Fuel Cell Technology Update – May 2004
For more information on the following stories, click on the provided link, contact Jennifer Gangi at jennifer@fuelcells.org or call (202) 785-4222, ext. 17.
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San Francisco Receives Two Honda FCXs.
The city of San Francisco, California, received two Honda FCX hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles, which it will lease for one year for $500 a month, with an option for a second. San Francisco plans to create a hydrogen-refueling infrastructure to support regular daily operation of the vehicles by city officials.
http://www.hondabeat.com/news_details.php?ID=127
Ford and BP to Test Fuel Cell Vehicles in Three Cities.
Ford Motor Company and BP plc have announced a major initiative aimed at moving the United States closer to a hydrogen economy. Ford intends to place up to 30 hydrogen-powered vehicles, and BP plans to build a network of fueling stations to support them – in Sacramento, California; Orlando, Florida; and Detroit, Michigan.
http://www.bp.com/genericarticle.do?categoryId=120&contentId=2017980
HDW Unveils First Fuel Cell Submarine.
Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW) recently launched the Papanikolis, a new fuel cell-powered 214 Class submarine built for the Greek Navy. The 1,700-ton, 65-meter-long Papanikolis is the first of four fuel cell submarines the company is building for the Greek Navy. The submarines are scheduled for delivery between 2005 and 2010.
http://www.hdw.de/en/presse/index.hdw?c1=cpr01a&m1=mpr800&pid=122
Hydrogenics to Supply APU to SunLine Services Group.
Hydrogenics Corporation has won a contract to supply two 10 kilowatt fuel cell power modules to SunLine Services Group (SSG). The two fuel cell power modules will be configured into a single, self-contained Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) that will be mounted on a Class 8 Peterbilt tractor.
http://www.hydrogenics.com/ir_newsdetail.asp?RELEASEID=132899
FuelCell Energy to Provide Fuel Cells to Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.; Completes Installation at Ocean Community College.
FuelCell Energy, Inc. and Alliance Power have entered into an arrangement by which Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is expected to purchase four 250-kilowatt Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plants in late 2005 or early 2006. A joint venture of FuelCell Energy and Alliance Power will supply electric power and heat to the brewery's production processes until the fuel cells are delivered. FuelCell Energy and its U.S. distribution partner, PPL Energy Plus, have completed the installation of a DFC® power plant for Ocean County Community College (OCC) in New Jersey. The fuel cell will provide about 90 percent of the daily power requirements for OCC's Instructional Building, Lecture Hall and Nursing Arts Building and 20 percent of heating needs will be provided to those three buildings plus the Administration Building, Library, and the Robert J. Novins Planetarium.
EBARA and Nippon Oil Develop Kerosene-Fueled Generator.
EBARA Ballard and Nippon Oil Corporation have developed a kerosene fueled 1 kW combined heat and power (CHP) stationary proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell generator for the Japanese residential market. The system is manufactured by EBARA Ballard and comprises a Ballard fuel cell, EBARA Corporation’s pumps, blowers and production technology, and Nippon Oil Corporation’s reformer technology. The companies will focus on improving electrical and heat recovery efficiencies, reliability and durability, with a market launch aimed for 2006.
http://www.ballard.com/pdfs/10%20EBC%20Kerosene.PDF
FPL Installs Fuel Cell at Golf Club, High School.
Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has installed a fuel cell at WCI Communities, Inc.’s Venetian Golf & River Club in Venice, Florida. A limited amount of power generated by the fuel cell will also be used to help charge the club's golf carts on a regular basis. FPL also installed a Plug Power unit at North Port High School in North Port, Florida.
http://www.fpl.com/news/2004/contents/04023.shtml
Marubeni Orders 16 FuelCell Energy Power Plants.
FuelCell Energy, Inc.'s Asia-Pacific strategic partner, Marubeni Corporation, has placed a new order for 4 megawatts of Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plants. FuelCell Energy will manufacture the units and deliver the power plants to Marubeni customers in 2005. Marubeni's order is for 16 DFC300A power plants with megawatt-class DFC1500 and DFC3000 power plants available to accommodate customer requirements.
Ballard Enters Agreements with Heliocentris, Sanmina-SCI Corporation.
Ballard Power Systems has named Heliocentris Energy Systems as a distributor in North America and Europe of Ballard’s AirGen™ portable fuel cell generator and Nexa® fuel cell power module. Heliocentris will purchase the Ballard systems over the next two years for incorporation into their product line for post-secondary institutions. Ballard also entered into a Sales, Marketing and Product Development memorandum of understanding with Sanmina-SCI Corporation. Ballard and Sanmina-SCI will work together to commercialize and sell fuel-cell based backup power systems for the telecommunication industry. The system comprises Ballard’s Nexa® RM Series fuel cell modules in a Sanmina-SCI manufactured outdoor enclosure.
http://www.ballard.com/pdfs/Heliocentris.pdf
http://www.ballard.com/pdfs/04%20NexaRM%20Sanmina%20FINAL.pdf
MGE Introduces UPS Using Ballard Nexa Modules.
