Toyota Makes Over Five Thousand Fuel Cell Patents Available Royalty-Free
 On January 5, Toyota announced at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada that it was making all 5,680 of its fuel cell patents available for royalty free licensing to help spur the initial market introduction of fuel cell electric vehicles. The patents being released include those for fuel cell stacks, fuel cell system software control, and hydrogen storage tanks. The patents will be available for free licensing through the end of 2020. Additional patents relating to hydrogen production and supply are also being released for an unlimited duration.
Last month, Toyota commercially launched their Mirai in Japan, and plan to introduce the FCEV in California later this year.
For a link to the full Toyota press release, click here.
Department of Energy Announces Up To $35 Million to Advance Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Technologies
On January 22, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, on behalf of the Department of Energy's Fuel Cell Technologies Office (DOE FCTO), announced a Notice of Intent (NOI) to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) titled Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Research, Development, and Demonstrations.
Energy Secretary Moniz Views the Honda Display at the Washington Auto Show with Assistant Secretary Dave Danielson and Robert Bienenfield of Honda Source: FCHEA
In the FOA, the DOE will award up to $35 million in funding to advance fuel cell and hydrogen technologies, including the early adoption of fuel cell applications such as light duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), hydrogen production and dispensing, and a variety of other topics.
The DOE expects the full FOA to be posted sometime in February of this year.
For a link to the full article, click here. For a link to the NOI, including specific areas of interest, click here.
Honda FCV Concept Makes North American Debut at Detroit Auto Show
On January 13, Honda unveiled the latest version of its fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), the Honda FCV Concept, at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan.
The new Honda FCV Concept, unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show Source: Detroit Honda anticipates launching a retail version of the FCEV in the United States following its March 2016 introduction in Japan. The car will feature a range of over 300 miles and a refueling time of approximately three minutes. Its fuel cell stack, which fits entirely under the hood, is 33% smaller and has a 60% increase in power density compared to the previous design, used in Honda's FCX Clarity.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Mercedes-Benz Unveils F105 Luxury Concept Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle at CES
 On January 6, Mercedes-Benz unveiled its concept for a luxury car of the future, which in addition to being self-driving and sporting a living-room style interior, is powered by a hydrogen fuel cell.
 Merecedes-Benz F105 Luxury Concept Car Source: Mercedes-Benz
The concept utilizes both a fuel cell and supplemental batteries to achieve a range of over 680 miles.
For a link to the F105 FCEV product page, featuring more images of the vehicle, click here.
ITM Power Announces Expansion Of Power to Gas Manufacturing, Testing Facilities in Sheffield, United Kingdom
 On January 5, ITM Power announced that it has begun a significant expansion of manufacturing facilities at its Atlas Way site in Sheffield. The expansion includes two new test bays for its HGas Power-to-Gas units and the provision of a new one megawatt (MW) substation.
ITM Power Power-to-Gas Testing Facility Source: ITM Power
ITM Power has also identified a site where an electrolyser of up to five MW can be tested, as well as a series of sub-assemblies to ensure capacity can match electricity demand.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Plug Power Identifies SouthernLINC Wireless as Multi-Year ReliOn Fuel Cell Customer
On January 5, Plug Power announced that it had executed a multi-year contract with SouthernLINC wireless, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based electric utility Southern Company for its ReliOn integrated fuel cell solution and GenFuel hydrogen services at approximately 500 telecommunication sites. Southern Company serves 4.4 million customers in the Southeastern United States.
The integrated ReliOn system provides a complete communications equipment shelter and backup fuel cell power system.
For the link to the overall press release, please click here.
Air Liquide Completes Construction of Two Hydrogen Fueling Stations in Japan
On January 19, Air Liquide held a ceremony to celebrate the completion of two hydrogen filling stations in the cities of Nagoya and Toyota, Japan. These two hydrogen filling stations are the first public-use hydrogen filling stations for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in the central Nagoya area and in Toyota City, respectively.
Air Liquide and Toyota Tsusho officials, allon with the French Minister of Finance and Public Accounts Dedicated the New Stations Source: Air Liquide
The new stations were developed in a collaborative joint venture between Air Liquide Japan and Toyota Tsusho Corp., Toyotsu Air Liquide Hydrogen Energy. Air Liquide Japan was in charge of the installing the stations, which were designed using Air Liquide's expertise acquired from more than 60 hydrogen filling stations they have deployed around the world.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Ballard Prototype Next Generation Fuel Cell Electric Buses Begin Trial in Hamburg, Germany
 On December 22, the first two buses powered by Ballard's prototype FCvelocity-HD7 fuel cell power module were presented to the City of Hamburg, Germany, as part of an operations trial. The buses are based on a new articulated electric bus platform designed by Solaris Bus and Coach, incorporating fuel cell modules as range extenders.
