Air Products Signs $25.5 Million Deal with FirstElement Fuel for California Hydrogen Fueling Station Equipment
 On October 6, Air Products announced that it had signed a $25.5 million agreement with FirstElement Fuel to be the provider of hydrogen fuel and equipment at 19 hydrogen fueling stations. Air Products will work with FirstElement Fuel on these hydrogen fueling stations as they are built through the end of 2015.
FirstElement Fuel is a California-based hydrogen fueling company, and was recently awarded a $27.6 million contract from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to establish a state-wide hydrogen fueling network. This is part of a larger $50 million award to build 50 hydrogen stations in California by the end of next year.
These stations are being built in advance of the commercialization fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in the state by automakers such as Honda, Toyota, and Hyundai. The stations will also be built in accordance with the SAE J2601 hydrogen fueling standard, making them capable of fueling a FCEV in three to five minutes.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
New York Governor Cuomo Visits Plug Power Facility in Latham, New York
 On October 8, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo visited Plug Power's manufacturing facility in Latham, New York. In addition to touring the facility, where Plug Power manufacturers its GenDrive and GenFuel systems, Governor Cuomo spoke about the impacts of the recently announced 0% manufacturing tax for operations in New York.
Governor Cuomo Speaks to Plug Power employees at Latham, New York facility Source: Plug Power
Plug Power recently announced that it had shipped 857 GenDrive fuel cell units in the third quarter of this year. GenDrive customers include BMW, Walmart, Procter & Gamble, Mercedes-Benz, Kroger, Stihl, UNFI, and Volkswagen. Additionally, Plug Power provided GenFuel hydrogen systems to Volkswagen, Walmart, FedEx, and Kroger.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Linde to Build and Operate First Retail Hydrogen Station in U.S.
 On October 6, Linde announced that it was nearing completion of its first retail hydrogen fueling station in West Sacramento, California. The hydrogen fueling pump will be placed alongside other alternative fueling placements at a Ramos Oil Company fuel station.
Linde Hydrogen Tank and Compressor Source: Linde
The station will use Linde's IC 90 ionic compressor, which uses ionic fluids to compress the hydrogen gas for fueling.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
EPA Administrator Visits the FuelCell Energy Park in Bridgeport, Connecticut
On October 14, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator, Gina McCarthy, and Bridgeport Mayor, Bill Finch, toured Dominion's 15 megawatt (MW) fuel cell park. The one-and-a-half acre installation, located on a brownfield site, is powered by FuelCell Energy's fuel cell power plants.
EPA Administrator McCarthy speaks at Bridgeport FuelCell Energy Power Plant along with Mayor Bill Finch and CEO of FuelCell Energy Chip Battone Source: Office of Mayor Bill Finch
Administrator McCarthy and Mayor Finch spoke following the tour, highlighting the need for more innovative clean energy projects like the Bridgeport fuel cell installation to reduce carbon emissions.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Connecticut Governor Malloy Announces $5.1 Million in State Microgrid Funding Including FuelCell Energy Deployment
On October 8, Massachusetts Governor Daniel P. Malloy awarded Bridgeport and Milford a total of $5.1 million to engineer and develop microgrid systems that will connect critical buildings with on-site power generation in the event of a power outage.
The project at the University of Bridgeport will incorporate at fuel cell from FuelCell Energy to ensure power for campus buildings, such as the dining hall, recreation center and police station.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Ballard Power Announces Multi-Year Fuel Cell Supply Agreement with Plug Power
On October 8, Ballard Power Systems announced that it signed a long-term agreement with Plug Power to provide fuel cell stacks for its GenDrive fuel cell system used in forklift trucks. The agreement is effective immediately and runs through the end of 2017.
The new agreement encompasses the same Ballard fuel cell stacks that it has already been providing to Plug Power, including the FCgen-1020ACS and FCvelocity-9SSL configurations.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Daimler, Linde, and Partners to Collaborate on Expansion of Germany's Hydrogen Fueling Stations
On October 8, Daimler announced that it is partnering with the Linde Group, as well as several other oil and gas companies, to significantly expand the hydrogen fueling station network in Germany.
The two companies are investing €10 Million each for 20 total hydrogen fueling stations around the country, 13 of which will be completed by the end of 2015. Additionally, each station will be supplied with hydrogen generated entirely from renewable sources. The first Daimler and Linde backed public stations was opened on September 29 in Berlin-Charlottenberg.
