On June 4, U.S. Senator Tom Carper of Delaware visited FCHEA member Air Liquide's Innovation Campus Delaware, a research and development facility employing more than 250 researchers and engineers. The Senator toured the facility and delivered remarks announcing the Clean Hydrogen Production Act, which he sponsors.

On June 7, the Port of Los Angeles announced it was rolling out five new fuel cell trucks and opening two hydrogen fueling stations as part of the $82.5 million Shore-to-Shore (S2S) project. The project is expanding to include five more Kenworth T680 Class 8 heavy-duty fuel cell trucks, which has a fuel cell powertrain designed and built by FCHEA member Toyota. The project is also adding a variety of other zero emission vehicles. Additionally, two new high-capacity hydrogen stations have opened in Wilmington and Ontario, California.

On June 10, FCHEA member Plug Power announced plans to build a renewable hydrogen production plant in Camden County, Georgia, to provide hydrogen to customers in the southeastern United States. The plant will produce 15 tons of liquid hydrogen per day, sourced from 100 percent renewable energy. The fuel is intended to be used for transportation, including material handling and fuel cell vehicle fleets. Plug Power is investing $84 million into the facility, and expects it to create at least 24 jobs in the local area starting in 2022.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp welcomed Plug Power's business, mentioning Georgia has several Plug customers, including Southern Company and The Home Depot. Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Griff Lynch and Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson also thanked Plug Power for choosing Georgia as the location for the new plant.

Click here for the full press release from Plug Power, and click here for the full press release from the Office of Governor Kemp.

On June 2, Equinix announced that its newest $142 million Silicon Valley International Business Exchange (IBX) data center, located at its Great Oaks campus in San Jose, California, will include 20 megawatts (MW) of FCHEA member Bloom Energy fuel cells. The data center, called SV11, is expected to open at the end of the month and will be the first time Equinix relies on fuel cells as the primary power source. 

Click here for full press release from Equinix.

On May 21, FCHEA member PowerCell Sweden introduced the PowerCellution Marine System 200, an industrialized, low-weight, high-power, compact fuel cell module designed for marine applications. The Marine System 200 is the base of PowerCell's complete hydrogen marine solution.

Each Marine System 200 module has a power of 200 kilowatts (kW), but can be connected in parallel to achieve power in the megawatt range. The System, built on the main component of PowerCell's existing S3 fuel cell stack, is fully classifiable in accordance with the International Maritime Organization's marine standards and requirements.

Click here for the full press release from PowerCell.

On June 7, FCHEA member Advent Technologies announced its subsidiary, UltraCell LLC, has received a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contract to complete the MIL-STD certification of UltraCell’s 50 W Reformed Methanol Wearable Fuel Cell Power System, known as "Honey Badger". The contract was signed with the U.S. Army DEVCOM Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center, and is funded through the Project Manager Integrated Visual Augmentation System (PM IVAS).

The Honey Badger project aims to operate on a solider-worn plate carrier or ruck for mobile battery charging. It will be capable of integrating with materials currently in the U.S. Army supply chain. UltraCell is developing 20-watt and 50-watt portable methanol fuel cell generators. The fuel cell was recently selected by DoD's National Defense Center for Energy and Environment (NDCEE) as part of its 2021 demonstration and validation program.

Click here for the full press release from UltraCell.

On June 9, FCHEA members Air Products and Baker Hughes announced they will be collaborating to develop next-generation hydrogen compression in order to lower the cost of production and increase adoption of hydrogen fuel. Baker Hughes will provide compression and gas turbine technology, including NovaLT16 turbines, for Air Products' hydrogen energy complex in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, as well as compression technology to the NEOM carbon-free hydrogen project in Saudi Arabia.

Click here for the full press release from Air Products.

On June 15, FCHEA member GM announced a partnership with Wabtec Corporation to develop and commercialize fuel cell and battery technology for use in locomotives. The companies will work to develop a solution for heavy haul locomotives with the HYDROTEC fuel cell systems assembled in Brownstown, Michigan.

Click here for the full press release from GM.

On May 26, FCHEA member Johnson Matthey announced it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Plug Power to develop a roadmap to accelerate the joint development of high-performance electrolyzer technology.

The companies aim to increase durability, performance, and efficiency by focusing on the development, validation, and incorporation of Johnson Matthey's materials into Plug Power electrolyzers. The companies also intend to develop a closed loop recycling system for platinum, a common catalyst for electrolyzer and fuel cell technologies.

Click here for the press release from Johnson Matthey.

On June 8, FCHEA member BayoTech announced it has signed an agreement with GreenCore, an electric vehicle infrastructure developer, to supply hydrogen to more than 1,500 electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refueling stations that GreenCore plans to build. The stations, planned to be built by the end of 2026, will use hydrogen fuel cells to generate electricity to charge customer's battery electric vehicles. The stations will additionally dispense hydrogen for light- and heavy-duty fuel cell vehicles.

Click here for the full press release from BayoTech.

Click here to read the full press release from Plug Power.

