Connection
August 2018
 Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Headlines

Bloom Energy Launches Initial Public Offering 
On July 25, FCHEA member Bloom Energy launched its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

Bloom's first day performance received significant coverage from Wall Street media outlets, and the company was featured on the  NYSE's social media accounts. K.R. Sridhar, Bloom's CEO and Founder, rang the NYSE's opening bell on July 25. Sridhar was joined by former United States Secretary of State and retired four-star Army General Colin Powell, a member of Bloom's Board of Directors.
Bloom Energy CEO and Founder K.R. Sridhar rings the opening bell at the NYSE on July 25. Source: NYSE

According to the NYSE, Bloom is the first alternative energy IPO in the United States since 2016.

For more information, click  here for a  Market Watch interview with Sridhar.

Plug Power Opens Second Fuel Cell Production Facility in New York
On August 17, FCHEA member Plug Power held a grand opening ceremony for its new 38,400 square foot fuel cell manufacturing facility in Clifton Park, NY. 

According to Plug Power, the decision to open a second manufacturing facility was driven by strong top line revenue growth in its core fuel cell and hydrogen markets, along with performance-based tax credits through the Excelsior Jobs Program from New York State and Empire State Development.

The grand opening was attended by United States Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20), a long time champion of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies at the federal level. Congressman Tonko and Howard Zemsky, President and CEO of Empire State Development both praised Plug Power for their continued green energy and advanced manufacturing investment in New York's Capital Region.
Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh (center) flanked by Congressman Tonko (left) and Howard Zemsky of Empire State Development (right) and other officials hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for Plug Power's Clifton Park facility.
Source: Plug Power

In an August 16  press release, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul lauded the opening of the Clifton Park facility, where Plug Power has committed to creating 97 new jobs.

Click  here for the full press release from Plug Power.

Hyundai Sets New Annual Record with NEXO Fuel Cell Vehicle Sales
On July 29, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported that FCHEA member Hyundai Motor Co. has sold 223 NEXO hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) since the zero-emission crossover-SUV's launch earlier this year. The sales figures go from March through the end of June, and include 179 NEXOs sold in South Korea and 44 FCVs shipped abroad.
 
NEXO sales are set to quickly outpace sales for Hyundai’s predecessor Tucson FCV, which sold 269 vehicles in global markets in 2015. The NEXO is expected to be available in the United States later this year.
The 2019 Hyundai Nexo. Source: CNET

Click  here for the full report from  Yonhap News Agency.

Toyota Unveils 2nd-Generation Hydrogen Truck for Testing at Southern California Ports
On July 30, FCHEA member Toyota USA announced Project Portal 2.0, the second iteration of its prototype hydrogen fuel cell-powered Class 8 truck, during the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in Michigan.

Powered by two Mirai fuel cell vehicle stacks, the new zero-emissions truck known as "Beta" has a range of 300 miles per hydrogen fill, an increase of 100 miles over Toyota's "Alpha" fuel cell truck unveiled in April of 2017. The Beta truck will join its Alpha predecessor for drayage operations at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in California.

According to Toyota, the Alpha truck has already logged nearly 10,000 miles of test and real-world drayage operations, with a gross combined weight capacity of 80,000 pounds.
The new Project Portal "Beta" truck considerably improves key performance metrics over its predecessor, according to Toyota. Source: Toyota USA

The second generation of Project Portal will further examine the technology's commercial viability, using lessons learned from the first year of the Alpha truck's test operations.

Click  here for the full press release from Toyota.

FuelCell Energy Breaks Ground on Microgrid at Navy Base in Connecticut
On July 25, FCHEA member FuelCell Energy broke ground on the construction of a fuel cell microgrid for the U.S. Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. The installation will comprise two of FuelCell Energy's SureSource 4000 power plants with total output of 7.4 MW, and will be located on the base to supply an existing electrical substation.

FuelCell Energy will own and operate the microgrid under a 20 year power purchase agreement first announced in October of last year. Through this "pay-as-you-go" structure, electricity generated by the installation will be purchased by the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC), which in turn will provide the power to the U.S. Navy.

The fuel cell plant is part of a multifaceted plan by CMEEC to provide new power resources and support the desire of the Department of Defense to add resiliency and grid independence to key military installations. According to a CMEEC  press release, the fuel cell facility is expected to be completed in the Spring of 2019.

Click  here for the full press release from FuelCell Energy.

Altergy Deploys 30 kW Hydrogen Fuel Cell for Wisconsin Microgrid Project
On July 20, FCHEA member Altergy announced the deployment of their fuel cell technology as part of Faith Technologies' clean energy microgrid at the Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve in Appleton, Wisconsin.

 To power the 18,000-square-foot nature center building, the microgrid uses Altergy's 30 kW hydrogen fuel cell system, 200 kW of solar panels, a 100 kW lithium-ion battery storage system, a 65 kW micro-turbine, and a 60 kW natural gas generator.

The Immersion Center at Gordon Bubolz Nature Preserve hosts the operations of the microgrid, and is open to the public.

Click  here for the full press release from Altergy.

