On July 27, FCHEA member Bloom Energy announced The Kraft Group's Gillette Stadium, home to the New England Patriots NFL team and New England Revolution MLS team, has incorporated Bloom Energy Servers as part of efforts to increase clean energy usage. The fuel cells supplied by Bloom will provide two megawatts of power, nearly 50 percent of the stadium's needs. According to Bloom, the Servers are expected to reduce approximately 1,500 tonnes (~1,653 tons) of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

Bloom Energy has experience powering sports arenas, having already supplied fuel cells to the Honda Center, SAP Center, and the STAPLES Center. Fuel cells and hydrogen is becoming a popular zero-emission energy source among large sports arenas; PDC Machines previously agreed to supply Lincoln Financial Field, home to the Philadelphia Eagles NFL team, with a renewable hydrogen SimpleFuel refueling unit.

On August 19, FCHEA member Plug Power announced it has developed a 1 kilowatt (kW) ProGen fuel cell system specifically for small-scale robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), automatic guided vehicles (AGVs), and aerospace applications. The introduction of the system is an expansion of a product line through Plug Power's 2019 acquisition of Canadian fuel cell company EnergyOr.

The 1 kW engine uses compressed hydrogen gas and is designed to be lightweight, featuring an air-cooled, closed-cathode technology to extend flight endurance. According to Plug Power, the system outperforms an average lithium battery in endurance by a factor of three to four. The company states this factor is increased up to nine when using liquid hydrogen fueling systems.

Click here for the full press release from Plug Power.

On July 28, FCHEA member Hyundai Motor announced it won a 2020 Future Mobility of the Year (FMOTY) award, an award recognizing concept vehicles that contribute to the future of mobility, for the HDC-6 NEPTUNE fuel cell heavy-duty truck. The NEPTUNE was awarded under the 'Public and Commercial' category for innovative transport technologies and services for future mobility.

On August 6, in a letter to investors, Plug Power announced it was in discussions with multiple locations for the siting of a gigawatt-scale production plant for fuel cell and electrolyzer production. According to the letter, Plug Power intends to finalize the location in the third quarter of 2020 and begin operations in 2021.

Click here for the letter from Plug Power.

On August 5, FCHEA member Cummins announced it received two awards from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) to continue work on the economic viability of fuel cell powertrains for heavy-duty applications such as highway tractor trailers and buses. The grants, under DOE's H2@Scale initiative, total almost $7 million.

Around $3.5 million was allocated for the development of an integrated fuel cell powertrain for heavy-duty trucks and buses. Cummins will work to ensure optimal performance and a cost that supports the entry of the technology into the truck and bus market. According to Cummins, the fuel cell solution must give the vehicles a range of 300 miles or more, with a greater fuel economy than current vehicles. Cummins states other objectives include reducing capital costs by 35 percent.

Another $3 million was allocated to Cummins for the development of a high pressure, modular, 100 kilowatt proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system for heavy-duty applications. Cummins' goals include optimizing the fuel cell for efficiency, power density, space, and cost, for an operating time around 25,000 hours and a production cost of $80 per kilowatt.

Click here for the full press release from Cummins.

On July 17, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) announced $118 million in grant funding for the Coal FIRST (Flexible, Innovative, Resilient, Small, Transformative) Initiative, focused on converting coal, biomass, and waste plastics to carbon neutral electricity and hydrogen fuel. DOE FE continued by announcing another funding opportunity under Coal FIRST, which is included in the Requests for Papers, Proposals, & Information section below.

Click here for the full press release from DOE FE.

On August 3, Plug Power announced it will provide Asda, a United Kingdom-based supermarket, with fuel cell engines for forklift use. Plug Power states this is the first at scale deployment of hydrogen fuel cells for material handling in the United Kingdom.

