Connection

November 2017
Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Connection


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Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Headlines
Hydrogen Council Releases Study at United Nations Climate Conference
On November 13, the Hydrogen Council   launched their first ever globally quantified vision of the role of hydrogen energy. The study, entitled Hydrogen, Scaling up, came as the Council  convened their second annual meeting during the sidelines of the United Nations' Climate Conference (COP23) climate change discussions in Bonn, Germany. 


According to the study, developed with support from McKinsey & Company, hydrogen could account for almost one-fifth of total final energy consumed by 2050 if deployed at scale. This would reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 6 gigatons compared to today's levels, and contribute roughly 20% of the abatement required to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius.

For a link to the full press release from the Hydrogen Council, click  here.

In addition to the study release, the Hydrogen Council also  named Hyundai the latest chair company of the Council at the November 13 meeting in Bonn. Yang Woong-chul, vice chairman of Hyundai's R&D division, will also serve as co-chairman of the Council with Air Liquide CEO Benoit Potier. 


Left to right: Yang Woong-chul of Hyundai, Air Liquide CEO Benoit Potier, and Toyota Motor Chairman and former Hydrogen Council co-chairman Takeshi Uchiyamada. Source: Korea JooAng Daily 

For a link to the full article, click  here.

Plug Power Announces Fuel Cell Deal With Norwegian Grocer, Toyota Subsidiary - NEL to Provide Renewable Hydrogen for Facility 

On October 31, Plug Power announced a new agreement with Toyota Materials Handling Norway to provide to provide hydrogen fuel cells to Norwegian grocer Asko. Under the agreement, Asko will use Plug Power's GenDrive fuel cells to power its industrial electric forklift fleet at its distribution center in Trondheim, Norway. The fleet will be deployed in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Renewable-sourced hydrogen will be produced on site via electrolysis technology provided by NEL ASA. The Trondheim facility is a pilot project, and forecasts expansion potential to additional opportunities, including Asko's 13 regional warehouses. According to Plug Power, the agreement also allows the possibility for Asko to convert its 95-truck fleet to run on hydrogen fuel cells. 

For a link to the full press release from Plug Power, click  here.

Connecticut Town Receives Doosan Fuel Cells for Wastewater Treatment Plant

On October 26, the New Haven, Connecticut news site  Citizen's Newsreported on the installation of three Doosan fuel cell systems for the town of Naugatuck's wastewater treatment plant. Local political officials unveiled the fuel cell systems during a ceremony on October 18 at the town-owned plant.

Naugatuck signed a 20-year contract with Doosan to buy electricity produced by the cells. According to the contract, the government will buy about 12,000 megawatt hours of energy per year in order to power the wastewater facility. According to the mayor of Naugatuck, the fuel cells will also save 3 million pounds of carbon dioxide from going into the air, reduce nearly 10 million pounds of nitrogen oxide, and conserve 4 million 
gallons of water. 

Naugatuck Mayor N. Warren 'Pete' Hess, right, speaks in front of the new fuel cells at the Naugatuck wastewater treatment plant on October 18. Source: Citizen's News

For a link  to the full article from  Citizen's News , click  here.

California Energy Commission Recommends Funding for Five Additional Hydrogen Stations 

On November 8, the California Energy Commission (Energy Commission) issued a "Revised Notice of Proposed Awards" that recommends funding for the construction of five additional hydrogen stations.   The newly awarded stations are located in San Jose,  Beverly Hills,  Studio City,  Redwood City, and  Mission Hills. The San Jose station is being built by FCHEA member Shell, and the other four stations by FirstElement Fuel. 

The Energy Commission must officially approve the awards at their upcoming meeting before funds can be disbursed. Including these new stations, California has a total of 66 retail hydrogen stations open, in development, and proposed. 

For a link to a blog post from the California Fuel Cell Partnership explaining the new Revised Notice, click here.

Nel Announces Exclusive Partnership with Nikola, Awarded Purchase Order for Two Demo Hydrogen Stations 

On November 15, Nel ASA announced an exclusive partnership with Utah-based Nikola Motor Company to work on hydrogen fueling stations that produce renewable-sourced hydrogen via water electrolysis. As part of the partnership, Nel was awarded a $3.6 million purchase order to deliver two demo hydrogen station to Nikola in the second half of 2018.

The demo stations will serve Nikola's test fleet of fuel cell powered trucks that will begin deployment next year. According to Nel, each demo station will be able to provide one ton of hydrogen for Nikola's trucks. 

Nikola has an initial target to build 16 "mega-scale" hydrogen stations from 2019-2021. The stations will use a new clustering design, where a minimum of eight Nel A-485 electrolyzers are integrated into one unit to reduce the cost of hydrogen and achieve price parity with fossil fuels. The design is scalable to a maximum of 32 Nel A-485 electrolyzer units per site, for a production capacity of up to 32 tons of hydrogen per day. 

For a link to the full press release from Nel, click  here.

