydrogen storage solutions either require high pressure to achieve sufficiently high hydrogen densities, high temperatures for hydrogen release, complex re-hydrogenation processes, or store low gravimetric densities of hydrogen,’ says Martin Jones, who researches novel hydrogen storage materials at the University of Oxford in the UK. The ice approach would store reasonable amounts of hydrogen, release it at room temperature and work at moderate pressure. ‘Above all, the storage material is cheap,’ Jones adds.

But the systems needed to handle the ice and hydrogen would add weight and reduce the efficiency of the system, he says. ‘Furthermore, creating a system with high surface area ice, and maintaining it, would not be straightforward,’ he says. ‘Clearly corroboratory experiments will need to be performed.’

Simon Hadlington

Bac2 develops materials and components for cleantech applications.

ElectroPhen® is a low-cost, electrically conductive plastic from which the company manufactures conductive plates for fuel cells. ElectroPhen is also available as a raw material for other electrical and electronic applications.

The CSRxx family of latent acid catalysts gives better control of pre-polymeric mixes, allowing them to be mixed, stored and then cured at low temperature. This reduces the energy needed in a wide variety of manufacturing processes and cuts costs.

Bac2 has customers in Europe, North and South America, and Asia and the applications for its innovative materials expand with each new development.

Tokyo– Tanaka Holdings Co., Ltd. (Holding company of Tanaka Precious Metals) today announced that Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo K.K., which boasts the world’s leading share in fuel cell catalysts, had posted record shipment volume of fuel cell catalysts in FY2010 (April 2010 – March 2011).

Looking at the shipment volume (index) based on FY2004(1) (see the image in the full release), the shipment volume for FY2010 greatly surpassed the previous record set in FY2006 (169%) and marked a record high at 198%. In addition to the spread of home fuel cells which are called “ENE-FARM” in Japan, active R&D of fuel cell vehicles (FCV) is believed to have pushed up the shipment volume.

Shipments for home fuel cells reached record level of 323%

In particular, remarkable growth of the volume shipped for home use was marked in FY2010, and the new record of 323% significantly outstripped the level established in FY2009 (234%) when full-scale sales of home fuel cells began. Steady progress in their spread due to subsidies from the government, gas and oil companies, along with environmental friendly boom of these days, also led to a significant increase in the shipment volume of catalyst, rising to 1.4 times the level of FY2009.

Furthermore, home fuel cells are gaining much attention due to heightened awareness of power savings since April 2011. The market is expected to continue to expand in FY2011 with the release of a new compact version at an affordable price, and this is expected to result in increased demand for catalyst in the future.

Automotive catalysts increased to 162% with the acceleration of research on FCV

After R&D demand calm down in FY2008 (135%) and FY2009 (133%), shipments for automotive use rose to 162% in FY2010. Automotive companies and energy-related companies are currently preparing for the large-scale market release of FCVs in 2015(2) when they are expected to become widespread, and have begun development of mass produced FCVs and joint efforts to establish hydrogen supply infrastructure. Recent economic trends such as energy issues and the high price of oil have contributed to heightened interest in FCVs, and demand for catalysts used in FCVs is forecast to continue to rise in the future.

Fuel cells, which are clean, environmental friendly and have excellent energy efficiency, face issues such as cost, durability and performance, however, development of practical technology for use as the promising next generation of energy technology, verification tests, establishment of infrastructure and projects to promote the technology are being provided on a national level. This is expected to result in further demand for precious metal catalysts used in the fuel reformers in fuel cells.

Tanaka Kikinzoku Kogyo will quickly identify the requirements of the fuel cell market and establish a production system able to respond to customers’ needs, while working on the enhancement of research and recycling to reduce the use amount of rare precious metals in order to lower costs and effectively utilize resources, and developing new technologies and new products aimed at spreading the use of fuel cells in the future.

ITM Power (AIM: ITM), the energy storage and clean fuel company, is pleased to announce its participation in the collaboration project “Coated Metal Hydrides for Energy Storage” with E.ON, eminate Limited, the University of Nottingham, Teer Coatings Ltd (Miba Coating Group) and Sunamp Ltd. The project is part-funded by the government-backed Technology Strategy Board and ITM Power will receive £66,000 over a three year period.

