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SUBJECT NEWS
March 20, 2006
As market matures, Hydrogen Expo US grows
New Business for Exhibitors - Standing in Line for the Ride & Drive:
Long Beach/CA, Alpen/Germany, 20-March-2006 - The fourth Hydrogen Expo US, held again as part of the National Hydrogen Association's Annual Hydrogen Conference 2006 in Long Beach, California is still on the growth path. From March 12 to 14, 92 exhibitors (2005: 65) showcased the latest in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, drawing almost 2,000 attendees (2005: 1,500) into the exhibit hall. A growing international participation on the exhibitor side proves the importance of the leading gathering of industry professionals committed to clean energy in North America. One of the event's highlights was the "Ride & Drive", hosted by the National Hydrogen Association and organized by the California Fuel Cell Partnership. Twelve vehicles were available for test-rides, including a new version of Honda's FCX, the Toyota FCHV, DaimlerChrysler's F-Cell, the GM HydroGen3, and a Pick-Up converted to hydrogen combustion by ETEC. Due to the great interest, standing in line for a spin in one of these cars could hardly be avoided. The concept of converting conventional vehicle engines to hydrogen fuel was also presented in the expo hall. There, a highway patrol car from Hydrogen Labs and Quantum's Prius-based hybrid with a fuel cell and an H2 internal combustion engine stood out. BMW, whose presentation was regarded as the most attractive booth by many, among other things playfully visualized the compression of the clean fuel for the combustion engine of the new H2-7series. Compressor, valve and sensor technologies comprise another growing segment of Hydrogen Expo US. "This demonstrates how the expo grows with the market", says Ines Freesen, Managing Director of expo organizer Freesen & Partner GmbH. "For a number of exhibitors the event has helped to pave their way into market." Pdc Machines for example, a manufacturer of diaphragm compressors for various uses of hydrogen, was able to generate some US$ 5 million in new business from Hydrogen Expo US since 2003. Exhibitor General Physics (GP) was enthusiastic about their participation, too: "Hydrogen Expo US was a great success for us", commented Mary Cyr, responsible for GP's booth. "We were able to make many new contacts and network with new and existing clients." - "Not only the big players such as Air Products, Linde, Ballard, Hydrogenics or UTC benefit from the expo", concludes Ines Freesen. "Smaller suppliers have also been successful in strengthening their foothold in this growth sector, which currently offers the best potential in the United States."
 
The next NHA Annual Hydrogen Conference and Hydrogen Expo US 2007 will be held in San Antonio, Texas. The expo is open on March 19-21, the conference takes place from March 19-22.
Around 60% of the exhibit space for this event is already gone. Companies interested in having a presence should contact the organizer as soon as possible at tel. +49-2802-948484-0, or in the US & Canada at tel. 207-236-6196. 		 

March 07, 2006
 Governor Schwarzenegger speaks at
NHA Annual Hydrogen Conference
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California and "Hydrogen Highway" visionary is confirmed to speak at the upcoming NHA Annual Hydrogen Conference on Monday, March 13 during the opening plenary (8.00-10.15am). The plenary is held under the header "National and State Progress". Other speakers include: Alan Lloyd from the California Environmental Protection Agency, Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, and Vilas Muttemwar, Minister for Energy Sources from India. To view the complete program and to register for the conference, go to:
 WWW.HYDROGENCONFERENCE.ORG 

March 06, 2006
Linde acquires BOC
Linde AG, headquartered in Wiesbaden/Germany, has agreed to make a pre-conditional offer to acquire the entire share capital of The BOC Group plc, headquartered in Windlesham/UK, for 1,600 pence in cash per share. The board of directors of BOC intends to recommend BOC shareholders to accept the offer. The offer represents a premium of 39 per cent to the closing price of 1,151 pence per BOC share on 23 January 2006, being the last business day prior to the announcement by BOC that it had received an approach from Linde. The transaction will create a leading worldwide industrial gases and engineering group with combined gas and engineering sales of approximately Euro 11.9 billion. Both companies have complementary geographic positions and products. With the acquisition of BOC, Linde will in particular enhance its position in the fast growing Asian Pacific region and in key future growth sectors such as hydrogen. The enlarged group will have a complementary worldwide footprint with a presence in approximately 70 countries. The transaction also carries significant potential on the product side: Jointly with BOC, Linde will have a leading market position in the cylinders, liquid gas and onsite segments. In addition, Linde and BOC together will cover key market segments in industrial gases in a leading position.
Source: Linde

March 03, 2006
Increased funding opportunities in California
The California Air Resources Board's Innovative Clean Air Technologies (ICAT) grant program is soliciting applications for grants to be approved in November 2006. Instructions on how to apply are now available at:  WWW.ARB.CA.GOV  This year, the ARB has received additional funding for the ICAT program.  As a result, greater consideration will be given to grants of larger amounts than historically awarded under ICAT. The increased funding is available for qualified projects involving innovative air-pollution-control technologies and air-monitoring technologies. An application in the form of a pre-proposal, as described in the instructions, must be emailed to ARB by March 31, 2005. 
Source: NHA
  

ARCHIVE
March 03, 2006
Ballard lands US$8.3M deal
Ballard Power Systems has secured an US$8.3 million contract to service 27 Ballard powered Mercedes-Benz Citaro fuel cell buses that will run on European roads this year as a one-year extension to the CUTE (Clean Urban Transport for Europe) / ECTOS (Ecological City Transport System) Project, the two-year fuel cell bus demonstration that began in late 2003. "The success of the CUTE / ECTOS demonstration is a testament to the importance of having strong partnerships," said Noordin Nanji, Ballard’s Vice President, Marketing & Business Development. CUTE / ECTOS, and the one-year extension, is a collaboration among a diverse group, including DaimlerChrysler, Ballard, energy companies and fuel providers, transit agencies and all levels of government across a number of countries. Together, these organizations are working to demonstrate a sustainable mass transportation solution, showing that there is an alternative to the incumbent technologies that power transit fleets around the world today.
Source: Ballard

February 22, 2006
Air Products opens new H2 filling station in California
Air Products' newest hydrogen fueling station in Riverside, California has been busy filling hydrogen converted vehicles as the City of Riverside since the dedication ceremony officially declaring the station open at the beginning of February. It is the second hydrogen fueling station Air Products has opened within a week as another station in Santa Ana, CA was dedicated on January 26. These two stations are part of a five-city hydrogen fueling alternative energy demonstration program being implemented by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) where the respective cities involved will use Air Products' fueling technology to fuel electric hybrid Toyota Prius vehicles converted to be hydrogen capable by Quantum Technologies. At Riverside, Air Products' Series 200(TM) system, a totally integrated vehicle fueling system, is providing the storage and dispensing of the clean fuel to H2-powered vehicles with internal combustion engines modified to burn gaseous hydrogen. This model station and proprietary technology provides customers flexibility in using H2 generated at the site, or delivered hydrogen, integrated with storage and vehicle dispensing capabilities. On-site hydrogen is provided to the fueling system from a production model HOGEN 6M Electrolyzer manufactured by Proton Energy Systems. Proton, a subsidiary of Distributed Energy Systems Corp., is a key supplier to Air Products, and the companies have a preferred supplier arrangement for electrolyzer based fueling stations. Air Products and Proton Energy Systems will be exhibiting at Hydrogen Expo US 2006 in Long Beach, CA.
Source: Air Products