Air Products Announces Agreement with Japanese Company for Hydrogen Fueling Station Development

On October 31, Air Products announced an exclusive long-term relationship agreement with Nippon Steel & Sumikin Pipeline Engineering (NSPE) to jointly pursue hydrogen fueling station opportunities in Japan. The companies also executed an agreement allowing NSPE to use Air Products' proprietary hydrogen fueling software at these stations.  

The new long-term relationship agreement defines an exclusive cooperation between Air Products and NSPE for the design and construction of hydrogen stations in Japan. It also governs collaborative efforts in the bidding and execution of future projects. Air Products and NSPE had previously signed an agreement to explore working together on the hydrogen fueling market in Japan in February of 2014, and launched their first commercial hydrogen station in the country in May of 2016.

For a link to the full press release from Air Products, click  here.

Hyundai Discusses Next Generation Fuel Cell Vehicle with New Powertrain 

 
On October 24, Hyundai outlined its future powertrain development strategy and plans for a next generation fuel cell vehicle (FCV) at the Hyundai-Kia International Powertrain Conference in South Korea.  At the conference, Hyundai displayed the first four engines and two transmissions from its forthcoming line-up of new 'Smart Stream' powertrains. 


A demonstration model of Hyundai's new Smart Stream powertrain, at the International Powertrain Conference in South Korea. Source: Hyundai Motor Group

According to Hyundai, the Smart Stream powertrains will enhance the energy efficiency of its next generation vehicles, including a new FCV. In its press release on the Smart Stream line-up, Hyundai said that it next FCV will have a driving range of 800 km (about 497 miles), a maximum power output of 163 horsepower, and the largest hydrogen storage density of any FCV on the market. The new FCV, along with 19 other eco-friendly car models, are planned to be introduced to global markets by 2020.

For a link to the full press release from Hyundai, click  here.

Air Liquide to Open Kawasaki, Japan's First Permanent Hydrogen Station

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On November 6,  gasworld reported that Air Liquide will open the first hydrogen fueling station in Kawasaki, Japan. The station, which is expected to be open to the public in April 2018, will be located adjacent to Air Liquide Japan's hydrogen production site, Kawasaki Oxyton.

Funding for the station will be subsidized by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) and the government of Kanagawa Prefecture. Air Liquide currently operate 5 hydrogen stations in Japan.

For a link to the full article from  gasworld, click  here.

Honda to Install Faster Filling Stations Across Japan

On October 25, the  Nikkei Asian Review reported that Honda has developed a new version of the Smart Hydrogen fueling station that it plans to install across Japan beginning in 2018. By working with local governments, Honda plans to have around 100 of the new stations built throughout the country by 2020. 

The original Smart Hydrogen station debuted in 2014, and so far 15 have been installed across Japan. These stations can produce hydrogen fuel on-site via electrolysis of water, using solar power and other renewable energy resources. The hydrogen is compressed without a mechanical compressor, making the Smart Hydrogen stations small and quiet compared to other hydrogen fueling facilities.

According to Honda, when government subsidies are factored in, the latest version of the Smart Hydrogen station can be built at a cost of between 50 million yen to 70 million yen ($440,000 to $615,930). 

For a link to the full article from the  Nikkei Asian Review, click  here.

CSA Group Announces New Hydrogen Station Testing Trailer

On November 6, CSA Group announced the development of new on-site evaluation testing equipment for hydrogen fueling stations. The company's new mobile hydrogen dispenser testing apparatus (HDTA) and weights and measures device (WAM-D) validates hydrogen dispenser performance in accordance with international codes and standards.

CSA Group's mobile hydrogen dispenser testing apparatus. Source: CSA Group

This week, CSA Group presented and exhibited at the Fuel Cell Seminar & Energy Exposition in Long Beach, California to introduce their new evaluation equipment to the industry.  

For a link to the full press release from CSA Group, click  here.

Altergy Announces Partnership with Alpha Technologies for Fuel Cell Backup Power Platform 

On October 12, broadband solutions company Alpha Technologies announced that they will be the exclusive provider of FCHEA member Altergy's Freedom Power Platform (FPP). FPP is a patented retro- t fuel cell solution designed to deliver non-stop TV, internet and phone service while meeting required FCC mandates. 

According to Alpha Technologies, the FPP can provide 8 hours of run time during grid outages, and integrates seamlessly into established network infrastructure. The FPP avoids leasing and civil costs while providing simple, low-cost maintenance for network operators.

For a link to the full article from Altergy, click  here.

Daimler Announces Collaboration to Use Automotive Fuel Cell Technology for Stationary Power

On November 10, Daimler announced a new collaboration effort with Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Power Innovations, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to utilize its automotive fuel cell systems for stationary power applications. 

Starting this year, Daimler subsidiary NuCellSys, along with Mercedes-Benz Research and Development North America and Daimler Innovations Lab1886, will work with these companies to develop prototype renewable-sourced fuel cell systems for back-up and continuous power solutions for data centers and other applications.


Demonstrative picture of Daimler's next generation fuel cell system being used for stationary power applications, such as powering a Power Innovations data center. Source: Daimler AG

 For a link to the full press release from Daimler, click  here.

