Fuel Cells 2000's Fuel Cell Technology Update - July 2002

Fuel Cells 2000's Fuel Cell Technology Update - July 2002

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TRANSPORTATION

Metallic Power Demonstrates Zinc Fuel Cell Powered Car.
Metallic Power has completed tests of a refuelable on-road zinc fuel cell
powered vehicle.  The technology demonstration, which began in Chula Vista,
included more than 100 miles of test-driving on highways and surface
streets.  For the demonstration, four of Metallic Power's prototype telecom
backup power zinc fuel cell systems were fitted into a Geo Force sedan
converted to Solectria's electric drive, with a small cargo compartment
built into its rear.  The vehicle reached speeds of more than 50 mph and was
refueled in approximately 30 minutes using simple fuel hoses.
<http://www.metallicpower.com/news.htm>
 
Ford Unveils New Focus FCV.
Ford Motor Company unveiled the new Ford Focus Fuel Cell Vehicle, a hybrid
fuel cell/battery electric prototype that features a Ballard Mark 902 fuel
cell stack. Ford says the range of the new prototype is between 160-200
miles, with a top speed of 80 miles per hour.
<http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=12235>

SFCC Demonstrates First Scottish FCV.
The Scottish Fuel Cell Consortium (SFCC) exhibited Scotland's first hybrid
fuel cell vehicle (FCV) that utilizes a hydrogen-powered fuel cell stack to
charge a set of batteries that power the vehicle.  The vehicle's hydrogen
fuel was generated using an electrolyser supplied by one of the consortium's
industry partners.  The Energy Section of Scottish Enterprise is providing
funding for the fuel cell vehicle project.  SFCC will soon begin the second
phase of the FCV program, which will focus on the conversion of a
battery-powered passenger bus to a hybrid FCV.  The third phase of the
program will involve preparing the hybrid system for market introduction.  
<http://www.scottishfuelcellconsortium.org.uk> 

Toyota Pushes Up Introduction Date.
Toyota Motor Corp said it will start the leasing of fuel cell hybrid
passenger cars to a limited number of users around the end of 2002, pushing
up its goal by a year.  About 20 FCHV-4 fuel cell hybrid vehicles will be
leased to government bodies, research institutes and energy-related
companies in Japan and the United States. 
<http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content=news&cat=4&id=221191>

NECAR 5 Completes Cross-Country Trip.
DaimlerChrysler's NECAR 5 FCV successfully completed a first ever attempt to
drive a fuel cell vehicle as far as 3,000 miles or more. The car traveled
from San Francisco to Washington, DC, stopping to refuel with methanol about
every 300 miles.
<http://wwwsg.daimlerchrysler.com/SD7DEV/GMS/TEMPLATES/GMS_PRESS_RELEASE/0,2
941,0-272-31886-1-1-text-2-0-Media,00.html>

ARMS to Distribute Avista Fuel Cells.
Avista Labs has reached an agreement with Automated Railroad Maintenance
Systems, Inc. (ARMS) for the marketing and distribution of its "Modular
Cartridge Technology" proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells to the
railroad industry.   Through Transportation Product Sales Company (TPSC),
ARMS will distribute Avista Labs' Independence product line to the railroad
industry for backup and remote power applications later this year.
 <http://www.avistalabs.com>

STATIONARY POWER

Fuel Cell Technologies Sells Two Systems to National Park.
Fuel Cell Technologies (FCT), through Bonneville Power Administration, has
sold two solid oxide fuel cell systems to the U.S. National Park Service for
use at Yosemite National Park in California. The FCT fuel cell systems will
provide electricity, heat, and hot water service to the administration
building within the Park.
<http://www.fct.ca/19_06_02.html>

Marubeni to Deliver Wastewater Treatment DFC.
FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCE) and the Marubeni Corporation announced the
initial siting of a Direct FuelCell® (DFC) power plant for a municipal
wastewater treatment facility in Fukuoka, Japan.  Marubeni, FCE's Asian
distribution partner, will install a 250-kilowatt DFC system at the city's
wastewater treatment plant next year.  The unit will be operated in
co-generation mode, using methane emissions from the processing of municipal
waste to generate electricity.  Additionally, the fuel cell's thermal output
will be used by an anaerobic digester to treat incoming municipal waste.
<http://www.corporate-ir.net/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=FCEL&script=412&layo
ut=-6&item_id=301220>

