FuelCellsWorks

Ann Arbor, Mich. — Ultra Electronics, Adaptive Materials (AMI) recently shipped 15 of its 300-watt solid oxide fuel cells to the U.S. Army for field testing. The fuel cell’s development and delivery are part of a contract AMI has with the Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center (CERDEC), valued at $4.68 million.

Several of the fuel cells in this delivery are ultimately headed to Afghanistan for use by soldiers in the field.

“AMI’s 300-watt fuel cells are ideal for providing direct power to communications and other devices,” said Aaron Crumm, president.  “The fuel cell provides unique advantages: It delivers reliable portable power for operations in the most remote austere environments and it’s fueled by propane, a fuel source that reduces the logistical challenge of supplying forward deployed units in the most disadvantaged locations.”

The 300-watt fuel cell is ideal for applications requiring more power or longer durations than batteries can support. Compared to a generator or the number of batteries that would be required for a multi-day mission, the fuel cell, weighing just 32 lbs., is lightweight and portable.

AMI tested the fuel cells in-house and proven the units to be durable and reliable.  The fuel cells were tested for altitude, vibration, shock, cold, heat, rain, dust and drops.  They are proven to perform in temperatures ranging from -20° C to 50°C.

About Ultra Electronics, AMI
Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Ultra Electronics Adaptive Materials, Inc. (AMI) is the first company to develop, demonstrate and deliver a portable, affordable, and fuel flexible solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system. The company offers 50 and 250-watt fuel cell systems that are powered by globally available and energy dense propane, butane and LPG. Adaptive Materials’ fuel cell system provides portable power to the United States Armed Forces as well as industries including leisure, remote monitoring, and medical devices

As part of NTT America's energy efficiency initiatives, Bloom Energy Servers, based on proven fuel cell technology, reduce the dependency on the public electric grid and minimize the company's carbon footprint by using renewable fuels. (Photo: NTT Communications)

NEW YORK–NTT America, a global infrastructure services provider and wholly owned subsidiary of NTT Communications Corporation, announced today that it has deployed Bloom Energy Servers at its Lundy Data Center in San Jose, Calif., through NTT Worldwide Telecommunications Corporation, a core firm that performs global data center operations in NTT Communications Group. As part of several broad energy efficiency initiatives, NTT America continually monitors advancements in energy conservation technologies and chose Bloom Energy’s proven fuel cell technology, running on directed biogas, as the best choice to minimize its carbon footprint and decrease the amount of electricity pulled from the public grid, while at the same time reducing operating costs. The Bloom Energy Servers are connected to a natural gas pipeline, and utilize biogas from a California dairy farm to generate electricity on-site.

“NTT America, like Bloom Energy, understands the importance of a clean and reliable data center solution”

Key Highlights

• NTT America’s initial deployment consists of five Bloom Energy Servers, with a total capacity of 500kW (kilowatts), or approximately the baseline required to power 500 average homes or five 30,000 square-foot office buildings.
• NTT America will produce over 4.2 million kilowatt-hours annually, while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 1.6 million pounds, the equivalent to planting approximately 4,000 trees each year.
• As part of NTT America’s energy efficiency initiatives, the fuel cell option reduces the dependency on the public electric grid, minimizing the company’s carbon footprint by using renewable fuels.
• The fuel cells at the NTT America data center utilize renewable biogas, additionally reducing the carbon footprint through decreased dependency on fossil fuels.
• Distributed generation means electricity is generated where it will be used, allowing NTT America to reduce the amount of energy loss due to transmission across power lines, increasing efficiency and trimming costs.
• NTT America’s energy efficiency initiatives include hot aisle/cold aisle server rack design, aisle containment solutions, high efficiency computer room air conditioner (CRAC) cooling systems, distributed electricity generation and dynamic temperature sensor/control technology.

Executive Quotes

“As one of the major data center operators in the world, we recognize the importance of energy efficiency and the need for distributed generation and use of clean fuels. Equally important is our enterprise customers’ interest in, and support of, energy efficiency both from the environmental and cost reduction avenues. As a key driver for the future of the data center, NTT America will continue to evaluate, support and deploy technologies that can be environmentally sound and cost effective for our customers,” said Kazuhiro Gomi, president and CEO of NTT America.

“NTT America, like Bloom Energy, understands the importance of a clean and reliable data center solution,” said Bill Thayer, executive vice president of sales and service for Bloom Energy. “We applaud their innovative approach to sustainability, and their commitment to delivering the best choice for their customers and the environment.”

Ceres Power reports that it has made significant progress in resolving the reliability and durability issues identified from the field trials. The current status of each of the issues is as follows:

· The boiler tuning/calibration issue, causing boiler ignition to lock-out, has been resolved and was reported by the Company to investors on 1 June 2011;

· An engineered solution that avoids fuel cell module shutdowns due to water management issues has been tested and validated on the Company’s CHP unit durability test stands. The solution compliant with the CE safety requirements has been installed on the field trial units;

· Analysis of fuel cell modules from the field trial units showed evidence of debris from the fuel cell module insulation being ingested by the air delivery system into the fuel cell stack. An engineered solution resolving this issue is now undergoing extended validation in the Company’s CHP durability test facility. The Company expects to complete the validation process and confirm this issue has been satisfactorily resolved by September 2011;

· Following extensive analysis and testing, the Company has confirmed that certain aspects of the then operating strategy of the fuel cell module could lead to accelerated degradation of the fuel cell stack. The Company has now identified several improvements and has developed a revised operating strategy. In parallel, work is on-going with supply chain partners to develop and test modifications to sensor and flow control components to further improve control of the CHP unit;

· Analysis of fuel cell stack interconnects as used in the field trial units had shown increased levels of corrosion, leading to elevated levels of degradation in the fuel cell module. The root cause has been traced to variability of the quality of the surface protective coating on the stack interconnects owing to insufficient temperature control during the surface treatment process. This process variability has now been resolved using the existing manufacturing process equipment. Interconnects with improved oxidation resistant coatings showing significantly reduced corrosion are currently undergoing extended validation in Ceres test facilities;

· The Company has developed and is testing refinements significantly reducing cell layer bonding issues. Accelerated testing is being used to validate these improvements and initial results are encouraging. In parallel, process improvements have been developed and implemented that further reduce fuel cell manufacturing and performance variability.

The Company will give a full technical update at the presentation of its Preliminary Results in September 2011.

• Collaboration agreement provides a managed approach to address telecom backup power market opportunity

VANCOUVER– Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD) (NASDAQ: BLDP) today announced that Dantherm Power, the backup power systems company in which it has a controlling interest, has signed a collaboration agreement with Delta Power Solutions (India) Pvt. Ltd. [Delta] to market clean energy fuel cell power solutions in the India telecommunications sector. Delta Power Solutions (India) is a subsidiary of Delta Electronics (Thailand) PLC, part of the Delta Group, the world’s leading energy saving solutions provider.

