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Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Connection
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Bloomberg BusinessWeek Cover Story Features Toyota CEO and Launch of Mirai FCEV in Japan
 On December 15, Toyota's Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) officially went on sale in Japan, marking the launch of Toyota's next-generation vehicle and the culmination of over 20 years of research and development. Toyota expects to launch the Mirai FCEV in the U.S. in spring of 2015, and has committed financial resources to accelerate the development of hydrogen infrastructure in both California and the Northeast.
Bloomberg Businessweek Cover photo Source: Bloomberg
The launch also coincided with a cover story in Bloomberg Businessweek on Toyota's vision for hydrogen-powered vehicles, and the role the current CEO, Akio Toyoda played in its development.
 | | Video: 2016 Toyota Mirai FCEV - Product Introduction and History |
In the article, Bloomberg lays out the history of fuel cell development at Toyota, and the factors that lead up to the official launch, including years of testing, pilot projects, and partnerships with other automakers.
For a link to the full cover story, click here.
New York Times Highlights Unique Carbon-Cutting Potential of FuelCell Energy Power Plant
 On December 14, the New York Times ran a story on FuelCell Energy's carbon capture development project, which utilizes a unique fuel cell system to sequester carbon emissions from a coal-fired power plant.
 FuelCell Energy's Demonstration Project in Danbury, Connecticut Source: New York Times
The article explores how for almost five months, FuelCell Energy's Direct Fuel Cell (DFC) power plant has been chilling a natural gas and steam mixture to negative 40 degrees Fahrenheit, which is then run-off and collected. The system then siphons off the CO2 mixture from the coal plant to feed the fuel cell's chemical reaction, producing clean and efficient electricity. The fuel cell also breaks down 60% of all nitrogen oxide (NOx), another particulate emission of coal-fired power plants.
The demonstration project was made possible by a $2.5 million grant from the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy (DOE FE) and implemented with the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL).
For a link to the full story, click here.
Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Acquires Nuvera Fuel Cells
 On December 18, Hyster-Yale Materials Handling Incorporated announced that its operating company, NACCO Material Handling Group, has acquired Nuvera Fuel Cells. Hyster-Yale is a lift truck manufacturing company headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.
Hyster-Yale will continue research and development, and plans to commercialize Nuvera's fuel cell stack technology for applications in a range of the company's warehouse lift trucks over the next several years.
To read the full press release, click here.
Plug Power Signs Multi-Year ReliOn Contract with Major American Telecom Valued at $20 Million
 On December 1, Plug Power announced that it had signed a $20 million, multi-year contract for its ReliOn stationary fuel cell power brand with a major American telecom.
As part of the contract, Plug Power will supply ReliOn systems, which will include fuel cells, GenFuel on-site refillable hydrogen storage, and other equipment in a environmentally-hardened outdoor cabinet. The ReliOn fuel cells, paired with on-site hydrogen, will provide reliable backup power for continuous operation at telecom sites.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
First Public Hydrogen Fueling Station, Built by Linde, Opens in Sacramento, California
On December 10, the first public hydrogen fueling station opened in Sacremento, California at Ramos Oil with hydrogen technology provided by Linde North America. This station marks the 10th publicly available hydrogen fueling station in California, and one of 51 being funded by the California Energy Commission (CEC).
The event was marked by a dedication ceremony attended by officials from the city of Sacramento, Department of Energy (DOE), CEC, California Fuel Cell Partnership (CAFCP), and Linde North America.
Representatives from the city of Sacramento, CAFCP, CEC, and Linde dedicate the station source: CAFCP
Linde received funding for the hydrogen fueling and storage equipment from California's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP). The hydrogen station is also part of California's commitment to put 1.5 million zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) on the road by 2025.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
FuelCell Energy Announces Installation of a 3.4 Megawatt Fuel Cell Facility at Natural Gas Pressure Reduction Facility
 On December 4, FuelCell Energy announced the installation of a state-of-the-art fuel cell facility at UIL Holding Corporation's Glastonbury, Connecticut natural gas pressure-reduction facility. UIL Holdings is an energy delivery company servicing Connecticut.
