The Cooperation Will Target Opportunities in Europe for Ultra-Clean Baseload Power From Stationary Fuel Cell Power Plants Using Clean Natural Gas and Renewable Biogas

DANBURY, Conn.– FuelCell Energy, Inc. FCEL, a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean, efficient and reliable fuel cell power plants, today announced a memorandum of understanding to form a German-based joint venture with Fraunhofer IKTS (Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems) to develop the market in Europe for Direct FuelCell(R) (DFC(R)) stationary power plants. Additionally, Fraunhofer IKTS will contribute certain assets and their expertise in fuel cells and materials science to the joint venture.

“Germany needs clean baseload distributed power generation and FuelCell Energy has market leading solutions so it is a very good fit for Fraunhofer to work with FuelCell Energy,” said Prof. Dr. Alexander Michaelis, director, Fraunhofer IKTS. “The Fraunhofer IKTS team looks forward to applying our materials science and fuel cell expertise to help develop a broader range of applications and markets for FuelCell Energy products and technology.”

The joint venture will target the European market for baseload distributed generation from a location in Germany to address the trend towards clean and renewable decentralized power generation. The attributes of stationary fuel cell power plants can help European countries diversify their power generation portfolio and reach sustainability goals as they provide continuous ultra-clean power in a highly efficient process at the point of use. The power generation portfolio of many European countries includes intermittent renewable power generation. Continuous baseload power from stationary fuel cell plants will help balance this intermittency.

“Fraunhofer IKTS brings world-renowned applied research expertise and a vast network of relationships that will help to develop and grow a stationary fuel cell market in Germany, which will then provide a platform for expansion throughout Europe,” said Chip Bottone, President and Chief Executive Officer for FuelCell Energy, Inc. “We expect that the combination of complementary knowledge and skill sets of fuel cell technology between our respective organizations is going to be very powerful for further enhancing the performance of Direct FuelCell power plants.”

“Strong partners like German-based Fraunhofer IKTS and our recent partnership announcement with Spanish-based Abengoa are helping us execute our European strategy to penetrate and rapidly grow stationary fuel cell installations in Europe,” continued Mr. Bottone. “We have an active pipeline of approximately 45 megawatts in Europe developed in just the past year with limited local presence to date, illustrating the strong market potential.”

FuelCell Energy will lead market development and servicing efforts for Direct FuelCell power plants as well as support for existing carbonate fuel cell power plants already operating in Europe. Fraunhofer IKTS will contribute research & development resources for enhancing DFC technology and use local knowledge and relationships to assist in market development. FuelCell Energy has established a legal entity in Germany for the joint venture and will retain majority ownership.

There are a number of existing incentives in Europe for stationary fuel cell power plants operating on either clean natural gas or renewable biogas. In Germany for example, a feed-in tariff is promoting adoption of combined heat and power (CHP) power generation as the German government is targeting 25 percent of electricity generation to include CHP by 2020, up from the current level of 15 percent. Additional incentives are available that are specific to fuel cell power generation.

DFC power plants generate electricity and usable high quality heat with an electrochemical reaction that emits virtually no pollutants. Avoiding the emission of NOx, SOx and particulate matter supports clean air regulations and benefits public health. The high efficiency of the fuel cell power generation process reduces fuel costs and carbon emissions, and producing both electricity and heat from the same unit of fuel drives economics while simultaneously promoting sustainability. Fuel cells can achieve up to 90 percent efficiency when configured to use the high quality heat generated by the power plant in a combined heat & power (CHP) mode.

Ultra-clean, efficient and reliable DFC plants can help solve the power generation challenges facing European countries. For example, Germany is targeting a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions, doubling power generation from renewable sources to 35 percent, and aiming to eliminate nuclear power generation by 2022, which accounts for approximately one quarter of existing power generation. DFC power plants are fuel flexible, capable of operating on clean natural gas or renewable biogas. Germany, for example, has an extensive natural gas distribution network, supporting on-site power markets as well as utility grid support.

Founded in 1949, Fraunhofer is Europe’s largest application-oriented research organization with an annual research budget of EURO1.8 billion (approximately $2.3 billion) and more than 18,000 staff, primarily scientists and engineers. Fraunhofer has research centers and representative offices in Europe, USA, Asia and the Middle East, and more than 80 research units, including 60 Fraunhofer Institutes, at different locations in Germany. The Fraunhofer IKTS with its staff of 400 highly educated engineers, scientists and technicians is a world leading institute in the field of advanced ceramics for high tech applications. The primary markets for IKTS include energy and environmental technology with a focus on fuel cell development and commercialization.

Website: www.ikts.fraunhofer.de/en

About FuelCell Energy

Direct FuelCell(R) power plants are generating ultra-clean, efficient and reliable power at more than 50 locations worldwide. With over 180 megawatts of power generation capacity installed or in backlog, FuelCell Energy is a global leader in providing ultra-clean baseload distributed generation to utilities, industrial operations, universities, municipal water treatment facilities, government installations and other customers around the world. The Company’s power plants have generated more than one billion kilowatt hours of ultra-clean power using a variety of fuels including renewable biogas from wastewater treatment and food processing, as well as clean natural gas. For more information, please visit our website at www.fuelcellenergy.com

Clean power to be generated using by-product hydrogen

VANCOUVER– Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD) (NASDAQ: BLDP) has announced that fuel cell systems manufactured by Dantherm Power, its backup power company, are being deployed in the Idea Cellular wireless telecommunications network in India. Commissioning of thirty (30) 2-kilowatt DBX2000 systems, the sale of which was announced in a Ballard press release on November 1, 2011, will be completed in March.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued a directive in January, 2012 requiring 50% of all rural telecom base station towers and 33% of all urban towers in the country to be powered by hybrid solutions within 5-years. Hybrid solutions involve a combination of renewable energy sources, such as hydrogen fuel cells, and grid electricity.

