Fuel Cell Technology Update - January 2002
TRANSPORTATION
DaimlerChrysler Unveils New Fuel Cell Car. DaimlerChrysler has unveiled a fuel cell powered Town & Country minivan, the "Natrium", which uses Millennium Cell's Hydrogen on Demand system. The unique feature of the Natrium is that the hydrogen for the fuel cell is generated from sodium borohydride, which is derived from borax. <http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011212/122588_1.html>
Whistler Demonstrates Fuel Cell Golf Car. Whistler, Inc.'s Voltairis Fuel Cell Division has successfully demonstrated the hydrogen-fueled Carbon-X fuel cell powered golf car. The fuel cell golf car features a 48-volt proton exchange membrane fuel cell developed by Anuvu Incorporated. <http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011207/70015_1.html>
NASA Awards Two Fuel Cell Projects for Reusable Launch Vehicle Applications. ElectroChem and Teledyne Energy Systems have been awarded contracts to develop PEM fuel cell power plants for NASA's Reusable Launch Vehicle Program. NASA will perform independent testing and verification of the systems and then select one contractor to continue with development of an engineering model. <http://www.aero-space.nasa.gov/curevent/news/fuel.htm> <http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011214/140055_1.html>
STATIONARY POWER
UTC Installs Fuel Cell in China, Sells Eight to NYPA. UTC Fuel Cells has installed a PC25 fuel cell unit in the Guangzhou city of China, to generate power for electrical equipment on a hog farm. The fuel cell will be fueled by liquefied petroleum gas, but in the future will be powered by methane fermentation gas produced by hog waste. UTC Fuel Cells has also sold eight PC25 fuel cell power plants to the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to produce power for four wastewater treatment plants in New York City. NYPA plans to install the fuel cells in Brooklyn, Staten Island, Bronx and Queens. <http://www.utcfuelcells.com/news/archive/121701a.shtml> <http://www.utcfuelcells.com/news/archive/121901.shtml>
FuelCell Energy to Power Brewery. FuelCell Energy, Inc. and the Marubeni Corporation have sited the first Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plant in Asia at a Kirin brewery plant outside of Tokyo. Marubeni, FuelCell Energy's Asian partner, will supply a 250 kW DFC® power plant to Kirin's Toride brewery plant in the second quarter of 2002. The fuel cell will use a methane-like digester gas produced from the effluent from Kirin's brewery process. <http://www.fce.com>
H Power and Gaz de France Install Residential Fuel Cell. H Power and Gaz de France, a major European energy company, have installed the first of six Beta Residential Cogeneration Units (RCU's) at the facilities of Gaz de France, near Paris. The remaining five units are to be shipped during the first half of 2002. <http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011220/202045_1.html>
German Utility Receives Fuel Cell. Energie Baden-Wuerttemberg AG (EnBW), a German utility group, has received the first of 55 solid oxide fuel cell units from Sulzer Hexis AG. EnBW will install them in houses in the town of Mingolsheim.
Verizon to Demonstrate Fuel Cells at Telecommunications Site. Verizon will demonstrate a natural gas-fueled Nuvera Fuel Cells fuel cell system at a telecommunications site in Massachusetts. The system will provide primary power to the facility, which houses engineering, installation and maintenance personnel, and also provides local phone service to nearly 200 area customers. <http://www.energyinfosource.com/dg/news.cfm?id=14336>
PORTABLE POWER
Lynntech Delivers Fuel Cells to Army Lab. Lynntech has delivered four 15-watt prototype direct methanol fuel cell systems to the U.S. Army Research Laboratory for use as individual soldier power systems, completing Phase II of a small business innovation research grant. <http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011218/182405_1.html>
U.S. Air Force Tests H Power Fuel Cell Systems. Concurrent Technologies Corporation tested H Power fuel cell systems on behalf of the U.S. Air Force's Air Expeditionary Force Battlelab, Common Core Power Production (C2P2) Initiative. The 4-kilowatt sized systems were tested powering an office suite, a simulated aircraft load, industrial shop and aircraft support equipment, and the drivetrain of a tow vehicle. <http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011205/52041_1.html>
FUELS/REFORMERS/STORAGE
Peugeot to Purchase Hydrogen On Demand. European automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen recently signed an agreement to purchase Hydrogen on Demand(tm) fuel systems from Millennium Cell Inc. for evaluation and integration into electric powered vehicles and a fuel cell powered taxi. <http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/011204/42170_1.html> Proton Energy Systems Announces Program With Ford. Proton Energy Systems announced an agreement with Ford Motor Company's TH!NK group for a joint test and evaluation program. Under the agreement, Proton plans to deliver a FuelGen(tm) high-pressure hydrogen refueling system to TH!NK. <http://www.protonenergy.com/index.php/html/companyinfo/news/pressreleases.html>
