4/30/2001 Proton Energy
Systems to Build New Manufacturing, Product Development, And Research Facility -
Proton/PRNewswire
The facility will allow the Company to consolidate all
operations under one roof and provide the manufacturing and development space needed for Proton Energy's growth over
the next several years. Proton Energy plans to manufacture its HOGEN(R) hydrogen
generators and its UNIGEN(R) regenerative fuel systems at this facility. Proton's
employees will move from its two locations in Rocky Hill, CT to the new headquarters when
completed.
4/30/2001 Millennium Cell
Holds First Annual Shareholder's Meeting - Millennium Cell/Business Wire
At the meeting, shareholders voted to elect the board of
directors, including: Steven Amendola, Millennium Cell Chief Scientific Advisor and Vice
President; G. Chris Andersen, General Partner, Andersen, Weinroth & Co., non-executive
Chairman of the Board; Kenneth R. Baker, former Vice President, General Motors
Corporation, Current President, Environmental Research Institute of Michigan; William H.
Fike, Former President, Ford Europe; Alexander MacLachlan, Ph.D., Former Chief Technical
Officer, Dupont; Zoltan Merszei, Former Chief Executive Officer, Dow Chemical Company; H.
David Ramm, Former Chief Executive Officer, International Fuel Cells Corporation, Current
Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Electrical Services; James L. Rawlings, Partner,
Andersen, Weinroth & Co.; and Stephen S. Tang, Ph.D., Millennium Cell Chief Executive
Officer and President.
4/27/2001 Stuart Energy Signs Lease for
135,000 Square Foot Facility - Stuart Energy/Canada Newswire
Stuart Energy has doubled the number of employees at the Toronto facility since last
year to approximately 140 people. The new facility, located on 5101 Orbitor Drive just 5
minutes from the airport, features 80,000 square feet of manufacturing area which will
allow the company to install new R&D laboratories as well as larger capacity product
development and production facilities.
4/26/2001 Ballard Ships
250-Kilowatt Stationary Fuel Cell Power Generator - Ballard/Business Wire
Ballard Power Systems (Nasdaq:BLDP)(TSE:BLD.) announced
today that its subsidiary Ballard Generation Systems (BGS) shipped its fifth 250-kilowatt
stationary fuel cell power generator for field testing through its associated company
EBARA BALLARD to EBARA Corporation for use at the Nishimachi Sewage Treatment Centre in
Tomakomai, Japan. ..."This will be the first use of waste gas from an anaerobic
digestor as fuel in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system," said Jim
Kirsch, President of Ballard Generation Systems. "Anaerobic digestor gas (ADG)
contains methane that will be processed using the reforming technology used in Ballard's
natural gas-fuelled 250-kilowatt field trial units."
4/26/2001 Fluor Selected
by Petrogal to Build Desulfurization Plant in Portugal - Fluor/PRNewswire
Fluor Daniel, the engineering and construction unit of
Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR), today announced that it has been awarded a $23 million
(EUR) contract for the engineering, procurement and construction of a hydrogen
desulfurization facility in Portugal. ...The plant is required to further desulfurize
gasoline in order to comply with new European Union regulations and is part of a large
upgrading plan at Petrogal's Sines Refinery, one of the most competitive and modern of its
kind in Europe, according to officials.
4/25/2001 BOC Acquires Foster
Wheeler's Remaining Stake in South American Hydrogen Projects - RNS
The two projects, in Chile and Venezuela, provide some 60
million cubic feet per day of hydrogen to two oil refineries. BOC and Foster Wheeler's
original investments in the projects totalled approximately USD 70 million. Dick Grant,
chief executive of BOC's Process Gas Solutions, says this acquisition 'fits well with
BOC's growth strategy. It enables us to strengthen our relationship with two important
customers in Latin America, with both of these plants already operating efficiently. It
also represents an opportunity to expand further our global position in the high-growth
hydrogen industry.'
