Air Liquide and PDC Machines Commit to Hiring Veterans Through Joining Forces Initiative
On May 11, the Department of Energy (DOE) highlighted two FCHEA members taking part in the Joining Forces Initiative, an effort led by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to hire veterans. Air Liquide and PDC Machines were both recognized for their achievements in veteran and military spouse hiring.
PDC Machines Kareem and Sayed Afzal with First Lady Michelle Obama at White House Ceremony
Source: DOE
Air Liquide has pledged to make veterans 10% of the annual hires, and PDC Machines aims to make veterans or military spouses 8-10% of its workforce by 2020. The DOE also has developed tools and held webinars for veterans looking for opportunities in the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industry.
For a link to the full article, click here.
California Officials Inaugurate First Hydrogen Fueling Station in Santa Barbara
On May 13, Santa Barbara's first hydrogen fueling station was dedicated in an opening ceremony, attended by a range of California officials. It is the first public station on the central Californian coast, allowing fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) owners to refuel between Los Angeles and the Bay area traveling on Highway 101.
California and Automaker Officials Dedicate the Santa Barbara Fueling Station Source: CAFCP
Attendees include officials from the California Air Resources Board, California Energy Commission, California Governor's Office, Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition, and California Fuel Cell Partnership, as well as representatives from FCEV automakers.
For a link to the media advisory, click here.
FuelCell Energy and ExxonMobil to Pursue Carbon Capture Technology
On May 5, FuelCell Energy and energy company ExxonMobil announced an agreement to jointly pursue carbon dioxide capture technology through a new application of carbonate fuel cells. FuelCell Energy reports that this technology could substantially reduce costs and potentially lead toward large-scale application globally.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Anglo American Platinum Announces Launch of Hydrogenious Technologies' First Commercial Hydrogen Storage System and Plans to Enter U.S. Market with Partner United Hydrogen
On May 4, Anglo American Platinum announced that Hydrogenious Technologies, a German hydrogen storage startup, has launched its first commercial hydrogen storage system. The system features a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzer to generate hydrogen from solar power and Hydrogenious' Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier (LOHC) to store the hydrogen.
Hydrogenious recently signed a deal with United Hydrogen Group (UHG), a hydrogen distribution company in the United States, which will supply several hydrogen storage system products to UHG and enable Hydrogenious to enter the United States market.
Anglo American made an investment in Hydrogenious Technologies' first financing round in 2014 as part of its commitment to support early stage technologies and applications that use or enable use of platinum group metals.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Capitol Hyundai Of San Jose Celebrates First Fuel Cell Customer Delivery In Northern California
 On May 2, Hyundai Motor America announced that Capitol Hyundai of San Jose, its first fuel cell dealer in Northern California, has delivered its first Tucson Fuel Cell Vehicle to a customer. Hyundai reports that since its launch in June 2014, Tucson Fuel Cell drivers have accumulated more than one million miles on the streets of California, eliminating more than 400 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
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| | Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell vehicle outside of Capitol Hyundai of San Jose California (Source: Hyundai) |
Hyundai has delivered more than 100 Tucson Fuel Cells in the United States since its introduction.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
ITM Power Announces Launch of its First London Hydrogen Refueling Station as Part of HyFive Project
On May 10, ITM Power officially launched its first publicly available hydrogen fueling station in London at the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington. The station was opened to the public by Andrew Jones MP, UK Transport Minister, and was supported by automakers Hyundai, Toyota, Honda, and Symbio FCell, a Renault partner.
 Toyota, Hyundai, and Honda FCEVs at hydrogen fueling station launch in UK Source: ITM Power
The station is the first of a planned network of three stations in the United Kingdom as part of the HyFive project, funded by the UK's Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH-JU).
Officials from ITM Power, UK Government, and various automakers participate in ribbon cutting Source: ITM Power
For a link to the full press release, click here.
In addition to the station opening on May 10, ITM Power announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Good Energy, a renewable energy supply and generation company, to explore green energy tariffs for hydrogen production at its fueling stations across the country.