Under the agreement, Dantherm Power and Delta will jointly work to deploy product field trials comprised of Dantherm Power’s direct hydrogen 2-kilowatt (kW) DBX2000 fuel cell system as well as its 5kW DBX5000 fuel cell system, which will be integrated by Delta, along with its Site Management & Control System (SMCS), and deployed at telecom customer sites in India. Delta will take responsibility for installation, commissioning, maintenance and management of these field deployments. These sites will be remotely monitored by Delta’s Network Operation Centre (NOC).

John Sheridan, CEO of Ballard and Chairman of Dantherm Power said, “This agreement represents an effective, managed approach to backup power market development in India. Delta will leverage its existing telecom industry relationships in order to identify interested customers, and Delta will provide on-the-ground support throughout the trial period. Onsite expertise and customer support is the key to gaining traction with solutions that are new to the market, such as fuel cells in the India telecom sector.”

These field trials will enable an informed assessment of the commercial market opportunity, including identification of appropriate fuel cell solutions. Commercial deployments in India would then benefit from Delta’s in-country marketing, sales, distribution and servicing capabilities.

Dalip Sharma, Managing Director of Delta Power Solutions said, “We are very pleased to be working with PEM fuel cell products from premier providers such as Dantherm Power and Ballard. This collaborative partnership has all the right elements for a successful evaluation of the market opportunity and for potentially large-scale product roll-out down the road.”

Delta Power Solutions serves many of the largest service and infrastructure providers in the Indian telecom industry, including Indus, Bharti, Vodafone, Reliance and Idea Cellular.

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. Products are based on proprietary esencia™ technology, ensuring incomparable performance, durability and versatility. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.

About Delta Group
Delta Group is the world’s leading provider of power management and thermal management solutions, as well as a major source for components, visual displays, industrial automation, networking products and renewable energy solutions. Delta Group has sales offices worldwide and manufacturing plants in Taiwan, China, Thailand, Japan, Mexico, India, Brazil and Europe. As a global leader in power electronics, Delta’s mission is “To provide innovative, clean and efficient energy solutions for a better tomorrow.” Delta is committed to environmental protection and has implemented green, lead-free production and recycling and waste management programs for many years. More information about Delta Group can be found at www.deltaww.com.

About Delta Power Solutions (India)
Delta Power Solutions (India), is a 100% subsidiary of Delta Electronics (Thailand) PLC, part of the Delta Group, a leading multinational with headquarters in Taiwan with 6.6 billion USD revenue for 2010. Delta Power Solutions (India) is a world-class provider of power management solutions in the areas of telecom power supplies, uninterrupted power supply, industrial automation, components, Renewable Energy and display solutions. The group has been operating in India since 1992. The company is responsible for developing business in the SAARC region and is also recognized as the “Centre for Technical Excellence” for the SAARC region. The company has an impressive installation base with regional support centers all over India and the SAARC region. Delta has been awarded ISO 9001:2000, ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:1999 certifications by Underwriters’ Laboratories, USA, for Quality, Procedures, and Environment management.

Arnhem–Nedstack PEM fuel cells will generate electricity for Solvay’s chlorine plant in Lillo (near Antwerp). This PEM Power Plant, with a 1 MW capacity delivered by 12,600 fuel cell stacks, is the largest of this type in the world. The PEM Power Plant converts hydrogen, a by-product in the chlorine industry, into electricity and heat.

Chlorine and caustic soda production are highly energy-intensive industries. Nedstack’s PEM Power Plant enables them to self-generate 20% of their total electricity consumption. Next to 1 MW of electricity, the Power Plant also generates 1 MW of heat, to be reused in the production process for significant additional cost savings. In addition, PEM fuel cells are emission-free. With PEM Power Plants, the industry significantly contributes to meeting the European targets to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions.

Independent fuel cell manufacturer Nedstack commissioned MTSA in Arnhem to build the Power Plant. In 2007, Nedstack built a smaller model, with a capacity of 70 kW, for AkzoNobel in Delfzijl. Nedstack’s fuel cells proved to have a remarkably long life span. They have recently reached 10,000 hours of continuous operation and are expected to last 20,000 hours in total. The Akzo Power Plant, which has been in operation for four years now, requires minimum maintenance and is monitored at a distance by Nedstack.

Today, the 1 MW PEM Power Plant was transported by low loader truck from Arnhem to Antwerp. It will be operational by September of this year.

About Nedstack

Nedstack produces Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) hydrogen fuel cells, the most versatile type of fuel cells available. Nedstack’s customers integrate these into systems to power various applications:

• Backup electricity supply for telecom, rail and utilities, as a replacement for environmentally damaging batteries, that have a limited reliability and life span
• Continuous supply for telecom base stations and radio towers in developing countries, to replace diesel generators. Fuel cells have low fuel and maintenance costs, and generate no noise nor fine particles
• Continuous energy supply in the chlorine, caustic soda and sodium chlorate industries through conversion of the by-product hydrogen.
• Electricity supply for electric city buses, as a replacement for diesel-powered vehicles, trolleys and trams.

The pool of money that the government set aside to subsidize household purchases of fuel cells through March 2012 has already dried up amid surging demand driven by fears of electricity shortages.

The subsidy quota for fiscal 2011 was 8,000 fuel cells. Although that figure was about 60% larger than in the previous year, it had already been reached early this month.

Fuel cells are expensive, with even a low-price model costing about 2.7 million yen. As such, dealers are concerned that the absence of the subsidy – 1.05 million yen per unit – will slow sales.

Osaka Gas Co. sold about 1,300 fuel cells in the three months through June, up 80% on the year, while Tokyo Gas Co. has sold more than 4,000 since April 1. The fiscal 2011 sales figure at JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp. had reached about 550 units by early July, up roughly 400% on the year.

Also helping drive up sales are falling prices and improving performances. In April, Tokyo Gas released a fuel cell that is made by Panasonic Corp. and priced about 20% lower than previous models. JX Nippon Oil & Energy also cut prices.

Dealers have been launching promotional campaigns touting their lower prices, but the end of the subsidies for this fiscal year threatens to dent sales.

Fuel cells use hydrogen extracted from gas or liquefied natural gas to generate electricity. Heat from the process can be used to heat water used in homes. The cells are seen as offering a way to generate and use electricity without relying on power grids.

(The Nikkei July 26 evening edition)

Acta S.p.A. (AIM:ACTA), the clean energy products company, announces the following update on its commercial activities and business outlook ahead of the Company’s Interim Results that are expected to be announced on or around 22 September 2011.

Overall, the Company’s core hydrogen product business is developing well, whilst its Italian photovoltaic (”PV”) business, as previously reported to the market, has been adversely impacted and delayed by legislative uncertainty within Italy due to the well publicised revisions to the feed-in tariff legislation and subsequent uncertainty over the interpretation and implementation of the “Cap” mechanism. The PV market situation remains uncertain although further Government announcements are expected shortly.

Products: Hydrogen Electrolyser and Fuel Cell Activities

Within the Company’s core products business, the hydrogen generator product line (water electrolyser) is developing ahead of expectations with positive test results and strong customer feedback. The 1m³ stack unit, developed for back-up power systems and independent housing applications has been completed and Acta is developing commercial partnerships with system integrators and electrolyser manufacturers to address the back-up power and other markets.