4/23/2001 Proton Energy
Systems Announces Multi-Kilowatt Capacity UNIGEN(R) Regenerative Fuel Cell Continuous
Power System For Telecommunications Applications - Proton/PRNewswire
Proton's prototype UNIGEN RFC continuous power system is
designed with the capability to deliver up to 70 kWh of electricity by utilizing hydrogen
produced within the system and stored onboard. This capacity is roughly equivalent to the
energy delivery capacity of 70 lead acid batteries of the type often used today for
telecom backup. In contrast to the large number of batteries it would take to duplicate
the energy capacity, the UNIGEN RFC is expected to be smaller and lighter, require less
maintenance, and provide lower life cycle cost. Additionally, the amount of energy stored
can be increased inexpensively versus the cost of additional batteries. As compared to a
diesel generator, the UNIGEN system creates little noise and vibration, operates without
fuel deliveries, and is pollution-free.
4/19/2001 Celanese AG to
Exhibit Fuel Cell Components at Hanover - Celanese/PRNewswire
Celanese is the first company to develop an MEA that can
be reliably operated at temperatures up to 200 degrees C. A special polymer is needed for
this: polybenzimidazole -- a temperature-resistant polymer with excellent membrane
properties. Celanese is the sole producer of this high performance plastic. We are
developing the MEA for special applications in cooperation with Plug Power, a leading U.S.
manufacturer of stationary fuel cells, and Honda, the world's leading engine manufacturer.
4/17/2001 Hydro-Québec CapiTech Makes a
Second Investment in QuestAir Technologies - Hydro-Quebec CapiTech/Business
Wire
Hydro-Québec CapiTech is investing an additional $1.5
million in QuestAir Technologies Inc. (QuestAir). Hydro-Québec CapiTech had already
invested $2 million in QuestAir Technologies through Energy Capital Innovation, in
November 1999. QuestAir thereby completes a fourth round of financing for about $20
million to a group comprised of new and existing investors. QuestAir a private, Burnaby,
B.C. based company, develops and manufactures advanced gas separation systems for both
existing and emerging markets. QuestAir is focused on the development and
commercialization of a proprietary pressure swing adsorption technology, which separates
and enriches selected gas streams. The technology can be used in a wide range of
applications including fuel cells for automotive and stationary power applications, diesel
engine emissions reduction, industrial gas applications and medical oxygen devices.
QuestAir has partnered with BOC Gases, the world's second largest gas merchant to
introduce its oxygen products into the global industrial gas market. BOC is also a
QuestAir shareholder. QuestAir has also partnered with Ballard Power
Systems (Ballard) and provides Ballard with the exclusive right to QuestAir's
technology for use in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell applications for a defined
period of time. QuestAir's oxygen enrichment system will be developed and integrated with
Ballard's PEM fuel cell, allowing reductions in fuel cell stack size and weight, thereby
improving power density and generating cost and weight savings. The company's hydrogen
purification system, which removes impurities from the hydrogen generated from onboard
vehicular or stationary fuel processing, will contribute to the development of high
performance and cost- effective fuel reforming systems. Ballard is also a QuestAir
shareholder.
4/17/2001 Connecticut
Governor John Rowland Starts New FuelCell Energy Production Facility -
FuelCell Energy
FuelCell Energy (Nasdaq: FCEL) unveiled its new manufacturing facility today by welcoming
Connecticut Governor G. Rowland as he hit the switch to start the production line for the
company's Direct FuelCell(R) in Torrington, Conn. The governor also announced the State of
Connecticut's intention to purchase a 250 kW Direct FuelCell power plant through the
state's Clean Energy Fund. The site of this power plant is to be determined. The new
65,000-square foot facility, located in Torrington's Technology Park, will allow for the
expansion of manufacturing capacity of power plants to 50MW annually by the end of this
year. It has the potential to expand to an annual production capacity of more than of 400
MW by 2004.