Walmart Opens Import Distribution Center with 100% Fuel Cell-Powered Forklifts
On August 21, Plug Power announced that all 182 electric forklifts at a recently-opened Walmart import distribution center (IDC) in Mobile, Alabama, will be powered by its GenDrive hydrogen fuel cells.

The new storage and cross-dock facility will support more than 750 jobs, and supply several regional distribution centers that serve approximately 700 Walmart stores in Alabama, Mississippi, and beyond.
Grand opening for Walmart's IDC in Mobile, AL, on August 14 with Alabama Governor Kay Ivey. Source: Walmart

Plug Power has an extensive history of supplying Walmart with fuel cell-powered forklifts at grocery and retail distribution centers around the country, and the Mobile facility marks their first entry into the IDC market.

Click  here for the full blog post from Plug Power.

Nel to Construct World's Largest Hydrogen Electrolyzer Manufacturing Plant
On August 22, FCHEA member Nel ASA announced that they will expand their electrolyzer manufacturing plant in Notodden, Norway, to have a name plate capacity of 360 MW per year, the largest of its kind in the world.

The NOK 150 million (about $17.9 million) expansion will accommodate Nikola Motor's order for 448 electrolyzers to produce on-site hydrogen fuel. Nikola is developing an American network of hydrogen fueling stations for heavy duty-trucks and passenger vehicles. Under their contract with Nikola, Nel will deliver up to 1 gigawatt of electrolysis power, plus hydrogen fueling equipment.

According to Nel, the Notodden facility expansion will begin later this year, and is expected to be completed in early 2020.

Click  here for the full press release from Nel.

Doosan Starts Construction on World's Largest Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power Plant in South Korea
On August 16, FCHEA member Doosan Fuel Cell announced the beginning of construction on a 50 MW hydrogen fuel cell power plant in South Korea for Daesan Green Energy, a joint venture power company formed by Korea East-West Power and Hanwha Energy. When completed, the Daesan Green Energy Fuel Cell Power Plant will be the world's largest by power capacity, and will be Doosan's largest fuel cell deployment since entering the market.

According to Doosan, when construction completes in 2020, the fuel cell power plant will contribute 400,000 MWh of electricity annually, powering 160,000 local homes each year. The project will utilize hydrogen generated as a by-product of chemical processes in petrochemical complexes to power 114 of Doosan's fuel cell units.

Click  here for the full press release from Doosan Fuel Cell.

Air Liquide Launches App to Track Hydrogen Stations
In July, FCHEA member Air Liquide launched their H2 Station Finder app to help fuel cell vehicle (FCV) drivers locate and check the status of hydrogen refueling stations.

Currently, the app has information on the 35 public hydrogen stations in California. According to Air Liquide, additional stations in the United States and Europe will be added later this year.

By using the H2 Station Finder app, drivers can find the nearest hydrogen station, get directions to it, and view station details such as amenities offered. In addition, the app enables drivers to monitor how much carbon dioxide they have offset by driving their FCV.
Home page for the H2 Station Finder app. Source: Air Liquide

H2 Station Finder is available for free on via the iOS and  Google Play App Stores.

Click  here for the full article from  gasworld.

Toyota Approved to Build 100% Renewable Fuel Cell Power Plant at Port of Long Beach
On August 13, the Port of Long Beach approved permitting plans for Toyota Logistics Services to construct the world's first megawatt-scale, 100% renewable-sourced fuel cell power plant at their vehicle processing terminal.

As  announced in November of last year, Toyota will construct the power plant using FuelCell Energy's Tri-Gen system, which uses bio-waste sourced from California agricultural waste to generate water, electricity, and hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles (FCVs). According to Toyota, the power plant will generate approximately 2.35 megawatts of electricity to power the vehicle processing facility.

Toyota also states that the Tri-Gen system can generate up to 1.2 tons of hydrogen per day, which will be used to power FCVs at the port. As  previously announced by Toyota, the Tri-Gen fuel cell facility is expected to come online in 2020.

Click here for the full article from the  Long Beach Press-Telegram.

Nuvera Announces Agreement with Zhejiang Runfeng for Sale of Fuel Cell Engines in China
On August 13, FCHEA member Nuvera announced an agreement with Zhejiang Runfeng Hydrogen Engine Co., Ltd. (ZRHE) to manufacture and assemble fuel cell engines for use in Chinese fuel cell vehicles (FCV).

The agreement provides a product license to ZHRE to manufacture of 45 kilowatt fuel cell engines, based on Nuvera's current generation fuel cell stack, for sale in China over the next three years. The units are expected to be integrated in transit buses, delivery vehicles, and other transportation platforms in the cities of Ningbo, Hangzhou, Kunming, and Xi’an.

The agreement also incorporates a minimum initial purchase volume of 500 fuel cell stacks after successful testing of the engines, with annual minimum purchases increasing throughout the three-year term of the contract. The fuel cell stacks used in these engines will be manufactured by Nuvera, initially at its facility in Billerica, Massachusetts.

Click  here for the full blog post from Nuvera.

