Toyota, FuelCell Energy to Build 100% Renewable Fuel Cell Power Plant in Long Beach
 On November 30, Toyota and FuelCell Energy announced a new renewable transportation fuel project at the Los Angeles Auto Show. FuelCell Energy will construct a multi-megawatt fuel cell power plant at the Port of Long Beach to generate 100% renewable hydrogen fuel onsite, which Toyota will purchase for its fuel cell vehicles (FCV). This will include Project Portal, Toyota's hydrogen fuel cell powered heavy duty truck, which is currently in testing at the Port of Long Beach.
Toyota's Project Portal hydrogen fuel cell truck on display at the Los Angeles Auto Show,
November 30, 2017. Source: Associated Press
According to additional information in the
Detroit Free Press, the power plant will generate hydrogen fuel and stationary power by capturing methane gas from dairy cattle waste. T
he system should be operational by 2020, and will be the nation's first commercial-scale 100% renewable power and hydrogen generation plant.
Per the
Detroit Free Press article, once operational, the facility can supply approximately 2.35 megawatts of electricity and 1.2 tons of hydrogen per day. This is the equivalent of about 2,350 average sized houses and nearly 1,500 FCVs.
For a link to the full press release from FuelCell Energy, click
here.
Hyundai to Mass-Produce Fuel Cell Vehicles in 2018
On November 21,
Business Korea reported that Hyundai plans to mass produce hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) in the first half of 2018. According to industry sources, Hyundai will produce a commercial model of the fuel cell SUV concept it introduced at the Geneva International Motor Show back in March as its next generation FCV.
In addition, Hyundai's affiliate Kia Motors plans to mass produce an FCV based on the Sorento at the end of 2020.
For a link to the full article from Business Korea, click
here.
Plug Power CEO Says Business Could Triple Size in the Next Five Years
On December 6, Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh told a special meeting of investors and analysts that the company could triple its fuel cell deployments in the next five years.
At the December 2017 Investor Day in Albany, New York, Marsh announced that nearly 19,000 of its GenDrive fuel cells for industrial electric vehicles are now in deployment for a number of large companies around the world.
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Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh. Source: Albany Business Review
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Fueled by major contracts this year with Wal-Mart and Amazon, along with decreasing manufacturing costs, Marsh estimated that by 2022 Plug Power could have deployments of more than 60,000 GenDrive units at 500+ sites worldwide. Marsh also said that in this scenario, Plug Power could bring in annual revenues of $500 million, up from $180 million today.
Click
here for an article on Andy Marsh's remarks from the
Albany Business Review. An archived webcast of Plug Power's Investor Day presentation can be found
here.
ExxonMobil Promotes Fuel Cell - CO2 Capture Partnership with FuelCell Energy
ExxonMobil has recently been promoting their collaboration efforts with FuelCell Energy on creating a new generation of fuel cell-powered carbon capture technology. The public relations efforts come after the two companies announced their
carbon capture pilot plant project in 2016.
On November 16, ExxonMobil and FuelCell Energy unveiled an online game to teach the public how carbon capture technology works, and how fuel cells can dramatically improve its efficiency.
| Click the image to access the carbon capture game. Source: ExxonMobil |
In addition, ExxonMobil has been airing commercials during NFL games explaining their fuel cell-carbon capture technology and partnership with FuelCell Energy.
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Click the image to view the ExxonMobil - FuelCell Energy commercial on YouTube.
Source: ExxonMobil
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Click
here for the full article about the carbon capture game from FuelCell Energy and ExxonMobil, and click
here to watch the full ExxonMobil-FuelCell Energy carbon capture commercial.
Automakers, Hydrogen Suppliers, Japanese Firms Establish New Company for Hydrogen Station Development
 On December 12, FCHEA members Air Liquide Japan, Nissan, Honda, and Toyota announced that they will be forming a new corporation - along with seven other Japanese infrastructure developers and
financial institutions - aimed at the full development of hydrogen stations for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) in Japan. The as-of-yet unnamed company will officially incorporate in the Spring of 2018, and has a first phase goal of constructing 80 hydrogen stations in its first four years.
The new company will received subsidies from the Japanese government, which continues to target a goal of 160 hydrogen stations and 40,000 FCVs on the road by Fiscal Year 2020. It will develop its own "Hydrogen Recharging Station Deployment Plan," collaborate with external fuel cell and hydrogen organizations on cost reduction efforts, and invite new member companies to participate as well.