4/17/2001 Proton Energy
Systems Validates Fuel Cell System Performance For Critical Power Systems - Proton
Energy Systems
Proton Energy Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: PRTN) announced today the results of laboratory studies that
validated the exceptional response to electrical interruption exhibited by Proton's
UNIGEN(R) regenerative fuel cell continuous power systems. In these tests, Proton
technologists duplicated the actual field use of a UNIGEN backup power system and tested
its performance in response to an interruption in electrical supply under load. Under
test, a ten-cell Proton fuel cell stack system responded to the electrical interruption by
picking up the load within less than one microsecond (0.000001 second). A response time
quicker than 4000 microseconds is generally considered by the industry to be adequate
performance for a backup system for digital electronics. One key to the superior response
capability of the Proton UNIGEN continuous power system is that it makes its own hydrogen
fuel, a portion of which is stored up against the fuel cell stack, chemically ready to
react back through the fuel cell to provide instantaneous electrical energy. Because PEM
fuel cells operate at near ambient temperatures, they can achieve full power output very
quickly. Accordingly, response delays associated with other power quality devices,
stemming from valve operation, fuel pumps or system "warm up" are eliminated
with Proton's UNIGEN systems. Proton's UNIGEN regenerative fuel cell continuous power
systems are being developed to serve the uninterruptible power needs of telecommunications
systems and data networks.
4/16/2001 Plug Power Up
26%; Co Reveals Slower Cash-Burn Rate by Christina Cheddar - Dow
Jones
Plug also expects to bring its first product to market by
the third quarter of this year. The company expects it will be able to sell 125 to 150
commercial units this year. While all of this news is good, industry watchers seemed most
impressed by Plug's new chief executive, Roger Saillant. In a research note, Lehman
Brothers' Ford called Saillant a "highly pragmatic executive." Ford, who was not
available for further comment, also said Saillant appears to have "the discipline and
experience to carry the company towards commercialization."
4/9/2001 Stuart Energy Fuels Fuel Cell
R&D at National Research Council (NRC) of Canada in Vancouver - Stuart Energy/Canada
Newswire
The Fuel Appliance incorporates Stuart's patented
state-of-the-art Double Electrode Plate (DEP(TM)) water electrolysis technology. A
completely packaged system, the Fuel Appliance produces and delivers in a single step up
to 20 cubic metres per hour of high purity hydrogen and 10 cubic metres per hour of high
purity oxygen. The compact footprint and modular design of the Fuel Appliance allows it to
occupy a minimal space at NRC's facility. The National Fuel Cell Technology Centre, where
the Stuart Fuel Appliance will be utilized, is a hub where research programs,
laboratories, scientific and technical expertise, networking and financial assistance
converge. The Centre is one of three key priorities of the NRC National Fuel Cell Program.
4/5/2001 Texas
Demonstrates 'Energy of the Future' - DCH/Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission/PRNewswire
In the first public demonstration of pollution-free
technology in Texas, a 3,000-watt hydrogen fuel cell was used today to power sophisticated
air quality monitoring equipment used by Texas' environmental agency. Senate Natural
Resources Committee Chairman J.E. "Buster" Brown and Commissioner Ralph Marquez
of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) demonstrated the technology,
which uses hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and emits water as its only
byproduct, today in downtown Austin. ...Today's demonstration marks the culmination of
efforts by the TNRCC, Texaco Energy Systems Inc., (NYSE: TX) DCH Technology,
Inc. (Amex: DCH) through its Enable(TM) Fuel Cell Corporation subsidiary, Air Products
Corporation (NYSE: APD), the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), IPS MeteoStar, the
Texas Railroad Commission, and the Texas State Energy Conservation Office. Texaco Energy
Systems is funding phase one of the program to further study fuel cell applications, which
focuses on clean air demonstrations in Austin. Enable(TM) worked closely with the TNRCC to
design and produce the fuel cell. Air Products is providing the hydrogen fuel. HARC is
serving as program manager. The next phase of the demonstration project will involve the
use of "reformer" technology to convert any hydrocarbon fuel into electricity to
power the air quality monitoring equipment.
