Fuel Cells 2000's Fuel Cell Technology Update - March 2003

Fuel Cells 2000's Fuel Cell Technology Update - March 2003

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LEGISLATION

U.S. Legislators Propose H2GROW Act.
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and U.S. Representative Christopher Cox (R-CA)
have introduced a bipartisan bill called the H2GROW Act - Hydrogen
Transportation Wins Over Growing Reliance on Oil. The bill includes tax
credits: for the purchase of fuel cell vehicles; for hydrogen fuel; and for
building a hydrogen-fueling infrastructure. The goal of the H2GROW Act is to
reduce reliance on 30 million barrels of foreign oil a year. The bill also
mandates that hydrogen-powered vehicles must comprise a minimum percentage
of federal fleets, from five percent for fleets of 100 vehicles or more in
2006 to 50 percent for fleets of 50 vehicles or more in 2012.
<http://wyden.senate.gov/media/2002/2003211557.html>

TRANSPORTATION APPLICATIONS

Nissan and UTC Sign Development Agreement.
Nissan Motor Co. and UTC Fuel Cells (UTCFC) announced the signing of an
agreement to jointly develop proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell
technology.  Under terms of the agreement, Nissan will obtain rights to
UTCFC's technology, and the two companies will continue to jointly develop
this technology for automotive applications.  UTCFC will also have rights to
any intellectual property jointly developed by the two companies for use in
non-automotive applications, including commercial stationary power plants. 
<http://www.utcfuelcells.com/news/archive/020503.shtml>

Astris, CareAction Form Astris Transportation Systems.
Astris Energi, Inc. and Montreal-based CareAction, Inc. have joined and
formed a new company named Astris Transportation Systems, Inc. (ATSI).
Their first project will be to adapt the Astris E7-MC250 fuel cell generator
to power the Zenn electric vehicle designed for use by the disabled and
seniors, as well as the general public. The Zenn is a product of Feel Good
Cars Inc., an affiliate of CareAction.  The first fuel cell-powered Zenn
will be rolled out before the end of this year, followed by volume
production of fuel cell power units for both stationary and mobile
applications, including use in golf cars, neighborhood electric vehicles and
other people and material movers.
<http://www.astrisfuelcell.com/news/index.html>

EPA Issues First Certification of a Fuel Cell Vehicle. 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued the first certification
for fuel economy and emissions of a hydrogen fuel cell zero-emission vehicle
to the 2003 Honda FCX. EPA's Ann Arbor (Michigan) laboratory is the first
federal facility capable of testing and certifying a fuel cell vehicle for
emissions and fuel economy.
<http://www.epa.gov/newsroom/headline_021103.htm>

GM Increases HydroGen3 FCV Range.
General Motors has increased the range of its HydroGen3 compressed hydrogen
fuel cell vehicles by 80 percent with a successful test of a 10,000-psi (700
bar) hydrogen storage system. The HydroGen3 Zafira minivan has a range of
170 miles, up from 95 miles achieved in Summer 2002.
<http://media.gm.com/news/releases/030210_hydrogen.html>

STATIONARY POWER

Plug Power and LIPA Install Fuel Cell at McDonald's, LIPA to Purchase 45
More.
Plug Power and the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) have installed a fuel
cell to partially power a Long Island, New York McDonalds.   The McDonald's
fuel cell was installed by LIPA as part of its alternative energy
technologies research and development program, which is part of its Clean
Energy Initiative (CEI).  LIPA will purchase an additional 45 GenSys(tm)5CS
fuel cell systems for installation across Long Island this year.
Twenty-five will be installed at LIPA's West Babylon Fuel Cell Demonstration
Site, which currently contains fuel cell systems feeding directly into the
Long Island electrical grid. The remaining 20 systems will generate on-site
heat and power for single or multi-family residential sites.
<http://www.plugpower.com/news/press.cfm>

Michelin Plant Operating FuelCell Energy and MTU Fuel Cell.
FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCE) announced that a Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power
plant built by its partner in Europe, MTU CFC Solutions Gmbh, a company of
DaimlerChrysler AG, has begun operating at a Michelin tire plant in
Karlsruhe, Germany. The power plant will supply both electricity and process
steam for tire vulcanization for the facility. The fuel cells in the power
plant were manufactured by FCE and shipped to MTU for incorporation into
their power plant known as the Hot Module.
<http://www.fce.com/#>

