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Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Headlines
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U.S. Army and GM Hold Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Fuel Cell Partnership
 On December 16, Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) and Congressman Sander Levin (D-MI) joined U.S Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) Director Paul Rogers and General Motor's (GM) Executive Director of Global Fuel Cell Activities, Charlie Freese, to cut the ribbon opening a new fuel cell technology project at the Ground System Power and Energy Lab in Warren, Michigan.
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From left to right: Army TARDEC Director Paul Rogers, Senator Carl Levin, Executive Director, GM Global Fuel Cell Activities Charlie Freese, Congressman Sander Levin
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The two groups will work together to create battlefield vehicles and robots powered by fuel cell technology, free from reliance on traditional fuel supply lines.
For more information, read the full article here.
Toyota to Bring New Fuel Cell Concept, Test Mule Vehicle to Consumer Electronics Show
 On December 18, Toyota announced in a press release that it would be showcasing both its fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) concept, as well as the "test mule" that Toyota has driven for thousands of miles for durability testing on U.S roads. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) takes place in Las Vegas from January 7 to January 10. For more information, read the full article here.
FuelCell Energy Announces Two Billion Kilowatt Hours of Fuel Cell Power Generation
 On December 10, FuelCell Energy, Inc. announced an operating milestone of two billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity produced by Direct FuelCell (DFC) power plants since 2003. The equivalent electricity generated is enough to power over 181,000 average U.S. homes for an entire year. FuelCell Energy currently has 110 DFC plants operating worldwide, producing continuous combined heat and power (CHP), virtually eliminating pollutants like Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) and Sulfur Dioxide (Sox).
In its press release statement, FuelCell Energy states that the next billion (kilowatt hours) is expected to be generated in less than one year as a 15 megawatt fuel cell park is nearing completion in Bridgeport, Connecticut and a 59 megawatt fuel cell park, the world's largest, is nearing completion in South Korea.
For FuelCell Energy's press release, click here.
Ballard Power to Fuel Cell Power for Indian Telecom Network
 On December 10, Ballard Power Systems announced that it will be supplying ElectraGen-ME fuel cell systems as a pilot project for Idea Cellular, one of India's largest mobile service providers. The fuel cells will be installed in combination with solar technology to provide continuous generation at 5 wireless base stations in India. Funding for the pilot program, as well as a feasibility student was made possible by the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA).
The trial is scheduled to take place in early 2014, utilizing Ballard ElectraGen-ME 2.5 kilowatt methanol fuel cell systems.
For Ballard Power's press release, click here.
BMW and Linde Launch H2IntraDrive Fuel Cell Materials Handling Project
 On December 13, BMW announced that its plant in Leipzig, Germany received five hydrogen-powered lift trucks and four tow trucks from Linde Material handling. The vehicles will be used to supply parts in
body production of its BMW i vehicle. The fuel cell provides the basic power to the industrial trucks while energy recovered during braking is stored in the lithium-ion battery of the hybrid system and will be released once again during load peaks.
The German Federal Ministry of Transport is supporting the project under the National Innovation Programme for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology.
For Linde's press release, click here.
Bloom Energy Installs Fuel Cell System at Kellogg Ego Waffle Bakery
 On November 21, the Kellogg Company announced that it recently installed a Bloom Energy fuel cell system at its Eggo Waffle bakery in San Jose, Calif. The system will produce enough clean energy to provide approximately half of the facility's annual electrical consumption. The installation also uses less water to produce power than if it were being supplied by the utility grid.
For Kellogg's press release, click here.
Air Liquide Plans for Long-Term Growth in Hydrogen-Powered Cars
 On December 10, Air Liquide announced that it is expanding its business building filling stations for hydrogen-powered cars based on predictions for growing demand for fuel cell electric vehicles. The company has already built more than 60 hydrogen filling stations worldwide.
In September, Air Liquide partnered with Linde AG to increase Germany's current network of 15 stations to 100 by 2017 and 400 by 2023.