Anil Tandon, Chief Technology Officer at Idea Cellular said, “We intend to move quickly in complying with TRAI’s directive. Fuel cell-based power is a focus for us because of its reliability, efficiency, green attributes and our commitment to environmentally friendly technologies. We have completed our evaluation of alternative solutions and are happy to work with Dantherm Power’s product.”

Idea Cellular is part of the $35 billion multinational Aditya Birla Group and is India’s third-largest mobile services operator. The Company has more than 100 million subscribers generating in excess of one-billion minutes of communications traffic each day across its network of 70,000 cell sites.

Fuel cell systems will be deployed at cell tower locations in close proximity to an Aditya Birla Group chemical plant in the region of Nadga, Madhya Pradesh. During the production of caustic soda at the plant, hydrogen is also produced as a by-product. This hydrogen, and hydrogen produced at other Aditya Birla Group chemical plants in India, has traditionally been used in boilers or has been sold to third party vendors. However, Dantherm Power’s DBX2000 systems – which are powered by Ballard fuel cell stacks – will use this hydrogen as fuel. This will displace diesel generators that are currently required to operate on a near-daily basis, due to frequent grid power outages.

John Sheridan, Ballard President and CEO said, “There is a tremendous opportunity for clean energy solutions in the fast-growing India market. This initial deployment with Idea Cellular is an exciting step in validating the financial and environmental benefits of our fuel cell products to Idea Cellular and to prospects in India.”

Dantherm Power and Delta Power Solutions (India) [Delta] operate jointly under a 2011 collaboration agreement. Delta will integrate and install Dantherm Power’s DBX2000 systems into a hybrid power solution at Idea Cellular sites and will then provide operational support for these systems under a 10-year service agreement with Idea Cellular.

About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD) (NASDAQ: BLDP) provides clean energy fuel cell products enabling optimized power systems for a range of applications. Products are based on proprietary esencia™ technology, ensuring incomparable performance, durability and versatility. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.

UK fuel cell technology could be under your car bonnet by 2017

Carbon Trust has given a £1m boost to four UK fuel cell pioneers.  Their cutting-edge technology could be used under the bonnet of mass-produced hydrogen-powered cars as early as 2017.  Major manufacturers have already built hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars, but the real challenge is to bring down the costs and, in the global race to do this, UK technologies are now in pole position. Having identified an opportunity to combine innovative technology from Runcorn-based ACAL Energy and Sheffield-based ITM Power, the Carbon Trust is providing £500k of funding to the companies to develop a new hybrid high-power, low-cost fuel cell design. Carbon Trust is also backing a project based at Imperial College London (Imperial) and University College London (UCL) with £500k to develop a fuel cell that could offer significant cost savings by using existing high-volume manufacturing techniques employed in the production of printed circuit boards. The funding comes from the Carbon Trust’s Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge (PFCC) which was launched in 2009 to support the Department for Energy and Climate Change’s objectives to develop lower cost fuel cells and coincides with the recent launch of the Government’s UKH2Mobility project to ensure the UK is well positioned for the commercial roll-out of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Dr Ben Graziano, Technology Commercialisation Manager at the Carbon Trust, said: “The UK’s home-grown automotive industry hasn’t been the runaway success story many would have hoped for, but British technology is in pole position to be under the bonnet of a next generation of mass-produced hydrogen-powered cars.  After a lot of hype, fuel cell technology is now a great growth opportunity for the UK.  The funding that we have received from the Department for Energy and Climate Change has enabled us to support the development of some truly world-class British technologies that could slash the costs of fuel cells and transform how we all get about; by 2017 British fuel cell technologies could be powering your car.” Simon Bourne, CTO, ITM Power Plc, said: “The PFCC has afforded ITM the opportunity to build on its ground breaking laboratory results via a structured programme to de-risk its membrane technology. With the high level introductions the Carbon Trust has made with commercial end users and the continued success of subsequent material evaluation studies, ITM is in a very strong position to exploit this exciting new fuel cell technology.” Amanda Lyne, VP of Strategic Business Development and Marketing, ACAL Energy Ltd said: “It is excellent news that automotive OEMs are committed to the launch of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles in 2015 timescales, and that the UK will be among the early adopters. However it is clear that continuous efforts to reduce cost will be necessary to ensure that H2FC vehicles are affordable for mass markets. This funding from the Carbon Trust PFCC is perfectly targeted to ensure that British innovation can be at the forefront of the process to get the economics of the technology right.” Carbon Trust’s Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge aims to speed the UK towards world-beating fuel cell solutions that can grab a significant share of a market that the Carbon Trust has estimated to be worth $26bn in 2020.  About the projects: ACAL Energy/ITM Power Carbon Trust, which has already supported ACAL Energy and ITM Power in de-risking their unique technologies, saw an opportunity to combine these innovations to demonstrate a fuel cell that could be far cheaper to manufacture, more efficient, produce the required power and be compact enough to fit under the bonnet of tomorrow’s cars.  ACAL Energy brings a revolutionary new design of fuel cell inspired by the human lung and bloodstream that is highly durable, virtually platinum-free and also significantly cheaper to produce.  ITM Power brings a unique membrane technology (which has been evaluated by several global companies), proven to produce world-beating power density (widely recognised as the single most important factor in reducing fuel cell costs), which could be in fuel cell cars by as early as 2017. ITM’s current order book for delivery in the current financial year is £0.5m.  The company has recruited seven staff in the last 12 months and is currently seeking to recruit ten more.  ACAL Energy has raised £6.1m of investment since March 2010 and its staff is set to increase from 25 at that time to 35 by April 2012. Imperial/UCL The Imperial and UCL project is developing a fuel cell stack that could offer significant cost savings by using existing high-volume manufacturing techniques employed in the production of printed circuit boards.  By simplifying the design and manufacture, this could reduce the costs of a fuel cell stack by more than 20%. Imperial Innovations and UCL Business are collaborating with the project to assist commercialisation of the technology. About the Carbon Trust The Carbon Trust is a not-for-profit company with the mission to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy, providing specialist support to business and the public sector to help cut carbon emissions, save energy and commercialise low carbon technologies.  By stimulating low carbon action we contribute to key UK goals of lower carbon emissions, the development of low carbon businesses, increased energy security and associated jobs. We help to cut carbon emissions now by • Providing specialist advice and finance to help organisations cut carbon • Setting standards for carbon reduction We reduce potential future carbon emissions by • Opening markets for low carbon technologies • Leading industry collaborations to commercialise technologies • Investing in early stage low carbon companies About UCL (University College London) Described by The Sunday Times as ‘an intellectual powerhouse with a world-class reputation’, UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top three multifaculty universities in the UK and features in the top universities worldwide. Founded in 1826, UCL is a multidisciplinary university with an international reputation for the quality of its research and teaching across the academic spectrum, with subjects spanning the sciences, arts, social sciences and biomedicine. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) UCL was rated the best research university in London, and third in the UK overall, for the number of its submissions which were considered of world-leading  quality. The RAE confirmed UCL’s multidisciplinary research strength with outstanding results achieved across the subjects, ranging from Biomedicine, Science and Engineering, and the Built Environment to Laws, Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities. UCL is a founding partner of the largest European Centre for Medical Research and Innovation, The Francis Crick Institute, due to open in 2015. UCL is among the world’s top universities, as reflected by performance in a range of international rankings and tables.  Its annual income is over £700 million. www.ucl.ac.uk