The Company expects that commercial production of the stack and electrolyser units against orders will commence in the fourth quarter of 2011, with manufacture in significant volumes expected in 2012. This is ahead of management expectations. Sales of test units to back-up power system integrators and electrolyser manufacturers have already been made and the Company is now focussing its resources on the development of these partnerships through to initial order volumes over the summer months. Certification of stack production processes under ISO 9001:2008 was completed in early July 2011. The Company is currently reviewing the expansion of its manufacturing facilities, scheduled for late 2011 to early 2012, to enable it to meet the expected product demand in 2012.

Further development is required on the diesel enrichment product to improve the energy efficiency and commercial viability as the engine tests recently completed in Brazil have not produced technical results in line with the initial tests. The ethanol reformer unit has demonstrated its technical feasibility and the refinement applies solely to this particular automotive application. The Company will be undertaking additional development work on the automotive application to address its energy efficiency while the Company and its Brazilian partners remain in close contact and keen to pursue this application for the Brazilian truck market.

The Company’s grant-funded activities continue to develop well with a total portfolio of grant-funded projects totalling €3.7 million scheduled for development during 2011 to 2014. While these remain longer-term applications, the availability of Italian and European grant funding to support research in key areas of interest to the Company, allows Acta to offset much of the cost of its research activities over the coming years.

Photovoltaic Sector Activities

The approval of the new Italian feed-in tariff regime for renewable energy production (Conto Energia IV) has caused an increased level of activity in the EPC installation market to complete near-term projects before the introduction of the new Cap mechanism at the end of August 2011. In its EPC business, the Company is currently installing three of the four EPC projects initially sold to SPF Energy at the end of 2010, which were reconfirmed in May 2011, totalling 2.7MW, together with completing the handover of the 3MW EPC contract signed in 2010 with SPF Energy and the 1MW EPC project signed in 2010 with Tesla S.r.l. All these projects are expected to be fully completed within the current year.

The uncertainty around post August 2011 PV developments and the qualification of consents has reduced the outlook and expected sales value of consents for the development of large field-based projects such as those on which the Company has focused to date.

The new Cap mechanism requires the inscription of PV project authorisations in a “Register” maintained by the GSE (Gestore Servizi Energetici), and the allocation of the available feed-in tariff by the GSE to the inscribed projects, up to the limit of the Cap, primarily on the basis of date priority. At the initial publication of the Register on 15 July 2011 it appeared that this mechanism had resulted in the vast majority of the available capacity under the Cap being allocated to old projects that originated during 2007 to 2009, which have since been suspended due to uncertainty over the legal validity of the “DIA” project authorisation obtained. No projects originating since February 2010, which includes all of the project portfolio developed by the Company, had been included within the Cap for 2011.

However, immediately after publication of the Register, the GSE published a further announcement to the effect that the publication of the Register had contained “material errors” and that a revised register will be published in replacement. No date has been indicated for the publication of the corrected register. This outcome has created considerable uncertainty regarding the application of the Cap mechanism.

As the legislation currently stands, projects excluded from the 2011 Cap are eligible for inclusion in the Cap for either the first or the second six months of 2012, again on the basis of date priority. The Board is waiting to see if the Company’s project consents will be included in the publication of the corrected Register, failing which it believes that they will be included under one of the 2012 tariff Caps. Once the Board is able to ascertain the likely impact of the corrected Register and priority order of Company developed consents it will become clearer as to the ongoing outlook and value of the Company’s PV business post August 2011.

Outlook

The financial strategy of the Company has been to support the development of the core product business through the sale of PV project consents. The Board is awaiting publication of the revised Register to assess the timing and value of sales of the project consents, and in the meantime is exploring additional sources of expansion finance through its current banking relationships to support the growth of the product sales and the expansion of the Company’s production facilities. A further update will be provided in due course.

Current U.S. Tax Law Gives Boost to Fuel Cells Designed for Cars Trucks and Power Generation – But Excludes Fuel Cells For Forklifts and Other Off-Highway Vehicles

Schumer Legislation Would Expand Fuel Cell Tax Credit, Give Plug Power Same Tax Break As Other Fuel Cell Producers

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced legislation to improve the tax credit for fuel cell-powered industrial vehicles, which will greatly benefit companies, like Plug Power Inc., that build fuel cells designed for forklifts and other heavy machinery. An existing tax credit provides significant incentives to buyers of fuel cells for cars and trucks and a separate credit for power generation, but neither credit specifically targets fuel cells designed for heavy machinery and off-highway vehicles. Today, Schumer unveiled legislation in the Senate to match that of Congressmen Paul Tonko and Chris Gibson in the House of Representatives, to modify these existing tax credits to more clearly cover the GenDrive^® fuel cells that Plug Power manufactures. Schumer notes that modifying the credit would provide Plug Power and its suppliers with a significant boost and could potentially create hundreds of jobs locally and throughout the state. Schumer said that these types of fuel cells are big business and a major part of Plug Power’s future.

“Fuels cells save energy and help the environment regardless of whether they’re attached to a car or a forklift, and this new legislation will ensure that companies that produce either type of vehicle are treated equally,” said Schumer. “By expanding this tax credit, we have the potential to create hundreds of jobs here in the Capital Region and to allow Plug Power, one of the world’s preeminent manufacturers of fuel cells, to grow their business.”

Senator Schumer’s legislation is intended to amend section 30B of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, also known as the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit (AMVC). The proposed legislation expands the definition of “fuel cell motor vehicle” to include fuel cell-powered material handling vehicles. Changes to the AMVC will provide tax credits for companies to invest in fuel cell-powered industrial vehicles, providing additional economic incentives to Plug Power’s customers and industry partners.

The bill also provides a new qualified fuel cell motive property credit based on a vehicle’s kilowatt capacity – an objective, widely accepted and verified industry standard of measurement.

Extending the tax credit to buyers of these fuel cell products would boost an industry that is a proven job creator in New York State. By incentivizing the purchase of these vehicles, the legislation would allow local businesses like Plug Power to ramp up their operations and potentially add jobs. The Department of Energy currently estimates that the domestic fuel cell industry will create 40,000 jobs over the next ten years, but those jobs could be at risk if more domestic producers are not allowed to utilize the AMVC credit. Passing the tax credit will mean a break of between $8,000 and $40,000 for buyers, depending on the kilowatt capacity or weight of the fuel cell material handling vehicle.

Plug Power currently houses its national headquarters in Latham where it employs over 100 New Yorkers. During 2010 the company increased its workforce by 20% and has already begun to emerge as a national leader in fuel cell commercialization and deployment. Unlike many alternative energy industries, fuel cells are predominantly made in the United States. For every 50 additional fuel cell orders, about one manufacturing job is created on site, with job creation trickling down through the supply chain as well. Importantly, the success of companies like Plug Power have ripple effects throughout the economy, and it is important to consider this as one of the economic benefits witnessed because of the tax credits.

