Energy security, technological leadership and environmental concerns are the most commonly quoted motivators for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. However, for those companies who invest in this field there is one predominant goal: to generate new business. Therefore, in addition to the big players of the automotive and energy industries a growing number of small and mid-sized companies (SMEs) are targetting this future market. Read more about why suppliers such as Andreas Hofer GmbH from Muelheim/Germany, Maettig Mess- und Regeltechnik GmbH from Unna/Germany and Sensistor Technologies AB from Linkoeping/Sweden are committed to the H2/FC market on www.freesen.de/h2report/zuse.htm!

Turning the vision of a hydrogen economy into a reality took a further step forward when European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin and US Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham signed an agreement on transatlantic cooperation. The activities will be focused on: transportation vehicle demonstrations and fueling infrastructure; auxiliary power units; codes and standards for fuel infrastructure and vehicles; fuel choices; SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell) and high temperature fuel cell turbine hybrid systems; DMFC (direct methanol fuel cell) and PEM (polymer electrolyte membrane) fuel cells for mobile and stationary applications. "By pooling EU and US research efforts and resources, we improve our chances of finding a long-term solution to the world's energy and transport problems", comments Busquin. Adds Abraham: "This agreement lays out the framework for our two entities to collaborate on a matter important to both the US and the European Union hydrogen research." According to a statement released by the EU, Europe's total expenditure in the H2/FC field is estimated at 600 million Euros for the 2002-2006 period. The United States plan to invest 1.7 billion USD over the next five years.

While other intiatives can rely on the financial support of their local governments, companies from Hamburg in Germany have been investing private capital in path-breaking projects. One of the activities of the group, which founded the Hamburg Hydrogen Association some time ago, was the W.E.I.T. project. Six vans were modified for hydrogen combustion and drove on public roads. The first public hydrogen filling station in Hamburg was also part of the program. Recently, the association under the guidance of Hermes (courier service), HEW (utilities), Hochbahn (public transport) and Hoyer (logistics) held the first of a series of hydrogen "lectures", designed to reach both laymen and experts in the field. "Hydrogen is a carrier of energy and hope", said HEW member of the board Dr. Dietrich Graf, thus leading into an evening of edutainment. Basics on H2 technologies and information on current projects were presented by several high level speakers, including Dr. Heinz Gretz, founding board member of the association. He offered some information that went beyond the standard curriculum, for example on the question whether the water emitted by future fuel cell vehicles posed a problem to the cities. His answer was a clear no, based on the following equation: in a 400 km2 city in which 500,000 FC vehicles drove an average of 20km per day, these vehicles emitted 4l of water per day, which resulted in an annual amount of 0.8 mil tons respectively 2kg per m2. Comparing this with an annual amount of rain of 950kg per m2, this was equal to only about 2 per thousand of the natural amount rain. The seminar series will be continued on October 11, 2003 at H2Expo in Hamburg. More information about the expo and online visitor registration on: www.h2expo.com

On October 10, 2003 the first brokerage event for companies interested in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies will be held at H2Expo in Hamburg. The event is conducted by the VDI/VDE Technology Center (VDI/VDE-IT) and the Innovation Relay Center (IRC) Northern Germany and is supported by H2Expo organizer Hamburg Messe. The company meetings are designed to bring together parties with a similar interest to initiate projects and to generate business. To prepare for the meetings, participants fill in a questionnaire indicating their individual requirements, which will then be matched by the organizers. IRCs are an integral part of the "EU Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development" to foster R&D in the European Union. The IRCs were founded to improve technology transfer and cooperation across borders in the member countries. Small and mid-sized companies in particular can benefit from access to international networks and supplier-user platforms. "Brokerage events are a very efficient means to initiate transnational transfer projects", explains Jens Kirsten, responsible for the event at the VDI/VDE-IT. "Especially in the field of hydrogen and fuel cells there are a number of challenges to be mastered before the technologies become commercially viable and suitable for mass markets. Brokerage events are ideally suited to solve these issues." The IRC Northern Germany, together with IRC partners from eight European countries want to promote this and actively use their resources in this effort. The H2Expo Brokerage event further provides the advantage of combining the company meetings with an exhibition, which means that exhibitors and visitors alike are offered added value. Therefore, the IRCs and Hamburg Messe see an excellent perspective to continue this at future H2Expos. For your application form go to www.h2report.com (down & left)!