Nikola Secures $100 Million to Scale Hydrogen Truck Development
On August 7, Nikola Motor Company announced that it has raised more than $100 million in Series-C funding this month.

The Phoenix, Arizona-based zero-emissions vehicle manufacturer is developing hydrogen fuel cell-powered Class 8 trucks. Nikola plans to deploy its initial fleet of Nikola One fuel cell trucks on the road in 2020, with full production anticipated to begin the following year.

To support those trucks, Nikola is working with FCHEA member Nel Hydrogen to construct more than 700 hydrogen stations across the USA and Canada by 2028, with the first 14 stations planned to launch by 2021.  

Click  here for the full press release from Nikola.

Hyundai Discusses Plans for Heavy-Duty Fuel Cell Truck
On August 13,  The Korea Herald published an interview with Kim Sae-hoon, Vice President of Hyundai Motor’s fuel cell group, on the automaker's ongoing plans to produce commercial hydrogen-powered trucks.

In the interview, Kim disclosed that Hyundai is currently developing hydrogen-powered 5-ton garbage trucks for the South Korean government. Details on producing larger fuel cell trucks are still confidential, according to Kim.
Kim Sae-hoon and engineers observe a fuel cell stack being developed at Hyundai’s Eco-technology Development Center in Yongin, South Korea. Source: Hyundai Motor

The interview also includes Kim's support for expanding hydrogen fuel cell power to trains and ships, along with Hyundai's recently-announced fuel cell vehicle partnership with Audi.

Click  here for the full article from  The Korea Herald.

Air Liquide Opens New Hydrogen Station in Germany
On August 9, Air Liquide opened a new retail hydrogen fueling station in Kassel-Lohfelden, Germany. The principal and operator of the station - the fifth in the German state of Hesse - is H2 Mobility, a joint venture between Air Liquide and Shell.

The station is strategically located at the Kassel-Mitte intersection of federal motorways 7 and 49, providing fuel cell vehicle (FCV) owners with an additional refueling opportunity between the major German cities of Frankfurt and Hannover.
Representatives from Air Liquide, Shell, H2 Mobility, and local politicians at the Kassel station opening.
Source: H2 Mobility

According to H2 Mobility, the station can store up to 200 kg of hydrogen, enough to fill 40 to 50 FCVs per day.

The station's total construction costs were approximately 1.4 million euros (about $1.6 million). Of this total, the European Commission's Trans-European Transport Network provided 50% through its Connecting Hydrogen Refueling Stations project.

Click  here for the full press release from H2 Mobility.

Linde to Construct Hydrogen Station in Germany with New Storage Technology
Germany's National Organization Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW) recently announced that FCHEA member Linde will construct a new hydrogen station for German bus company Regional Transport Cologne (RVK), in Wermelskirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia. The station will be able to supply enough hydrogen for twenty fuel cell-powered commuter buses per day, and will service thirty fuel cell-battery hybrid buses recently purchased by RVK.

Accrding to NOW, the Wermelskirchen station will feature the first deployment of Linde's new hydrogen storage technology, which uses new steady pressure accumulators to supply more hydrogen to vehicles in a shorter amount of time.

RVK also signed a contract with a consortium of German companies to construct a second hydrogen station in Meckenheim, North Rhine-Westphalia to serve its fuel cell-hybrid buses.

Click  here for the full press release from NOW.

Nissan to Develop Fuel Cell Vehicle Technology with Ceres Power
On August 2, Ceres Power announced that it was awarded £7 million (~$9.1 million) from the United Kingdom' s Advanced Propulsion Center to further develop fuel cell vehicle technology for FCHEA member Nissan.

Under this project, Nissan will enter a partnership with Ceres Power and The Welding Institute to design, build, test and demonstrate a compact, robust, UK-produced solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack. The stack will then be deployed within a Nissan designed fuel cell module suitable for operation with a variety of high efficiency fuel types, including bio-fuels.

In 2016, Nissan ran road tests of an  SOFC-powered prototype car fueled by bio-ethanol in Brazil.

Click  here for the full press release from Ceres Power.

FuelCell Energy Announces Service Agreement with South Korean Power Company
On July 26, FuelCell Energy announced a 20 year service agreement with Korea Southern Power Co. (KOSPO) for a recently completed 20 MW fuel cell installation. Eight of FuelCell Energy's SureSource 3000 fuel cell power plants are now providing electricity and thermal energy to support a district heating system adjacent to KOSPO's 1.8 gigawatt Sinincheon combined cycle power plant in Incheon, South Korea.

In a statement celebrating the new agreement, Mr. Joo-Mong Choi, General Manager of New Business Development for KOSPO cited the "clean and predictable power generation profile of fuel cells" as consistent with meeting the company's energy objectives.

Click  here for the full press release from FuelCell Energy.

South Korean Government Plans for 1,000 Fuel Cell Buses on Road by 2022
On July 24, the South Korean government committed to helping the deployment of 1,000 hydrogen fuel cell-powered buses on roads throughout the country by 2022.

