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Toyota Publishes New Mirai Video Showcasing Fuel Cell Advancements
 On August 14, Toyota released a new Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) video titled "Performance and Technology." the video showcases the advancements in its fuel cell stack technology over the past several decades.
Toyota also debuted the latest in its series of videos "Fueled By," which explore the many ways hydrogen fuel can be created from everyday sources.
The latest video takes leftover lemonade and turns it into hydrogen fuel to power Toyota's Mirai FCEV. Click the thumbnail above to watch the full video.
Edmunds has reported that as of this week, Toyota has received 30,000 requests for the Toyota Mirai FCEV and 1,100 order requests. For a link to the full article, click here.
Intelligent Energy Develops Long-Lasting iPhone 6 Prototype Powered by Fuel Cells
 On August 24, Intelligent Energy announced that it had successfully integrated its fuel cell technology into a prototype Apple iPhone 6, allowing it to maintain a charge for up to a week. Intelligent Energy was able to integrate the fuel cell without changing the size or shape of the iPhone, integrating rear vents into the body to allow small amounts of water vapor to escape.
iPhone 6 internals where Intelligent Energy mounted its fuel cell technology Source: iFixit
The iPhone would attach to a hydrogen cartridge to provide fuel for the fuel cell. Intelligent Energy has been developing integrated fuel cell technology for personal electronics including laptops and USB charging devices, although the technology is still a couple of years off.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Bloom Energy and Constellation Sign Agreement to Develop 40 Megawatts of Fuel Cell Power Across Four States
 On August 12, Bloom Energy and Constellation announced an agreement to develop 40 megawatts (MW) of fuel cell projects for commercial and public sector customers in California, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. Customers include the City of Hartford, and WalMart, who has already deployed multiple MW of Bloom fuel cells and more than 2,800 fuel cell-powered forklifts at its facilities.
Constellation agreed to provide equity financing for Bloom Energy's fuel cell installations, and will allow customers to open 15-year power purchase agreements (PPA) with Bloom Energy.
Constellation and Bloom Energy plan to complete the installations in phases by the end of 2016. When completed, the fuel cells will produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of more than 32,000 homes each year.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Doosan Fuel Cell Announces Fuel Cell Installation at Norco College in California
On August 25, Doosan Fuel Cell announced its newest fuel cell installation at Norco College, which is part of the Riverside Community College District in California. The fuel cell is a 400 kilowatt (kW) PureCell model, which will provide power and usable heat to the 114-acre campus.
Doosan's fuel cell will also help reduce water consumption in the drought-stricken region by 1.4 million gallons annually. California Governor Jerry Brown recently announced a 25% reduction in water consumption across the state. This installation also marks the 25th PureCell fuel cell unit in California, raising Doosan's total energy footprint in the state to 10 megawatts (MWs).
For a link to the full article, click here.
FuelCell Energy Announces Sale of 5.6 MW of Fuel Cells to POSCO Energy
 On August 10, FuelCell Energy announced a sale of 5.6 MW of fuel cell power to its South Korean partner, POSCO Energy. The fuel cells were delivered as part of a multi-year agreement with POSCO Energy to provide fuel cell power to Korean markets.
FuelCell Energy also provided an update on the progress of its manufacturing facility in Pohang, South Korea. Construction and pre-testing of the fuel cell manufacturing plant has completed, and is expected to enter full operation in the fall of 2015.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Hyundai Tucson FCEV Drivers Set 24-Hour Record in Germany
 On August 6, Hyundai announced that two fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) enthusiasts from Norway had driven its Tucson FCEV 2,383 kilometers for a record 24 hours straight, covering a 300 kilometer route between hydrogen fueling stations in Hamburg and Berlin as many times as possible, and stopping only to refuel for an average of three minutes.
The pair averaged a speed of nearly 100 kilometers per hour and recorded a GoPro video of their journey, highlighted in the video below.
For a link to the full article, click here.
