2/25/2000 NAHB Research Center/PATH Plan Field Evaluations Of Fuel Cells in
Residential Construction - NAHB/PRNewswire
In a public-private research partnership,
the NAHB Research Center, the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH), and
Energy Partners, LC have begun evaluating the effectiveness of polymer electrolyte
membrane (PEM) fuel cells for use in residential construction. ...The NAHB Research
Center, located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is the not- for-profit research arm of the
National Association of Home Builders.
2/25/2000 Royal Dutch/Shell's Shell Hydrogen, U.S.' ECD Call Off Venture Plans -
AFX Europe
"Both parties deemed the exclusivity of
the MOU inconsistent with the wide range of hydrogen storage applications currently under
consideration by oil and auto companies," Shell Hydrogen said in a statement.
2/24/2000 Synergy
Technologies Secures Site for Syngen - Canada Newswire
According to the agreement, Synergy and
Stone Canyon will construct its Syngen reactor suitable for a four barrel-per-day
gas-to-liquids (GTL) plant and install it directly into the feedstock of natural gas at
Beau Canada Exploration Ltd's Bantry Gas Plant. . The unit is expected to be completed and
ready for demonstration to potential licensees and marketing partners during the second
quarter, said Synergy. These demonstrations will cover a full range of major commercial
applications, including generation of hydrogen for use in fuel cells, production of carbon
monoxide and hydrogen synthesis gas subsequently utilized in gas-to-liquids (GTL)
processes to make ultra clean-burning synthetic fuels, and the manufacture of industrial
alcohols and an assortment of related products.
2/22/2000 Air Products Supplying Cabot's Midland, Mich., Fumed Silica Manufacturing
Facility With High-Purity Hydrogen - Air Products/PRNewswire
Florio K. Young, development manager in Air Products'
Chemical Process Industries (CPI) Division, noted that the plant is part of the company's
line of smaller hydrogen production plants, with offerings in the 500,000 scfd to five
million scfd range. ..."With this new generation design, we completed the field
installation for Cabot in one week, and the plant was in commercial operation within two
weeks. Our new design approach can substantially reduce costs." ...The process for
the new hydrogen plant was designed by KTI SpA, a subsidiary of Technip Italy. Air
Products has a worldwide cooperative agreement with Technip to supply on-site, high-purity
hydrogen to the global CPI industry. Under the agreement, Technip provides design
expertise for hydrogen plants and steam methane reformers, while Air Products provides
pressure swing adsorption cleanup systems and owns, operates and maintains the facilities
for customers under long-term agreements.
2/21/2000 Snecma Finalises Its Alliance with Pratt & Whitney in Rocket Sector
- Latribune (France)
SNECMA, the French aircraft engine company, has finalised
its alliance with US group Pratt & Whitney aimed at building an engine which could be
used on the upper stages of the Ariane 5 (Europe) and Delta and Atlas (USA) launchers. The
liquid hydrogen and oxygen engine has been baptised the SPW2000.
2/17/2000 Xybernaut and DCH Technology Begin Joint Development of Fuel-Cell Power
for Wearable PC - Xybernaut/PRNewswire
"Fuel cells can potentially provide an
unlimited supply of portable power and may be the perfect solution to the currently
limited life for batteries used for portable electronics," stated Edward G. Newman,
president and CEO of Xybernaut. "With the successful development of fuel cells to
power the Mobile Assistant, we believe we will be able to increase the current mobile
operating time to 12-24 hours or more, and dramatically expand our market as a result.
This combination of expanded battery life in conjunction with our patent portfolio of more
than 450 patent applications awarded and pending will further position Xybernaut to
maintain its leading role in the wearable computing industry. We are excited to be working
with DCH Technology in this area to commercialize fuel-cells for future wearable
products."
2/16/2000 KeySpan Named Service Provider For World's Only Commercial Fuel Cell Power
Plants - Keyspan/PRNewswire
KeySpan today announced that one of its
subsidiaries, KeySpan Services, Inc., has been chosen as the authorized service provider
for PC25(TM) natural- gas-powered fuel cells in the New York metropolitan area --
including two that provide power to the NASDAQ sign overlooking Times Square. ...The
PC-25s are 200-kW natural-gas-powered fuel cells manufactured by International Fuel Cells
Corporation, subsidiaries of United Technologies. Two such PC25s provide electric power
for the NASDAQ sign's home, the Durst Organization flagship at Four Times Square, also
known as the Conde Nast building, a 48-story office tower, located on Broadway between
42nd Street and 43rd Street. In addition to the units at Four Times Square, KeySpan
maintains the New York Power Authority's (NYPA) PC25s at the New York Police Department
stationhouse, in Central Park, and at the Yonkers Waste Water Treatment Plant, in Yonkers.