4/2/2001 Dynetek Industries Ltd. Delivers
Hydrogen Fuel Storage Systems for DaimlerChrysler Commercial Bus Order -
Dynatek/Canadian Newswire
Dynetek Industries Ltd. (TSE: DNK) announced today it is
delivering the first of two on-board hydrogen fuel storage systems for the 30 fuel cell
buses for European cities that DaimlerChrysler announced earlier this week. Dynetek is
working with XCELLSiS The Fuel Cell Engine Company, that is providing the fuel cell
engine, to design the fuel storage solution for this order using Dynetek's 350 bar (5000
psi) hydrogen fuel storage system. The 350 bar system provides the range that is critical
for a bus. "Commercial buses can be in service over eight hours per day before
refuelling," says Mr. Portmann, Dynetek's President and CEO. "The 350 bar system
provides the driving range required by a commercial bus." The system is also
lightweight, another critical component to a bus manufacturer. Jim Sturek, XCELLSiS' CEO,
says, "The 350 bar allows us to increase the driving range of the vehicles that is
possible with conventional 250 bar systems. Also, the fuel storage solution Dynetek is
delivering is lightweight and doesn't significantly impact the overall bus weight, which
is important to us." The first system is currently at Powertech Labs, a third-part
testing agency in B.C., and will then be delivered to XCELLSiS for further design
modifications. Dynetek's 350 bar cylinders are certified and available for commercial sale
in the U.S., Japan and Europe, where these buses are headed for service starting early in
2002. ...XCELLSiS is jointly owned by DiamlerChrysler, the Ford Motor Company, and  Ballard Power Systems.
4/2/2001 Ballard, Honda
Sign $25.9-Million Supply Agreement For Fuel Cells - Ballard/Business Wire
Ballard Power
Systems (NASDAQ:BLDP) (TSE:BLD.) announced today that it has signed a $25.9-million
(US$16.5-million) supply agreement with Honda R&D Co., Ltd. of Saitama, Japan, a
subsidiary of the Honda Motor Company, for Mark 900 Series Fuel Cell Power Modules and
support services. The BALLARD(R) Mark 900 Series Fuel Cell Power Module incorporates
Ballard's latest generation transportation fuel cell stack.
3/28/2001 UTC's
International Fuel Cells and Buderus Heiztechnik To Jointly Develop, Market Residential
Fuel Cells in Europe - International Fuel Cells/PRNewswire
Under terms of the agreement, Buderus will market in
Europe the IFC fuel cell system now being developed for homes and light commercial
buildings. The two expect to test initial units in important European markets beginning
mid 2003. ...IFC is currently developing a five-kilowatt fuel cell for residential and
light commercial applications. These units, which operate on natural gas or propane, will
be used to generate electricity for assured electrical power or as primary power. Buderus
will offer fuel cells in co-generation units, using the heat generated by the fuel cell
for space heating and domestic hot water.
3/27/2001 Early Markets
for Stationary Fuel Cells - Strategic Research Institute/PRNewswire
The Early Markets for Stationary Fuel Cells, the latest conference organized
by Strategic Research Institute will be held in Seattle, May 21-22, 2001.
3/26/2001 Ballard To
Supply Fuel Cells To DaimlerChrysler for 30 Fuel Cell Buses -
Ballard/Business Wire
Ballard Power Systems announced today that it has signed an agreement to supply Mark 900 series
fuel cells for 30 buses to DaimlerChrysler. Ballard will supply the BALLARD(R) Mark
900 Series Fuel Cell Power Modules for the buses in 2002 and 2003. Ballard's fuel cells
will be integrated into fuel cell engines by XCELLSIS, a jointly held company of
DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company and Ballard. ...The fifth-generation fuel cell buses
will be delivered to 10 European cities for use in transit service beginning in 2002. The
European Union is providing partial funding for the buses under its EU Bus Project. Field
trials of BALLARD(R) fuel cell-powered buses in Chicago, Vancouver and Palm Springs played
an integral role in advancing XCELLSIS's fuel cell engine technology on the path to the
commercial introduction of fuel cell buses.
3/26/2001 Hydrogenics Receives
Project Funding of Two Million Dollars From the Government of Canada -
Hydrogenics/Canada Newswire
This funding from Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and
the Climate Change Action Fund will aid Hydrogenics' development of its 50 kW fuel cell
power generator fueled by natural gas. The system being developed by Hydrogenics, known as
the Fuel Cell Energy Tap, or FCET, will generate electricity by using proton exchange
membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology and will be fueled by natural gas. Each generator will
be capable of providing 50 kW of electrical power, as well as space and water heating.
NRCan is supporting this initiative due to its interest in promising energy options for
reducing carbon dioxide emissions -- a key greenhouse gas. Widespread installation of
systems like the FCET could reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by 1 megatonne over 12
years.