“The expansion and improvement of the tax law is a result of the impressive relationship Senator Schumer has been able to establish with companies within the fuel cell industry,” said George McNamee, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Plug Power. “His dedication to the commercialization of alternative energy solutions will only make our Capital Region, State and Nation stronger.”

Schumer notes that this legislation would also benefit a number of other New York companies, particularly the Raymond Corporation in Greene and Onondaga Counties, and Praxair in Tonawanda, in Western New York.  Raymond currently employees approximately 1,110 people at their Greene and East Syracuse facilities.  Praxair currently employs 1,100 people at their Tonawanda facility.  They recently identified green hydrogen production as an area for market expansion and green job growth.

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity, with water and heat as its by-product.  As long as fuel is supplied, the fuel cell will continue to generate power.  Since the conversion of the fuel to energy takes place via an electrochemical process, not combustion, the process is clean, quiet and highly efficient – two to three times more efficient than fuel burning.

According to assessments by the National Academies and the Hydrogen Technical Advisory Committee, fuel cell technology is not only meeting and exceeding the government’s long-term research and development plan, but it is also on track to achieve commercial viability by 2015. As the U.S. considers pathways to achieve aggressive goals for gas and greenhouse gas reductions, it is critical to develop diverse technological options, like fuel cells.

Other countries are aggressively pursuing hydrogen and fuel cells including Japan and Germany, which plan early commercialization in 2015. Schumer notes that while U.S. is currently a leader in automotive fuel cell technology, it must continue to invest in this research to remain a leader, particularly in places like the Capital Region. The region is an emerging national hub for clean energy technologies and is home to production plants like Plug Power that employ many New Yorkers. Passing Schumer’s legislation would allow manufacturers like Plug Power to potentially add hundreds of jobs.

“Senator Schumer’s progressive legislation sheds light on the remarkable affects that fuel cell market growth can bring to New York State,” said Andy Marsh, CEO at Plug Power Inc. “By helping to commercialize sustainable fuel cell power solutions, thousands of green jobs will be created in manufacturing, engineering and supply chain domestically.”

Improved Legislation to Cover Fuel Cells for Off-Highway Vehicles, Like Forklift Trucks

LATHAM, N.Y.– Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG) a leader in providing clean, reliable energy solutions, today announced that U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer has revealed legislation to improve the tax credit for fuel cell-powered industrial vehicles to include fuel cells designed for heavy machinery and off-highway vehicles. Schumer unveiled legislation in the Senate to match that of Congressmen Paul Tonko and Chris Gibson in the House of Representatives.

Plug Power’s GenDrive^® fuel cells replace lead-acid batteries in electric lift trucks. The current tax credit provides significant incentives to buyers of fuel cells for cars and trucks, and a separate credit for power generation, but neither credit specifically targets fuel cells designed for material handling vehicles. Passing the tax credit will mean a break of between $8,000 and $40,000 for buyers, depending on the nameplate kilowatt capacity or weight of the fuel cell material handling vehicle.

Senator Schumer’s legislation is intended to amend section 30B of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, also known as the Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit (AMVC). The proposed legislation expands the definition of “fuel cell motor vehicle” to include fuel cell-powered material handling vehicles. Changes to the AMVC will provide tax credits for companies to invest in fuel cell-powered industrial vehicles, providing additional economic incentives to Plug Power’s customers and industry partners.

The bill also reforms section 48C of the tax code, to provide a new qualified fuel cell motive property credit based on a vehicle’s nameplate kilowatt capacity – an objective, widely accepted and verified industry standard of measurement.

“Fuels cells save energy and help the environment regardless of whether they’re attached to a car or a forklift, and this new legislation will ensure that companies that produce either type of vehicle are treated equally,” said Schumer. “By leveling the playing field, we have the potential to create hundreds of jobs here in the Capital Region and to allow Plug Power, one of the world’s preeminent manufacturers of fuel cells, to compete on a level playing field.”

Plug Power’s headquarters are in Latham, NY, where over 100 New York State residents are employed. Extending the tax credit to include Plug Power’s customers in the material handling sector, would provide a boost to the company in terms of manufacturing pipeline, job creation and supplier relationships. The Department of Energy currently estimates that the domestic fuel cell industry will create 40,000 jobs over the next ten years. It’s critical that domestic fuel cell producers and suppliers are supported under the AMVC credit in order to meet, or exceed, these targets and keep the United States as the leader in fuel cell technology.

“The expansion and improvement of the tax law is a result of the impressive relationship Senator Schumer has been able to establish with companies within the fuel cell industry,” said George McNamee, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Plug Power. “His dedication to the commercialization of alternative energy solutions will only make our Capital Region, State and Nation stronger.”

“Senator Schumer’s progressive legislation sheds light on the remarkable affects that fuel cell market growth can bring to New York State,” said Andy Marsh, CEO at Plug Power Inc. “By helping to commercialize sustainable fuel cell power solutions, thousands of green jobs will be created in manufacturing, engineering and supply chain domestically.”

About Plug Power Inc.

The architects of modern fuel cell technology, Plug Power revolutionized the industry with cost-effective power solutions that increase productivity, lower operating costs and reduce carbon footprints.  Long-standing relationships with industry leaders forged the path for Plug Power’s key accounts, including Wegmans, Whole Foods, and FedEx Freight.  With more than 1,200 GenDrive units shipped to material handling customers, accumulating over 2.5 million hours of runtime, Plug Power manufactures tomorrow’s incumbent power solutions today. Additional information about Plug Power is available at www.plugpower.com.

LOGANEnergy to Establish New Small Scale Power Division in Columbia, South Carolina

Columbia, S.C. –LOGANEnergy, a world-leader in providing fuel cell solutions for clean energy services with home offices in Roswell, Georgia, has announced the opening of a new business unit at Midlands Technical College’s (MTC) Enterprise Campus in Columbia, South Carolina.  This new venture, LOGANEnergy Carolina, will be housed in MTC’s business accelerator bay providing the company with new facilities to assemble its power systems and stage its expansion of fuel cell services targeting Southeast and Mid-Atlantic markets with small scale fuel cell solutions.

For more than 17 years LOGANEnergy has established itself as a world-leader of fuel cell solutions with 125 installations across the country and abroad with capacities ranging from 5kW to 600kW. In addition to its reputation and subject matter expertise, LOGANEnergy Carolina is expected to bring 15-25 new jobs to the Midstate region. The firm will join other industry leaders such as Trulite, Inc., which relocated to Columbia in 2009 to pursue manufacturing advanced portable power solutions, and strengthen an already robust atmosphere for fuel cell innovation in the Midstate region.

“We are proud that LOGANEnergy has chosen Columbia for this exciting new venture, LOGANEnergy Carolina,” said Mayor Steve Benjamin, who also serves as the co-chair for EngenuitySC. “This is a major milestone in our ongoing effort to build our knowledge economy and position our region as a global energy technology leader.”