February 13, 2006
BP to build clean, H2 power plant in California
BP and Edison Mission Group (EMG), a subsidiary of Edison International, today announced that they are planning a new US$1 billion hydrogen-fueled power plant in California that would generate clean electricity with minimal carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The first-of-its-kind plant would be located alongside BP’s Carson refinery, about 20 miles south of Los Angeles, and would be capable of producing 500 megawatts (MW) of low-carbon generation, enough power to serve 325,000 Southern California homes. The plant is designed to provide 500MW of new clean generating capacity for Southern California at a time when state agencies are predicting possible power supply shortages during the coming years. The proposed Carson project would combine a number of existing industrial processes to provide a new option for generating electricity without significant CO2 emissions. Petroleum coke produced at California refineries would first be converted to hydrogen and carbon dioxide gases and around 90 percent of the CO2 will be captured and separated. The hydrogen gas stream would be used to fuel a gas turbine to generate electricity. The captured CO2 would be transported by pipeline to an oilfield and injected into reservoir rock formations thousands of feet underground, both stimulating additional oil production and permanently trapping the CO2.
Source: BP

February 09, 2006
NHA applauds President's hydrogen budget
Washington, DC - Announced February 6, the President's 2007 fiscal year budget request demonstrates continued and growing support for developing the hydrogen economy. This is shown both by increases in the hydrogen program budget and by increases for the Solar America, Biofuels, Wind Energy, FutureGen and Nuclear Hydrogen Initiatives. These advanced energy programs represent an essential group of clean energy technologies that will help achieve the full benefits of using hydrogen. "It is crucial to understand that the increased use of hydrogen will support the growth of other clean energy technologies. They are both compatible and essential," said Jeff Serfass, President of the non- partisan, National Hydrogen Association (NHA). "With this budget request and the passage of the Energy Policy Act this past summer, we are very happy to see continuing support for hydrogen development from both the Administration and Congress." The $289 million request for hydrogen programs includes an 18% increase from the $236 million appropriated by Congress for spending this Fiscal Year. Increases in companion advanced energy programs, mentioned in last week's State of the Union Address, include 79% for the Solar America Initiative, 65% for the Biofuels Initiative and 13% for the Wind Energy Initiative. FutureGen (clean received $54 million (up 200%) and although Nuclear Power 2010 experienced a 25% reduction, the new Global Nuclear Energy Partnership ($250 million) was added in the President’s budget. Technology developed in these advanced energy programs will work with the suite of equipment developed by the hydrogen industry to produce clean hydrogen that can be used to fuel everything from cell phones and cell phone towers to vehicles and buildings. These technologies include electrolyzers, reformers, storage and distribution equipment and a variety of components and products like fuel cells and hydrogen engines. "It's very encouraging to see continued recognition that hydrogen is worth our investment now for the benefits it will provide today and down the road," said J. Michael Davis, Chairman of the NHA. "Increased use of hydrogen as a fuel benefits energy security, the environment and economic growth." In the coming months, debate on the budget and eventual appropriations will reveal how robust these requests will be. For the past two years, up to 27% of the hydrogen program has been redirected by congressionally identified activities. In addition, the FY07 budget requests only 53% ($246 million out of $467 million) of the spending authorized by Congress in the Energy Policy Act. Planned activities recognize the authorization of Title VIII of the Energy Policy Act, but no money was requested to fund activities for Title VII. (Titles VII and VIII are the two main hydrogen titles in the Energy Policy Act.)
Source: NHA

February 01, 2006
President Bush announces increase for H2/FC budget
In His State Of The Union Address on January 31, 2006, President Bush Outlined "The Advanced Energy Initiative To Help Break America's Dependence On Foreign Sources Of Energy". The President has set a national goal of replacing more than 75% of U.S. oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. The Advanced Energy Initiative provides for a 22% increase in clean-energy research at the Department of Energy (DOE) and is meant to accelerate breakthroughs in two vital areas: stationary power for homes and businesses and power for automobiles. The President's 2007 Budget will provide $289 million - an increase of $53 million over FY06 - to accelerate the development of hydrogen fuel cells and affordable hydrogen-powered cars. According to the White House, through the President's program, the cost of a hydrogen fuel cell has been cut by more than 50% in just four years. Three years ago, President Bush announced a $1.2 billion Hydrogen Fuel Initiative to develop technology for commercially viable hydrogen-powered fuel cells, which would power cars, trucks, homes, and businesses with no pollution or greenhouse gases. Through private-sector partnerships, the Initiative and related FreedomCAR programs will make it practical and cost-effective for Americans to use clean, H2/FC by 2020. The complete speech can be viewed on:  WWW.WHITEHOUSE.GOV 
Source: White House

January 30, 2006
Bush administration outlines more H2/FC funding
Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman announced US$ 119 million in funding and a research “roadmap” aimed at identifying and overcoming the technical and manufacturing challenges associated with the further development of commercially available hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The goal of developing clean, hydrogen fuel vehicles is part of the Bush Administration’s ongoing effort to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.  Secretary Bodman announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) will provide up to US$ 100 million over four years for research projects seeking to improve FC membranes, water transport within the stack, advanced cathode catalysts and supports, cell hardware, innovative fuel cell concepts, and effects of impurities on FC performance and durability. Through this investment, DOE seeks to improve performance and to lower cost of these technologies by 2010. In addition, the Secretary announed $ 19 million in federal funding over five years for polymer membrane research. The goal of this research is to advance membrane durability and extend shelf-life, while simultaneously bringing down the cost. To identify the research and development (R&D) challenges that must be further addressed, Secretary Bodman also unveiled DOE’s "Roadmap on Manufacturing R&D for the Hydrogen Economy".  The 80-page document addresses challenges to manufacturing, storage and production of fuel cell technologies and proposes R&D solutions to overcome such challenges, focusing primarily on near commercial technologies.  The Roadmap is based on the results of a July, 2005 hydrogen workshop made up of hydrogen and fuel cell experts from industry, universities, and national laboratories.
Source: DOE