The 3.4 megawatt (mW) Direct FuelCell Energy Recovery Generator (DFC-ERG) consists of a 2.8 MW DFC fuel cell and a turbo expander that will produce an additional 600 kilowatts (kW) of electricity. The turbo expander will harness energy otherwise wasted during the natural gas pressure-reduction process, as well as heat from the fuel cell to aide the turbine, generating clean energy and achieving an electrical efficiency of up to 70%.
The fuel cell power plant is expected to be operational by the end of 2015.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Bloom Energy Announces Completion of Fuel Cell Installation at Medtronic Research and Development Campus in California
 On November 13, Bloom Energy announced the successful installation of a 400 kilowatt (kW) natural gas fuel cell system at Medtronic's Santa Rosa, California Research and Development campus.
Ribbon cutting ceremony at Meditronic Campus the week of November 13 Source: Bloom Energy
Meditronic is a global medical technology company, conducting coronary and structural heart research at the Santa Rosa campus. Bloom Energy's 400 kW installation will provide 96% of the electrical requirements for the Fountain Grove B Building on the campus.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Linde's Fuel Cell Project at BMW Group Achieves Positive First Results
 On December 2, Linde's Material Handling subdivision announced that it had drawn positive first results from a pilot fuel cell material handling project at BMW Group's Leipzig, Germany manufacturing plant.
Linde supplied four fuel cell tugger trains and five fuel cell forklifts as part of the pilot program. Linde and BMW have made improvements in the software and operation of the equipment since the program began, resulting in optimizations in plant operations.
The program is coordinated by the National Organizations Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW). NOW is an industry group responsible for implementing Germany's national hydrogen infrastructure expansion.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Deputy Secretary of Energy Dr. Sherwood-Randall Tours NREL  On December 2, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy visited the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado.
Deputy Secretary Dr. Sherwood-Randall views NREL's FCEV used for research and development Source: NREL
Dr. Sherwood-Randall toured the Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF) within NREL, where she viewed a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV, as well as construction of the laboratory's new 700-bar hydrogen refueling station.
FuelCell Energy Announces Industry Milestone of Three Billion Kilowatt Hours of Fuel Cell Power Generation
On December 10, FuelCell Energy announced an operating milestone of three billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of fuel cell power generated across three continents, since its first installation in 2003. The total electricity produced by FuelCell Energy's Direct Fuel Cell (DFC) power plants is equivalent to powering 271,000 U.S. homes for one year.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
University of New Mexico Group Approves Funds for Pajarito Powder Catalyst Development
On December 4, Pajarito Powder announced that it had received $100,000 in funding from the STC.UNM Co-Investment Fund Committee for the development of its non-platinum catalyst technology. STC.UNM is the Science and Technology Corporation of the University of New Mexico, dedicated to accelerating technology transfer and economic development in New Mexico.
Pajarito Powder's drop-in fuel cell catalyst technology was developed at the University of New Mexico, and the company plans to use the funding for product development and market expansion. Pajarito's use of non-precious metals in its catalyst helps to reduce the overall costs of fuel cells. For a link to the full press release, click here.
Air Products Receives California Energy Commission Funding for Hydrogen Station Testing
 On December 10, the California Energy Commission (CEC) approved the first round of funding for projects as part of its Alternative and Rnewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP), including funding to Air Products for hydrogen fueling station testing.
In the award, Air Products received $300,000 for its Diamond Bar, California hydrogen fueling station, the first of 10 planned stations. The funding will go towards gathering data for research purposes, as well as the operations and maintenance costs related to the station.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
FuelCell Energy Solutions Announces Final Acceptance of Largest Fuel Cell Power Plant Made and Operating in Germany
On December 12, FuelCell Energy announced the final acceptance of its combined heat and power (CHP) fuel cell power plant installed at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) building in Berlin, Germany. Building contractor BAM Deutschland AG designed and built the complex, which achieves a gold sustainability rating with the addition of FuelCell Energy's fuel cell system. The site also features solar panels and a natural gas engine.
FuelCell Energy assembled the fuel cell at its Ottobrun, Germany manufacturing facility.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
European Union to Invest in Boosting European-Wide Fueling Network for Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles
 On December 5, the European Union's (EU) Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) announced €3.5 million in funding for the TEN-T program to commission studies and demonstration projects towards the expansion of Europe's hydrogen refueling network. TEN-T is a group created by the European Commission to develop transportation infrastructure throughout Europe.