Carbon Trust has given a £1m boost to four UK fuel cell pioneers.  Their cutting-edge technology could be used under the bonnet of mass-produced hydrogen-powered cars as early as 2017.  Major manufacturers have already built hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars, but the real challenge is to bring down the costs and, in the global race to do this, UK technologies are now in pole position.

Having identified an opportunity to combine innovative technology from Runcorn-based ACAL Energy and Sheffield-based ITM Power, the Carbon Trust is providing £500k of funding to the companies to develop a new hybrid high-power, low-cost fuel cell design.

Carbon Trust is also backing a project based at Imperial College London (Imperial) and University College London (UCL) with £500k to develop a fuel cell that could offer significant cost savings by using existing high-volume manufacturing techniques employed in the production of printed circuit boards.

The funding comes from the Carbon Trust’s Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge (PFCC) which was launched in 2009 to support the Department for Energy and Climate Change’s objectives to develop lower cost fuel cells and coincides with the recent launch of the Government’s UKH2Mobility project to ensure the UK is well positioned for the commercial roll-out of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

Dr Ben Graziano, Technology Commercialisation Manager at the Carbon Trust, said:

“The UK’s home-grown automotive industry hasn’t been the runaway success story many would have hoped for, but British technology is in pole position to be under the bonnet of a next generation of mass-produced hydrogen-powered cars.  After a lot of hype, fuel cell technology is now a great growth opportunity for the UK.  The funding that we have received from the Department for Energy and Climate Change has enabled us to support the development of some truly world-class British technologies that could slash the costs of fuel cells and transform how we all get about; by 2017 British fuel cell technologies could be powering your car.”

Simon Bourne, CTO, ITM Power Plc, said:

“The PFCC has afforded ITM the opportunity to build on its ground breaking laboratory results via a structured programme to de-risk its membrane technology. With the high level introductions the Carbon Trust has made with commercial end users and the continued success of subsequent material evaluation studies, ITM is in a very strong position to exploit this exciting new fuel cell technology.”

Amanda Lyne, VP of Strategic Business Development and Marketing, ACAL Energy Ltd said:

“It is excellent news that automotive OEMs are committed to the launch of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles in 2015 timescales, and that the UK will be among the early adopters. However it is clear that continuous efforts to reduce cost will be necessary to ensure that H2FC vehicles are affordable for mass markets. This funding from the Carbon Trust PFCC is perfectly targeted to ensure that British innovation can be at the forefront of the process to get the economics of the technology right.”

Carbon Trust’s Polymer Fuel Cells Challenge aims to speed the UK towards world-beating fuel cell solutions that can grab a significant share of a market that the Carbon Trust has estimated to be worth $26bn in 2020.  About the projects:

ACAL Energy/ITM Power

Carbon Trust, which has already supported ACAL Energy and ITM Power in de-risking their unique technologies, saw an opportunity to combine these innovations to demonstrate a fuel cell that could be far cheaper to manufacture, more efficient, produce the required power and be compact enough to fit under the bonnet of tomorrow’s cars.  ACAL Energy brings a revolutionary new design of fuel cell inspired by the human lung and bloodstream that is highly durable, virtually platinum-free and also significantly cheaper to produce.  ITM Power brings a unique membrane technology (which has been evaluated by several global companies), proven to produce world-beating power density (widely recognised as the single most important factor in reducing fuel cell costs), which could be in fuel cell cars by as early as 2017.

ITM’s current order book for delivery in the current financial year is £0.5m.  The company has recruited seven staff in the last 12 months and is currently seeking to recruit ten more.  ACAL Energy has raised £6.1m of investment since March 2010 and its staff is set to increase from 25 at that time to 35 by April 2012.

Imperial/UCL

The Imperial and UCL project is developing a fuel cell stack that could offer significant cost savings by using existing high-volume manufacturing techniques employed in the production of printed circuit boards.  By simplifying the design and manufacture, this could reduce the costs of a fuel cell stack by more than 20%. Imperial Innovations and UCL Business are collaborating with the project to assist commercialisation of the technology.

About the Carbon Trust

The Carbon Trust is a not-for-profit company with the mission to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy, providing specialist support to business and the public sector to help cut carbon emissions, save energy and commercialise low carbon technologies.  By stimulating low carbon action we contribute to key UK goals of lower carbon emissions, the development of low carbon businesses, increased energy security and associated jobs.

We help to cut carbon emissions now by
• Providing specialist advice and finance to help organisations cut carbon
• Setting standards for carbon reduction

We reduce potential future carbon emissions by
• Opening markets for low carbon technologies
• Leading industry collaborations to commercialise technologies
• Investing in early stage low carbon companies

About UCL (University College London)

Described by The Sunday Times as ‘an intellectual powerhouse with a world-class reputation’, UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top three multifaculty universities in the UK and features in the top universities worldwide.

