Connection
May 2018
 Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Energy Headlines

Less Than Three Weeks Until the 2018 National Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Forum
The 2018 National Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Forum, a full-day forum and technology showcase, is fast approaching! The Forum will be held on  Tuesday, June 12 in the Atrium Ballroom of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC.

Please contact Jennifer Gangi at  jgangi@fchea.org or 202-261-1339 to ensure you receive a code for your free or discounted ticket before registering or with any questions about the Forum.

Visit our website for more information on the agenda, and our confirmed speakers and exhibitors.

Connecticut Passes Bill to Expand Megawatts Available for Fuel Cell Deployment 
Earlier this month, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a bill that includes several vital provisions for the state's fuel cell industry.

Senate Bill 9, passed by large majorities in the Connecticut House of Representatives and Senate, expands the megawatts available under current law for fuel cell-generated electricity from four percent of the state's load to six percent. In addition, Senate Bill 9 expands Connecticut’s renewable portfolio standard (RPS) target to forty percent by 2030.

Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy  applauded the passage of Senate Bill 9, and is expected to sign it into law shortly.

In a May 9 press release, FCHEA member FuelCell Energy celebrated the passage of Senate Bill 9. Click  here for the full press release.

FedEx Receives First Plug Power Hydrogen Fuel Cell Delivery Van 
On May 1, FedEx Express received its first delivery van powered by a hydrogen fuel-cell engine. The class 5 zero-emission EGEN delivery van is built by Workhorse Group, and charged by a ProGen hydrogen engine from FCHEA member Plug Power.

The zero-emission van is currently in service at the FedEx facility in Menands, New York, and refuels at a hydrogen station located at Plug Power's Latham, New York headquarters.

According to Plug Power, the delivery van has a range of more than 160 miles per delivery cycle, a 166% increase over standard battery electric power alone. To date, the new van has accumulated more than 3,000 on-road miles in initial tests, and is expected to accumulate more than 27,000 miles of on-road driving time in the first six months.

Click  here for the full press release from Plug Power.

Toyota Plans for Ten-Fold Increase In Global Fuel Cell Vehicles Sales Post-2020
On May 24, Toyota announced plans to significantly increase the production of fuel cell stacks and hydrogen tanks for fuel cell vehicles (FCV) in the coming years.

Toyota envisions global FCV sales to surpass 30,000 cars annually after 2020, a ten-fold increase from today's sales. To prepare for this growth, Toyota will move their fuel cell stack production from its current location, within one of the existing buildings at its Honsha Plant in Toyota City, Japan, to a brand-new, eight-floor high-tech facility on the same premises.
Artist rendering of the fuel cell stack production building within the Honsha Plant premises. Source: Toyota

In addition, Toyota announced that the production of high-pressure hydrogen tanks will be handled by a new, dedicated line to be added inside the nearby Shimoyama Plant in Miyoshi City, Japan. Currently, Toyota's hydrogen tanks are assembled at the Honsha plant on a smaller scale.

According to Toyota, construction of the new hydrogen tank line at Shimoyama recently started, while the exterior for the new fuel cell stack production facility is already finished, and work will now begin on the interior. Details of the respective facilities will be announced later, with operations planned to start by around 2020.

Click here for the full press release from Toyota.

Postal Service Touts Success of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Forklift Pilot Using FCHEA Members' Technologies
Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)

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Left: Plug Power fuel cell-powered material handling equipment inaugurated at the USPS Washington, DC NDC, February 2017. Right: USPS official cutting ribbon on fuel cell forklift and hydrogen dispenser pilot at the NDC, February 2017. Source: FCHEA

According to USPS, after a $3.4 million total investment in the pilot project, the postal service realized $3.5 million in cost avoidance and operational savings, for a 107% return on investment. These results were achieved through a 27% increase in operator productivity as measured by containers handled per hour, elimination of lead-acid battery system costs, and electricity savings.

Following the pilot's positive results, USPS is considering evaluation of the scalability of the technology at other facilities.