The project will help develop national implementation plans for Belgium, Finland, and Poland, as well as the testing of specific hydrogen refueling sites in Sweden and Finland.
INEA expects the project to be completed by the end of next year.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Honda to Debut Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Concept at Detroit Auto Show
 On December 17, Honda North America announced that it would be debuting its new fuel cell electric concept car at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan on January 12, 2015.
Honda FCEV Concept Source: Honda
Honda's concept showcases the design of the automaker's next-generation FCEV, which is expected to launch in March of 2016 in Japan, followed by a launch in U.S. markets.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Linde North America Partners with Sandia National Laboratories to Expand Hydrogen Fueling Network
On December 17, Linde North America and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) announced a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to accelerate low-carbon energy technology, with an initial focus on hydrogen and fuel cells.
The CRADA will begin with two project launches, both focused on the development and expansion of hydrogen refueling stations. For the first, SNL and Linde will co-develop a performance-based design for a hydrogen refueling station in line with the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) hydrogen technologies code, NFPA 2. The second project under the CRADA will model safe, liquid-hydrogen release mechanisms.
This work is aligned with Hydrogen Fueling Infrastructure Research and Station Technology (H2FIRST) initiative from the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE EERE), which leverages national laboratory expertise and facilities to advance hydrogen infrastructure in the U.S.
For a link to the full press release, click here. Tokyo Gas Unveils its First Commercial Hydrogen Fueling Station, Located in Tokyo, Japan
On December 18, Tokyo Gas unveiled its first commercial hydrogen fueling station, following the official Japanese launch of the Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) on Monday, December 15.
A Mirai FCEV on Display at the Unveiling Ceremony of Tokyo Gas's Hydrogen Station
The station is located in Narima Ward, Tokyo, and can fully fuel up to six FCEVs per hour. Tokyo Gas will make the station open to the public as Toyota begins to deliver the first Mirai FCEVs to customers.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Air Products Sells SmartFuel Hydrogen Fueling Station to Hyundai Australia
On December 10, Air Products announced the sale of a SmartFuel hydrogen fueling station to Hyundai Motor Company Australia (HMCA).
The fueling station will be used to fuel the country's first ix35 Tucson fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), and will be located in New South Wales, just outside of Sydney. The station is meant to serve as a demonstration project for zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) in Australia.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Fueled by Air Liquide Travel 10,000 Kilometers for Chinese Road Show
 On December 17, Air Liquide announced that three fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), fueled by the company's mobile hydrogen fueling station, had completed a record-breaking 10,000 kilometer road show in China.
Sponsored by SAIC Motor Coporation, the road show began in Shanghai and passed through 64 cities and 15 provinces in 52 days. The vehicles reached a maximum altitude of 4,000 feet above sea level during testing in Tibet as well. Air Liquide provided a total of 3,000 cubic meters of hydrogen fuel over the course of the road show.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Doddle Joins Upp Fuel Cell Cartridge Exchange Point Network
 On December 11, Intelligent Energy announced that the parcel exchange company, Doddle, was the latest to join the network of cartridge exchange points in the United Kingdom for the Upp USB fuel cell charger. Doddle has 24 shops around the United Kingdom at transportation hubs and schools.
Cartridge exchange points allow Upp owners to trade in empty Upp hydrogen cartridges for a full one, at the cost of �5.95 per cartridge. A single Upp cartridge can provide approximately one week's worth of power to a typical smartphone.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Connecticut Recognized as One of Nation's Top Fuel Cell States in DOE Report
 On December 17, Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy announced that Connecticut had once again been recognized as one of the leading states in the fuel cell and hydrogen industry by the Department of Energy (DOE).
In the report " The State of the States: Fuel Cells in America 2014," efforts to advance the fuel cell industry and improve grid resiliency by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) as well as the Connecticut Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Coalition (CHFCC), are higlighted. The state recently formed a green bank to finance clean energy projects such as fuel cells, and is home to several major fuel cell companies.
Connecticut is also part of the eight-state zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) Memorandum of Understanding to put 3.3 million ZEVs, including fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) on the road by 2025.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Plug Power Recognized by Food Logistics Magazine For GenKey Solution
On December 16, Plug Power announced that it had been named to the 2014 Food Logistics FL100+ list, which profiles innovative technologies and processes in the global food and beverage supply chain business.