SCRA Completes Landfill Gas-to-Power Project at BMW Facility in South Carolina
 On August 3, SCRA announced the successful completion of a landfill power-to-gas project at the BMW manufacturing facility in Spartansburg, South Carolina. The $1.3 million project received funding and technical support from the Department of Energy, and sought to explore the economic and technical viability of converting landfill gas to usable hydrogen fuel for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
The project successfully demonstrated that renewable biogas generated at the nearby landfill could be used to fuel BMW's fuel cell-powered fork lifts, and scaled-up to provide fuel for all 350 forklifts operated by BMW.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
ITM Power Launches RWE Power-to-Gas System in Ibbenb�ren, Germany
 On August 18, ITM Power officially launched its RWE power-to-gas energy storage system in the town of Ibbenb�ren, located in the North Rhine Westphalia region of Germany. The state-of-the-art system links together the local electricity, naturgal gas, and heating systems.
ITM Power's RWE Power-to-Gas Plant Source: ITM Power
The ITM Power system will convert excess renewable electricity generated into hydrogen for storage in the natural gas grid, and is powered by a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electroylzer with an overall efficiency of 86%.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Ballard Power and Zenyatta Ventures to Collaborate on on Fuel Cell Technology
 On August 12, Ballard Power and Zenyatta Ventures announced a collaboration agreement to develop high-purity graphite for fuel cell technology components. Zenyatta is an Ontario, Canada-based mineral company.
Ballard Power will test Zenyatta's high purity Graphite for thermal resistance and corrosion, and will co-develop advanced components and testings for energy storage applications for its fuel cell technology.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Congressman Fitzpatrick Visits PDC Machines Headquarters in Warminster, Pennsylvania
On August 21, Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-PA 8th) toured the Warminster, Pennsylvania, headquarters of FCHEA member PDC Machines.
Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick with PDC Machines representatives Mateen Afzal, Sy Afzal, and Kareem Afzal. Source: PDC Machines
Proton OnSite Manufacturing Achievements Recognized by Senator Chris Murphy
 On August 3, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) announced that Proton OnSite was this week's "Murphy's Monday Manufacturer," which highlights Connecticut manufacturing excellence. Senator Murphy highlighted Proton's success in providing on-site gas generation, including fuel cell electrolyzer production for military applications like U.S. Virginia-class of submarines.
In a press statement, Senator Murphy elaborated, stating "In just the last 18 years, Proton OnSite has set new standards for research and innovation. They've invented clean energy technologies for clients in more than 75 countries on all seven continents and have broken new ground in the field of space travel that will enable NASA's astronauts to take longer missions and store more oxygen on board spacecraft."
Proton OnSite was also recently awarded President Obama's "E Award" for its success in exporting fuel cell and electrolyzer technology.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Hydrogenics Awarded Electrolyzer, Fuel Cell Contract in Fife, Scotland
 On August 6, Hydrogenics announced that it was awarded a contract to supply three electrolyzers and a fuel cell power module for the Levenmouth Community Energy Project in Fife, Scotland.
Hydrogenics will supply an alkaline electrolyzer and a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer for containerized hydrogen fueling, along with another PEM electrolyzer and 100 kilowatt (kW) fuel cell module to be part of an energy storage system powered by excess wind energy.
The project, led by the Bright Green Hydrogen, a non-profit that seeks to promote a hydrogen-powered economy in Fife, along with the Fife City Council and Toshiba, was funded by a �4 million grant from the Scottish Government's Local Energy Challenge Fund.
For a link to the full article, click here.
One Giant Leap: Celebrating 50 Years of Fuel Cells
 On August 21, the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association marked the 50th anniversary of NASA's Gemini 5 mission, which was the first manned spacecraft to utilize fuel cells, launching the commercial fuel cell industry.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
First Toyota Mirai FCEVs Lands in United Kingdom, Europe
on August 8 and 10, the first of Toyota's Mirai fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) arrived in Bristol, United Kingdom and Zeebrugge, Belgium, respectively. Toyota plans to commercially launch the Mirai in the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Germany in September of this year.
Toyota Mirai FCEVs after unloading Source: Toyota
Toyota will launch the Mirai in the United States in October of this year.
For a link to the full blog post, with additional photos, click here.
Doosan Provides Insider's Look at Fuel Cells for High School Energy Ambassadors
 On August 13, Doosan Fuel Cell and the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT) invited 'energy ambassadors' from a local high school to get a look at its fuel cell technology at its South Windsor, Connecticut facility. The event was part of CCAT's Catalyst Energy Ambassadors program, a five-day summer academy focused on energy and sustainability.
