BIC Group (Paris:BB) today announced that its Canadian subsidiary, BIC Inc. has acquired the assets of Angstrom Power Incorporated, Vancouver, B.C., a company specializing in the development of portable fuel cell technology. The purchase price is CAD 18.7 million (approximately EUR 13.5 million¹).

A portable fuel cell device works with a replaceable fuel cartridge and provides charging capability to consumer electronic devices that have rechargeable batteries (e.g. smart phones, tablets, cell phones, gaming, GPS, etc.) and direct power to other electric indoor and outdoor devices. By offering instant, constant and extended power, portable fuel cells will give the consumer convenient access to power whenever and wherever needed, as an alternative to electricity from a wall outlet.

For nearly ten years, BIC has been developing hydrogen fuel cartridges which are connected to the fuel cell device and replaced once the fuel is depleted. During this time, Angstrom has been developing portable fuel cell devices. BIC’s hydrogen fuel cartridge technology and the Angstrom fuel cell technology work very well together. BIC and Angstrom prototype designs have demonstrated high levels of performance and efficiency.

Companies whose devices rely on rechargeable batteries have shown a keen interest in the promise of such fuel cell technology. BIC expects to bring a portable fuel cell device and fuel cell cartridge to market in 2 to 5 years.

Mario Guevara, Chief Executive Officer, said: “BIC’s vision for the portable fuel cell industry remains to manufacture and commercialize a replaceable hydrogen fuel cartridge. With the purchase of Angstrom, BIC will also be able to provide a total power solution.”

Bruno Bich, Chairman of the Board, added: “Since 2003, BIC has been working on fuel cell research and development by leveraging its expertise in lighter valve technology to produce cartridges. The acquisition of Angstrom confirms our commitment to be active in the portable fuel cell industry and expand our product portfolio of high-quality consumer goods.”

Angstrom Chief Executive Officer Paul Zimmerman added: “Angstrom has advanced its fuel cell technology to the point where investment is required in new areas including marketing and distribution. BIC’s complementary capabilities in these areas combined with their state-of-the-art fuel cartridge technology make BIC the ideal acquirer for Angstrom.”

WASHINGTON, DC – - For the third consecutive year, the Hydrogen Student Design Contest has welcomed the most teams to ever participate in the competition. A record 33 university teams have completed the first stage of the Contest to develop a combined heat, hydrogen and power system for their university campus. All now qualify to compete for the grand prize: a trip to the 2012 World Hydrogen Energy Conference in Toronto to showcase their design to over a thousand industry professionals from around the world.

“This unprecedented participation from around the world shows that the younger generation wants to use fuel cells and hydrogen energy to solve America’s energy challenges” said Jeff Serfass, President of the Hydrogen Education Foundation. “We need more energy professionals to recognize what these students already know: that fuel cells and hydrogen energy enable a clean energy portfolio, and are unparalleled in efficiency, cleanliness, reliability, versatility, and safety.”

The 8th annual Hydrogen Student Design Contest, supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, challenges students to design a tri-generation system that yields heat, hydrogen, and power, while utilizing local resources.

Other supporters of this year’s Contest include the Environmental Protection Agency’s Combined Heat and Power Partnership, the International Association for Hydrogen Energy, and the World Hydrogen Energy Conference 2012.

For more information: www.hydrogencontest.org

BEND, OR — IdaTech, a global leader in the development and manufacture of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell products for telecommunications and other critical backup power applications, is pleased to announce its contribution to worldwide sustainability by providing clean energy, for communications equipment, at COP17 in Durban, South Africa.

IdaTech’s ElectraGen(R) ME fuel cell system is providing power to a Base Transceiver Site (BTS) that is supplying cellular phone coverage during the event for COP17 participants. United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP17) runs from 28 November to 09 December in Durban, South Africa.

The ElectraGen ME fuel cell system has many benefits that support the environment including reduction of carbon footprint and significant exhaust emissions savings which would normally be emitted into the atmosphere. When compared to a diesel generator, there is a 50% reduction in CO2 and more than 95% reduction in CO, NOx, and SOx emissions, as well as no particulate matter (PM) emissions. In contrast to diesel generators, fuel cell systems are reliable, efficient, and a clean technology which directly supports global sustainability.

Network operators are increasingly implementing clean technology solutions to lower their environmental impact, improve network reliability and reduce operating expenses through the use of more efficient equipment. Today, IdaTech has more than 75 fuel cell systems installed in telecom networks throughout South Africa.

About IdaTech

IdaTech is an advanced fuel cell products company which is operationally headquartered in Bend, Oregon, USA.

IdaTech designs, develops, and manufactures extended run fuel cell products for Telecom applications requiring up to 15 kW of power. IdaTech’s unique PEM fuel cell technology provides solutions for a wide range of applications to directly support efforts towards sustainable energy.

IdaTech’s portfolio of industry-certified fuel cell products are based on the company’s fuel processing, purification and fuel cell system integration capabilities. With the support of strategic partners and customers, the company’s extended run backup power products are being deployed worldwide for stationary applications.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting the company direct or by visiting its website at http://www.idatech.com .

OSAKA (Nikkei)–Panasonic Corp.  is planning to market bundled environmental and energy services that would help businesses save money and reduce emissions.

