Hydrogen fuel cells....Where is the media?

[Lburou]

Originally Posted by Fuel Cells 2000's Fuel Cell Technology Update - April 2011

Artificial Leaf Produces Hydrogen.
Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology showcased the first practical artificial leaf, an advanced solar cell that mimics photosynthesis, at the 241st National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. About the shape of a playing card but thinner, the device is fashioned from silicon, electronics and catalysts and can produce enough electricity to supply a house in a developing country with electricity for a day, by splitting water into its two components, hydrogen and oxygen, for use in a fuel cell.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-03/acs-dot031811.php

This sounds promising.....Why don't we hear about it from the 'MEDIA"?

[david s]

Have a look at an Australian company that has a fuel cell to power an average home that uses natural gas as its fuel. The emissions are about half that of a gas fired power station which are in turn about half that of a coal fired power station. There are no transmission losses as the elec. is generated where it is used. Most homes already have gas piped to them. The unit is about the size of a dishwasher and heat generated from it is used to provide enough hot water for the average home. They have achieved a world best of 60 % efficiency conversion of fuel to elec.

The name of the company is Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited and is listed on the Australian and British stock exchanges.
Needless to say our Govt. has not given them much help or encouragement. Their manufacturing facility is in Germany, where they are more enlightened, pardon the pun.

[brickie in oz]

Ebay is full of Hydrogen fuel cells for sale that you put in your vehicle.
If they worked every car manufacturer around the world would have them fitted as standard, obviously they dont work.

[Les]

I think we need to consider the date - April fool's day. If you check out Toshiba, they have an awesome 3D monocle coming out

http://us.toshiba.com/spectacle

[jbriggs]

I work for a Raymond dealer (Electrical Industrial Forklifts) and we have a customer (very well know 3-letter car manufacture) that is using hydrogen fuel cells in all of their forklifts rather than the conventional wet-cell battery. From what I am hearing it is quite remarkable.

[david s]

If you read the article, it was published March 27 not April 1 There is plenty about Dr. Daniel Nocera on the net. I believe the article is fact, but it may be decades away from production.

[Lburou]

I've posted an abbreviated version of this month's news letter:



