Monthly Archives: November 2004

Market researcher Fuji Keizai announced November 16 that it has published a report on fuel cell technologies and future development of the full cell market. The report, forecasts that demand for PEFC (PEM fuel cells) for automobiles, SOFC (solid-oxide fuel cells), and micro fuel cells will reach $8.50 bil, $1.89 bil, $283.0 mil, respectively, in 2020. Including PAFC (phosphoric-acid fuel cells) and MCFC (molten carbonate fuel cells), the fuel cell market is expected to reach $2.67 bi in 2015 and $11.32 bil in 2020. The market growth forecasts provided in the report take such factors into account...

Right on the heels of Colorado passing Amendment 37, Pennsylvania is waiting for State House approval on the passage of their own legislation mandating clean energy production. This new bill states that by 2020, utilities would be required to provide 18 percent of the electricity used in Pennsylvania from alternative sources, like wind, solar and waste coal. Wind should be the big winner for this region.

GE Global Research, the centralized research organization of the General Electric Company (GE), announced that it was selected by the Department of Energy (DOE) to lead $11 million of research projects in the development of hydrogen as a fuel source. The programs are focused on near and long term solutions for the production of hydrogen with sustainable, clean technologies. GE Global Research will contribute approximately $2.5 million to the projects with the balance coming from DOE and other industry partners. This project plans to study the creation of hydrogen from solar water splitting, naturual gas/bio production, and...

Privately held Nuvera Fuel Cells, Inc., based in Italy, announced it has delivered an H2e(TM) power module to The Toro Company. Toro plans to evaluate Nuvera's hydrogen powered fuel cell system for its potential use in professional grounds and turf care equipment. Nuvera is developing hydrogen fuel cell power modules for the industrial vehicle and equipment market. Toro is assessing fuel cell technology as an emerging energy alternative that is clean, quiet, and reliable power for different types of grounds maintenance equipment. I can't wait to ride my new fuel cell powered lawn tractor.

Spanish Energy producer ENDESA (ELE) will have 75.9 MW of additional wind power in Galicia, now that its subsidiary, ECYR, (ENDESA Cogeneracion y Renovables) has completed construction of the Fonsagrada-Punago wind power complex in the Province of Lugo. ENDESA currently has operative installed wind energy capacity totalling 999 MW, with an additional 163 MW under construction, giving it a national market share of 16.6 %. Year to date, the Company has brought 4 wind parks into operation, representing 77 MW, while it has commenced construction on 7 new farms, which will add 163 MW to current installed capacity....

Astris Energi Inc. (ASRNF) announced they had received a purchase order from Alternate Energy Corporation (ARGY) for the first Model E8 Portable Power Generator covered by the value-added reseller (VAR) agreement they signed in May 2004. As well as the initial unit to be delivered in a few weeks, the purchase order included five additional Model E8s to be delivered in stages later in 2005. The E8 Generator is the latest in a series of Astris power generators driven by Astris' AFC technology. Nominally rated at 2.4kW and providing 48 VDC power at 50 amperes of current, the...

UTC Fuel Cells, a business of United Technologies Corporation (UTX), today announced changes to its long-standing relationship with Toshiba. Under the terms of the agreement, UTC Fuel Cells will purchase Toshiba's 10 percent ownership interest in UTC Fuel Cells, and Toshiba will purchase UTC Fuel Cells' 49 percent interest in Toshiba International Fuel Cells (TIFC). UTC Fuel Cells manufactures the PureCell 200(TM), a phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC) stationary power unit, and develops proton exchange membrane technology (PEM) fuel cells to power cars and buses. UTC Fuel Cells also is developing PEM for stationary power plants. Toshiba is...

  Honda Motor Co (HMC) and Plug Power Inc (PLUG) announced that they have began successful operation of the second-generation Home Energy Station (HES II) located at Plug Power's corporate headquarters in Latham, New York. HES II is the further evolution of a joint development effort by Honda and Plug Power to produce a home refueling unit that provides hydrogen from natural gas for vehicle refueling, heat for domestic hot water use and electricity for the home. Testing of the HES II system will be done in conjunction with demonstration of Honda's 2005 FCX...