3/22/2001 QUANTUM Awarded
Contract to Develop Hydrogen Storage System for Fuel Cell Bus - QUANTUM/PRNewswire
QUANTUM Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of IMPCO Technologies, Inc.
(Nasdaq: IMCO) today announced that Thor Industries (NYSE: THO), the largest mid-size bus
manufacturer in the U.S., will use a QUANTUM hydrogen storage tank system in its new fuel
cell bus. QUANTUM will use its advanced composite Type IV hydrogen storage tank that is
uniquely designed and manufactured with a single end boss, one-piece seamless liner and a
carbon composite over-wrap. The QUANTUM Type IV hydrogen storage tank is tested and
validated to all regulations and standards, including OEM-specific validation tests.
QUANTUM's hydrogen storage tanks will be mounted on the roof of the bus. The Thor fuel
cell bus will use a Thunderpower hybrid-electric drive train developed by ISE Research
Corporation, San Diego, CA in a 30' low-floor bus built by Thor's subsidiary, Eldorado
National. ISE will perform the system integration, to include the QUANTUM hydrogen storage
tank subsystem. The fuel cell power plant is being developed by International Fuel Cells
(IFC), a division of United Technologies.
3/21/2001 ECD Listed on
Frankfurt Stock Exchange - ECD/PRNeswire
Commenting on the listing, Mr. Robert C. Stempel, ECD
Chairman, said, "We are pleased to be listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange which
provides increased exposure for the company, especially in Germany and nearby countries
where there is significant interest in companies that manufacture environmentally-friendly
and renewable energy products. The listing comes at an opportune time as the need for
electricity is expanding and governments around the world strengthen environmental
guidelines to address global climate change and air pollution."
3/21/2001 H Power Corp. to
Develop Fuel Cell Systems for the Japanese Residential Market Using Osaka Gas' Fuel
Processor - H Power/Business Wire
The new [500W] unit will incorporate H Power's proprietary fuel cell technology and
Osaka Gas' proprietary steam reforming technology, which Osaka Gas will transfer to H
Power nonexclusively through H Power's marketing partner in Japan, Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
Osaka Gas is scheduled to begin evaluation of the new systems at selected customer sites
in Japan before year-end.
3/20/2001 DaimlerChrysler
to Deliver First Fuel Cell Buses to Urban Fleets - DaimlerChrysler/PRNewswire
DaimlerChrysler will deliver up to 30 fuel-cell powered
buses to European bus operators beginning in 2002, under agreements announced today. The
fuel-cell powered Mercedes-Benz Citaro urban buses, with quiet and environmentally
friendly fuel cell technology, will be delivered beginning in late 2002. These are the
first fuel-cell powered vehicles available in the market. The Citaro fuel cell buses will
operate in the cities of Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Barcelona, Spain; Hamburg and
Stuttgart, Germany; London, Great Britain; Luxembourg; Porto, Portugal; Stockholm, Sweden
and Reykjavik, Iceland. ...The fuel-cell powered, low floor Mercedes-Benz Citaro urban
regular service buses will be produced by EvoBus GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
DaimlerChrysler with responsibility for European bus activities. Depending on the
operating conditions, the twelve meter (39 foot) long Mercedes-Benz Citaro bus with a fuel
cell power unit will have an operating range of 200 to 250 kilometers (125-155 miles) and
will be able to accommodate up to 70 passengers. The maximum speed is approximately 80
kilometers (50 miles) per hour. The fuel cell unit with an output of more than 200
Kilowatts, which was developed and produced by the DaimlerChrysler subsidiary Xcellsis, as
well as the compressed hydrogen tanks are installed on the roof of the Citaro. The
electric motor and transmission are located in the rear of the bus. The Mercedes-Benz
Citaro buses now being sold are the technological successors to the Nebus (New Electric
Bus), in 1997 the first fuel-cell powered Mercedes-Benz bus to take to the road.
3/19/2001 Emerson Motors
Develops Traction Drive Motor for Fuel Cell-Powered Electric Vehicles -
Emerson/PRNewswire
Emerson Motors has partnered with Ecostar to develop the
primary drive unit, which consists of a traction inverter module and motor/transaxle. The
traction drive completely replaces the internal combustion engine. Ecostar is a joint
venture of Ballard Power Systems, a
leading developer of fuel cells for transportation applications, and automakers Ford Motor
Company and DaimlerChrysler. Emerson Motors has developed several prototype traction
drive motors for Ecostar.