The City of Hamburg has set a goal of eliminating the purchase of diesel buses by the year 2020.
With the addition of these two FCvelocity-HD7 buses in Hamburg, a total of 42 buses in Europe will be powered by Ballard fuel cell modules.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Village to be Powered by Hydrogen
On December 6, Japan Today reported that the athletic village for the Tokyo, Japan Olympic Games in 2020 will be powered by hydrogen. Tokyo officials plan to build hydrogen stations and pipelines in the area which will supply hydrogen gas to fuel cells at facilities in the village.
Additionally, fuel cell electric buses (FCEBs) ferrying the athletes to and from events will be powered by hydrogen. The village will be located in Tokyo's Harumi waterfront area, and will be home to more than 17,000 during the games.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Hydrogenics Wins Two Hydrogen Fueling Stations in California and the United Kingdom
 On December 22, Hydrogenics announced that it had been awarded contracts to supply two 700 bar hydrogen refueling stations, one by Ontario CNG in California, and a second by the Aberdeen City Council in Aberdeen, Scotland. This brings the total number of hydrogen fueling stations planned by Hydrogenics to nine.
In California, the Ontario CNG hydrogen refueling station will be certified to produce renewable hydrogen with Hydrogenic's electrolyzer technology. In Aberdeen, the new station will be part of the Aberdeen City Hydrogen Energy Storage (ACHES) Project, which includes a 10 kilowatt (kW) HyPM fuel cell from Hydrogenics.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Proton Onsite Launches Megawatt-Scale PEM Electrolyzer
 On January 14, Proton OnSite announced the commercial launch of its M Series proton exchange membrane (PEM) hydrogen electrolyzer systems. The M Series products come in both a one and two megawatt (MW) size. Proton also announced that its two MW system provides a 13-fold increase in hydrogen production compared to other commercial PEM systems.
 Proton OnSite M-1, of its M-Series Electrolyzers Source: Proton OnSite
The M Series offers scalable power-to-gas applications through its modular design, converting excess, curtailed, or stranded power to hydrogen for use in chemical processes, fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), biogas production, and natural gas pipeline injection. For a link to the full press release, as well as additional product information, click here.
Toyota Mirai FCEV Receives Over 1500 Orders in Japan, Surpassing Forecast
On January 15, Toyota announced that over 1,500 orders have been received for its Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) in the first month since the Japanese launch on December 15 of last year.
Toyota Mirai FCEV Source: Toyota
Toyota originally forecasted to sell 400 units in Japan by the end of 2015 and hopes to sell 3,000 in the United States by 2017. The automaker recently announced that it was also making all of its fuel cell related patents free to use through 2020.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Intelligent Energy Meets Deployment Target for Fuel Cell Telecom Units in India
On January 15, Intelligent Energy announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Essential Energy India, had successfully installed and operated a hydrogen fuel cell power unit at an Ascend Telecom tower site in India. Ascend Telecom is one of the leading telecom providers in India, and this installation represents the first in a phased roll-out of fuel cell units across the country.
Ascend Telecom's Uttar Pradesh West installation with Intelligent Energy fuel cell Source: Intelligent Energy
The fuel cell unit, located at the remote Uttar Pradesh West telecommunications installation, serves as backup power in the event of grid power failure. Essential Energy India has been contracted for 10,000 telecom tower sites in India, representing over 100 megawatts (MW) of electrical capacity.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Senator Blumenthal Visits FuelCell Energy in Support of Federal Investment Tax Credit
On January 9, Senator Blumenthal (D-CT) visited FuelCell Energy's Torrington, Connecticut, manufacturing facility, where he expressed support for the Federal Investment Tax Credit for fuel cells. The tax credit is currently set to expire on December 31, 2016.
Senator Blumenthal, alongside FuelCell Energy CEO Chip Bottone, speaks in front of employees Source: FuelCell Energy
Earlier this month, Senator Blumenthal also visited a Bridgeport landfill, site of a future energy park that will feature a FuelCell Energy installation, as well as a solar array.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Fuel Cell Patents Growth Strong in Third Quarter of 2014
On January 6, the CleanTech Group published the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index results for the third quarter of 2014, encompassing 1040 total patents granted. Fuel cells technologies were the second highest patent recipient, following Solar.