Paik Un-gyu, South Korea's Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, announced that the Ministry will ease regulations on production and transportation of hydrogen buses. According to  The Korea Herald, these measures will include allowing the installation of a natural gas-to-hydrogen reformer system on buses in limited development districts, and increasing the standard of capacity for hydrogen carriers.
Hyundai's zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell-powered bus, which will begin driving in Seoul starting next month. Source: Yonhap News

Minister Paik also announced the development of operational standards to install mobile and fixed refueling stations to help lower the cost of hydrogen fuel. In addition, the Ministry expects 310 hydrogen refueling stations to be installed nationwide by 2022.

Click  here for the full article from  The Korea Herald.

CARB Releases Annual Evaluation of Fuel Cell Vehicle Deployment and Hydrogen Station Network Development
On July 31, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), an FCHEA member, released the 2018 issue of its  Annual Evaluation of Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Deployment and Hydrogen Fuel Station Network Development as required by the state's 2013 Assembly Bill 8.

CARB predicts that in-state fuel cell vehicle deployment will exceed 23,000 cars by 2021, and 47,000 by 2024. The report also includes CARB's analyses and recommendations for new station locations, capacities, and technical capabilities. 

Click  here to access the full Annual Evaluation report from CARB.

CSA Group Releases Whitepaper on Hydrogen for Clean Vehicle Fuel
This month, FCHEA member CSA Group released a whitepaper entitled "Supporting Hydrogen as a Viable Option For Clean Vehicle Fuel." The whitepaper examines a variety of topics such as:

  • The Current Hydrogen Landscape
  • Fueling Protocols, Safety, and Standards
  • CSA Group Leadership in Hydrogen Codes and Standards
  • Recognizing the Importance of Stakeholder Engagement
  • Testing & Certification in the Clean Fuels Landscape

Click  here for access to the full whitepaper to download.

Hydrogen Offers Significant Exporting Potential for Australia, per Government-Commissioned Report
On August 17, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) released a report that concludes the country is in a strong position to take advantage of the growing hydrogen export market.

The report, prepared for ARENA by ACIL Allen Consulting, identifies opportunities for Australia to export hydrogen to help meet the potential future global demand. According to the report, with the right conditions, Australian hydrogen exports could contribute AUD 1.7 billion (about $1.25 billion) per year to the national economy and provide 2,800 jobs by 2030.

The reports also finds that Australia is in a competitive position for potential exports to China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore due to its location, excellent renewable energy resources, well established energy trading relationships, and experience in large scale energy infrastructure construction.

Click  here for the full press release from ARENA, which includes a link to download the full report.
Federal Programs Update

Department of Energy Announces $38 Million in New Hydrogen and Fuel Cell R&D Projects
On August 14, United States Secretary of Energy Rick Perry announced the recipients of $38 million in Department of Energy (DOE) to support research and development projects for innovative hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

According to DOE, selections for this investment round focus on key early-stage technical challenges related to non-precious metal catalysts, fuel cell membranes, reversible fuel cells, and electrolyzers to produce hydrogen, as well as innovative concepts to improve efficiency and lower costs of hydrogen vehicle refueling infrastructure.

Among the winners were FCHEA members Plug Power and 3M. Plug Power received approximately $2 million for an autonomous hydrogen fueling station project, and 3M received $1.86 million to develop low-cost, high performance membranes for proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers.

Click  here for the full press release from DOE.

Ohio Consortium Seeks Federal Grant to Realize Hydrogen Fuel Cell Transportation Vision
On August 15, a consortium of hydrogen fuel cell stakeholders in Ohio announced their application for a multi-million-dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to construct at least 13 hydrogen, electric, and compressed natural gas (CNG) refueling facilities along highways in Ohio and Southern Michigan. 

The consortium is lead by the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority (SARTA), and includes Love's Travel Stops, CALSTART, Clean Fuels Ohio, and FCHEA member the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition (OFCC).

According to SARTA CEO Kirt Conrad, the consortium members will use the grant money to draft the Midwest States Alternative Fuel Transportation Corridor Action Plan. When completed, the plan will facilitate the creation of a corridor that will make it possible for the owners and operators of battery electric, fuel cell electric and CNG-powered automobiles, trucks, and buses to easily refuel as they travel across the major transportation arteries in Ohio and Michigan.

Click  here for the full press release from SARTA.

FCHEA Members Appointed to Department of Energy Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee
On August 20, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee (HTAC) announced the appointment of several new members for 2019. The HTAC was established under Section 807 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to provide technical and programmatic advice to the Energy Secretary on DOE’s hydrogen research and development goals, strategies, and activities.

The new HTAC members are:

  • Henry P. Aszklar Jr., Managing Director, Franklin Park Partners, LLC
  • Marie A. Ffolkes, President, Industrial Gases–Americas, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
  • Nick Irvin, Research and Development Director, Advanced Energy Systems, Cross Cutting Technology, and Strategy, Southern Company
  • Anthony Leo, Vice President, Applications and Advanced Technology Development, FuelCell Energy
  • Andrew Marsh, President and Chief Executive Officer, Plug Power
  • Paul D. Rogers, Director, U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), U.S. Department of Defense

FCHEA members FuelCell Energy, Plug Power, and Air Products join FCHEA President Morry Markowitz and representatives from FCHEA members Nel Hydrogen/Proton OnSite, the California Air Resources Board, and General Motors on the HTAC, along with sixteen other industry and academic stakeholders.