MGE UPS Systems, Inc. introduced its Pulsar EX RT online Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) featuring an extended runtime option using Ballard Power Systems’ Nexa® RM Series fuel cell modules. Based on MGE’s proven double-conversion online technology, the new rack systems offer power protection optimized for maximum reliability and long backup times for high-density IT applications and servers.
http://www.ballard.com/pdfs/Pulsar%20EX%20RT%20with%20Nexa%20final.PDF
MTI Micro Fuel Cells Receives Contract from Army Research Laboratory.
MTI MicroFuel Cells has received a contract to supply direct methanol fuel cell systems (DMFCs) to the Army Research Laboratory (ARL). The $200,000 contract includes the sale of units scheduled for delivery in the second quarter of 2004. Some of the units will be delivered in the form factor of the BA5590, a high volume, disposable, primary battery for the military. These units will each produce approximately 5 watts of continuous power, and 35 watts of peak power. Some compact units will also be delivered each targeting approximately 750 milliwatts of continuous power, and 3 watts of peak power.
http://www.mechtech.com/newsandevents/article.asp?id=144
Protonex Awarded U.S. Air Force Contract.
Protonex Technology Corporation has received a $2.6 million award from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to further the development of an innovative power solution for individual soldiers on extended field missions. Protonex’s NGen Portable Power System combines a PEM fuel cell power generation system with a chemical hydride hydrogen storage system. Millennium Cell, Inc. will provide their patented Hydrogen On Demand™ storage technology to Protonex under an existing joint development and licensing agreement.
http://www.protonex.com/Protonex%20PR%20Air%85eb%20Final_r2.pdf
FUELS/REFORMERS/STORAGE
Praxair to Build Hydrogen Fueling Station at LAX for Public Use.
The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) will be home to the nation’s first compressed-hydrogen fueling station for public use, with a $1.5-million, 600-square foot facility. Praxair, Inc. will be designing, engineering, equipping, building and operating the facility and is funding the construction by spending $550,000 of its own money, and will receive grants of $351,000 from California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District, $499,048 from the Department of Energy and $180,000 from British Petroleum. The new fueling station will support the recent introduction of hydrogen fuel cell demonstration vehicles by major automotive manufacturers, as well as Los Angeles World Airports’ integration of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles into its own fleet.
http://www.lawa.org/lax/htmlaf/lax_show_news1.asp?news=586
Shell Hydrogen Breaks Ground for DC Hydrogen Station.
Shell broke ground in northeast Washington, DC, for its first hydrogen fueling station in the area. The facility will be integrated into an existing retail outlet on Benning Road and will offer both gaseous and liquid hydrogen to a fleet of six General Motors fuel cell vehicles.
https://www.piersystem.com/external/index.cfm?cid=566&clientID=381292
Canada Announces Funding for Hydrogen Highway.
The Government of Canada announced funding for the world's first Hydrogen Highway™ to be built between Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia. The Hydrogen Highway is expected to be up and running by the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, which will take place in Vancouver and Whistler. Also announced were three new projects - the Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Project, the Hydrogen High-Pressure Valve Development Project and the Hydrogen-Powered Delivery Van Project - designed to advance the development of fuel-cell vehicles. These projects will receive CAN$5 million from the Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance (CTFCA).
http://www.fuelcellscanada.ca/Industry%20news/h2highway2.html
California Receives $50 Million for its Hydrogen Highways Network.
California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the California Hydrogen Highways Network through the signing of an executive order creating a public and private partnership to build a hydrogen highway in the state by 2010. Up to $50 million has been awarded to California laboratories by the U.S. Department of Energy for the research and development of new hydrogen and fuel cell technologies that will help achieve the goal of an early network of 150 to 200 hydrogen-fueling stations throughout the State by 2010.
http://www.governor.ca.gov/state/govsite/gov_homepage.jsp
Stuart Energy Receives Orders from NFCRC and DTE Energy.