Click here for the full press release from Honda.
California Air Resources Board Approves $663 Million Low-Carbon Transportation Plan
On December 14, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a $663 million funding plan to increase the use of clean cars, heavy-duty trucks, buses and freight equipment.
The majority of funding for the Fiscal Year 2017-18 plan comes from California's cap-and-trade auction proceeds. According to CARB, the funding helps support the state's emissions reduction goals, as outlined in the 2017 Climate Change Scoping Plan.
Fuel cells and hydrogen fuel are mentioned multiple times in the Scoping Plan as sustainable energy sources that can help the state achieve its ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and an additional 40% reduction by 2030.
CARB's funding plan allocates $398 million to incentivize clean heavy-duty trucks, buses and freight projects, including $190 million for advanced-technology freight equipment such as yard trucks, forklifts and cranes. This includes medium- and heavy-duty fuel cell freight vehicles and equipment, as outlined in California's 2016 Sustainable Freight Action Plan.
California's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, which offers up to $5,000 in rebates for the purchase or lease of new, eligible zero-emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles, also received an additional $140 million from the funding plan. The Toyota Mirai, Honda Clarity, and Hyundai Tuscon fuel cell vehicles are all eligible for rebates.
Click
here for the full press release from CARB.
Hyundai to Showcase Self-Driving Fuel Cell Vehicles at 2018 Winter Olympics
On December 20,
The Korea Times reported that Hyundai will operate self-driving Tuscon fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and fuel cell buses as part of its sponsorship of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
According to Honda, the autonomous cars and buses will transport Olympics attendees along 200-kilometer (about 124 mile) route from Incheon International Airport to Pyeongchang. In addition, five autonomous fuel cell buses will also transport visitors between Olympic venues.
Click
here for the full article from
The Korea Times.
Toyota Aims for Annual Sales of 1 Million Zero Emission Vehicles by 2030
On December 18, Toyota announced that it is committing to a goal of selling 1 million zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) per year by 2030, including both battery electric and fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). At a press conference in Tokyo, Toyota Motor Corporation Executive Vice President Shigeki Terashi detailed the automaker's plans for ZEVs, such as increasing the number of passenger and commercial FCV options across the Toyota and Lexus brands in the coming years.
As part of their ZEV efforts, Toyota will also focus on the development of corresponding infrastructure for commercialization, including the construction of public hydrogen stations.
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| Click to watch "Toyota's Challenge to Promote Widespread Use of Electrified Vehicles" press conference. Source: Toyota, via YouTube |
In addition, Toyota stated that by 2025, no additional Toyota or Lexus vehicle models will be developed without an electrified option, such as fuel cell, battery, or plug-in hybrid.
Click
here for the full press release from Toyota.
Nel Awarded Contracts for Three New Hydrogen Stations in Estonia and Norway
On December 20, Nel ASA announced purchase orders for three new hydrogen stations in Europe. The contracts have a total value of $7.71 million.
Nel's Hydrogen Solutions division received a purchase order for a combined hydrogen electrolyzer and fueling station in Pärnu, Estonia. This marks the first combined sale of Nel's H2Station with recently acquired Proton OnSite's PEM electrolyzer systems in Europe.
According to Nel, the combined solution will have a daily fueling capacity of over 400 kg of hydrogen and will be used to fuel cars, buses, and trucks once delivered and installed in 2019.
Nel also announced that its Uno-X Hydrogen AS joint venture has received a grant to build two new hydrogen stations in Akershus, Norway. The grant was awarded to the joint venture of Nel, Uno-X and Praxair by Enova SF, a Norwegian government enterprise responsible for the promotion of environmentally friendly production and consumption of energy.
According to Nel, the grant is an important step in establishing a network of hydrogen stations to enable the widespread adoption of fuel cell vehicles across Norway by 2020.
Click
here for the full press release from Nel.
Air Liquide Celebrates Opening of New Hydrogen Station in Koblenz, Germany
On November 21, Air Liquide celebrated the official opening of its hydrogen fueling station in Koblenz, Germany, which has been in operation since last month. It is the first public hydrogen station in the southwest German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, and one of the first 50 hydrogen filling stations to be built in Germany as part of the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP).