KeySpan will maintain other units planned by NYPA, including one for North Central Bronx
Hospital. ...KeySpan Energy's experience with fuel cell technology goes back to the 1970s.
The company played a key role in the development of the PC25, a 200-kW fuel cell that is
now providing electricity and thermal energy to hospitals, schools, banks, manufacturing
plants, data centers, and other facilities around the world that need clean, reliable
power. Since 1992, KeySpan has operated a PC25 at St. Vincent's Medical Center, in Staten
Island. To date, that unit has eliminated almost 30,000 pounds of air pollution and three
million pounds of carbon dioxide from the air. The Department of Energy and KeySpan helped
fund the installation of two PC25s at Sun Chemical Corporation, also in Staten Island,
which began operating in 1996.
2/16/2000 DBB and
Shell Develop Multi-Fuel Processor - Shell
During an 18 month research co-operation, dbb Fuel Cell
Engines GmbH, a subsidiary of DaimlerChrysler AG, and Shell Hydrogen, have successfully
developed and tested a prototype gasoline reformer to produce hydrogen for fuel cell
applications in cars. The result of the research co-operation was a 50 kW multi-fuel
system with compact design for mobile and stationary use of fuel cells. The development of
this power plant in just over a year was due to a combination of DaimlerChrysler and
dbb’s expertise in designing fuel processors and complete fuel cell systems along
with Shell's proprietary Catalytic Partial Oxidation (CPO) technology. The main aim of the
project was the development of a completely new compact and integrated gasoline reformer
as the central part of the fuel processor. During intensive testing at the Nabern/Germany
dbb laboratories, the new reactor unit performed well under stationary and dynamic
operating conditions. “We were very pleased with the speed with which we achieved
results in this research project,” said Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Panik, head of
DaimlerChrysler’s fuel cell project. “This is a good example of the versatility
of the new fuel cell technology. But, because of the expected high costs we will continue
to work on a methanol reactor as our first priority, as this is the most advanced
technology today. We will also keep an eye on the progress the CPO reactor is
making.” “We have shown that the concept of gasoline powered fuel cell vehicles
is viable”, said Don Huberts, Chief Executive Officer of Shell Hydrogen. “We
will continue to develop this exciting technology, which holds great promise for enabling
fuel cell vehicles rapidly to enter the market, while using the existing fuels
infrastructure and filling stations.” With these results, the joint research project
will officially come to end by 28th February 2000. Each party will now look for
possibilities for commercialisation of this technology. Close co-operation in different
projects preparing the market-entry of fuel cell vehicles, like the California Fuel Cell
Partnership, and the “Iceland Project” will be actively continued. ...Shell
Hydrogen is also a member of the Icelandic Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Company, a joint venture
also comprising Vistorka, DaimlerChrysler and Norsk Hydro, which is investigating the
potential for eventually replacing the use of fossil fuels in Iceland with hydrogen and
creating the world’s first ‘hydrogen economy’.
2/15/2000 ExxonMobil Executives: Oil Industry Technology Can Deliver Economic
Prosperity and a Clean Environment - ExxonMobil/PRNewswire
ExxonMobil Chairman Lee Raymond and Vice
Chairman Lou Noto predicted today that oil industry technology can and will help deliver
both the economic progress and a clean, safe environment demanded by an inter-dependent
world population. ...Raymond supported the future need for attractive alternative fuels
but noted that, with today's developments, renewables like wind, solar, and biomass can be
players only in niche markets, where they don't have to compete with abundant,
clean-burning, affordable and efficient fossil fuels. "Photovoltaics appear to have
potential, but costs must be reduced significantly and performance dramatically improved
to be competitive. It would take a dramatic breakthrough in technology. "Nor do we
expect battery and fuel cell cars to become dominant in the next 20 years if the free
market is left to decide. No one with today's technology has produced a battery with
anything close to acceptable performance for wide-scale use. And as for fuel cells using
hydrogen, safety remains a serious, unresolved issue as does the lack of
infrastructure," he said. Barring a major technological breakthrough, Raymond stated
that oil and natural gas appear to be the energy sources the world will depend on for the
foreseeable future. ...Noto stated that ExxonMobil also is playing a leading role in
research to develop and apply technologies that reduce energy use and emissions. One
example is the company's partnerships with General Motors and Ford to develop fossil
fuel-powered fuel cells for automobiles. "We've also formed a long-term alliance with
Toyota to develop environmentally friendly, next- generation automotive systems and fuels
with significantly lower emissions and improved efficiency," he said.