Click  here for more information from USPS.

California's 34th and 35th Hydrogen Station Now Open
On April 25, the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP) announced that the state's 34th retail hydrogen fueling station is now open for business.

The station is located in the Southern California city of Ontario. According to CaFCP, the station is open 24 hours a day, and provides 100% renewable-sourced hydrogen.
California's newest hydrogen fueling station, located at 1850 Holt Boulevard, Ontario, CA 91761.
Source: California Fuel Cell Partnership

The Ontario station was built by Stratos Fuel, which is also developing a car-sharing program using fuel cell vehicles that will fill up with hydrogen from the Ontario and nearby Riverside stations. The California Energy Commission is funding the car-sharing program with a $685,000 grant to Stratos Fuel.

Click  here for the full announcement from CaFCP.

In addition, on May 23 the CaFCP announced that the state's 35th hydrogen fueling station for fuel cell vehicles is now open in Newport Beach, Orange County.

The hydrogen station first opened in 2012 and was recently upgraded to accommodate retail sales.

According to CaFCP, the station is open 24 hours a day and is located at 1600 Jamboree Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92660.
California's new hydrogen station in Newport Beach. Source: California Fuel Cell Partnership.

Click here for the full announcement from CaFCP.

Connecticut Governor Celebrates the Launch of Municipal Microgrid Powered by 2.2 Megawatt Fuel Cell from FuelCell Energy
On May 7, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy celebrated the launch of a fuel cell-powered microgrid to power seven critical facilities for the Town of Woodbridge.

The project is the result of a $3 million grant that Woodbridge received from the state's Microgrid Pilot Program. United Illuminating (UI) constructed the microgrid, which is powered by a 2.2 megawatt fuel cell built by FCHEA member FuelCell Energy. The fuel cell was initially installed in 2016 at nearby Amity Regional High School.

By using a fuel cell power source, the microgrid is capable of providing power for the town's fire, police, and other emergency services, even when the surrounded grid loses service due to a weather event.

FuelCell Energy also built the unique controller device that activates the microgrid when the surrounding grid loses service during a storm or other event. The device allows the microgrid to be controlled by UI as part of its distribution system, even when it is in “island mode,” operating independently of the surrounding power grid.

Click  here for the full press release from the Office of Governor Malloy.

Anglo American to Spin Out Internal Investment Unit to Raise Funds for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies
Anglo American recently announced plans to spin out its internal venture capital unit in order to raise funds for investment in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

In a May 15 interview with the  Financial Times, Anglo American's platinum division CEO Chris Griffith explained that the company seeks to boost demand for platinum, a key catalyst for hydrogen fuel cell stacks in transportation systems. Mr. Griffith stated that global demand for platinum in fuel cell vehicles (FCV) could reach 1 million ounces by 2030. According to Mr. Griffith, spinning out the internal unit will allow Anglo American to invest in more emerging hydrogen start-ups.

Click  here for the full article from the  Financial Times. Anglo American also  confirmed Mr. Griffith's comments via an emailed statement to  Reuters on May 15.

Gore Chosen as Key Supplier of Proton Exchange Membranes for Chinese FCV Manufacturer's Fuel Cell Stacks
On May 15, W.L. Gore & Associates (Gore) announced that it has been chosen as a key supplier of proton exchange membranes by Chinese fuel cell vehicle (FCV) stack manufacturer Sunrise Power.

According to Gore, their GORE-SELECT Membranes supported the Sunrise Power fuel cell stack's ability to exceed 5000 hours of operation testing, while also achieving low-temperature start-up at -10 °C (14 °F) and storage at -40 °C (-40 °F).

Click  here for the full press release from Gore.

London Eco-Friendly Taxi Company Adds Additional 50 Toyota Mirai FCVs to Its Fleet
On May 2, Toyota Great Britain (GB) announced that it will supply an additional fifty Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicles (FCV) to Green Tomato Cars, a London-based, eco-friendly private taxi company.

