Fuel Cell Technology Update - April 2002
TRANSPORTATION
Ford Unveils New Fuel Cell-Powered Focus Sedan Ford Motor Company has unveiled a new hybrid Focus FCV sedan that combines a Ballard Mark 902 fuel cell stack with a 300-volt Sanyo battery pack. The Focus FCV has a more advanced hydrogen storage tank, which can handle 5,000 pounds per square inch (psi) of hydrogen - verses 3,600 psi in the previous version for a driving range of 160-200 miles. <http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=11460>
Bay Area to Design Fuel Cell Ferry. The San Francisco Bay Area Water Transit Authority (WTA) has received a $100,000 grant from the federal government to design the world's first fuel cell-powered ferry. WTA will spend the next three years designing the new ferry, and is scheduled to present its plan for a Bay Area ferry system to the state legislature by the end of the year. <http://www.watertransit.org>
JLG Introduces Fuel Cell 'Cherry Picker' JLG Industries, Inc. has developed a fuel cell-powered "cherry picker," a boom lift for elevating workers attempting such endeavors as fixing power lines or trimming trees. JLG designed the fuel cell stack with AlliedSignal, Inc., the Department of Energy and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The company aims to make the lift available commercially by 2005.
STATIONARY POWER
Siemens to Build SOFC Plant in Germany. The Siemens Power Generation Group will build a close-to-series solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power plant with a maximum electrical capacity of 250 kilowatts (kW) in Hanover, Germany, on the site of the Herrenhausen power plant by 2003. The plant is being built under contract with Stadtwerke Hanover AG and E.ON Energie AG. <http://www.siemenswestinghouse.com/en/fuelcells>
H Power to Deliver Fuel Cell to Finland. H Power Corporation will deliver a 4 kW cogeneration fuel cell system to Finland-based Naps Systems Oy by July. Naps will in turn deliver the system to Sweden-based Birka Energi, to be installed at the Environmental Information Center in Stockholm, Sweden, where it will provide electricity and heat. The system will be fueled by stored hydrogen produced through a photovoltaic solar cell system combined with an electrolyzer. A second source of hydrogen will be derived from biogas produced at a nearby municipal waste plant. <http://www.hpower.com/cgi-bin/pr.cgi?idPressRelease=57>
DCH Ships Fuel Cell to Utility. DCH Technology, Inc. has shipped a 5kW natural gas fuel cell to a new confidential customer - a world leader in the storage and distribution of natural gas. The fuel cell will be integrated with a fuel processor designed and delivered by UOP, LLC. The order represents the third fuel cell shipped by DCH for integration with a UOP fuel processor within the last 3 months. <http://www.dcht.com/press_releases/press_release.asp?release=234&caller=news>
Metallic Power, Nextel to Test FC Backup Power. Metallic Power has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Nextel Communications, Inc. to conduct extensive testing and evaluation of Metallic Power's fuel cells as a backup power source for Nextel cellular base stations. The fuel cells will offer 2.5 kilowatts (kW) of backup power in a rack-mounted configuration that includes a six-kW fuel tank to provide two to three hours of continuous backup under full load. <http://www.metallicpower.com/news.htm>
Stuart and Ford Sign Agreement for Backup Systems. Stuart Energy Systems and Ford Power Products have signed an agreement to jointly develop hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine (ICE) power systems for the global backup power generation and other power markets. Initially targeting the $6 billion worldwide annual market for backup power systems, the power systems will first be used in markets such as Hong Kong, supplying clean, safe power during power outages or peak demand periods. Stuart Energy expects to install the first hydrogen back-up power system at its head office in Mississauga, Ontario in the fall of 2002. <http://www.stuartenergy.com/NEWS/HTML_Press_Releases/SESandFord.asp>
PORTABLE POWER
MTI Unveils New Micro Fuel Cell. Mechanical Technology, Inc. (MTI) has demonstrated a new micro fuel cell prototype during its annual shareholders meeting in Albany, NY. The new prototype is approximately 20 percent smaller than the one unveiled last October, and features integrated electronic controls and a power output that is more than double. <http://www.mtimicrofuelcells.com/article.cfm?a_id=3326>
Casio to Sell Fuel Cells in 2004. Casio Computer Company plans to begin selling fuel cell products starting in 2004. The methanol fuel cells will be able to continuously power a laptop computer for as long as 20 hours, compared to current batteries that have an operational life of about five hours. The methanol fuel for its fuel cells is expected to cost about 15 cents per liter. <http://www.casio.com/corporate/pressroom.cfm?act=2&pr=5533>
FUELS/REFORMERS/STORAGE
U.S. and India Develop Hydrogen Plan Industry, research and development teams from the United States and India have formed a collaborative effort to develop hydrogen-fueling technologies for fuel cell applications. The partnership will hold a workshop on fuel cells in Washington, D.C. this June. The workshop is intended to help officials from each group gain a better understanding of new fuel cell technologies.