FCT Receives Purchase Contracts for SOFC Units.
Fuel Cell Technologies (FCT) announced that the U.S. Department of Energy's
National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) and the Electric Power Research
Institute (EPRI) have placed orders to purchase the company's SOFC units.
NETL will purchase one 5kW unit for testing at a facility in Morgantown, WV,
after which the system will be   delivered to the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) for installation at an abandoned hardrock mine in Montana to
provide electricity for operating instrumentation and communications
equipment.  FCT will also deliver a five-kW SOFC unit to EPRI later this
year for performance testing in collaboration with FCT and NETL.   FCT also
signed a contract with the Gas Technology Institute to "deliver, install and
commission a 5kW SOFC unit at the Memphis Botanical Garden in Memphis,
Tennessee.
<http://www.fct.ca/29_01_03.html>

CA Certifies FCE DFC for Grid Connection.
FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCE) has received notice from the California Energy
Commission (CEC) that its DFC300A Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plant has
been certified for grid interconnection under California's "Rule 21"
standard. According to FCE, the standard is a collaborative effort of CEC
and California's three largest investor-owned utilities that specifies
interconnection, operating and metering requirements for distributed
electric power generators such as fuel cells.

Caterpillar and FCE Expected to Win Ohio Contract.
Caterpillar Inc. and FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCE) are expected to win a
contract to install one of the nation's first advanced utility-scale fuel
cell power plants designed to feed power from a substation into a local
electric distribution system. The innovative project award is the first by
the state of Ohio, which is investing more than $100 million in a three-year
initiative to expand fuel cell research and development, including increased
fuel cell generating capacity.
<http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030227/cgth054_1.html>

Nippon Oil to Test Residential Fuel Cell System.
Nippon Oil began testing fuel cells for residential use in a model house in
Yokohama's Nishi Ward. The Tokyo-based oil company also plans to begin
testing fuel cells in the official residence of Yokohama Mayor Hiroshi
Nakada. The experiment, which uses propane as fuel, will last for about a
year. Nippon Oil plans to begin sales of the system in 2005, at a cost of
about 500,000 yen (approx. US$4,254).
<http://www.japantoday.com/e?content=news&cat=4&id=248316>

PORTABLE/BACKUP POWER

Axane Fuel Cell Used in North Pole Experiment.
Air Liquide subsidiary Axane's 300-watt Polar Pac proton exchange membrane
(PEM) fuel cell operated for more than 500 hours during a three-month
experiment near the North Pole.  The Polar Pac fuel cell was used by French
explorer Jean-Louis Etienne to power communication, lighting and computer
equipment. 

Toshiba International and Plug Power Enter Marketing Agreement.
Toshiba International Corporation (TIC) and Plug Power Inc. have entered
into a joint marketing agreement to explore the application of fuel cells
for industrial premium power markets.  The agreement will define a product
that combines Plug Power's proprietary fuel cell technology with TIC's
uninterruptible power systems. The companies expect the joint marketing
agreement to lead to subsequent product development and commercialization
agreements.
<http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/030219/nyw037_1.html>

Ballard to Purchase Fuel Cell Generator Assets from Coleman Powermate.
Ballard Power Systems has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding whereby
it will purchase Coleman Powermate's AirGen(tm) fuel cell generator assets,
acquiring all related inventory, tools and molds, software and intellectual
property, including the AirGen(tm) brand, and will develop its own sales
marketing and distribution strategy for the fuel cell generator.
<http://www.ballard.com/pdfs/4%20Coleman_F.PDF>

FUELS/REFORMERS/STORAGE

Stuart Unveils Intelligent Hydrogen Energy Station.
Stuart Energy unveiled and demonstrated the world's first intelligent
electrolytic Hydrogen Energy Station (HES) at its headquarters in
Mississauga, Ontario yesterday. Attending the event were industry and
government officials, executives from major Stuart Energy's Asian joint
venture partner Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings as well as project
partners Ford Motor Company and representatives of Ballard Power Systems.
<http://www.stuartenergy.com/news/press_releases/press_feb18.html>

SAWC Develops Hydrogen Fuel Transport Truck.
Sumisho Air Water Company (SAWC) has developed Japan's first truck capable
of transporting hydrogen fuel for fuel cell-powered vehicles.  The truck,
which is expected to retail for between 50 and 60 million yen (between
$415,000 and $498,000), will be purchased by Toyota Motor Corporation.  This
Mobile Hydrogen Station will be driven
directly to fuel cell vehicles to provide fuel.