2/14/2000 Plug Power Fuel Cell Clears Milestone - Plug Power/PRNewswire
Plug Power Inc. announced today that it has
successfully run a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell for over 10,000 hours.
...Earlier this year, the company announced the completion of 52 complete fuel cell
systems. Of these systems, 37 have been built to run on natural gas and 15 to operate on
simulated fuel.
2/14/2000 Boeing Rocketdyne and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Partner to Develop New
Upper-Stage Rocket Engine - Boeing/PRNewswire
The Rocketdyne Propulsion & Power
business of The Boeing Company and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. have announced a
long-term joint effort to design and develop a new liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen
upper-stage engine to address the worldwide need for new, higher performing propulsion
systems for the next-generation of expendable launch vehicles. ...The first derivative
version of the MB-XX, designated by Boeing as the "MB-60," is a 60,000
lb.-thrust engine, targeted for use on the Boeing Delta IV vehicle and will be available
to support launch operations in 2004. For 45 years, Boeing Rocketdyne has developed and
manufactured rocket propulsion systems for virtually every major U.S. space program.
Rocketdyne developed the Space Shuttle Main Engine, still the world's only large reusable
liquid-fueled booster engine.
2/14/2000 Plug Power Opens Manufacturing Facility - Plug Power/PRNewswire
New York Governor George E. Pataki joined
Plug Power President and CEO Gary Mittleman and other state and local officials, including
Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new building's
opening, today, February 14, in Latham, N.Y. At 50,000 square-feet, the new space will
nearly double the size of Plug Power's current facilities. "Less than two years ago,
I hailed Plug Power's investment in Latham as a great sign of confidence in New York's
economic future," Governor Pataki said. "Now, with the opening of its new
high-tech manufacturing facility, we are again witnessing the tremendous progress our
economic policies are generating for New Yorkers. Plug Power has already attracted
nationwide attention for its development of innovative energy technologies, helping to put
the great Capital Region workforce in the national spotlight. Plug has quickly reached the
350-worker level, and expects to hire its 500th employee by year's end. I am confident
that Plug Power will be one of the future's leading companies and am proud that its
products will read 'Made In New York'," the Governor added.
2/9/2000 FuelCell, Southern Co., Others To Build Plant by Cressida
Connolly - Dow Jones
Southern Co.'s Alabama Power unit will form a special
customer partnership with Mercedes-Benz U.S. International, as the fuel cell plant will be
located in Alabama Power's service territory. ...Southern Co., Alabama Municipal Electric
and FuelCell Energy will provide funding for the fuel cell power plant, and Southern Co.
will serve as the project manager. The plant will operate for at least one year, feeding
the Mercedes-Benz production facility's power distribution system. However, the company
said, the entire plant will be skid-mounted, making it possible to transport it to
different locations for additional demonstrations.
2/9/2000 Families At BMW, Fiat And Peugeot Hold Off Giants - Dow Jones
Global competition is generating tremendous pressures to
create global economies of scale. Adding to the competitive pressure are the enormous
costs of developing new technologies such as fuel cell and hybrid electric propulsion
systems.
2/9/2000 Plug Power to Acquire Gastec Fuel Processor R&D, Will Open New
Facility in The Netherlands - Plug Power/PRNewswire
According to the terms of the agreement,
Plug Power will acquire all of Gastec's intellectual property and assets related to fuel
processor development for systems ranging up to 100 kW in size. As part of this
transaction, 15 of Gastec's employees will become employees of Plug Power and establish a
new operations base in The Netherlands. ...In addition to acquiring Gastec's intellectual
property, Plug Power has also established an on-going strategic relationship to purchase
future research and development from Gastec. The entire transaction is sized at
approximately $20 million.