Click  here for FuelCell Energy's press release, and click  here for Plug Power's press release.
Upcoming Events

Webinar on Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles and California’s Hydrogen Fueling Network
Thursday August 30, 2018 | 10 to 11 AM PDT

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) and California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) invite the public to participate in a co-hosted webinar summarizing two recent hydrogen and fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) publications.

The webinar will focus on current status, near-term evaluation, and long-term vision of public-private efforts to support expanding deployment of FCEVs in California. CARB staff will present findings and special topics discussed in the  2018 Annual Evaluation, including updates on current and projected volumes of vehicles deployed in the state, hydrogen station network development, and needs for future State co-funded development. CaFCP will additionally provide an overview of The California Fuel Cell Revolution, which presents its members’ collaborative vision for reaching a sustainable market for fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen by 2030, development of 1,000 hydrogen fueling stations, and enabling deployment of upwards of 1,000,000 FCEVs. Supporting analysis completed with the  California Hydrogen Infrastructure Tool will also be discussed. Participation is available via web only.

Click  here to register for this webinar.

Public Workshop Regarding Assessment of a Zero Emission Vehicle Requirement for Public and Private Light- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Fleets
Thursday, August 30, 2018 | 1:00 PM PST | CalEPA Headquarters Building | Sierra Hearing Room, Second Floor | 1001 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814 

The California Air Resources Board (CARB or Board) will hold a public workshop regarding assessment of a Zero Emission Vehicle Requirement for Public and Private Light- and Heavy-Duty Vehicle Fleets. 

This meeting will be  webcast for those unable to attend in person. The broadcast can be accessed on the day of the workshop. Information on submitting questions or comments will be provided during the webcast for remote participants. Staff’s presentation will be posted prior to the workshop. 

For questions regarding the workshop, please contact Ms.  Banpreet Bhambra, Air Resources Engineer, at (916) 324-0208 for assistance.

Hydrogen Fueling Stations for Urban Sites Workshop
Thursday, September 6, 2018 | 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM PDT
Sandia National Laboratories | 7011 East Avenue
Livermore, CA 94550

The H2FIRST Reference Stations for Urban Sites project is creating compact gaseous and liquid hydrogen reference station designs appropriate for urban locations, enabled by hazard/harm mitigations, near-term technology and fire code improvements, and risk-informed (performance-based) analyses. This workshop presents a number of hazard and risk analysis techniques and methods as applied to reference station designs, enabling participants to apply or interpret similar analyses in the real world. Workshop leaders will also present preliminary results on the effect of NFPA 2 requirements on various station designs, and solicit feedback from stakeholders to improve the analysis further.

Participants will:

  • Discuss how NFPA 2 is, can, or should be used to site stations.
  • Learn about various footprint-reducing methods, including below ground, rooftop, delivery truck size, and comparative risk.
  • Learn to use and interpret results from the Hydrogen Risk Assessment Models (HyRAM) software.
  • Give feedback to the Urban Sites team to make sure results are relevant and consistent with real-world station siting.
  • Tour a lab to learn how measurements are taken to study the behavior of cryogenic hydrogen.
  • Visit a nearby hydrogen refueling station to see real-world application.

Click here to RSVP for this workshop.

Hydrogen Safety Panel to Expand Assistance In Northeast States
Wednesday, September 12 | 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM ET
New Haven Regional Fire Training Academy
230 Ella Grasso Blvd. | New Haven CT

The Hydrogen Safety Panel (HSP) will conduct training sessions and stakeholder meetings in the Northeast US (NY/NJ, MA, CT/RI) for code officials, fire marshals, project developers, and other interested stakeholders on hydrogen to facilitate the safe and timely deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, including fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen fueling, and stationary applications. 
 
This training session for Connecticut public code officials titled “Hydrogen Safety Training ” has been approved for continuing education credits by the CT Office of Education & Data Management (OEDM).
 
The goal for this meeting is to examine the characteristics of hydrogen, review applicable codes and standards, explore safety considerations, and learn how the HSP can assist the safe and timely deployment of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, including fuel cell vehicles and stationary applications. Stakeholder engagement and feedback is welcome and appreciated.
 
HSP Attendees
  • Nick Barilo, HSP Program Manager and licensed fire protection engineer; 
  • Larry Moulthrop, HSP member, Proton founder and H2 fueling station/fleet manager.
 
This free workshop is for public officials with authority to protect public health, welfare, and safety and other interested stakeholders. Please RSVP to Paul Aresta by September 11 to paresta@ccat.us.

Public Hearing to Consider Proposed Amendments to the Low-Emission Vehicle III Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulation
Thursday, September 27, 2018 | 9:00 AM PST | CalEPA Headquarters
Byron Sher Auditorium | 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

The California Air Resources Board (CARB or Board) will conduct a public hearing to consider approving for adoption the Proposed Amendments to the Low-Emission Vehicle III Greenhouse Gas Emission Regulation.