January 30, 2006
H2 on demand from biomass
Virent Energy System announced that it has successfully started up the first ever demonstration system capable of directly converting sugars and glycerin into power. The system, purchased by Madison, Gas & Electric (MGE), is based on Virent's patented Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) process, a carbon neutral, one-step method for on-demand production of hydrogen, natural gas and/or other fuel gases for distributed power systems from widely available renewable biomass. The MGE system integrates an APR System with an H2/natural gas fueled generator set provided by City Engines. The system has demonstrated the ability to deliver a minimum of 10kW of environmentally friendly power to the MGE grid since its startup at the beginning of this year at Virent's location in Madison, Wisconsin. Virent was able to customize the gas production from its APR system to deliver desired compositions of hydrogen, natural gas and other fuel gases to the generator set. The system currently operates on pure glycerin. In the future, the Company will use a lower grade of glycerin that is generated as a byproduct of the biodiesel production process. Virent also intends to use sugar in the form of sorbitol and glucose as a feedstock for this initial unit. Over the next 18 months, this system will generate needed reliability and performance data for an APR system in a live environment. Virent's APR system offers a cost effective method for low temperature production of H2 and/or fuel gas. Virent Energy Systems will be showcasing its technology at the upcoming Hydrogen Expo US.
Source: Virent

January 23, 2006
Patent awarded for GTI H2 dispenser technology
Gas Technology Institute (GTI) has completed the development of a new hydrogen dispenser control technology and received notification from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that a U.S. patent will be awarded on this technology. The H2 dispenser control technology and algorithm, called HydroFil(TM), was developed as part of a collaborative initiative between GTI and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hydrogen, Fuel Cells, and Infrastructure Technologies Program. Rapid temperature rise that occurs when charging hydrogen into a cylinder can result in less energy density, therefore lowering the amount of fuel stored and reducing vehicle driving range. The GTI-developed HydroFill technology provides H2-powered vehicle operators and hydrogen station operators with a cost-effective solution to accurately and completely fill vehicles with compressed H2 gas. The patented technology resulted from extensive thermodynamic modeling and high-precision empirical testing from -20°F to 115°F (-28°C to 46°C) ambient temperature conditions using GTI’s large-scale environmental chamber for testing high-pressure gas systems. The technology was also incorporated into a real-world hydrogen dispenser for a wide range of precision validation tests. The HydroFill hydrogen dispenser control technology is available for licensing to interested parties. GTI will be an exhibitor at the upcoming Hydrogen Expo US in Long Beach, CA.
Source: GTI

January 20, 2006
South Carolina launches H2/FC alliance
The South Carolina Department of Commerce announced the introduction of the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance, a statewide initiative designed to promote the development and use of quality, cost effective and accessible hydrogen, fuel cells and related technologies. The Alliance will serve as the primary facilitator on hydrogen initiatives within the state, with stated goals of developing a governing strategy for hydrogen initiatives and associated economies to enable long-term growth; providing education on the state’s available hydrogen resources and facilities; initiating and evaluating potential partnerships and collaborations for research initiatives; and supporting viable hydrogen demonstrations and projects for the state. South Carolina has a number of resources that can make a significant impact on growing the hydrogen economy: Savannah River National Laboratory, Center for Hydrogen Research, University of South Carolina, Clemson University, and South Carolina State University. The SC H2/FC Alliance will for the first time exhibit at Hydrogen Expo US 2006.
Source: SC Dept. of Commerce

January 10, 2006
Schwarzenegger proposes further activities
for clean air in California
In his State of the State Address on January 5, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed a strategic growth plan for California. The plan foresees investment into "clean air as part of our critical infrastructure". Over the next ten years the Governor wants to set aside 222 billion US dollars for activities including infrastructure programs without raising taxes. "We have the technology to clean our air", said Schwarzenegger, "so I say: build it!"
The complete speech and a video of the address can be viewed on:
 WWW.GOVERNOR.CA.GOV 

January 05, 2006
Quantum receives million-dollar funding
for military H2 vehicle
Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. today announced that its Alternative Mobility Vehicle (AMV) and Mobile Hydrogen Infrastructure (MHI) programs are allocated to receive a total of US$ 6.95 million in funding under the fiscal year 2006 Appropriations Bill for the Department of Defense, signed into law by President Bush on December 30, 2005. These programs follow on Quantum's successes with the U.S. Army, wherein Quantum developed and demonstrated the "Aggressor AMV," a high performance light-duty off-road fuel cell hybrid vehicle, and the recently completed "HyHauler MHI," a transportable hydrogen refueling station designed for rapid refueling of military vehicles and silent watch power generators. In line with Quantum's new initiatives in hybrid electric drive technology, the military AMV program will develop an advanced second generation (Aggressor II) high performance light-duty off-road hybrid electric vehicle platform incorporating special undisclosed modifications, based on the results of and feedback from the U.S. Army's testing and evaluation of the Aggressor. The propulsion system for this next phase of AMV development will be an advanced internal combustion engine hybrid electric drive system, which would provide a cost-effective, near-term solution and provide common shared vehicle architecture with future fuel cell applications of the vehicle. Several pre-production prototypes will be developed and built for testing and evaluation by selected military commands to assess mission suitability, supportability, performance objectives, and guidance on final vehicle configuration. "Quantum's military business and our strategic initiatives in hybrids continue to gain momentum. Our funding for Defense related programs will more than triple this year to almost $7 million, up from $2 million in 2005." said Alan Niedzwiecki, President and CEO of Quantum. "We believe that the AMV and MHI programs offer innovative solutions to meet the mission of the national defense effort while reducing the fuel logistic burden," added Mr. Niedzwiecki.
Source: Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide

December 13, 2005
DOE supports FutureGen Alliance, US$ 1 bn project
The FutureGen Industrial Alliance, Inc. announced that it has entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to develop and site in the United States the cleanest coal-fueled power plant in the world with a target of zero emissions, hydrogen production and carbon dioxide sequestration capabilities. The Alliance and the DOE are partnering in all development aspects of the US$1 billion FutureGen project, including siting, technology selection, construction and operation. The Alliance and DOE seek an aggressive schedule that includes announcing a site selection process next year, beginning construction within three years and targeting plant operations in 2012. The FutureGen initiative is a multiple year project comprised of several budget periods. The first budget period, which will end Jan. 31, 2007 and cost $10.2 million, will focus on establishing the configuration and cost of the facility and developing a short list of potential sites. The facility configuration and siting process will take into consideration a full range of U.S. coal types. The Alliance is a non-profit corporation that represents a global coalition of the world's largest coal and energy companies with operations on five continents. Members of the Alliance have voluntarily committed more than $250 million to help fund project development and include American Electric Power; BHP Billiton; the China Huaneng Group; CONSOL Energy Inc.; Foundation Coal; Kennecott Energy, a member of the Rio Tinto Group; Peabody Energy and Southern Company. The U.S. government would invest about $700 million in the project.
Source: Peabody Energy

 December 13, 2005
Korea-US joint nuclear H2 development center
The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KOERI) recently opened the Korea-US Joint Nuclear Hydrogen Development Center at its International Nuclear Training and Education Center in Daejeon. Amid the global efforts to advance utilization of nuclear H2, the center will focus on developing the very-high temperature gas-cooled reactor (VHTR), a key to putting nuclear hydrogen into practical use. Joining forces are Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction and General Atomics from the US. General Atomics is expected to provide full financial support as well as its accumulated know-how to develop VHTR system, which is a high-efficiency system that can supply process heat to a broad spectrum of high-temperature and energy-intensive, non-electric processes. The center will contribute to raising Korean expertise in the field, helping shorten the development period of the VHTR and thus save money.
Source: Korea.net