Green Tomato Cars has run two Mirai FCVs since 2015, and according to Toyota, the taxi service was so happy with the cars' zero-emission performance that they have decided to add an additional fifty Mirais to their fleet.

The new FCVs are being supplied with support from the United Kingdom's Office for Low Emission Vehicles Hydrogen for Transport program, and the Zero Emission Fleet vehicles for European Roll-out program, funded throughout Europe by the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.
From left to right: Paul Van der Burgh, President and Managing Director of Toyota GB; Member of Parliament Chris Grayling; and Jonny Goldstone, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Green Tomato Cars pose in front of the taxi service's new Mirai FCVs with a glass of its only emission - clean water. Source: Toyota GB

Member of Parliament Chris Grayling joined Toyota and Green Tomato Cars to celebrate the delivery of the fifty new Mirais, and was among the first to drive one on the streets of London.

Click  here for the full press release from Toyota GB.

UK Government Announces $27 Million Hydrogen Supply Program
On May 11, the United Kingdom's (UK) Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy announced the creation of a £20 million (about $27 million) Hydrogen Supply program. The funding will be used to accelerate the development of a lower-cost, low-carbon bulk hydrogen supply in the country.

Funding for the deployment and commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell technologies is part of the UK's larger Clean Growth Strategy, with over £2.5 billion (about $3.4 billion) of government investment in clean and sustainable technologies planned from 2015 to 2021.

The Hydrogen Supply program was announced by Claire Perry MP, Minister of State for Energy & Clean Growth, while visiting FCHEA member Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells for an Executive Committee meeting of the Swindon Hydrogen Hub. Minister Perry also took a tour of a hydrogen fueling station, along with Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells' manufacturing facility.
The Rt. Hon. Claire Perry (Left) refueling a Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicle at the Swindon Hydrogen Hub. Source: Swindon Hydrogen Hub

Click  here for the full press release from the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. More information the Hydrogen Supply program can be found  here.

Nuvera, Hyster-Yale, Ballard Power to Collaborate on Air-Cooled Fuel Cell Stacks for Lift Trucks
On April 30, Hyster-Yale, the parent company of FCHEA member Nuvera, announced that it has signed a Master Supply Agreement (MSA) with Ballard Power Systems for Ballard FCgen-1020 air-cooled fuel cell stacks, for use in class 3 forklifts.

According to Hyster-Yale and Ballard, the supply agreement will run until 2022, and includes support on the design of a fuel cell electric propulsion system to power the forklifts. The collaboration with Ballard, Nuvera, and Hyster-Yale will focus on air-cooled stacks for low power applications.

Click  here for the full press release from Ballard Power Systems.

South Korean Government to Form Company for Hydrogen Station Construction with Korean Businesses
On April 25, South Korea's Commerce Ministry announced plans to establish a Special Purpose Company (SPC) with several Korean businesses to accelerate the construction of hydrogen fueling stations across the country.

Among the companies joining the SPC is FCHEA member Hyundai. Under the agreement, Hyundai will work with the state-run Korean Express Corporation to install eight hydrogen stations on highways with heavy traffic, and another ten stations in Seoul and other major cities.

According to the South Korean government, the SPC will be officially established by November of this year.

Click  here for the full article from South Korea's  Yonhap news agency.

Hydrogen Council Joins Roundtable Discussions with Global Energy Ministers
On May 24, the Hydrogen Council took part in roundtable discussions with energy ministers from around the world to further recognize the role of hydrogen in the global clean energy transition.

Hydrogen Council Co-Chairman and Vice Chairman of Hyundai Dr. Woong-chul Yang met with Mission Innovation - a coalition of 22 governments working to accelerate the clean energy revolution - in Malmo, Sweden. There, the group announced the launch of the "Hydrogen Innovation Challenge,” which aims to reduce costs along the value chain and further expand the deployment of hydrogen.