Hydrogen (Other OTC: HYDGQ.PK – news) is accepted as an integral part of the move towards clean, sustainable energy systems. One of the main issues yet to be resolved in a commercially viable way is that of safe and cost effective gas storage. One attractive option is the use of solid hydrides that can absorb and release hydrogen on demand at relatively low pressures. However, storage systems must combine optimum gas kinetics with the practicalities of system manufacturing and safety. While the move towards high surface area to volume ratio nano-particulates improves the kinetics, handling and containing these reactive materials presents enormous difficulties.

An alternative approach was proposed and addressed successfully in a feasibility study funded by the Technology Strategy Board. This project progresses that successful approach. ITM Power’s role is to test and critically analyse the hydrogen storage hydrides produced by the project partners with direct coupling with electrolysers and re-use in fuel cells. ITM Power will be analysing the efficiencies and ease of use as well as contributing to market analysis.

Dr. Graham Cooley, CEO of ITM Power commented:“Energy (NYSEArca: JJE ) storage will be the critical component in future energy systems and ITM Power is at the centre of this technology. There will be many solutions to the energy storage conundrum and all of the solutions will be required if we are to harness renewable energy successfully. We are pleased to be a collaborator in this project.”

Developed by the Naval Research Laboratory Bioenergy and Biofabrication Section in the Chemistry Division and the Physical Acoustics Branch of the Acoustic Division, the Zero Power Ballast Control (ZPBC) is a technology that relies on microbial energy harvesting developments to enable unsupervised underwater sensing with subsequent surfacing and reporting capabilities.

The current device is composed of two chambers: the top, “dry” chamber containing the electronics, valves, solenoids, and timers; and the lower chamber, that contains the growth chamber (center tube) that becomes pressurized while bacteria are growing. The device is assembled on-site and has settings for duration between cycling (i.e., how often it comes to the surface, how long it should stay at the surface and how long the valve is open to allow gas to fill the lower chamber). U.S. Navy Reserve/Tom Boyd

With an ultimate goal of producing simple, small, power-efficient data harvesting nodes with variable buoyancy the device will be able to monitor ocean temperatures with a stay time ranging from weeks to months and eventually years, providing a longer term than other mechanisms such as the Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT).

“Preliminary trials were successful in many ways,” said Dr. Justin Biffinger. “The device surfaced and submerged periodically as designed via hydrogen gas produced from the microbial inoculum and growth medium, proving the device generated gas in sufficient quantity to produce buoyancy.”

During testing of two ZPBC systems, the rise and fall of the devices were supported by on-board pressure and temperature sensor data and direct observation. The bacterial fuel source (inoculated gas production vessel) was then attached and the two ZPBC devices were deployed in situ off a military pier in Sattahip, Thailand, and held in place by mooring lines for seven days.

Using a low-power (1 to 10 milliwatt [mW]) timer, or only the rate of microbial gas generation that requires zero power input, the device can be alternatively configured to surface “on-demand.” Sensors (e.g., acoustic, magnetic) attached to the ZPBC could be used to detect and classify, monitor the rise to the surface, report using RF or other communication, then re-submerge and continue monitoring operations.

In the future, the ZPBC will provide input for robust modeling of ocean temperatures and other parameters. The ZPBC could also be used to provide in-water optical data to enhance models for underwater visibilities, laser penetration depths, diver and target vulnerability assessments, electro-optical system performance predictions, and refining numerical models.

The bacterial fuel source (inoculated gas production vessel) was attached to the two ZPBC devices, which were then deployed in situ off a military pier in Sattahip, Thailand and held in place by mooring lines for seven days. U.S. Navy Reserve/Tom Boyd

Military utility and scientific applications include use in Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Mine Warfare (MIW), Naval Special Warfare (NSW), and Meteorology and Oceanography (METOC). Continued prototyping could include geo-referencing capabilities so that the device could be untethered in future tests.

The Office of Naval Research (ONR)/Naval Research Laboratory Reserve Program, (Program 38) was tasked to conduct an experiment on ONR and NRL technologies which were incorporated into the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) Experimentation Center (MEC) Crimson Viper 2010 (CV10) Field Experiment.