Mitsubishi Develops Fuel Cell Generator.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has developed a compact fuel cell for
residential applications and expects to start producing samples near the end
of 2002.  The fuel cell has a generation capacity of approximately one
kilowatt and is about 2400 cubic centimeters.  Mitsubishi expects to begin
placing prototype systems in households by 2005.   The prototype fuel cell
is expected to cost between
500,000 (about US$4,000) and 600,000 yen (about US$4,800) per year during
the first few years of availability, the company is aiming to reduce that
cost to between 200,000 (about US$1,600) and 300,000 yen (about US$3,400)
per year by 2010.
<http://www.mhi.co.jp>

H Power Delivers Fuel Cell System to Sweden, Installs Unit at Yellowstone
National Park.
H Power Corporation has delivered a four-kilowatt cogeneration fuel cell
system to Finnish solar company Naps Systems Oy for installation at the
Environmental Information Center in Stockholm, Sweden. H Power said Naps
installed the system with help from its partners Birka Energi and ABB.  H
Power also installed a 4.5-kilowatt cogeneration fuel cell system in
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. The installation was made through Fall
River Rural Electric Cooperative of Ashton, Idaho, a member-owner of Energy
Co-Opportunity, Inc. (ECO), H Power's marketing partner.  The fuel cell
system is fueled by propane, and provides electricity to ticket kiosks and
an office, where it powers lights, communication equipment and computers.
The system's byproduct heat will be used for space heating.
<http://www.hpower.com/cgi-bin/pr.cgi?idPressRelease=70>
<http://www.hpower.com/cgi-bin/pr.cgi?idPressRelease=67>

H Power Signs Study Agreement with Osaka Gas.
H Power Corp. has signed a third joint study agreement with Osaka Gas Co.,
Ltd., a natural gas utility serving more than 6,000,000 customers in the
Kansai area of Japan. The agreement calls for the delivery of eight 500-Watt
proton exchange membrane (PEM) residential cogeneration fuel cell systems
for in-house and field beta testing for the Japanese residential market.  H
Power has completed deliveries of the first generation systems for alpha
testing under a previously announced agreement between H Power, Mitsui &Co.,
Ltd. (H Power's marketing partner in Japan), and Osaka Gas.
<http://www.hpower.com/cgi-bin/pr.cgi?idPressRelease=72>

Shell Aims to Commercialize Fuel Cell by 2010.
The Royal Dutch/Shell Group plans to explore possible large-scale
applications for new large-scale, multi-megawatt solid oxide fuel cells
(SOFCs) powered by natural gas.  The company has reached an agreement with
Aker Kvaerner and Statkraft to launch a project in Norway to develop the new
technology.  The project team will develop a pilot study to explore the
SOFC's technical and commercial basis more closely.  Shell aims to complete
the project by 2010 and expects it to require about $125 million in funding.
< http://www.shell.com/hydrogen>

CEC Certifies Plug Power Fuel Cell System.
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has certified that Plug Power, Inc.'s
five-kilowatt stationary fuel cell system complies with the state's "Rule
21" grid interconnection standard. The fuel cell system is the first to be
certified under the standard, which was developed to streamline distributed
energy generator regulations and processes and to ensure safe connections to
the state's electric grid.
<http://www.plugpower.com/news/NM_Detail2.cfm?ID=2347>

PORTABLE POWER

Medis to Develop FC Battery Charger for Army.
Medis Technologies, Ltd. is working with General Dynamics C4 Systems (GDC4S)
on the development of a highly mobile fuel cell (FC) battery charger system
for the U.S. Army.  Medis received a $75,000 purchase order from GDC4S to
develop an initial prototype of the fuel cell charger.  GDC4S is using
Medis' proprietary direct liquid ethanol fuel cell technology to develop a
system that will enable soldiers in the field to recharge the batteries for
portable electronic Army equipment such as personal digital assistants,
portable computers and certain weapons.
<http://www.medisel.com/press_view.cfm?press_id=103>
 
FUELS/REFORMERS/STORAGE

Chula Vista to Receive Stuart Energy System.
Stuart Energy Systems Corporation will deliver a portable hydrogen fueling
station to the city of Chula Vista, California to provide hydrogen fuel for
the city's fuel cell-powered buses and vehicles.  The CFP-1350 fast-fill
portable hydrogen fueling station integrates hydrogen generation equipment,
storage and dual pressure dispensing and is able to produce more than three
kilograms of hydrogen per hour and fuel up to three buses per day.  The
system is mounted on a single trailer and dispenses fuel at 3,600 pounds per
square inch gauge (psig) or 5,000 psig.