Fuel Cells 2000's Fuel Cell Technology Update - April 2011

TRANSPORTATION APPLICATIONS
Two Toyota Fuel Cell Vehicles Delivered to Long Island.
Cars will be used by the Department of Conservation and Waterways fueled at a hydrogen fueling station in Point Lookout.
http://www.newsday.com/classifieds/cars/hempstead-adds-three-hydrogen-powered-cars-1.2788817
Hyundai Unveils Blue2.
Hyundai unveiled its latest concept fuel cell vehicle, the Blue2, at the Seoul Motor Show. The Blue2 is powered by a 90 kW fuel cell electric system.
http://worldwide.hyundai.com/company-overview/news-view.aspx?idx=353&&nCurPage=1&strSearchColumn=&str SearchWord=&ListNum=268
Hydrogenics Receives Contract for Fuel Cells for Ferry.
Hydrogenics Corporation has received a contract from Statue Cruises, LLC, a subsidiary of Hornblower Cruises & Events, for the delivery of two HyPM HD 16 fuel cell power modules (33 kW) for a hybrid ferry in New York City. http://www.hydrogenics.com/invest/News_Details.asp?RELEASEID=559973
Daimler Constructing New Facility, Leasing Space from Ballard.
Daimler’s Mercedes-Benz will construct a production facility in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to manufacture fuel cell stacks for fuel cell vehicles. This next generation fuel cell stack will also be suitable for use in sedans such as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class or E-Class. http://www.daimler.com/dccom/0-5-658451-1-1375858-1-0-0-0-0-0-16694-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0.html
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=76046&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1540690&highlight=
Intelligent Energy Cabs Hit the London Streets, Scooter Receives WVTA Approval.
http://www.intelligent-energy.com/news_events_and_press/news/86/
http://www.intelligent-energy.com/news_events_and_press/news/85/
STATIONARY APPLICATIONS
Bloom Energy to Install System at Ice Skating Facility.
Bloom Energy has sold a Bloom Energy Server to Sharks Ice skating facility in San Jose, California.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/print-edition/2011/03/25/sharks-ice-inks-deal-on-bloom-energy.html
Ballard Partnering with GS Platech to Demonstrate Waste-to-Energy System.
Ballard Power Systems has partnered with GS Platech to demonstrate waste-to-energy power generation using fuel cells and hydrogen produced from processing of municipal solid waste. http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=76046&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1539625&highlight=
PORTABLE/BACKUP POWER
ReliOn Wins Third Place at E-Tech Awards, Partners with HOPPECKE.
ReliOn’s E-2500 fuel cell system was awarded third place in the Green Telecom & Smart Energy Solutions, Applications and Hardware category of CTIA’s annual Emerging Technology (E-Tech) Awards competition.http://www.relion-inc.com/news.asp#34
http://www.relion-inc.com/news.asp#32
MICRO FUEL CELLS
LG to Be First to Market with Fuel Cell System.
LG Chem, a subsidiary of LG, announced it will commercialize its portable fuel cell system for notebook computers within a year. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/29/lg_chem_fuel_cell/
MILITARY APPLICATIONS
Nineteen Fuel Cells to be Deployed at Nine Federal Sites.
The US Army Corps of Engineers ERDC/CERL has contracted LOGANEnergy Corporation, to deploy 19 fuel cell back-up power systems at 9 different federal sites across the country to be configured as uninterruptable power supplies to critical electric loads. http://www.cecer.army.mil/td/tips/docs/josefik-CERL-DOEFuelCellProject2-11-final.pdf
Dewey Electronics Receives Subcontract for Fuel Cell APU.
The Dewey Electronics Corporation has received a three-year $1.1 million subcontract to integrate a JP-8 fueled, 10-kW fuel cell auxiliary power unit (APU) for military ground combat vehicles. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Dewey-Electronics-Awarded-11-prnews-2362631869.html?x=0&.v=1
FUELS/REFORMERS/STORAGE
Artificial Leaf Produces Hydrogen.
Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology showcased the first practical artificial leaf, an advanced solar cell that mimics photosynthesis, at the 241st National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-03/acs-dot031811.php
LBNL Announces Hydrogen Storage Breakthrough.
Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) have designed a new composite material for hydrogen storage consisting of nanoparticles of magnesium metal sprinkled through a matrix of polymethyl methacrylate, a polymer related to Plexiglas. This pliable nanocomposite rapidly absorbs and releases hydrogen at modest temperatures without oxidizing the metal after cycling—a major breakthrough in materials design for hydrogen storage, batteries and fuel cells.
http://newscenter.lbl.gov/news-releases/2011/03/14/breakthrough-in-hydrogen-storage/
MATERIALS/COMPONENTS/TESTING
FuelCon Introduces More Efficient SOFC Testing System.
FuelCon has introduced its latest test station Evaluator C50-HT for SOFCs. http://www.fuelcon.com/cms/index.php?id=pressemitteilungen_details&L=1&tx_ttn ews[tt_news]=486&cHash=de118e434b7127dfa7d414c793a7ee47
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[Les]

Lburou,

It does look legit but I am a skeptic. I remember the day when cold fusion in a bottle was announced, and it wasn't April first. This approach would be the ticket since our orb is covered with hydrogen.

David - I did notice the date, some of these sites are extremely proactive. I should have dug deeper - my bad.

[Lburou]

Originally Posted by Les

Lburou,

It does look legit but I am a skeptic. I remember the day when cold fusion in a bottle was announced, and it wasn't April first. This approach would be the ticket since our orb is covered with hydrogen.

David - I did notice the date, some of these sites are extremely proactive. I should have dug deeper - my bad.

I don't mind you being a skeptic, irregardless of April first. I remember the cold fusion announcement too.

A lot going on with this fuel cell stuff. I enjoy the newsletter each month. Reports show increasing fuel storge capabilities around the corner (fuel storage and fuel generation have been the big holdups -scientifically anyway).

[david s]

The trouble with hydrogen is the enormous amont of energy required to compress it to liquification. The abundance of natural gas, especially shale gas, although a fossil fuel, provides a relatively clean and cheap alternative.