The companies will consider strategies for sourcing low-carbon energy at the hydrogen fueling stations, including direct renewable generation onsite, grid balancing, and renewable energy contracts.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Air Products and NSPE Team Up to Commercialize Their First Retail Hydrogen Fueling Station in Japan
 On May 18, Air Products announced that, in partnership with Nippon Steel & Sumikin Pipeline & Engineering Co. (NPSE), it had completed its first retail hydrogen refueling station in Tokyo, Japan.
Air Product's and NPSE's Tokyo Based Retail Hydrogen Fueling Station Source: Air Products
The Tokyo hydrogen station is the first of multiple planned hydrogen refueling stations between Air Products and NPSE. The Tokyo station uses Air Product's SmartFuel hydrogen technology and fueling protocol license.
The two companies are constructing a second retail hydrogen refueling station in Hokkaido, Japan, which is planned to come online in September 2016.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
myFC Fuel Cell Charger JAQ Becomes IEC-Certified in Europe
On May 13, myFC confirmed that its portable fuel cell charger, JAQ, has been certified by the International Electrochemical Commission (IEC), making it CE-approved for European markets.
myFC JAQ portable fuel cell charger Source: myFC
The IEC Certification ensures the fuel cell charger is compatible and harmonized with a variety of regulations both in the European Union and internationally. myFC expects to ship the first devices following the complete certification.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Shell Creates Green Energy Division to Invest in Wind Power, Includes Hydrogen Activities
 On May 13, Shell announced it had formed New Energies, a consolidated division to invest in renewable and low-carbon energy pathways such as wind energy. The new division includes Shell's hydrogen activities, as well as biofuels and other electrical projects.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Hyundai Plans to Launch Next-Generation Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle in 2018
On May 18, Hyundai Vice-Chairman Yang Woong-Chul announced that the automaker will launch a next-generation fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) in 2018, as a successor to the Tucson ix35 FCEV, which launched in the U.S in 2014.
Hyundai Tucson FCEV, Hyundai's first mass-market FCEV Source: Hyundai
According to Hyundai, the new model will be a sport utility vehicle (SUV), in contrast to other FCEV models.
For a link to the full article, click here.
McPhy Displays Hydrogen Refueling Solution at ACT Expo
 On May 2, McPhy Energy North American announced that it will showcase its SimpleFuel refueling solution at booth 1712 at the Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Long Beach, California on May 3 - 5. McPhy's SimpleFuel refueling solution integrates on-site hydrogen generation, compression, and dispensing technologies for a variety of hydrogen fueling markets and applications.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Plug Power Showcases Stationary Power Products at UTC Telecom and Technology Trade Show
 On May 4, Plug Power announced it would showcase its stationary fuel cell and hydrogen product solutions at booth 637 at the UTC Telecom and Technology trade show in Denver, Colorado on May 3 - 6. Plug Power highlighted its GenSure fuel cell solutions for telecommunications, railroad, utility, and government-users. The GenSure product suite was formerly know as ReliOn.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
City of Long Beach to Test Toyota Mirai Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle
 On May 24, the City of Long Beach announced it had acquired a Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) for testing as part of the city's fleet.
Toyota Mirai FCEV being tested by the City of Long Beach Source: Long Beach
The Mirai FCEV will be tested for six months across several departments as part of the city's Motor Pool. The City of Long Beach has converted its diesel and natural gas fleet vehicles to all renewable fuels, which comprise approximately 18% of the City's fleet.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Honda Installs Hydrogen Station, Photovoltaic System at Tokyo Headquarters
 On May 17, Honda announced it had installed a Smart Hydrogen Station (SHS), paired with a Power Creator water electrolysis system and a 20 kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic array, and its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan.
Honda's Packaged Smart Hydrogen Station Source: Honda
The SHS will be used to generate and supply emissions-free hydrogen to fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) owned by Honda at its headquarters.
For a link to the full article, click here.
Construction Commences on 20 Megawatt FuelCell Energy Power Plant in South Korea
 On May 26, FuelCell Energy announced that construction is commencing on a 20 megawatt (MW) fuel cell power plant in Seoul, South Korea. FuelCell Energy partnered with POSCO Energy, a power production company, to construct the plant on a 1.7 acre site.