On August 2, 2018, the U.S. EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a joint Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to significantly weaken the U.S. EPA’s standards. The NPRM proposes to arrest U.S. EPA’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions targets at the levels set for model year 2020, and weaken the federal standards in other respect. This proposal is contrary to the facts and the law. To ensure that the effects of any federal weakening for model years 2021 through 2025 are not felt in California, CARB is proposing amendments to its LEV III greenhouse gas emission regulations to clarify that the “deemed to comply” option is available only for the currently adopted federal greenhouse gas regulations. (See Cal. Code Regs., tit. 13, §§ 1961.2, 1961.3, and the "California 2015 and Subsequent Model Criteria Pollutant Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures and 2017 and Subsequent Model Greenhouse Gas Exhaust Emission Standards and Test Procedures for Passenger Cars, Light-Duty Trucks, and Medium-Duty Vehicles.")

In addition, CARB will consider the Proposed Innovative Clean Transit (ICT) Regulation at the hearing. The proposed ICT regulation would achieve air quality, climate, and public health goals, and provide the cleanest transportation to transit dependent riders, residents of disadvantaged communities, and individuals living in close proximity to transit centers, while providing transit agencies the flexibility to continue meeting expanding needs for effective, efficient, and affordable regional transit services across California. This effort is part of a broader strategy to increase clean, affordable transportation options with advanced clean vehicle technologies, ride sharing, active transportation, and other innovative methods to improve mobility and efficiency of transit systems in California. The proposed ICT regulation amends the existing Fleet Rule for Transit Agencies. 

Interested members of the public may present comments orally or in writing at the hearing and may provide comments by postal mail or by electronic submittal before the hearing. The public comment period for this regulatory action will begin on August 10, 2018.   Written comments not physically submitted at the hearing must be submitted on or after August 10, 2018, and received no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 24, 2018. 

Click  here to submit comments electronically.

2018 Ohio Fuel Cell Symposium
October 2 -3, 2018 | Stark State College, Business & Entrepreneurial Center | 6200 Frank Ave. NW | Canton, OH 44720

Join the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition (OFCC) and other industry colleagues to celebrate the milestones and successes of those in our industry.

OFCC invites you to listen and learn from fuel cell industry leaders LG Fuel Cell Systems, and Plug Power, and how they were able to "Create Success ... through Vision, Connections and Opportunities". This workshop also includes insights from American Electric Power and the National Energy Technology Laboratory, among others. 

OFCC will be holding their seventh Supply Chain Exchange. This unique opportunity is the most efficient and effective way to meet with suppliers and integrators, all in one place, at one time, and one-on-one. Please let OFCC know your interest by checking the appropriate box on the registration form.

There will be an Exhibitors Showcase throughout the workshop, featuring a number of exhibitors in the main hall. Space is limited, so reserve your exhibitor table soon! 

In conjunction with the Exhibitors Showcase, there will be a Networking Reception for all Symposium attendees - please plan accordingly.

There will also be an opportunity to ride one of the Stark Area Regional Transit Authority's Hydrogen fuel cell buses, and take a tour of their facility and hydrogen refueling station.

For more information and to register, click  here.

Military Power Systems Conference - FCHEA Member Registration Discount
October 30 - November 1, 2018 | London

Military Power Systems Conference welcomes international stakeholders to examine solutions to increase operational energy efficiency and enhance power generation, power management, and energy storage at the unit level, across platforms and facilities.

