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Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Connection
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LA Auto Show Features Major Automotive Updates from Toyota, Honda, Audi, and Volkswagen
This week, four major automakers made announcements regarding the commercialization of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) and hydrogen refueling infrastructure support. FCHEA has gathered the relevant press releases, images, videos and other headlines.
Toyota Launches Mirai Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle in Japan, Partners with Air Liquide for Increased Hydrogen Infrastructure Support in Northeast
 On November 18, Toyota Motor Company announced the Toyota Mirai, its next-generation fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), available in December in Japan. Toyota plans to launch the FCEV in the United States and Europe in the summer of 2015.
In a video presentation released the same day, Toyota President Akio Toyoda introduced the Mirai, touting its environmental benefits, range, and maneuverability.
Click to watch Toyota President Akio Toyoda Introduce the Mirai FCEV
Additionally, Toyota North America and industrial gas company Air Liquide announced hydrogen infrastructure investments in five Northeastern states. Toyota plans to launch the Mirai FCEV in the Northeast U.S. in 2016, and is partnering with Air Liquide to build a corridor of 12 hydrogen fueling stations in the area
Toyota Mirai FCEV at California Shell Hydrogen Station Source: Toyota
Toyota showcased the Mirai FCEV this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show, and opened the interior of the car up to the public for the first time.
For a link to the Toyota press release, click here. For a link to the Air Liquide press release, click here.
Honda Announces New Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Concept, Financial Assistance for Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure
 On November 18, Honda unveilled a new fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) concept car, which is set to launch commercially in March of 2016 in Japan, followed by the U.S. and Europe.
The vehicle features a fuel cell stack with more than 100 kilowatts of power output, a range of over 300 miles, and a refueling time of three to five minutes.
Honda FCEV Concept Source: Honda
At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Honda also announced $13.8 million in financial assistance to FirstElement Fuel to build additional hydrogen refueling stations around California. Honda's financing in addition to California's grants could enable an additional 12 hydrogen stations to be built.
For a link to the Honda press releases, click here and here.
Volkswagen Announces Hydrogen Powered Golf SportWagen HyMotion Concept Vehicle
 On November 19, Volkswagen unveiled its fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) concept, the Golf SportsWagen HyMotion. With an estimated range of 310 miles, the concept utilizes Volkswagen's Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB), which allows the car to accommodate a variety of drive trains. Volkswagen SportWagen HyMotion Concept at the LA Auto Show Source: Morry B. Markowitz
The fuel cell drive train was developed at Volkswagen's Technology Center for Electric Traction in Germany, which is also utilized in Audi's A7 FCEV unveiled this week.
For a link to the Volkswagen press release, click here.
Audi Unveils A7 Sportback H-tron quattro, a Fuel Cell Electric Hybrid Concept Vehicle
 On November 19, Audi unveiled the A7 Sportback H-tron Quattro, a hybrid fuel cell electric vehicle, featuring a four-wheel drive and two electric motors, one of which is powered by a 170 kilowatt (kW) fuel cell. Audi A7 H-Tron Quattro Source: Morry B. Markowitz
The A7 has a normal range of 310 miles, which can be boosted by up to 30 miles thanks to a 8.8 kilowatt hour (kWh) battery on board. Audi did not make an announcement as to when the vehicle would be available commercially.
For a link to the Audi press release, click here.
Bloom Energy Installs Fuel Cell Servers at Morgan Stanley Campus in Purchase, New York
 On November 14, Morgan Stanley held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly installed Bloom Energy fuel cells at its 750,000 square foot facility in Purchase, New York. The Bloom solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) will supply approximately 250 kilowatts (kW) of base-load power, as well as resilient, grid-independent power in the case of outages.
The fuel cells will provide power alongside a solar installation to provide upwards of 3 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of power a year.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Plug Power Enters Ground Support Equipment Market with Outdoor GenFuel Hydrogen Installation
 On November 18, Plug Power announced the completion of a GenFuel hydrogen fueling installation at the Memphis Airport. This marks Plug Power's first outdoor installation for hydrogen-powered ground support equipment (GSE).