December 02, 2005
Information system on worldwide hydrogen
refuelling stations
As per 1st December this year, Germany based strategy and technology consultant L-B-Systemtechnik GmbH (LBST) has launched an information system on worldwide hydrogen refuelling stations. The database contains more than 220 hydrogen refuelling stations. Its compilation took several months. Access to the information system through  WWW.H2STATIONS.ORG  is open to any interested party and free-of-charge. The major share of hydrogen refuelling stations is found in Europe, North America and Asia. Especially California, Western Europe and Japan are the front runners in infrastructure development for automotive hydrogen applications. The number of newly erected hydrogen refuelling stations has rapidly grown during the last couple of years. Past as well as future infrastructure developments mostly rely on broad-scale regional roadmap initiatives. LBST's new information system comprises all hydrogen refuelling stations, be they operative, planned or decommissioned meanwhile. Browsing through the world of hydrogen refuelling stations is supported by a graphical user interface. Starting from the world map, users may navigate through various geographical aggregation levels down to the individual hydrogen refuelling station. Each hydrogen refuelling station is described in a profile sheet. This comprises technical as well as organisation information, such as the year of erection, financiers, operator and the system components applied. Images of many hydrogen refuelling stations complete this database which is unique in terms of international coverage and completeness.
Source: LBST

November 24, 2005
U.S. DOT Hydrogen Roadmap now available
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta has approved the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Hydrogen Roadmap. The Roadmap serves as the guiding document for DOT's Hydrogen Safety Research, Development, Demonstration, and Deployment programs. It outlines the roles and activities of each participating DOT operating administration, and serves as an outreach document for communication, coordination, and collaboration with other Federal agencies, Congress, industry, and the public. The Roadmap delineates four major topic areas for DOT: Safety Codes, Standards, and Regulations; Infrastructure Development and Deployment; Safety Education, Outreach, and Training; and Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Development, Demonstration, and Deployment. Describing current and projected DOT activities supporting President Bush's Hydrogen Initiative, the Roadmap illustrates the paths and timeframes necessary to enable a successful hydrogen infrastructure for the transportation enterprise. It also provides a concise and consistent document for future program direction. As a "living document," the DOT Hydrogen Roadmap will be updated as necessary.
Source: U.S. DOT
  WWW.RITA.DOT.GOV

November 24, 2005
H2 plant in Indiana supported by economic
development agency
ForeverGreen Enterprises Inc. announced plans to construct a new high-technology hydrogen production facility in Dekalb County with the support and assistance of the state of Indiana through the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). While other producers of hydrogen use natural gas as a feedstock, the company  will manufacture Green Hydrogen from materials that would otherwise be regarded as waste, therefore reducing manufacturing costs and the negative impact this waste would otherwise have on the environment. Using a process known as plasma-induced molecular dissociation, the company will break down waste materials into their basic elements to extract hydrogen. The production facility, to be located in Dekalb County, will produce H2 for industrial and alternative fuel uses and create more than 150 new jobs in the process. With plans to have construction complete sometime in 2006, co-founder and native Hoosier Randy Cole expects ForeverGreen’s production capabilities to induce the development of a hydrogen business cluster in the surrounding area, where a high demand for hydrogen already exists. The economic development incentives offered by the IEDC include: approx. $110,000 to train Indiana resident employees; up to $50,000 in training grants for technology professionals; and up to a total of $4.5 million in tax credits.
Source: ForeverGreen Enterprises

November 14, 2005
LAX adds H2 vehicle to its alternative fuel fleet
The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners approved an agreement between DaimlerChrysler's subsidiary Mercedes Benz USA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to evaluate the use of the zero-emission, hydrogen-fueled F-Cell vehicle in the real-word setting of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The agreement calls for LAX to become the only U.S. airport to participate in the "Controlled Hydrogen Fleet and Infrastructure Demonstration and Validation Project" awarded to DaimlerChrysler by the DOE. The project is going to include two other field test sites in California, where some of the 30 F-Cells that are placed throughout the nation, will be operated. An important prerequisite for the selection of LAX in this project was the existence of an H2 fueling station on airport property. Already in 2004, the 10,500-square-foot compressed hydrogen station was opened as a joint project between Los Angeles World Airports, Praxair, BP, South Coast Air Quality Management District, the California Energy Commission, and the DOE. This partnership helped to fund the nearly US$ 2 million construction cost.
Source: FuelCellWorks

November 14, 2005
Ethanol-to-hydrogen fueling station for Chicago
U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel and Senators Richard  Durbin and Barack Obama announced that they secured US$ 2 million in the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill for the world's first ethanol-to-hydrogen fueling station to be located in the City of Chicago. This new technology converts renewable liquid ethanol into hydrogen gas. The City of Chicago will use the station to fuel a small test-fleet of hydrogen powered vehicles. "Replacing oil from the Middle East with ethanol from the Midwest is a win for all Americans.  Investing taxpayer dollars in clean and efficient energy allows us to reward Illinois farmers and consumers instead of big oil company executives.  By funding the world’s first Ethanol-to-Hydrogen Fueling station, Illinois is setting a global example and putting our nation on the road to energy independence," said Durbin.
Source: Congressman Rahm Emanuel Press Release

October 31, 2005
Funding in California: US$ 6.5 million for
transportation & infrastructure
"Hydrogen means business in California" is the theme of the California Hydrogen Highway Network. On July 21, 2005, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 76 (SB 76) that provided the necessary funding and legislative guidelines to implement recommendations of the California Hydrogen Highway Network (CA H2 Net) Blueprint Plan. SB 76 provides US$ 6.5 million in funding for state-sponsored hydrogen demonstration projects until January 1, 2007. Specifically, the funds will: 1) establish up to 3 hydrogen fueling station demonstration projects - the stations must meet or exceed certain environmental goals, must be open and accessible to the public and be conveniently located to enhance the CA H2 Net; 2) assist State lease and purchase of hydrogen vehicles - the State my lease up to 12 hydrogen vehicles and purchase up to 2 hydrogen internal combustion engine shuttle busses. SB 76 further requires funded projects to contribute to energy and environmental goals by 2010 as follows: a) greenhouse gas emission reductions - projects must achieve a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relative to current-year vehicles; b) new renewable resources - 20% new renewable energy resources must be used in hydrogen production for each station, contributing to the achievement of the 2010 energy and environmental goal of 33% new renewable resources; c) no increase in toxic or criteria pollutant emissions - the projects must not increase toxic or smog forming emissions compared to fossil vehicle use. The bill also addresses specifications for hydrogen fuel, by requiring: development of specifications for use of hydrogen fuel - the Department of Food and Agriculture (DFA), with the concurrence of the State Air Resources Board (ARB), will establish specifications for hydrogen fuels for use in internal combustion and fuel cell vehicles until standards are formally adopted by an accredited standards development organization.
Source: California Hydrogen Highway Network Website 
 WWW.HYDROGENHIGHWAY.CA.GOV 