2/9/2000 Natural
Resources Defense Council and New Jersey Electric and Gas Utilities Join to Create New
Generation of Renewable Energy - NRDC, GPU, PS&G/Business Wire
The Natural Resources Defense Council
(NRDC), GPU Energy, Public Service Electric & Gas Company, Conectiv Power Delivery,
NUI Elizabethtown Gas Company, New Jersey Natural Gas Company and South Jersey Gas have
joined forces to create the state's next generation of renewable energy and conservation
programs. ...The agreement includes proposals for three new initiatives, which support the
development of renewable energy technologies in New Jersey, such as photovoltaic solar
generators, small wind systems and fuel cells.
2/7/2000 RAM
Capital Management Launches Fuel Cell Venture Capital Fund - RAM Capital
Management/Business Wire
"The events of the last two months
demonstrate to us that Wall Street is finally taking the fuel cell industry seriously, so
naturally we want to increase our holdings in this sector. We see a tremendous opportunity
in the secondary issues in the hydrogen and fuel cell industry with some of the most
important support and infrastructure equipment technologies still in the hands of small
under-capitalized companies, both public and private. These companies do not have the same
access to the vast amounts of capital and marketing resources as their larger Wall
Street-backed counterparts do, so they remain ignored and under-funded." ...To
further these goals, RAM Capital Management and CoPower.com have joined the prestigious
California Hydrogen Business Council. RAM Capital, through the FC Venture Capital Fund and
CoPower.com will offer CHBC members a high profile marketing vehicle to assist them in
transporting their vision of the fuel cell future into active and successful
commercialization.
2/2/2000 Air Products Brings Carson, California Hydrogen Plant On-Stream
- Air Products & Chemicals/PRNewswire
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. has started
up its $80 million, 100 million standard-cubic- feet-per-day (scfd) hydrogen plant in
Carson, California. The plant is the fourth hydrogen production facility commissioned by
Air Products for West Coast refiners since 1993. ...The Carson plant is supplying Equilon
Enterprises LLC -- a joint venture of Texaco Refining and Marketing Inc. and Shell Oil
Products Company -- and ARCO Products Company with high-purity hydrogen which is critical
for converting heavy crude oils into California's cleaner burning gasoline and low sulfur
diesel. The plant is also connected to Air Products' existing Los Angeles Basin pipeline
network to supply product to other local refineries. "About half of our annual
capital investment over the past several years has been in hydrogen for refining
operations, a central and growing area of our business both here in the U.S. and
globally," said John E. McGlade, Air Products' vice president and general manager,
Chemical Process Industries and Environmental and Energy Systems. "Our newest plant
in Carson reinforces our position as the leading third-party supplier of this vital
product." Air Products operates 31 steam methane reforming plants, one partial
oxidation facility, 16 hydrogen purification facilities, six hydrogen liquefiers, and six
hydrogen and carbon monoxide pipeline systems around the world, with global hydrogen,
carbon monoxide and synthesis gas production capacity of 1.1 billion scfd. The company
expects this capacity to grow to 1.3 billion scfd by the end of 2000.
2/1/2000 Synergy
Receives Two U.S. Patents for SynGen Technology - Canada Newswire
The first patent, dated November 30, 1999,
covers the SynGen process, which converts natural gas into a synthesis gas via the use of
a cold plasma electrical discharge. This synthesis gas, composed of hydrogen and carbon
monoxide, will be utilized as feedstock in varied applications, including gas-to-liquids
(GTL) and other petrochemical processes, hydrogen production facilities, and the
manufacturing of industrial alcohols and associated products.
2/2/2000 Northwest
Power Certifies Syntroleum Synthetic Fuels - Excite News/Dow Jones
Northwest Power Systems certified Syntroleum
Corp.'s synthetic hydrocarbon fuels as an effective on-board source of hydrogen to power
fuel cells. ...During short-term tests, Syntroleum diesel fuel yielded sufficient hydrogen
to produce 9.05 kilowatt hours of electricity from one gallon of fuel, and Syntroleum
gasoline yielded sufficient hydrogen to produce 9.68 kWh of electricity from one gallon of
fuel. ...The net result is that during these tests, Syntroleum fuels provided production
rates that were 4.4% to 11.6% higher than for conventional fuels.