Construction and operation of the Koblenz station is being subsidized by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure via its National Innovation Program for Hydrogen and Fuel-cell Technology (NIP), at a cost of about 900,000 euros (approximately $1,062,000).
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Representatives from Air Liquide, Germany's National Organization Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW), the Rhineland-Palatinate state government, and other industry stakeholders celebrate the opening of the Koblenz station.
Source: National Organization Hydrogen
and Fuel Cell Technology
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Germany's National Organization Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW) issued a press release about the Koblenz station opening, which can be read
here.
Hydrogenics Hosts Canadian Prime Minister for Fuel Cell Demonstration in China
On December 4, Hydrogenics hosted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he visited Beijing to promote trade and tourism between Canada and China. Mr. Trudeau was met by Daryl Wilson, President and CEO of Hydrogenics, and Zhang Guoqiang, Chairman of the Chinese fuel cell R&D organization SinoHytec. The two gave Mr. Trudeau a tour of a new Foton AUV bus, which utilizes a hydrogen fuel cell system co-developed by the two companies.
Mr. Wilson and Mr. Guoqiang also addressed Trudeau on their companies' joint work to address climate change by reducing the carbon footprint of the Chinese transportation sector. Hydrogenics and SinoHyTec signed a $13.5 million
agreement last year to develop and integrate fuel cell systems into trucks and buses across China.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (second from left) examines the Foton hydrogen fuel cell bus with Hydrogenics President and CEO Daryl Wilson (second from right) and SinoHytec Chairman Zhang Guoqiang (left) in Beijing. Source: Office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
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For a link to the full press release from Hydrogenics, click
here.
Linde Joins German Association for Fuel Cell Logistics
On December 20, Germany's National Organization Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW) announced that Linde has joined its Clean Intralogistics Net (CIN). The association brings together German companies involved in hydrogen and fuel cell technology, to promote the market introduction and development of hydrogen-run industrial trucks and material handling vehicles.
Click
here for the full press release from NOW.
Sandia Researchers Develop Inexpensive Catalyst for Fuel Cell Vehicles
On December 5, Sandia National Laboratories announced efforts on fuel cell catalyst development, in an effort to produce cheaper hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). Research led by Sandia and the University of California, Merced used the inexpensive molybdenum disulfide compound to create an uneven surface that resembles a plant's leaves.
Sandia reports that the additional area helps catalyze hydrogen almost as efficiently as platinum.
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The inorganic "flower"-shaped hydrogen catalyst, with artificial coloring.
Source: Sandia National Laboratories.
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Researchers used a spray-printing process to create the catalyst, which is the subject of a
technical article
published online in the
Advanced Materials
journal
. Lead researchers Stanley Chou, a Sandia materials scientist, and UC Merced's Vincent Tung have applied for a joint patent for the spray-printing process.
For a link to the full press release from Sandia, click
here.
Nel H2 Station in Sweden to Receive Electrolyzer for On-site Renewable Hydrogen Generation
On December 9, Danish renewable hydrogen company GreenHydrogen announced an order for onsite renewable generation equipment from its partners Nilsson Energy and Power Cell, to be delivered to NEL Hydrogen's station in Mariestad, Sweden.
The delivery will include a photovoltaic installation, hydrogen storage, fuel cells, and electrolyzer system. The station was inaugurated in January 2017 using shipped pressurized hydrogen cylinders. Once this installation is complete, the station will be able to provide onsite renewable-generated hydrogen for its customers.
GreenHydrogen reports the equipment will be delivered and commissioned in the summer of 2018, with plans to be in full operation by September.
Click
here for the full press release from GreenHydrogen.
New Air Liquide Hydrogen Station Opens at Paris-Orly Airport
On December 7, Air Liquide announcing the opening of a new hydrogen refueling station at the Paris-Orly International Airport, France's second busiest airport by passenger volume and busiest for domestic traffic. Air Liquide developed the station with Groupe ADP, which owns and manages Paris' three international airports along with dozens of airports worldwide.
The new hydrogen station, with funding supported by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) is the first at a French airport, and Air Liquide plans to open another station with Groupe ADP in 2018 at Charles De Gaulle Airport.