Pierre-Etienne Franc, the Hydrogen Council's Initiative Co-Secretary and Vice President of Advanced Business & Technologies for Air Liquide, joined the 9th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in Copenhagen, Denmark. A unique partnership of the world’s key economies working together to accelerate the global clean energy transition, the CEM hosted a high-level public-private roundtable to discuss innovative technologies and approaches to further reduce the energy and emissions intensity of industrial processes.

According to the Hydrogen Council, the CEM recognized hydrogen as a "systemic enabler of the energy transition" and discussed future goals to scale up deployment of hydrogen energy technologies worldwide.

Click  here for the full press release from the Hydrogen Council.

UK Institution of Mechanical Engineers Calls on Government and Industry to Promote the Use of Hydrogen for Energy Storage
On May 9, the United Kingdom's Institution of Mechanical Engineers released a report calling for the government and energy industry to promote the use of hydrogen as a way of storing energy.

According to the Institution, the UK gas grid has the potential to store excess electricity in the form of hydrogen for a greater amount of time than some other forms of energy storage, such as batteries. The hydrogen can then be used to produce low emissions fuel for transport, reduce the carbon dioxide emissions from the heating system, and then reused to generate electricity as well as a greener feedstock for other industries.

The report recommends that the UK government should:
  • Create an energy sector stakeholder forum to promote the use of hydrogen for storage;
  • Work with the gas industry to promote the use of up to 20% hydrogen in the gas distribution network by 2023;
  • Commission a comprehensive comparative study of the long-term sustainability of materials used to create lithium ion EV batteries versus power-to-gas/gas systems and fuel cells, particularly for energy storage, to identify appropriate technology and life cycle analysis.

Click  here for the full press release from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which includes a link to download the report.

Japanese Companies, Municipalities Announce Plan to Develop Low-Carbon Hydrogen Supply Chain in Aichi Prefecture
Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)

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The  Aichi Low-carbon Hydrogen Supply Chain Promotion Association's Roadmap to achieve their 2030 Vision for a low-carbon hydrogen supply chain. Source: Toyota

For more details on the 2030 Vision and the implementation road map, click  here for the full press release from Toyota.

Copenhagen Mayors Receive Two Fuel Cell Vehicles from Hyundai Denmark
On May 22, Hyundai Denmark presented two of its iX35 (known in America as Tucson) fuel cell vehicles (FCV) to the Copenhagen Mayor of Social Services, Mia Nyegaard and the Mayor of Employment and Integration, Cecilia Lonning-Skovgaard. 

According to the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), the iX35 FCVs will serve as the primary means of transport for the mayors in their official capacities. At the event where the mayors received their FCVs, representatives from FCHEA member NEL Hydrogen and Hydrogen Denmark also gave speeches alongside the CEO of Hyundai Denmark.
Mayors Mia Nyegaard (Right) and Cecilia Lonning-Skovgaard (Left) posing with their Hyundai iX35 FCVs, and representatives of Hyundai Denmark, NEL Hydrogen, and Hydrogen Denmark. Source: FCH JU

Currently, the City of Copenhagen operates 21 FCVs, and is a part of the European Union-funded project Hydrogen Mobility Europe 2 (H2ME-2) and has been a first mover worldwide regarding hydrogen for transport. 

Click  here for the full press release from FCH JU.

German Ridesharing Service Opens in Stuttgart with Toyota Mirai FCV Fleet
On May 17, the German eco-friendly rideshare service CleverShuttle announced the beginning of operations in the city of Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg with a fleet of ten Toyota Mirai fuel cell vehicles (FCV).

CleverShuttle also operates in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Leipzig, and has Mirai FCVs in service at some of those locations.
Two of CleverShuttle's Toyota Mirai FCVs in Hamburg, September 2017. Source: CleverShuttle

Click  here for the full press release from CleverShuttle (in German).