3/19/2001 H Power
Residential Fuel Cell Unit Being Field Tested in Finland by Fortum, Oy - H
Power/Business Wire
The unit is fueled by hydrogen and will supply all the
electricity and heat used by a typical household. In addition, the unit will be "net
metered" to sell surplus electricity to the local electric utility. Prior to its
installation for field testing, the H Power unit had been tested extensively by Fortum for
a period of six months and furnished with grid connection capability. In addition to
Fortum, several other Finnish companies are participating in the project. Fortum will
provide grid and heating system interface and technological expertise; Prizztech Oy will
coordinate the project; Finnish Chemicals Oy will provide site arrangements and supply
hydrogen; and Woikoski Oy will provide hydrogen transportation and storage. The test house
is located near Finnish Chemicals Oy's chlorate electrolysis plant, which produces surplus
hydrogen and will supply it to the test unit.
3/15/2001 IMPCO Wins Blue
Sky Merit Award - IMPCO/PRNewswire
IMPCO Technologies, Inc., (Nasdaq: IMCO), the world's leading source of advanced alternative fuel
systems technology and components for internal combustion engines, today announced that it
received the WestStart 5th Annual Blue Sky Merit Award. The award is presented each year
by WestStart -- the advanced
transportation consortium -- to recognize the outstanding contributions of companies that
bring clean-fuel vehicles to market and help to increase the awareness of their need.
IMPCO has produced more than 4 million gaseous fuel systems and components in its 42-year
history.
3/7/2001 HbT-Visteon
Alliance Aims to Speed Fuel Cells to Market - HbT/Business Wire
The agreement calls for Visteon to provide engineering,
design and support services to HbT for its fuel processors,
including design and manufacturing for HbT's facility in Rancho Dominguez. Visteon will
concurrently provide contract manufacturing, as HbT's customer volume grows, to deliver
commercial hydrogen fuel processor systems as an exclusive supplier to HbT. ...HbT
specializes in state-of-the-art, prepackaged on-site hydrogen generation systems for a
range of industrial applications, and fuel processors for use in residential, remote and
premium power fuel cell systems. These innovative systems will help usher in cleaner, more
efficient energy production and use. HbT was founded in 1992 and has headquarters and
manufacturing facilities in Rancho Dominguez, with a research and development center in
nearby Long Beach. HbT makes fuel processors to supply hydrogen for both stationary and
transportation fuel cell applications, as well as on-site hydrogen generators for
industrial market applications and hydrogen fueling stations for transportation
applications. HbT is best known for its patented Under-Oxidized Burner (UOB(TM))
technology, a clean, economical method for producing hydrogen from natural gas, propane
and other hydrocarbon-based fuels. ...Visteon Corp. is a leading full-service supplier
that delivers consumer-driven technology solutions to automotive manufacturers worldwide
and through multiple channels within the global automotive aftermarket. Visteon has 80,000
employees and a global delivery system of more than 130 technical, manufacturing, sales
and service facilities located in 23 countries.
3/7/2001 Nuvera Fuel
Cells Demonstrates Natural Gas Fuel Cell Powering Verizon Telecommunication System -
Nuvera/PRNewswire
The joint effort between Nuvera and Verizon, which will
span a two-year period, includes the development, testing, and evaluation of fuel cell
powered demonstration units in the 5kW range. ...In the final phase of the program, a
customized telecom- specific power generator is expected to be field-tested by Verizon.
Such systems could be used in the future to provide primary or backup power for telecom
switch nodes, cell towers, and other electronic systems that would benefit from on-site,
direct DC power supply.