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The new Air Liquide hydrogen station at Paris-Orly Airport. Source: Air Liquide
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Air Liquide and Groupe ADP used the the station opening to promote their efforts on an expanded hydrogen transportation network in the Greater Paris Area. "Hype", a fuel cell vehicle (FCV) taxi fleet which was launched in partnership with Air Liquide in 2015, now has over 50 FCVs in their fleet. With Air Liquide's plans for more hydrogen stations around Paris, they envision expanding Hype's fleet to 600 FCVs by 2020.
For a link to the full press release from Air Liquide, click
here.
MyFC Announces Project to Halve Weight of Fuel Cell Range Extender for Electric Vehicles
On December 19, myFC
announced the initiation of a development project to halve the weight of its LAMINA fuel cell range extender for battery electric vehicles. MyFC will work with Swedish aluminum engineering company Gränges to develop the light-weight range extender, which will reduce operating costs and extend the range of a medium-sized electric vehicle even further.
Click
here for the full press release from myFC.
In addition, on December 21 myFC announced a feasibility study with a leading Chinese smartphone manufacturer to analyze the technical and commercial feasibility of integrating their fuel cell technology into smartphones.
Proton OnSite Receives Purchase Orders for US and UK Navy Electrolyzer Stacks
On December 21, Nel ASA's American subsidiary Proton OnSite announced purchase orders of their PEM electrolyzer cell stacks from United Technologies Aerospace Systems. The cell stacks will provide critical life support oxygen to crews aboard United States and United Kingdom nuclear-powered submarines.
According to Nel, the purchase orders are valued at more than $2.3 million.
Click
here for the full press release from Nel.
New Air Liquide Hydrogen Station Opens in
Baden-Württemberg, Germany
On December 14, Air Liquide and French energy company TOTAL opened Germany's newest hydrogen station in the town of Hirschberg an der Bergstraße, Baden-Württemberg. The station is Germany's 43rd,
Baden-Württemberg's 14th, and Air Liquide's 12th in the country. H2 Mobility, a joint venture formed by Air Liquide, Daimler, Linde, OMV, Shell, and Total to lead expansion of Germany's hydrogen station development, will operate the station.
Germany's Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, via its National Innovation Program for Hydrogen and Fuel-Cell Technology, provided 900,000 euros (about $1.06 million) in funding to support the station.
Click
here for the full press release from Germany's National Organization Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology.
PlugPower Named to Food Logistics Top Software & Technology Providers List
On December 15,
Food Logistics magazine named Plug Power to their 2017 FL100+, a list honoring the software and technology providers that ensure a safe, efficient and reliable global food and beverage supply chain. Plug Power was recognized for their hydrogen fuel cell-powered forklifts, which are being utilized by a growing number of businesses in the food and beverage industry.
Plug Power's GenDrive fuel cell forklift, which can operate at 100% power even in freezer conditions. Source: PlugPower
Click
here for the full press release from Plug Power.
Honda Clarity Fuel Cell Powertrain Named to 2018 Wards 10 Best Engines
On December 14,
Wards Auto named Honda's Clarity Fuel Cell powertrain to their 2018 Wards 10 Best Engines. According to Honda, innovations to the 2017 Clarity created a fuel cell stack 33 percent more compact than its predecessor, with a 60 percent increase in power density compared to the last-generation FCX Clarity.
2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell with a rendering of its 130kW fuel cell powertrain. Source: Honda
Click
here
for the full press release from Honda.
Toyota Named World's Greenest Automaker by Newsweek
On December 11,
Newsweek named Toyota as one of the world's greenest companies in their Green Ranking 2017 awards. Toyota was ranked #16 of the Global 500 greenest companies and #1 in the automobile category.
In a press release celebrating the award, Toyota credited its eco-sensitive hybrid and fuel cell vehicle (FCV) models for its impressive showing in this year's rankings.
Click
here for the full press release from Toyota.
Honda Clarity Series Named Green Car of the Year at LA Auto Show
On November 30, Honda's Clarity series was named the 2018 Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Green Car Journal presented the award, which applies to the 2017 Clarity Fuel Cell, 2017 Clarity Electric, and 2018 Clarity Plug-In Hybrid models.
According to
Green Car Journal, the Clarity series won for its appealing design with a sophisticated, highly-equipped, spacious interior. The magazine also praised it as the only series to offer plug-in hybrid, electric and hydrogen fuel cell powertrain models.