POSCO Energy will sell both power and usable heat produced by FuelCell Energy's fuel cells at the park, enough to power an estimated 43,000 homes, as well as heat for an additional 9,000 homes. Construction is anticipated to take 9-10 months, and the plant is estimated to be in operation by the end of 2016.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Honda Provides Clarity Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle for the G7 Ise-Shima Summit
On May 26, Honda exhibited the Clarity Fuel Cell, its next-generation fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) at an exhibition as part of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit, being held on May 26 and 27 in Ise-Shima, Japan. The exhibition is part of the Japanese Government's efforts to showcase innovative technologies to the world.
Honda Clarity Fuel Cell Source: Honda
Honda provided the Clarity FCEV, along with autonomous driving vehicles, to various ministers attending the Summit for ride and drive opportunities.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Government Launches �2 Million Competition to Promote Roll-Out of Hydrogen-Fueled Fleet Vehicles
On May 10, the UK Government announced the Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Fleet Support Scheme, a �2 million ($2.89 million) fund to encourage businesses to adopt FCEVs. The fund will cover up to 75% of the cost of an FCEV for businesses, as well as three years of maintenance.
The fund, launched by the UK Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), aims to put up to 100 more FCEVs on the country's roads in the next year.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Air Products Launches Hydrogen Services Business to Support Customer-Owned Hydrogen Plants
On May 17, Air Products announced a Hydrogen Services Business as part of its larger Plant Support Organization. The Hydrogen Services Business will help customers improve reliability and productivity of hydrogen plants, including Steam Methane Reformation (SMR) issues.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
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 Federal Program News
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NETL Researcher Wins Carnegie Science Award For Outstanding Innovation In Energy for SOFC Work
On March 16, the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) announced that its researcher Dr. Shiwoo Lee was awarded the
Innovation in Energy award by the Carnegie Science Center for his work on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs).
Dr. Shiwoo Lee, pictured here with NETL's Fuel Cell Test Stack.
Dr. Lee was recognized for his work in critical efficiency improvements for SOFC technology. Dr. Lee and his research colleagues developed a one-step infiltration technique that deploys engineered nano-materials to active sites within a SOFC's cathode, thereby increasing the durability and efficiency of the cell.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
Energy Department Announces City of San Francisco as Climate Action Champion, Embracing Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies
On May 20, Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) announced that the city of San Francisco has been selected as the first Climate Action Champion to pursue hydrogen and fuel cell technology projects for local transportation solutions. The DOE awarded $4.75 million in funding to increase deployment of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), as well as for education and outreach efforts.
Using the funding, the San Francisco Department of the Environment will conduct training for hydrogen and fuel cell stakeholders in the Bay area, such as harmonization of building codes and regulations, and FCEV community education.
The White House launched the Climate Action Champion Initiative in 2014, inducting an inaugural class of 16 communities that had strong commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
For a link to the full press release, click here.
U.S. Department of Energy Safety, Codes, and Standards Vacancy Posted
On May 2, the U.S. Department of Energy Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) posted a vacancy announcement for a position in the Hydrogen Safety, Codes, and Standards program. The position will analyze the impact of new and proposed legislation, Executive Orders, other regulations, and new codes and standards on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies; assist in the evaluation of hydrogen and fuel cell safety, codes, and standards; support the codes and standards development process; and prepare communications products. The position is open to all U.S. citizens.
View the full announcement for DOE-SE-16-EE-00699-DE at the USA Jobs website. The closing date is May 10, 2016.
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 Upcoming Events
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17th Annual Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Project Review Meeting
On July 19 to 21, the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) will hold the 17th Annual Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) Project Review Meeting, held at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriot Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
For a link to the full event, click here.
Fuel Cell Panel Featuring FCHEA members at Distributed Energy Development & Deployment Summit
On June 1, the Distributed Energy Development & Deployment Summit will take place in Washington, D.C. The Summit will provide a platform for Federal, State and Local-Level representatives to outline their distributed energy deployment programs and plans to move towards a decentralized, resilient and modern grid.
The event will also bring utilities and renewable energy developers together with system integrators, financiers and representatives from distributed energy enabling technologies like fuel cells, energy storage, microgrids and smart cities to tackle the technical and financial challenges of developing the grid of the future.
The summit will feature a panel on fuel cells for microgrid applications on June 1, moderated by FCHEA President Morry Markowitz, with representatives from Bloom Energy, Doosan Fuel Cell America, and FuelCell Energy.
For a link to register for the event, click here.