Two GenFuel hydrogen dispensers at Memphis Airport Source: Plug Power
The GenFuel installation includes a hydrogen storage tank, compression system, fuel pipelines, and a pair of outdoor hydrogen dispensers that will service a 15-truck fleet of airport tuggers, powered by Plug Power's fuel cells.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Apple to Begin Carrying Intelligent Energy's Upp USB Fuel Cell Charger in UK Stores
 On November 19, Intelligent Energy announced retail launch of Upp, its portable fuel cell usb charger, in Apple stores across the UK. Apple will carry Upp starter packs, consisting of the Upp usb charger and a an Upp cartridge, for approximately �149. Individual cartridges can be purchased for �5.95 as well.
Upp Fuel Cell USB Charger Source: Intelligent Energy
A full Upp hydrogen cartridge can delivery roughly one week's worth of smartphone power, and works with a wide variety of USB compatible devices.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
FuelCell Energy, Siemens, and Microsoft Dedicate Zero-Carbon Data Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming
 On November 6, FuelCell Energy, along with Siemens and Microsoft, hosted a cable-cutting ceremony in Cheyenne, Wyoming for a new zero-carbon, waste-to-energy data center. Also in attendance was Wyoming Governor Matt Mead (R-WY), who commented that "this alternative energy project is not only a zero-carbon data center, it is more. It is a laboratory for biogas and fuel cell research."
Wyoming Governor Matt Mead (second from right) participates in the cable cutting ceremony with officials from Microsoft, Siemens and FuelCell Energy. Source: FuelCell Energy
The data center is powered by fuel cells from FuelCell Energy, which are fed by biogas produced at the nearby Dry Creek wastewater facility. The fuel cell power plant is expected to produce 300 kilowatts (kW) of power, providing 200 kW to power the data center while feeding the remaining 100 kW back to the wastewater treatment plant.
Microsoft worked with Siemens to develop intelligent power monitoring equipment for the data center to measure performance and energy output of the fuel cells.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Sainsbury's to be First Supermarket to Dispense Hydrogen Fuel in United Kingdom
 On October 31, Sainsbury's Supermarket announced that it would be the first supermarket in the United Kingdom (UK) to supply hydrogen fuel at it's locations. Sainsbury's is working with Air Products to develop nine SmartFuel hydrogen fueling stations across the London area.The project is being undertaken as part of the London Hydrogen Network Expansion (LHNE) project, of which Air Products is a participant.
The LHNE is a UK government supported consortium of companies with the goal of developing a hydrogen fueling infrastructure to promote the adoption of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in the UK.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Plug Power Signs Long-Term Agreement to Use Praxair Hydrogen GenFuel Installations
 On November 4, Plug Power announced that it had signed a long-term hydrogen distribution agreement with Praxair. Through the agreement, Plug Power will offer hydrogen supplied by Praxair to its GenDrive customers through their GenFuel hydrogen fueling infrastructure.
For a link to the full article, click here.
FuelCell Energy Announces Fuel Cell Module Sales to South Korean Partner
On November 4, FuelCell Energy announced the sale of six fuel cell modules, a total of 8.4 megawatts (mW) of power, to South Korean partner POSCO Energy.
This announcement comes as POSCO Energy finishes construction of the fuel cell component manufacturing facility in Pohang, South Korea, which FuelCell Energy will use to expand operations in Asia.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Honda Making Hydrogen from Solar Power in United Kingdom
 On November 1, Honda announced that it had officially begun producing renewable hydrogen through the use of solar power and water at its Swindon, United Kingdom plant.
Honda FCX Clarity is fueled with hydrogen at Honda's Swindon fueling station Source: Autocar
The facility will function as a commercial- scale hydrogen refueling station, the first of its kind in the country. The station will provide hydrogen to hydrogen fuel cell-powered forklifts as well as commercial vehicles.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Intelligent Energy's Upp Named 2015 CES Innovation Awards Honoree
On November 12, Intelligent Energy announced that its portable fuel cell USB charger, Upp, had been named an Innovation Awards Honoree at the 2015 international Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
Products entered for this award are judged by a panel of independent engineers and industry professionals for both design and engineering innovation. The CES Innovation Awards are sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA).