Under the agreement, Plug Power will supply their full-service GenKey solution including fuel cells, hydrogen fueling equipment, hydrogen fuel, and service, beginning at Asda's facility in Skelmersdale. According to Plug Power, the transition from lead-acid batteries to fuel cells is part of Asda's efforts to make operation more environmentally-friendly.

Click here for the full press release from Plug Power.

On July 28, Hyundai Rotem Co., a railway and plant equipment subsidiary of Hyundai Motor, announced it will build a hydrogen reformer manufacturing plant at its research and development complex in Uiwang, South Korea. The company plans to produce 20 reformers a year starting in October 2020, for a total output capacity of 4,700 tons of hydrogen. According to Yonhap News Agency, Hyundai Rotem is aiming for $92.4 million in sales of hydrogen charging in 2022.

On August 20, FCHEA member Hexagon announced a Northeast Asian fuel cell automaker has chosen Hexagon to supply composite cylinders for their current fuel cell SUV. The cylinders will be installed in the vehicle model starting by 2022.

The two-year contract, still subject to final negotiations of terms and conditions, is estimated at a value of €25 million (~$29.4 million). According to Hexagon, the nomination positions the company for additional projects.

Click here for the full press release from Hexagon.

On August 3, FCHEA member BayoTech announced it was partnering with ENEFIIN Group, an Italian renewable energy project consulting firm. Through the partnership ENEFIIN Group will help to expand BayoTech's products through Europe.

Click here for the full press release from BayoTech.

On August 14, FCHEA member Air Liquide announced renovations to Zaventem, Belgium's hydrogen station, the country's first station, originally installed in 2016. The renovations ensured the station is both in accordance with current regulations, as well as upgraded the station to fill tanks faster with controlled cooled hydrogen, a technique that Air Liquide states is less energy intensive and therefore better for the environment.

On August 20, Fortescue Metals Group, an Australian iron ore company, announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hyundai Motor Company and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia's national science agency, to advance the development of renewable hydrogen technology.

Under the MOU, CSIRO's metal membrane technology will be developed and commercialized in partnership with Fortescue, while Hyundai will demonstrate viability of the technology for renewable hydrogen production and fueling in South Korea.

Click here for the full press release from Fortescue Metals Group.

On July 31, Cummins announced its fuel cells were operating in Zhangjiakou, China, one of the hosts of the 2022 Winter Olympic games. For almost two years, Cummins fuel cells have powered 74 transit buses in Zhangjiakou. Cummins states that the buses are in operation more than 14 hours a day and drive over 250 kilometers (~155 miles).

The city of Zhangjiakou is planning on using environmentally-friendly sources of energy, including fuel cells and hydrogen, in preparation for the Olympics. In addition to the Cummins fuel cells, the city is building a Hydrogen Production Base and hydrogen stations in partnership with Air Liquide.

Click here for the full press release from Cummins.

On August 10, Jemena, an Australian energy company, announced it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hyundai Australia and Coregas, and Australian industrial gas company, to produce and deliver hydrogen to Hyundai's headquarters in Macquarie Park.

The hydrogen, expected to begin delivery in early 2021, will be generated from solar and wind power, and will be available to the vehicle industry. The hydrogen gas will be generated as part of Jemena's $15 million Western Sydney Green Gas Project, supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

Click here for the full press release from Jemena.

On July 27, Bruno Forget, Air Liquide's head of hydrogen in China, was interviewed by S&P Global Platts regarding the support of hydrogen energy through policy in the country. Forget expressed the focus on mobility in regards to hydrogen in China, and mentioned the country would move onto applications such as heat and power and steelmaking after fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). He was hopeful about China's new Energy Law and 2020 government funding for FCVs and the heavy-duty sector.

Click here for the full interview with S&P Global Platts.

This year, f-cell+HFC 2020 will be a digital event streamed live from Vancouver. The intriguing and dynamic program brings the World’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Community together to create further projects and connections benefiting the industry for the years to come.