High School Students Pose in Front of Doosan PureCell Fuel Cell
The event at Doosan included a tutorial about the science of fuel cell energy followed by a plant tour where students received an insider's view of fuel cell construction and testing.
For a link to the full article, click here.
California Energy Commission Approves Grants for Fuel Cell Transport Trucks at Ports
 On August 12, the California Energy Commission (CEC) approved a grant under its Alternative and Renewable Fuel Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP) of $2.4 million to build and test seven zero-emission, fuel cell- hybrid transport trucks for cargo transport at Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports.
The CEC also gave final approval for a $2.1 million grant originially proposed in April of this year for an advanced demonstration project involving a New Flyer Xcelsior fuel cell electric bus (FCEB). The bus will be powered by a fuel cell system provided by Hydrogenics.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Bloom Energy Partners with Vapor IO for Fuel Cell-Powered Modular Data Center Solution
On August 20, Bloom Energy announced a partnership with Vapor IO, a provider of modular data center technology, to decrease cost and increase efficiency of distributed data center solutions around the world.
The partnership will allow Bloom to combine it's fuel cell stack technology with Vapor IO's 'collapsed' data center design for a low-cost, low-emission data center offering. The joint-offering is expected to be available in early 2016.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Ballard Power Places Follow-On Order with UQM Technologies for Fuel Cell Compressors
On August 18, Ballard Power announced a follow-on purchase order for fuel cell compressor modules from UQM Technologies, which are key components in the fuel cell stacks used in fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) applications.
The fuel cell compressors are designed to power 150 kilowatt (kW) fuel cell stacks. UQM had previously delivered the first order of fuel cell compressor units to Ballard Power earlier this year.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
ITM Power Th�ga Plant Officially Enters Energy Balancing Market in Germany
On August 20, ITM Power announced that its Th�ga Power-to-Gas Electrolyzer plant in Germany has been officially certified to offer secondary balancing power to the grid.
ITM Power Th�ga Power-to-Gas Plant Source: ITM Power
This power-to-gas plant is the first of its kind to operate worldwide, and when electricity generated is higher than local demand, the plant will increase electrical consumption and convert the electricity to hydrogen gas for storage. The plant will operate as part of a larger balancing pool of facilities owned by local utility Mainova AG.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Ballard Power Places Follow-On Order with UQM Technologies for Fuel Cell Compressors
On August 18, Ballard Power announced a follow-on purchase order for fuel cell compressor modules from UQM Technologies, which are key components in the fuel cell stacks used in fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) applications.
The fuel cell compressors are designed to power 150 kilowatt (kW) fuel cell stacks. UQM had previously delivered the first order of fuel cell compressor units to Ballard Power earlier this year.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Clean Energy Group and the Northeast Electrochemical Energy Storage Cluster to Host Webinar on Fuel Cells for Waste Water Treatment Plants
 On September 9, the Clean Energy Group and the Northeast Electrochemical Energy Storage Cluster (NEESC) will host an informative webinar on the use of fuel cells at waste water treatment plants to enhance resiliency from 2:00 to 3:00 PM EDT.
The webinar is part of a series on fuel cell resiliency, and will include representatives from FuelCell Energy Inc. and the Riverside Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) located in Riverside, California.
For a link to register for the webinar, click here.
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 Federal Program News
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President Obama Announces $1 Billion Expansion of Loan Guarantees for Distributed Energy Projects
 On August 25, President Obama announced a $1 billion expansion of the DOE's Loan Program Office (LPO) at the National Clean Energy Summit 8.0 in Nevada in support of distributed energy projects.
The Administration directed DOE to expand its existing Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Project Solicitation, under which fuel cells powered by landfill gas qualify. The Advanced Fossil Energy Project Solicitation will also be expanded, which allows fuel cells in combined heat and power (CHP) configurations to qualify.
For a link to the full press release and additional details, click here.
Department of Energy Fuel Cell Technologies Office to Host Events at Electrochemical Energy Summit 2015
On August 26, the Department of Energy's Fuel Cell Technologies Office (DOE FCTO) announced that it would be hosting a series of events at the Electrochemical Energy Summit 2015 in Phoenix, Arizona to foster better collaboration between DOE's National Laboratories and industry.
