H2 for Kids: GKSS "students fuel cell lab" makes the future tangible

Hydrogen Expo USA & NHA Annual Conference: Call for Paper out now

Aral to test hydrogen under real-life conditions

Stuart, Statkraft and EHN sign agreement at H2Expo

HERA stengthens its position in the US market with new acquisition

Japanese concept vehicles with fuel cell propulsion

H2Expo: 2003 event successful, international conference planned for 2004

Once again, the "kids" program at H2Expo provided a major attraction for the next generation, that is the ones who will be driving hydrogen-fueled cars and will power their homes with fuel cell appliances in the not so far future. This year, the GKSS Research Center from Geesthacht near Hamburg, Germany, actively assisted the expo organizers in putting together a program tailored to the youngsters' interests. Modeled after the "students fuel cell lab", which GKSS successfully established in their own facilites, Dr. Joerg Mueller and Michael Buchsteiner ran a session for the students aged 15 and older. Some 140 participants attended H2 for Kids, including a group from Denmark. "It is very important to instill an interest in scientific and technical issues in the students", Dr. Mueller explains his institute's commitment. "Our students lab gives the young ones a chance to develop a feeling for natural sciences in an experimental way. This helps them understand that these areas have a lot to do with everyday live and its problems." Since the opening of the lab at GKSS, 3,560 students put on a lab coat and tested power generation with hydrogen and fuel cells for themselves. At the expo, the session was topped off by a tour of the exhibits and a test-ride on one of the fuel cell busses operated by Hamburg transport agency Hochbahn. The H2 for Kids program will be continued at H2Expo 2004 and is once again depending on sponsors. For more information call +49-211-687858-11 or send an email to: sales@h2expo.com – Groups interested in visiting the GKSS students lab in Geesthacht can contact Dr. Joerg Mueller at: joerg.mueller@gkss.de

Hydrogen Expo USA & NHA Annual Conference: Call for Paper out now

From April 26 to 29, 2004, the second Hydrogen Expo USA is held in partnership with the National Hydrogen Association's 15th Annual Conference in Los Angeles, CA. Duesseldorf, Germany-based Freesen & Partner GmbH is the organizer of the expo, which anticipates some 60 exhibitors and around 2,000 visitors. The internationally attended conference is conducted by the Washington, DC-based National Hydrogen Association (NHA). The U.S. Department of Energy will again support the expo and conference. "Hydrogen Expo USA is once again the most important showcase for the state of affairs in hydrogen technologies", says Ines Freesen, Managing Director of Freesen & Partner. "This is a must for everyone interested in the North American market." The NHA is now accepting abstracts for the conference, the deadline is November 17, 2003. Companies and institutions interested in exhibiting should also act now in order to secure a booth. For more information go to www.hydrogenexpo.com or call +49-211-687858-11.

Aral has announced the next step to test the alternative energy carrier hydrogen under real-life conditions: in 2004, the world's first integrated public hydrogen filling station will be opened in Berlin, Germany. The exceptional feature of this station is that it will offer a choice of different fuels, including gasoline, diesel and hydrogen, along with a shop and a car wash. The filling station is part of the "Clean Energy Partnership" (CEP), an initiative brought into life by Aral, BMW, Berlin transport agency BVG, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, Linde, Norsk Hydro, Opel, and Vattenfall. The partners want to prove hydrogen as a fuel for everyday use. The total project costs amount to approx. 33 million Euros, of which 5 million Euros are contributed by the German government. "Hydrogen is a promising, clean fuel. We expect the real-life test phase at Aral's filling station in Berlin to provide us with important data for the production and storage of the fuel, as well as for the fueling of hydrogen vehicles in everyday use", explained Dr. Guenter Strempel, Head of Aral's Fuels Research at H2Expo in Hamburg.