“The collaboration occurring in our state within groups like the South Carolina Research Authority, the Central SC Alliance, the South Carolina Department of Commerce and strategic economic development initiatives like Innovista, is making these types of deals possible,” said Neil McLean, executive director for EngenuitySC.  “

“We look forward to expanding our operations in Columbia to tap into the growing demand for fuel cell solutions in the U.S.” said Sam Logan, president of LOGANEnergy. “Columbia’s base of research at the University of South Carolina, a knowledgeable workforce, and strong manufacturing resources made this decision an easy one,” he added.

Initial activity at the facility will serve to support LOGANEnergy Carolina as it fulfills new demand created under its recent acquisition of a contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deploy 19 fuel cell back-up power systems at nine different U.S. locations by the end of 2011.  In addition, LOGANEnergy Carolina will develop two fuel cell power projects in the Columbia region to showcase the technology in real world applications.

“Connecting new industry with the growing clean energy workforce talent in our region is a central focus at Midlands Technical College, and we believe that LOGANEnergy Carolina will be a valuable addition to Columbia’s landscape,” said Dr. Marshall (Sonny) White Jr., president of Midlands Technical College.

LOGANEnergy’s announcement to expand in South Carolina and establish a new small-scale power division in Columbia, S.C., follows the June 2011 release of the State of States report, an annual report compiled by Fuel Cells 2000, a non-profit project providing educational information about fuel cells to the public, media and policy-makers, to evaluate and rank each state’s investment, development, commercialization, and deployment of fuel cell technologies.  South Carolina ranked in the top five for the second consecutive year.

“This move is a significant result for clean energy investment in South Carolina,” said Bill Mahoney, CEO of the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA). “LOGANEnergy’s expansion into South Carolina and its recent contract with the U.S. Department of Defense collectively reflect the growing tangible value delivered to institutions and businesses by alternative energy solutions. “

About LOGANEnergy Corp.
Since 1994, LOGAN has analyzed hundreds of fuel cell applications, and acquired technical skills, knowledge and expertise with project design, development and installation of large-scale commercial and small-scale PEM fuel cell power plants. The LOGANEnergy Corp. product catalog includes PEM, PAFC and CARBONATE power plants ranging from 5kW to 2.8MW capacities. The company’s staff has installed more than 160 fuel cell power plants exceeding 9 MW of capacity at more than 100 locations in the US and UK. Customers include the federal government, utilities, banks, universities, real estate developers and other commercial accounts. For more information please visit our website at www.loganenergy.com.

About the USC Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative

The University of South Carolina – City of Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative was formed by the University of South Carolina, the City of Columbia, EngenuitySC and SCRA to position Columbia, SC as a leader in hydrogen fuel cell innovation and technology.  Its mission is to attract private sector partners, top fuel cell scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators to the Columbia region to help grow an innovation pipeline from discovery to development to deployment of fuel cell technology. For more information, visit www.fuelcellcollaborative.com.

Bristol Hydrogen Boats has won SustainableShipping.com’s inaugural Environmental Innovation of the Year Award.

The Award recognises Bristol Hydrogen Boats for their pioneering work to deliver tangible environmental benefits and solutions through the development of the UK’s first hydrogen ferry.  The ferry will run in Bristol’s harbour from September this year.

Bristol Hydrogen Boats is a consortium formed between No 7 Boat Trips, the Bristol Packet, and Auriga Energy Ltd, and supported by Bristol City Council.  Their Award was announced in front of 170 industry experts from across the globe who had gathered to celebrate those companies who have made a significant difference in helping the reduce the carbon footprint of shipping.

Jas Singh, Managing Director of Auriga Energy Ltd and spokesperson for the consortium, said, “We can’t express how delighted we are with the Award.   This is a great boost for the project so early in the process.  We are grateful to the judges for this award, and especially to Bristol City Council for their vision in enabling this project, particularly in these challenging times.  Together, we are involved in creating history with the UK’s first zero-emissions hydrogen ferry to operate in Brunel’s town.   This is only the beginning of a great new era of sustainable boat and ship operations.”

Clean and green, the ferry will carry up to 12 passengers per journey in order to demonstrate the commercial advantages of this technology to business, residents, commuters and tourists.  As an alternative to petrol and diesel engines, hydrogen powered transport impacts significantly less on the environment as they produce zero direct emissions: the only waste product is water.  This would mean a big reduction in air and water pollution, in addition to reduced noise, in the harbour if the technology was widely adopted in the future.

Councillor Neil Harrison, Bristol City Council’s Assistant Cabinet Member for Sustainability, said, “Bristol Hydrogen Boat’s fellow finalists for the Award included internationally focused companies such as Maersk, one of the biggest shipping companies around, global company Valspar, and Eco Marine Power.  To win against them is a real triumph for them and Bristol!

“The Council is now starting to look at ways of producing hydrogen locally from renewable energy, which would mean a cut in carbon emissions too.  Hydrogen cars will be commercially available in the UK from 2014 and we are aiming to ensure that they will be able to refuel here, alongside the ferry.  The hydrogen economy will be a major employer by 2020 and I want to make sure that Bristol is at the chalk face.”

The following information was released by Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown:

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that a fuel cell backup power system will be installed at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base. Through a partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), the fuel cells will test how the fuel cells perform in real world operations, identify any technical improvements manufacturers could make to enhance performance, and highlight the benefits of fuel cells for emergency backup power applications.

Our national security is threatened by our reliance on petroleum and fossil fuels, Brown said. The Ohio National Guard is a national leader in clean energy research and development. These pilot programs will provide valuable information to our nations military and spur innovation to support our states burgeoning renewable energy manufacturing supply chain while ensuring a safe and reliable fuel source for our national defense.

Rickenbacker is one of eight military installations that will be receiving emergency fuel cell backup power units. These projects will accelerate the implementation of renewable energy technology at DOD facilities and continue research and development efforts.

Compared with diesel generatorscommonly used for backup powerfuel cells use no petroleum, are quieter, and produce fewer pollutants and emissions. Fuel cells also typically require less maintenance and can easily be monitored remotely to reduce maintenance time.

The project is a joint effort by DODs U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and DOEs Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. DOD will manage the project and DOEs National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will collect performance data for the first two years of this five-year demonstration.

DOEs Fuel Cell Technologies Program has funded research and development of catalysts, membranes, and other fuel cell components that have resulted in more than 250 patents and 30 commercially available technologies, many of which are in the military backup power systems announced today. In May 2011, Brown sent a bipartisan letter to DOE Sec. Steven Chu, calling for maintained funding for DOE fuel cell projects that spur long-term job creation and expansion of new clean energy technology.

Harald Hamprecht-Automotive News Europe

FRANKFURT — Opel/Vauxhall has started work on a new flagship model that will launch at the end of 2016 or early 2017, company sources told Automotive News Europe. The car may come to market with alternative powertrains such as a fuel cell system to help boost Opel’s green image.

According to internal plans, Opel’s management board sees an annual sales potential of about 20,000 units. The new model will be positioned above the company’s Insignia midsized car.

