Fuel Cell

Millennium Cell Inc (MCEL) announced that its soldier power program has been allocated $1.7 million of funding in the fiscal year 2006 Defense Appropriations Bill. The soldier power program is a joint effort with Protonex Technology Corporation which is funded by the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army. The defense bill funding will support the procurement of Protonex 30-watt portable soldier power systems ("P2") for use in reliability and field testing to be conducted by the U.S. military throughout 2006. The Protonex P2 power system utilizes chemical hydride fuel cartridges with Millennium Cell's Hydrogen on Demand® technology...

Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) and the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corporation (TWRC) are announcing the signing of a memorandum of understanding today at the Hydrogen and Fuel Cells 2004 Conference in Toronto. Together the two organizations will explore ways in which hydrogen fuel cell technologies and hydrogen production can support and build on the sustainable development goals of the TWRC. "Toronto is uniquely positioned to leverage Canada's strong leadership position in fuel cell technology and commercialization," said Pierre Rivard, President and CEO of Hydrogenics Corporation. "By engaging the local expertise we can enhance and accelerate the development of a...

Distributed Energy Systems Corp (DESC) announced today the award of a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase II contract from the U.S. Army Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to continue development of lightweight regenerative fuel cell technology for high altitude airships. The goal of this 2-year, $749,999 contract is to demonstrate a multi-kilowatt-capable closed-loop hydrogen-oxygen regenerative fuel cell and is a continuation of work completed in Phase I of this project. This regenerative fuel cell can generate pressurized hydrogen and oxygen electrochemically, without mechanical compression. MDA plans to apply this technology for energy storage for high altitude airships, which...

Charles Morand The DOE made public earlier today the amount of money that will awarded to clean power projects in lieu of the usual tax breaks: $3 billion. This will allow project proponents to receive a direct cash grant now instead of a Production Tax Credit or an Investment Tax Credit later on. The guidance document notes the following: "Section 1603 of the Act’s tax title, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act, appropriates funds for payments to persons who place in service specified energy property during 2009 or 2010 or after 2010 if construction began...

Dana Corporation (DCN) unveiled a number of new fuel-cell advancements at the Convergence 2004 automotive electronics show in Detroit. The advancements are featured on a fuel-cell scooter developed with Dana partners. One of just three in the world, the scooter is making its North American debut at Convergence.

Mechanical Technology Inc (MKTY) announced that it has been awarded the 2004 Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation Award for its Mobion(TM) micro fuel cell technology. The Award will be presented to MTI Micro at Frost & Sullivan's 2004 Best Practices Awards Banquet on October 20, 2004 in Rancho Mirage, California.

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin at Madison have found a way to use the carbon monoxide to produce more energy in a reaction that can take place at room temperature. The method could eventually be used in portable systems that use renewable fuel produced from plant matter, said James Dumesic, a professor of chemical and biological engineering at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. The process could also be used to treat wastewater and contaminated gas streams, he said.

by Debra Fiakas CFA Near the close of 2014, Nuvera Fuel Cells was acquired by NACCO, an operating company of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (HY:  NYSE).  Nuvera sells a proprietary fuel cell stack under the brand name Orion for industrial mobility, automotive and aerospace applications.  The company also sells its PowerTap Hydrogen Station for on-site hydrogen generation (see image below).  The purchase price was not disclosed and Hyster-Yale has not provided guidance on how the deal will impact its sales and earnings in 2015.  Apparently, Nuvera’s sales and earnings are not material to Hyster-Yale in the...

Infectech Inc (IFEC) announces that preliminary data and results of a study which confirms laboratory proof-of-concept measurements have shown it possible to generate hydrogen in high yields via the use and adaptation of its intellectual property. In this study, the bioreactor produced biogas consisting of 50% hydrogen by volume, without any trace of methane. Recently, NanoLogix, Inc. (formerly Infectech, Inc.) signed a feasibility study with the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering of Gannon University in Erie, PA to develop a bioreactor which utilizes NanoLogix's patented bacterial culturing methods in order to produce hydrogen inexpensively.

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc (QTWW) is currently down over 11% today on the release of its Q1 earnings reports. The loss of 15 cents a share was greater than expected and almost double its last years quarter loss of 8 cents a share. In yesterdays earnings press release the company attributes the shortfall to lower sales and the incorporation of the recent acquisition of Tecstar Automotive. Although we reported significant revenue growth during the first quarter due to the Tecstar acquisition, we did experience a shortfall in development program revenue. The costs of revenues,...

Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) announced that it has received orders to supply electrolysis-based hydrogen generator plants to two of China's largest energy companies. China Electric Power Energy Group and China National Power have each purchased a HySTAT-A Hydrogen Plant, capable of producing 10 Nm3/h of high purity hydrogen at a pressure of 25 bar. In both cases, the hydrogen produced will be used to cool the generators in a coal-fired power plant. Delivery of both orders is expected to take place in 2006.

Bloomberg.com has the following article on Ballard Power (BLDP) DaimlerChrysler AG and Ford Motor Co. agreed to invest $100 million in Ballard Power Systems Inc., the biggest maker of fuel cells for automobiles, and restructure their alliance with the money-losing company to speed up development of the alternative energy devices. In the article there is an interesting quote from Ballard's CEO. "We think we have a line of sight now to a commercial product in the early part of the next decade... There no question that fuel cells will replace piston engines."

PolyFuel announced additional funding for their portable fuel cell technology. They are currently a privately held company backed by several venture capital firms. I'm keeping this company on my radar screen because these venture firms will eventually want to take this company public. Here is an excerpt from this most recent PR announcement. Click the link to read the full press release. PolyFuel, Inc., the world leader in membrane technology for portable fuel cells, today announced it has closed an $18.4 million, third round of funding, bringing total investment in the 5-year-old startup to approximately $40 million....

United Technologies Corporation (UTX) has renamed the PC25(TM), the industry's foremost 'workhorse' fuel cell power system, to the PureCell(TM) 200. UTC Power has been producing the on-site power plant since 1991. The system generates 200 kW of clean, reliable electricity and 900,000 BTUs of usable heat suitable for co-generation applications. With a five-year continuous duty cell stack durability and 85 percent efficiency, the PureCell(TM) 200 sets the standard for fuel cell reliability and efficiency. The PureCell(TM) 200 technology has been installed in 19 countries on five continents, ranging from a New York City police station to a science center...

"America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world" Thanks to Mr. Bush's state of the union address last night, we should see some nice gains across the board in the Alternative Energy sector. Some of the big winners may be the Ethanol companies like Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (PEIX). The EnergyStockBlog.com has a nice write up on the potential for ADM. GreenCarCongress.com has a nice summary of the important parts of the speech. In his State of the Union 2006 address, President...

Honda Motor Co (HMC) industry-leading current generation FCX fuel cell vehicles will be key participants in a showcase rally that will drive some of the cleanest and technologically advanced vehicles in the world through some of the smoggiest regions in the USA.