The German National Organisation Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW) is supporting the project as part of the country's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology National Innovation Program (NIP) and H2Mobility initiative.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Iwatani Expects Hydrogen Sales to Jump on Fuel Cells
 On October 3, Iwatani Corporation stated that they expect sales of hydrogen fuel to rise five-fold by 2025, as automakers including Toyota, Honda and Hyundai commercialize fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
Iwatani currently supplies 60 percent of the hydrogen fuel in Japan, and is the country's sole provider of liquid hydrogen. Japan's Prime Minister recently committed to creating a 'hydrogen society' in Japan, providing funding for hydrogen fueling stations, as well as fuel cell power for homes and businesses.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Sandia Labs Concludes that Fuel Cell Lights are Ready for Commercial Use
 On September 30, researchers at Sandia National Labs (SNL) concluded a pilot program for mobile lighting systems using fuel cells. The five year program established the technology's proven track record in applications such as construction, sports, entertainment and in airports. Upon completion of the program, SNL concluded that the fuel cell powered lighting systems were ready for commercialization.
Fuel Cell Lighting Illuminates Construction at San Francisco Airport Source: Sandia National Labs
The pilot program's six fuel cell-powered lighting units have been successfully deployed for nighttime construction at the San Francisco International Airport, various entertainment events, and at NASA's final launch mission of the Space Shuttle. While the pilot program's primary driver was to reduce emissions, the significant noise reductions of fuel cell powered lighting units was valuable in a variety of applications.
The program was sponsored by the Department of Energy's Fuel Cell Technologies Office (DOE FCTO), the California Department of Transportation, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, and several other industry and institutional project partners.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Bloom Energy, Washington Gas, and Macerich Announce Fuel Cells at Danbury Fair Mall
 On October 23, Bloom Energy, Washington Gas Energy Systems, and mall-owner Macerich announced the dedication of a Bloom Energy 750 kilowatt (kW) solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The fuel cell has been in operation since last June, providing clean, reliable energy for the 1.3 million-square-foot building.
The project was financed through a partnership between Washing Gas Energy Services and the Connecticut Low-Emission Renewable Energy Certificate (LREC).
On Friday, October 24, Danbury Fair will host an event to commemorate the milestone.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Ballard to Deploy ElectraGen Fuel Cell System for Jamaican Cellular Network
On September 29, Ballard Power Systems announced it had received an order from the company's Caribbean distributor, Precision Power & Air, for 13 ElectraGen-ME fuel cell backup power systems to be deployed in the Digicel network in Jamaica. Digicel is a large communications provider operating in Asia, Central America and the Caribbean.
This is Ballard's second order from Digicel, and will bring the total amount of fuel cell systems deployed to Jamaica's critical sites to 25. The first fuel cell systems installed into Digicel's network have been operating smoothly for more than two years, providing power during blackouts caused by extreme weather.
For a link to the full article, click here.
FuelCell Energy Awarded $3.2 Million for Development of Next-Gen Fuel Cell Power Plants
 On October 1, FuelCell Energy announced it had received a three-year, $3.2 million contract from the Department of Energy (DOE) for the development of advanced material, next-generation fuel cell power plants. Both the University of Connecticut and the Illinois Institute of Technology will support FuelCell Energy's research for this project.
The advanced material developments will enhance power density and performance of the fuel cell plants, and will support the DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's target of cost-effective systems for the co-generation heat, power and hydrogen.
For a link to the full article, click here.
UK Government Announces �11 Million in Funding for Hydrogen Fueling Network
On October 9, UK Business Minister Matthew Hancock announced that �11 million in funding will be allocated to establish a network of 15 hydrogen refueling station across the UK by the end of 2015.
Of that funding, �2 million will go towards upgrading existing hydrogen fueling stations to make them available to the public, and �3.5 million in funding will be match by private industry for the construction of up to seven new hydrogen fueling stations. The funding also includes a �2 million allocation for public sector fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
Hyundai FCEV on display at London Olympics Source: ITM Power
These initial 15 stations are the first steps towards a potential network of 65 stations targeted by the UK H2Mobility initiative. H2Mobility currently has 12 industry participants, including Air Liquide, Daimler AG, Honda, Intelligent Energy, ITM Power, Toyota, and Johnson Matthey Plc.
For a link to the full ITM Power article, click here.
Hydrogenics Announces Celerity Fuel Cell Product Line for Medium and Heavy Duty Trucks
 On October 13, Hydrogenics announced a new product offering, the Celerity fuel cell, which is designed to be deployed in medium and heavy-duty buses and trucks. The Celerity fuel cell offers installation options that reduce the cost of vehicle ownership and increase a vehicle's reliability and maintainability.