Klaus Franz, Opel deputy chairman and the company’s top labor official, said the flagship should be a “technological spearhead” for the brand with hybrid and fuel-cell propulsion systems and lots of other state-of-the-art technologies.

“Already with the our Ampera electric vehicle, we have shown what we are able to do and enjoy an advantage of two to three years compared to the competition,” Franz told ANE.

Franz said unions will press for the car to be built in Germany. “The workers representatives will support this project to the fullest. A flagship like this can only be built on the Epsilon 2 architecture with long wheelbase. We will do everything to build this car at our headquarters in Ruesselsheim, rather than Mexico or elsewhere,” he said.

Franz sees annual sales of 20,000 for the model as realistic for Opel/Vauxhall in and outside Europe.

He said it is unlikely to be possible to launch the flagship, which is internally called the TOL (top-of-the-line), before 2016 because of other priorities, such as introducing a new minicar codenamed Junior, as well as new Astra-based convertible and coupe models and a small SUV. “The TOL is a luxury,” he said.

In May, Opel CEO Karl-Friedrich Stracke said the company was mulling a new flagship model that would improve the brand’s image. He told a Germany’s Welt am Sonntag newspaper that the car would be a crossover between SUV and station wagon, with an attractive design, high functionality and premium features.

An Opel spokesman declined to comment to ANE on the company’s future product plans.

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (AIM/ASX: CFU), the world’s leading developer of high efficiency and low emission power products for homes, has received an initial order for 100 BlueGen units from sanevo Lizenz-GmbH & Co. KG. Ceramic Fuel Cells has also signed a distribution agreement with sanevo to market, sell, install and service BlueGen gas-to-electricity products in regions of Germany and Austria.

Sanevo has placed an initial order for 100 BlueGen units to be delivered in the first year, with a target minimum order of 500 units for delivery in the second year and a target of 2000 units over years three and four.

Provided sanevo orders these agreed minimum numbers of BlueGen units during 2012 to 2014, sanevo has exclusive rights to distribute BlueGen to commercial and residential customers in the German States of Baden-Wurttemberg and Bavaria, and in Austria. Ceramic Fuel Cells retains full rights to sell BlueGen units to utilities and energy service companies.

The order for 100 units is the largest order so far for the Company’s BlueGen product, and builds upon the recent order for 25 units from Ausgrid in Australia. Ceramic Fuel Cells has now received orders for a total of 206 BlueGen units and up to 200 integrated mCHP products.

Based in Offenbach, near Frankfurt, sanevo has substantial experience in marketing and selling new technology power and heating products in Germany through more than 120 qualified sales partners.

Sanevo has partnered with SAG GmbH – one of Germany’s largest independent service and system providers for electricity, gas, water and telecommunications products and networks – to provide installation and after sales service for BlueGen products. SAG has more than 8,300 staff in operations across Germany and Europe. With sales revenue of one billion euro, SAG has over 120 locations throughout Germany to provide a high level of service availability.

In April 2011 sanevo and SAG each purchased a BlueGen unit for their own buildings.

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 German home. (In Germany the average home consumes an estimated 4,100 kilowatt hours of electricity per year.)

Surplus electricity is sold back to the grid or used in supplementary applications such as charging an electric car. In addition, surplus heat is captured for domestic hot water use. BlueGen units generate electricity with the highest electrical efficiency of any small scale generating technology in the world, reducing energy bills and cutting carbon emissions.

BlueGen customers in Germany are eligible to receive a feed in tariff for the power exported back to the grid.

EL SEGUNDO, CA– Vision Industries Corp. (OTCBB: VIIC) on Friday delivered the world’s first zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell-electric Class 8 truck to Total Transportation Services Inc. (TTSI), a national trucking company that will put the vehicle to test in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The effort is part of the ports’ Technology Advancement Program, designed to encourage the commercialization of clean goods-movement vehicles and equipment.

“Today we celebrate the birthplace of the hydrogen economy and zero-emission transportation,” said Martin Schuermann, Chief Executive Officer of Vision Industries. “This partnership between the ports and private industry has brought tangible results that will lead to cleaner air and green jobs in California.”

Total Transportation Services Inc. (TTSI) will operate the Vision truck under typical short-haul conditions at the ports for the next 6 months. The vehicle is an electric truck with a battery recharged by a hydrogen fuel cell which generates electricity from a reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. There is no combustion and no air pollution. Pure H₂0 is the only by-product

“I’m very pleased that the ports can play a role in developing and testing this new technology through our Technology Advancement Program. This is a promising and exciting new technology,” said Susan E. Anderson Wise, Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioner President. “We’re all looking forward to seeing how it performs on the docks.”

“Success requires collaboration, and that’s what you see here today between the ports, private industry and government agencies,” said David Arian, vice president of the Los Angeles Harbor Commission. “This is not pie-in-the-sky technology. It’s rubber to the road and we’re moving forward.”

Upon successful testing, TTSI plans to move forward with a Letter of Intent for the purchase of 100 vehicles at a purchase price of approximately $27 million. The Letter of Intent also gives TTSI the option to purchase an additional 300 trucks, bringing the total contract value to approximately $108 million.

“Above and beyond the benefit of zero emissions, we at TTSI believe that hydrogen fuel is the only true way to break our dependence on imported fuel,” said Vic La Rosa, President of Total Transportation Services Inc. “Hydrogen is the most abundant resource on the planet.”

About Total Transportation Services, Inc. (TTSI)
Headquartered in Rancho Dominguez, CA, TTSI is a national , progressive, asset based logistics provider with distinct expertise in distributing imports in the US, Canada, and Mexico. TTSI offers agile distribution solutions and transportation options for the simplest delivery to the most complex supply networks. TTSI operates full-service drayage, rail service and warehousing for full container and LCL Shipments from the Ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, San Diego, Norfolk, and Seattle/Tacoma. For more information about Total Transportation Services, Inc., please visit www.tts-i.com.

About Vision Industries
Vision is a developer of zero emission electric/hydrogen hybrid powered vehicles and turnkey hydrogen fueling systems. Vision’s proprietary electric/hydrogen hybrid drive system combines the superior acceleration of a battery powered electric vehicle with the extended range provided by a hydrogen fuel cell. For more information on Vision Industries Corp., please visit www.visionindustriescorp.com

London’s hydrogen buses are to resume service after being taken off the road when one caught fire more than five weeks ago.

The five buses were introduced in January to help cut CO2 emissions from transport and tackle climate change.

But the buses were taken off the road as a precautionary measure after a small electrical fire in early June.

Transport for London (TfL) has confirmed that the buses will be phased back in from the start of next week.

‘Full investigation’

A TfL spokesperson, said: “On the 12th June one of Transport for London’s five hydrogen buses experienced a small electrical fire not related to the innovative hydrogen system.

“All the buses were withdrawn from service as a precautionary measure pending a full investigation. This investigation has identified some minor modifications to the buses which we are currently making.”

The five hydrogen buses are the first of a planned fleet of eight and emit nothing but water vapour.