October 31, 2005
Number of H2 fueling stations, vehicles increases
in California
According to information provided by the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP), there are currently 16 hydrogen fueling stations in operation in the State of California. Nine of these stations supply fleets. Further 15 fueling stations are in the planning phase, including sites in Oakland, Emeryville, Burbank, Camp Pendleton, Ontario, San Carlos, Santa Ana, Santa Monica, and others. 95 fuel cell vehicles are being operated in California at the moment, with more to come. CaFCP has created a map of existing and planned H2 stations and provides detailed technical description of the individual sites on their website: 
 WWW.CAFCP.ORG/FUEL-VEHL_MAP.HTML 

October 18, 2005
Carwash powered by fuel cell
Canadian Federal Government & Sustainable Development Technology Canada announced  a $12.2 million contribution to support the demonstration of the Integrated Waste Hydrogen Utilization Project (IWHUP) in the Vancouver area. IWHUP will demonstrate innovative clean energy solutions that make use of an existing but currently untapped source of hydrogen fuel – H2 emitted as the by-product of a sodium chlorate manufacturing plant in the North Vancouver area. As part of IWHUP Easywash, a local carwash company, will make a sizable cash contribution to the project and be the host for the demonstration of the fuel cell system fuelled with hydrogen from the project. This phase of IWHUP is in partnership with Sacré-Davey Innovations Inc. and Nuvera Fuel Cells. The FC will provide the majority of the electricity demands for the carwash as well as heat the building and water used to wash vehicles at Easywash. This is the first such application of a hydrogen fuel cell in the carwash industry. Other participants in IWHUP include: Clean Energy, Dynetek Industries Ltd., Great West Life Realty Advisors, Hydrogen Technology & Energy Corporation, Powertech Labs, Questair Technologies Inc., and TransLink.
Source: Easywash

October 13, 2005
First hydrogen fueling station for India
India's first hydrogen fueling station was officially opened on October 9 by Mani Shanker Aiyar, Honourable Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Panchayati Raj. The facility, a hydrogen/compressed natural gas (HCNG) blend and pure hydrogen dispensing station, is located at the Indian Oil Corporation Limited's (IOCL) R&D centre, in Faridabad, just north of New Delhi. The event was hosted by Sarthak Behuria, Chairman of IOCL. The fueling station has been supplied by Air Products and its Indian joint venture company INOX Air Products Ltd. Air Products and INOX won the contract after an open tendering process. The equipment consists of a HCNG mixing unit, and dual dispensing unit which has the ability to fuel vehicles with either a HCNG blend or with pure H2. The unit will enable IOCL to reduce the carbon and NOX emissions from compressed natural gas vehicles, by adding hydrogen to natural gas. IOCL plans to run at least four vehicles as part of its test programme. This installation is the first step towards building an infrastructure required for pure hydrogen based fuelling systems.
Source: Air Products

October 13, 2005
Chevron partners with U.S. Army for H2 R&D
Chevron Technology Ventures LLC has signed its first Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army's Tank and Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) to further hydrogen fueling technologies. This agreement is the first CRADA for the development of H2 infrastructure technologies between a major international energy company and TARDEC. It establishes a formal relationship under which Chevron Technology Ventures and TARDEC can collaborate and share knowledge and resources to install, test, evaluate and demonstrate integrated hydrogen production and infrastructure technologies. "The goal is to ensure that the potential of hydrogen fueling technology is explored and can be applied where practical in military and civilian applications as a new source of energy for transportation and power needs," said Rick Zalesky, president of Chevron Technology Ventures' Hydrogen business unit.  TARDEC's expertise in the testing and evaluation of vehicle platforms and fueling infrastructure provides an excellent testing ground for this promising new technology and fuel." Dennis Wend, Executive Director of the TARDEC's National Automotive Center, added: "We were particularly interested in creating this CRADA because of the opportunities that hydrogen infrastructure can provide at military facilities. Public/private collaborations such as the U.S. Army and Chevron Technology Ventures are necessary to help support this type of development."
Source: Chevron Technology Ventures
October 04, 2005
Breakthrough for H2 storage?
A novel technique for producing hydrogen from water and organic material has been found recently at Purdue University in Lafayette, Indiana - a discovery that could help speed the creation of viable H2 storage technology. Though the method has not yet been evaluated for economic feasibility on a large scale, chemist Mahdi Abu-Omar said it could offer solutions to several problems facing developers of fuel cells, which are looked upon as a potential replacement to fossil-fuel burning engines in automobiles. The technique requires only water, a catalyst based on the metal rhenium and an organic liquid called an organosilane, which can be stored and transported easily. "We have discovered a catalyst that can produce ready quantities of hydrogen without the need for extreme cold temperatures or high pressures, which are often required in other production and storage methods," said Abu-Omar, an associate professor of chemistry in Purdue's College of Science. "It is possible that this technique could lead to fuel cells that are safe, efficient and not dependent on fossil fuels as their energy source." Abu-Omar's team estimates that about 7 gallons each of water and organosilane could combine to produce 6 1/2 pounds of hydrogen, which could power a car for approximately 240 miles.
Source: Purdue University

September 21, 2005
 Danish researchers introduce hydrogen tablet
Scientists at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) have invented a technology which may be an important step towards the hydrogen economy: a hydrogen tablet that effectively stores hydrogen in an inexpensive and safe material. The researchers say that ith the new hydrogen tablet it becomes much simpler to use the environmentally-friendly energy of hydrogen. Hydrogen is a non-polluting fuel, but since it is a light gas it occupies too much volume, and it is flammable. Consequently, effective and safe storage of hydrogen has challenged researchers world-wide for almost three decades. At the Technical University of Denmark, an interdisciplinary team has developed a hydrogen tablet which enables storage and transport of H2 in solid form. “Should you drive a car 600 km using gaseous hydrogen at normal pressure, it would require a fuel tank with a size of nine cars. With our technology, the same amount of hydrogen can be stored in a normal gasoline tank”, says Professor Claus Hviid Christensen, Department of Chemistry at DTU. The hydrogen tablet is safe and inexpensive. In this respect it is said to be different from most other H2 storage technologies. According to the DTU research team, consumers could literally carry the material in their pockets without any kind of safety precaution. The reason is that the tablet consists solely of ammonia absorbed efficiently in sea-salt. Ammonia is produced by a combination of hydrogen with nitrogen from the surrounding air, and the DTU-tablet therefore contains large amounts of H2. Within the tablet, hydrogen is stored as long as desired, and when it is needed, ammonia is released through a catalyst that decomposes it back to free hydrogen. When the tablet is empty, another a “shot” of ammonia is necessary to make the tablet ready for use again.
Source: DTU