At the end of June, the new fuel cell test field of the Institute of Propulsion (FIF) at the University of Technology and Economics (HTW) in Dresden was inaugurated and started operation. The test field consists of a PEM stack test station supplied by FuelCon AG and an SOFC measurement device provided by the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Sinter Materials (IKTS). FIF conducts a research program for alternative vehicle propulsion concepts and has been employing FuelCon's "Evaluator" in several environments already. When planning the test field, both partners worked closely together, capitalizing on the FIF's experience in building and operating test stations for conventional propulsion systems and the know how of the Magdeburg/Germany-based FC test station developer.

Wiesbaden/Germany-based Linde AG has invested some 40 million Euros in the construction of a hydrogen production site in Leuna in Eastern Germany. The company now has a capacity of more than 140.000 cubic meters of H2 per hour. The new production site employs a steam refomer, which generates the multi-functional hydrogen from natural gas in a catalytic process by adding steam. This is already the fourth site built by Linde in the region. According to member of the board Dr. Aldo Belloni, Leuna is the most important production location for the company and will be further expanded in the future.

Proton Energy Systems, a manufacturer of hydrogen generators and regenerative fuel cell systems, announced that it will acquire Northern Power Systems. Northern designs and markets integrated on-site power systems for stationary commercial and industrial applications. The transaction is exemplary for the transition from the current fossil-based to a future regenerative hydrogen economy. By bringing together the engineers and scientists of both companies, president and CEO Walter W. Schroeder expects the new enterprise to become a leader in the distributed power industry.

Brussels/Belgium-based n.v. Umicore s.a. takes over the Precious Metals Group (PMG) from the OM Group with offices in Cleveland, Ohio and Hanau/Germany. OMG is known for catalysts and components for PEM fuel cell systems and was initially part of Degussa. According to a press release, the acquisition of the PMG activities is part of Umicore's strategy to become a leader in precious materials. PMG already invested heavily in FC technologies. Umicore wants to continue these efforts, thereby reducing its dependency on the commodity cycles. The price for the acquisition has been agreed at 643 million Euros. Umicore also takes over pension responsibilities from PMG of 57 million Euros.

Scientists from the University of Greifswald in Germany have developed a novel microbial fuel cell. The energy converter is powered by an electrical current generated from e.-coli-bacteria fed on glucose. According to Dr. Uwe Schroeder from the Institute of Chemistry and Biomchemistry the power output is 1.5mA per cubic centimeter. This was enough to power a vent with a 0.4-volt motor. As a next step, organic waste or waste sludge could be tested to "feed" the fuel cell.

A research team at the University of Wisconsin tested more than 300 metal combinations before finding a mix of nickel, tin and aluminum which can separate hydrogen from a mixture rich in glucose. Glucose is a sugar common in many organic wastes. According to Prof. James Dumesic, the lead author of the study, the combination metal catalyst works as efficiently in laboratory tests as much more expensive platinum catalysts, and at lower temperature and pressure.

NEC Corporation recently introduced the prototype of a notebook with an integrated direct methanol fuel cell. The prototype is said to be able to run for five hours on one cartridge. Recharging no longer is an issue with this innovation, the cartidge can be exchanged with a few quick steps. NEC anticipates to have a product ready for the market by next year. In the future, the battery substitute shall be providing 40 hours of operation time. The NEC share rose by 10% after this announcement.

Also powered by a methanol fuel cell is the motorbike which Japanese manufacturer Yamaha plans to build. During a press conference president Toru Hasegawa announced that the company wants to use this future technology to increase sales. "In the long run, we aim to raise our motorcycle market share in the world to 20 per cent, or 7 million units a year by 2010." A Yamaha spokesman said the company has already begun development of the FC motorbike but did not elaborate when it would be ready to market.

Soho Security Services Co. from Japan is testing fuel cells as battery substitutes with superior technological features. The company employs robots to monitor buildings during the night. The robots move through the building's aisles and detect unwelcomed incidents such as thieves, fire or water. Until now, the little non-human supervisors were out of order while their batteries were recharged. The FC system supplied by Yuasa enables the robots to run 24 hours a day for a whole week. Series production is expected to start in 2005.

A survey of the technology and the suppliers will constitute the core of the new study. Research and interviews conducted by Fraunhofer ISE, VDI/VDE-IT and Freesen & Partner is about to be completed. Data and statements from the market leaders as well as smaller specialized enterprises have been evaluated and included in the study. The results will be available on H2Expo in Hamburg. For more information and to order your copy go to www.freesen.de/h2report/study.htm!