Crimson Viper is a Thai-US technology collaboration experimentation event jointly sponsored by the US Pacific Command (USPACOM) and the Royal Thai Defense Science and Technology Department (DSTD). The U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific (MARFORPAC) Experimentation Center (MEC), under the leadership of its Director, Mr. Shujie Chang, acts as the Thailand Science and Technology (S&T) executive agent for USPACOM.

The BioEnergy and BioFabrication section has a wide range of biological expertise with a focus in energy and biofabrication applications. Bioenergy capabilities range from basic investigations into microbial metabolism and extracellular electron transfer mechanisms to more applied application of biological systems for energy production. Biofabrication efforts are focused on creating heterogeneous three-dimensional in vitro tissues via biological laser printing (BioLP) and the use of BioLP to isolate novel microorganisms from environmental samples.

The Physical Acoustics Branch conducts a research and technology program aimed at developing new opportunities for exploiting physical acoustic and structural-acoustic-related phenomena, processes, and technologies in areas and systems of importance to the Navy, the Department of Defense and the Nation.

Columbia, SC – South Carolina is named a Top 5 Fuel Cell State for the second year in a row. News of this honor came Tuesday with the release of Fuel Cell 2000’s 2011 “State of the States: Fuel Cells in America” report.

The Top 5 states – South Carolina, California, Connecticut, New York, and Ohio – continued to reign supreme from 2010. South Carolina has become a major player in the hydrogen and fuel cell industry over the past few years and continues to grow and expand its efforts through education and outreach, infrastructure development, hydrogen research and development, fuel cell research and development, technology transfer and policy development.

“South Carolina is rife with opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and ultimately success,” said Neil McLean, executive director for the USC Columbia-Fuel Cell Collaborative. “We are fortunate in Columbia to have a pioneering community of industry leaders, government officials, and researchers dedicated to creating a cutting-edge nexus of industry innovation. This honor continues to validate our state and community’s work and prove hydrogen and fuel cells are the way of the future.”

“Supportive state policies are helping foster fuel cell installations, company relocations and growth to help keep the U.S. at the forefront of fuel cell commercialization, despite competition from countries such as Japan, Korea and Germany,” said Jennifer Gangi, program director for Fuel Cells 2000 and one of the authors of the (State of the States: Fuel Cells in America) report. “Continued federal and state support is crucial to moving the emerging fuel cell industry into full-fledged commercialization for a wide variety of applications and power needs.”

South Carolina’s positive initiatives towards aiding in the expansion of the hydrogen and fuel cell industries have become a leader and model for other states to follow. The report noted Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland and Texas as “Up and Coming” states to watch.

“We are pleased to again be honored with this top recognition as a leader in the industry,” said Shannon Baxter-Clemmons, Ph. D., executive director for the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance. “South Carolina is well positioned to accept the continued growth of the hydrogen and fuel cell industry. Currently, South Carolina is the only state to uniformly permit hydrogen and fuel cells at the state level while using internationally recognized codes and standards and is home to two hydrogen fueling stations (located in Columbia and Graniteville). These efforts will aid in safe, effective and efficient adoption and commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cells – which is good news since most major automotive companies are slated to begin mass commercialization of their fuel cell vehicles by 2015.”

To view the full “State of the States: Fuel Cells in America” report, please go to http://www.fuelcells.org/statereport.html.

VANCOUVER–Ballard Power Systems (TSX:BLD.to) (NASDAQ:BLDP) announced that it has received a number of inquiries related to recent media reports claiming that Ballard is considering a significant investment in an Indian corporation. Ballard has no current plan or intention of effecting any such transaction and indeed, has not had any contact with the identified company.

While Ballard’s normal policy is not to respond to market rumours, the extensive distribution this erroneous report is receiving necessitated this response by Ballard.

Berlin–There is a tradition at Berliner Stadtreinigung of encouraging innovation and implementing it in cooperation with other companies. One current example is the development of a fuel cell drive for the loading systems of refuse collection vehicles. Supported by the German Federal Ministry of Transport, the Berlin-based Heliocentris Energiesysteme GmbH and the body manufacturer FAUN have developed a vehicle that is considerably quieter than its peers and consumes up to 30% less diesel.