PES Delivers HOGEN System to Birka Energi.
Proton Energy Systems, Inc. (PES) has delivered a HOGEN hydrogen generator
to Birka Energi, a large energy company based in Sweden.  The HOGEN device
will utilize a photovoltaic solar array to generate hydrogen for a fuel cell
system that will provide energy for the Environmental Information Center in
the Hammarby Sjostad area of Stockholm.  
<http://www.protonenergy.com>

New Zealand to Extract Hydrogen from Coal.
The government of New Zealand will invest $6 million New Zealand (about
US$2.9 million) in technology that will extract hydrogen from coal for use
in fuel cells.  Funds will be awarded to CRL Energy, Ltd., the former
research branch of state-controlled coal company Solid Energy, to explore
methods for extracting hydrogen from coal.  CRL researchers hope to create
an experimental version of the technology in the laboratory within three
years and a prototype version in the field in six years.
<http://www.crl.co.nz>

HETI Delivers Hydrogen System for NV Project.
Harvest Energy Technology, Inc. (HETI) has delivered a 100-kilowatt (KW)
hydrogen generating system to Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.  The system
will be featured in a fueling station being built by Air Products in Las
Vegas, NV as part of a Department of Energy (DOE) hydrogen demonstration
program.  The new system uses its proprietary fuel processor to generate
hydrogen from natural gas. The system will be used to fuel vehicles as well
as a 50-kilowatt stationary proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell from
Plug Power, Inc. that will provide on-site power generation.
<http://www.harvest-technology.com/Fuel%20Processing%20News.htm>

FUEL CELL COMPONENTS

Modine to Supply FC Components to Ballard.
Modine Manufacturing Company will supply thermal management components to
Ballard Power Systems, Inc. for use on the fuel cell-powered Ciatro bus
being developed by DaimlerChrysler subsidiary EvoBus GmbH.
<http://www.modine.com/english/index2.php?&expand_index=9&pagecontent=news/d
isplay.php&News_id=75>
      
XYLON to Produce Materials for Fuel Cells.
XYLON Ceramic Materials has received a contract from the New York State
Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to develop low-cost
ceramic materials for use in solid oxide fuel cells.  
<http://www.xylonceramics.com/>

SMP Granted Two NIST ATP Awards for MEAs.
Superior MicroPowders (SMP) has been granted two National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST) Advanced Technology Program (ATP) awards for
the development of high-volume manufacturing of next-generation membrane
electrode assemblies (MEAs) for direct methanol fuel cells DMFCs) and
reformed fuel polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells. Under these
programs, totaling more than $6M, SMP will develop materials and fabrication
technology designed to solve critical MEA manufacturing and cost problems.
<http://www.smp1.com/news/recentnews.asp>

SatCon Delivers PCS to FuelCell Energy.
SatCon Technology Corporation has delivered a StarSine(tm) power
conditioning system (PCS) to FuelCell Energy, Inc. to provide the electrical
balance of plant for FuelCell Energy's Direct FuelCell® megawatt-class fuel
cell system.  The PCS is designed to combine alternative energy generators
with advanced energy storage devices, including advanced batteries and
flywheels, to provide uninterruptible power supply systems.
<http://www.satcon.com/news/pr/061202.html>

REPORTS/MARKET STUDIES

PWC Releases Report on FC Industry in Canada.
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) has released a new report which warns that
Canada could lose its position as a leader in the fuel cell (FC) industry
unless a
strategic partnership between government and industry is implemented.  The
report said although the Canadian government has invested approximately $150
million in the FC industry over the past two decades, the level of support
has not
kept pace with the needs of the industry or the investments being made by
other countries.
<http://www.fuelcellscanada.ca/pwcreport.html>

USFCC Fuel Cell Media Guide. 
The U.S. Fuel Cell Council (USFCC) has published the second edition of its
"Media Guide," a detailed listing of leading fuel cell organizations, which
is now available.  The guide provides more than 100 listings for fuel cell
developers, manufacturers, suppliers, research organizations and government
agencies.  Each listing provides press and general information contacts,
website addresses and a brief description of the company's fuel cell
activities.  The media guide is free to qualified media representatives and
costs $20 for non-media customers.
<http://www.usfcc.com>