3/5/2001 Skeljungur Ltd.,
INE, DCH Launch
Commercial Fuel Cells Initiative - DCH Technology/PRNewswire
DCH Technology, Inc. (Amex: DCH), a leading innovator of hydrogen fuel cells and safety
devices, announced they have signed an agreement with Skeljungur Ltd. (The Shell
Distributors in Iceland) under which the energy provider will distribute DCH fuel cells in
Iceland as part of a six-month market opportunity assessment. Skeljungur Ltd. will then
act as the distributor of DCH fuel cells to markets identified. DCH further announced they
have signed an agreement with Icelandic New Energy (INE), a commercial consortia that
includes several global and Iceland businesses, to provide hydrogen fuel to users of DCH
fuel cells from a hydrogen depot the INE has constructed in Reykjavik, the nation's
capitol. The depot will provide hydrogen at consumer pricing significantly less than that
typically available from today's industrial and commercial vendors. Both announcements are
part of an INE strategy to launch a hydrogen-based economy in Iceland -- in harmony with
the nation's government strong commitment to eliminate the use of fossil fuels, and as a
model for implementing hydrogen energy infrastructures worldwide. Other consortia members
include Norsk Hydro, one of the world's largest manufacturers of hydrogen-generating
equipment, and VistOrka. "The market study will allow Icelanders to become intimately
involved with fuel cells, and the clean energy they provide," said INE Chairman
Torsteinn Sigfusson. "They will learn how they work, how easy they are to fuel, and
thus how easy and safe they are to meet their portable power needs. "Skeljungur's
understanding of the needs of local consumers is the key to building a fuel cell business.
They have the service and customer orientation necessary to translate market requirements
into fuel cell features and functions that the public will embrace and use and thus
collectively build momentum towards an Icelandic hydrogen economy." The DCH
Enable(TM) fuel cell technology can be readily packaged in various shapes and sizes to
meet the needs of specific product-power applications. The fuel cells selected for the
study are the latest design of the Enable(TM) 12-watt unit, which are about the size of a
soda can and weigh just over a pound. They will be fueled by either compressed hydrogen
gas or canisters of hydride to allow the market to understand the flexibility required to
use hydrogen power today. The INE depot will generate hydrogen through electrolyzers,
equipment that splits and segregates the hydrogen and oxygen atoms found in water, with
the only emission pure oxygen. DCH hydrogen sensors will monitor the depot for safety, and
the DCH Center For Hydrogen Safety(TM) will serve as safety consultant for fuel storage
and delivery. "This is the first time ever that a wholly commercial enterprise is
comprehensively addressing the hydrogen energy market as a viable business," said DCH
Chairman David Haberman. "Skeljungur Ltd. and the INE are demonstrating the
leadership that validates Iceland's commitment to, and ultimately success in, using
hydrogen energy. DCH is extremely pleased to the only provider of fuel cells, hydrogen
sensors, and hydrogen safety services to this initiative."
3/2/2001 Incredibly
Clean, Futuristic Honda Fuel Cell Vehicle Serves as Official L.A. Marathon Pace Car -
American Honda/PRNewswire
The Honda FCX-V3 uses a pure hydrogen fuel cell system
with a compact electric drive motor and seating for four people. Combined with a Honda
developed ultra capacitor, it provides excellent response and high efficiency. Realizing
the ultimate environmental performance of zero emissions, zero CO2 and the use of a
renewable fuel, Honda's FCX-V3 also approaches the packaging and ease-of-use of gasoline
powered vehicles. The vehicle features improved start-up and quieter operation than
previous fuel cell models for improved viability as a commercial product. A fuel cell
stack is used in the FCX-V3 to store hydrogen under high pressure and create electricity,
which in turn drives the electric motor and the wheels.
3/1/2001 Avista Labs,
Forms New Company Focused on Hydrogen Production for Fuel Cells - Avista
Corp/PRNewswire
Avista Labs owns a 70 percent interest in H2fuel. The
remaining interest is owned by Unitel Fuels Technologies, LLC, whose members have a
substantial track record in fuel processing and in the design and construction of pilot
and mini-plants for manufacturing hydrogen. Avista Labs will transfer its ongoing fuel
processor development work to H2fuel. The company's principal offices will be located in
Spokane, Wash. "Hydrogen is essential for fuel cells to function but it has always
been expensive," said Serge Randhava, chief executive officer of Unitel Fuels
Technologies, LLC. "H2fuel's technology provides new opportunities to manufacture low
cost hydrogen."
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