The vehicle is currently undergoing tests with BSR. The world’s first fuel-cell-powered refuse lorry will be in everyday operation for two years in Adlershof, Friedrichshain and Lichtenberg. This practical test is intended to demonstrate that the vehicle can function just as well during loading as its conventional diesel counterparts, all while emitting zero carbon dioxide, zero nitrogen monoxide and zero particulate matter. The fuel cell produces nothing but water. “The vehicle’s diesel engine is used only for driving and is switched off when refuse is being loaded. The electrical energy for the loading process comes from a fuel cell integrated in the vehicle”, explains Dr Johannes F. Kirchhoff, Chief Executive Officer of the FAUN Group.

For this purpose, Heliocentris Energiesysteme GmbH has developed a “power box”, installed behind the cab, which contains a 32 kW fuel cell power unit along with the hydrogen tank, air supply and cooling systems necessary for its operation. “Our aim is to find out whether this solution is suitable for series production. This means that we now have to put the prototypes through their paces in everyday use”, comments Dr András Gosztonyi, member of the Managing Board at Heliocentris.

Secretary of State Dr Jens-Peter Heuer, Senate Department for Economics, Technology and Women’s Issues, foresees the fuel cell vehicle making a significant contribution to environmentally compatible mobility: “Heliocentris in Adlershof is a Berlin-based company with technological developments that place it at the forefront of energy storage solutions. This is just what Berlin needs as a model city for electromobility.”

The Federal Ministry of Transport aided the development of the prototype as part of the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Programme (NIP) by providing approximately €800,000. “We want to enable mobility, not hinder it. This means that we need sustainable solutions for the transport of the future. Electromobility using batteries and fuel cells offers reasonable alternatives in this respect. That is particularly true of city traffic. With innovative technologies such as these, we are not only contributing to the reduction of environmentally harmful emissions, but also ensuring that our cities are quieter. We are using our support programmes to help both commerce and science in terms of research, development and demonstration, so that technologies of the future like these can find their way into practical applications. The NIP alone is making €500 million available over a period of ten years”, says Rainer Bomba, Secretary of State at the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development.

The NIP is coordinated by NOW GmbH (Nationale Organisation Wasserstoff- und Brennstoffzellentechnologie – National Organisation of Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology). Spokesman for the company management Dr Klaus Bonhoff comments: “This fuel cell offers enhanced efficiency in a wide range of applications. Testing in everyday situations is essential for a successful market launch. We are delighted by the boldness and pioneering spirit exhibited by all the experts involved.”

Andreas Scholz-Fleischmann, personnel director at BSR – and responsible for the BSR fleet – awaits the test phase under real operating conditions with excitement. “Berliner Stadtreinigung is a forward-looking company and has for many years been in the vanguard when it comes to the use of innovative technologies for environmental protection. Stimulating and cultivating innovation is a core aspect of our strategy of low charges and high environmental standards.”

FAUN is a market leader in refuse collection vehicles and road sweepers in Europe and as part of the cooperation project is supplying the vehicle body for the loading and compression of the waste, as well as the technical know-how for the energy recovery aspect of the hybrid concept. The company is based in Osterholz-Scharmbeck (Lower Saxony). FAUN employs over 1,000 people worldwide.

Heliocentris Energiesysteme GmbH is a specialist in hybrid energy storage solutions based on fuel cells, batteries and energy management and is based in Adlershof, Berlin.

Nationale Organisation Wasserstoff- und Brennstoffzellentechnologie GmbH (NOW) was established in 2008. NOW GmbH is responsible for the coordination and management of the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Innovation Programme (NIP) and the Electromobility Model Regions programme set up by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development.

NexTech Materials, Ltd., a leader in the development and manufacturing of innovative products for energy and environmental markets, has been awarded ISO 9001:2008 certification for its Quality Management System, demonstrating its uncompromising commitment to providing the highest quality products and services to its customers.