September 16, 2005
 New FC investments by Chrysalix Energy
Chrysalix Energy Management, a global venture capital firm focused on early-stage clean energy technologies, announced two new investments by Chrysalix Energy II U.S. Limited Partnership in the field of hydrogen & fuel cells. Each of the companies receiving the funds has identified new, unique, large market opportunities within the rapidly developing global clean energy industry. SiM Composites is creating unprecedented proton exchange materials based on multifunctional silica and polymer. Mike Walkinshaw, Managing Director at Chrysalix Energy said, “We expect to see SiM’s membranes revolutionize many proton exchange membrane markets due to their improved performance and lower cost. Their technology could have a significant  impact on fuel cells for stationary and automotive applications as well as membranes for water desalination”. Ardica Technologies is producing a simple, low cost fuel cell system with a unique fuelling solution, remarkable energy density and several new consumer product concepts. This innovative micro fuel cell company’s development is attracting eager potential partners. The team and early technology direction are originally from Stanford University. Investors in the Chrysalix Energy Partnerships include Ballard Power Systems, BASF Venture Capital, BOC, The Boeing Company, Mitsubishi Corporation, Shell Hydrogen, Robeco, WestAM and Teachers’ Private Capital.
Source: Chrysalix Energy Management

September 13, 2005
 Air Products begins repairing of New Orleans H2 plant
Air Products announced an update on its liquid hydrogen supply and the status of its New Orleans, LA production facility impacted by Hurricane Katrina. The company reported that it has been able to secure additional H2 supplies from other sources and find different ways to improve the liquid hydrogen shortage situation with product management.  Air Products is in the process to begin repairing its New Orleans facility, but water must be drained from the site area to regain road access and power supply. "To date, we have been able to maintain supply to the majority of our customers.  While we will not be able to meet full demand of all customers, the situation has improved, and we informed our customers of this a few days ago," said Mark Bye, group vice president, Gases and Equipment Group for Air Products.  "We have been working closely with our customers to understand their precise requirements and identify options to best manage their current and future hydrogen supply." Air Products is encouraged that it has been able to continue supplying customers with H2 by converting some customer operations from liquid to gaseous hydrogen supply.  The company is also securing product from other sources, such as customers without immediate needs releasing their stored hydrogen back to Air Products.  Additionally, the company has determined that some inventory at its New Orleans facility is undamaged and can be distributed when safe road access becomes available.  Air Products is also working on arrangements for alternative feedgas supply to its liquid hydrogen facility in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.
Source: Air Products

September 13, 2005
 Rifkin predicts oil price of US$ 90 a barrel
Controversial US thinker Jeremy Rifkin told the EU that the world will witness the end of the oil era in the present generation's lifetime, as Members of the European Parlament launched a new initiative to promote hydrogen fuel. The chief of the Washington-based Foundation on Economic Trends indicated that the world will have used up over half its oil reserves by 2027 at the latest or between 2010 and 2020 at the earliest. "Let's hope and pray that we don't peak in the next two to three years, or we are going to be in trouble like we have never been before in human history", he said. Rifkin urged world leaders to focus research and investment on developing renewable energy over the next 25 years in order to usher in a third industrial revolution after steam and oil power. He predicted that oil might soon cost over US$ 90 dollars a barrel, blaming hurricane Katrina, global warming and the consumption of fossil fuels. According to International Energy Association (IEA) chief economist Fatih Birol hydrogen fuel cells could become financially viable in the next few decades and that world leaders should not become complacent over oil. IEA oil markets analyst Lawrence Eagles added that things could get worse before they get better. "We are still at the beginning of the hurricane season", he pointed out, adding that European consumers are beginning to slow spending in other areas, as high petrol prices bite.
Source: EU Observer

September 13, 2005
 Ballard secures order for 100 fuel cells
Shares of Ballard Power Systems Inc. gained about 12 per cent after the company signed a deal to sell fuel cells to power electric forklifts to General Hydrogen Corp. and signalled the potential for future sales. Dennis Campbell, Ballard's president and chief executive, said such use of fuel cells is a practical near-term application of the company's technology. "A lot of people think of us just as a car fuel cell company, but we've always had a strong presence and interest in non-automotive," Campbell said. "What we're doing here is really the best of all worlds where we're applying our automotive technology into a related non-automotive product." Ballard shares gained 81 cents or roughly 12 per cent to trade for $7.65 on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Friday afternoon. Under the deal announced Thursday, Ballard expects to begin the deliveries in the fourth quarter of this year and complete them in the fourth quarter of 2006. Ballard and General Hydrogen also have the option to negotiate a follow-on supply agreement in 2007 and beyond.
Source: CDC News

September 04, 2005
Toyota introduces H2-powered race car
Toyota has introduced a computer game-inspired, environmentally friendly Toyota concept car. The Motor Triathlon Race Car (MTRC) is a hydrogen-powered race car concept that combines influences from Toyota’s involvement in Formula One, rallying, sports car racing and other forms of motor sport. The MTRC - which will be familiar to Sony Playstation users thanks to its inclusion in the Gran Turismo 4 game - was conceived to compete in a “triathlon” of different driving environments: an off-road course, a smooth racetrack and a narrow city street circuit. Featuring avant-garde styling from Toyota’s ED2 Studio in France, the MTRC seats driver and passenger astern, wrapped in open-wheeler style downforce-producing bodywork. The company’s heritage in four-wheel-drive vehicles is demonstrated by the drivetrain, in which all four wheels are powered by individual electric motors. Penned by Toyota's ED2 Studio in France, the open-wheeler offers seating for two, but the occupants sit line astern, rather than abreast, so conversations may have to wait until the journey is over. The unusual hoop-shaped wing is designed to produce aerodynamic downforce, while four electric motors - each assigned to an individual wheel - provide propulsion. These motors, in turn, are powered by a fuel cell stack that produces no harmful emissions, with water the only by-product. The vehicle uses an electronically controlled suspension system that constantly monitors the road conditions and raises the ride height and other settings accordingly, and it is complemented by 'intelligent' tyres with built-in sensors that are claimed to maximise grip on any surface.
Source: Fuel Cell Works
August 11, 2005
 New energy bill to spur growth for renewables
President Bush has signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 into law in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The signing of this bill represents the culmination of years of Congressional stalemate over a vast energy policy package, and a central policy goal of the Bush Administration since the president's first term in office. A number of supportive policy wins for renewable energy could usher in a new business cycle for the clean energy industries. The package includes a two-year extension of the wind power industry's coveted Production Tax Credit (PTC), which will also be extended to a wide array of other renewable energy technologies. The solar industry receives an unprecedented two-year investment tax credit for solar PV, thermal and Concentrating Solar Power (CSP). The first such legislation in decades, the national tax credit would be capped at US$ 2,000 per residential project and have no limit on commercial projects. With their strong farm-belt constituencies, biofuels, and particularly ethanol, made out well through the inclusion of an expanded renewable fuels standard that will effectively double the amount of biofuels being produced. Ocean energy, a particularly undeveloped technology in the U.S. received a host of policy items to help propel new projects. Geothermal and hydropower also received helpful policy items, as did hydrogen and fuel cells.
Source: Renewable Energy Access