For more information on this conference, click here.
Additional Links

Fuel Cell Technologies Office, U.S. Department of Energy | 20 July 2018

S&P Global | 20 July 2018

Digital Trends | 21 July 2018

The Times of India | 23 July 2018

Truck News | 25 July 2018

Investor's Business Daily | 25 July 2018

CNBC | 25 July 2018

Reuters | 26 July 2018

Road Show by CNET | 26 July 2018

Santa Monica Daily Press | 30 July 2018

Trucks.com | 30 July 2018

American Journal of Transportation | 30 July 2018

Fleet Europe | 31 July 2018

The Maritime Executive | 31 July 2018

Toyota Motor Corporation | 31 July 2018

Roadshow by CNET | 31 July 2018

Innovators Magazine | 31 July 2018

Fox News | 31 July 2018

Wards Auto | 1 August 2018

Automotive World | 3 August 2018

Financial Post via YouTube | 3 August 2018

Green Car Congress | 6 August 2018

Insider Car News | 6 August 2018

Forbes | 7 August 2018

Rail Magazine UK | 7 August 2018

Heavy Duty Trucking | 7 August 2018

Electric Light & Power | 8 August 2018

PR Newswire | 8 August 2018

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation | 8 August 2018

Teesside Live | 9 August 2018

Australian Broadcasting Corporation | 10 August 2018

Triple Pundit | 10 August 2018

Popular Mechanics | 10 August 2018

The Japan Times | 10 August 2018

Renewable Energy Magazine | 10 August 2018

Delaware News Journal | 12 August 2018

The Korea Herald | 13 August 2018

Electrify America via Yahoo! Finance | 13 August 2018

Today's Trucking | 13 August 2018

Web Wire Press Release | 14 August 2018

Bloom Energy via Power Engineering International | 15 August 2018

U.S. Department of Energy | 16 August 2018

The Denver Post | 16 August 2018

Hyundai Europe | 17 August 2018

Freight Waves | 17 August 2018

The Korea Times | 19 August 2018

CBC News | 19 August 2018

Deutsche Welle (English) | 20 August 2018

Norwegian Hydrogen Association [Note: post is in Norwegian] | 21 August 2018

CBS Los Angeles | 22 August 2018

CBS Los Angeles | 22 August 2018
Requests for Papers, Proposals, & Information

Light Duty Vehicle Hydrogen Refueling Station Grant Funding Opportunity for Chino, California
The purpose of this solicitation is to provide grant funding to complete the construction of a publicly accessible hydrogen refueling station capable of on-site hydrogen production and dispensing of at least 100 kilograms of 100 percent renewable hydrogen per day using an on-site electrolyzer. The station is designed and partially constructed and is located at 12600 East End Avenue, Chino, CA 91710. There is up to $791,862 for the agreement resulting from this solicitation.

There will be a  mandatory pre-application on-site meeting for all parties planning to apply for grant funding through this solicitation. Participation must be in-person. Potential Applicants may be represented by a project team member or authorized representative. The on-site meeting will take place at the Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, Inc. located at 12600 East End Avenue, Chino, CA 91710.

Applicants will be able to evaluate the station layout, inspect and inventory the existing station equipment, and meet Hyundai representatives. Logistics questions regarding the on-site meeting should be directed to Jerome Gregeois, Senior Manager PT Evaluation & Eco Department, Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, Inc., 909-993-5439  jgregeois@hatci.com. Jerome Gregeois will only take questions regarding onsite meeting logistics and is not authorized to speak on behalf of the Energy Commission regarding the solicitation or other Energy Commission matters. 

  • Mandatory On-Site Meeting in Chino: September 10, 2018
  • Pre-Application Workshop: September 18, 2018
  • Deadline for Written Questions: September 21, 2018
  • Deadline to Submit Application: October 19, 2018, by 5:00 p.m.

Click  here for the full solicitation from the California Energy Commission.

New York Releases Energy Storage Roadmap with Public Comment Period
In his 2018 State of the State, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a 1,500 MW energy storage target for New York State by 2025 to put New York on a path toward a 2030 target to be announced in late 2018.

To help reach these targets, NYSERDA and the Department of Public Service (DPS), in conjunction with stakeholders, developed the  New York State Energy Storage Roadmap. The Roadmap identifies the most promising near-term policies, regulations, and initiatives needed to realize the Governor’s ambitious 2025 energy storage target in anticipation of a 2030 target to be established later this year, per legislation, by the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC).

Multiple technical conferences will be held throughout the State to allow for public feedback on recommendations and approaches identified in the Roadmap. The PSC has created a new proceeding to consider and establish a 2030 storage target and the deployment mechanisms to achieve the 2025 and 2030 energy storage targets by the end of the year.

Public comments on the Roadmap can be submitted via the  DPS website  until September 4, 2018.

ARPA-E Funding Opportunity to Develop Novel Heat Exchanger Technologies
On August 9, the Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA-E) issued a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) of up to $35 million for the High Intensity Thermal Exchange through Materials and Manufacturing Processes (HITEMMP) program, to develop new approaches and technologies for the design and manufacture of high temperature, high pressure, and highly compact heat exchangers.

Heat exchangers are critical to efficient thermal energy use in numerous industrial and everyday applications, including electricity generation, nuclear reactors, transportation, petrochemical plants, waste heat recovery, and much more. HITEMMP projects will target heat exchangers capable of operating for tens of thousands of hours in temperatures and pressures exceeding 800°C and 80 bar (1,160 psi) respectively.

HITEMMP project teams must develop new exchanger topologies, or physical designs, that optimize device structure with suitable advanced materials and the fluids flowing through them for the desired range of operating conditions. Equally important is to develop new, or refine existing, manufacturing technologies that enable attractive performance at an acceptable cost.

Durable and affordable higher-temperature heat exchangers could lead to substantially higher power conversion efficiencies, which in turn could reduce fuel consumption, system footprint (and thus capital and operation costs), and CO2 and nitrogen oxide emissions.

ARPA-E is allocating up to $35 million for HITEMMP, with up to $10 million available to small businesses under ARPA-E's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs and the remaining available to all applicants.

The deadline to submit a concept paper for HITEMMP is 9:30 a.m. ET on September 12, 2018. Additional information, including the full FOA and how to find project teaming partners, is available on ARPA-E’s online application portal,  ARPA-E eXCHANGE.

Energy Department Request for Information on Multi-Sector Uses of Hydrogen
The United States Department of Energy has released a request for information (RFI) soliciting stakeholder feedback on opportunities to enable high volume production and multi-sector use of hydrogen.

