Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Industry News
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California Energy Commission Approves over $18 Million in Grants for Hydrogen Infrastructure Projects
 On
June 12, The California Energy Commission approved $18,690,000 in
grants for projects that will expand the state's fueling infrastructure
for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). The companies receiving
funding include the South Coast Air Quality Management District, Linde,
Hydrogen Frontier, Air Products and Chemicals, and Air Liquide
Industrial US.
These
grants were made through the Commission's Alternative and Renewable
Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program. For the current fiscal year, the
program is slated to invest approximately $90 million to encourage the
development and use of new technologies, and help the state meet its
climate change goals. The program is funded by surcharges on vehicle and
boat registrations, as well as smog check and license plate fees.
Two Mercedes-Benz Hybrid Buses and a Hydrogen Station Begin Operation at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
On
June 11, the inauguration of a hydrogen fueling station as well as the
operation of two Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL Hybrid fuel cell buses
was held at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. The two hybrid buses
will provide permanent and regular service between three areas of
campus.
The buses have a range of over 300 kilometers and refueling at the new station will only take 8-10 minutes.
Air Products Introduces an Advanced Consumer-Friendly Retail Hydrogen Fueling Dispenser
 On
June 11, Air Products announced its new consumer-friendly hydrogen fuel
pump. The product is the market's first fully-integrated retail
hydrogen dispenser. Air Products partnered with Bennett Pump Company to
develop a pump with an attractive design that can be integrated into
any existing retail point of sale system. The pump resembles a
traditional gas station and it is hoped to meet consumer expectations in
a safe and familiar way.
The
new technology is to be immediately incorporated into 10 new fueling
stations to be built by Air Products in California starting this year.
Intelligent Energy and Microqual Sign Telecommunications Collaboration Agreement
 On
June 11, Intelligent Energy and Indian telecommunications company
Microqual Techno Limited signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
establishing a partnership to provide telecommunications infrastructure
on power transmission towers throughout India.
Intelligent
Energy's fuel cell systems will provide power to the equipment mounted
on these towers. This method of providing telecommunications
infrastructure helps reduce cost and set up time, which enables rapid
expansion in rural areas.
Hydrogenics / EPRI Holds Webinar on Power-to-Gas Technology
 On
June 13, Hydrogenics and the Electric Power Research Insitute (EPRI)
held a webinar on Bulk Energy Storage through its Power-To-Gas (P2G)
technologies. The discussion was focused on how hydrogen can enable
increased penetration of renewables and the business case for
power-to-gas.
Daryl
Wilson, President and Executive Director of Hydrogenics, and Rob
Harvey, Director of Hydrogenics, explained the benefits of using P2G
storage on the webinar.
Proton OnSite Awards Three High School Students $200,000 in Scholarships for Clean Energy Breakthroughs
 On
June 10, Proton OnSite awarded three high school students $200,000 in
scholarships for hydrogen energy breakthroughs through the Proton OnSite
Scholarship and Innovation Program.
Award
winners Shilpa and Shweta Iyer both received $50,000 each for their
breakthrough in using soybeans, while Kyle Saleeby received $100,000 for
his flywheel which creates hydrogen gas by harnessing the energy in
waves.
Over
the past four years the Proton OnSite Scholarship and Innovation
Program and its benefactor, Tom Sullivan, have given nearly $2 million
to 20 high school students for their hydrogen energy breakthroughs.
Verizon to Install Bloom Energy Fuel Cell Systems as Part of 19 Facility Large-Scale Green Energy Investment
On
June 4, Verizon announced an agreement to install Bloom Energy fuel
cell systems at call-switching centers in Los Angeles and San Francisco,
and a data center in San Jose.
This
installation will be part of a $100 clean energy million investment by
Verizon which also includes previously announced installations of
ClearEdge Power fuel cell systems and SunPower Corp solar units. In
total, 19 of Verizon's facilities in California and six other states
across the country will generate more than 90 million kilowatt hours of
green energy annually.
Verizon's press release can be found here
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BMW, With Plug Power, Now Operating Largest Fuel Cell Forklift Fleet in North America
 On
June 6, Plug Power Inc. announced that BMW Manufacturing had completed
an expansion of its fuel cell materials handling fleet to a total
deployment of 275 units at its Spartanburg, SC manufacturing facility. The fleet is fueled by hydrogen supplied by Linde Industrial Gases.