2/1/2000 DCH Technology, Inc. Announces Appointment of Chief
Technologist - DCH Technology/PRNewswire
Dr. Jardine will be responsible for incorporating
innovations into DCH products to extend their capabilities. He will also manage DCH's
applied research portfolio. Before joining DCH, Dr. Jardine worked for five years as a
Senior Technical Specialist of the Military Aircraft Systems Division for Northrop Grumman
Corporation. He is a proven leader in materials innovation, holds several patents, and has
contributed to the success of immense programs, including those of the B2 bomber and DD-21
destroyers. While at Northrop Grumman, Peter developed hydrogen sensor technologies for
adverse, high pressure, high temperature conditions, which directly expands DCH's hydrogen
sensing applications. He holds a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Bristol and is a
Visiting Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). "Dr. Jardine will greatly assist the
company in moving quickly to broaden the scope of our product strengths. He will help
posture DCH in the area of new hydrogen-related products which will address future
opportunities as the hydrogen economy grows," said David Haberman, DCH Technology's
Chairman.
2/1/2000 SatCon
Technology to Build Fuel Cell Power Converters for H Power Corp -
SatCon/Business Wire
The SatCon power converters convert DC
electrical output from H Power's fuel cell systems into useful AC electrical power. ...H
Power, founded in 1989, is completing the development of 1-10-kW systems for remote or
grid-connected residential use, operating on propane or natural gas. H Power has signed an
exclusive agreement with ECO Fuel Cells, LLC, to distribute its residential stationary
power generators to U.S. rural electric cooperatives. H Power is among the leaders in the
development of Proton-Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells. H Power also offers sub-kilowatt
fuel cell systems for a variety of telecommunications and back-up power applications, as
well as mobile applications involving small specialty vehicles.
1/27/2000 Economic
Development Initiatives through Climate Controlling Industries - Municipality
of Kincardine/CNW
The Municipality and the Bruce Energy Centre
Community Task Force contends that there is a unique opportunity for the Province of
Ontario and for all of Canada to formulate a provincial and national resolution to the
Kyoto Accord by establishing a centre for sustainable development where nuclear energy and
natural gas can be combined to manufacture a new generation of sustainable fuels for a new
generation of transportation vehicles which use hydrogen and methanol in place of
petroleum. ...The objective is to ensure that the Tri-County Economic Region of
Grey/Bruce/Huron has access to adequate volumes of natural gas at equitable delivery rates
to benefit from exciting energy trends involving hydrogen, fuel cells and the convergence
of electricity and natural gas, the subject of a KPMG report expected early in February.
1/27/2000 Sandia Awards IMPCO Contract for Fuel Cell Storage Technology -
IMPCO/PRNewswire
IMPCO Technologies, Inc. announced today
that its Advanced Technology Center in Irvine, California, has been awarded a Sandia
National Laboratories (Livermore, CA) contract to supply hydrogen fuel cell on-board
vehicle storage cylinders for test and evaluation.
1/26/2000 DaimlerChrysler's NECAR 4 Fuel Cell Vehicle in Operation at Munich Airport
- DaimlerChrysler/PRNewswire
The real-world operation will provide
DaimlerChrysler with invaluable experience with the fuel cell concept. For example,
airport drivers and DaimlerChrysler engineers can evaluate handling and reliability under
varying conditions. The Bavarian State Ministry of Economics, Transport and Technology and
the Munich Airport operator Flughafen Muenchen GmbH also are involved in this joint
project to promote hydrogen technology and new transportation concepts. NECAR 4 will be
refueled at the world's first public liquid and gaseous hydrogen filling station at the
airport. Munich Airport's Robotics Hydrogen Filling Station was opened in May 1999 and
currently is refueling internal combustion engine vehicles that are designed to run on
hydrogen. NECAR 4 is a zero-emission vehicle based on the Mercedes-Benz A-class. It can
reach 90 miles per hour, has an operating range of about 280 miles and provides ample
space for five occupants and luggage. A 55 kW electric motor with optimized torque curve
makes for a high level of comfort and driving performance. The electricity required for
powering the vehicle is generated in the fuel cell from the chemical reaction of hydrogen
and oxygen drawn from the air; the end product is pure water vapor. The tank for the
liquid hydrogen is located at the rear of the vehicle.
