Fuel Cell

ReliOn, the leading provider of high reliability fuel cell solutions for backup power applications, announced that Celestica Inc (CLS), a world leader in electronics manufacturing services (EMS), will serve as EMS provider for ReliOn's fuel cell products going forward. ReliOn is a privately funded Washington corporation. However, as their business grows, their OEM partners will grow as well.

General Motors of Canada Limited and Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) demonstrated that commercially viable hydrogen-powered industrial vehicles are closer to the market than many people think. Hydrogenics is leading a consortium of partners to develop, demonstrate and move fuel cell-powered forklifts toward commercialization. This is the first time a fuel cell vehicle supported by an onsite hydrogen fuelling station has been demonstrated at a GM facility. This project is being partially funded with a $1.45 million contribution from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). SDTC is a foundation created by the Government of Canada that operates a $550...

Medis Technologies Ltd. (MDTL) announced that it has shipped 200 fuel cell Power Pack products to General Dynamics C4 Systems for testing in preparation for delivery of commercial units to its customer base. The aim of this program is to determine the products' response to a broad range of very rigorous tests relating to its ability to meet other military and civilian specifications. Medis plans to deliver an additional 100 Power Packs to its contract manufacturer Celestica in the next few weeks for a parallel testing program.

Plug Power Inc (PLUG) announced the sale of twelve GenCore® backup fuel cell systems to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The 5kW hydrogen-fueled GenCore fuel cell systems will be integrated with uninterruptible power supply (UPS) equipment to provide critical backup power to DEP offices throughout the state of Florida. Plug Power was chosen for its ability to deliver a total fuel cell system solution that includes training, service, hydrogen delivery, and a system durable enough to endure extreme weather conditions.

I purchased shares of Mechanical Technology Inc (MKTY) and Medis Technologies Ltd. (MDTL) this morning for the mutual fund and also my personal portfolio. Both of these companies are working on the miniaturization of liquid fuel cells so that they can power portable electronic equipment like cell phones and laptop computers. Both companies have also secured contracts from the military to research portable fuel cells for military applications. Both companies announced earnings recently and still show no signs of becoming profitable in the near future. However, they have both made progress on trimming their losses. I feel that...

Enova Systems Inc (ENVA) announces that it continues to gain momentum in the fuel cell vehicle markets with the addition of three new or ongoing projects in these sectors. The latest program teams Enova with Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC), an independent, nonprofit, applied research and development professional services organization that provides management, integration, and technology-based solutions to a wide array of clients. Enova will supply its 120kW HybridPower(TM) drive system and its fuel cell power management suite to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Fuel Cell Test and Evaluation Center (FCTec), which is operated by CTC. These components will...

TheStreet.com has a good write up about the new potential growth opportunities that are available in the Alternative Energy marketplace. "With oil recently passing the $50 mark and expected to stay high some investors feel freshly tempted by alternative energy stocks. They view fuel cells and sunshine and windmills as ultimate replacements for diminishing supplies of fossil fuels. Thus, they tend to look past the alternative fuel industry's current losses and focus on future possibilities instead." The following companies are mentioned in this article: Ballard Power (BLDP) FPL Group Inc (FPL) Fuelcell Energy...

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...

Like most conglomerates, United Technologies Corporation (UTC), (NYSE:UTX) won't be found in any of the Clean Energy indices, but its growing portfolio of clean energy businesses makes it fit well into a diversified portfolio with a clean energy tilt.  A conservative capital structure and solid earnings and cash flow, and a decades long history of constantly increasing dividends make this a company that I'm comfortable holding for the long term.   In terms of sustainability, the company has been recognized by Dow Jones as in the top 10% of the world's most sustainable companies.  Long before it became fashionable for...

Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) announced that the Japan Automobile Research Institute (JARI) in Tsukuba, Japan, has purchased a Hydrogenics HyPM® 10 power module with associated test stand to be used as part of JARI's mandate to establish standards for Fuel Cell Power Module Testing, a program sponsored by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). The combined delivery will be made in the first quarter of 2005.

Fuelcell Energy Inc (FCEL) announced that its Asian distributor, Marubeni Corporation, has sold a one megawatt (MW) Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plant to provide electric power and high-quality heat for a Sharp Corp. production facility in Japan that manufactures advanced flat-screen TVs. The DFC power plant will provide Sharp's Kameyama manufacturing facility with a portion of its base load electricity needs and supply heat byproduct for air conditioning by means of absorption chilling. This sale represents the first international installation of Fuel Cells megawatt sized products and the partnership with Marubeni has become a critical asset...

I purchased shares in Altair Nanomaterials (ALTI) this morning for both my personal portfolio and also the mutual fund. ALTI is a holding company that specializes in nanomaterials and also contains a life sciences division. The materials company has research in high performance batteries, fuel cells, and photovoltaics. Altair announced earnings today and the stock is up on the morning trading. Revenue Increases 68 Percent for Third Quarter and 230 Percent for Nine-Month Period "An increase in revenue of 230 percent for the first three quarters of 2005 is representative of the significant progress Altair has...

The US Navy officially exercised its two options in the PEM fuel cell demonstration contract with Hoku Scientific, Inc. (HOKU). The total amount of the options is $2.5 million in addition to the $2.1 million already under contract. "Since the initial contract was awarded in March 2005, Hoku Scientific has met the development milestones for its membrane electrode assemblies on-time and as-expected," said Charles Combs, director of renewable energy programs for the U.S. Navy's Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at China Lake, California, who is the program manager for the U.S. Navy's contract...

Distributed Energy Systems Corp (DESC) has been profiled on Forbes.com. Kenneth Reid, editor of Spear's Security Industry Analyst, recommends buying shares of Distributed Energy Systems. The Wallingford, Conn.-based company creates and delivers a variety of products for the alternative and decentralized energy markets.. . .The story of Distributed Energy and other alternative-energy players is a long-term one, say bulls like Reid. With the surge in oil prices this year, the story is resonating with investors. Distributed Energy shares are up 333% in the past year, trading around $8 after hitting a 52-week (intraday) high of $8.09 on Sept....

The following is an excerpt from a press release from the Department of Energy (DoE) that came out today: "DOE’s Hydrogen Program and Fuel Cells 2000 have released a new searchable database of fuel cell and hydrogen activities in the United States. The database allows better access to information on stationary fuel cell installations, vehicle demonstrations and fueling stations – as well as state policies, initiatives and legislation aimed at advancing these technologies." Try running some queries on the database of fuel cell and hydrogen activities. I didn't check out the website too extensively but from what...

Magnetek Inc. (MAG) announced a reorganization of the Company's operating structure to accelerate growth in alternative energy markets. "Alternative energy products currently account for less than 5% of our quarter-billion-dollar annual revenue," said Magnetek chief executive Andrew Galef. "But that revenue has the potential to increase exponentially over the next few years, based on double-digit growth rates in alternative energy markets and proprietary power conversion products that we are now introducing for solar and wind power markets."