Panasonic is targeting sales of 1 trillion yen in fiscal 2018 from the new solutions business, which will combine such environmental products as fuel cells and energy-conservation equipment, a senior official said Monday.

“We will create a new business model in which we solve the problems of customers,” Panasonic Electric Works Co. President Shusaku Nagae told reporters in Tokyo.

For supermarkets and other stores, the group will propose systems that control lighting, refrigerators, air conditions and other equipment. It also hopes to market so-called smart towns across the world, Nagae said.

Panasonic intends to achieve growth by focusing on green and energy-related operations amid a slump in its core electronics business, which includes televisions.

The group hopes to create about 100 solutions businesses and develop them so that each eventually will generate around 10 billion yen in revenue. A new department that will promote such efforts is to be established in January. Plans call for investing 10 billion yen in this field in fiscal 2012, with a goal to have the new business log more than 100 billion yen in sales that year.

Wendy Gibson, EEF compere; Steve Hallet, Project Leader for ITM Power and Mark Alston of ENER-G

The Sheffield-based business specialises in clean fuel hydrogen generation and energy storage and won the award after developing a transportable hydrogen refuelling unit called HFuel which can be used as a zero carbon fuel for modified internal combustion engines and fuel cell vehicles.

The company’s Hydrogen On Site Trials (HOST) programme resulted in 22 companies – including Stansted Airport, Sheffield CC, Carillion plc, and Tarmac– signing up to demonstrate the benefits of HFuel. The company now receives enquiries from around the world.

The annual awards are hosted by EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, and recognise excellence in enterprise, innovation, environmental performance and skills development among UK manufacturers.

Andrew Tuscher, EEF Regional Director North, said: “Manufacturing is crucial to the economic recovery of our region. Companies like ITM Power are leading the way by developing truly transformational zero carbon technology. Congratulations to them on this well deserved success.”

The judging panel, led by Cranfield University, praised ITM Power’s achievements, stating: “The judges praised this business as revolutionary. This is a great story of pioneers in UK manufacturing addressing the biggest cause of carbon emissions, transportation, and developing a transportable hydrogen re-fuelling unit, HFuel. We were particularly impressed by ITM Power’s long term investment plan, its initiative in being the first to take something from research to market, high uptake and its genuine level of innovation.”

Cedric Rodrigues, Divisional Director for ENER-G, environmental partner to the EEF, said: “We salute the achievements of ITM Power and their powers of innovation. This is an extraordinary product that has major implications for improved sustainability in commerce and industry. Judging by the high standard of entries this year, the future of sustainable manufacturing is in great hands.”

ITM Power will now go forward to compete against other regional winners from across the UK in the national awards final on January 26 in London.

They will be joined by Tata Steel apprenctice Rush Garfitt, aged 19, won the Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award, sponsored by EAL.

Rush, from Rawmarsh, works for Sheffield-based Tata Steel’s speciality steel’s business, which manufactures products for the aerospace, oil & gas, energy and automotive sectors.

He demonstrated his commitment to his chosen career by relocating from Scunthorpe to Rotherham in order to pursue his apprenticeship.

Liam Jones of DavyMarkham was runner-up in the same category.

Meanwhile, Sheffield Forgemasters was runner-up in the Environmental Efficiency Award and highly commended in the Outstanding Export Award

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/business/local-business/itm_power_handed_top_

Extension of North-Rhine Westphalia Grant

Ceramic Fuel Cells (ASX / AIM: CFU) (”the Company”) announces that the NRW Bank has extended the term of the grant received by the Company.

In December 2009 the Company received a grant of EUR1,386,000 from the NRW Bank. NRW Bank is the government-owned development bank in the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia, where the Company has built and is operating its volume manufacturing plant.

Under the terms of the grant certain conditions had to be met in order to retain the grant monies.

In the Overseas Offer Circular mailed on 8 November 2011 the Company noted that it was in ongoing discussions with the NRW Bank and the Government of North-Rhine Westphalia about the grant conditions, specifically relating to the number of staff employed at the plant.

The Company is pleased to announce that the NRW Bank has given an extension until December 2012, in order to meet the final grant condition.

MARLTON, N.J. and NEW CASTLE COUNTY, Del. — Hill International HIL , the global leader in managing construction risk, announced today that it has received a contract from Diamond State Generation Partners LLC, a related company of Bloom Energy Corporation, to provide construction management services in connection with the development of the Red Lion Energy Center in New Castle County, Delaware.

The Red Lion Energy Center will be a fuel-cell technology, grid-tied, base-loaded generating station, using natural gas for fuel. Major equipment will include 135 fuel cell units, or “Bloom Boxes”, grouped in clusters. The plant facilities will also include a natural gas regulating station, well, deionized water plant, water storage, administration and control building, and stormwater management systems.

“We are proud that Bloom Energy has entrusted Hill to manage the construction of its Red Lion Energy Center,” said Michael V. Griffin, P.E., Hill’s Senior Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager. “This is truly a groundbreaking project utilizing groundbreaking green energy technology,” Griffin added.

Bloom Energy is a provider of breakthrough solid oxide fuel cell technology that generates clean, highly-efficient power onsite from a wide variety of fuel sources. Bloom Energy’s mission is to make clean, reliable energy affordable for everyone in the world. The Bloom Energy Server is currently producing power for several Fortune 500 companies. The company is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information on Bloom Energy, please visit their website at www.bloomenergy.com .