Founded in 1826, UCL is a multidisciplinary university with an international reputation for the quality of its research and teaching across the academic spectrum, with subjects spanning the sciences, arts, social sciences and biomedicine. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) UCL was rated the best research university in London, and third in the UK overall, for the number of its submissions which were considered of world-leading  quality. The RAE confirmed UCL’s multidisciplinary research strength with outstanding results achieved across the subjects, ranging from Biomedicine, Science and Engineering, and the Built Environment to Laws, Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities.

UCL is a founding partner of the largest European Centre for Medical Research and Innovation, The Francis Crick Institute, due to open in 2015. UCL is among the world’s top universities, as reflected by performance in a range of international rankings and tables.  Its annual income is over £700 million. www.ucl.ac.uk

Apple recently released its 2012 environmental report, detailing how it plans to use fuel cell technology in the company’s data center in Maiden, North Carolina.

The installation of a 500-kilowatt biogas-powered fuel cell project that supplies clean electricity to our Cupertino facilities helps us avoid more than 1.2 million kilograms of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions.

Apple is building a fuel cell installation that, when online later in 2012, will be the largest non-utility fuel cell installation operating anywhere in the country. This 5-megawatt facility, located directly adjacent to the data center, will be powered by 100 percent biogas, and provide more than 40 million kWh of 24×7 baseload renewable energy annually.

The installation of a 500-kilowatt biogas-powered fuel cell project that supplies clean electricity to the Cupertino facilities will help avoid more than 1.2 million kilograms of CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions.

Pictured left to right is; Adwin Mertens, Executive Director of WaterstofNet,which is the organization established by the overnments of Flanders and southern Netherlands within the context of the European Interreg Program which coordinates the implementation of hydrogen throughout the region. Jef Colruyt, Head of the Colruyt Group, a leading chain of retail stores in Belgium and France. Kris Peters, Minister-President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Economy, Foreign Policy, Agriculture and Rural Policy. Filip Smeets, General Manager of Hydrogenics Europe

The WaterstofNet Hydrogen Fueling Station was officially opened on Thursday February 9th at Colruyt’s headquarters and central warehouse in Brussels. The inauguration was led by Mr. Colruyt and was attended by Mr. Kris Peeters, Flemish Minister-President.

This station features Hydrogenics’ fifth generation HYSTAT 30 water electrolyzer, a compressor, a high pressure cascade storage and a 350 bar dispenser to supply up to 65kg of clean hydrogen fuel per day. The station will be used for refueling forklifts, buses and other vehicles.

This latest project demonstrates a new design for Hydrogenics, the electroyzer and associated equipment is more compact, efficient, and cost-effective. We are clearly seen by our customers as providing the best hydrogen solutions for fueling stations and energy storage across the globe.

Kgs. Lyngby–Lars Martiny has been appointed new Chief Executive Officer of Topsoe Fuel Cell and succeeds the previous CEO, Claus Olsen. Lars Martiny has been employed in the parent company Haldor Topsøe as Vice President of the Technology Division and has been responsible for development of new technologies.

The Board is pleased that Lars Martiny has accepted this position and has emphasised that Lars Martiny, holding a Ph.D. in chemistry and an MBA in management as well as experience at Haldor Topsøe and Risø, has the right qualifications to ensure the continued development of solid oxide fuel cells at Topsoe Fuel Cell.

”Topsoe Fuel Cell is an interesting company, which has come a long way in the development of solid oxide fuel cells. I look forward to creating new, groundbreaking results together with the company’s dedicated employees in the development of products and production of fuel cells towards a commercial breakthrough in this new and environmentally friendly energy technology”, says Lars Martiny about his new challenges.

In the Federal Government’s Energy Concept, modern power plants play an important part in the future energy supply.

In order to resolve the apparent contradiction between fossil fuels and climate protection, Jülich researchers are developing new types of gas separation membranes to capture the climate-damaging CO2 before it is emitted into the atmosphere.

High-termperataure fuel cells, especially solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), are very efficient at producing electricity and emit low levels of pollutants. This means they can make a considerable contribution to climate and environmental protection.

Their efficiency for electricity production is currently more than 60 %.

As part of an international project “Research for Sustainable Development”, scientists from the Institute of Energy and Climate Research – Principles of Electrochemistry at Forschungszentrum Jülich are working together with German and Russian partners from research and industry on developing new materials for high-performance SOFC fuel cells with improved lifetime.

Groundbreaking for the new membrane center

Modern power plants take in the energy concept of the federal government play an important role in the issue of energy supply for the future. To resolve the apparent conflict between fossil fuels and climate change, Jülich researchers are developing novel gas separation membranes that allow the harmful CO2 will be separated before it can escape into the atmosphere.

To the research is vital in this technology forward, is currently being built on the site of the Research Center Jülich, the so-called membrane center of the Institute for Energy and Climate Research – Materials Synthesis and Processing (IEK-1), in which researchers can develop new components.

Thomas Rachel, Parliamentary State Secretary, Federal Ministry for Education and Research, now at a groundbreaking ceremony in conjunction with the Institute Director (acting) Hans Peter Buchkremer and Jülich, Prof. Harald Bolt, a board member of the research center, the launch of this pioneering construction project, the initial should be made 2013.

The investment for the building and is used equipment amount to approximately EUR 16 million of which comes the bulk of funds from the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF), the research center will have the special investment program of the Helmholtz Association to the best.

“With the membrane center and the new Jülich Institute creates best conditions for excellent research opportunities in two key areas of future energy research. The research is thus fully in line with the energy concept of the federal government, “said State Secretary Thomas Rachel research.

High-temperature membranes have the advantage over conventional separation methods, that much lower efficiency losses must be accepted as such in a chemical scrubbing. This makes them particularly interesting for applications in power plants.