Stuart Energy Systems Corporation has received an order for a small scale Stuart Energy Station for vehicle fueling (SES-f), which will be placed at the National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC) located at the University of California, Irvine. The SES-f will provide clean hydrogen fuel to the Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicles (FCHV) managed by the NFCRC. DTE Energy has selected a SES-f to fuel its hydrogen technology park project in Southfield, Michigan, to provide clean hydrogen to zero-emission hydrogen-powered vehicles as well as enable peak shaving.
http://www.stuartenergy.com/media_center/press_releases/press_apr_28_2004.html
http://www.stuartenergy.com/media_center/press_releases/press_apr_29_2004.html
ChevronTexaco to Build Hydrogen Energy Station in California.
ChevronTexaco and the Alameda-Contra Costa (AC) Transit District announced a cooperative agreement to develop and construct a new hydrogen energy station in Oakland, California that will
provide hydrogen fuel for AC Transit's future fleet of fuel cell-powered buses and light-duty vehicles.
The station is scheduled for completion by August 2005 and will use small-scale, onsite steam reforming of natural gas to produce approximately 150 kilograms of hydrogen per day.
http://www.actransit.org/news/articledetail.wu?articleid=fa5abb82
Dynetek Delivers Storage Systems to Toyota.
Dynetek Industries Ltd. has delivered on-board hydrogen fuel storage systems and on-board CNG fuel storage systems to Toyota Motor Corporation. The hydrogen storage cylinders have been certified to 350bar (5000psi) and the CNG storage cylinders have been certified to 200bar (3000psi), both with approval by KHK in Japan. The hydrogen storage systems have been integrated into Toyota’s FCHV.
http://www.dynetek.com/pdf/Dynetek-PR-61.pdf
DOE Announces Hydrogen Research Agreement with Brazil.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and Brazilian Mines and Energy Minister Dilma Rousseff announced a collaborative effort to advance hydrogen energy research, development, and deployment activities. A joint team of U.S. and Brazilian officials and experts will launch the collaboration by developing a hydrogen energy technology roadmap for Brazil.
Shell Hydrogen and Howard University to Partner on Hydrogen Fuel Cell Education.
Shell Hydrogen announced a partnership with Howard University's College of Engineering to advance hydrogen fuel cell education. Shell will sponsor the Shell Hydrogen Scholars Program at Howard University to provide financial aid to undergraduate students in the engineering program. In addition, the program will include funding for student research in hydrogen fuel cell projects. Funding for the two-year program will total $30,000.
http://media.prnewswire.com/en/jsp/latest.jsp?resourceid=2658044&access=EH
www.hydrogenhighway.com Launched.
PCD Technologies, LLC launched a new website, http://www.hydrogenhighway.com, designed to excite the imagination of the American and worldwide public to envision a future in which the majority of energy needs are provided by a clean, renewable resource.
Arbin Delivers 10kW PEMFC Testing System.
Arbin Instruments has delivered its 10kW integrated fuel cell testing system to a US government institution for testing PEM fuel cells. The system consists of five gas handling units for hydrogen gas and four reformate gases for fuel simulation.
http://www.arbin.com/CompanyInfo/News.htm
DOT Approves Transport of Hydrogen in Texaco Ovonic Metal Hydrides.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved the transport of hydrogen in metal hydride storage systems developed by Texaco Ovonic Hydrogen Systems for portable applications. The DOT exemption for the hydride systems allows hydrogen storage capacity up to 1300 standard liters.
http://www.txohydrogen.com/news/20040420.htm
Hastest Solutions to Market Isuzu-Seisakusho Products.
Hastest
Solutions has been awarded the territories of USA, Canada, and Mexico for the
marketing, sales, technical support and after-sales support of the
Isuzu-Seisakusho line of laboratory and environmental test chambers.
http://www.hastest.com/
Illinois 2H2 Partnership Publishes Hydrogen Highway Report.
The Illinois 2H2 Partnership has published “The Hydrogen Highway: Illinois’ Path to a Sustainable Economy and Environment.” The report can be downloaded for free at: http://www.ilcoalition.org/FUSION/FTF/AttachDisplay?FILENAME=HydrogenHighway&ID=42500&U=1083599425109.
Military Fuel Cell Markets.
Fuel Cell Today has released a new survey analyzing the growing fuel cell market for military applications. The report finds that fuel cells in this sector are being developed to power a huge range of devices ranging from munitions and unmanned vehicles to submarines and new technologies.
REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS
IFC/GEF Stationary Fuel Cell RFP.
The Fuel Cell Financing Initiative for Distributed Generation Applications (FCFI) will provide up to US$54 million in two stages for the development and promotion of stationary fuel cell applications in eligible developing countries. The initiative is funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), and is being executed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC). In Stage 1 of the initiative, up to three commercial demonstration projects using fuel cells for distributed power generation will be promoted in at least two (2) GEF-eligible countries. These projects may involve various stakeholders and are expected to result in a total installation of 4-7 MW of fuel cells by 2008.
http://www.ifc.org/ifcext/enviro.nsf/Content/FuelCell-2004
DOE RFP Issued for SOFC Renewable Energy Projects.