Hill International, with 3,100 employees in 100 offices worldwide, provides program management, project management, construction management and construction claims and consulting services. Engineering News-Record magazine recently ranked Hill as the 8th largest construction management firm in the United States. For more information on Hill, please visit our website at www.hillintl.com .

Proton Power Systems plc (AIM:PPS), a leading designer, developer and producer of fuel cells and fuel cell electric hybrid systems, is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH, has sold to customers in Germany and Italy, the first two units of its 19” inch rack mounted fuel cell system. Each system can produce up to 5 kVA of electricity and fits into an industrial housing cabinet.

Commenting on the sale of these products, Dr. Faiz Nahab, CEO of Proton Power, said: “We are delighted to see the first sales of our new product. After a long testing period, we are convinced it will operate reliably and play an important role in our future business development. We hope to address more customers soon with our new product range, as hydrogen powered solutions will play an increasingly important role in the power supply industry as well as the provision of secure power for IT applications.”

WASHINGTON, DC — Looking forward to continued success in 2012, the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) today announced that Morry Markowitz has been named President & Executive Director. Markowitz has been the Interim Executive Director since July 2011.

“The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen industry has made great strides in developing and producing new, efficient and environmentally sound technologies. Morry’s expertise in the motor vehicle and utility industries, government, and association leadership will help us take the industry to the next level,” said Mike Hicks, Chairman of the FCHEA Board of Directors. Hicks added, “Fuel cells and hydrogen are already part of the industrial, automotive, military and energy generation landscapes, and Morry will play a major role in helping to tell our story in communities across the nation, state capitals and Washington, D.C.”

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to help lead our industry to further success,” said Morry Markowitz. “I believe in fuel cells and hydrogen energy because these technologies can dramatically improve our lives by reducing pollution, lowering our dependence on foreign oil and creating sustainable jobs. Government support for our industry is a solid investment in America’s energy future, a public-private partnership that we must sustain.”

Markowitz believes that this is an exciting time for the industry. “From transportation to construction, national defense to industrial design and more, fuel cell and hydrogen technologies are entering a new era of opportunity and growth. It will take an industry-wide effort to explain the benefits we provide and demonstrate that we are indeed ready to deliver products and services to businesses, consumers and government agencies,” Markowitz said. “FCHEA will help lead this effort, and I am eager to continue working with our member companies, forging new alliances with other industries and organizations, and most importantly, expanding our public conversation about commercializing fuel cells in all applications,” he added.

Mr. Markowitz most recently served as the Group Director of External Affairs at Edison Electric Institute (EEI). Prior to EEI, he was the Vice President of Public Affairs for the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers. Earlier, Markowitz worked on Capitol Hill and served in the Executive Branch. He earned his J.D. from George Mason School of Law.

About the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association

The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) is the world’s premier advocacy organization dedicated to commercializing fuel cells and hydrogen energy technologies. Fuel cells and hydrogen technologies deliver clean, reliable power to leading corporate, academic and public sector users, and FCHEA members are helping to transform America’s energy future. Uniquely, FCHEA represents the full supply chain including universities, government laboratories and agencies, trade associations, fuel cell materials, components and systems manufacturers, hydrogen producers and fuel distributors, utilities and other end users.

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited [AIM/ASX: CFU], a leading developer of high efficiency and low emission electricity generators for homes and other buildings, is pleased to announce that it has received a new 105 unit order from E.ON UK, one of the UK’s leading power and gas companies.

E.ON has also reaffirmed that they are committed to working with CFCL to launch integrated power and heating products for the UK market.

New agreements have been signed with E.ON covering both Ceramic Fuel Cells’ BlueGen modular generator and the micro combined heat and power unit in development. Each product uses CFCL’s Gennex fuel cell module as its core technology.

E.ON has ordered 41 BlueGen electricity generators to be deployed under the European Union Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking’s Joint Technology Initiative (”JTI”) fuel cell demonstration programme. The JTI project partners are E.ON, CFCL, Ideal Boilers Limited and HOMA Software BV of The Netherlands. Under the JTI project, the BlueGen units will be installed in homes and other buildings in the UK, Germany and The Netherlands, during early 2012.

Ideal Boilers is an established UK heating company that has produced boilers for over 100 years. HOMA Software is a software house specialising in remote monitoring and control of micro combined heat and power systems.

An additional four BlueGen units will be deployed by E.ON in demonstration and commercial customer sites.

BlueGen is the first and only fuel cell product to receive Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certification and be eligible for the UK feed in tariff, which provides 10.5 pence per kilowatt hour of electricity generated, plus an additional 3.1 pence per kilowatt hour of electricity exported to the grid. BlueGen customers are also eligible to receive a feed in tariff in Germany and The Netherlands.

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 UK home.(1) Surplus electricity can be sold back to the grid.

CFCL and Ideal are also developing products which provide power, hot water and home heating. CFCL and Ideal have built two prototype units for testing during the 2011/12 heating season.

This completes the development work under the Product Development Agreement signed with E.ON in 2009.