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| From left to right: Morry Markowitz, President of FCHEA; Stephen Ellis, Manager of Fuel Cell Marketing for American Honda Motor Co.; Bill Elrick, Executive Director, California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP), November 30, 2017. Source: CaFCP |
For a link to the full press release from Honda, click
here.
California Hydrogen Infrastructure Tool 2017 Release Webinar Now Available
On November 28, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced that its November 14 webinar and presentation on the California Hydrogen Infrastructure Tool (CHIT) 2017 Release is now available to the public. The webinar provided a technical discussion of the most recent updates to the CHIT.
CARB also discussed methods by which information from the tool was integrated into Coverage, Capacity, and Market Viability evaluations of station applications in response to the California Energy Commission's Grant Funding Opportunity (GFO) 15-605.
For a link to the presentation and webinar, click
here.
R&D 100 Awards Include Three Energy Department Fuel Cell Projects
Earlier in November, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) won 33 of the
R&D 100 Awards, presented by
R&D Magazine in recognition of exceptional new products or processes that were developed and introduced into the marketplace the previous year. Of the 33 DOE awards, three were for national laboratory projects supported by the Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO).
Los Alamos National Laboratory received an award for work on an alternative catalyst for fuel cell electrodes to make the next-generation of fuel cells cost effective. Another award to Los Alamos was for their work on a low-cost, reliable hydrogen safety sensor for vehicle and infrastructure applications.
Finally, Oak Ridge National Laboratory won an award for designing filler materials to minimize the residual stresses and distortions caused by the heating and melting processes of welding and 3D printing. This technology is being evaluated for use in hydrogen pipelines.
For a link to the full press release from DOE, click
here.
California Approves New Sign for Hydrogen Fueling Stations
 On December 13, the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) announced that last month, the state Department of Transportation agreed to update the road signage for hydrogen fueling stations. The new sign reflects the universally recognizable "H2" symbol for hydrogen, as opposed to the "HYD" symbol on current road signage.
The new hydrogen station road sign (Right), as approved by the California Transportation Department. Source: California GO-Biz
According to GO-Biz, the new sign will be formally incorporated into the California Manual on Universal Traffic Control Devices in early 2018, and will be available for installation soon after.
Click here for a Twitter post on the new signs from GO-Biz.
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 Upcoming Events
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11th Operational Energy Summit
The Institute for Defense & Government Advancement (IDGA) is proud to announce the return of the 11th Operational Energy Summit this January 29-31, in Washington, D.C. This summit provides a forum for policy makers and technology leaders to come together to solve some of the U.S. Department of Defense's operational energy challenges. We will explore critical areas such as: Alternative energy, mobile energy, expeditionary energy, intelligent grids, reducing energy waste and modernizing current force with innovative energy efficient technologies.
T
he summit will also review recent organizational and operational changes proposed in the FY 2017 operational energy budget.
Hear from speakers such as:
- Roberto Guerrero, Deputy Assistant Secretary Operational Energy, US Air Force
- Jack Surash, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Energy & Sustainability, U.S. Army
- Colonel Bill Myer, Director, Operational Energy and Contingency Basing ASA, Installation, Energy and Environment, U.S. Army
- Colonel Adrian Marsh, Project Manager, Expeditionary Energy & Sustainment Systems, PEO CS & CSS US Army
- Lieutenant Colonel Michael Baker, Product Manager for Handheld, Manpack and Small Form Fit, US Army
Register
here, or call 1-800-882-8684. Government, Law Enforcement and Military attend at no cost!
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Additional Links
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Microgrid Knowledge | 20 November 2017
Al-Futtaim Motors - Toyota via Reuters Zawya | 20 November 2017
Motor Authority | 21 November 2017
Wards Auto | 22 November 2017
Toyota Europe | 21 November 2017
Los Angeles Times | 25 November 2017
Transport Topics | 27 November 2017
Cornell University | 28 November 2017
Bloomberg | 28 November 2017
The San Diego Union-Tribune | 29 November 2017
Trucks.com | 30 November 2017
Triple Pundit | 30 November 2017
Seatrade Maritime News | 30 November 2017
Wards Auto | 30 November 2017
Information Trends | 30 November 2017
NBC 25 News | 5 December 2017
The West Australian | 6 December 2017
The Irish Times | 7 December 2017
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About the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Connection
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Administration
Press releases and story ideas may be forwarded to Connor Dolan and Karen Quackenbush 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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