They were specifically designed for TfL using pioneering technology developed by ISE, Wrightbus and Ballard

The buses have been introduced on the RV1 route, which runs past many major landmarks, including Covent Garden, Tower Bridge and the South Bank.

SONOMA, Calif.–ClearEdge Power, a manufacturer of high-efficiency stationary fuel cells, today announced that Stone Edge Farm, an organic farm and winery located in California’s Sonoma Valley, is leveraging the ClearEdge5 system to advance its energy efficiency and sustainability goals. The ClearEdge5 system enables Stone Edge Farm to significantly reduce the energy costs required to run a successful estate and vineyard. In particular, it reduces the energy required to run the farm’s irrigation system and lights.

“At Stone Edge Farm we are committed to making world-class organic wine, while also to serving as an industry steward of sustainable practices in agriculture, farming and conservation,” said Mac McQuown, proprietor, Stone Edge Farm. “A key to minimizing our impact on the earth is determining energy efficiency best practices that help meet the operational needs of our growing agricultural operations. ClearEdge Power has been instrumental in helping us advance toward this goal by providing a system that significantly reduces our dependence on traditional energy sources while dramatically lowering our carbon emissions.”

By using the ClearEdge5 to provide power and heat for some operational functions, Stone Edge Farm expects to save 49 percent on its electricity bill and remove 24,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the environment annually. The financial savings will allow the winery to save more than $250,000 on total energy costs over a 20-year period. In addition to the clear financial benefits, Stone Edge Farm chose the ClearEdge5 system for its efficiency, ease-of-installation and overall aesthetic value.

“Stone Edge Farm is making tremendous strides in reducing the environmental impact of their agricultural production, and we are excited they have included our ClearEdge5 system as part of their impressive sustainability efforts,” said ClearEdge Power President and CEO Russell Ford. “This deployment clearly demonstrates the economic and environmental benefits that commercial and agricultural entities, like farms and wineries, can achieve with onsite continuous power systems such as the ClearEdge5. By providing efficient and 24/7 access to clean power and heat we can help businesses achieve energy independence, while saving money and becoming better stewards of the environment.”

The ClearEdge5 is a 5-kilowatt fuel cell from ClearEdge Power that combines heat and power in a scalable solution that can meet individual business’ specific energy needs. Unlike power sources that use traditional combustion technology, the ClearEdge5 uses an electrochemical process to convert natural gas to electricity and heat. This process dramatically reduces the environmental impact of producing electricity by reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 35 to 40 percent compared to traditional combustion technology. Roughly the size of a standard refrigerator and incorporating a system for real-time remote monitoring, the innovative fuel cell system also reduces other typical pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds, ash and particulates, to trace levels.

A Japanese company has perfected the technology that will store green energy in the homes of the immediate future and control where and when that power is provided to the building.

Other firms are working on similar storage and control systems for individual homes, but Japanese companies have redoubled their efforts in the wake of the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast of the country in March and destroyed the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant.

Shorn of the energy produced at the facility, there is growing concern that major urban areas — primarily Tokyo — will experience blackouts when demand surpasses the amount that can be provided by other plants.

And with daytime temperatures that will rise above 30 degrees C as the summer begins to kick in, demand for power for air-conditioning units is already rising.

NEC Corporation has made a breakthrough with the launch of its household energy storage system, which is equipped with lithium-ion batteries and can simultaneously control electrical power throughout the home.

The first 100 units of this industry first will be made available to home construction companies and businesses from July 18, NEC said.

The system automatically controls power to the building by connecting to the distribution panel and enabling interactive coordination with the power supplied by a commercial energy company and the home’s electrical devices, its solar power systems and other equipment.

“This interactivity enables the system to store power during nighttime hours, when power consumption is low, then to use the stored power during afternoon hours, when power consumption reaches its peak,” NEC said.

“This reduces both the demand on power companies as well as household electricity charges.

“Recently, in consideration of the supply and demand conditions for electricity during summer in Japan, initiatives to shift the peak afternoon power consumption time and reduce the overall volume of power consumption are steadily advancing.

“Furthermore, households have become increasingly aware of the importance of access to electricity for essential needs in the event of an emergency or blackout, in addition to the necessity of power conservation,” it said.

Panasonic Corp. is working on similar technology and operates a model home of the future in Tokyo where it showcases cutting-edge technology that will make homes in the future greener and more energy efficient.

The model home incorporates solar panels, pipes that carry hot water beneath the floor in the winter and cool water in the summer and reduced-energy lighting.

Until now, however, the largest obstacle to such systems being introduced on a large scale to homes has been the lack of a reliable storage system for the energy that is generated, a problem that NEC appears to have overcome.

Back-Up Power Fuel Cells to Be Installed at 8 Defense Facilities Across the Country

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Adoption in CA Important to Long-Term Commercialization Strategy for USA

LATHAM, N.Y. — Plug Power Inc. (Nasdaq:PLUG) today announced that its CEO, Mr. Andy Marsh, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the California Hydrogen Business Council (CHBC). Plug Power manufactures hydrogen fuel cell solutions, known as GenDrive^®, to power electric lift trucks in the $19.9B global material handling market.

“I’d like to thank the California Hydrogen Business Council for giving me the opportunity to serve on this Board alongside many of my distinguished colleagues in the hydrogen and fuel cell business,” said Mr. Marsh. “Plug Power is doing our part to elevate hydrogen and fuel cell solutions as a viable power source today, not a technology for the future. And, we are not alone. It’s the hard work of cross-functional organizations, such as the CHBC, that rally in favor of the greater-good of our country’s green-job creation and energy independence.”

Plug Power’s GenDrive fuel cells are leading the way for the commercialization of hydrogen-fueled power solutions. The company has shipped over 1,200 GenDrive units to material handling customers in North America, and has had some of its largest customer-wins in the progressive State of California. These orders include:

• Kroger Co, Compton, CA: 161 GenDrive units
• WinCo Foods, Modesto, CA: 184 GenDrive units
• Coca-Cola Refreshments, San Leandro, CA: 37 GenDrive units

“We’re pleased to welcome Mr. Marsh to the Board of Directors,” stated Mark Abramowitz, CHBC Board President. “His knowledge, leadership and drive will serve the organization well as we continue to grow and expand value to our members.”

The CHBC is a non-profit organization serving as a link between hydrogen-technology developers, businesses, energy leaders, government, and infrastructure providers with a common vision of clean energy and transportation fueled by hydrogen. Its members implement and use technology and services that are taking the hydrogen economy into the mainstream. Learn more at www.californiahydrogen.org/home.

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (AIM/ASX: CFU), a leading developer of high efficiency and low emission power products for homes and other buildings, has signed a distribution agreement with Zestiq B.V., for Zestiq to market and sell Ceramic Fuel Cells’ BlueGen gas-to-electricity products in The Netherlands.