August 10, 2005
49 million funding for U.S. bus program
Congress approved US$ 49 million in funding for the National Fuel Cell Bus Technology Development Program as a component of the just-passed $287-billion Transportation Equity Act of 2005. The four-year hydrogen and fuel cell bus research and development program will speed work to make hydrogen and fuel cell buses commercially viable, focusing on critical areas of technology development. WestStart-CALSTART, together with a national team of more than 30 bus makers, operators and technology developers, formed the National Fuel Cell Bus Technology Initiative (NFCBTI) and led the effort to ensure funding for this effort to keep America competitive in these new technologies. In contrast to the Clean Urban Transportation for Europe (CUTE) program which funded hydrogen infrastructure and fuel cell bus demonstrations in 11 cities, the U.S. program will focus more on the key technical challenges preventing fuel cell buses from becoming commercially viable. It will be a competitive, national program that will identify and support the nation's best hydrogen and fuel cell teams and technologies for transit. The US$ 49 million program runs from 2006-2009 to develop and validate systems that can lead to commercialization.
Source: Renewable Energy Access

July 31, 2005
 Schwarzenegger honors brewery's commitment
to FC technology
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. joined officials from three participating companies to dedicate a one-megawatt fuel cell power plant that is the largest commercial high-temperature FC installation in the state and is classified as an Ultra-Clean technology under California law. "Like any business, Sierra Nevada was looking for stable, affordable, reliable power, and they wanted to limit the environmental impact of their operation," said Schwarzenegger. "They found the answer in a hydrogen fuel cell that generates power on site." Designed to create energy without combustion, the 1 MW power plant consists of four 250-kilowatt "Direct FuelCell" power plants from FuelCell Energy, Inc. Its waste heat will be harvested in the form of steam and used for the brewing process as well as other heating needs. 1 MW of electricity (equivalent to the power needed to support approximately 500-1,000 homes for a year) will supply essentially 100% of the brewery's base load power requirements. With this power plant, Sierra Nevada not only lowers its overall energy costs but also eliminates air pollutant emissions equivalent to removing 500 gasoline-powered cars from the road every year. When the fuel cells generate more power than the brewery requires, Sierra Nevada sends excess electricity back to the grid system and receives credit for a portion of its generation costs.
Source: FuelCell Energy

July 29, 2005
 NHA announces 2006 H2U Student Design Contest
The planning for the National Hydrogen Association's 2006 H2U Student Design Contest has begun and the organizer needs sponsorship support for this rewarding program. Helping the H2U Student Design Contest is a unique opportunity for any organization to directly support some of the most motivated students in the nation to develop innovative hydrogen technology. The contest engages students to design hydrogen systems while teaching them real-world, hands-on lessons they would unlikely encounter in class. The work involved is realistic, relevant and it calls for students to collaborate creatively on a variety of subjects. The 2006 theme is "Applications for Hydrogen Storage".  Student teams will design a system whose use of H2 as a means to store energy provides a particular advantage where other energy storage systems would be less adequate.  These systems can be anything from a power-system for a water-well to a power system for a major metropolitan hospital.  A great deal of flexibility will be allowed with regard to the type of application, but there will be many requirements to meet - students will be encouraged to think creatively! For more information on the contest please contact: Andrew Cotter, NHA, at 202-223-5547 x360 or by email at: cottera@hydrogenassociation.org

July 29, 2005
Never lost on the hydrogen highway
Honda announced that all hydrogen fuel cell-powered 2005 FCX vehicles will be equipped with a proprietary navigation system. This new navigation system is the first to incorporate the location of hydrogen filling stations, including stations being developed as part of California's "Hydrogen Highway" Initiative. Based on the company's navigation system offered in many Honda and Acura models, this voice-activated system will be standard on all second generation FCX vehicles equipped with the FC stack also developed by the car manufacturer. It includes features such as the capability to find and display H2 stations through voice commands, including directions and driving distances. Offering national navigation coverage, the system currently includes a total of 26 H2 stations in its database with nine of them outside the state of California. There is also a feature included that will allow the user to add stations to their personal address book. As the infrastructure develops further, periodic system updates will be performed by Honda to include any new stations to the directory.
Source: Honda

July 18, 2005
Australian researchers introduce
diesel hydrogen engine
Engineers from the University of Tasmania (UTAS), Australia, report that they have created a way for diesel engines to have hydrogen running through their veins. The Hydrogen and Allied Renewable Technology research group, based at the UTAS School of Engineering, has discovered that running a combustion engine with a combination of diesel and hydrogen increases power output, drastically cuts emissions and massively reduces diesel consumption. The discovery, at the specially-designed Hydrogen Laboratory the building of which was sponsored by Hydro Tasmania, has the potential to be used for both domestic and commercial purposes. According to Associate Professor Vishy Karri of the Intelligent Car Program at UTAS, adding just a just a “spoon full” of diesel and running the generator with hydrogen resulted in a 20 per cent increase in power output. “The mixing of both hydrogen and diesel in the same combustion chamber is a revolutionary world-first", adds Karri. "Other conversion kits on the market are designed to be ‘all or nothing’ - either 100 per cent diesel or 100 per cent hydrogen. There is nothing available for diesel engines that is specifically for diesel-hydrogen gas mixtures.”  The system is said to give any diesel engine the ability to generate 20 per cent more power, and to also reduce ongoing diesel consumption by up to 80 per cent. An innovative Mechatronic Controlled Injection Unit, developed by the UTAS team, controls the flow of hydrogen into the engine, which could have a huge environmental influence. The modular aspect of this system means that remote areas with a large established diesel infrastructure will be able to conform to current and future emissions regulations.
Source: UTAS

July 12, 2005
Grants for H2 production, storage projects
Jin Zhang, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Cruz, will receive US$ 535,000 in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for his part in two research projects aimed at developing new technologies for the production and storage of hydrogen fuel using nanostructured materials. The production of H2 from water using solar energy is the focus of one of the projects. Zhang is leading that effort and is also a coinvestigator on a second project to develop a method for highly efficient hydrogen storage. Both of the three-year projects rely on a novel approach to create nanostructured materials with special properties. Using solar energy to split water and generate H2 is not a new concept, but Zhang says his team's approach could lead to a device efficient enough for practical use. The device will integrate two kinds of solar cells - a photovoltaic cell to produce electricity and a photoelectrochemical cell to produce hydrogen from the electrolysis of water. Both will use specially designed materials based on arrays of nanowires with uniform orientation. The main focus of the project will be on developing these nanostructured materials to optimize the efficiency of both the photovoltaic cell and the photoelectrochemical cell. The researchers will use a technique called glancing angle deposition (GLAD) to fabricate the nanowire arrays. The hydrogen storage project will also involve using the GLAD technique to fabricate nanostructured materials. One of the problems with H2 as a fuel is that it is a bulky gas that is not easily transported and stored. A promising solution is to store it in a solid form as a metal hydride compound. Metal hydride nanostructures could greatly improve the efficiency of this type of storage, Zhang said. The researchers plan to find the optimum conditions for fabricating metal hydride nanostructures to achieve highly efficient hydrogen storage.
Source: UC Santa Cruz