CFCL and E.ON are continuing to work together to develop a range of product configurations for different UK market segments and customer requirements. Once the Product Development Agreement is completed during 2012 the next stage in the parties’ collaboration is to negotiate and sign a Product Supply Agreement for commercial products. This is subject to the products performing as expected and to the parties agreeing on the material terms for a commercial product, such as product specification and warranties, pricing, firm order volumes and delivery schedule.

Under the JTI project, Ideal and CFCL will develop up to 60 integrated units, to be installed in homes in the United Kingdom, Benelux and Germany from late 2012. These integrated units will be manufactured by Ideal in the UK.

Unlike BlueGen, these integrated units provide home heating, and will be targeted at the market for replacement home boilers, which in the UK alone comprises 1.6 million(2) units per year.

Brendan Dow, Managing Director of Ceramic Fuel Cells, said:

“Our close working relationship with E.ON continues to strengthen as evidenced by this new order and we continue to discuss new ways of broadening our collaboration together. Ceramic Fuel Cells is right at the forefront in the development of high efficiency fuel cell microgeneration and its integration into today’s homes.”

Dr Chris Horne from E.ON

“These agreements with Ideal Boilers, CFCL and HOMA Software reflect our ongoing relationship to develop fuel cell based products for the retrofit and new build markets. We are now pleased to commit funding and resources at this critical point in the technology’s commercialisation. The additional help of the FCH-JTI funding to extend our field demonstrations into the EU, and optimise the component and supply chain is a significant step in delivering commercial products, building on CFCL’s market-leading technology. This technology signals that cleaner, more cost-effective energy in the UK home is closer than ever before.”

(1) Source: Medium UK household power consumption is 3,300 kWh/year per Ofgem Factsheet 96 18.01.11

(2) Source: Heating & Hot Water Industry Council Market Updates 2010 – 2011

TOKYO –The venture company IE-CHP based in Scotland will start sales of household and commercial use fuel cells in the UK and Ireland from 2014. The company is a joint venture between the fuel cell developer Intelligent Energy, the UK energy major SSE (formerly Scottish and Southern Energy) and a Scottish government organization. It will progressively introduce a 1 kW unit for home use and a 10 kW unit for commercial use.

IE-CHP’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Julian Hughes stated, “Home use fuel cells currently have a very low profile. If the growing need to reduce rising energy costs is combined with government support policies, penetration will be adequately driven.” Sales will begin in the UK and Ireland and it is anticipated that business will be developed on European mainland as well.

The cells that are the core component of the commercial use 10 kW units will be supplied by its parent company Intelligent Energy. The supplier for the cells for the home use 1 kW unit will be a company other Intelligent Energy, but the name of the company has not been announced yet.

The Press and Journal has reported that hydrogen-powered buses could hit north-east roads within two years in a scheme that would bring Aberdeen to the forefront of green energy in Europe.

It is hoped that a pilot project could begin in 2013 with four buses operating on existing routes in and around the city.

The Council are reported to have had positive talks with private sector project partners First Bus and Stagecoach, bus vehicle suppliers and fuel system suppliers.

European Union funding is available through the Smart Cities and Communities Initiative, while officials are hoping that the Scottish Government will bridge a financing gap of between £3million and £5million.

Full article in the Press and Journal on the 21st November

How to pave the way towards the deployment of fuel cells and hydrogen technologies is the focus of today’s 4th Stakeholders general assembly of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking

Europe has reached a decisive stage in achieving its decarbonisation objectives by 2050. Hydrogen and fuel cells technologies are key in that respect. To date, significant investments have been made by all stakeholders to progress technological development and to get closer to market entry. Regulatory and adequate financing mechanisms are now needed to overcome the last barriers to deployment and encourage early adopters of these innovative technologies to move forward. With limited financial resources and an investment climate under pressure, concerted action between all stakeholders is more than ever essential to foster a successful integration of fuel cells and hydrogen in the European energy and transport system. The whole sector -industry and research all together- as well as EU and national policy makers will exchange and debate at the Stakeholders’ General Assembly on what is needed to bridge the gap between demonstrations to commercial deployment of these clean technologies as well as on the pooling of resources and policies.

The potential of these technologies for economic growth and job creation, notably in relation to international developments is also to be addressed during the event in the Charlemagne building.

Bert De Colvenaer, Executive Director of the FCH Joint Undertaking, stresses: ” These innovative energy technologies call for a totally new mind-set able to address the full innovation cycle: from research to full market integration by better matching industry’s needs and customer’s expectations; it is therefore particularly relevant for us to show the technology we are supporting since years is becoming reality. It is also time to reflect on what has been achieved so far, since the creation of the Joint Undertaking in 2008 and look to future developments, taking into account the Programme Review and the first interim evaluation of the Public Private Partnership.”

Pierre-Etienne Franc, Chairman of the Governing Board and of the Industry Grouping, member of the Public-Private Partnership, adds:

“Market forces alone will not sustain the deployment of these technologies, so that they can compete successfully with the incumbent ones. A strong and determined commitment of public institutions and the private sector together is essential to support the deployment of innovative applications and products able to deliver their energetic and environmental benefits. The whole sector has formalized its technology and financial ambition to contribute to Europe’s energy and low carbon objectives by 2020. Discussions on its findings, compiled in a comprehensive report, made public today, will be launched at the FCH JU Stakeholders General assembly.”