1/24/2000 IDACORP Subsidiary Refocuses Fuel Cell Strategy -
IDACORP/PRNewswire
Reacting to market demand, IDACORP Inc.
today announced a revised strategy for subsidiary Northwest Power Systems that focuses on
the development, production and distribution of fully integrated fuel cell systems. The
Bend, Ore.,-based subsidiary of IDACORP Technologies, the clean energy development arm of
IDACORP, had focused efforts primarily on the development, manufacture and sale of
components to other fuel cell companies. The cornerstone of both the new and prior
strategies is NPS's proprietary reformer technology, which converts conventional fuels to
hydrogen. ...The units will be rated at less than 10 kilowatts. Models will be targeted
for all conventional fuels including methanol, diesel, propane and natural gas.
1/20/2000 Fuel Cell Provides Premium Power to Internet Gateway for 52 Schools Dubbed
an 'Electronic Marvel' After 22,000+ Operating Hours - IFC/PRNewswire
A unique fuel cell system has proven its
power for the computer center for the Onendaga-Cortland-Madison Board of Cooperative
Educational Services (OCM BOCES). The upstate New York school system announced today
that all computer outages associated with normal grid fluctuations have been eliminated
because of a fuel cell system at its computer center. ...OCM BOCES, which serves more than
100,000 students at 52 locations in upstate New York, installed a PC25 system at its
Regional Information Center in Syracuse in January 1997. The center serves as the Internet
gateway for the public schools plus provides administrative support, data and payroll
processing. Today, the fuel cell system has operated for more than 22,000 hours and has
eliminated "brown-outs," weather-related power failures and other power
interruptions. ...Compared with electricity generated from the average combustion-based
processes in the United States, an IFC fuel cell system will save more than 40,000 pounds
of air pollution and 2 million pounds of potential "greenhouse" gases during
each year of operation.
1/20/12000 SatCon
Technology to Build Fuel Cell Power Converters for Northwest Power Systems -
Satcon/Business Wire
The SatCon power converters will convert DC
electrical output from Northwest Power's fuel cell systems into useful AC electrical
power. Northwest Power Systems is a subsidiary of IDACORP Technologies. IDACORP is
the parent company of Idaho Power, IDA-West Energy and IDACORP Technologies. IDACORP
Technologies spearheads IDACORP's research, development and marketing efforts in renewable
energy technologies including photovoltaic and fuel cells. IDACORP Technologies manages
IDACORP's several alternative energy subsidiaries including Applied Power Corp., Ascension
Technologies, Alternative Energy Engineering Inc., Solar Electric Specialties and
Northwest Power Systems.
1/19/2000 Researchers
Report Significant Progress in Developing Miniature Power Source for Consumer Electronic
Devices - Motorola/Business Wire
The energy density of these new fuel cells is 10 times
that of conventional rechargeable batteries. At the same time, they will be significantly
lighter in weight and less expensive to purchase. The new fuel cells, each measuring about
one inch square and less than one-tenth of an inch in thickness, are powered by liquid
methanol (wood alcohol) and can easily be installed into numerous existing and future
electronic devices. Use of the fuel cells, for example, could safely power a cellular
phone for more than a month and eliminate the need for battery chargers and a/c adapters.
...The new fuel cell uses a reservoir of inexpensive methanol that, when combined with the
oxygen in the air, produces electricity. Since fuel cells have low voltage outputs,
typical designs normally would require stacking several cells together to increase
voltage. However, Motorola Labs has designed unique circuitry that efficiently converts
the low voltage of a fuel cell to the higher voltage required to replace conventional
batteries and directly drive portable electronics. This "air breathing" fuel
cell was developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The highly simplified and
miniaturized design eliminates the need for air pumps, heat exchangers and other complex
devices that previous fuel cells required and therefore disqualified them from successful
use in today's small portable electronic products.
1/19/2000 UCAR
Graph-Tech Inc. Material a Key Component in 
Ballard
Power Systems Inc. Next Generation Fuel Cell - UCAR/Business Wire
"Working with Ballard, we have
developed a proprietary product which has contributed to achieving the key objectives and
design specifications for flow-field plates in automotive applications. The proton
exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell will form the foundation for power generation in future
transportation applications," stated Mr. Playford, UCAR's Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer. He continued, "The Mark 900 fuel cell stack, which utilizes UCAR
Graph-Tech's materials, features a power density increase of almost 30 percent, occupies
approximately half the space and weighs 30 percent less than the previous automotive fuel
cell."