The full 2-day online agenda brings together Canadian and international industry experts, suppliers, customers and policymakers. This year’s dynamic program is sponsored by Ballard, Toyota, HTEC, Greenlight Innovation and Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service, and includes:

Click here to register for the online event.

Commercial UAV Expo Americas is a re-imagined virtual event where the commercial drone community will gather to learn, connect, and drive the industry forward to create a new future. The event will feature virtual exhibits and demonstrations by UAS solutions providers; keynotes, panel discussions, and presentations with interactive Q&A and chat; AI-powered networking; and more.

In addition to content about the challenges and opportunities the industry is facing due to COVID-19, industries covered include Construction; Drone Delivery; Energy & Utilities; Forestry & Agriculture; Infrastructure & Transportation; Mining & Aggregates; Public Safety & Emergency Services; Security; and Surveying & Mapping.

Click here for more information.

NECEC will convene stakeholders in all aspects of the hydrogen industry from both the public and private sector to discuss the opportunities and challenges of developing the infrastructure for a local green hydrogen economy. You will hear from industry leaders about case studies from other parts of the world and learn lessons about what is working and what is not, about appropriate steps in building up a green hydrogen economy, and how the public sector is working in partnership with private investors and industry to build out early projects.

Click here to register for the webinar.

ACT Expo, the advanced transportation technology and clean fleet event in North America, serves as a meeting place for transportation executives looking to gain insight and hands-on access to the fuels, technologies, and vehicles driving the future of transportation. ACT Expo features dozens of product debuts and major announcements from leading OEMs and suppliers, unparalleled networking opportunities with the most influential and progressive leaders in the industry, peer-to-peer learning for progressive fleet operators, and access to the most comprehensive assembly of advanced commercial vehicles anywhere.

Click here for more information.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy announced a request for information (RFI) about hydrogen technology opportunities and research needs that could lead to advances in hydrogen technologies. Advances in hydrogen technologies that are capable of improving overall performance, reliability, and flexibility of existing technologies to produce, transport, store, and use hydrogen will enable the United States to continue to extract maximum economic value from its fossil-fueled energy system assets.

In this RFI, DOE is specifically interested in gathering information relevant to five topic areas:

Responses to the RFI may be used to identify and assess technology and knowledge gaps, contribute to the development of multi-year programs, and assist in developing content for future funding opportunity announcements.

Click here for more information.

This FOA integrates identified research opportunities across Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) into a single funding opportunity. AMO intends to fund high-impact, early- to mid-stage applied research through this FOA. Topics are organized in 3 main topic areas, as described below, with subtopics in each area.

Topic 1: Efficiency Improvements in Advanced Manufacturing Processes

Topic 2: Efficiency Improvements in Chemical Manufacturing

Topic 3: Connected, Flexible, and Efficient Manufacturing Facilities, Products, and Energy Systems

Click here for the full Funding Opportunity Announcement.

DOE intends to award $81 million in federal funding for cost-shared R&D projects. Projects funded under this FOA will focus on advancing engineering-scale prototypes. Successful applicants will be required to complete (1) design development; (2) host site evaluation and environmental information volume; (3) an investment case analysis; and (4) a system integration design study.

All prototypes must generate electricity or hydrogen, for power or other products, and incorporate carbon capture and utilization or carbon capture and storage technologies in one of the following areas of interest:

Click here for more information, and click here to access the FOA.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the Energy Storage Grand Challenge Draft Roadmap and a Request for Information (RFI) seeking stakeholder input on the Draft Roadmap. Announced in January 2020 by U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, the Energy Storage Grand Challenge (ESGC) is a comprehensive program to accelerate the development, commercialization, and utilization of next-generation energy storage. The Draft Roadmap outlines a Department-wide strategy to accelerate innovation across a range of storage technologies based on three concepts: Innovate Here, Make Here, Deploy Everywhere.

Click here for more information, and click here for the RFI.