The
additional 175 trucks and forklifts added to the facility's operations
has completely converted the forklift fleet to fuel cell power. Plug
Power also claims that this is the largest fuel cell forklift fleet in
North America.
Plug Power's press release can be found here
Hyundai Delivers 15 ix35 Fuel Cell Vehicles to Copenhagen, Denmark
On June 4, Hyundai delivered 15 ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles to Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen purchased the fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) for the city's municipal fleet in order to help the city reach its carbon neutral goals by 2025.
The
ix35 Fuel Cell is the first assembly line produced FCEV, and can travel
370 miles on 5.64 kg H2. Hyundai plans to build 1,000 ix35 Fuel Cell
vehicles by 2015.
.
Hyundai's press release can be found here
ClearEdge Power to Install Fuel Cell at South Korea's Busan International Finance Center Landmark Tower
 On
June 19, ClearEdge Power, in partnership with Samsung Everland,
announced that they will be installing a 400 kW fuel cell in South
Korea's Busan International Finance Center Landmark Tower. This is the fourth project which ClearEdge has partnered with Samsung Everland.
Fuel
cell installations are increasingly being used to help companies and
utilities in South Korea meet the goals of the Renewable Portfolio
Standard (RPS) set by the government. Fuel cells are awarded the
highest multiplier on renewable energy credits per hour in the South
Korean RPS.
ClearEdge Power's press release can be found here
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Ballard Power, Amplats, and South African Government to Partner on Residential Fuel Cells
 
Ballard Power's press release can be found here
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Air Liquide Aims To Use Fuel Cells Onboard Aircrafts
 On
June 19, Air Liquide announced participation in the HYdrogenCells for
AiRborne Usage (HYCARUS) project, which aims to develop a high
performance fuel cell system to supply electrical power on board
aircrafts. As part of the HYCARUS project, Air Liquide will develop a
high-pressure storage system and supply of hydrogen gas onboard the
aircraft for the fuel cell.
The project
is supported by the Fuel Cells Hydrogen & Joint Undertaking (FCHJU),
a European public-private partnership that supports research,
technological developments and undertakings in the hydrogen and fuel
cells sector.
Air Liquide's press release can be found here
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Hydrogenics Technology is Used in the Largest Power to Gas Facility in the World
On June 13, Hydrogenics reported that the world's largest Power to Gas facility went live in Falkenhagen,
Germany. Operated by Germany utility company E.ON and using
Hydrogenics technology, the two mW facility takes surplus renewable
energy sources and produces hydrogen for storage in the country's
natural gas pipeline network. Now in full operation, E.ON Gas Storage
is feeding 640 m3 per hour into the local natural gas grid through the facility.
Hydrogenics' press release can be found here
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ITM Power Announces Incorporation of ITM Power ApS in Denmark
 On
June 20, ITM Power announced the incorporation of ITM Power ApS, a
wholly owned Danish subsidiary company. ITM Power has been invited by
an anonymous international partner to jointly bid for significant energy
storage opportunities in the territory. ITM Power will join the partner
to tender for existing opportunities as well as those already under
development.
This announcement comes following Denmark's new Energy Plan 2020. The Danish Energy Plan o
initiatives to be conducted, with the aim of 100% fossil fuel independence by 2050.
initiatives for hydrogen infrastructure, fuel cell electric vehicles, and hydrogen energy storage.
ITM Power's press release can be found here
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Ballard Power Systems Announces Next-Gen Fuel Cell, Design for Telecom Back-Up on Unreliable Grids.
On
June 16, Ballard Power debuted its newest methanol-powered fuel cell
backup power system for telecommunications applications. Ballard stated
that its enhancements, such as corrosion resistant coatings and an
upgraded fuel processing module, make it ideal for providing extended
run-time when extreme weather threatens the grid.
This
announcement comes at a time when fuel cells are increasingly being
adopted in markets with unreliable grids, such as India, Japan, and the
Caribbean.
Ballard Power's press release can be found here
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Hydrogenics Awarded Contract for Fueling Station in Italy
On
June 18, Hydrogenics Corporation announced that it has been awarded a
contract for three HySTAT-60 electrolyzers by The Linde Group for
installation as part of a fueling station in Bolzano, Italy.
The project
is a part of the EU's Clean Hydrogen in European Cities (CHIC) project,
which is committed to making hydrogen-based public transport a
commercial reality in Europe.