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Newark Farmers Market Expands Investment in Plug Power Fuel Cells With GenKey Contract
On November 6, Plug Power announced that Newark Farmers Market had expanded its investment in the Genkey fuel cell material handling solution for its food distribution building under construction in Newark, New Jersey.
Newark Farmers Market purchase an additional 110 GenDrive fuel cell forklifts, more than doubling the size of its fleet in Newark. Plug Power will deliver the first shipment of GenDrive units later this year. Additionally, Plug Power will construct a GenFuel hydrogen fueling installation on-site, with fuel dispensers and outdoor hydrogen storage.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
E4Tech Fuel Cell Industry Review 2014 Available
On November 11, E4tech launched The Fuel Cell Industry Review 2014, following on from the excellent series of Fuel Cell Industry Reviews by Fuel Cell Today which ended with the 2013 edition. The Fuel Cell Industry Review 2014 was produced by an E4tech-led team which included Bob Rose of the Breakthrough Technologies Institute and Jonathan Lewis, formerly with Rolls-Royce Fuel Cell Systems.
The Fuel Cell Industry Review 2014 offers data and analysis by region, application and fuel cell type and includes objective commentary on key events in the industry over the past year. It can be downloaded for free from www.FuelCellIndustryReview.com.
European Bus Manufacturers and Mayors Sign Fuel Cell Electric Buses letter of Understanding
 On November 17, representatives from five major European bus manufacturers -Daimler Buses, MAN, Solaris, Van Hool, and VDL Bus & Coach - signed a letter of understanding (LOU) at the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) stakeholder's meeting in Brussels. The agreement aims to deploy 500 to 1000 fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) by 2020, in cooperation with bus operators from major European cities, including London and Hamburg.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Attend the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit 2015
Registration is open to attend the 2015 ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit to be held February 9-11 in Washington, DC. This annual conference focuses on bringing the latest energy innovations out of the lab and into the market place in order to address America's energy challenges.
The Summit gathers 2,000+ of the top energy industry experts from government, academia and business for a 3-day program offering informative seminars, practical solutions for break-through technologies, and critical networking opportunities.
Meet with key representatives from government agencies who are actively supporting energy development as well as investors looking to partner with new technologies. The Technology Showcase displays more than 300 transformational energy solutions from ARPA-E awardees and a highly selective group of companies and research organizations.
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Department of Energy Releases 2013 Fuel Cell Technologies Market Report
 On November 12, the Department of Energy released this year's Fuel Cell Technologies Market Report, which analyzes data compiled over the past year on the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industry, and compares it to previous years.
In the report, several notable trends are highlighted including major fuel cell installments, repeat fuel cell and hydrogen customers, and support from U.S. and international governments for the industry.
Fuel Cell Technologies Office Announces Launch of National Laboratory Tech-to-Market Activities at the Fuel Cell Seminar and Energy Exposition
On November 3, the Department of Energy's (DOE) Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) announced the launch of the National Laboratory Tech-to-Market activities taking place at the 2014 Fuel Cell Seminar and Energy Exposition (FCS&EE). The event will take place on Tuesday, November 11 and will be broken up into two sessions within the Exhibit Hall at the FCS&EE.
Session one, which runs from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM PST, will focus on industry partnerships with National Labs. The second session, which will take place during the Business-to-Business (B2B) product theater from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM PST, will focus on the unique capabilities of the each lab.
Additionally, Rueben Sarkar, DOE's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation, will keynote the opening plenary session on Tuesday, November 11, from 9:00 to 11:30 AM PST.
For more information on the tech-to-market activities, click here.
Department of Energy Answers 10 Questions Regarding SAE Hydrogen Fueling Standards
On November 7, the Department of Energy (DOE) posted an article titled "10 Questions Regarding SAE Hydrogen Fueling Standards," in which DOE Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) interviews experts who helped develop the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) hydrogen fueling standard J2601.
Jesse Schneider of BMW details the background and development of SAE J2601, which comes in advance of the launch of commercially available fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) from several automakers.