1/16/2000 Ballard, Coleman
Powermate to Collaborate on Portable Fuel Cell Power Generators -
Ballard/Business Wire
As part of the collaboration, Ballard and
Coleman Powermate will produce 50 prototype units for initial product testing.
...Ballard and Coleman Powermate will work together to pursue market opportunities and
develop co-branded fuel cell powered products for portable and standby power markets. It
is intended that products developed as a result of the collaboration, as well as the
required fuels, will be available to consumers through Coleman Powermate's network of
retailers and distributors.
1/13/2000 Ballard,
Tokyo Gas to Develop Fuel Processor for Residential Fuel Cell Generator -
Ballard/Business Wire
Ballard Power Systems announced today that
its subsidiary, Ballard Generation Systems, signed an agreement with Tokyo Gas, EBARA
BALLARD, and EBARA Corporation to develop a fuel processor for a one-kilowatt natural
gas-fuelled fuel cell power generator targeted at the Japanese residential market.
...Tokyo Gas is the largest natural gas company in Japan both in terms of the number of
customers - over 8.5 million in total - and gas sales volume.
1/12/1999 SatCon
Technology Establishes New Operating Division - Advanced Fuel Cell Power Products
- Satcon/Business Wire
Advanced Fuel Cell Power Products will
market and sell SatCon's family of fuel cell power converters, controllers and amplifiers.
SatCon is building power converter modules for use in residential fuel cell power
generation systems. These modules can also be sized for commercial applications including
small businesses, factories, industrial parks and shopping malls. The new division will
also market and sell Ling Electronics' new power converter product line, SatCon/FMI's
power converters for fuel cell automobiles, as well as manufacture key proprietary
components for all of SatCon's fuel cell power converter product lines. ...Using natural
gas or propane, a fuel cell power generator, with a SatCon power converter, can provide a
home or business with environmentally clean, highly reliable, computer grade electricity
independent of the utility grid.
1/11/2000 Ford
Presents FC5 Prototype Vehicle Powered By Ballard's Next Generation Fuel Cell -
Ballard/Business Wire
The TH!NK FC5, based on a four-door 2000
Ford Focus, is a family size sedan powered by the most advanced fuel cell system shown to
date. The fuel cell system, which was manufactured by Ballard, DaimlerChrysler and Ford
affiliate dbb fuel cell engines inc. (dbb), comprises Ballard's Mark 900 module and dbb's
latest generation methanol reformer. The electric motor was manufactured by Ecostar
Electric Drive Systems, another Ballard, DaimlerChrysler and Ford affiliated company. The
fuel cell will end the 100-year reign of the internal combustion engine, Ford Chairman
William Clay Ford Jr. was reported as saying as the company unveiled its new brand, TH!NK
Group, January 10 in Detroit.
1/11/2000 IMPCO
Ships First Prototype Hydrogen Storage Modules - IMPCO/PRNewswire
The IMPCO advanced composite hydrogen storage cylinder
provides a dramatic weight reduction, increased fuel storage capacity, and the capability
to produce a wide range of sizes from thermos bottle size to 20+ feet long. With a 5000
psi operating pressure and a designed hydrostatic failure pressure of 14,000 psi, IMPCO's
advanced hydrogen storage cylinder technology offers an unparalleled degree of safety. For
additional safety, the cylinder has also been designed to incorporate IMPCO's proprietary
H2R 5000 In-Tank Regulator, which confines the high pressure to the storage cylinder only,
thereby reducing the pressure of the fuel lines throughout the vehicle, which reduces
overall fuel system cost and increases safety.