DOE has issued a solicitation for projects that use solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology for renewable power parks and automobile refueling stations for distributed production of electricity and hydrogen. Over $2.4 million is available under this solicitation.
http://www.fedgrants.gov/Applicants/DOE/PAM/HQ/DE-PS36-04GO94020/Grant.html
NASA Issues RFP for Fuel Cell and Electrolyzer Stack Development.
NASA’s Glenn Research Center is seeking light-weight, 5-kWe hydrogen-oxygen PEM fuel cell stacks and 15-kWe hydrogen-oxygen PEM electrolyzer stacks.
http://prod.nais.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/eps/sol.cgi?acqid=109667
DOE Announces $350 Million in Hydrogen Project Funding Awards.
DOE Secretary Spencer Abraham announced $350 million in nationwide funding for science and research projects to establish a hydrogen economy. The $350 million represents nearly one-third of the President’s $1.2 billion commitment in research funding to bring hydrogen and fuel cell technology from the laboratory to the showroom. Selected through a merit-reviewed, competitive process, the projects involve 30 lead organizations and include over 100 partners. Recipients include academia, industry and DOE national laboratories.
Fuel Cells 2000 Redesigns and Updates www.fuelcells.org.
Fuel Cells 2000 has launched the new look and layout of www.fuelcells.org, the online fuel cell and hydrogen information center first introduced in 1996. In addition to the website redesign, Fuel Cells 2000 has updated www.fuelcells.org by fixing broken links, adding new resources, and expanding its image galleries, Career Center and popular Charts pages. A new Specialty Vehicles chart highlighting fuel cell scooters, bicycles, boats and wheelchairs has been added as well.
LIT to Offer New Fuel Cell Training Program.
The Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) of Beaumont, Texas, plans to offer a new Alternative Energy and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology training program this fall. The institute plans to purchase a $20,000 hydrogen fuel cell as well as a $2,300 fuel cell demonstration unit that will be utilized in training and for educating the public. The program will feature – Introduction to Fuel Cells and Other Alternative Energies; Fuel Cell Principles and Components; Fuel Cell Electronic Control Systems; Fuel Cell Troubleshooting; and Fuel Cell Installation & Commissions.
http://theinstitute.lamar.edu/newspage.asp?PageID=329
Celanese Forms PEMEAS Fuel Cell Technologies.
Celanese AG and an investment consortium led by Conduit Ventures have formed PEMEAS Fuel Cell Technologies to supply membrane electrode assemblies for use in high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.
FuelCellStore.com Launches Japanese Site.
FuelCellStore.com joined with Moubic Inc. of Japan to open FuelCellStore Japan.
Tour de Sol.
The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association’s 16th Annual Tour de Sol: The Great American Green Transportation Festival and Competition will be held May 22-25, 2004 in New Jersey and New York.
For more information, go to www.TourdeSol.org.
Windsor Workshop.
The Windsor Workshop – Transportation Technology & Fuels Forum will be held June 14-17, 2004, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. For more information, please go to http://www.windsorworkshop.ca.
Technologies of Hydrogen.
The Mexican Society of Hydrogen A.C. is organizing a course on Technologies of Hydrogen, August 5-6, 2004, at the Institute of Investigations in Materials, National University of Mexico. For more information (in Spanish), please go to
http://www.smh2.org/opencms/export/Recursossmh2ac/Avisos/Cursohidrogeno.html.
2004 Fuel Cell Vehicle Road Rally.
The California Fuel Cell Partnership presents its 3rd Annual fuel cell electric vehicle road rally, “Cruisin’ Southern Cal,” which takes place September 17 - 19, 2004. For details, go to http://www.fuelcellpartnership.org/news_releases-04/2004_04_13_Cruisin.html.
EDTA Conference 2004.
EDTA Conference 2004 - "Mobilizing the Market" will be held September 21-23, 2004, in Orlando, Florida. For information, check out http://www.edtaconference.com/.
Shanghai International Industry Fair,
Group Exhibit on Hydrogen + Fuel Cells will take place during the Shanghai International Industry Fair, November 4-9, 2004, at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. For more information, go to
http://www.fair-pr.com/china2004/index.php.
H2PS.
“H2PS: The 2004 Hydrogen Production & Storage Forum” will be held December 6-8, 2004, at the Washington Marriott in Washington, DC. For conference details, please go to http://www.intertechusa.com/Division_Energy/Hydrogen/12_06_Hydrogen_introduction.html.
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