MISCELLANEOUS

Altair Completes Series of Tests on SOFCs.
Nanomaterials technology provider Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc. has
completed a series of test demonstrations of its solid oxide fuel cell
(SOFC) technology.  The first series of SOFC tests produced electricity,
while the second series of tests produced both voltage and current,
supplying enough energy to operate an electric motor driving a six-inch
impeller.
<http://www.altairtechnologies.com/>

Apollo Energy Systems Buys Production Plant.
Apollo Energy Systems has purchased an alkaline fuel cell production plant
in Cologne, Germany, from the now defunct company Zetek Power plc.  Apollo
has supply agreements for US$320 million worth of Apollo Power Plants, which
will contain alkaline fuel cells.  Plans are to go into production this
summer with first shipments to customers in the U.S.  and later a plant will
be built in Florida to supply USA customers, with production in Germany
earmarked for European customers.
<http://www.electricauto.com/whatN2.htm>

GVSU to Develop Energy Center in Michigan.
Grand Valley State University (GVSU) has created a formal working group that
will examine plans for a research and development (R&D) center focused on
new energy technologies in Muskegon, Michigan.  The "Energy Center of
Excellence" will include a research institute dedicated to studying
alternative energy sources, a business incubator supporting energy-related
ventures and an education and training center.  The center would be the
first commercial project to integrate fuel cell technology, heat recovery
system, microturbine, photovoltaic and nickel-metal hydride battery storage
system research.

Canadian Government Supports FC Projects.
The federal government of Canada and the provincial government of British
Columbia, through the Western Economic Partnership Agreement (WEPA),
announced plans to invest more than $5 million Canadian (about US$3.3
million) in six fuel cell-related demonstration projects.  The projects will
include a fuel cell-powered truck, a small-scale hydrogen-generating unit, a
multi-fuel warehouse, a hydrogen fueling station and a 1.2-kilowatt standby
fuel cell power system.

MesoSystems Forms MesoFuel.
MesoSystems Technology, Inc. has formed a fuel cell related subsidiary named
MesoFuel, Inc.  Former Sandia National Laboratories microsystems developer
Ned Godshall will serve as the new company's CEO.
<http://www.mesosystems.com/>

REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS

Ohio Biomass Energy Program RFP Includes Fuel Cell Projects
The Ohio Biomass Energy Program has $40,000 in funding available for
bioenergy-related projects, including fuel cells using biofuels as an energy
source. The maximum funding available for a single project is $10,000. The
deadline for proposals is July 26, 2002.
<http://www.puc.state.oh.us/ohioutil/BioMass/RFP_2002_Final.pdf>

Wisconsin Renewable Energy Grant Topics Include Fuel Cell Demonstration 
Wisconsin's Focus on Energy Renewable Energy Program is soliciting
pre-proposals for projects researching and developing renewable energy
systems and services. Proposal topics include a demonstration of a fuel cell
application that utilizes hydrogen derived from a renewable energy source at
a Focus on Energy eligible site in Wisconsin. The project must propose a
means to develop a renewable hydrogen infrastructure beyond the
demonstration project requirements. Funds of $200,000 will be available for
Round One of the competitive grants program. The maximum grant award will be
$50,000. Deadline for pre-proposals is August 1, 2002.
<http://web.weccusa.org/renewables/pdfs/RDPreprosalApp.pdf>

CONFERENCES/CALL FOR PAPERS

Fuel Cell Training Course.
"Fuel Cells: Science, Technology and Business Opportunities" will be held
July 10-12, 2002, at the South Carolina Institute for Energy Studies at
Clemson University, in Clemson, South Carolina.  For more information,
please call 1-864-656-2267.     

Advanced Power Technology Forum.
The Advanced Power Technology Forum will be August 5-6, 2002, at the Grand
Traverse Resort & Spa in Traverse City, Michigan.  For information, go to
<http://www.mbs2002.org>.

World Fuels Asia 2002.
World Fuels Asia 2002, "Refining and Automotive Technology - Responding to
Environmental, Energy and Economic Policy Changes" will be August 25-27,
2002, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore.  For conference details, go to
<http://www.cvent.com>.



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