With the building, the approximately 1550 square meters of floor space will provide, and the newly established Institute for Climate Research draws – Fundamentals of Electrochemistry (IEK-9). Here are the most technologically oriented research and development work at the Institute for Energy and Climate Research will be supported to focus on fundamental and protected. These mainly include the battery and fuel cell research, electrolysis and membrane separation technologies.

State Secretary Thomas Rachel (2nd from right) are, together with Prof. Harald Bolt (2nd from left), board member of the research center, Dr. Hans Peter Buch Kremer (left) and Dr. William A. Meulenberg (right) the start signal for the construction of the membrane center.
Source: Research Centre Jülich

By Stefan Nicola-Bloomberg

Vattenfall AB (VATT), the Nordic region’s biggest utility, said it opened Europe’s largest hydrogen filling station fed by renewable energy in Hamburg.

The utility funded 43 percent of the 10 million-euro ($13 million) investment, and the German Transport Ministry paid the rest, Alexander Hauk, a spokesman for Vattenfall Europe AG, said by phone today. About 20 buses and several cars a day can be charged with hydrogen from at least 50 percent renewable energy, according to an e-mailed company statement.

Storing wind power by converting it to hydrogen “is an important approach that could play a key role in the future German energy landscape,” Oliver Weimann, head of Vattenfall Europe Innovation GmbH, said in the statement.

Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, seeks to install 25,000 megawatts of offshore wind turbines by 2030 as it phases out atomic energy by 2022. The expansion of renewables has been accompanied by concerns that their fluctuating production may strain power networks and leave consumers without energy when wind doesn’t blow or the sun doesn’t shine.

Vattenfall is part of a group including car maker Daimler AG (DAI) and Total SA (FP) promoting and testing hydrogen-powered transport in Germany. The Clean Energy Partnership receives financing from the Transport Ministry.

The filling station produces its renewable fuel through electrolysis, a chemical process that uses electricity to break down water into oxygen and hydrogen.

Neal Starling Joins as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing to Help Company Capitalize on Growing Global Demand for Continuous Onsite Power Systems

ClearEdge Power, a manufacturer of scalable, continuous onsite power systems, today announced that Neal Starling has joined its executive management team as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. In his role, Starling will drive ClearEdge Power’s global sales and marketing strategy, spearheading business development initiatives across key market segments and geographies.

“Neal is an excellent addition to our executive management team as he has a strong history of consistently delivering high-impact sales and marketing initiatives,” said ClearEdge Power President and CEO, Russell Ford. “His experience working for leading manufacturers across the energy and electronics industries will be very valuable as we build on our strong growth and continue to expand into different geographies and markets.”

Starling joins ClearEdge Power with more than 25 years of leadership experience in the power and electronics business. Prior to joining ClearEdge Power, Starling managed the Electrical Distribution Channel for TE Connectivity, a $12 billion global company in the energy, consumer electronics, healthcare, automotive, aerospace and communications industries. Starling has also held senior sales, marketing and general management roles for Emerson, Edison International and Entergy Corp.

“With innovative technology, strong customer adoption and a rapidly growing international presence, ClearEdge Power has the potential to fundamentally change the way businesses across the world get their energy,” said Starling. “This is an exciting time to be joining the company and with the increasing demand for predictable, clean and cost-effective alternative power production across markets and geographies, I am confident that we will be able to realize that potential and become a leading industry provider.”

Starling’s appointment builds on ClearEdge Power’s forward momentum seen in the past year. Recent highlights include a record-setting agreement with Güssing Renewable Energy and the expansion of ClearEdge Power’s portfolio of continuous onsite power systems, including industry-first innovations in areas such as reliability, scalability and flexibility. In addition, ClearEdge Power has continued to see strong customer adoption in a variety of industries, including multi-tenant housing, hospitality, education, utility, public sector and residential.

Jülich– Ten thousand hours in operation: Scientists from Forschungszentrum Jülich set up this record with a hybrid system based on direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). The fuel cell stack – a block composed of 88 fuel cells – in this project funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) is designed for use in an order picker, a type of electric forklift truck

AFC Energy (AIM: AFC), the leading developer of low-cost alkaline fuel cells, is pleased to announce that the inaugural consortium meeting of project LASER-CELL recently took place at the Company’s Dunsfold headquarters.

Project LASER-CELL will develop innovative high-volume production technologies which can be used to manufacture alkaline fuel cell components, and will include comprehensive life-cycle and market analysis. The project will run in parallel with the Company’s current development programme.

AFC Energy leads the consortium that was awarded a grant of €1.4 million towards the €2.9 million research and development project. The project is funded by the European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) through the European Union’s 7th Framework Programme (FP7).

The project will exploit the expertise and resources of all the partners. Work will be carried out at the premises of each partner and will be coordinated and managed by AFC Energy.

Ian Williamson, CEO of AFC Energy plc, commented: “The award of this significant R&D grant from the European Union demonstrates the EU’s commitment and endorsement of our technology. We were delighted to personally welcome our partners, whose impressive expertise will be key to the success of project LASER-CELL.”

The consortium comprises the following organisations:

AFC Energy http://www.afcenergy.com Fuel cell developer UK Cencorp Oyj http://www.cencorp.com/ Automation and laser specialists Finland VTT Technical Research Centre http://www.vtt.fi/laser Finland’s globally networked multi-technological contract
research organisation Finland Air Products http://www.airproducts.com//h2energy Leading global supplier of industrial gases and equipment,
chemicals and environmental and energy systems UK Nanocyl SA http://www.nanocyl.com/ Leading global manufacturer of specialty and industrial carbon
nanotubes. Belgium UDE http://www.uni-due.de/energietechnik Energy and Environmental Engineering Institute of Duisburg-Essen
University.

Maritime trade may be one of the oldest forms of transport, yet today cargo transported by the shipping industry represents roughly one-third of the value of total global trade, equating to more than $4.6 trillion worth of goods each year. However, with a greater awareness of the shipping industry’s impact on the environment and the current economic climate dictating a need for more efficient forms of transport, many ships are now considered outdated and great effort has been made in researching alternative power sources.