Young Investigator Honored for Hydrogen Work. Sandia National Laboratory's Karl Gross has received a Young Investigator award from the Department of Energy's Office of Power Technologies for his research on developing lightweight hydride materials for hydrogen storage. The award recognizes exceptional talents of researchers who are working to advance DOE programs. <http://www.ca.sandia.gov/news/011213ynginvestigator.html>
FUEL CELL COMPONENTS
Donaldson Signs Contract with Japanese Automobile Manufacturer. Donaldson Company has signed a major development contract with a leading Japanese automobile manufacturer to apply fuel cell-filtration science to fuel cell-powered automobiles. The Donaldson FC3 product line intakes air and mitigates acoustics in fuel cells. <http://www.donaldson.com/corp/release/fuelCellContract.html>
Global Thermoelectric Signs Agreement With Dana Corporation and Advanced Energy Systems. Global Thermoelectric, Inc. and Dana Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for performance enhancements and cost reductions for Global's solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems. The MOU also states that Global and Dana may enter into manufacturing agreements whereby Dana would provide Global with high-volume manufacturing capabilities and expertise. Global and has signed a letter of intent with Advanced Energy Systems, Ltd. to cooperate in the development of power electronics and control technologies for Global's SOFC products. <http://micro.newswire.ca/releases/December2001/14/c7193.html/1173-0> <http://micro.newswire.ca/releases/December2001/12/c6087.html/1173-0>
Environmental Solutions Develops Catalyst. Environmental Solutions Worldwide, Inc. (ESW) is developing a new product called the Hygen Cat(tm), a new converter product specifically designed to reduce emissions for low-temperature, low-volume hydrogen fuel cell applications. ESW has entered into an agreement with a fuel cell company to evaluate the Hygen Cat(tm). <http://www.earthvision.net/ColdFusion/News_Page1.cfm?NewsID=18861>
Hydrogen Sensor Validated for Military Applications. National Technical Systems has validated DCH Technology's H2SCAN(tm) Hydrogen Sensor System for use in military systems worldwide. The system passed five key elements of the MIL-STD-810C specification, requiring demanding tests for vibration, mechanical shock, temperature shock, temperature cycle, and humidity soak. <http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/011221/laf020_1.html>
Woodward to Enter Fuel Cell Control Market. Woodward Governor Company will enter the stationary fuel cell market by offering integrated control systems and components to manufacturers and developers of fuel cells. woodward.com
REPORTS/MARKET STUDIES
Materials Study. "Material Opportunities in Fuel Cell Technology - 2002 and Beyond" is a new study by Principia Partners that predicts the market for fuel cells will reach nearly $3 billion by 2005, with a dramatic increase projected by 2010. Interest in fuel cells among materials suppliers has intensified and the report focuses on driving forces behind the market opportunity for materials in fuel cells. principiaconsulting.com
MISCELLANEOUS
Fuel Cells 2000's 2001 Fuel Cell Directory Now Available. The 173-page 2001 Fuel Cell Directory lists more than 840 organizations, including fuel cell developers, researchers, distributors and consultants, suppliers, component manufacturers, utilities, universities, associations or government agencies and laboratories. Entries contain address, phone number, email, company URLs, stock symbols, investor, media and human resource contacts, and the name of the President or CEO, as well as a description of current research projects and fuel cell type. The 2001 edition of the Fuel Cell Directory costs $125.00. Non-profit organizations, college and university libraries, and news outlets may request a free PDF copy of the Fuel Cell Directory. Electronic versions of the Directory are available on diskette or CD-ROM in MSExcel format for $500.00. To order, please download an order form from our web site - <http://www.fuelcells.org/pubs.doc>.
New Methanol Video Released. The Methanol Institute has released a new video titled "Methanol Fuel Cell Vehicles: The Clear Alternative." The ten-minute video describes the current status of fuel cell development and the role of methanol as a hydrogen carrier fuel, and features interviews with industry, government and environmental leaders. To receive a copy of the video, send $7.00 to Methanol Institute Video, 800 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 620, Washington, D.C. 20006.
