1. Vehicle ride-and-drive at Hydrogen Expo USA with celebrities

2. Nominations for 2004 NHA awards

3. Micro-reactors for portable fuel cells

4. New membrane technology for low-cost hydrogen recovery

5. Fuel cell center of excellence in Eastern Germany

6. Marketing strategies for hydrogen technologies

7. All about micro fuel cells

8. Event Calendar

A fuel cell vehicle ride-and-drive will be one of the highlights of the next Hydrogen Expo USA, held in partnership with the National Hydrogen Association's (NHA) 15th Annual Conference in Los Angeles, CA. "In the past, we were lucky to get one or two car companies to bring a fuel cell vehicle", says Ines Freesen of Hydrogen Expo USA organizer Freesen & Partner GmbH. "This time we expect all major auto manufacturers to participate in the live demonstrations." California has been the test ground for FCV development for years. Therefore, thanks to the 2004 expo and conference's venue, the likes of Ford, Honda, and Toyota have it easy to showcase their developments without the usual cost for shipping involved. Together with the California Fuel Cell Partnership, the organizers also plan to hold a celebrity event where invited guests such as Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger can test-drive the hydrogen powered cars. For more information contact Ines Freesen at: info@hydrogenexpo.com

The National Hydrogen Association is accepting nominations for the 2004 awards, which will be presented at the 15th Annual Conference & Hydrogen Expo USA from April 26 to 30 in Los Angeles, CA. The categories include: Special Member Award, Dr. Robert M. Zweig Public Education Award, and Spark Matsunaga Memorial Hydrogen Award. Nominations of an individual or organization have to be submitted by February 13, 2004 and will be forwarded to the NHA Executive Committee for final selection. Past award recipients include U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham, Burkhard Goeschel of BMW, and Michael Swain from the University of Miami.

Heatric, a UK company specialized in compact components for balance of plant applications for fuel cells, and the German Institute for Microtechnology in Mainz (IMM) have agreed to jointly develop commerical scale production of microstructured process engineering devices. This was released by Heatric on February 10. IMM's research has confirmed that micro-reactors offer enormous potential to improve manufacturing efficiency. By combining the results of this research with Heatric's expertise in the manufacture of microchannel devices, the alliance is meant to bridge the gap between the laboratory and full-scale chemical production for emerging innovative energy systems, such as portable fuel cells. "We are delighted to be announcing this international collaboration with IMM," comments Heatric Managing Director Nick Johnston. "It paves the way to new markets beyond our present client base." Heatric plans to start production trials over the next few weeks. The company will be exhibiting at H2Expo from September 15-17, 2004 in Hamburg.

Power & Energy Inc. (P&E) of Ivyland, PA has been selected for a contract awarded by the U.S. DOD's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The contract is meant to bring about a novel low cost membrane for recovery of hydrogen from fuel cell reformates. This was released by P&E on January 5, 2004. The company has recently developed new hybrid hydrogen separation technology specifically for fuel cell applications and will manufacture high efficiency palladium (Pd) alloy thin film membranes using this patent-pending technology. The innovative membrane is said to enable fuel cell users to cost-effectively generate high purity hydrogen-on-demand from any reformed fuel source. Given its low cost, compact size and passive operation, this membrane technology was ideal for early adoption of fuel cells in remote, portable and mobile applications which are not amenable to other, more complex hydrogen separation methods.

Some 80 representatives from business, research and politics met in Berlin in mid-January for a brainstorming on how the various fuel cells activities in Eastern Germany could be bundled. The initiative was meant to lay the foundation for the manufacture of a "German fuel cell", for which according to Eberhard Oettel from the Socienty for the Promotion of Renewable Energies (FEE) conditions were ideal in the Eastern German states. Currently, there was a lack of cooperation and coordination among the mostly small and mid-sized companies and research facilities. The event's speakers included representatives from the Berlin state government and experts from the states of Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt and Thueringen. For Oettel, the alliance stands for a vision of a multi-region center of excellence, which could become a leader beyond German borders.

The path to the hydrogen economy is the focus of the upcoming German Hydrogen Conference. On February 12, Ines Freesen of Freesen & Partner GmbH presents her paper on "Marketing strategies for hydrogen technologies: Europe vs. U.S." at the event. Freesen & Partner is a consulting and event management company with a reputation in the energy and environment markets. In 2001 the company launched H2Expo in Hamburg, since 2003 the Freesen team has been running Hydrogen Expo USA in cooperation the National Hydrogen Association. The paper focuses on the different motives, approaches and projects for the commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cell products in Europe and the United States. The speakers of the hydrogen conference opening ceremony include Axel Horstmann, Energy Minister for the State of North-Rhine Westfalia, and Helmut Geipel from the Federal Ministry of Economics.

Everything you need to know about micro fuel cell technology, key players, suppliers and financing possiblities in Europe – this is what the recently released European Portable Fuel Cell Study offers. One of the findings of the report based on a thorough evaluation of the technology and on interviews with more than 50 experts is that auxiliary power units will reach the most significant market share among the various possible applications by 2008. The study is available in English and German. It also gives insight into barriers to commercializations, corporate investment in FC development and lists more than 100 suppliers from throughout Europe. To order the study (EUR 2.150), which was co-authored by the Fraunhofer ISE, the VDI/VDE-IT and Freesen & Partner contact service@freesen-partner.de or go to: www.h2report.com

Portable Fuel Cell Seminar, 20.02.04, 10.00-16.00 Uhr, Ulm,Germany, Organizer: WBzU Weiterbildungszentrum Brennstoffzelle Ulm e.V., Info: www.wbzu.de (sessions will be held in German)

Fuel Cell Seminar for Real-Live Applications, 23.03.04, 10.30-16.15 Uhr, Aalen, Germany, Organizer: EAZ Elektro-Ausbildungszentrum Aalen e.V., Info: www.eaz-aalen.de (sessions will be held in German)

Hydrogen Expo USA & NHA 15th Annual Conference, Expo: 26.-29.04.04, Conference: 26.-30.04.04, Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, Los Angeles, CA, Organizer: Freesen & Partner GmbH, National Hydrogen Association, Info: www.hydrogenexpo.com and www.hydrogenconference.com

H2Expo Exhibition & Conference, 15.-17.09.04, Hamburg, Germany, Organizer: Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH, Info: www.h2expo.com (sessions will be held in German and English)