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario– Hydrogenics Corporation (Nasdaq:HYGS) (TSX:HYG), a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and fuel cell products, today announced the award to deliver one HySTAT™60 electrolyser, capable to produce 130kg a day of pure hydrogen. It will be part of a complete electrolysis-based fueling station awarded to Carbagas, a fully owned subsidiary of the Air Liquide group. The electrolyser is expected to be delivered to the city of Brugg in the canton of Aargau, Switzerland at the beginning of 2012.

The hydrogen fueling station, delivering green hydrogen at 350bar, will be based at the PostAuto bus garage in Brugg and will be used to operate five Citaro FuelCELL buses. PostAuto (www.postauto.ch) is the biggest public bus operator in Switzerland with over 2,000 vehicles in operation. This project is part of the CHIC initiative, a European demonstration project of fuel cell buses (http://chic-project.eu).

The Aargau bus project will reduce noise and improve air quality in the canton by reducing harmful emissions from public transport. This fueling station will deliver 100% green hydrogen, thanks to the use of green electricity generated by the local energy utility IBB (hydro-electric, solar, wind and biomass) further demonstrating that a complete carbon free chain using electrolysis has its place in the future energy mix for transport applications.

“We are pleased to have been awarded the key hydrogen generating equipment for Air Liquide’s fueling station, further demonstrating Hydrogenics’ capabilities to provide high quality equipment, engineering and services for the deployment of hydrogen fueling stations in Europe,” said Daryl Wilson, Hydrogenics President and CEO.

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.

International Renewable Energy Storage Conference

BERLIN –Two new developments confirm Germany’s position as a top location to implement energy storage technology: Canadian fuel cell maker Ballard announced the opening of its new European headquarters in Germany this week. And last week a new project to store wind energy via hydrogen in the German natural gas grid was also unveiled. At this year’s International Renewable Energy Storage Conference from November 28-30 in Berlin, Germany Trade & Invest will have experts on hand to share new business opportunities in Germany’s growing energy storage segment.

“Wind and solar power are weather dependent. With over 17 percent renewable electricity in Germany, demand for energy storage solutions is growing very quickly to balance this fluctuating energy supply. Germany has set ambitious goals for renewable energy and positioned itself as a lead market for commercialization of fuel cell, hydrogen and battery technologies,” said Raphael Goldstein, energy storage expert at Germany Trade & Invest in Berlin.

Ballard, the manufacturer of fuel cells, stacks, and integrated systems based outside Vancouver will coordinate its entire European activities from a new location in the city of Hürth near Cologne. The company cites Germany’s significance as a key market and leading technology location. Germany Trade & Invest supported Ballard with free-of-charge investor consulting services.

In addition to the Ballard announcement, German energy company E.On last week revealed plans to launch a new project in Brandenburg to transform renewable energy into hydrogen through electrolysis and feed it into the natural gas grid. This method primarily addresses the problem of oversupply from wind turbines. When too much energy is generated for the electricity grid to absorb at a given moment, this energy can be converted to hydrogen. Current regulations allow the German natural gas grid to absorb up to 5 percent hydrogen, but this is expected to increase in the future.

Germany Trade & Invest is the foreign trade and inward investment promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. The organization advises foreign companies looking to expand their business activities in the German market. It provides information on foreign trade to German companies that seek to enter foreign markets.

Germany Trade & Invest
Andreas Bilfinger
Email: andreas.bilfinger@gtai.com
T: +49(0)30-200099-173
F: +49(0)30-200099-511

Source:Gadget

Anglo American Platinum will demonstrate a platinum-based fuel cell generator to attendees at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP17) to be held in Durban next week.

The zero emission fuel cell system will demonstrate clean energy production during COP 17 by supplying power to the local electricity grid. The 150 kilowatt fuel cell will use hydrogen to generate electricity. COP 17 delegates and visitors will have the opportunity to see the fuel cell installation situated close to the conference venue at the Greyville Racecourse.

Neville Nicolau, Chief Executive Officer of Anglo American Platinum Limited said: “This demonstration highlights the importance of fuel cells to our business. Fuel cell power systems in commercial production can increase the energy efficiency of our mining operations, make efficient use of by-product hydrogen in South Africa and provide growth in global platinum demand. Fuel cells further highlight the green credentials of platinum – in this case as an enabler of energy efficiency.”

Platinum-based fuel cells offer high efficiency, versatility and scalability and have the potential to be an important element in the transition to a low-carbon economy by enabling the provision of clean, reliable and cost-effective power.

Batchelor brings a wealth of experience, including engineering leadership, business development, sales, technology licensing and partnership-forming responsibilities with large OEMs and their tier-one suppliers.

Batchelor joins from Torotrak plc, a clean-technology development and IP licensing business, where he was responsible for the commercialisation of its innovative transmission systems across a number of global markets and applications. He has previously held senior engineering, commercial and business development positions at Land Rover, BMW AG and Trafficmaster plc, where he was responsible for its European subsidiary.

“Clean, highly efficient hydrogen fuel cells have a major role to play in a changing and more diverse motive landscape,” explained Batchelor. “Intelligent Energy’s proprietary fuel cells are proven, power-dense, scalable and cost effective, and I’m looking forward to driving forward the growth of the business in the sector.”