Hyundai Signs Supply Agreement with SGL Group for Fuel Cell Components
On April 26, German carbon-products manufacturer SGL Group announced a new supply contract with Hyundai. Under the contract, SGL Group will deliver its Sigracet gas diffusion layers to use in the fuel cell stacks for Hyundai's NEXO hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

Click  here for the full press release from SGL Group.
Federal Program Updates

U.S. Energy Department Awards 15 Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Projects
On May 18, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the 2018 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase I Release 1 Awards, including 15 projects focused on high density hydrogen storage, innovative ionomers in the catalyst layer, gas diffusion layers, and membranes for electrochemical production of hydrogen.

The awards total about $2,285,000 in funding.

Click  here for a full list of awardees from the Office of Basic Energy Sciences.

FuelCell Energy Receives $1.5 Million from U.S. Energy Department for Nuclear-Compatible Hydrogen Production R&D
On May 24, the United States Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $3.5 million in funding for three research and development (R&D) projects to integrate nuclear power production with hydrogen fuel production.

DOE states that using electricity and heat generated at nuclear energy facilities to produce hydrogen via extremely efficient high temperature electrolysis (HTE) is one promising integration approach for generating low cost hydrogen. Through utilization of the high temperature heat generated by nuclear energy plants, less electricity is required for the HTE process; thermal energy is generally less expensive than electrical energy.

Among the award recipients is FCHEA member FuelCell Energy, which will receive $1.5 million for materials R&D aimed at reducing the operating temperature of solid-oxide HTE to levels more compatible with advanced nuclear energy heat sources. Saint Gobain and West Virginia University were also each awarded up to $1 million to develop HTE materials compatible with nuclear energy heat sources as well.

Click  here for the full press release from DOE.

General Motors, U.S. Army Feature Fuel Cell Vehicle Platform at Smithsonian
On May 18, the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) and General Motors featured the Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure (SURUS) at Smithsonian’s Military Invention Day to show off future concepts for commercial fuel cell vehicles (FCV) tailored to military use.

GM’s SURUS is a commercially-designed fuel cell electric vehicle platform, which could be modified for military use. The platform uses fuel cell propulsion technology to convert on-board gaseous hydrogen to drive its electric motors.

According to TARDEC and GM, SURUS allows various modules or “top hats,” to switch out depending upon the need. Use cases can vary, from troop-carriers and equipment tie-downs to mobile, hydrogen-generated power generators, which can produce up to 100 kW of portable power, or self-contained medical support modules. 
SURUS on display outside the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
Source: U.S. Army TARDEC

TARDEC and GM have enjoyed a successful fuel cell-focused collaborative research relationship for years, beginning with a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement to test fuel cell stacks. In 2016, GM debuted Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 FCV, which was tested and demonstrated by the Army in the 12 months following. GM first presented SURUS in 2017 at the annual meeting of the Association of the United States Army. 

Click  here for the full press release from TARDEC.
Upcoming Events

2018 National Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Forum
FCHEA is hosting the 2018 National Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Forum , a full-day forum and exposition, on   Tuesday, June 12  at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC.
 
The event, which will be held the day before the Department of Energy’s Annual Merit Review, will bring together key federal and state policymakers, including the Department of Energy and White House, as well as the broader environmental, transportation, and energy communities to raise awareness of the benefits of fuel cell and hydrogen technology.

Visit our website for more information, and to sign up for our mailing list for registration and agenda updates.

Public Workshop on the Fiscal Year 2018-2019 Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives 
June, 15 2018 | 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM (PDT)
Location: Cal/EPA Headquarters Building, Coastal Hearing Room, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA, 95814

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) invites you to participate in a public workshop on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018-19 Funding Plan for Clean Transportation Incentives. The FY 2018-19 Funding Plan will describe CARB’s proposed investments from the following clean transportation incentive funding sources:

  • The $28.64 million Air Quality Improvement Program (AQIP).
  • The $409 million proposed appropriation for the Low Carbon Transportation Program using Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds.

At this workshop, CARB staff will discuss and seek input on recommended funding allocations and project categories for FY 2018-19 AQIP funds and the Low Carbon Transportation Program if the Legislature appropriates CARB funding for that purpose. 