The first seminar, taking place at 12:45 PM MDT on October 12, will demystify the process of working with the National Labs. The second event, a poster session taking place at 5:30 PM MDT, will highlight the unique capabilities of the National Labs.
For a link to the event website, click here.
DOE Makes Slides Available for Fuel Cell Material Handling for Shaving Building Peak Energy Usage Webinar
On August 11, the Department of Energy's Fuel Cell Technologies Office (DOE FCTO) held a webinar entitled "Analysis Using Fuel Cell MHE for Shaving Peak Building Energy."
The webinar explored a facility's use of hydrogen fuel cell forklifts and how they can reduce electric grid time of use energy charges. The webinar focused on how different buildings can benefit from offsetting their peak energy demands by using fuel cells.
For a link to view the presentation slides, click here.
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International Battery Seminar & Exhibit Accepting Proposal Submissions for Knowledge Foundation Fuel Cells Symposium
The 33rd Annual International Battery Seminar & Exhibit, taking place from March 21 - 24, 2016, is accepting proposal submissions for the Knowledge Foundation Fuel Cells Symposium taking place at the event. The Symposium targets end-users of fuel cells, as well as developers and manufacturers of fuel cells.
The symposium will cover a variety of fuel cell related topics, and proposal submissions for presentations at the event are due by August 31, 2015.
For a link to a full list of topics and additional information, click here.
FCHEA Members Eligible for Discount to 2015 World of Energy Solutions
World of Energy Solutions (WES) Conference, taking place in Stuttgart, Germany from October 12 -14, 2015, is a leading international conference and trade fair, focusing on energy generation, storage, and mobility solutions, and includes all industry sectors involved in manufacturing energy storage systems for mobile and stationary implementation. This year, the F-Cell exhibition at WES will focus on series production of fuel cell electric vehicles and their integration in a complete intelligent storage and supply system.
FCHEA Members can use the code WES2015_FCHEA for a 10% discount on registration.
For a link to register for WES 2015, click here.
Fuel Cell Seminar & Energy Exposition Registration is Now Open
 Registration is now open for the 2015 Fuel Cell Seminar & Energy Exposition, which will take on November 16-19, 2015, in Los A ngeles, California at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. The Fuel Cell Seminar is the the premier U.S. conference for the fuel cell and hydrogen industry. To register for the 2015 Fuel Cell Seminar, click here.
8th Annual REFF-West
 REFF-West, taking place November 5-6, 2015, is the premier West Coast renewable energy finance event, uniting senior financiers, investors and renewable energy executives from across the country since 2008.
With a focus on renewable energy development in the Western U.S., the 8th REFF-West will highlight financing trends for renewable power, clean technologies and transportation; assess the future of policies and the role of financing innovations; identify early-stage investment opportunities; and discuss the region's role in the international renewable energy marketplace. Plus, unparalleled networking opportunities will allow you to meet senior representatives from both the energy and financial sectors.
For more information, click here.
Remote Monitoring & Control 2015
Remote Monitoring & Control 2015 will be held November 5-6, 2015 in Las Vegas, NV. This conference will cover the latest advancements for monitoring and managing distributed equipment and facilities via recent developments in SCADA, remote networks (wireless & wired), security (cyber & physical), automation, Onsite and Back-up Power, M2M/IoT and all other manner of technology that allows for the management of remote assets.
This technology-driven and solution oriented event brings together the innovators and users from multiple industries, including utilities/T&D, infrastructure, oil & gas, telecom, water & wastewater, facilities management, manufacturing, process industry, railroads and transportation.
For a link to the full event page, click here.
European Fuel Cell Conference and Exhibition
 The European Fuel Cell Technology & Applications Piero Lunghi Conference - EFC15 - is going to celebrate its 6th anniversary in beautiful Naples, Italy, from 16 to 18 December 2015.
This conference offers three days with prominent academics, researchers, students politicians and entrepreneurs, in the field of fuel cells. The topics include Materials, Modeling, Lab Tests, System Design, Fuels and decarbonizing society, Fuel Cell Applications, Fuel Cells operated in reversed mode, Marketing and Policy pathways to full commercialization of Fuel Cells, and Cross-cutting Issues.
A series of special sessions will be held in parallel with the core event: Safety, Regulations codes & standards in Fuel Cells; Microbial Fuel Cells; Dissemination of European projects on Fuel Cell and Hydrogen.
