Plug Power's GenCore Fuel Cell Customers to Receive Tax Credit

Plug Power Inc. announced the inclusion of a fuel cell tax credit in the Energy Bill signed by President George W. Bush mid of August. The bill includes a 30 percent tax credit up to $1,000 per kilowatt on the purchase of fuel cells used in residential or commercial applications…

The tax credit will be available in January 2006 and specifically includes telecommunications carriers among the eligible end users for the tax credit. Additionally, the bill includes an authorization for $3.7 billion for hydrogen and fuel cell research and development, demonstration and market transition over the next 10 years.

"We believe the tax credit will substantially strengthen GenCore's product value proposition by providing GenCore customers an opportunity for a $5,000 savings," said Dr. Roger B. Saillant, President and Chief Executive Officer of Plug Power. "The entire New York Congressional delegation worked tirelessly to create this great opportunity for the fuel cell industry."

The legislation reflects the significant efforts of Congressman Michael R. McNulty (D-Green Island, NY), who introduced the first fuel cell credit proposal into Congress; Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), who included the telecommunications industry in the tax credit portion of the energy bill; Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), who co-sponsored legislation that led to the energy bill's $3.7 billion authorization for hydrogen and fuel cell research, development, demonstration and market transformation; and Congressman John E. Sweeney (R-Clifton Park, NY) who was supportive of the legislation.
Source: Plug Power

Redaktion

f-cell - Trade fair as meeting point for the fuel cell sector

Linde Gas and Proton Energy Systems Join to Market Products

Linde Gas announced 3rd August it will add Proton Energy System's proprietary product line to Linde's portfolio of Analytical, Metallurgical and Energy Segment Products. Linde Gas LLC has entered into an agreement with Proton Energy Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Distributed Energy Systems Corp., under which Linde Gas will become a distributor for Proton's HOGEN(R) on site hydrogen generation systems…

Linde Gas will market Proton's HOGEN(R) to energy and utilities sector customers in the US, Mexico and the Caribbean. This distribution agreement will further enhance Linde's product and service capabilities for the high-growth North American energy sector. Additionally, the agreement allows Linde Gas LLC to provide Proton's equipment to the Linde Group, extending Proton's global distribution network.

"Offering our customers Proton's HOGEN on site hydrogen generation systems advances Linde's global hydrogen energy initiatives in North America," says Phillip Midgett, Linde Gas Segment Manager for Energy and Utilities.

Region Manager for Specialty Gases RNA Howard Hubert adds, "Linde Gas is pleased to be a distribution partner with Proton. We're very enthusiastic about combining Proton's proprietary product line with Linde's extensive process technology platform and global service capabilities. Customers in the Analytical, Metallurgical, Electronics and of course Energy Segments will benefit from this relationship."

Proton's HOGEN(R) on site hydrogen generators produce hydrogen from electricity and water without harmful by-products. By providing a constant flow of high-purity hydrogen in electric utility applications, the hydrogen generator cools the electric generator casing. Using a patent pending process, these turnkey hydrogen generator systems can improve efficiencies in a utility's electric generators and result in significant cost savings by reducing windage loss, increasing output capacity and helping to extend generator maintenance intervals.
Source: Linde Gas LLC

Toyota demonstration fuelled by Air Products’ hydrogen

Air Products recently supplied hydrogen to Toyota’s Technology Seminar 2005 which took place in Gründau, near Frankfurt, Germany. Amongst the vehicles being demonstrated was Toyota’s latest Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle (FCHV). This vehicle has been designed to run on a combination of hydrogen fuel cell and battery power to maximise the efficiency of the powertrain…

The FCHV, already on limited commercial release in the US and Japan, was amongst a number of new technologies evaluated by invited government, media and non-governmental organisations guests at the German Automobile Association facility at Gründau.

The hydrogen was supplied using the Air Products’ Series 100 fuelling station. The Series 100 has been specially designed to meet the fuelling needs of the first hydrogen vehicles to appear on our roads. The fueller comprises an integrated compression, hydrogen storage and dispensing system, and contains sufficient hydrogen to fuel two to three cars per day. Minimal onsite utilities are required for the fueller, which can be easily moved from site to site, making it a perfect solution for events such as Toyota’s.

This was the fourth such fueller from Air Products be used in Europe. Audi have a Series 100 fuelling station at their research centre, and BP have purchased two to fuel the hydrogen car from Ford and Daimler Chrysler. A further ten Series 100 fuellers are operated by Air Products elsewhere around the world.

Air Products is also co-operating with Toyota in California and installed a Series 100 hydrogen Fuelling Station at the University of California-Davis for the purpose of filling Toyota fuel cell powered vehicles.

Air Products produces over 1.25 million tonnes of hydrogen per year and has six liquid hydrogen facilities and seven hydrogen pipeline systems around the world. The company has been involved in the production and supply of hydrogen for over 50 years and has supplied all the liquid hydrogen for NASA’s space missions.
Source: Air Products

GTI Uses Gasified Chicken Litter to Generate Electricity with a SOFC

Gas Technology Institute (GTI) has successfully demonstrated that chicken litter can be gasified to produce hydrogen and generate electricity using a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). Under a project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, GTI, and the University of Georgia are working to convert chicken litter into energy and fertilizer...