More information on the workshop can be found here. For those unable to attend, a webcast will be available here
Additional Links

Wards Auto | 23 April 2018

Automotive News Canada | 23 April 2018

Fleet Owner | 24 April 2018

Hydrogen Mobility Australia | 24 April 2018

Plug Power via YouTube | 25 April 2018

Green Car Congress | 26 April 2018

Creamer Media's Mining Weekly | 26 April 2018

The Japan News | 29 April 2018

FuelCells Works | 29 April 2018

Power Engineering | 30 April 2018

U.S. Department of Energy, Fuel Cell Technologies Office | 30 April 2018

Automotive News Europe | 2 May 2018

Fleet Owner | 2 May 2018

Anheuser-Busch | 3 May 2018

Toyota UK | 3 May 2018

NGT News | 7 May 2018

Bloomberg | 8 May 2018

H2 Mobility Australia | 8 May 2018

The Guardian | 8 May 2018

HDT Truckinginfo | 9 May 2018

Power Engineering International | 9 May 2018

Microgrid Knowledge | 9 May 2018

Faurecia Newsroom | 3 May 2018

Albany Business Review | 9 May 2018

Daily Energy Insider | 10 May 2018

Bloom Energy | 10 May 2018

Creamer Media's Mining Weekly | 14 May 2018

Reuters | 15 May 2018

Hamburg News | 16 May 2018

Railway Technology | 16 May 2018

Energy Independence Now | 17 May 2018

Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry | 17 May 2018

U.S. Department of Energy | 18 May 2018

The Swiss Hydrogen Association | 18 May 2018

Investing News Network | 21 May 2018

The Brookings Institution | 22 May 2018

Autoblog | 23 May 2018

Reuters | 24 May 2018

Hartford Courant | 25 May 2018
Requests for Papers, Proposals, & Information

Department of Energy Fiscal Year 2018 Advanced Vehicle Technologies Research Funding Opportunity Announcement
On May 1, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry announced up to $68.5 million in available funding for early-stage research of advanced vehicle technologies that will enable more affordable mobility, strengthen domestic energy security, and enhance U.S. economic growth. 

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) seeks research projects to address priorities in the following areas: batteries and electrification; materials; technology integration and energy efficient mobility systems; energy-efficient commercial off-road vehicle technologies; and co-optimized advanced engine and fuel technologies to improve fuel economy.

Concept Papers are due by 5:00 PM EDT on May 29, 2018.

Click here for the full FOA from the U.S. Department of Energy.

South Coast AQMD Carl Moyer Program Open Solicitation
Financial Incentives Now Available for Purchasing Zero and Low Emission Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Engines and Equipment

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD or SCAQMD) recently announced the availability of funds for the 2018 Carl Moyer Program and is currently accepting applications for eligible projects under  Program Announcement #PA2018-06.  At least $25 million is available for this solicitation.  
 
The application deadline is at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, June 5, 2018. All applications must be received either electronically through the SCAQMD’s CMP Online Application Program or on paper with submission to the SCAQMD Headquarters no later than the application deadline. For additional information, click  here.
 
Please note the  workshop schedule for the 2018 Carl Moyer Program Workshops. Attendance at these workshops is not mandatory, but highly recommended due to the latest updates to the Carl Moyer Program.
 
SCAQMD strongly encourages applicants to apply for this solicitation through the SCAQMD CMP Online Application Program (rather than by paper submittal). To apply online, click  here.

Portland General Electric Issues RFP for 100 MWa of Renewable Energy
Portland General Electric Company (PGE), an investor-owned electric utility in
Oregon, is soliciting bids through this Request for Proposals (RFP) for
renewable electric energy products.

PGE is seeking to acquire approximately 100 average megawatts (MWa)1 of longterm renewable energy supply, bundled with the associated renewable energy credits (RECs). Renewable resources must meet the requirements of Oregon’s RPS, as defined in Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) Section 469A.