Fueling the future

The EUREKA-funded FELLOWSHIP project is at the forefront of this research and seeks to develop and demonstrate new fuel cells for marine and offshore use that will vastly improve the energy efficiency of ships, subsequently reducing running costs and the vessels’ impact on the environment. In this collaborative research project including, but not limited to, MTU Onsite Energy and DET NORSKE VERITAS, the FELLOWSHIP team have developed highly innovative HotModule fuel cells that take advantage of recent developments in the fields of Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC).

This high temperature fuel cell continuously generates 320kW, with reduced fuel consumption compared to diesel engines and near zero-emissions, vastly improving the ship’s sustainability and the working conditions on-board. The FELLOWSHIP team have used the vessel Viking Lady, a transport ship owned and operated by ship owner Eidesvik for oil from rigs in the Norwegian seas, as a test vehicle for the application of this technology at sea. The HotModule fuel cell is powered by natural gas which is then liquefied and cooled to -161°C.

The fuel cell itself operates at an extremely high temperature, reaching around 600°C in order to instigate the electrochemical process required to generate electricity. The vast amount of heat generated by the cell offers further ecological benefits, as it is used to heat rooms inside the ship, reducing the need for fossil fuels to warm the crew, and can even be used to cool areas through the use of a heat exchanger in order maintain temperature-sensitive cargoes.

While the HotModule fuel cell provides an energy efficiency of 50 per cent while at sea, it is in the harbour that it has its most profound impact. Many harbours now impose strict fines based on pollution, both in terms of waste that is released into the water and their wider impact on the surrounding area. The HotModule fuel cells provides near silent operation when it is used as the sole power source while the vessel is idling in the harbour and can provide all of the electricity required for daily operations, without the need to use the ships diesel engines, which can cause considerable pollution.

A Collaborative approach

This is the first time that this technology has been applied in a marine setting, which has presented some unique challenges for the FELLOWSHIP team, as a moving ship creates a great deal of vibration that the fuel cells were not designed to cope with. While this could be resolved by innovative engineering solutions, FELLOWSHIP encountered another problem in creating and managing an effective partnership, as project coordinator Tomas Tronstad asserts: “You have a fuel cell supplier who is not used to working with moving ships and you have the shipping industry, which needs to understand this new technology. One of the greatest challenges was to get these two parties to understand each other’s needs and requirements” The integration of the system was realised thanks to Wartsila Ship Power.

In order to overcome this issue, the FELLOWSHIP project has developed a highly collaborative approach that recognises the requirements of ship owners, fuel cell suppliers, system integrators and ship designers, and promotes good communication in order to achieve the best solution, whilst also allaying fears about the introduction of this new technology. Tronstad believes that the influence and assistance of EUREKA has played an important role in the success of this collaborative project: “I would like to thank EUREKA for having faith in us. I hadn’t worked with EUREKA before and it has been a pleasure, they were important in supporting us throughout the project both with financial and moral support”.

The FELLOWSHIP partnership is now working to develop industrial-scale battery – hybrid solutions to provide a greater storage capacity for electricity produced by the HotModule fuel cell. This will require further research into the concept to enable the batteries to work with the limitations of the technology, as Tronstad explains: “The current fuel cell doesn’t like to be started and stopped too often. We are developing the solution further into a more standalone system that could more easily be used for a greater number of vessels in the future”. This form of hybrid technology has already proved highly successful in the automotive industry in cars such as the Toyota Prius. The FELLOWSHIP consortium hopes that they can make hybrid ships equally commonplace and are pushing for a greener future for the global shipping industry.

Cooperation Agreement signed with Logan Energy Limited

ITM Power (AIM: ITM), the energy storage and clean fuel company, announces that it has signed a Cooperation Agreement with Logan Energy Limited for project development and tendering in Scotland.

ITM Power and Logan Energy will jointly tender for hydrogen energy storage and clean fuel projects in Scotland and Logan Energy will undertake all project management and after sales support for any plant installed under the agreement. By signing this agreement the two companies intend to maximise the local supply chain for Scottish projects.

Scotland is a key location for renewable energy having some of the best wind resources in the world. The deployment of energy storage is now seen as key to the effective utilisation of renewable energy plant and will be a critical component of the future energy grid. ITM Power’s electrolysis plant will be a vital component in linking electricity generated from renewable energy sources to the gas grid and the transport fuel infrastructure, and Logan Energy’s experience in delivering integrated systems will be invaluable to the relationship.

ITM Power CEO, Dr. Graham Cooley, commented; “We are very excited about working with Logan Energy in Scotland, a leading integration company in one of the best resourced renewable energy locations in the world. I am sure that the synergies between Logan Energy and ITM Power will reap benefits for both companies.

John Lidderdale, MD of Logan Energy, commented; “We are looking forward to working with ITM Power in Scotland. The necessity for energy storage technology in the renewable energy system means that there will be many opportunities for us to work together immediately and into the future.”

Loughborough, UK– Intelligent Energy, the global clean power systems company, is delighted to announce the appointment of Rian Urding as Chief Executive Officer of its subsidiary company, IE Low Emission Vans Limited. This joint venture company, of which Intelligent Energy is a majority shareholder, is focused on bringing to market a low emission delivery vehicle. Rian moves from his previous role as Chief Financial Officer at Intelligent Energy, where he oversaw a substantial growth in the business.

IE Low Emission Vans Limited, through its US based subsidiary company, Emerald Automotive, will design and manufacture an all new, light weight, low emission delivery vehicle, planned for global distribution beginning in 2014. Rian will also join the Emerald Automotive management team, which has a wealth of experience in bringing low-volume vehicles to market, as Chief Financial Officer and Board Director.