The "drop-in" technology allows for rapid integration into medium and heavy-duty vehicles without needing to change the fuel cell's optimal voltage output or conversion. The Celerity fuel cell also features an advanced cold-weather package, which can withstand temperatures as cold as -40 degrees Celsius.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Mercedes-Benz Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Reaches 300,000 Kilometer Mark
On October 8, Mercedes-Benz announced that one of their B-Class F-cell had surpassed more than 300,000 kilometers (km) in continuous driving under normal, everyday conditions.
The B-Class F-Cell has already seen day-to-day use with customers in European and American markets since 2010, and the total distance traveled of the fuel cell fleet, which now includes more than 300 private and research vehicles, has surpassed 9 million km.
Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell Source: Daimler
Researchers hope to use results from the B-Class F-Cell to further optimization and development of the next generation of fuel cell electric vehicles.
For a link to the full article, click here. CALSTART Announces the Country's First 60-Foot Fuel Cell Electric Bus
 On October 13, CALSTART announced that it had received approval form the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to develop North America's first ever 60-foot fuel cell electric bus (FCEB). The bus will be built by New Flyer industries in collaboration with Siemens, and Ballard Power will provide a next-generation fuel cell system.
The 60-foot bus will utilize a combination of batteries, a fuel cell, and a hydrogen storage system, and the electric drive will allow the fuel cell to operate at a steady-state and utilize regenerative braking.
Funding for the FCEB came from the FTA's National Fuel Cell Bus Program, and construction is expected to be finished by middle of next year.
For a link to the full article, click here.
FuelCell Energy Awarded Contract to Evaluate New Applications for Direct FuelCell Power Plants
 On October 7, FuelCell Energy secured a contract to evaluate the potential integration of its Direct FuelCell (DFC) fuel cell power plants with combustion-based natural gas processes.
The multi-million dollar contract, awarded by a global energy company, includes this award as well as an earlier feasibility study.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Ballard Power Signs MOU for Development of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Powered Trollies in Latvia
 On October 16, Ballard announced it had signed a non-binding, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Rigas Satiksme, a Latvian bus operator, and Skoda Electric, a Czech Republic bus manufacturer, to collaborate on the development and deployment of hydrogen fuel cell trolley buses for the city of Riga, Latvia.
The program, dubbed "Hy-Trolly," will undergo a feasibility study and product evaluation, followed by the potential replacement of 27 diesel generators on existing trolley buses with Ballard's FCvelocity fuel cells in 2016.
For a link to the full pres release, click here.
Japan Identifies Surplus Green Energy as Method to Produce Hydrogen for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles
On October 6, the Environment Ministry of Japan announced that will begin a model project where surplus energy generated from renewable sources will be used to produce hydrogen to power fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
The plan also contributes to carbon reduction since the hydrogen will be produced using renewable sources. The Ministry is also considering transporting the hydrogen to hydrogen fueling stations to fuel existing FCEVs.
The Japanese government has set a goal of building 100 hydrogen refueling stations by the end of 2015.
For a link to the full article, click here.
ITM Power Takes Delivery of Hyundai's Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle
On October 20, ITM Power announced that it has taken delivery of one of Hyundai's first ix35 fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in the U.K. The FCEVs are a result of the �31 million Hydrogen For Innovative Vehicles (HyFive) project funded by Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking Initiative (FCH JU) under the EU Framework 7 program.
HyFive will see 110 FCEVs delivered to several European locations. The vehicles will be supported with a hydrogen refueling network, twelve stations of which have already been constructed, with another six planned. Three of these stations are being built by ITM Power.
Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Source: ITM Power
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Ballard and Van Hool Launch Service Center for European Fuel Cell Electric Buses
On October 21, Ballard Power and Van Hool N.V. announced that they will open a dedicated, joint European Service and Parts Center (ESPACE) for fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) in November of this year.
The goal of ESPACE is to support the Van Hool FCEBs in Europe, which are powered by Ballard's fuel cell modules. The ESPACE service center will be located at Van Hool's manufacturing facility in Lier, Belgium, and will be able to store more than 200 parts on site, including fuel cell modules, batteries, and electric drivetrains.
By the end of 2014, there will be 27 FCEBs in operation in five European cities.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
European Commission Adopts New Rule to Ensure Minimum Coverage of Alternative Fueling Infrastructure
 On September 29, the European Commission adopted new rules for European Union (EU) member states to ensure the construction of alternative fueling stations across Europe by 2025. The rule covers a variety of alternative fueling infrastructure, including hydrogen refueling stations.
The rule states that member countries must make public their infrastructure targets and present national policy frameworks to support the build-out by the end of 2016. The EU will then assess the frameworks to ensure coherence on a Union level, and ensure adoption of standards for fueling equipment and safety.
As of today, France, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, and Germany have all committed existing resources to developing hydrogen refueling infrastructure.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
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