Hydrogen Expo USA Preview: Joint efforts for energy security and sustainability

Hydrogen scooter to go into series production?

"Hydrofueler" to bridge infrastructure gap

Fuel cell power from kitchen waste

Diaphragm compressors for mobile and stationary applications

New questions on H2trend.com

"European Portable Fuel Cell Study" can be ordered now

"Congressional Friends Reception" at NHA Conference/Hydrogen Expo USA

Hydrogen Expo 2003: Theme pavilion "Micro Fuel Cells"

Science, business and politics from North America, Asia and Europe will meet from March 4 to 6 in the capital of the United States to the energy carrier hydrogen closer to its destination. What the exhibitors at Hydrogen Expo USA, the speakers at the partnering National Hydrogen Association (NHA) conference, and the trade show visitors and conference delegates have in common is the desire to reverse the global dependence on oil imports from politically instable regions and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. "In Europe and especially in Germany we are even more dependent on oil imports than the United States to cover our transportation sector's demand", says Ines Freesen from the organizer Freesen & Partner. "Therefore it is important that there is collaborative effort for alternatives, as it is done by the participants of the Hydrogen Expo and the NHA Conference." Some 30 exhibitors and sponsors show their commitment to hydrogen technologies at Hydrogen Expo USA. Sensistor Technologies from Sweden presents its leak detection system for hydrogen applications. Similar to a demonstration at Hydrogen Expo in Hamburg, Germany, last year, Sensistor will measure the H2 concentration in the exhibit halls and of the showcased products at the Capital Hilton in Washington DC. Another supplier of sensor technology is UST Umweltsensortechnik (environment sensor technology) from Germany. UST is an innovative mid-sized company with 50 employees, 10 of which are working in the research and development of temperature and gas sensors. Also among the exhibitors are Linde and Mahler IGS, both experts in hydrogen generation and distribution. The two companies are currently involved in several infrastructure projects in Europe and want to expand their activities on the American continent. Berlin-based VDI/VDE-IT offers support in the development of new lines of business such as hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, from providing market analyses to assisting companies in creating a corporate strategy and acquiring venture capital. At Hydrogen Expo USA VDI/VDE-IT introduces the "European Portable Fuel Cell Study". The complete exhibitor program can be requested on: www.hydrogenexpo.com

An important step towards a hydrogen economy has been achieved by the Bavarian inventor Josef Zeitler, says a release by AQWON-Motors. AQWOM announces the development of the world's first H2 powered scooter with a two-stroke engine certified by the German TUV. According to the release, auto mechanic Zeitler after ten years of R&D successfully developed a 50ccm engine running on solar hydrogen. The vehicle is fueled by a system designed by Diamond Lite and Proton Energy Systems which consists of a pressure vessel and an electrolyser. The scooter tank, which stores hydrogen at 50bar, was developed by HERA Hydrogen Storage Systems. When hit in an accident, the tank is said to freeze in. Therefore, there was no danger of ignition or explosion. High speed of the H2 two-stroke engine reached 50km/h with a performance of 2.6kW. AQWON quotes the price for the vehicle at 5,600 Euros. The engine manufacturer and Zeitler want to jointly develop systems which can be fueled at any water source around the world.

Researchers at the University of Warwick's Warwick Process Technology Group are leading a program called 'Hydrofueler' to connect petrol stations to the normal natural gas supply to fuel H2 powered vehicles. According to a press release by the university, the 2.8 million Euro three-year research project funded by the European Union has already drawn interest from the industry. The researchers want to develop a reactor around the size of three average office desks which can be used in the confined space available on petrol station forecourts and which will produce hydrogen at a cost effective rate and without any emission problems. The employed technology relies on a combination of innovative heat exchange technology, novel ways of managing and using heat and pressure within a reactor, novel compact plated reactor technology, and the use of new coated nanocrystaline catalysts to greatly increase the efficiency of the reactions. The team around Dr. Ashok Bhattacharaya believes that much of the necessary infrastructure already exists. Their method is said to provide the missing link to enable existing filling stations to offer hydrogen as an alternative fuel. Another advantage of the technology was that the process employs a number of stages at which hydrogen reaches different rates of purity. This was ideal because different sorts of fuel cell required different mixes of hydrogen.