“Obtaining this certification validates all of our efforts to improve the quality, delivery and dependability of our products and services,” said William Dawson, CEO of NexTech Materials.  “This is a continuation of our efforts to establish ourselves as a premier supplier of products and services to our targeted environmental and energy markets, and is a significant milestone in our continuous improvement efforts.”

“Customers want to be confident that they are doing business with an organization that can consistently meet or exceed their needs on time,” said Lora Thrun, Director of Commercialization at NexTech.  “Successfully completing the rigorous process required for ISO 9001 certification is a clear sign that we are committed to superior product quality and customer satisfaction.”

NexTech Materials received its ISO 9001:2008 registration from ASR International Corporation, an accredited registrar that performs assessments of management systems against requirements of national and international standards for quality.  NexTech’s Quality Management System and ISO 9001:2008 certification is applicable to all facets of its operations – the design, development, production, and distribution of ceramic materials, fuel cells, catalysts, sensors, and associated components.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Hydrogenics Corporation (Nasdaq:HYGS) (TSX:HYG), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, today announced the promotion of Jennifer Barber to Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary. Ms. Barber, a Chartered Accountant, has been with Hydrogenics since 2001, having served as Vice President, Finance and Corporate Controller since 2005 and is responsible for the Corporation’s financial reporting and accounting operations.

Ms. Barber assumes the role of Chief Financial Officer effective July 29, 2011 replacing Lawrence Davis. Mr. Davis, who was Chief Financial Officer since 2005, has resigned to pursue a senior finance role with the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.

“Jennifer’s financial experience, leadership, and extensive knowledge of the Corporation and alternative energy industry are well suited for our current growth phase,” said Daryl Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer. ”Jennifer has built a solid finance team that will help ensure a seamless transition as we pursue our growth initiatives. We thank Lawrence Davis for his leadership and dedication over the past six years and wish him well in his new role,” added Wilson.

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.

Minister: Britain Should be Global Leader in the Design, Manufacture and Use of Low Emission Vehicles

Dozens of MPs and Peers took a spin in a hydrogen powered car on Tuesday as the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL and an Air Products (NYSE: APD) hydrogen fuelling station were brought to Parliament for the first time.
Policymakers, including the Transport Minister Norman Baker, were given the opportunity to drive the F-CELL on the roads around Parliament and see an Air Products hydrogen fuelling station, which can fill up the vehicle in less than four minutes.

The demonstration, held opposite the Palace of Westminster, also gave the public an opportunity to see the state-of-the-art hydrogen transport technology and talk to some of Air Products’ and Daimler’s hydrogen transport experts.

Diana Raine, Air Products, Hydrogen Energy Systems said: “It was great to give the Transport Minister, and so many other policymakers, an opportunity to see this hydrogen transport technology in person. The technology Air Products and Daimler have brought to Parliament today is at the forefront of efforts to develop a hydrogen transport infrastructure for the UK.”

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: “Low carbon vehicles are central to our efforts to tackle greenhouse gas emissions – we must recognise that it is carbon, not the car that is the problem.

“I’d like to thank Air Products and Daimler for the opportunity to see the finer details of a hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle and showcase a refuelling for me. I hope many MPs have had the opportunity to have a look at the car today and become familiar with the technology.

“Our goal is to make Britain as a global leader in the design, production and use of electric and ultra-low emission cars and at the forefront of efforts to decarbonise motoring. Only last week my colleague Greg Barker announced a new £7.5 million Technology Strategy Board demonstrator programme that will help accelerate the adoption of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, bringing them into everyday use.”

Ceramic Fuel Cells’ BlueGen gas-to-electricity technology wins Microgeneration UK 2011 Technical Innovation Award

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited, [AIM/ASX:CFU] a leading developer of high efficiency and low emission electricity generation units for homes and other buildings, today announced its BlueGen gas-to-electricity unit has won the Microgeneration UK 2011 Technical Innovation Award, announced at the culmination of the Microgeneration UK 2011 conference in London.

Microgeneration UK 2011 – which brings together policymakers, investors, suppliers and customers – celebrates the best of the UK microgeneration industry. It is run by Micropower Council, the British Photovoltaic Association and the British Heating and Hot Water Industry Council.

The Technical Innovation Award, one of five categories, was announced at a gala dinner on Tuesday 21 June in London and was presented by Baroness Maddock of Christchurch, President of the Micropower Council.