On October 9, 2003, Stuart Energy Systems Corporation, Statkraft SF and Corporacion Energia Hidroelectrica de Navarra S.A. (EHN), signed a joint cooperation agreement at H2Expo in Hamburg. The agreement intends to establish a framework to jointly assess, demonstrate and develop advanced renewable energy based hydrogen production and distribution solutions. Stuart is a leading manufacturer and integrator of turnkey water electrolysis based Hydrogen Energy Stations (HES) and was represented at H2Expo through its 100% subsidiary Vandenborre Hydrogen Systems. Statkraft is the foremost electricity company in Norway and a major renewable energy producer in Europe. EHN is the second largest European producer of electricity from wind power. Both Statkraft and EHN have each purchased an "HES" type hydrogen generator from Stuart and are actively evaluating sites to demonstrate transportation and power applications of wind generated hydrogen. "Hydrogen produced through electrolysis using renewable energy addresses the issues of energy security, climate change and urban air quality," said Stuart President and CEO Jon Slangerup. "Hydrogen is a zero-emission fuel that can be produced and distributed where it is required, making it indigenous to every country. We, along with our partners, recognize the tremendous role hydrogen will play in the future, and we look forward to working together to develop long term deployable energy solutions."

Canadian manufacturer of solid H2 storage solutions, HERA Hydrogen Storage Systems Inc., announced that it has purchased the hydrogen business of Ergenics, Inc. New Jersey-based Ergenics is said to have extensive experience in the development of products based on metal hydride materials, its product capabilities including H2 storage units and solid state H2 compressors. The company's technology is protected by over 30 U.S. and foreign patents. Says HERA President and CEO Clemens van Zeyl: "HERA has been steadily increasing its product development and manufacturing capability. The acquisition of Ergenics will accelerate this initiative by adding over twenty years of product development expertise in the application of metal hydride materials. It will expand HERA's product capabilities and strategically position HERA in the US market."

The motor show currently held in Tokyo, Japan, features several fuel cell propulsion vehicles. Honda and Toyota showcase two futuristic cars, with the design being what is most futuristic. Honda's FC powered Kiwami concept car looks like a black flounder and is only 1.25m high. According to a company spokesman the vehicle was stripped of all unnecessary elements. This means that for example the speed, fuel and temperature controls are mounted directly under the front window so that the driver does not have to take his eyes off the road. Toyota's Fine-N resembles a flat mini van. The 4,35m long car has a hybrid powertrain consisting of a PEM-fuel cell and an AC synchronous motor. The steering wheel was substituted by two handles, which move towards the driver once he has taken his seat. Yamaha presents a DMFC scooter. The 50cc bike has an output of 0.58kW and seems a particularly appropriate clean alternative for inner city driving.

The third H2Expo, which took place from October 9 to 11, 2003 in Hamburg, closed on a very positive note. The leading European tradeshow for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies had to bow to the current economic situation, with its statistics showing a little dent in exhibitor figures. Yet, the attendee numbers left nothing to be deserved so that all participants returned from Hamburg very satisfied. More than 2,500 visitors from around the world came to see the latest technologies and trends in the exhibit hall and seminars. Not only the local players including Hamburg utilities company HEW and transport agency Hochbahn confirmed their renewed participation for 2004. The FC bus test-rides these two CUTE project partners offered during the exhibition were so well received that a second bus had to be taken out of regular service to accommate everyone interested. But also the mid-sized companies displaying their developments at the event expressed great satisfaction. "We were a first-time exhibitor at H2Expo, and this paid off for us immediately. We had numerous good discussions at the show, some of which already resulted in actual projects." said Armin Foell, Sales Director at Varian Deutschland GmbH, a leading supplier of fuel cell gas analysis devices. "We will definitely come back next year." The large percentage of international attendees in particular convinced the exhibitors that their time in Hamburg was well spent. Therefore, Mathias Bode, President of FuelCon AG, which is specialized in test equipment for different fuel cell types, joined the chorus and said: "At H2Expo we were able to establish a number of new, especially international contacts. As a result of our participation we expect an increase in our export business." Delegations from the European countries, North America and Asia kept the exhibitors' staff busy on all three days of the event, even the students' program "H2 for Kids" was internationally attended this time. The next H2Expo will be held on September 15 to 17, 2004. For the first time the event then runs Wednesday through to Friday, thus giving more trade visitors the chance to come to Hamburg. In addition to the successfully established formula of the expo, a conference focusing on scientific as well as marketing issues will take place concurrently. For more information call +49-211-687858-11, or send an email to: sales@h2expo.com