“The Board and I would like to thank Rian for the fantastic job he has done as Chief Financial Officer of Intelligent Energy over the last five years. We owe him a debt of gratitude for his professionalism, dedication and the very significant contribution he has made to Intelligent Energy’s growth,” said Intelligent Energy Chief Executive, Dr Henri Winand. “Intelligent Energy continues to make tremendous progress on a number of fronts in the field of low emission vehicles, most recently forming a joint venture company with the Suzuki Motor Corporation in Japan to develop and mass manufacture fuel cell systems.”

“After five years in which I have seen Intelligent Energy grow rapidly in terms of turnover, key target markets and its position as a leading clean power systems company, I am delighted to have the opportunity to now lead IE Low Emission Vans while remaining part of the Intelligent Energy family,” commented Rian Urding, Chief Executive Officer of IE Low Emission Vans.

Rian Urding, Chief Executive Officer and Board Director at IE Low Emission Vans Limited, and Chief Financial Officer and Board Director at Emerald Automotive.

About Intelligent Energy
Intelligent Energy is a leading clean power systems company with a globally scalable business, operating in the stationary power, motive and consumer electronics sectors. Our proprietary fuel cell technologies are designed for the mass market products of some of the world’s leading companies. Intelligent Energy’s successes include building the world’s first purpose built fuel cell motorbike, and, with partner Suzuki, the first ever fuel cell vehicle to achieve European Union type approval. Intelligent Energy recently formed a joint venture company in Japan with the Suzuki Motor Corporation to develop and manufacture air-cooled fuel cell systems for a range of industry sectors.

TOKYO (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) — Japan’s Fuji Electric Co. (TSE:6504) has acquired the international credentials for selling industrial fuel cells in Europe and plans to begin marketing the devices abroad.

The company has already received a 100 million yen (US$1.29 million) order from German automaker Daimler AG for a 100kw fuel cell to be delivered to a Hamburg dealership this summer. The order was obtained with a partnering German fuel cell system vendor.

Industrial fuel cells are used to generate electricity in factories and office buildings. Fuji Electric is the sole producer of these devices in Japan, primarily making models that crank out less than 100kw. It currently ships around 10 a year to domestic plants and schools, but has no experience selling them overseas.

Demand for fuel cells is high in Europe because of their low environmental impact. European firms are working to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, but there are few fuel cell manufacturers there.

Fuji Electric is targeting fuel cell sales of 1 billion yen in Europe in two years. For now, it will assemble the products in Japan, but it aims to increase foreign parts procurement and eventually begin making them abroad.

The World’s only self-recharging fuel cell system manages energy mismatch with lower costs and higher performances than batteries and legacy solutions The World’s only self-recharging fuel cell system manages energy mismatch with lower costs and higher performances than batteries and legacy solutions

Electro Power Systems SpA (ElectroPS), recently selected by the World Economic Forum as a Technology Pioneer 2012, has deployed its ElectroSelf self-recharging, logistics-free backup power solution within an Agile Energy System based on solar and wind. The system guarantees 24/7 power and will be used to fed a Wi-Max antenna that brings Broadband Internet to a rural area where, up until now, network connections were difficult and high-speed connectivity near impossible.

The Agile Energy System has been entirely designed and built by ElectroPS and is deployed in Cellarengo Italy, within the famous Monferrato wine region. It provides 100% clean energy to a Wi-Max antenna that delivers high-speed connectivity to an area that spans 40km, and is located within the innovative “Casa Rossa,” a traditional country villa that has been transformed into a cultural center focused on wine education, culinary arts and other activities leveraging the culture and tradition of the region.

Consisting of a photovoltaic system and a mini-windmill, the Green Energy System is based on the ElectroSelf fuel cell power system, an enabling technology for Distributed Energy that significantly increases the value of small-scale renewables infrastructures by minimizing the mismatch in energy production and consumption. It does this by efficiently storing energy from the grid or when renewables are plentiful, and instantaneously releasing energy whenever renewables are weak or absent. As such, the system is able to guarantee a steady power supply to the antenna, ensuring always-on connectivity.

“ElectroSelf completely eliminates the need for fuel logistics, delivers overall lower costs than batteries or other legacy technologies and delivers operating and optimization benefits including full remote management and product lifecycle of up to 20 years,” explains Adriano Marconetto, founder and CEO of Electro Power Systems. “It is therefore the only solution able to guarantee constant power within Agile Energy System while saving both time and money.”

Baku. Ali Ahmadov – APA-ECONOMICS. Ecology department of SOCAR in tandem with the experts of the German Institute for Economic Research is working on operation of buses with hydrogen.

The specialists of the ecology department have already been sent to Germany in order to study the experience of this country on establishment of transport infrastructure, held number of discussions and got acquainted with working principles of the hydrogen transport.

“At present, work is underway with the German Institute for Economic Research on economic estimation of this proposal, selection of technical equipments on coordination of bus engines with hydrogen and marketing”, told the SOCAR

Aberdeen Central’s Kevin Stewart wants Scottish Enterprise to boost funds for eco-friendly public transport.

Revolution: Green buses could radically change city transport system Pic: © STV

An Aberdeen politician has called on Scottish Enterprise to help fund hydrogen buses for the city.

Kevin Stewart MSP wants the business quango to top up funding already in place from Aberdeen City Council.

The eco-friendly vehicles use hydrogen fuel cell technology that emits only water vapour, helping to improve air quality.

Mr Stewart, who represents Aberdeen Central, said: “I have written to Scottish Enterprise to ask them to reconsider funding this green project.

“We have already received support from the EU but domestic funding would allow for a better, bigger project and develop a green bus system that can revolutionise the way we do transport.

“Hydrogen buses will see Aberdeen leading the country in renewable green transport. I am disappointed that Scottish Enterprise has as yet been unwilling to commit to the project. Hydrogen buses can be the driving force of a new green transport in the city.

“Renewable technology is the future and Scottish Enterprise should join AREG and Aberdeen City Council in securing a brighter, greener future.”