Batchelor’s role as Managing Director, Motive Division at Intelligent Energy will see him take the lead in expanding the company’s motive business globally, building upon successful relationships such as its ongoing partnership with the Suzuki Motor Corporation.

“We are very proud to add James to an already strong Intelligent Energy leadership team. He is highly regarded in the automotive industry and has a terrific track record of securing large, blue-chip customers in new, global markets,” said Dr Henri Winand, Chief Executive, Intelligent Energy. “James is deeply experienced in delivering substantial growth in revenues and market capitalisation, in addition to being well versed in the successful negotiation of complex licensing deals. His appointment allows us to accelerate the commercialisation of our clean fuel cell power systems technology in the motive sector.”

James Batchelor, Managing Director, Motive Division at Intelligent Energy

About Intelligent Energy
Intelligent Energy is a global clean power systems company, with a range of leading hydrogen fuel cell technologies. The company partners with leading global companies in the transportation, aerospace, distributed generation, backup and portable power markets. Current partners and customers include Scottish & Southern Energy plc and The Suzuki Motor Corporation, with whom Intelligent Energy built the Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter, the first fuel cell vehicle to achieve European Whole Vehicle Type Approval. The Company’s successes include the world’s first purpose built fuel cell motorbike and supplying the fuel cell to Boeing which powered the world’s first manned fuel cell aircraft.

Proton Power Systems plc (AIM:PPS), a leading designer, developer and producer of fuel cells and fuel cell electric hybrid systems, is pleased to announce that its wholly owned subsidiary, Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH (”the Company”), has been awarded a service contract from the Hamburg-based tourist ferry operator ATG Alster-Touristik GmbH (”ATG”), which operates within its fleet the world’s first Hydrogen powered ferry boat, the ‘Alsterwasser’.  The ‘Alsterwasser’, which is capable of carrying more than 100 passengers, has been operating on a daily basis since the beginning of the 2011 summer season without any technical problems.  ATG has now signed a regular service contract for the Hydrogen Fuel Cell system with the Company.

Commenting on the ATG service contract, Dr. Faiz Nahab, CEO of Proton Power, said: “We see this service contract as an extremely important step forward in our corporate development.  The ‘Alsterwasser’ is no longer a test application for new technologies as it is now a regular ship which has operated effectively during the Summer season and is proof that the Group’s technology is capable of performing on a daily basis without special maintenance or support.  We are extremely pleased to have signed this service contract with ATG and it clearly demonstrates the reliability of our technology.  We are confident that this contract will lead us towards other projects of a similar nature to the ‘Alsterwasser’.”

The U.S. Department of Energy today recognized the commissioning of an innovative fuel cell system at the United States Army’s Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, which will supply the facility with emergency backup power. The four-stack system is one of the first of 18 fuel cells to be installed and operated at military bases across the country under an interagency partnership between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Defense (DOD). A ribbon cutting ceremony held at the base yesterday was led by Major General Nick Justice, Commander of the Army’s Research and Development and Engineering Command, to celebrate the installation of the system at the base’s Building Operations Command Center. Under the partnership, the Departments 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.

“Fuel cells are a key part of our portfolio of clean energy technologies, and demonstrations like these help move our innovations from the lab to the market,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Dr. Henry Kelly. “Our partnership with DOD as an early adopter of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies will accelerate our transition to a clean energy future.”

Compared with batteries, fuel cells are a reliable source of backup power because they offer long continuous run times and greater durability in harsh outdoor environments, which makes them ideal power sources for DOD applications. Unlike traditional electricity generators used for backup power, fuel cells use no petroleum, are quieter, and produce fewer pollutants and emissions. Fuel cells also typically require less maintenance than either batteries or traditional generators, and can easily be monitored remotely to reduce maintenance time.

Aberdeen Proving Ground will also install three 5 kW fuel cells to provide critical back up power to its Range Control and Coordination Building, and an 8 kW fuel cell to provide backup power to the Snow Emergency building. LOGANEnergy of Roswell, Georgia, will install and maintain the fuel cells, which were manufactured by ReliOn of Spokane, Washington, and Idatech of Bend, Oregon.

Over the last decade, DOE has invested in research and development projects to advance key fuel cell components such as catalysts and membranes at several companies including 3M, Dupont, Gore, Johnson Matthey, and BASF. This research has helped reduce the costs of fuel cells by up to 80% since 2002, and many of these innovations are now being used in the fuel cell units being deployed by DOD.

Seven other military installations will be installing emergency fuel cell backup power under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two Departments in July 2010.

• Fort Bragg, North Carolina
• Fort Hood, Texas
• The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York
• Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey
• Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Base, Colorado
• U.S. Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center 29 Palms, California
• The Ohio National Guard, Columbus, Ohio.

The $6.6 million project announced in July is a joint effort by DOD’s U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. DOD will manage the project and DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will collect performance data for the first two years of this five-year demonstration. The NREL data will be available to fuel cell developers and commercial and government leaders interested in adopting this technology.

By working together, DOE and DOD can help promote scientific and technological innovation and accelerate the deployment of cutting-edge energy technologies that will strengthen American energy security and create new jobs for U.S. workers.

DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy invests in clean energy technologies that strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. Find out more about DOE’s support of research, development and deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

Government funding of £3 million will back seven industry-led, innovative, research and development projects that will demonstrate materials to support the development of tomorrow’s energy technologies. The collaborative projects will apply and demonstrate materials technologies for use in energy generation, transmission, distribution and storage.

The UK faces a number of challenges around energy supply, cost and security, because of the need to reduce both national and global CO2 emissions. This has created a need for the UK to adopt a balanced portfolio of energy technologies. UK industry now has a major opportunity to examine transferable materials solutions and methods that will be needed to support the development of energy technologies for the future. These projects will support the research, experimental development and application of materials technologies which address challenges in scaling up technologies, from proof of concept to small-scale technology demonstrations and pilots.

The companies leading the projects are: Alstom Grid UK Ltd, C-Tech Innovation Ltd, Cella Energy Ltd, Compound Semiconductor Technologies Global Ltd, Intrinsiq Materials Ltd, Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells Ltd and Sharp Laboratories Europe.

The projects will be in areas such as:

* Catalyst and membranes to establish hydrogen storage infrastructure;
* Fuel cells incorporating nanomaterials;
* High-grade waste heat recovery photovoltaic materials;
* Composite insulation for power transmission applications.

The funding awards, by the Technology Strategy Board (www.innovateuk.org) follow successful application by the companies to the Materials for Energy competition for R&D funding. Including match-funding by the participating businesses, the total value of the projects is in excess of £6.5 million.

Company Working with RocCera, Alfred University To Commercialize Innovative Ceramic Part Leads to Job Creation Over Next Year

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has awarded $200,000 to Solid Cell Inc., a Rochester-based manufacturer of solid-oxide fuel cells and equipment.

The company is matching NYSERDA’s investment, with help from RocCera, a Rochester-based company specializing in advanced ceramic component manufacturing, and Alfred University.

The company will use the funding to investigate the manufacturing of a vital, patent-pending fuel-cell part called the “interconnect” out of a ceramic material. The interconnect, which both separates the fuel cell chemicals and electrically connects individual cells, has a lower cost, superior high-temperature stability, and higher electrical conductivity than most current interconnect materials.

Fuel cells are electrochemical energy conversion devices, which generate “clean” electricity by converting hydrogen and oxygen into water.  Solid Cell is developing affordable fuel cells for a variety of applications, including residential, commercial, industrial, and military uses.

“NYSERDA is proud to support Solid Cell and its efforts in making advancements in the fuel cell industry which will allow for its business to expand and create additional jobs,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA. “By encouraging more businesses, municipalities and other entities to invest in this promising field, we are promoting clean energy while reducing demand on the electric grid.”

Solid-oxide fuel cells operate at very high temperatures (between 500 and 1,000 degrees C), which allows them to run on a variety of fuels other than pure hydrogen. The high temperature also has the advantage of creating heat, which can be used for a variety of heating needs (a process known as combined heat and power).

This is NYSERDA’s second award to Solid Cell. The first $250,000 was awarded last year, and helped the company set up its current 5,000-square foot development facility at the Rochester Technology Park (formerly Kodak’s Elmgrove Plant) last February. The company now has three full-time employees and with this additional funding from NYSERDA, it will allow Solid Cell to double its manufacturing space in 2012 and hire several more employees in the next year.

“We are extremely proud that NYSERDA has selected Solid Cell for a second time to receive funding under the Environmentally Preferred Power Systems Technologies program,” said Arkady Malakhov, founder and CEO.  “We credit NYSERDA’s support as one of the catalysts behind our decision to build our first facility in New York State.  In a difficult economic environment, NYSERDA’s steadfast commitment to innovative energy companies like Solid Cell has fostered technological advances, job creation and economic growth in a strategically vital sector of the state’s economy.”

According to a recent report from Pike Research, a trade group, revenue in the global fuel cell industry climbed from approximately $260 million in 2008 to nearly $670 million two years later – an increase of more than 250%.  Looking ahead, Pike Research forecasts that growth in the industry will accelerate rapidly beginning in 2012, with strong growth anticipated over the next six years.  Global fuel cell revenue is expected to surpass $28 billion by 2017.

“This addition of Solid Cell doing its manufacturing of solid oxide fuel cells in Rochester is tremendous news,” said state Sen. Joseph Robach of Rochester, who serves on the Senate Energy Committee. “Not only will this be adding jobs to the local economy, but it is also a product that will help the environment.  This is truly a win-win situation for all.”

“New York is poised to be a leader in fuel cell development, and this partnership between NYSERDA and Solid Cell is exactly the sort of private-public sector cooperation we need to keep our competitive edge,” said Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle, D-Irondequoit, who has formed a consortium to advise on state policy with respect to hydrogen fuel cell production. “This is very good news for our local economy and our state as a whole.”

In this week’s Science magazine, an energy expert advocates investing in “the other fuel cell” to reduce reliance on fossil fuels now, not in decades.

COLLEGE PARK, Md.–When most people hear the words “fuel cell,” they think of eco-friendly, hydrogen-powered cars that emit nothing more than water.