DOE Awards Funds for Propane Fuel Cell. The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $500,000 to a public-private partnership led by the Texas Railroad Commission, the state's oil and gas regulator, to help in the development of fuel cells powered by propane gas. The grant is part of a three-year, $1 million project to develop the fuel cells and also involves Southwest Research Institute of San Antonio; the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission; the Texas Department of Transportation; DCH Technology/Enable Fuel Cell Corp.; and UOP LLC. <http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2002/03/04/daily17.html>
FST Develops Fuel Cell Hydrogen Storage System. FuelSell Technologies, Inc. (FST) has developed a new system for the transport, delivery and storage of hydrogen for fuel cells. The Hydrogen-Direct distributes 99 percent pure hydrogen from clean-energy raw materials directly to consumers and businesses. FST said it has filed patents and trademarks and begun "productization" of the new technology, which it plans to begin service subscriptions and delivery of within the next 14 months.
FUEL CELL COMPONENTS
Palcan Signs Agreement with Shanghai Technology. Palcan Fuel Cell Company signed a development agreement with Shanghai Yung-Qiang Technology Company, a subsidiary of China's Shanghai Marine Diesel Engine Research Institute (Engine Co.), to develop hydrogen and air fuel subsystem components for Palcan's fuel cells. Palcan will invest about $150,000 Canadian (about $94,880 U.S.) in the venture. <http://www.palcan.com>
Medis Announces Fuel Cell Advancements. Medis Technologies' subsidiary More Energy has achieved an important breakthrough in developing a catalyst for use in the cathode of its direct liquid ethanol/methanol fuel cell. The company said the fuel cell no longer requires an electrode made out of platinum or other precious metals. The elimination of the use of platinum as a fuel cell component for the cathode could reduce the cost of fuel cell manufacturing by about 20 percent. Despite the advancement, More Energy scientists have not been able to eliminate the need for a platinum anode. <http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020320/202091_1.html>
SET Tests Inverter With Fuel Cell Developer. Sustainable Energy Technologies, Ltd. (SET) has completed a test of its five-kilowatt (kW) power inverter in collaboration with a leading North American fuel cell developer. The inverter provided a seamless transfer of fuel cell power to the grid and precise control of fuel cell output. The inverter also limited the current "ripple" to the 120-hertz (Hz) component that is directly associated with delivering single-phase, 60-Hz AC power.
Toray Develops Low Cost Nanotubes. Toray Industries, Inc. has developed a low-cost synthetic method for producing double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWNT) in conjunction with Nagoya University professor Hisanori Shinohara. Carbon nanotubes serve as the electrodes in a fuel cell, but the high production cost has inhibited their commercialization in the past. While current DWNT production yield is 10 percent, Toray expects an increase to more than 50 percent in the near future and plans to begin commercialization efforts in 2004. <http://www.toray.co.jp>
REPORTS/MARKET STUDIES
Fuel Cells for Power Generation. A new research paper from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) describes how fuel cells can be used as a cost-effective means of electric power generation. The paper, titled "Cleaner Energy, Greener Profits: Fuel Cells and Profitable Distributed Power Resources," was authored by Joel Swisher. The 36-page report describes the role fuel cells can play in moving from centralized power generation to a system where smaller generation facilities are located closer to power customers. RMI noted that the report features illustrations, graphs, charts and full-color photos. The paper is available on RMI's website, located at <http://www.rmi.org/sitepages/pid171.php>.
Principia Partners to Release Study on Fuel Cells. Principia Partners will release a study that provides an in-depth analysis on materials opportunities in the fuel cell industry. The report, titled "Material Opportunities in Fuel Cell Technology -- 2002 and Beyond," is intended to be a "detailed market assessment of traditional and new materials for fuel cells." Contact: Jim Morton, Principia Partners, phone 717-741-3565, e-mail <mailto:jmorton@principiaconsulting.com>.