PES Supplies HOGEN 380 for Fuel Cell Bus Project.
Proton Energy Systems, Inc. (PES) has supplied one of its HOGEN 380 hydrogen
generators for use in a new hydrogen and renewable energy project in Barth,
Germany. The system, which was delivered late last year, was commissioned
and successfully passed acceptance-testing earlier this month.  The HOGEN
380 hydrogen generator will be used to compress and store hydrogen at
high-pressure to provide fuel for a fuel cell-powered bus. The oxygen
byproduct from the unit will be used to increase Barth's wastewater
treatment capacity by adding oxygen to its biological wastewater treatment
system. The Barth environmental site will also incorporate solar panels for
zero emission electricity generation. 
<http://www.protonenergy.com>

Dynetek to Deliver Storage Systems to MAN, John Deere.
Dynetek Industries, Inc.'s wholly owned European subsidiary Dynetek Europe
GmbH will deliver two 5,000-pounds per square inch (psi), or 350-bar,
hydrogen storage systems to Germany's MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG later this year
for use in two fuel cell powered buses that will operate at the Munich
Airport.  Back in North America, Dynetek has been selected by Deere &
Company (John Deere) to supply its 5000psi (350bar) hydrogen storage system
as part of a technology demonstrator fuel cell-powered commercial work
vehicle. The demonstrator will be a modified John Deere Pro-Gator(tm)
utility vehicle.
<http://micro.newswire.ca/releases/February2003/20/c2364.html/47875-0>
<http://micro.newswire.ca/releases/February2003/06/c7454.html/47875-0>

EU to Fund Hydrogen Fuel Pumps.
The European Commission is funding a three-year initiative to develop the
technology to deliver hydrogen fuel pumps to petrol stations by connecting
them to a country's existing natural gas supply.
<http://dbs.cordis.lu/cgi-bin/srchidadb?CALLER=NHP_EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&SESSION=
&RCN=EN_RCN_ID:19723>

QuestAir Wins Research and Development Award.
QuestAir Technologies Inc. has been awarded the 2002 Energy Research and
Development Award by the Canadian Institute of Energy (British Columbia.).
The Energy Research and Development Award recognizes the efforts of
B.C.-based firms that are conducting leading-edge research into energy
technology. The evaluative criteria considered in this award include the
degree of innovation, commercial market potential, environmental benefits,
as well as the indirect benefits (such as productivity increases and product
quality improvements) resulting from the research.
<http://biz.yahoo.com/cnw/030227/questair_energy_award_1.html>

FUEL CELL COMPONENTS

SatCon Receives Order for Power Conditioning Systems.
SatCon Technology Corporation has received a $1.2 million purchase order for
three megawatts of power conditioning systems for fuel cell power
generation. The UL 1741 compliant three phase multi-mode inverters will
provide power conversion and conditioning and the electrical balance of
plant for a fuel cell power generation system. The units are to be delivered
in 2003.
<http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/030220/202049_1.html>

NETL Generates Hydrogen from Water Without Electrolysis.
Researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) have
patented a new method of generating hydrogen from water, without using
electrolysis. The method involves "catalytic decomposition of water" using
mixed proton-electron conducting membranes.
<http://www.netl.doe.gov/newsroom/briefs/rb-0012.html>

AMI Launches Third Generation Test Suite Software.
Advanced Measurements (AMI) has launched its third generation Fuel Cell Test
Suite software.  Possible testing options are reduction tests, power curve
tests, fuel utilizations tests, load profiling tests and impedance
spectroscopy tests. 
<http://www.advmeas.com/>

REPORTS/MARKET STUDIES

Fuel Cells 2000 and Fuel Cell Today Release Hydrogen Fueling Station
Information.  
Fuel Cells 2000 and Fuel Cell Today have released a comprehensive guide and
information package on hydrogen fueling stations.  Both free, Fuel Cells
2000's worldwide hydrogen fueling station reference chart is available at:
<http://www.fuelcells.org/charts.htm>, and Fuel Cell Today's worldwide
hydrogen fueling station report is available at:
<http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/surveys>.

DOC Office of Technology Policy Publishes Fuel Cell Vehicle Report. 
The U.S. Department of Commerce Technology Administration's Office of
Technology Policy recently published "Fuel Cell Vehicles: Race to a New
Automotive Future," which features market projections, technology barriers,
and detailed summaries of foreign investments in fuel cell vehicle research
and development programs.
<http://www.ta.doc.gov/reports/TechPolicy/CD117a-030129.pdf>

DTI Report Examines Role of U.K. in Fuel Cell Market.
The United Kingdom (U.K.) Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Carbon
Trust have released a new report, which found that the country's fuel cell
technology industry could become a significant player in the world market,
given the right investment.  The report, authored by E4Tech, urges the U.K.
government to establish an industry forum that will develop a vision for
fuel cells in the U.K. and act as a central liaison point for producers,
government and academia.
<http://www.carbontrust.co.uk>

BCC Hydrogen Report.
Hydrogen as a Chemical Constituent and as an Energy Source, a recently
updated report from Business Communications Company, Inc. claims the total
U.S. hydrogen demand will increase by a factor of 1.32, from 10,963 billion
cubic feet in 2002 to 14,454 billion cubic feet in 2007. This increase will
be equivalent to an average annual growth rate (AAGR) of 5.7%.   By 2007,
BCC estimates that more than 1,000,000 vehicles fueled by hydrogen will be
operating throughout the United States. This will increase the market value
of hydrogen for renewable energy production.
www.bccresearch.com <http://www.bccresearch.com>

REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS

CaFCP Seeks Fleet Vehicle Demonstration Interest.
The California Fuel Cell Partnership has started a new website-based
questionnaire to gather information from those interested in helping to test
and operate fuel cell electric vehicles and related infrastructure in
real-world conditions.
<http://www.cafcp.org/releases/2003_2-03_2003_fleets.html>

NYSERDA Funding Available for DG/CHP Projects.
$10 million in funding is available from the New York State Energy Research
and Development Authority (NYSERDA) for distributed generation (DG) and
combined heat and power (CHP) projects, including fuel cell feasibility
studies, technology transfer studies, and demonstration projects.  Proposals
are due by April 16, 2003.
<http://www.nyserda.org/750pon.html>

Climate Change Fuel Cell Buy-down Program.
The Department of Defense, through the Department of Energy's National
Energy Technology Laboratory, has issued its 2003 Climate Change Fuel Cell
Buy-Down Solicitation, to provide grants of up to $1,000/kW for the purchase
& installation of fuel cell power plants with a combined capacity rated
between 3 and 3,000 kW. $2.8 million is available under this solicitation.
It is anticipated that there will be between 10 and 14 awards resulting from
the solicitation. Applications are due on June 1, 2003.
<http://www.eps.gov/spg/DOE/PAM/HQ/DE-PS26-03NT41463/listing.html>

MISCELLANEOUS

DOE EERE Web Site Renamed, Moved.
The web site for DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
(EERE), formerly known as EREN, has moved to a new address. The site's new
address places greater emphasis on the reorganized office's 11 technology
programs - including the Hydrogen, Fuel Cell and Infrastructure Technologies
Program - and reflects DOE's move from doe.gov to energy.gov. The new EERE
web site is <http://www.eere.energy.gov/>.

CONFERENCES

Fuel Cell Investment Summit.
The Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, the U.S. Fuel Cell Council and Fuel Cells
2000 present the first annual Fuel Cell Investment Summit.  This conference
will be held on March 17-18, 2003, at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville,
Connecticut.  For registration information, please visit
<http://www.fuelcellis.com>.

Pennsylvania Fuel Cell Workshop. 
"The Path to a Fuel Cell Economy in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic
Region" will be held on March 18, 2003, at the Sheraton Rittenhouse Square
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  For more information, please go to
<http://www.cleanair.org/fuelcell>.

Aspen Clean Energy Roundtable.
Montreux Energy's 10th annual Aspen Clean Energy Roundtable will be held
March 26-28, 2003, at the Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado.  For registration
information, please visit <http://www.montreuxenergy.com/aspen.htm>.

Excellence in Fuel Cells Summit.
The "Excellence in Fuel Cells" Conference and Workshop will be April 9-11,
2003, at the Hannover Fair, Germany.  For details, go to
<http://www.eyeforfuelcells.com/events/hannover2003/>.

Small Fuel Cells 2003.
The 5th Annual Small Fuel Cells conference  - Small Fuel Cells for Portable
Power Applications will be May 7 - 9, 2003, at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans
in New Orleans, Louisiana.  For conference details, go to
<http://www.knowledgepress.com/events/10301507.htm>.

Industrial Short Course.
"An Introduction to the Science and Engineering of Fuel Cells and Fuel
Processors" will be May 7-9, 2003, at the University of Michigan in Ann
Arbor, Michigan.  For details, go to
<http://www.engin.umich.edu/dept/cheme/fuelcellcrse/index.html>.

Fuel Cell Fundamentals.
The Fuel Cell Fundamentals Short Course will be May 8-9, 2003, at the WPI
Worcester Campus in Worcester, Massachusetts. For course information, go to
<http://www.ce.wpi.edu/FC/>.

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells 2003.
Join over 700 delegates to discuss the latest developments in hydrogen, fuel
cell research and product developments in Vancouver, British Columbia,
Canada on June 8-11, 2003.  Also available will be an exciting array of
industrial and product demonstrations.  For more information, please visit
<http://www.hydrogenfuelcells2003.com>.

Grove Fuel Cell Symposium VIII. 
Join international delegates to discuss developments in fuel cell technology
and commercialization at the Eighth Grove Fuel Cell Symposium, in London,
England on September 24-26, 2003. New for 2003 is a large exhibition area
featuring over 100 exhibitors, vendor presentations and live demonstrations.
Find out more at <http://www.grovefuelcell.com> or contact
<mailto:[email protected]>. 

EPRI DR Conference.
EPRI's Eighth Annual DR Conference will be October 15-17, 2003, at the
Intercontinental New Orleans in New Orleans, Louisiana.
<http://www.epri.com>

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