GE Buys Two Honeywell Operations. General Electric's (GE) Power Systems segment acquired two businesses from Honeywell International, Inc. to enhance its fuel cells and microturbine power generation technologies. GE bought the Honeywell Tensor operation and Honeywell Advanced Composites, Inc. <http://www.gepower.com/corporate/en_us/aboutgeps/releases/20011217.pdf>
Italian Fuel Cell Company Begins Operations. Ansaido Fuel Cells S.p.A. (AFCo), a spin off of Ansaldo Richerche has begun operations effective December 1, 2001. AFCo's mission is the industrial production and commercialization of fuel cells, particularly molten carbonate fuel cell power plants in the mid-size range.
IFC Renamed UTC Fuel Cells. United Technologies Corporation has changed the name of International Fuel Cells to UTC Fuel Cells. <http://www.utcfuelcells.com/news/archive/120501.shtml>
REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS
CaFCP Seeks Proposals on Fueling Facilities. The California Fuel Cell Partnership has issued an "invitation" to companies to submit a proposal to conduct a new study on the design of safe and cost-effective facilities for the housing and servicing of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. In this project, "the Contractor will study the design requirements to support hydrogen-fueled vehicles and the incremental cost associated with these facilities." A copy of the Scope of Work can be found at <http://www.cafcp.org/documents/H2FacilitySOW.rev8.PDF>.
DOD Fuel Cell Technology Proposals. The Department of Defense has begun accepting proposals for its 2002.1 SBIR Solicitation. A complete listing of Component Topic Sections for each agency (Navy, Air Force, DARPA, BMDO, etc.) is available online. Topics include: Logistic Fuel Sulfur Removal for Fuel Cell Use in Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) Operations; Compact Hydrogen Storage Using Metal Hydride; Rechargeable Fuel Cells; and Fuel Cells for Arms Control Applications. Phase I awards are typically $60K to $100K. <http://www.acq.osd.mil/sadbu/sbir/solicitations/sbir021/dod_sbir021.htm>
DOE State Energy Program. As much as $4.5 million in State Energy program grant money has been set aside for state energy offices to promote special projects that support alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles through the development of infrastructure, niche markets, and strategic alliances. Grant proposals should be sent to regional DOE offices by March 15, 2002. <http://www.ccities.doe.gov/sep_sol02.shtml>
Energy Innovations Small Grant Program. California Energy Commission has issued its call for proposals for the Energy Innovations Small Grant Program, which provides up to $75,000 to small businesses, non-profits, individuals and academic institutions to conduct research on innovative energy concepts. Program areas include Renewable Generation, Environmentally Preferred Advanced Generation, Building End-use Efficiency and Strategic Energy Research. <http://www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/smallgrant/index.html>
CONFERENCES/CALL FOR PAPERS
Army Workshop. The U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center is holding an "Objective Force Warrior Pre-solicitation Conference" on January 17-19, 2002, at the Westin Waltham Hotel in Waltham, Massachusetts. For more information, email Pat Ross at patricia.ross@natick.army.mil <mailto:patricia.ross@natick.army.mil>.
Fuel Cell Workshop. The South Carolina Institute for Energy Studies is hosting "High Temperature Fuel Cell Power Plant Systems," on January 23-25, 2002, at the Energy Systems Laboratory at Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina. To register, call 1-864-656-2267.
EPRI DR Conference. EPRI's "Distributed Resources: Electrifying the World, It's Hotter Than Ever. Will DR Catch Fire or Flame Out?" will be March 17-21, 2002, at the Westin Galleria in Dallas, Texas. For more information, check out <http://www.epri.com>.
Green Building Conference. The National Green Building Conference will be held March 24-26, 2002, at the Westin Seattle in Seattle, Washington. Go to <http://www.NAHBexpos.com> for details.
CERES 2002 Conference. The Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies is sponsoring "The Future of Wealth on Earth: Opportunities and Risks for Investors, Corporations, and Activists in a Changing Global Climate," April 17-19, 2002, at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. For more information, go to <http://www.ceres.org>.
Energizing America's Cities. "Energizing America's Cities: Developing Sustainable Energy Solutions," will be May 30-31, 2002, at the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, Illinois. Check out <http://www.gastechnology.org/energizeamerica> for conference details.
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