For more information, read the full article here.
Ballard Power Announces MOU with Van Hool for European Fuel Cell Buses
On December 5, Ballard Power Systems announced a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Van Hool NV, Europe's 4th largest bus manufacturer. The MOU supports the manufacture and deployment of zero emission fuel cell buses, and comes in response to a call for proposals issued last week by the European Union (EU) Fuel Cells and Hydrogen - Joint Undertaking (FCH-JU). The two companies also plan to jointly respond to further proposals under the European Commission's Horizon 2020 program, a research and innovation funding program within the European Union.
Ballard and Van Hool plan to have 24 fuel cell buses operating in Europe in 2014, powered by Ballard's FCvelocity-HD7 fuel cell modules, its newest generation of power modules.
For Ballard Power's press release, click here.
Air Liquide Receives First Two Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Registered in France
On December 6, Air Liquide and Hyundai Motor France announced the handover of
the two first fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) registered in France. The FCEVs are part of a series of 1,000 vehicles that are expected to be built by Hyundai at its Ulsan, South Korea factory through 2015.
A leader in developing hydrogen infrastructure, Air Liquide to date has designed and supplied over 60 hydrogen filling stations around the world.
For Air Liquide's press release, click here.
U.S. Navy Launches Fuel Cell Powered UAV from Submarine
On December 5, the U.S. navy submarine USS Providence successfully launched an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) from its torpedo tube while submerged. Powering the UAV was a fuel cell unit, developed jointly over the past six years by the Office of Naval Research SwampWorks program and the Department of Defense Rapid Reaction Technology Office. The fuel cell allows the UAV to fly for more than six hours at a time.
 | | US Navy Fuel Cell UAV (Source: Naval Sea System Command / NAVSEA-AUTEC) |
For more information, read the full article here.
ITM Power Begins Injection of Hydrogen into German Gas Distribution Grid
 On December 4, ITM Power announced the early installation of its rapid response electrolyzer plant as part of a hydrogen injection project with the German gas distribution network. ITM Power partnered with German energy companies Mainova Aktiengesellschaft and NRM Netzdienste Rhein-Main GmbH for this project.
The plant is the first to incorporate hydrogen in the German gas distribution network. The project will be moving into trial operation in the near-future.
For ITM Power's press release, click here.
New Hydrogen Fueling Station and Fuel Cell Bus Launched in Netherlands with Hydrogenics Technology
 On December 4, Hydrogenics announced the opening of a hydrogen fueling station and the launch of a new hydrogen bus concept using Hydrogenics fuel cell technology in Helmond, Netherlands.
In addition to the bus, the station will also service hydrogen-powered garbage trucks, as well as fuel cell passenger vehicles.
Hydrogenics collaborated with VDL Bus & Coach and Ballast Nedham on the project.
For Hydrogenics' press release, click here.
Other Headlines of Note:
Your Holidays, Brought to you by Fuel Cells
Department of Energy | December 19, 2013
The Science of U.S. Energy: A Q&A with Secretary Ernest J. Moniz
Scientific American | December 18, 2013
Light up your Holidays with a Microbial Fuel Cell
Washington State University | December 17, 2013
Hyundai FCEV Named Finalist for Green Car Tech Awards�
USA Today | December 16, 2013
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars Price-Competitive with Electrics by 2030
Green Car Reports | December 13, 2013
Always 'on the horizon,' fuel-cell vehicles now 'around the corner'
SAE | December 5, 2013
The Fuel Cell Which Part-Powers Al Gore's London HQ
BBC | December 5, 2013
In Long Run, Nissan's Ghosn and Tesla's Musk have Good Reason to Fear Fuel Cells
Forbes | December 4, 2013
Fuel-Cell Cars: Stepping on the Gas
The Economist | December 2, 2013
Hydrogen Squeezed from Stone Could be New Energy Source
BBC News | December 12, 2013
Hydrogen Squeezed from Stone Could be New Energy Source
BBC News | December 12, 2013
2015 Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle Prototype Review
Autoblog | December 11, 2013
2015 Toyota Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle Prototype Review
Autoblog | December 11, 2013
Ulsan Aims to Become World's First Hydrogen Community
Hankyung | December 10, 2013
Ulsan Aims to Become World's First Hydrogen Community
Hankyung | December 10, 2013
Slashing Fossil Fuel Consumption Comes with a Price
NPR | December 02, 2013
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| Federal Program Updates | |
DOE Reports: U.S. Fuel Cell Market Production and Deployment Continues Strong Growth
 On December 19, the Energy Department released three reports highlighting the strong growth across the domestic fuel cell and hydrogen technologies markets. In 2012, nearly 80 percent of total investment in the global fuel cell industry was made in U.S. companies.