1/10/2000 TH!NK FC5 - A Vision of the Future, Today - Ford/PRNewswire
On the FC5, the methanol is stored in an
onboard tank. From there, the fuel passes through a 'reformer', which extracts the pure
hydrogen required to react with oxygen. The hydrogen, as the gaseous fuel, and oxygen,
supplied in the form of compressed air, flow separately into the latest generation compact
fuel cell stack, manufactured by Ballard Power Systems of several hundred individual fuel
cells, in which the hydrogen and oxygen are combined, producing electricity, heat and
water. Each cell generates about one volt. The direct current (DC) from the fuel cells is
then converted into alternating current (AC), powering the electric motor. ...In addition
to the FC5, TH!NK already has a road-going hydrogen fuel cell (HFC) under intensive
evaluation with the Mondeo-based P2000 vehicle. Unlike the FC5, the P2000's fuel is pure
gaseous hydrogen. The vehicle produces only electricity and pure water and there is no
need for the added fuel reforming process. However, there are major barriers to developing
a hydrogen fueling infrastructure, so methanol-based vehicles like the TH!NK FC5 look much
more viable in the immediate future. Ford Motor Company plans to begin low volume
commercial production of fuel cell electric vehicles by 2004. Ford is among the leaders of
the first long-term, real-world testing program for fuel cell-powered passenger cars in
California. Partners in the project include Ballard Power Systems, DaimlerChrysler AG,
Honda, Volkswagen, ARCO, Shell, Texaco, the California Air Resources Board and the
California Energy Commission. The California Fuel Cell partnership will test the
technology and market readiness for fuel cell vehicles, along with researching
infrastructure issues, by placing about 45 fuel cell-powered cars and buses on California
roads over the next several years.
1/10/1999 Sure
Power Honored With Frost & Sullivan's 'Market Engineering Entreprenuerial Company'
Award - Sure Power/Business Wire
Frost & Sullivan awarded Sure Power the
ME Entrepreneurial Company Award as part of the firm's annual review of the North American
Stationary Fuel Cell Markets. A cost-effective source of primary, on-site power for high
availability applications, the Sure Power System integrates ONSI Corp.'s PC 25 fuel cells
and rotary equipment from Piller, Inc. to deliver a constant flow of computer-grade
electricity. ...In June 1999, the First National Bank of Omaha installed a Sure Power
system at its state-of-the-art Technology Center. FNBO is the largest independent bank in
the U.S., a top 25 VISA and MasterCard issuer and a top 10 VISA and MasterCard processor.
1/4/2000 DCH Technology Adds 2nd Production and Test Facility - Los Angeles
Times
DCH
Technology Inc. of Valencia said it
has added a second production and test facility, including on-site hydrogen production, to
its fuel-cell operations in Wisconsin. DCH develops hydrogen fuel-cell products that
produce electricity directly from hydrogen without pollution. The company also
manufactures hydrogen sensors, safety equipment and process monitors. The company plans to
join the U.S. Fuel Cell Council to help develop codes and standards for the commercial use
of fuel-cell power systems.
1/4/2000 Millennium
to Dawn With `Green Power' Sunrise - Frost & Sullivan/Business Wire
"Key opportunities for growth at this
early stage are primarily going to be in niche markets that need a high-quality reliable
power source, and companies willing to pay a premium for 'green power' technology,"
says the author of this Frost & Sullivan research. "The rapid growth of
high-tech, financial and healthcare sectors is proportionally driving demand for standby,
high-quality, uninterrupted power supply." Early adopters in residential sectors are
expected to be upscale homes and regions under severe weather patterns, along with remote
areas where customers pay higher priced energy bills. However, low awareness of fuel cell
technologies among potential end-users is currently restraining market growth. Proving
performance and reliability is crucial to gaining end-user trust and satisfaction.
Stationary fuel cell markets are moving towards more reliable, safe, compact and
high-energy efficient systems that require low maintenance and operate on a variety of
fuels without affecting durability. However, this fledgling market faces threats from
advancements in other distribution technologies, primarily microturbines.
1/3/2000 Tests Show Oremet-Wah Chang's H2 Membrane Delivers High Level Of Hydrogen
Purity - OWC/PRNewswire
Drexel University's independent tests
confirmed the applicability of Oremet-Wah Chang's thin-foil palladium copper membrane
technology in isolating high-purity hydrogen from mixed gas streams. Because the membranes
are non-porous, they are infinitely selective to hydrogen over other constituents in the
feed stream. On reformate type feed stocks (typically 65-70 percent H2 content), hydrogen
purity exceeds 99.999 percent; in "polishing" applications to derive ultra-pure
hydrogen, purity levels can reduce impurities to parts per trillion.
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