As part of this USDA-funded project, GTI conducted a test to demonstrate the suitability of chicken litter as a low-Btu fuel for the SOFC. Litter from poultry farms is traditionally used in land applications as a fertilizer because it is rich in nutrients. But the rise in poultry production combined with the decreasing availability of land and potential deleterious environmental impacts creates concern about traditional litter disposal methods.

Gasification has the potential to provide a cost-effective, environmentally benign disposal option for the litter while providing heat, power, fuel (such as hydrogen) and fertilizer. According to Francis Lau, Director of Corporate Development at GTI, "Commercialization and implementation of such a modular technology has the potential to generate on-site power
and heat from a renewable source of energy economically while addressing environmental problems caused by traditional disposal practices."

The fuel gas was produced in a bench-scale fluidized bed gasifier. A 5-cell SOFC stack was operated on the slipstream from the gasifier. A zinc oxide (ZnO)-based sorbent bed was used to remove H2S in the fuel gas prior to entering the SOFC stack. An average power density is about 40% of that obtained from reformed natural gas due to this fuel.
Source: Gas Technology Institute

World's First Purpose-Built Fuel Cell Motorbike Makes North American Debut

Intelligent Energy, a British energy-solutions company that is relocating to Los Angeles, unveiled the world's first purpose-built fuel cell motorbike, ENV (Emissions Neutral Vehicle), at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, Calif. This sleek-looking, hydrogen-powered motorbike is the first designed specifically with fuel cell technology in mind. The result is an innovative motorbike that emits only water vapors, making it an almost silent and completely non-polluting vehicle…


ENV was engineered and purpose-built from the ground up, utilizing Intelligent Energy's world-renowned CORE, a radically compact and efficient fuel cell, in order to demonstrate the everyday applicability of fuel cell technology. The CORE is detachable from the bike and is capable of powering anything from an ATV or a personal watercraft, to a small home.

"The ENV offers an exhilarating glimpse of the clean-and-green lifestyle that can be achieved through fuel cell technology," said Intelligent Energy CEO Harry Bradbury. "In the none-too-distant future, people will be able to use a bike like ENV to leave work in an urban environment, drive to the countryside, detach the CORE and attach it to another vehicle, such as a motorboat, before going on to power a log cabin with the very same fuel cell, which could then be recharged from a mini hydrogen creator the size of a shoebox."

The pre-production prototype ENV currently has a top speed of 50 mph and can be used for up to four hours before needing hydrogen "refueling." These performance figures are significantly better than those of the electric bikes currently available. Intelligent Energy created ENV as a light bike for everyday use by urban commuters and recreational off-road bikers alike: however, the fuel cell technology is inherently adaptable and can be used to produce a more powerful bike with performance and weight ratios analogous to traditional gasoline-powered motorcycles.

When it came to the ENV's design, Intelligent Energy collaborated with Britain's influential and innovative Seymourpowell. The 21-year-old, award-winning British design house has worked with many groundbreaking brands, such as Jaguar, BMW and Casio. The result of the Intelligent Energy/Seymourpowell collaboration is the streamlined, lightweight ENV, which comes in two monochromatic colors: Black Supergloss and Iridescent White.

Public interest may also be heightened by another cutting-edge feature that differentiates the ENV from its counterparts: virtual silence. Unlike vehicles powered by internal combustion engines and their noisy exhaust systems, the only sounds emitted from the CORE are from its cooling fan and the tires meeting the road or track, making ENV an almost completely silent vehicle. ENV will come equipped with a warning bell or horn to warn pedestrians or other vehicles of its presence, although research indicates that visual signifiers such as lights are more important for road safety than noise alone.

Intelligent Energy is currently in discussions with motorcycle manufacturers about production and distribution, and expects to bring ENV to market in 2006, which would make it the first hydrogen fuel cell motorbike available to consumers. The company expects ENV to retail for around $6,000 at low volume production, with the price set to come down at higher production volumes.
Source: Intelligent Energy

Progress Energy Florida Unveils Hydrogen Fuel Cell at State Park

Progress Energy Florida, along with partners from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Hydrogenics Corp., unveiled a sustainable hydrogen generator and fuel cell at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. DEP and Progress Energy jointly funded the project, and Toronto-based Hydrogenics Corp. provided the hydrogen generation system…

The fully integrated fuel cell and 5-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) solar system are supplementing a portion of the electricity used at the park's Wildlife Encounter Pavilion, which provides educational programming to park visitors. "Progress Energy is proud to be part of such an important project," said Bill Habermeyer, president and CEO of Progress Energy Florida. "Hydrogen is a potential fuel source for the future, and we are glad to partner with DEP, Hydrogenics and the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park to test and develop that potential in our state."

At Homosassa Springs, the PV cells power an electrolyzer that splits water into its two gaseous components, hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen gas is stored for later conversion into electricity by the fuel cell. "This project uses existing, proven technologies to provide simple, cost- effective environmental benefits to one of the most pristine areas of natural Florida," said DEP Deputy Secretary for Regulatory Programs and Energy Allan Bedwell. "Visitors to Homosassa Springs will now experience more than the Real Florida - they will glimpse our nation's energy future."

"This project gives us research opportunities and experience with this technology," said John Masiello, Progress Energy's manager of alternative energy strategies. "Learning to use hydrogen effectively and safely is a key step in making this fuel source potentially viable in the future."