Hydrogenics' press release can be found here
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The Administration Expresses Support for Fuel Cell Technologies in President's Climate Action Plan
 On
June 25, President Obama laid out a comprehensive plan to reduce
greenhouse gas pollution in America. The President's Climate Action Plan
details several actions, including, developing and deploying advanced
transportation technologies. In the plan, the Administration expressed
support for fuel cell technologies by saying:
"More
broadly, the Administration will continue to leverage partnerships
between the private and public sectors to deploy cleaner fuels,
including advanced batteries and fuel cell technologies, in every
transportation mode."
The President's full Action Plan can be found here
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Plug Power Announces New GenDrive 1900
On June 24, Plug Power announced the release of their new GenDrive
1900 product, the company's highest-power fuel cell on the market. The
GenDrive 1900 is to be used as a replacement for lead-acid batteries in
six-ton forklifts, which are among the most popular large-capacity
forklifts in use.
With this addition to the product line, Plug Power now provides a complete solution to all class-one hydrogen forklift trucks.
Plug Power's full press release can be found here
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CaFCP Wins Award from Sacramento IABC for Go campaign
 On
June 27, The California Fuel Cell Partnership announced that it had
received an award from the Sacramento International Association of
Business Communicators. The award was given for their Go informational
campaign, which aimed at expanding public awareness on how FCEVs and
hydrogen-powered cars worked.
The
campaign used pictures, taglines, and emotional appeals that targeted
all audiences. Through the campaign, they were able to increase web
traffic by 911% and more than double their Twitter followers.
California Fuel Cell Partnership's full press release can be found here
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Winners Announced for 2012/2013 Hydrogen Student Design Contest
On
June 25, the Hydrogen Education Foundation announced this year's
winners of the Hydrogen Student Design Contest, sponsored by the
Department of Energy, NREL, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota. Students from
Kyushu University won the grand prize for designing a hydrogen refueling
infrastructure for the northeastern United States.
The design places emphasis on modular and portable reactors for urban areas, with the ability for growth based on demand.
The Hydrogen Education Foundation's full press release can be found here.
Air Products Extends PRISM Hydrogen Generator Product Line For On-Site Production
On
June 24, Air Products announced that it has extended its PRISM Hydrogen
Generator product line for on-site gas production to supply
requirements greater than 4.1 million standard cubic feet per day.
Air Products'
PRISM generators can offer the lowest cost hydrogen available in this
production range. Air Products has contracted more than 30 PRISM
Hydrogen Generators, of which over 20 have been installed and are
operating around the world.
Air Products' full press release can be found here
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Federal Program News
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Energy Department Announces $9 Million in Funding for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Projects
 On
June 11, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $9 million in
new funding to accelerate the development of hydrogen and fuel cell
technologies for use in vehicles, backup power systems, and hydrogen
refueling components.
Projects
selected for funding will demonstrate, deploy and validate hydrogen and
fuel cell technologies in real-world environments. The goal is to
reduce the costs of hydrogen and fuel cells industry-wide, expand
critical infrastructure, and build a solid domestic supplier base. Topic
areas include: fuel cell and hybrid electric medium-duty trucks,
advanced hydrogen refueling components, rooftop installations of
hydrogen fuel cell backup power systems, and hydrogen meter R&D.
Eight projects will be chosen from industry, academia, and national
labs.
Department of Energy Releases New FCEV Well-to-Wheels Analysis and Life Cycle Cost Analysis
On June 13, The Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy released two peer-reviewed documents. The first
document details the updated well-to-wheels greenhouse gas emissions and
petroleum energy usage. The second analyzes the life cycle cost for
advanced technology vehicles that could be deployed in 2035.
The full reports can be found here
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FY14 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill Approved by Full Committee
On June 26, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Energy and Water Appropriation Bill.
The
bill totals $30.4 billion- a cut of $2.9 billion below the FY13 enacted
level and a reduction of $4.1 billion from the President's request. The
bill prioritizes funding for national security and increases funding
for nuclear weapons programs from FY13. The bill also protects funding
for critical national and regional infrastructure projects through the
Army Corps of Engineers. To meet these needs, the legislation contains
strategic and targeted reductions from lower-priority or unnecessary
programs, including many within the Department of Energy. ARPA-E funding
was cut by 81%.
The bill was approved by the full committee on a vote of 28-21 and will be referred to the house.