Applications for zero-emission freight and marine projects are now being accepted. Interested parties are encouraged to learn about this funding opportunity and submit applications. Funding will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects located in California. Up to $35 million will be awarded to eligible projects statewide through this solicitation on a competitive basis. Projects that benefit disadvantaged or low-income communities may be prioritized for award. A second solicitation offering an additional $35 million is expected to be released in mid-2022.

Eligible projects include:

Click here for more information.

Maryland Energy Association (MEA) is providing the Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) Commercial, Industrial & Agricultural (CI&A) grant program to support improving the energy efficiency and reducing the energy costs of enterprises in Maryland’s commercial, industrial, and agricultural sector. The FY21 program will be divided into three separate application periods to best support energy efficiency projects for agriculture, manufacturing, and businesses that may be in varying planning stages or at various stages of readiness due to COVID-19.

Up to $1.65 million is available for award from in the FY21 CI&A Program , subject to availability. The Program budget will be divided between three application windows, as follows. If MEA does not award the full application period budget, any remaining funds will be added to the remaining application period’s budget. There will be three funding periods with $550,000 available each period. Applications will be reviewed on a competitive basis by an evaluation team. Award announcements will be made as applications are competitively selected for award.

Period Due Dates:

Click here for more information.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a request for information (RFI) to collect feedback from industry, academia, and the research community on DOE’s hydrogen and fuel cells research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) activities and strategies, including the H2@Scale initiative. Input collected through this RFI will help inform DOE’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office’s (HFTO’s) research priorities and goals to ensure they effectively addresses the current and future needs of the hydrogen and fuel cells industry. The information will also help guide the work being conducted through National Laboratory consortia launched to address specific challenges in electrolyzers and in heavy duty fuel cell applications.

RFI topics include:

Click here for more information.

This is a competitive grant solicitation. The California Energy Commission’s (CEC’s) Clean Transportation Program (formerly known as the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program) announces the availability of up to $3 million in grant funds for planning “blueprints” that will identify actions and milestones needed for implementation of medium- and heavy-duty (MD/HD) zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) and the related electric charging and/or hydrogen refueling infrastructure. The purpose of this solicitation is to accelerate the deployment of MD/HD ZEVs and ZEV infrastructure with a holistic and futuristic view of transportation planning.

Click here for more information.

The purpose of this solicitation is to fund the electric vehicle (EV) charging or hydrogen-refueling infrastructure needed to support the large-scale conversion of transit bus fleets to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) at multiple transit agencies serving diverse geographic regions and populations.

Click here for more information.

To fund the design, integration, and demonstration of hydrogen fuel cell systems and hydrogen fueling infrastructure for locomotive and commercial harbor craft applications at California ports to reduce air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions. Projects should seek to advance technologies that can enable ports as high throughput clusters for low-cost and low-carbon hydrogen and achieve scaled demand across multiple applications.

Click here for more information.

This Special Issue of a new journal called Fuels will feature several new peer-reviewed articles on the topic of “Clean and Renewable Hydrogen Fuel”. Articles will be solicited in June 2020 with expected submissions in February 2021 and publication of the Special Issue later in 2021. Key topics include biological production methods including fermentation and algae, gasification/pyrolysis, electrolysis, and other emerging methods for clean hydrogen production.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Click here for more information.

There are $90 million in funds allocated to this category, for which the first installment was allotted $27 million. The first solicitation is scheduled for release pending approval by the South Coast AQMD Board on Friday, August 7, 2020. If approved, applications will be accepted online beginning Tuesday, August 18, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. (PST) and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Both public and private entities that own and operate eligible vehicles may apply. Funding is available to replace the following vehicles with zero emission technologies:

Class 8 only:

Click here for more information.

CORE is designed to accelerate deployment of cleaner off-road technologies by providing a streamlined way for fleets ready to purchase specific zero-emission equipment to receive funding to offset the higher cost of such technologies. This project is analogous to the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), but will specifically target zero-emission off-road freight equipment that is currently in the early stages of commercial deployment.

Click here for more information.