In a statement released with the reports, Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz said that "Building a U.S. fuel cell and hydrogen technologies industry over the past few years is helping to pave the way to a cleaner, more sustainable future that protects our air and water, and gives businesses more transportation options and reduces oil dependence."
The three reports, 2012 Fuel Cell Technologies Market Report; State of the States, Fuel Cells in America 2013; and Pathways to Commercial Success: Technologies and Products Supported by the Fuel Cell Technologies Office, detail the research and trends in the U.S. fuel cell and hydrogen technologies market.
More information on the reports can be found here.
DOE Announces Over 7 Million in Awards to Commercialize Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology
On December 17, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that more than $7 million will be invested in projects to help commercialize hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. The funds will be spread across four projects in Georgia, Kansas, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. DOE partnered with private industry and universities on projects for Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Sprint, FedEx, and the Center for Transportation and the Environment.
Air Products will partner with Structural Composites to develop a tube trailer for hydrogen delivery and storage that is able to withstand high pressures, and will test the technology in southern California at hydrogen fueling stations.
More information on the DOE projects can be found here.
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Request for Papers, Proposals, and Information
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ARPA-E Issues $30 Million FOA for Distributed Stationary Fuel Cell Power Generation - Reliable Electricity Based on Electrochemical Systems (REBELS)
 The Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) at the Department of Energy has issued a $30 million funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for distributed stationary fuel cell power generation through its newly announced Reliable Electricity Based on Electrochemical Systems, or REBELS program.
Through the FOA, ARPA-E seeks to fund transformational fuel cell devices that operate in an intermediate temperature range in an attempt to 1) create new pathways to achieve an installed cost to the end-user of less than $1,500/kW at moderate production volumes, and 2) create new fuel cell functionality to increase grid stability and integration of renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar.
The deadline for Concept Paper Submission is January 8, 2014 at 5:00 PM EDT. The full application deadline date is still to be determined.
More information on the FOA can be found here.
DOE Issues Request for Information Regarding Hydrogen Infrastructure and FCEVs
 On December 18, the Department of Energy issued a request for information (RFI) seeking feedback from interested stakeholders on strategies for the market introduction of hydrogen supply, infrastructure and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Input will be used to improve financing strategies for public deployment of hydrogen infrastructure.
All responses are due by January 31, 2014.
For more details, see the full RFI announcement here.
DOE Issues Loan Guarantee Solicitation for Advanced Fossil Energy Projects
On December 2, the Department of Energy announced part I of a solicitation for applications for loan guarantees to finance projects and facilities in the United States that employ advanced fossil energy technologies.
The solicitation comes as part of the President's Climate Action Plan, making up to $8 billion in loan guarantees available to reduce, avoid or
sequester anthropogenic emission of greenhouse gases. Hydrogen based fuel cells are included under the scope of eligible projects.
Applications for eligible projects are due by February 28, 2014.
To read the full solicitation, click here.
Energy Department Announces $4 Million in Funding for Hydrogen Production Advancement
On November 13, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $4 million in funding targeted specifically to address critical challenges in low-carbon, low-cost carbon production. The Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) solicits innovative materials, projects and systems that can make hydrogen production cheaper and cleaner, with the long-term goal being a $2-$4 per gallon gas equivalent (GGE) for hydrogen.