Plug Power's GenKey fuel cell solution, which includes fuel cells for material handling, hydrogen storage and fueling, as well as maintenance, was recognized by Food Logistics for helping transform the way the food and beverage industry does business.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
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DSI 2015 Military Mobile Power Summit Registration Open
DSI's 3rd Military Mobile Power Summit will bring together stakeholders in a "Town Hall" forum with the central theme of: "Enhancing Military Capability through Operational Energy". The Summit allows for civilian and military users across the energy and power spectrum to come together to learn, discuss, debate, and help advance several key areas within the mobile power community such as:
- Tactical energy harvesting technologies
- Portable power for austere weather environments
- Tactical renewable energy programs
- Biofuels and advanced "drop in" fuels
- Optimization of microgrids
- Advanced fuel cell technologies
- R&D in waste-to-energy conversions for forward operating bases (FOBs)
The event will feature speakers from the Department of Defense (DOD)as well as the Department of Energy (DOE).
The forum is open to the public, however seating is limited. Contact DSI at 1-917-435-1266, or visit their website here.
11th International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Expo
The FC EXPO is part of World Smart Energy Week, co-locating with other shows including PV Expo, Wind Expo, Battery Japan, International Smart Grid Expo, and more. More information on the FC EXPO is available online at http://www.fcexpo.jp/en/.
For more information about the U.S Pavilion, please contact Jennifer Gangi at jgangi@fchea.org or by phone at 202-261-1339.
ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit 2015 Registration Open Register now 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 breakthrough 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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 Federal Program News
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Senate Confirms Department of Energy Office of Science and Energy Undersecretary Dr. Franklin Orr
 On December 4, the Senate confirmed Dr. Franklin Orr as the Undersecretary for Science and Energy at the Department of Energy (DOE).
As Undersecretary, Dr. Orr will oversee the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and it's constituent programs, including the Fuel Cells Technologies Office (FCTO). The Undersecretary for Science and Energy reports directly to the DOE Office of the Secretary.
Dr. Orr was previously a faculty member at Stanford University.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Sandia National Labs Releases Study Analyzing the Underground Storage of Hydrogen Gas
 On December 9, Sandia National Laboratory (SNL) published the results of its study on the large-scale storage of hydrogen in underground sites, and the advantages over aboveground storage.
In the study, SNL concluded that geologic, or subterranean storage, of large quantities of low-pressure hydrogen gas could make the production and distribution of hydrogen easier for the emerging fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) market. In addition, as other installation of other renewables such as wind and solar generation increases, bulk geologic hydrogen storage could be used to store excess power generated during off-peak times.
In conjunction with the report, SNL developed a model analyzing the most favorable locations for large-scale underground storage of hydrogen.
For a link to the full report, click here.
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R&D Magazine | December 3, 2014
Kyodo News | December 4, 2014
Auto Blog Green | December 5, 2014
Motoring Australia | December 8, 2014
IEEE Spectrum| December 8, 2014
Business Week | December 8, 2014
Energy Information Agency | December 10, 2014
Hyundai | December 10, 2014
Department of Energy Blog | December 10, 2014
Wall Street Journal | December 15, 2014
Union of Concerned Scientists | December 16, 2014
Business Vancouver | December 16, 2014
Bloomberg Businessweek | December 17, 2014
Financial Times | December 18, 2014
MSN Money | December 18, 2014
Electric Auto Sport | December 19, 2014 |
California Energy Commission Announces Program Opportunity Notices for Advancing Clean Energy with Fuel Cells, Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicles
On December 10, the California Energy Commission (CEC) announced Program Opportunity Notice (PON)-14-505, titled Advancing Clean Energy from Bio-Gas, Bio-Methane, and Natural Gas. The purpose of this PON is to advance the market penetration of affordable renewable generation technologies and combined heat and power applications.
Eligible demonstration projects for funding under the PON include fuel cell systems, and up to $5,500,000 has been made available by the CEC for project funding. The deadline for project submissions is February 6, 2015.
For a link to the full PON, click here.
Also announced was a PON for medium and heavy-duty advanced vehicle technology demonstration, including fuel cell electric vehicles. Approximately $24.8 million in project funding from the CEC is available for this solicitation. The deadline for project submissions is January 29, 2015.
For a link to the full PON, click here.
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.
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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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