How can fuel cells be supplied with hydrogen in an easy and inexpensive way? The Japanese Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (RITE) and Sharp Corporation gave this question some thought and came up with the so-called bio fuel cell. As opposed to conventional FCs, bio fuel cells did not require a separate supply with hydrogen, methanol or other gas. The energy converter developed by the two organizations consists of an FC and a device to grow special micro-organisms. The latter are said to produce the hydrogen needed to generate power from glucose, which was a by-product of kitchen waste. RITE and Sharp are optimistic that the non-hazardous glucose could be sold at retailers. Further advantages were the bio fuel cells' small size and ability to operate at room temperature. The long life-cycle of the ground bacteria used in the process made it possible to significantly increase the H2 output, compared to other methods. As a next step, the partners aim to make small bio fuel cells available for home and small office appliances, with field testing to start within the next two years.

A name relatively new to the H2/FC market is Pdc Machines from the U.S. The company, which has its core business in pressure vessel technology for the chemical and petrochemical industry, also manufacturers diaphragm compressors for refueling hydrogen internal combustion engines and fuel cell powered vehicles. According to the company, its technology is also suitable for filling stationary tanks. The compressors enabled contamination-free and leak-tight compression of all types of gases including hydrogen, CNG or blended fuels. Other operational benefits included high reliability and uptime, low maintenance, low noise levels, and horizontally opposed designs for optimal power consumption. One of the projects Pdc (Pressure Dynamic Consultants) is involved in is a small fleet operated by the SunLine Transit Agency in California. There, the diaphragm compressor was used in conjunction with an electrolyser to compress H2 from 100psi to 3,600 psi. Other applications of Pdc's technology in this project include several stationary FCs used for demonstration purposes. The company's list of clients includes such names as Air Products, Lockheed Martin and the NASA. Pdc Machines exhibits at Hydrogen Expo USA from March 4 to 6 in Washington DC.

So far more than 1,000 people visited www.H2trend.com and voted on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and their markets. The questions are regularly updated and range from production of the energy carrier to its political support. There are currently five new questions online. Additionally, the archive gives a detailed account of the earlier survey results.

A comprehensive overview of one of the most promising fields of FC technology is provided by the "European Portable Fuel Cell Study", which can be ordered now on www.hydrogenexpo.com at a reduced Early Bird Rate. The study includes an evaluation of the technology, its possible applications, financing possibilities and a suppliers directory. There is also statistical data with an analysis of trends and background information on the "scene's" motivations and opinions.

President Bush's announcement of billion dollar funding for H2 technologies created a surge of interest among political decision-makers and program managers. Therefore, the National Hydrogen Association (NHA) and Hydrogen Expo USA organizer Freesen & Partner will host the "Congressional Friends Reception" on March 5 in the Capital Hilton in Washington DC. Representatives from the Administration have the opportunity to learn more about hydrogen and fuel cells, their possibilities and benefits. After an introductory lecture exhibitors and poster presenters from various research institutions will demonstrate the technology and answer the attendee's questions. More information about the exhibition and conference on: www.hydrogenexpo.com and www.hydrogenconference.org

Another novelty at this year's Hydrogen Expo in Hamburg will be the theme pavilion "Micro Fuel Cells". From October 9 to 11, organisations from this field have the opportunity to showcase their developments in a special feature area. The pavilion is organized by the VDI/VDE-IT, which also acts as a coordinator for research programs funded by the German government. In addition to the pavilion, a one-day-workshop in the seminar program will provide detailed insight about the technologies, applications and market potentials. Companies and research facilities interested to present themselves in this pavilion can now apply for space at: tel. +49-211-687858-11 or sales@h2expo.de