With the help of this RFI, hydrogen use could be expanded and made more affordable across multiple applications such as energy storage, running large turbines at power plants, supporting grid flexibility and enabling baseload operation of nuclear plants, as well as increased renewable power generation.

The objective of this RFI is to assess the domestic resources compatible with large-scale hydrogen production, as well as to identify pathways to effectively leverage these resources for near- and long-term use in major industries. Responses to this RFI will provide DOE insight into the technical and economic barriers associated with these production pathways and end-uses to help establish a more focused and relevant H2@ Scale research portfolio.

RFI Topics include:

  • Domestic Hydrogen Supply Expansion/ Diversification
  • Demand-Sector Market Expansion
  • Leveraging Current Industries and Infrastructure
  • H2@ Scale H-Prize Competition Concepts
  • Innovative Approaches for Enabling H2@ Scale
 
Responses are due October 31, 2018, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. Click  here for the full RFI.

Pennsylvania Alternative Fuel Transportation Initiatives Funding
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has allocated $5 million in funding for its Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant (AFIG) Program. AFIG can assist school districts, municipal authorities, nonprofits, corporations, LLCs, and partnerships registered to do business in Pennsylvania in offsetting the costs of implementing alternative fuel using transportation projects.

According to DEP, for new hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, applicants may request 100% of the incremental cost of the vehicle up to $40,000 per vehicle. This year's AFIG grants give priority to projects that include the use of emergency vehicles for response, rescue, and evacuation operations.

DEP will collect and review Applications received by 4 PM on Friday, December 14, 2018. 

More information on applying to the AFIG Program can be found  here.

Maryland Animal Waste to Energy Grant
The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is excited to announce the opening of the Fiscal Year 2019 (FY19) Animal Waste to Energy Grant Program (AWE Grant Program). MEA has made up to $6,000,000 dollars available in two Areas of Interest (AOI) – on-farm/pilot scale and a community/regional scale.

Eligible projects must use animal waste, through any proven process, to generate electricity, reduce the volume of animal waste, and address the fate of the byproduct.

Applications are due December 15, 2018.

For details regarding the grant program requirements and restrictions, please see the FY19 AWE Grant Program Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), details and application, click  here.

Maryland Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Program Seeks FY 2019 Applicants
The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is accepting applications for its competitive Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Program (AFIP).

The program is designed to aid in the development of alternative fuel refueling/recharging infrastructure in Maryland. Each applicant’s cost share must be at least 50% of the total project cost. Eligible projects include natural gas refueling with fast-fill dispensers, propane refueling, ethanol refueling, DC fast-charging and hydrogen refueling.

As of now, MEA's budget for the Fiscal Year 2019 AFIP is up to $500,000. However, MEA reserves the right to increase or decrease the program budget. Grant awards for hydrogen refueling stations are capped at a maximum of $300,000 per station.

Completed applications must be received at MEA no later than December 31, 2018 at 5:00 PM EST.

Click  here to access the FY 2019 application and program guidelines.

NYSERDA Stationary Fuel Cell Program
NYSERDA’s Stationary Fuel Cell Program aims to quickly increase the amount of electricity produced by fuel cell systems in New York State. By providing $15 million over two years, NYSERDA will help facilities to reduce the upfront costs of installing and operating fuel cells and support commercially viable fuel cell systems that help lower greenhouse gas emissions.

NYSERDA will provide $7.5 million a year for two years for a total of $15 million to support new installations of stationary fuel cell systems at eligible sites. No system can receive more than $1 million from NYSERDA.

Incentives are divided into two main categories:
  • Total Base Incentives, which include base incentives determined by installed capacity, and grid independent incentives based on the capability for operating when there are outages
  • Bonus Incentives which are based on location of the site and whether the site is deemed to be critical infrastructure

Apply online using NYSERDA’s application portal. Applications close at 5 p.m. Eastern Time on December 31, 2019.

Click here for the full solicitation from NYSERDA.

South Coast AQMD Hydrogen Infrastructure Partnership Program
This Program Opportunity Notice (PON) seeks to expand the availability of hydrogen refueling infrastructure in the South Coast AQMD region by making available a source of co-funding that can be accessed by the
Mobile Source Air Pollution Reduction Review Committee (MSRC’s) strategic partners. The intent is to provide funding that can be used to improve the financial viability of a candidate hydrogen refueling station that has already undergone vetting by the Energy Commission or South Coast AQMD, or is being proposed by a public agency or industry stakeholder that will undergo evaluation by the MSRC, Energy Commission, or South Coast AQMD. The goal is to have this funding source readily available so it can be tapped by our strategic partners during and within the course of their regular procurement processes.

To this end, the MSRC has allocated $3,000,000 in Clean Transportation Funding from its FY 2016-’18 Work Program for the MSRC’s Hydrogen Infrastructure Partnership Program. This is an
initial funding allocation; the MSRC reserves the right to increase the funding available under this PON by allocating additional funds from either the FY 2016-’18 Discretionary Fund or a future Work Program. 

The period of submittal under this PON closes on April 10, 2020, unless extended by the MSRC.

Click  here for the full Program Opportunity Notice from the South Coast AQMD.
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