Proton OnSite Awarded $1.8 Million Contract for Energy Department's Advanced Water Splitting Benchmark Project

On October 23, Proton OnSite announced that it has been awarded a $1.8 million contract to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Advanced Water Splitting Benchmark Project. The project is part of DOE's HydroGEN Energy Materials Network (EMN) consortium, which was launched to accelerate the discovery and development of materials for low cost hydrogen production.  

Proton will work with DOE National Laboratories and lead a team to ensure that all experimental results across the water splitting research community are properly vetted, standards are set for comparison, and road maps are developed that include research priorities and capability needs. Kathy Ayers, Proton's Vice President of Research and Development, has been named overall project lead.

For a link to the full press release from Proton OnSite, click  here.

Air Liquide to Supplies Hydrogen Fuel for Fuel Cell Vehicles in Monte-Carlo eRally 

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On October 23, Air Liquide announced that for the second year in a row, it would supply hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles (FCV) taking part in the Monte-Carlo eRally, an endurance race organized by the Monaco Automobile Club that is only open to 100% zero-emission vehicles. 

Air Liquide provided its mobile hydrogen refueling station to the six FCVs taking part in this year's race, alongside thirty four battery electric vehicles.   This year's race took place from October 25 to 29, and spanned a 1000 km route (about 621 miles). 

Air Liquide participe au eRallye Monte Carlo
A Toyota Mirai FCV participating in the 2016 Monte-Carlo eRally. Source: Air Liquide

For a link to the full press release from Air Liquide, click  here. 

Plug Power Makes Deloitte's 2017 Technology Fast 500

On November 9, Plug Power was named to Deloitte's 2017 Technology Fast 500, a listing of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America.  Plug Power was previously named to Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 list in 2016.

For a link to the full press release from Plug Power, click here.

German Hydrogen Organization Launches Information Campaign for UN Climate Conference 

On October 19, the National Organization Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW) in Germany announced the launch of their "Multitalent Hydrogen" information campaign to accompany the 23rd United Nations Climate Conference in Bonn, Germany this November. The campaign is also being supported by EnergieAgentur.NRW, the European hydrogen and fuel cell industry association Hydrogen Europe, and the European public-private partnership Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking. 

Delegates will be able to ride in fuel cell powered buses to and from the conference through the "CleanShuttle" service, provided by the German Association of Transport Companies. Fuel cell vehicles from Honda, Hyundai and Toyota, along with battery vehicles from BMW will also be used for VIP transport services. In addition, the HyCologne e.V. society will present a special exhibition at the Deutsches Museum in Bonn entitled "Wasserstoff - der unbegrenzte Energieträger" (Hydrogen - the unlimited source of energy), which is aimed at Climate Conference participants and the general public. 

For a link to the full press release from NOW, click here.

eventsUpcoming Events
 
California Energy Commission Workshops on Hydrogen Refueling Infrastructure

November 30, 2017 | 10am-3:30pm 
Staff Workshop on Hydrogen Refueling Infrastructure Alternative Funding Mechanisms 

December 4, 2017 | 10am-4:00pm 
Staff Workshop on Hydrogen Refueling Station Technical Requirements 

December 14, 2017 | 10am-4:00pm 
Staff Workshop on Evaluation Criteria for Hydrogen Refueling Station Applications, Critical Milestones, and Data Collection

For more information on these workshops, click  here. 

11th Operational Energy Summit  

Operational Energy Summit
DGA is proud to announce the return of our 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 DoD'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
To register for the Summit, click  here

Additional Links
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CNBC | 20 October 2017 

Saratoga Today | 20 October 2017

Railway Gazette | 23 October 2017

Hey, Congress: There's Room on the Road for All Zero-Emission Vehicles [  Op-Ed from FCHEA President Morry Markowitz]
Washington Examiner | 24 October 2017
Aberdeen, Scotland City Council | 24 October 2017 

Columbus Business First | 24 October 2017 

Reuters | 24 October 2017 

National Fire Protection  Association , via YouTube | 23 October 2017 

Rail Magazine | 30 October 2017

Electronic Design | 30 October 2017

Bloomberg | 31 October 2017

Seatrade Cruise News | 31 October 2017

Manchester [England] Evening News | 1 November 2017

BBC Top Gear | 1 November 2017

Wealth Daily | 2 November 2017 
Plug Power | 2 November 2017

IndeOnline | 2 November 2017 

U.S. Department of Energy | 6 November 2017 

Gasworld | 7 November 2017

The Maritime Executive | 8 November 2017

Tyre Press | 8 November 2017 

Slash Gear | 10 November 2017

The Drive | 10 November 2017 

Ken Blackwell via The Hill | 13 November 2017

Toyota UK | 14 November 2017 

Motor Authority | 16 November 2017 

Network World | 16 November 2017

Oh In-hwan via Korea JoongAng Daily | 16 November 2017 

Government of Ontario | 16 November 2017

E&E News | 17 November 2017

About the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Connection
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Press releases and story ideas may be forwarded to Connor Dolan and Karen Quackenbush for consideration at cdolan@fchea.org and khall@fchea.org respectively.

 

If your company is interested in joining FCHEA, please visit fchea.org or contact Connor Dolan at cdolan@fchea.org.

 

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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