PGE will consider proposals based on different commercial structures and commercially viable resource technologies. Acceptable bids for renewable resources include power purchase agreements (PPA), as well as a range of ownership structures, including PPAs with purchase options or obligations, sales of existing assets, acquisition of project development assets and rights, joint ownership, and buildown-transfer agreements.

Bidders may submit one or more bids responding to the requested renewable energy product (see the Requested Power Products section below). All bids must be submitted online using the bid form that PGE will provide on the RFP website , no later than 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time on June 15, 2018.

For more information, please visit the RFP website.

German Transport Ministry Issues Funding Call for Fuel Cell Vehicles
The Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) is supporting the purchasing of fuel cell vehicles and the associated refueling infrastructure with a new call within the framework of the National Innovation Program for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NIP). There is a total of up to 15 million euros (about $17.6 million) available for the call’s project funding.

Fuel cell vehicles will be funded which are used as passenger vehicles in fleets or as buses in public transport scheduled services. To receive funding for cars powered by fuel cells, at least three vehicles must be procured per application. The minimum number can be achieved through the formation of regional acquisition networks.

In addition to the procurement of fuel cell buses, the appropriate refueling infrastructure can also be funded. A prerequisite for this is the procurement and operation of at least ten buses in total. Investment in an electrolyzer to manufacture hydrogen for the supply of a refueling station is also eligible for funding within this call. According to the funding guideline, the electrolyzer must be operated with electricity from renewable sources.

Applications for funding fuel cell vehicles and refueling infrastructure under this funding call must be submitted by June 30, 2018.

Click here for more information and a link to the funding call.

Pennsylvania Announces $5 Million to Support Alternative Fuel Transportation Initiatives
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently announced $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, July 13, 2018 and 4 PM on Friday, December 14, 2018. 

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

Joint Forces Training Base - Los Alamitos, CA Energy Resilience Capabilities Project Opportunity
The Army Office of Energy Initiatives, Joint Forces Training Base - Los Alamitos (JFTB-LA), California National Guard, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are seeking competitive proposals regarding the lease of land at JFTB-LA for the development of an energy generation and resilience project. The project may include power generation assets, energy storage, and microgrid components to "island" JFTB-LA for a minimum of 14 days in the event of a grid disruption.

An Industry Day will also be held to provide interested developers a chance to learn more about the Army’s vision for the project, visit the proposed sites, and submit questions prior to the July 20, 2018, 5:00 PM (PDT) RFP closing date.

Industry Day

May, 30 2018 | 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM (PDT)
Location:  JFTB-LA HQ, 11200 Lexington Drive, Los Alamitos, CA 90720, Building 15, Room 134

Industry Day space is limited, register here . More information on the project opportunity can be found here

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.
About the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Connection    

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Press releases and story ideas may be forwarded to Connor Dolan and Karen Quackenbush for consideration at   cdolan@fchea.org  and   khall@fchea.org  respectively.
 
If your company is interested in joining FCHEA, please visit  fchea.org  or contact Connor Dolan at  cdolan@fchea.org .
 
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Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association --  The Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA) is the trade association for the fuel cell and hydrogen energy industry, and is dedicated to the commercialization of fuel cells and hydrogen energy technologies. Fuel cells and hydrogen energy technologies deliver clean, reliable power to leading edge corporate, academic and public sector users, and FCHEA members are helping to transform the our energy future. FCHEA represents the full global supply chain, including universities, government laboratories and agencies, trade associations, fuel cell materials, components and systems manufacturers, hydrogen producers and fuel distributors, utilities and other end users.

National Energy Technology Laboratory -- The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory system is owned and operated by the DOE. Its mission is "advancing energy options to fuel our economy, strengthen our security, and improve our environment." NETL performs, procures, and partners with universities and the private sector. Together, these efforts focus a wealth of scientific and engineering talent on creating commercially viable solutions to national energy and environmental problems. NETL has expertise in coal, natural gas, and oil technologies, contract and project management, analysis of energy systems, and international energy issues. NETL supports the DOE's mission to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States.
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