The call for abstracts is now open. Selected paper will be published in the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
The event offers also opportunities to those who want to promote their products and activities. For more information, please visit the website at www.europeanfuelcell.it.
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Gasworld | July 30, 2015
Washington Examiner | August 3, 2015
Automotive News | August 3, 2015
The Register | August 4, 2015
Automotive News | August 4, 2015
Chic Project | August 6, 2015
Wired | August 7, 2015
Business Insider | August 10, 2015
Hyundai | August 11, 2015
Washington Post | August 7, 2015
ABC 7 News | August 10, 2015
Wired UK | August 17, 2015
Eurekalert | August 17, 2015
Earth Island Journal | August 18, 2015
Plug Power Blog | August 19, 2015
Gasworld | August 19, 2015
Gasworld | August 20, 2015
Vice News | August 25, 2015
European Commission | August 25, 2015
Mankato Free Press | August 25, 2015
Forbes | August 25, 2015
Hartford Business Journal | August 26, 2015
Hartford Courant | August 27, 2015
WRC | August 28, 2015
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California Energy Commission Announces Grant Funding Opportunity for Industrial Natural Gas Energy Efficiency Projects
On August 27, the California Energy Commission (CEC) released a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for grants related to industrial natural gas energy efficiency projects. For the proposes of this solicitation, the CEC is looking for projects that reduce natural gas for industrial, agriculture, or water facilities, or provide additional benefits with the same amount of natural gas. Fuel cells powered by natural gas qualify under this FOA.
The deadline to submit applications is Thursday, October 29 by 3:00 PM PDT.
For a link to the full FOA, click here.
DOE Releases SBIR/STTR FY 2016 Phase 1 Release 1 Topics for Hydrogen Production and Fuel Cell Membranes.
On August 14, the Department of Energy (DOE) released the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase 1 Release 1 topics for fiscal year 2016. Topics included hydrogen production from organic waste streams, as well as fuel cell membranes.
DOE issued the full funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for the topics on Monday, August 17.
Letters of Intent for Phase 1 topics are due by Tuesday, September 8 at 5:00 PM EDT.
For a link to the full FOA and additional documents, click here.
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Announces Funding for H2Fuels Grant Program
 On July 22, Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), in partnership with the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology (CCAT), announced funding for the Hydrogen Refueling Infrastructure Development, (H2Fuels Grant) program.
The program, which aims to promote the use of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) in the state, will award $450,000 to qualified vendors to establish two hydrogen refueling station in the Hartford, Connecticut area.
Proposals are due by September 15, 2015.
For a link to the public notice, click here. California Air Resources Board Releases Multiple Solicitations, Fuel Cells Eligible  On June 23, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) released two project solicitations for Fiscal Year 2014-2015 as part of the Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP) and the Low Carbon Transportation Greenhouse Gas Reduction project. The first solicitation, titled 'Multi Source Facility Demonstration Project,' aims to demonstrate multiple zero emission or near-zero emission technologies at a single freight facility in a disadvantaged community. Up to $23,658,500 is available for this project. The second solicitation, titled 'Zero Emission Drayage Truck Demonstration,' will seek to demonstrate zero-emission drayage trucks that utilize on-board range extenders including fuel cells. Up to $23,658,500 is available for this project. Proposals are due by September 24, 2015. For a link to both solicitations and supporting documents, click here.
NYSERDA Accepting Funding Applications for RPS Customer-Sited Tier Fuel Cell Program
 On January 5, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced a set of two funding opportunities for customer-sited fuel cells - one for a fuel cell system rated 25 kilowatts (kW) or less, and another for systems over 25 kW. NYSERDA is making up to $50,000 available for fuel cell projects as part of the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). Funding will be available until December 31, 2015. For a link to the full Project Opportunity Notices (PON) for small and large fuel cell systems, click here and here, respectively. Part I Round 5 Applications for $4 Billion DOE Loan Program Due December 2 December 2 marks the next deadline for industries to submit their Part I application for the DOE's $4 billion in available loan guarantees for 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 5 - December 2, 2015 Part II Due Dates Round 4 - November 4, 2015 Round 5 - March 2, 2016 For more information on the EERE loan program, click here.
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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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