July 07, 2005
Hydrogen energy could save lives
Standford researchers have published an article in the journal Science about the health impact of a conversion of all vehicles now on the road in the United States to hydrogen fuel, under the assumption that the hydrogen was generated from wind energy by electrolysis. According to Associate Professor Mark Z. Jacobson and postdoctoral fellow Whitney Goldsborough Colella (both in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department), and Consulting Professor David M. Golden (Mechanical Engineering Department), such a conversion could prevent millions of cases of respiratory illness and tens of thousands of hospitalizations every year and save more lives than were lost in the World Trade Center attacks. "Converting all the current vehicles to fuel cell vehicles powered by wind would save 3,000 to 6,000 lives in the United States annually, and it could be done at a fuel cost that's comparable to the cost of gasoline, and less than the cost of gasoline when you consider the health effects of gasoline," said Jacobson.
Source: Renewable Energy Access

July 07, 2005
8 hours talk time with FC mobile phone
Japanese telecom company NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced that they, together with Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd., have developed a new and improved prototype methanol fuel cell for 3G "FOMA" handsets. According to the release, the new prototype enables eight hours of continuous talk time, three times the capacity of the existing prototype, while weighing the same, 190g. The new device is expected to greatly extend usage time once it goes into commercial production. DoCoMo improved the capacity by increasing the methanol concentration from 30% to over 99% and developing a method of recycling the generated water. The company unveiled a prototype micro fuel cell using methanol as an inexpensive source of fuel last September to meet user demands for more convenient handsets with greater power capacity and reduced environmental impact. Power consumption demands are rising as mobile phone users take advantage of new services and handset features such as videophone and flat-rate monthly billing for value added data services. Further work on the prototype, a cradle-shaped device, is expected to be completed by the end of March 2006.
Source: NTT DoCoMo

July 07, 2005
Hydrogen powered observer plane
AeroVironment (AV), a developer of unmanned High-Altitude Long-Endurance (HALE) aircraft, released news about the successful completion of the world’s first liquid hydrogen powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) flight tests. The fifty-foot (15m) wingspan prototype aircraft accomplished a major milestone in AV’s Global Observer HALE system development. The "Global Observer" demonstrates the practicality and operational robustness of the enabling technologies and concept of operations for the system. According to AeroVironment, the new platform will be able to operate at 65,000 feet (19.800m) for over a week with a flexible payload-carrying capacity of up to 1,000 pounds (450 kg). Using only two aircraft in rotation, with one Global Observer replacing the other on station once per week, this capability will provide seamless communication relay and remote sensing systems at breakthrough affordability. Government and commercial applications include: persistent, global, near-space loitering capability for defense and homeland security missions; low cost, rapidly deployable telecommunications infrastructure and GPS augmentation; hurricane/storm tracking, weather monitoring, and wildfire detection/support; environmental monitoring, agriculture optimization and aerial imaging/mapping capabilities.
Source: AeroVironment

July 06, 2005
First family fuel cell vehicle
American Honda Motor Co., Inc announced the lease of its FCX, an advanced hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle, to the world's first individual customers, Jon and Sandy Spallino of Redondo Beach, California. The Spallinos become the world's first fuel cell family, having signed an agreement to lease a 2005 Honda FCX for a period of two years. Honda is the only automotive manufacturer to certify its fuel cell vehicle for regular daily use and the first to offer its technology to an individual customer. The Spallinos will use the FCX in everyday normal use, including commuting to work to Orange County, trips to school for their children, shopping and household errands. The Spallino family will be among the first individuals to begin utilizing the first of California's Hydrogen Highway refueling stations, a statewide infrastructure build out underway to offer hydrogen refueling station access to private individuals. As the next natural step in deployment of Honda fuel cell technology, the lease of the FCX to the Spallino family will be the first of several FCX vehicles to be leased to individual customers over the next year.
Source: Honda

July 06, 2005
 Fuel cell sports car
A British partnership has announced plans to develop an environmentally clean, fuel cell powered sports car. QinetiQ, Morgan Motor Company, Cranfield, Oxford Universities, BOC, and OSCar Automotive want to build the "LIFECar" at an estimated cost of 1.9 million British pounds (US$ 3.3), some of which is sponsored by the UK Department of Trade and Industry. The architecture of the vehicle will be based on the Morgan Aero Eight. QinetiQ will supply the PEM fuel cell which powers four separate electric motor. BOC develops the hydrogen refueling station for the new sports car.
Source: The Engineer Online

June 30, 2005
U.S. Senate passes Energy Bill
The U.S. Senate passed the 2005 Energy Bill. Nationwide, the political will to address core energy issues is improving, with the escalating energy prices catching the attention of constituents. This year alone, crude oil prices have increased nearly 40%, with U.S. crude oil futures on the New York Mercantile Exchange reaching $60 per barrel. The bill does include approximately $18 billion in energy tax incentives encouraging greater energy efficiency and renewable resources such as wind and solar. It also foresees five year hydrogen spending at approximately $3.27 billion over the five years, including $1.06 billion for hydrogen supply, $860 million for fuel cell technologies, $1.31 billion for demonstration programs, and $38 million for codes and standards. A 30% tax credit will be granted for the purchase of solar, photovoltaic, and fuel cell systems for residential use.
Source: U.S. Senate

June 08, 2005
Solar H2 and landfill gas project
to prevent CO2 emissions
 SHEC-Labs from Saskatchewan, Canada, announed plans o move ahead on a demonstration project that involves as many as 30 prototype solar units tapping landfill-generated methane for solar powered hydrogen production. The company has been developing a dish-style solar thermal concentrator for the production of electrical power and H2 production. SHEC Labs' prototype solar hydrogen generator has operated for approximately 1,200 hours with no noticeable coking or degradation of the catalysts. Hydrogen production is near the theoretical maximum at approximately 66% in the product gas stream with a 98.2% mol conversion of the feed methane. The estimated maximum H2 production with the unit is approximately 3,500 kg per year with minor modifications to the operating pressure and reactor configuration and an increase in the solar mirror area. The next stage of development is anticipated to be a commercial-scale demonstration at a landfill gas site using 40,000 kg per year hydrogen production modules. This one project (a small-to-medium sized landfill gas project) will prevent more than 1.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) from entering the atmosphere over the next twenty years and will significantly improve local air quality and reduce smog. This one plant would consist of 30 modules for a total annual production of 1.2 million kg of hydrogen per year. (550 million cubic feet). SHEC-Labs is currently in the process of capitalizing to deploy its first commercial-scale plant. Once this plant is operational, it can be repeatedly duplicated. The next generation of solar hydrogen involves direct water splitting with only water as the primary feed component. According to scientists at the lab, six of the ten steps needed for this process are already integrated into the current system.
Source: SHEC


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