And that, says Professor Eric Wachsman, director of the University of Maryland Energy Research Center (UMERC), is one of the reasons we’re all not driving one.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) recent decisions about how to fund fuel cell research, he says, are putting the country at risk of falling behind in the development and implementation of the most efficient means of converting fuel to electricity. Fuel cells have up to three times the efficiency of an internal combustion engine.

“There is a problem in the perception of the public and policy makers, and in the funding of our fuel cell programs, that hydrogen and fuel cells are linked,” says Wachsman, a faculty member at the university’s A. James Clark School of Engineering. “Hydrogen-based fuel cells are the technology that has gotten all of the press and as a result we’re still waiting for a future hydrogen infrastructure. Yes, fuel cells can run off hydrogen, but they don’t have to.”

Another problem, Wachsman says, is America’s fixation on vehicles. “It will take decades to create a nationwide hydrogen distribution and storage system, and to convert every gas station into a hydrogen filling station. That reality has turned fuel cells into a ‘future technology’ and has resulted in a drastic reduction in the funding of fuel cell research by the DOE in favor of developing electric cars, when in fact fuel cells can be used right now in many stationary and mobile applications, including centralized power distribution and power generation for homes, businesses, and industry.”

	One of Professor Eric Wachsman’s solid-oxide fuel cells (SOFCs)

Most people are unaware that there are two kinds of fuel cells. The one in the public eye, the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell, uses hydrogen to generate power. The type of fuel cell Wachsman and his colleagues have worked to perfect, the solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), has a distinct advantage over its PEM-based sibling.

“Solid oxide fuel cells are unique because they can oxidize any fuel,” Wachsman explains. “They can run off of gasoline, diesel and natural gas today, and biofuels and hydrogen in the future, whenever that infrastructure is in place.”

Hot Technology

Still, nothing’s perfect, and Wachsman can sum up the reason why SOFCs aren’t in large-scale production in a word: temperature.

“That is the issue,” he explains. “It’s the reason why the automotive companies are using PEM fuel cells. PEM fuel cells operate at around 80 degrees Celsius [180 degrees Fahrenheit], which allows them to startup fairly quickly. Current solid oxide fuel cells currently operate at 800 degrees Celsius [1500 degrees Fahrenheit], so it takes a long time to warm up to operating temperature, making them more applicable to stationary power generation.”

Wachsman and his colleagues are working to change that.  In an article in the November 18 issue of Science, the team outlines the technology behind a new world record power density SOFC that generates two watts of power per square centimeter at 650 degrees Celsius [1200 degrees Fahrenheit]. The cell uses a bi-layer electrolyte developed by Wachsman that is more than 100 times more conductive than the conventional zirconia-based electrolyte operating at the same temperaturealso a world record. When the cells are assembled into a stack they should produce three kilowatts of electricity per kilogram of material, more than an internal combustion engine at approximately one-third the size.

The paper lays out a strategy to further lower temperature. The team believes its improvements to SOFC electrolytes and nanostructured-electrode designs could ultimately reduce the cells’ operating temperature to only 350 degrees Celsius [660 degrees Fahrenheit]. At that temperature they could start up fast enough for automotive applications, and would be more efficient and more affordable than current SOFCs because they could be manufactured from less expensive materials.

Progress At Risk

The DOE’s 2012 budget request, however, does not include funding for the SOFC program, effectively eliminating it from the agency’s research priorities and greatly reducing funding options for groups like Wachsman’s. This decision, he believes, was made without a complete understanding of recent significant advances in SOFC technology such as those described in the Science paper, which, combined with their fuel-flexibility, put them in an ideal position to improve nationwide energy efficiency today.

In the current issue of Energy and Environmental Science, Wachsman and his colleagues, Craig A. Marlowe and Kang Taek Lee, make the case that SOFCs should be an integral part of our energy policy. SOFCs, they argue, meet all of the DOE’s six key energy strategies: they deploy clean electricity, make use of alternative fuels, help modernize the power grid, will help gradually electrify the vehicles we drive, increase vehicle fuel efficiency, and increase building and industrial efficiency.1

“We don’t have to wait for hydrogen,” says Wachsman. “SOFCs represent a solution for everything that you can think of in terms of producing electricity and power today.”

1 Department of Energy Quadrennial Technology Review Framing Document, U.S. Department of Energy, 2011.

For More Information:

See Eric D. Wachsman and Kang Taek Lee. “Lowering the Temperature of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells.” Science, 2011, forthcoming.

See Eric D. Wachsman, Craig A. Marlowe and Kang Taek Lee. “Role of solid oxide fuel cells in a balanced energy strategy.” Energy and Environmental Science, 2011.
Read the advance article online here.

Visit the University of Maryland Energy Research Center website.

About the University of Maryland Energy Research Center
Located on University of Maryland campus in College Park, Md., the University of Maryland Energy Research Center (UMERC) is dedicated to developing and educating the public about efficient and environmentally sustainable technologies for alternative energy generation and storage. UMERC is administered by the A. James Clark School of Engineering, and includes faculty from all Clark School departments, as well as from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the College of Computer, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, the School of Public Policy, and the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. With faculty expertise in both energy technology and policy, UMERC provides the research and data to inform the larger policy debate on urgent, global sustainable energy and environmental issues, and the capabilities necessary to establish the State of Maryland as a leader in sustainable energy.

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