Baroness Maddock said: “CFCL is playing a key role in pioneering technology that can help provide a source of cleaner, more efficient, low cost energy. Currently collaborating with multiple partners across the globe to help bring cleaner electricity, CFCL is a great example of how innovation within the microgeneration sector can deliver tangible benefits.”

Brendan Dow, Managing Director of Ceramic Fuel Cells, said: “We are thrilled to accept this prestigious award, and are delighted that our ground-breaking technology has been recognised by Microgeneration UK 2011. More and more Ceramic Fuel Cells is being recognised as a world leader in the development of fuel cell technology to provide reliable, low-emission electricity from widely available natural gas.”

In May 2011, BlueGen won both the 2010-11 ‘CEO Award’ – DuPont Australia and New Zealand’s most prestigious innovation award – as well as the ‘Design for a Sustainable Future’ award, one of seven categories at the biennial DuPont Australia & New Zealand Innovation Awards.

BlueGen uses ceramic fuel cells to turn natural gas into electricity and heat for hot water, with each unit capable of producing more than three times the electricity needed to power the average United Kingdom home. Surplus electricity can be exported back to the power grid. BlueGen also provides heat for domestic hot water use. BlueGen units operate constantly, generating 1.5 kilowatts of electricity plus heat for hot water, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of weather.

BlueGen has the highest electrical efficiency of any small-scale power generation system in the world, reducing energy bills as well as making significant carbon savings.

Regents professor Meilin Liu holds a button fuel cell used to evaluate a new self-cleaning anode material based on barium oxide. The self-cleaning technique could allow fuel cells to be powered by coal gas. (Georgia Tech Photo: Gary Meek).

Using barium oxide nanoparticles, researchers have developed a self-cleaning technique that could allow solid oxide fuel cells to be powered directly by coal gas at operating temperatures as low as 750 degrees Celsius. The technique could provide a cleaner and more efficient alternative to conventional power plants for generating electricity from the nation’s vast coal reserves.

Solid oxide fuel cells can operate on a wide variety of fuels, and use hydrocarbons gases directly — without a separate reformer. The fuel cells rely on anodes made from nickel and a ceramic material known as yttria-stabilized zirconia. Until now, however, carbon-containing fuels such as coal gas or propane could quickly deactivate these Ni-YSZ anodes, clogging them with carbon deposits in a process known as “coking” — especially at lower operating temperatures.

To counter this problem, researchers have developed a technique for growing barium oxide nanostructures on the anodes. The structures adsorb moisture to initiate a water-based chemical reaction that oxidizes the carbon as it forms, keeping the nickel electrode surfaces clean even when carbon-containing fuels are used at low temperatures.

“This could ultimately be the cleanest, most efficient and cost-effective way of converting coal into electricity,” said Meilin Liu, a Regents professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “And by providing an exhaust stream of pure carbon dioxide, this technique could also facilitate carbon sequestration without the separation and purification steps now required for conventional coal-burning power plants.”

The water-mediated carbon removal technique was reported June 21 in the journal Nature Communications. The research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Basic Energy Sciences, through the HeteroFoaM Center, an Energy Frontier Research Center. The work also involved researchers from Brookhaven National Laboratory, the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Conventional coal-fired electric generating facilities capture just a third of the energy available in the fuel they burn. Fuel cells can convert significantly more of the energy, approximately 50 percent. If gas turbines and fuel cells could be combined into hybrid systems, researchers believe they could capture as much as 80 percent of the energy, reducing the amount of coal needed to produce a given amount of energy, potentially cutting carbon emissions.

But that would only be possible if the fuel cells could run for long periods of time on coal gas, which now deactivates the anodes after as little as 30 minutes of operation.

The carbon removal system developed by the Georgia Tech-led team uses a vapor deposition process to apply barium oxide nanoparticles to the nickel-YSZ electrode. The particles, which range in size from 10 to 100 nanometers, form “islands” on the nickel that do not block the flow of electrons across the electrode surface.