The full webcast can be found here
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A draft of the bill can be found here
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Requests for Information, Proposals, and Papers
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DOE Announces FOA for Hydrogen Delivery Technologies
 On
June 28, The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
announced that it plans to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement
(FOA) for hydrogen delivery technologies.
The
FOA is anticipated to include funding for forecourt compressors,
polymer and composite materials, and high pressure hydrogen storage
technology.
EERE plans to issue the FOA in July or August of this year. The full announcement can be found here
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DOE Extends Deadline for Application for FOA on Early Market Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Funding
The
Department of Energy extended the funding opportunity announcement (FOA)
deadline to July 25th for project proposal applications.
The FOA,
initially announced June 11, makes $9 million in funding available to
support new hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, and would help these
technologies break into the market easier.
The full FOA can be found here
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DOE Issues RFI on Rotating Disk Electrode Diagnostics
On
May 21, the Department of Energy (DOE) Fuel Cell Technologies Office
issued a request for information (RFI) on the use of Rotating Disk
Electrode (RDE) diagnostics for PEM FC electrocatalyst screening. The
DOE has determined that intricacies tests of the durability of proton
exchange membrane fuel cell oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts
activity have not been systematically cataloged, and seeks to establish
standard procedures and measurement parameters for RDE techniques.
Responses must be submitted electronically no later than 5:00 p.m EDT on July 12th, 2013.
The DOE RFI can be found here
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Fuel Cell and Hydrogen R&D Announcements
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Brookhaven Researchers Develop Cheap Soybean Based Catalyst
On April 24, researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory, including two high school students, announced the development of a soybean-based catalyst for hydrogen electrolysis. The molybdenum-soybean compound showed efficient, stable activity after prolonged exposure to a highly acidic environment. Molybdenum is a cheap, earth abundant metal, and the catalyst could provide a cost effective alternative to platinum for hydrogen electrolysis. More on the Brookhaven research can be found here
Researchers Working With Ballard Power Disperse Platinum Atoms for Cheaper Catalysts
On
May 23, using the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron, researchers
at Western University, in partnership with Ballard Power and McMaster
University, announced they have developed a method to disperse platinum
atoms into nanoparticles and single atoms, creating more efficient and
cheaper catalysts. The dispersed atoms provide a greater reactive
surface area, and therefore reduce the platinum required for fuel cell
catalysts.
.
More information on the research can be found here
Duke Researchers Develop New Gold-Iron Hydrogen Catalyst
On May 21, Duke researchers announced the development of a new gold-iron catalyst to efficiently reform hydrogen with carbon monoxide and hydrogen dense fuels at low temperatures (80 C) without degradation. The nano-particle catalyst specifically reduced concentrations of CO, which can damage fuel cell membranes, and showed no reduction in catalytic activity over 200 hours. More information on the research can be found here
Researchers Working with Ballard Double Fuel Cell Life in Buses
On May 22, researchers at Simon Fraser University working with Ballard Power Systems announced they have doubled the life of fuel cells operating on buses by quantifying the degradation to fuel cell membranes in real-world bus conditions. The team has developed algorithms for repair and maintenance, to understand the effects of electrode degradation stressors over fuel cell lifetimes, and increase the competitiveness of fuel cell buses. More information on the study can be found here |
About the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Connection
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Administration
Press releases and story ideas may be forwarded to Connor Dolan and Karen Hall for consideration at cdolan@fchea.org and khall@fchea.org respectively.
The Sponsors
Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association -- The
Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) is the trade
association for the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industry, and is
dedicated to the commercialization of fuel cells and hydrogen energy
technologies. Fuel cells and hydrogen energy technologies deliver clean,
reliable power to leading edge corporate, academic and public sector
users, and FCHEA members are helping to transform the our energy future.
FCHEA represents the full global 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.
National Energy Technology Laboratory -- The
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), part of the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory system is owned and
operated by the DOE. Its mission is "Advancing energy options to fuel
our economy, strengthen our security, and improve our environment".
NETL performs, procures, and partners with universities and the private
sector. Together, these efforts focus a wealth of scientific and
engineering talent on creating commercially viable solutions to national
energy and environmental problems. NETL has expertise in coal, natural
gas, and oil technologies, contract and project management, analysis of
energy systems, and international energy issues. NETL supports DOE's
mission to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the
United States.
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