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Market News:

Convenient and cost-effective: New hydrogen leak detection system from Sensistor

Safe and healthy: FC powered mining vehicle with Powerball storage technology

Swiss-German co-production: PSI makes hydrogen VW fit for testing

German-Dutch-Canadian Joint-Venture: HERA ready for take-off

Chinese ambitions: More than 12 million dollars for FC research

Novel electrolyzing process: Hydrogen for the oil and gas industry

This time with Dr. Frank-Michael Baumann, Managing Director of the Future Energies State Initiative North-Rhine-Westfalia

Lobbying for hydrogen: The advisory board meets in Berlin

More subjects, more exhibitors: Hydrogen Expo 2002 needs further exhibition hall

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Convenient and cost-effective: New hydrogen leak detection system from Sensistor

Sensistor Technologies GmbH from Germany recently unveiled a new device for industrial hydrogen leak detection and sealing testing. The H2000 is said to be convenient and cost-effective and particularly suited for leak detection for fuel cells and hydrogen vehicles. For mobile testing a grid-independent version of the device is available. According to the company, the H2000 needs little maintenance, is robust and extremely sensitive towards even the smallest amounts of gas. Leak ratios of up to 5 by 10 to the power of minus 7 mbarl/s could be detected. The trace element consisted of an inexpensive and environmentally benign standard mixture, which was non-toxic, non-flammable and non-corrosive. Sensistor Technologies has its headquarters in Sweden, the German subsidiary was founded in August 2000. Its customers include DaimlerChrylser, General Motors and Xcellsis.

Safe and healthy: FC powered mining vehicle with Powerball storage technology

Powerball International Inc. recently announced a joint project with the National Institute for Occupational Safety und Health (NIOSH), revolving around an H2 fueled mining vehicle code named ZEUS. Powerball is delivering the technology which stores and generates the emission free fuel for ZEUS on demand. The objective of this research is to demonstrate the technical and economical feasibility of using hydrogen as an alternate, zero-emission fuel that could reduce the exposure of underground miners to diesel particulate matter. ZEUS is a four-wheel drive utility truck with hydrogen converted internal combustion engine. ZEUS stands for zero emission utility solution. Says Powerball's President William Freise: "We look forward to contributing to the NIOSH hydrogen powered vehicle research program and are pleased that the effort may eventually result in a safer and healthier work environment for the hard working miners." H2 Report repeatedly featured articles on Powerball. The US company's cooperation with the institute is the latest announcement of an actual project.

Swiss-German co-production: PSI makes hydrogen VW fit for testing

Until now, of the automakers working on the use of hydrogen and fuel cell technology Volkswagen AG (VW) was one of the more reluctant. Now the Paul-Scherrer-Institute (PSI) based in Switzerland released news about the successful testing of an FC system for one of the German manufacturer's models. In mid-January the BORA HY.Power is said to have successfully undergone serious testing in the Swiss mountains. In addition to VW and PSI, the partners contributing to this project are the University of Applied Sciences in Zurich (ETZH), Swiss corporation montena SA, and FEV Motorentechnik GmbH from Germany. PSI developed and built the fuel cells in collaboration with ETZH and worked with montena on the super capacitors, which could recover braking energy. FEV Motorentechnik was responsible for FC loading and moistening. VW delivered the vehicle which is to be presented to the public at the beginning of March.

German-Dutch-Canadian Joint-Venture: HERA ready for take-off

GfE Gesellschaft fuer Metallurgie mbH, Hydro-Quebec CapiTech and Shell Hydrogen BV in January announced that they have received regulatory approval for the creating of a joint-venture company which will develop, manufacture and market hydrogen storage systems globally. The new company has been named HERA Hydrogen Storage Systems Inc., with HERA not standing for the Greek goddess but being an acronym of the term hydrogen era. The joint-venture is said to build on the expertise, products and existing business in the field of hydrogen. Its core team includes members from GfE and Hydro-Quebec and is recruiting further individuals for its research and sales teams. HERA will be headquartered in Canada, the European office is based in Nuremberg, Germany. According to HERA's acting CEO, Francois Beauvais, the company is fully in operation and already offering customers various solutions for hydrogen storage needs based on metal hydride technology. Says Beauvais: "Whether hydride alloys, storage tanks or storage systems, HERA can provide its customers with standard products or work with them to develop custom fit solutions to meet their specific requirements."

Chinese ambitions: More than 12 million dollars for FC research

After the foundation of the Chinese hydrogen association last year and the installation of the first commercial fuel cell station on mainland China, the country now also wants to catch up in the field of research. According to an annoucement of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), more than 100 million yuan (approx. 12 million USD) will be invested in developing the PEM fuel cell technology. In a three-year-program the most effective and safe alternatives for the automotive industry are to be investigated. A member of the high-tech project said, China saw Canada and Japan in particular as heading the race in fuel cell R&D. The endeavor of the Chinese scientists is designed to enable the country to catch up and deliver their contribution to the introduction of clean energy carrier hydrogen. Environment-fiendly FC powered vehicles are expected to serve the 2008 Beijing Olympics. According to the information released by the Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese Dalian Institute has been active in fuel cell research since the 1970s, when two types of fuel cells used by space shuttles had been invented. Between 1996 and 2000 work was done on PEM technology as part of the ninth five-year national development plan.