Specific topic areas in the FOA include hybrid approaches to production, production from bio-derived liquids, and solar-water splitting technologies.
Final submissions for this FOA are due by January 31, 2014.
For a link to the DOE FOA, click here. To read the press release, click here.
DOE Announces Topics for Grants to Small Businesses in Clean Energy Technologies - Including Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Applications
On October 31, The Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced new topics for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The department is soliciting applications beginning with letters on intent on a range of topics and subtopics, including the development of a prototype fuel cell electric hybrid truck for waste transportation, and advanced membranes and catalysts for fuel cells.
The letters of intent are due on December 16, with final applications due on February 04, 2014.
For more information on the SBIR/STTR topics, click here.
Fuel Cell Technologies Office Announces $4 Million in Funding for Advanced Hydrogen Storage
On October 29, the Department of Energy Fuel Cell Technologies Office, in support of the Administration's all-of-the-above energy strategy, announced up to $4 million in funding during fiscal year 2014 for advanced hydrogen storage systems. This investment aims to support the commercialization of hydrogen storage technologies for use in automobiles, portable power, and material handling.
Topic areas in the funding announcement include reducing hydrogen compression costs, improving materials for fiber composites and plant components, and the discovery of new storage materials.
Full applications are due by January 17.
For a link to the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), click here.
Long Island Power Authority Issues RFP for Renewables, Distributed Generation
On October 21, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), a non-profit municipal power provider, issued two requests for proposals (RFPs). The first RFP seeks the procurement of new renewable capacity from a variety of technologies, including fuel cells, for up to 280 megawatts (MW) by 2018.
The second RFP is for as much as 1,630 MW of distributed
generation, energy storage and demand response resources to replace current generation by 2019.
The RFP's are part of LIPA's long range renewable energy plan, expected to increase renewable generation by 1,000 MW by 2022.
Proposal deadlines for both RFPs is March 31, 2014.
For a link to the RFP's, click here and here.
Department of Labor Seeking Input on Fuel Cell Technicians
 The US Department of Labor's Occupational Information Network (O*NET) is seeking assistance from expert fuel cell technicians, with at least five years experience, to complete a series of occupational questionnaires for a national database. This database is a service to employers, human resource professionals, job counselors, and labor market analysts across the country, providing information about the skills, abilities, activities, and work context for about 900 occupations nationwide.
Technicians will be asked to complete several O*NET questionnaires to provide information on their field of expertise. These take about 90 minutes to complete.
Interested applicants should contact Jim Rose Business Liaison O*NET Operations Center, RTI International at 877-233-7348, Ext. 121 or by email [email protected].
Further information about this initiative can be found at www.doleta.gov/programs/onet.
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About the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Connection
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Administration
Press releases and story ideas may be forwarded to Connor Dolan and Karen Hall for consideration at [email protected] and [email protected] respectively.
The Sponsors
Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association -- The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) is the trade association for the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industry, and is dedicated to the commercialization of fuel cells and hydrogen energy technologies. Fuel cells and hydrogen energy technologies deliver clean, reliable power to leading edge corporate, academic and public sector users, and FCHEA members are helping to transform the our energy future. FCHEA represents the full global supply chain, including universities, government laboratories and agencies, trade associations, fuel cell materials, components and systems manufacturers, hydrogen producers and fuel distributors, utilities and other end users.
National Energy Technology Laboratory -- The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory system is owned and operated by the DOE. Its mission is "Advancing energy options to fuel our economy, strengthen our security, and improve our environment". NETL performs, procures, and partners with universities and the private sector. Together, these efforts focus a wealth of scientific and engineering talent on creating commercially viable solutions to national energy and environmental problems. NETL has expertise in coal, natural gas, and oil technologies, contract and project management, analysis of energy systems, and international energy issues. NETL supports DOE's mission to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States.
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