In his letter to Maggie McGinlay, Scottish Enterprise’s Aberdeen City & Shire Director, Mr Stewart said: “I understand that Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group (AREG) in conjunction with Aberdeen City Council are developing a project, phase 1 of which seeks to put up to 12 hydrogen fuel cell buses on routes in central Aberdeen and create a hydrogen refuelling station in the city.

“Phase 2 is being taken forward by Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) and Scotia Gas Networks (SGN), and involves the creation of renewable hydrogen infrastructure, via deployment of a new hydrogen generation and energy storage system.

“I am extremely pleased that this project has attracted European funding. However, I understand that Scottish Enterprise has been asked to contribute to this project and has refused to commit any resources to this project. I am unhappy about this situation and believe that Scottish Enterprise should be helping to develop this key project, which could put Aberdeen at the forefront of hydrogen technology in these islands.

“I hope that you will investigate this situation and will be able to commit Scottish Enterprise resources to this worthwhile project.”

Fuel cell installation marks completion of Cox’s 14th alternative energy project in California

ATLANTA – Cox Enterprises announced today the installation of five fuel cells at its Cox Communications subsidiary in San Diego. The fuel cells join nine previous alternative energy projects in the state. Combined, Cox’s 14 alternative energy installations in California annually prevent 15,500 tons of carbon emissions from entering the environment, the equivalent of removing 367 cars from the road.

The five new fuel cells are Bloom Energy Servers and utilize a unique fuel cell technology, which converts fuel into electricity via an electro-chemical process without any combustion and no harmful, smog-forming particulates. These fuel cells are powered by biogas, a renewable fuel, to make them even more eco-friendly.

The new fuel cells in San Diego include two 200kW units that power 100 percent of Cox Communications facility on Copley Drive and three 200kW units that power 90 percent of its building on N. Cuyamaca Street.

“Twenty-five percent of Cox Communications’ electricity in California is now being generated through our alternative energy projects,” said Steve Bradley, Cox Enterprises’ director of energy, alternative energy and business continuity. “These projects yield positive results for the environment and the bottom line.”

Cox Enterprises’ alternative energy projects in California, include:

• Four 100kW fuel cell units at KTVU-TV in Oakland
• Two 400kW fuel cell units at Cox Communications in San Diego (Federal Boulevard facility)
• Two 400kW fuel cell units at Cox Communications in Rancho Santa Margarita
• One 100kW photovoltaic solar installation at Cox Communications in Rancho Santa Margarita

“It’s important for us to positively impact the communities we serve, and where our customers live,” said Dave Bialis, senior vice president and general manager of Cox Communications’ operations in California. “These newly installed fuel cells in San Diego will help us continue our efforts to be good environmental stewards, and hopefully, inspire other businesses to implement eco-friendly practices.”

In addition to California, Cox Enterprises has alternative energy installations in Phoenix, Ariz.; Atlanta, Ga.; Macon, Ga.; Bordentown, N.J.; and Portland, Ore. Nationwide, Cox’s alternative energy projects annually prevent 17,400 tons of carbon emissions from entering the environment.

Cox Communications has been recognized as a Waste Reduction Award winner by Cal Recycles, the state’s leading authority on recycling, waste reduction, and product reuse. Cox Communications also has been named the City of San Diego’s Recycler of the Year and the #1 green company in Orange County by OC Metro Magazine. Through the Cox Conserves Heroes program, more than $100,000 has been donated to local environmental nonprofits in Southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area.

AFC Energy (AIM:  AFC), a leading developer of low cost alkaline fuel cells, is pleased to announce that it has received a further positive independent review of its progress from Dr Jon Helliwell, Project Manager, Fuel Cell Applications at the Centre for Process Innovation (“CPI”).  The CPI last carried out a review of the Company’s technical activity in May 2011.

The CPI reports that there have been a number of important developments since the last review, which have given it further confidence that the performance targets agreed with AFC Energy’s main customer will be achieved. In summary these developments are:

• Established two Beta systems at a customer site in Germany and a third on its own site in Dunsfold. This is significant as AFC Energy is:
  • demonstrating the robustness of its Beta-system outside the laboratory
  • generating important operating data
  • openly sharing data and planning progress with a prestigious partner
  • delivering system enhancements in the field

• Frozen system and electrode designs.

• Separated its manufacturing and development activities demonstrating an increased maturity within the organisation which fits well with its desire to commercialise at the earliest opportunity.

• Commenced a project in December, known as LASER-CELL, in which it is the lead of a consortium of European organisations (as announced on 1 December 2011).

• Strengthened its management team through the appointment of Ian Williamson as CEO (as announced on 13 September 2011).
• Ian has a wealth of commercial experience in the hydrogen and energy fields and has established a clear plan for the business focussed on developing its commercial and production capability, whilst maintaining cost control.

AFC Energy provided Dr Helliwell with complete, unrestricted, access to all areas of the Company and its staff and he was able to examine each in detail. A version of the full CPI report, edited to remove confidential technical details, will be made available on the Company’s website later today.

Dr Jon Helliwell, Project Manager, Fuel Cell Applications, CPI said:

“This has been an extremely important period for AFC Energy. I am highly encouraged by the operational and technical developments since the last review and I firmly believe the Company is now in a significantly stronger position.

“AFC Energy is highly likely to deliver low cost, modular fuel cell systems to the stationary power industry in accordance with its technology and commercialisation plans. The systems are simple, as they use clever engineering and elegant design to minimise cost and complexity.

“The cells themselves have been designed for manufacture and are capable of using a range of materials. The technology is no longer ‘laboratory based’ and in what has been a particularly exciting period for the Company, it is clearly starting to deliver the promise of its robust, low cost fuel cell systems.”

Ian Williamson, AFC Energy’s Chief Executive, said:

“We are delighted and encouraged that Dr Helliwell’s review recognises the important milestones reached by the Company in the last few months and it is again a testament to the hard work of our development team.

“AFC Energy continues to optimise the performance of its Beta fuel cell system using the highly valuable data generated by the field trials currently underway and we remain firmly focussed on commercialising our fuel cell technology.”