DSI Announces the 4th Annual Military Mobile Power Summit
On June 12, DSI will hold the 4th Annual Military Mobile Power Summit.
The Summit will focus on the efforts to advance military mobile power and energy capabilities, including fuel cells. This event will highlight the initiatives to reduce the DoD's energy footprint, while maintaining force structure and capability.
Anyone interested in participating in the 4th Annual Military Mobile Power Summit can visit Defense Strategies Institute's website at http://mobilepower.dsigroup.org/ for more information.
For a link to register for the summit, click here.
Electric & Hybrid Industrial Vehicle Technology Symposium Release Call for Speakers
The Electric & Hybrid Industrial Vehicle Technology Symposium, which takes place in Cologne, Germany from November 9-10, will bring together R&D engineers and heads of design and engineering from around the world to discuss, debate and analyze the growing possibilities and future developments for the hybridization and full electrification of construction, industrial and off-highway vehicles, including fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEVs).
Interest in presenting at the conference, as well as attending, is expected to be extremely high, so if you would like to be considered as a speaker please submit your proposal immediately or no later than April 29, 2016.
For a link to submit a proposal, click here. For a link to the full event, click here.
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Denver Business Journal | May 2, 2016 Shelton Herald | May 3, 2016 Scientific American | May 3, 2016
Engineering News | May 4, 2016
Fleet News | May 5, 2016
New York Times | May 5, 2016
The Detroit Bureau | May 6, 2016
Materials Handling & Logistics | May 9, 2016
Vox | May 9, 2016 TechCrunch | May 9, 2016
Daily Mail | May 10, 2016
BBC Podcast | May 10, 2016
Forbes | May 11, 2016
Power Mag | May 11, 2016
Car & Van News | May 11, 2016
Engineering News | May 12, 2016
UNFCCC | May 12, 2016
EV Fleetworld | May 13, 2016
Autocar | May 13, 2016
AGL Magazine | May 2016
Noozhawk | May 13, 2016
Reuters | May 16, 2016
LomPoc Record | May 17, 2016
Facility Executive | May 18, 2016
Santa Barbara Independent | May 18, 2016
Management Today | May 19, 2016
Pulse News | May 19, 2016
Montgomery Herald | May 10, 2016
Huffington Post | May 20, 2016
Progressive Railroading | May 20, 2016
USA Today | May 21, 2016
inhabitat | May 26, 2016
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Request for Information - Innovative Electric Mobility (E-Mobility) Services
 On May 10, the California Energy Commission (CEC) released a Request for Information (RFI) for Innovative Electric Mobility Services. The purpose of the RFI is to solicit projects for potential funding through the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP).
For a link to the full RFI, click here.
AIChE TEP Division Call for Session Chairs and Keynote Speakers for 2016 Annual Meeting in San Francisco
 The America Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Transport and Energy Processes (TEP) Division invites you to attend our Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for November 13-18th, 2016 in San Francisco, CA.
We are offering many sessions in sustainable energy generation and storage technologies, including fuel cells, hydrogen, and electrochemical technologies.
We also are recruiting session chairs and keynote speakers, so please feel free to nominate yourself or a colleague for one or more of these roles. Also, if there is a particular session that is not on this list below that you would like to develop and
run (i.e. find speakers for, etc.), please feel free to volunteer as a session chair for a new session that you would like to spearhead.
More information can be found online here.
ARPA-E Announces $30 Million in Funding For New Technologies to Produce Renewable Liquid Fuels
 On April 26, the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) announced up to $30 million in funding for a new program for technologies that use renewable energy to convert air and water into cost-competitive liquid fuels, including hydrogen.
ARPA-E's Renewable Energy to Fuels through Utilization of Energy-dense Liquids (REFUEL) program seeks to develop technologies that use renewable energy to convert air and water into Carbon Neutral Liquid Fuels, which can be stored, transported, and later converted into hydrogen or electricity to provide power for transportation.
REFUEL will allocate up to $5 million to small business through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR).
For a link to the full press release, click here.
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Administration
Press releases and story ideas may be forwarded to Connor Dolan and Karen Hall for consideration at [email protected] and [email protected] respectively.
If your company is interested in joining FCHEA, please visit fchea.org or contact Connor Dolan at [email protected].
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 the DOE's mission to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States.
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