When water vapor introduced into the coal gas stream contacts the barium oxide, it is adsorbed and dissociates into protons and hydroxide (OH) ions. The hydroxide ions move to the nickel surface, where they combine with the carbon atoms being deposited there, forming the intermediate COH. The COH then dissociates into carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which are oxidized to power the fuel cell, ultimately producing carbon dioxide and water. About half of the carbon dioxide is then recirculated back to gasify the coal to coal gas to continue the process.

“We can continuously operate the fuel cell without the problem of carbon deposition,” said Liu, who is also co-director of Georgia Tech’s Center for Innovative Fuel Cell and Battery Technologies.

The researchers also evaluated the use of propane to power solid oxide fuel cells using the new anode system. Because oxidation of the hydrogen in the propane produces water, no additional water vapor had to be added, and the system operated successfully for a period of time similar to the coal gas system.

Solid oxide fuel cells operate most efficiently at temperatures above 850 degrees Celsius, and much less carbon is deposited at higher temperatures. However, those operating temperatures require fabrication from special materials that are expensive — and prevent solid oxide fuel cells from being cost-effective for many applications.

Reducing the operating temperatures is a research goal, because dropping temperatures to 700 or 750 degrees Celsius would allow the use of much less expensive components for interconnects and other important components. However, until development of the self-cleaning process, reducing the operating temperature meant worsening the coking problem.

“Reducing the operating temperature significantly by eliminating the problem of carbon deposition could make these solid oxide fuel cells economically competitive,” Liu said.

Fuel cells powered by coal gas still produce carbon dioxide, but in a much purer form than the stack gases leaving traditional coal-fired power plants. That would make capturing the carbon dioxide for sequestration less expensive by eliminating large-scale separation and purification steps, Liu noted.

The researchers have so far tested their process for a hundred hours, and saw no evidence of carbon build-up. A major challenge ahead is to test the long-term durability of the system for fuel cells that are designed to operate for as long as five years. Researchers must also study the potential impact of possible fuel contaminants on the new electrode.

Forming the barium oxide structures can be done as part of conventional anode fabrication processes, and would not require additional steps. The anodes produced in the technique are compatible with standard solid oxide fuel cell systems that are already being developed for commercial electricity generation, home power generation and automotive applications.

“We have started with state-of-the-art technology, and simply modified the surface of the electrode,” said Mingfei Liu, a postdoctoral researcher in the Center. “Because our electrode would be built on existing technology, there is a lower barrier for implementing it in conventional fuel cell systems.”

In addition to those already mentioned, the research team included Lei Yang, Wentao Qin and Kevin Blinn from Georgia Tech; YongMan Choi and Ping Liu from Brookhaven National Laboratory; Haiyan Chen and Trevor Tyson from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Jianming Bai from Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

An interdisciplinary group of Stanford researchers from the engineering and chemistry departments have developed a new way to protect silicon semiconductors during water-splitting reactions. Scientists say the breakthrough may hold the key to storing solar energy.

The process of splitting water into pure oxygen and clean-burning hydrogen fuel has long been the Holy Grail for clean-energy advocates as a method of large-scale energy storage, but the idea faces technical challenges. Stanford researchers may have solved one of the most important ones.

BY ANDREW MYERS

Solar energy is fine when the sun is shining. But what about at night or when it is cloudy? To be truly useful, sunshine must be converted to a form of energy that can be stored for use when the sun is hiding.

The notion of using sunshine to split water into oxygen and storable hydrogen fuel has been championed by clean-energy advocates for decades, but stubborn challenges have prevented adoption of an otherwise promising technology.

A team of Stanford researchers may have solved one of the most vexing scientific details blocking us from such a clean-energy future.

The team, led by materials science engineer Paul McIntyre and chemist Christopher Chidsey, has devised a robust silicon-based solar electrode that shows remarkable endurance in the highly corrosive environment inherent in the process of splitting water.

They revealed their progress in a recent paper published in the journal Nature Materials.

Conceptually, splitting water could not be simpler. Scientists have long known that applying a voltage across two electrodes submerged in water splits the water molecules into their component elements, oxygen and hydrogen.

From an environmental standpoint, the process is a dream: an electrochemical reaction whose only requirements are water and electricity and whose only byproducts are pure oxygen and hydrogen, a clean-burning fuel applicable in a promising new class of renewable energy applications. In fact, hydrogen is the cleanest burning chemical fuel known.