Zestiq is part of the consortium of innovative companies which in March 2011 bought and installed a BlueGen in a 17th century canal house “De Groene Bocht” in the centre of Amsterdam. The aim of Zestiq is to accelerate ‘clean technology’ which is market ready. By developing smart business models for the different technologies, Zestiq aims to significantly reduce the time to mass market.

Zestiq and its partners will market and sell BlueGen units to small commercial and residential customers in The Netherlands. The units will be installed and maintained by the service company of Eneco, Eneco Installatie Bedrijven.

The other members of the consortium include several leading energy companies in The Netherlands: Liander is a distribution company with 2.9 million electricity customers and 2.1 million gas customers. GasTerra is an international natural gas trading company owned by Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil and the Dutch Government. Responsibility for the planet and for society go hand in hand at GasTerra, which is why sustainability is an important component of GasTerra’s policy. The company supports the development of gas technologies, such as BlueGen units, that could make a significant contribution to the transition to sustainable sources of energy. A BlueGen unit is also installed at the home of a Director of GasTerra.

The other consortium member, Eneco, currently provides services for a range of heating and cooling technologies, including other small scale combined heating and power products. Eneco invests in sustainable energy sources such as wind, hydro and solar energy, biomass, heating and cooling and decentralised, local generation of energy. Eneco is active in the North West European market with operations in Belgium, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Eneco is mission partner of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the world’s first energy company to participate in the international Climate Saver programme.

Matthijs Guichelaar from Zestiq said “Zestiq sees a huge market potential for BlueGen in the Netherlands. With its dense gas network, large gas reserves in the North and growing interest in distributed generation, we think the Netherlands and the BlueGen are a perfect match. We see great possibilities in carbon reduction and smartgrid applications. Together with Eneco we are looking forward to starting to make sales.”

Brendan Dow, Managing Director of Ceramic Fuel Cells said “We are very pleased to have appointed Zestiq as another sales channel for BlueGen, this time in the important Dutch market. Zestiq and their utility partners will drive BlueGen sales in this market to build on our sales channels in the UK and other key markets.”

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 Dutch home. (In The Netherlands an average home consumes an estimated 3,700 kilowatt hours of electricity per year.)

Surplus electricity can be sold back to the grid or used in supplementary applications such as charging an electric car, as well as having the additional benefit of providing heat for domestic hot water use. BlueGen units generate electricity with the highest electrical efficiency of any small scale generating technology in the world, reducing energy bills and cutting carbon emissions.

BlueGen customers in The Netherlands are eligible to receive a feed in tariff for up to 5,000 kilowatt hours of electricity exported back to the grid.

Exton, PA—The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE), working together with Alpha Technologies Inc. and CommScope Inc., last night unveiled a prototype powering system for hardened cable business services that leverages environmentally friendly technologies for continued availability during lengthy power interruptions.

At SCTE’s headquarters here, an expanded clean energy solution has been installed that integrates solar and fuel-cell technology to provide an average of five to seven days—or more given hydrogen replenishment—of power for critical systems.  Designed to enable SCTE to maintain constituent services during adverse circumstances, the system also will help to build cable’s overall knowledge base around the backup powering that is key to business services success.

Aligned with SCTE’s Smart Energy Management Initiative (SEMI) objectives, the 19.7–kilowatts (kW) hybrid power system combines a newly installed 8-kW hydrogen fuel cell solution from CommScope with a 2.8-kW grid interactive solar array and 20-hour runtime storage batteries installed by Alpha.  Intelligent controls from Alpha and OutBack Power, an Alpha Technologies company, optimize the generation and storage capabilities of all sources when public utility power is unavailable.

“The success of cable’s business services initiatives is dependent in large measure on the industry’s ability to provide voice, video and—most importantly—data services without interruption,” said Mark Dzuban, president and CEO of SCTE.  “The field research we are conducting with CommScope and Alpha will help the industry create the solutions, standards, skills and certifications needed to chart a course toward such key objectives as optimized power efficiency and ZERO power unavailability.”

“While cable has increased its share of the Tier 2 and Tier 3 business markets, the greatest growth potential exists with Tier 1 business services customers,” said Jim Hughes, senior vice president, Broadband Sales, CommScope.  “Working together with SCTE and Alpha, we’re creating deployment models that will help operators deliver the high-performance, high-reliability services that large corporations, particularly those with multiple locations, demand.”

“The Grid Interactive AC UPS Inverter System receives inputs from a variety of reserve power DC sources including the hydrogen fuel-cell solution, the solar array providing additional backup availability during daylight hours, and the redundant 170 ah 48 VDC battery strings,” said Jim Heidenreich, vice president, product management and customer fulfillment for Alpha Technologies.  “Ultimately, we believe that our work with CommScope and SCTE will drive the development of even more advanced power management and power availability solutions that can help the industry capitalize on the business services market.”

In the SCTE system, the fuel cell, solar array and batteries are integrated into a grid interactive power system.  The Alpha Power System includes both a charge controller and inverter to balance the power delivered to the batteries.  When the grid is down, fluctuations in voltage will be measured to maintain the power necessary for SCTE’s critical IT needs.  When combined with an 11.28 kW array installed by Alpha last year, SCTE is capable of generating an estimated 23,333 kW hours of solar power.

CommScope’s hydrogen fuel-cell solution uses hydrogen-powered fuel cells to provide an environmentally friendly DC backup power solution for cable network headends and hub equipment. Unlike diesel generators, the only by-products of hydrogen fuel cells are heat and water. The proton exchange membrane hydrogen fuel cells are housed inside a secure weather-resistant cabinet for outdoor deployment, and offer a smaller footprint and more dense power backup than what is on the market today.

Alpha Technologies installed SCTE’s 48-panel solar array in 2010 to provide power to SCTE’s IT and communications infrastructure.  The roof-mounted photovoltaic system is capable of generating upwards of 13,300-kW hours annually, which is roughly the equivalent of 23,866 lbs of CO2 offset annually.

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (AIM/ASX: CFU), the world’s leading developer of high efficiency and low emission power products for homes and other buildings, is pleased to announce that the German Government has formally approved funding for an order of up to 200 Ceramic Fuel Cells’ integrated power and heat generators from German energy service provider EWE.

The previously announced order from EWE is the largest order the Company has received, with total revenue of up to EUR 4.9 million over two years. Part of the funding for the order is being provided by the German government’s national hydrogen and fuel cell technology innovation program.

Ceramic Fuel Cells is supplying the core Gennex fuel cell module and related components to its local manufacturing partner, Gebruder Bruns Heiztechnik GmbH, which is integrating the fuel cell module with a boiler into an integrated power and heating product for supply to EWE. EWE will then install the units in homes in the Lower Saxony region in northern Germany.

EWE is the Company’s longest standing utility customer and one of the largest and most innovative utilities in Germany, with 6,400 staff and revenues of EUR 5.8 billion. Based in Northern Germany, EWE also has operations in other German states as well as Poland and Turkey.

Apart from the project in Germany with EWE, the Company is also developing and deploying integrated mCHP units in France and the United Kingdom, and has sold its BlueGen modular power and heating products in Europe, Japan, Australia and the USA.