Additionally, Schneider and others held an in-person SAE training course at the Fuel Cell Seminar and Energy Exposition, which took place this week in Los Angeles.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Department of Energy Publishes H2FIRST Page on Website
On November 7, the Department of Energy (DOE) published the public page for Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure Research and Station Technology (H2FIRST), a project launched by the DOE's Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO).
Led by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), H2FIRST leverages the expertise and technical capabilities of the national labs to solve near and mid-term challenges faced by the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industry.
To learn more about the objectives of H2FIRST and some of its early activities, click here.
Department of Energy Releases 2014 Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Annual Progress Report
On November 10, the Department of Energy Fuel Cell Technologies Office (DOE FCTO) released the 2014 Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Program Annual Progress Report. The report goes into detail on each of the projects funded by DOE's hydrogen and fuel cell program, and summarizes reports on recent accomplishments.
For a link to the full report, click here.
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Is Electrolysis the Pathway to Reach Totally Carbon-Free Fuel?
E&E ClimateWire | November 20, 2014
Electricity from Fuel Cells Sparking Demand for Platinum
Bloomberg Business | November 19, 2014
New York Times | November 18, 2014
E&E ClimateWire | November 18, 2014
Green Car Reports | November 13, 2014
Green Car Reports | November 16, 2014
Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell a Finalist for 2015 Green SUV of the Year
PR Newswire | November 10, 2014
Just Auto | November 5, 2014
Phys.org | November 5, 2014
Electric Autosport | November 5, 2014
Maritime Administration | November 5, 2014
Proactive Investors | November 3, 2014
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Request for Papers, Proposals, and Information
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Applications for $4 Billion DOE Loan Program Due December 3
December 3 marks the next deadline for industries to submit their Part I application for the Department of Energy's $4 billion in available loan guarantees for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Projects. As a part of the President's Climate Action Plan, the DOE has allocated $4 billion in loan guarantees to promote EERE projects that avoid or reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Fuel cell and hydrogen technologies are eligible for the EERE loan program. The five technology areas of interest under the solicitation are:
- Advanced Grid Integration and Storage
- Drop-in Biofuels
- Waste-to-Energy
- Enhancement of Existing Facilities
- Efficiency Improvements
DOE has due dates for the loan program on a rolling basis as follows:
Part I Due Dates
- Round 1 - October 1, 2014
- Round 2 - December 3, 2014
- Round 3 - April 1, 2015
- Round 4 - August 5, 2015
- Round 5 - December 2, 2015
Part II Due Dates
- Round 1 - January 14, 2015
- Round 2 - March 11, 2015
- Round 3 - July 1, 2015
- Round 4 - November 4, 2015
- Round 5 - March 2, 2016
For more information on the EERE loan program, click here.
In addition to the $4 billion loan guarantee program for EERE projects, DOE is also accepting applicants for its $8 billion Advanced Fossil Energy Projects solicitation and $16 billion Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) loan program.
The Fuel Cell Technologies Office is Requesting Information on Electrolytic Hydrogen Production Pathways
The Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, (EERE) seeks feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on issues related to electrolytic hydrogen production pathways, specifically with respect to the Electrolytic Hydrogen Production Workshop Report.
EERE is interested both in information on the current status of electrolytic hydrogen production pathways, technologies and their potential to meet DOE cost goals as well as feedback on the content of the report, including the key RD&D needs as determined by the participants. EERE is also interested in the community's opinion of the electrolysis technologies that have the most potential to produce low cost hydrogen that meets DOE goals.
This is not a funding opportunity announcement, and the DOE is not accepting applications.
Responses must be submitted electronically by December 5, 2014
For more information, click here. A link to the full EERE Report can be found here.
The Fuel Cell Technologies Office is Requesting Information on Hydrogen Transmission and Distribution Pathways
The Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, (EERE) seeks feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on issues related to hydrogen transmission and distribution pathways, specifically with respect to the Hydrogen Transmission and Distribution Workshop Report.
This is not a funding opportunity announcement, and the DOE is not accepting applications.
Responses must be submitted electronically by December 5, 2014
For more information, click here. For the link to the EERE Report, click here.
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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 cdolan@fchea.org and khall@fchea.org 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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Click here for an archive of previous issues of the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Connection.
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