MISCELLANEOUS
Astris Introduces Production Grade Fuel Cell. Astris Energi Inc. announced a new alkaline fuel cell product suitable for powering small vehicles, stationary electric energy sources for industry and a range of other applications. The POWERSTACK(TM) MC250 system will be commercially available, both here and abroad, later this year. The new power source is based on the company's LABCELL(TM) monopolar product line and will be available in stacks rated up to 2.5 kilowatts each. <http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/020312/120062_1.html>
EERE Reorganizes Operations. The Department of Energy has reorganized its Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to streamline operations. As a result of the reorganization, EERE's new Office of Hydrogen and Infrastructure will include Transportation Fuel Cell Program (formerly under Office of Transportation Technologies), Hydrogen Program (formerly under Office of Power Technologies), Fuel Cell Program (formerly under Distributed Energy Resources), and any other hydrogen system-specific R&D related work. The Office of FreedomCAR & Vehicle Technologies will focus on non-fuel cell related technologies. <http://www.eren.doe.gov/ee.html>
CCEF Announces Finalists for Fuel Cell Program. The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) has announced the finalists for its program designed to stimulate the development and commercialization of fuel cell technology. The announcement marked the official launch of the five-year program, which has a 2002 project budget of nearly $18 million. Eight projects were selected from a total of 31 proposals, including fuel cell installations at a hospital, a data center, Dinosaur State Park, and the Pepperidge Farm Bakery in Bloomfield, Connecticut. <http://www.ctcleanenergy.com/news/news.htm>
Ionomem to Open New Facility. The Ionomem Corporation, a manufacturer of fuel cell components, plans to open a fuel cell facility at the Hockanum Mill complex in Vernon, Connecticut. The company, which was launched by engineers at the University of Connecticut's Environmental Research Institute and recently received funding from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, will manufacture electrolyte membranes -- a key component of fuel cells.
REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS
NSF Fuel Cells and Advanced Vehicle Technologies Solicitation. Fuel cells and other advanced vehicle technologies are topics covered by the National Science Foundation's 2002 SBIR/STTR Solicitation. Phase I proposals are being accepted for the Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Systems Topic. Deadline for proposals is June 12, 2002. <http://www.eng.nsf.gov/sbirspecs/AM/am.htm>
Science Center Collaborative Needs Fuel Cell/Hydrogen Exhibits. The Utah Science Center at Liberty Square is interested in putting together a collaborative group to develop fuel cell/hydrogen-related exhibits and activities in a modern interactive science center and in its traveling science center. Interested parties should contact Joe Andrade via phone at 801-484-4904, or via email at <mailto:joe.andrade@m.cc.utah.edu>.
CONFERENCES/CALL FOR PAPERS
CNG-NGV 2002 Summit. "Building the Asia Pacific/Middle East CNG-NGV Infrastructure That Works" will take place April 16-17, 2002, at the Oriental Hotel in Singapore. For details, go to <http://www.ibc-asia.com/CNG-NGV.htm>.
Small Fuel Cells. "Small Fuel Cells for Portable Power Applications" will be held April 21-23, 2002, at the Wyndham Washington Hotel in Washington D.C. For more information, go to <http://www.knowledgefoundation.com/events/10291257.htm>.
Green Power Conference. "Getting to 10%" will be May 2, 2002, at the Crowne Plaza in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. <http://www.pennfuture.org>
Northeast Power Symposium. The Northeast Power Symposium will take place May 30-31, 2002, at the Westin Copley Place in Boston, Massachusetts. For more information, go to <http://www.americanconference.com>.
The Business of Fuel Cells for Automotive Applications. The Business of Fuel Cells for Automotive Applications will be June 3-4, 2002, at The Hyatt Regency Dearborn Hotel, in Dearborn, Michigan. <http://www.eyeforfuelcells.com/events/detroit2002/>
PBFC-1. The First International Conference on Polymer Batteries and Fuel Cells will be held June 1-6, 2002, at the Shilla Hotel in Jeju Island, Korea. For more information, go to <http://pbfc.kaist.ac.kr>.
Future Car Congress. The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Council for Automotive Research are sponsoring the 2002 Future Car Congress, June 3-5, 2002, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, in Arlington, Virginia. For more information, visit <http://www.futurecarcongress.org/>.
LBMA Precious Metals Conference. The London Bulletin Market Association's Precious Metals Conference 2002 will be June 10-11, 2002, at the Stanford Court Hotel in San Francisco, California. For more information, email <mailto:conference@lbma.org.uk>.
Power 2002. "Power 2002: Development and Financing Strategies in North America's Evolving Power Markets" will take place June 10-12, 2002, at the Camelback Inn and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona. <http://www.wbresearch.com>
International Fuel Ethanol Workshop. BBI International's International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Trade Show will be June 25-28, 2002, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Illinois. For more information, go to <http://www.bbiethanol.com/few>.
FUEL CELL 2002. Fuel Cell 2002 is holding 2 parallel conferences, THE FUEL CELL WORLD and the 5th EUROPEAN SOFC FORUM, on July 1-5, 2002, at the Kultur- und Kongresszentrum Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland. For more information, go to <http://www.efcf.com/conferences/index.shtml>.
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