Novel electrolyzing process: Hydrogen for the oil and gas industry

Genoil Inc. of Canada unveiled the planned purchase of Hydrogen Solutions Inc., which owns the patent for a novel process producing hydrogen from water. With this, Genoil secures a technology for itself which is to supply hydrogen to the oil and gas industry. The so-called "Gravitational Electrolysis" was utilizing a cylindrical vessel filled with a specially prepared electrolyte solution, which was rotated at a very high speed. The centrifugal force generated within the vessel acted selectively upon positive and negative ions. This rotation initiated an electric current that caused a self-electrolysis process, fueled by water to create hydrogen and oxygen. The higher the rotational speed the more efficient the unit became. As very little external electricity was consumed and only water was utilized, the cost to produce hydrogen is expected to be significantly lower than with existing methods, such as methane steam reforming. Genoil says this technology would permit smaller, more efficient units than presently exist. It is intended to especially serve tar sand producers. Genoil's shares are listed on the Canadian Venture Exchange.

This time with Dr. Frank-Michael Baumann, Managing Director of the Future Energies State Initiative North-Rhine-Westfalia

H2 Report: The State of North-Rhine-Westfalia (NRW) shows great commitment to the new energies. In 1996, the Future Energies Initiative was founded. What are its goals?

Dr. Baumann: The Initiative consolidates all activities we have in North-Rhine-Westfalia in the field of future energies and tries to give new impetus. There is whole package of measurements behind this. There are for instance the Initiative's immediate activities in the work groups. This is targetted to the NRW economy, for which a point of reference is offered in each of the technology areas. We provide the companies with a platform for communication, information and action. Companies have the opportunity to jointly initiate projects and to receive comments and criticism from the relevant groups. We then try to follow up on these suggestions and to fund them. The funding itself, however, is not the responsiblity of the Initiative. We have a specific program for this, the REN program.

H2 Report: Do you assist the companies applying for financial support in their efforts?

Dr. Baumann: Yes, of course. Four ministries back up the Initiative: the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Research, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Urban Development. Each of the ministries has its own activities in the field of energy. One of the reasons to found the Initiative was to create a common plattform for them. Each ministry has its special focus, most of the fuel cell activities come form the Economics Ministry for example. The Initiative is the nodal point for all these offerings.

H2 Report: What are the latest hydrogen and fuel cell projects in NRW?

Dr. Baumann: One of the leading projects is the fuel cell installed in a waste water plant run be GEW in Cologne. This project is funded by the State. Another leading project is an SOFC with gas turbine which is on display in the RWE fuel cell pavilion. Also, the 250kw PEM fuel cell in Oberhausen has been declared a leading project. There, a block heating power station which uses mine gas supplies heat and power to the building complex of the Fraunhofer Institute. Another hydrogen project is the "Blue Tower" in Herten, where biomass is reformed in an allothermic gasification process. The resulting product gas contains hydrogen which can be reused for energy generation.

H2 Report: Is it possible for companies from outside of NRW to join the work groups and projects of the Initiative?

Dr. Baumann: The work groups of the Initiative are not membership-based. Everyone interested is welcome to actively contribute. A lot of companies also from outside of NRW are already making use of this opportunity to work together and to get access to the information. However, when it comes to funding, the companies need to be located in NRW.

H2 Report: Do you cooperate with the regional initiatives from other states?

Dr. Baumann: We stood behind the foundation of an initiative in Brandenburg, and we have just been invited for an exchange of experiences. In the field of fuel cells we are of course in contact with Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria. And through the companies in each of the networks further contacts are established. On an international basis our Fuel Cell Competence Network is particularly active. And there is an export work group which assists companies in going international.

H2 Report: A lot of people still see North-Rhine-Westfalia as the land of coal, and there is still financial support for the mining industry. How does this go together with an initiative for future energies?

Dr. Baumann: NRW is Germany's number one energy region. This is not only how we see ourselves, this can also be proved by statistics. Most of the energy generation has its home here. And also with regards to energy consumption we have a leading position, because a lot of energy intensive industries are located in NRW. Coal was an important issue in the past and still is one today. But the new energies will undoubtedly come, and NRW still wants to be the number one then. Especially in view of the structural change in this region it is one of the predimant responsibilities of the Initiative to help save and create jobs by establishing new energy structures.

H2 Report: How do you see the future of the hydrogen ecnomoy?

Dr. Baumann: It will take another couple of years before we come to a hydrogen ecnomoy. But I believe it is important that the technologies are developed now, that demonstration plants are installed and that we inform and explain what kind of technology this is and what its potentials are. The change will come in any case, and we have to start working on its realization now.

Lobbying for hydrogen: The advisory board meets in Berlin

On January 30, the Hydrogen Expo Advisory Board met in Berlin. The participants discussed possibilities and means to speed the introduction of hydrogen (H2) as energy carrier. The representatives from the industry, research and politics in unison agreed that the precondition for this lies in creating public awareness. "People have to know what to vote for, and that is clean air and new jobs." says Ines Freesen from Freesen & Partner GmbH, the organizer of the world's largest focued hydrogen trade show held on October 10 to 12, 2002 in Hamburg, Germany. The action plan put together by the board members includes preparing an agenda for the German government and organizing a side event at the climate summit in Johannesburg to demonstrate the contribution of hydrogen technology to climate protection. Further, the companies involved will jointly draw up a program for students which includes a nation-wide shuttle to the exhibition, an exchange platform for practical training, and a youth conference. More information: www.H2expo.com

More subjects, more exhibitors: Hydrogen Expo 2002 needs further exhibition hall

Past exhibitors of Hydrogen Expo and further suppliers of hydrogen technologies alike are expressing increasing interest in the event, says the organizer of H2 Expo held in Hamburg. This includes organisations from areas new to the show, such as energetic use of biomass, software for operational data collection for fuel cell systems, and venture capital financing of development projects. "In order to be able to provide sufficient exhibit space we added a further hall this year." explains Sabine-Rana Kaempgen, responsible for organisation and exhibitor service at Freesen & Partner GmbH. "Everyone interested to participate should make the decision soon. Most of the preferred locations are already gone." For more information and to apply for space call +49-211-687858-11 or send an email to info@H2expo.com