Energy Conversion Devices Inc (ENER) announced that it has signed a multi-year agreement with Biohaus PV Handels GmbH for sale of up to 9.6 MW of photovoltaic (PV) laminates. Biohaus will incorporate the UNI-SOLAR® BIPV laminates with its proprietary panel design to address Germany's expanding grid-connected PV market. Using United Solar Ovonic's thin-film amorphous solar laminates, these thin-film products will be the highest rated peak power modules available on the German market.

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), Fuelcell Energy Inc (FCEL) and the city of Westerville, Ohio have reached an important milestone, bringing on-line one of the first utility-scale fuel cell power plants in North America that will feed power to consumers from a substation. The 250-kilowatt (kW) DFC power plant creates the hydrogen it needs from a readily available fuel, natural gas. The unit is manufactured by FuelCell Energy and distributed by Caterpillar through its dealer Ohio Cat. The fuel cell power plant is located at Westerville's electric substation #2, and when fully operational it will produce enough energy to...

Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) has sold a light weight 5kW hydrogen/oxygen Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell stack to the NASA Glenn Research Center, which will use it in an experimental closed cycle hydrogen-oxygen regenerative fuel cell. This type of system can be used for energy storage in places where oxygen is not easily available, such as very high altitude, space or underwater environments. NASA will use this stack as part of its research program to understand how the regenerative fuel cell will operate in future aerospace applications.

Honda Motor Co (HMC) announced the delivery of a Honda FCX, the world's most advanced hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle, to the city of Chula Vista. The city of Chula Vista will lease the vehicle for a period of two years and will operate the FCX on a regular daily basis as part of their normal operations. The FCX will be refueled at a publicly accessible hydrogen station already operated by the city on their property. The placement of this FCX in tandem with the public accessibility of hydrogen fuel expands the geographical range for some of Honda's existing...

Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) announced that it has secured a follow-on order for 25 Fuel Cell Power Modules. These HyPM® 10kW power modules will be incorporated into back-up power products for one of the world's largest suppliers of uninterruptible power. Hydrogenics expects to deliver two units in 2004 and the remainder throughout 2005. More positive news from HYGS. As we head towards the close today HYGS is still down about 8% on 10x normal volume because of the takeover news. I did purchase more this morning.

Air Products and Chemicals Inc (APD) hydrogen fueling technology was an integral part of an historic event today as Shell Hydrogen officially opened North America's first-ever hydrogen filling station at an existing retail gasoline site in Washington, D.C. The Benning Road demonstration project makes Shell the first energy company in North America to provide the environmentally friendly fuel at a consumer retail site, alongside conventional fuels. Initially, it will provide fuel for six GM Hydrogen 3 fuel cell vehicles participating in this Shell-General Motors partnership demonstration project.

Internal Hydro International Inc. (IHDR) announces that the Company has entered into a purchase agreement with El Tigre Development Inc. (ETIG) for the purchase of 100 Energy Commander Units. The purchase price of the 100 units will be $2,250,000.00 for placement by ETIG in the United States and elsewhere. The agreement calls for IHDR and ETIG to share in revenue generated from each unit beyond the purchase price. The Energy Commander technology uses IHDR's patented low impact hydro technology utilizing water or gas flow from any source where pressure is present. The technology uses water or gas pressure...

Hydrogenics Corp and Stuart Energy Systems Corp (SRNYF) announced today that they have entered into an agreement whereby Hydrogenics has agreed to make a share exchange take-over bid to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Stuart Energy at an exchange ratio of 0.74 Hydrogenics shares for every one Stuart Energy share. This offer represents an indicative price to Stuart Energy shareholders of approximately Cdn.$4.14 per share based on the November 9, 2004 closing share price on the TSX of Cdn.$5.59 per Hydrogenics' share. The total transaction value is expected to be approximately Cdn.$155...