Additionally, Toyota was the single highest patent recipient, filing 38 fuel cell-related patents alone. General Motors received the second highest number of fuel cell patents, numbering 24.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Doosan Fuel Cell America Partners with Becker & Becker to Install Fuel Cell in Downtown Hartford, Connecticut
 On January 8, Doosan Fuel Cell America announced that it had partnered with Becker & Becker, a sustainable architecture firm, to install a PureCell Model 400 fuel cell unit at the former Hartford National Bank building in downtown Hartford, Connecticut. The building is being converted by Becker & Becker into a mixed-use apartment complex.
The 400 kilowatt (kW) fuel cell will operate in a combined heat and power (CHP) configuration, and is expected to go online later this year.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
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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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Department of Energy Announces the 2015 SBIR/STTR Phase 1 Release 1 Awards
On January 21, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the Fiscal Year 2015 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase I Release 1 Awards.
The awards include funding for non-platinum fuel cell catalysts, as well as the detection of contaminates in hydrogen fuel.
Recipients for the non-platinum group metal (PGM) catalyst research include Proton Onsite, who will develop a non-PGM catalyst based on doped cobalt oxides. With this technology, the DOE aims to help increase performance and lower costs in alkaline fuel cells.
To view the full SBIR/STTR awards, click here.
For a link to the full DOE announcement, click here.
DOE Fuel Cell Technologies Office Reaches Major Patent Milestone
 On January 9, the Department of Energy's Fuel Cell Technologies Office (DOE FCTO) announced that the office had reached a major milestone, with over 500 patents granted resulting from FCTO-supported research and development.
Using the report 2013 Pathways to Commercial Success, the FCTO tracks not only patents granted through research and development conducted by the National Labs and other DOE resources, but successful fuel cell technology commercialization as well. Since 2007, the FCTO reports that a total of 65 technologies have reach the commercial market, including fuel cells, hydrogen production and delivery systems, and storage technologies.
For a link to the full FCTO blog post, click here.
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Bud DeFlaviis, Biogas Magazine | December 28, 2014
New Haven Register | January 2, 2015
CBS Sunday Morning | January 5, 2015
Yahoo News | January 6, 2015
ITM Power | January 6, 2015
Phys.org | January 8, 2015
Kickstarter | January 8, 2015
Ashai Shimbum Newspaper | January 13, 2015
Wards Auto | January 13, 2015
The Japan Times | January 15, 2015
Bloomberg News | January 15, 2015
The Asahi Shimbun | January 16, 2015
Bloomberg News | January 20, 2015
PR News Wire | January 22, 2015
Plug Power | January 22, 2015
PR Newswire | January 23, 2015
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NineSights Releases Request for Proposals for Hydrogen Sensor Technology Suitable for Automobile Use
On January 20, NineSights, a scientific community, released a Request for Proposals (RFP) on behalf of an automaker for hydrogen sensor technology. Funding is available for technology to detect hydrogen leakage, as well as hydrogen gas concentration in the fuel cell and exhaust.
Proposals for the RFP are due on February 16, 2015.
For a link to the full RFP, click here.
California Energy Commission Announces Program Opportunity Notices for Advancing Clean Energy with Fuel Cells
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.
ARPA-E Announces $125 Million in Funding for Clean Energy Innovation
On January 7, the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) announced OPEN 2015, an open funding solicitation for innovative clean energy research and development projects. Areas of research related to this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) include renewable and non-renewable electricity generation, transmission, storage, and distribution, as well as energy efficiency and transportation.
Concept paper submissions are due by February 27, 2015.
To view the full OPEN 2015 FOA, click here.
Call for Abstracts Open for Energy Efficiency Exchange 2015
On January 7, the Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (DOE EERE) announced a call for abstracts for speakers and training sessions at the Energy Efficiency Exchange 2015. The Exchange will take place from August 11-13 in Phoenix Arizona.
The submission deadline is January 28, 2015. Please include a contact, brief overview of the training sessions, and/or name of the speaker.
To learn more about the Exchange, click here.
Applications for $4 Billion DOE Loan Program Due April 1
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 3 - April 1, 2015
- Round 4 - August 5, 2015
- Round 5 - December 2, 2015
Part II Due Dates
- 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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