Practical challenges

“In theory, water splitting is a clean and efficient energy storage mechanism. Unfortunately, solving one problem creates another,” said McIntyre, associate professor of materials science and engineering. “The most abundant solar electrodes we have today are made of silicon, a material that corrodes and fails almost immediately when exposed to oxygen, one of the byproducts of the reaction.”

This particular problem has vexed researchers since at least the 1970s. Many had given up, but McIntyre and Chidsey have devised a clever solution. They coated their silicon electrodes with a protective, ultra-thin layer of titanium dioxide.

“Titanium dioxide is perfect for this application,” explained McIntyre. “It is both transparent to light and it can be efficient for transferring electricity, all while protecting the silicon from corrosion.”

Sunlight travels through the protective titanium dioxide into the photosensitive silicon, which produces a flow of electrons that travels through the electrochemical cell into the water, splitting the hydrogen from the oxygen. The hydrogen gas can be stored and then, when the sun is not shining, the process can be reversed, reuniting hydrogen and oxygen back into water to produce electricity.

Decades of dead ends

Other researchers had attempted to protect the electron-producing silicon electrodes. Some tried other materials, which failed for reasons of performance or durability. Some had even tried titanium dioxide, but those efforts also fell short. Their layers were either materially flawed, allowing oxygen to seep through and corrode the semiconductor, or too thick to be electrically conductive.

Yi Wei Chen and Jonathan Prange, the lead doctoral students on the McIntyre-Chidsey team, discovered that the key to the titanium dioxide’s protectiveness is achieving a very thin, yet high quality layer of material. They found that a layer just two nanometers thick was sufficient so long as it was free of the pinholes and cracks that doomed earlier titanium dioxide experiments.

With their electrodes successfully shielded from corrosion, the researchers revealed yet one more engineering ace in the hole, adding a third layer of ultra-thin iridium, a catalyst, atop the titanium dioxide. Iridium boosts the rate of the splitting reaction and improves performance of the system.

Broader applications

In side-by-side durability experiments, the researchers put their creation to the test. Control samples without the protective layer corroded and failed in less than a half-hour, while those with the titanium dioxide lasted the full duration of the test, eight hours without apparent corrosion or loss of efficiency.

The authors pointed out that their approach is general enough to work on other semiconductor substrates and to integrate other catalysts, allowing for fine-tuning of electrodes to maximize performance. Likewise, atomic layer deposition, the technique that allowed such fine and flawless layering, is in wide application in the semiconductor industry today. It should, therefore, lend itself to application on a large scale. Lastly, the results were achieved without exploring the use of other efficiency-enhancing techniques, such as surface texturing, which could further improve performance.

“We are excited about the possibilities of this technology,” said McIntyre, “as much for the electrode itself, as for the process used to create it.”

Their success might just push a promising technology one step closer to practical application and the world one step closer to a clean-energy future.

Seed funding for this work was provided by these Stanford groups: Precourt Institute for Energy, the Center for Integrated Systems and the Global Climate and Energy Project.

Andrew Myers is the associate director of communications for the Stanford School of Engineering.

Boston Business Journal – by Michelle Lang, Masshightech.com

Lilliputian Systems Inc. has raised $11.1 million of a planned $21 million financing, the company reported in federal documents today. The financing stems from a combination of equity and and offering of Series B convertible preferred stock and warrants convertible into Series B convertible preferred stock, the regulatory filing stated.

Lilliputian Systems develops tiny fuel cells intended to charge portable electronics. The company has said its portable charging system could revolutionize the way consumers use electronics, by providing on-the-go power.

In November, the Wilmington-based company reported that Intel Corp. had become its newest investor and had agreed to manufacture chips for its products at a facility in Massachusetts.

Lilliputian received a $5 million loan in April 2010 from MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center to help buy wafer manufacturing equipment for its Wilmington facility that would enable the company to incorporate larger-scale manufacturing.

Since its founding in 2001, Lilliputian has raised more than $90 million in venture capial from Atlas Venture, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and Rockport Capital.