On June 1, BayoTech and San Juan College, based in Farmington, New Mexico, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop a post-graduate credential education and training program centered on working on hydrogen production systems.

Click here to read the full press release from BayoTech.

On June 16, FCHEA member BMW announced that it was beginning to test prototypes of hydrogen fuel cell drive train vehicles in everyday conditions. The BMW i Hydrogen NEXT is based on the BMW X5 series and swaps the traditional powertrain for a hydrogen fuel cell. The real-world tests are designed to help fine-tune the overall vehicle after earlier successful individual component tests.

On May 25, FCHEA member Hyundai unveiled images of the newly upgraded XCIENT Fuel Cell heavy-duty truck. Hyundai is planning to ship 140 XCIENT trucks to Europe in 2021, with a plan to roll out 1,600 units by 2025. The 2021 XCIENT Fuel Cell model features two 90 kilowatt fuel cell stacks a hydrogen storage capacity of around 31 kilograms of fuel. It is now available in a 6x2 rigid body, as well as the previous 4x2 model.

On June 15, FCHEA members ZeroAvia and Ionomr announced they have been recognized as TechPioneers by the World Economic Forum. The Technology Pioneer program brings together 100 companies who are pioneering breakthrough technologies worldwide. The awards are based on ZeroAvia's work to produce hydrogen-electric powertrains for aircraft, and Ionomr's work to develop and manufacture ion-exchange membranes and polymers to enable hydrogen production.

Click here for the full press release from ZeroAvia, and click here for the full press release from Ionomr.

On June 7, U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm launched the Department of Energy Energy Earthshots Initiative, seeking to accelerate breakthroughs of more abundant, affordable, and reliable clean energy solutions within the decade. The first Energy Earthshot, Hydrogen Shot, aims to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen to $1 per kilogram in one decade, an 80 percent reduction of cost. The Initiative is meant to assist in tackling the climate crisis and meet the Biden administration goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

During the week of June 7, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) held the Hydrogen Program 2021 Annual Merit Review and Peer Evaluation Meeting (AMR). Secretary Granholm delivered opening remarks. The plenary session will also included a panel discussion featuring the heads of several DOE offices engaged in hydrogen-related research, development, demonstration, and deployment.

 

In addition to the presentations and posters on DOE-funded work, this year's AMR included a one-day interagency track featuring presentations on hydrogen and fuel cell activities conducted by other federal agencies, states, and regional organizations.

Click here for the full press release from the Department of Energy on the Energy Earthshot Initiative, and click here for the Hydrogen Program AMR homepage.

On June 9, FCHEA member Air Products, along with the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta, announced a CAD 1.3 billion (~$1.07 billion) plan to build a net-zero hydrogen energy complex in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The project is in line with Canada's clean energy diversification strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

On June 4, FCHEA member Cummins announced its electrolyzer, the 1.2 megawatt proton exchange membrane HyLYZER-250, will be used at a hydrogen refueling station built at the Port of Antwerp, Belgium, to supply renewable hydrogen to ships, cars, trucks, and industrial customers. The station, built by CMB.TECH, a hydrogen developer, will open in 2021 and will be capable of dispensing hydrogen at 700 bar and 350 bar, and is located strategically to allow shipping access as well as access to the general public.

On May 24, Cummins, along with its partner Iberdrola, announced plans to build a EUR 50 million (~$60.8 million) polymer exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer plant in the Guadalajara area of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. The plant, powered by renewable energy, will begin at an initial 500 megawatts (MW) per year with scalability up to more than one gigawatt (GW) per year. The facility will have an initial footprint of 22,000 square meters. Cummins estimates that the project will create 350 new jobs. Currently, the companies are in the site-selection phase, and expect the facility to open in 2023.

Click here for the full press release from Cummins.

Click here for the full press release from GM.

On May 24, BayoTech announced an agreement with IBMS Group, a renewable energy facilities developer and operator from the U.K., to launch a hydrogen production project that uses biomethane from food waste as feedstock. According to BayoTech, the project will produce 1,000 kilograms of hydrogen per day to fuel fuel cell vehicles in the London and Surrey regions of the U.K. BayoTech expects the system to be online in the first half of 2022.

Click here for the full press release from BayoTech.

On May 26, the Eiffel Tower was illuminated in green as part of the “Paris de l’hydrogène” event organized by Energy Observer, a renewable energy company that has Toyota as a partner and is supported by AIr Liquide. The green light symbolized the renewable energy used to light the tower, using a EODev GEH2 generator powered by renewable hydrogen. The EODev GEH2 generator features a Toyota fuel cell system, and Air Liquide supplied the renewable hydrogen to power the generator.

On June 9, FCHEA members W.L. Gore and Ballard Power Systems announced a partnership to advance fuel cell technologies. The signing ceremony occurred at the 2021 International Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle Congress (FCVC 2021) in Shanghai, China. The GORE-SELECT Membrane is used in Ballard fuel cell solutions.

Click here for more information about H2 Hub Airport and the full list of winners. 

On June 4, Toyota Motor Company and the Fukushima Prefecture announced the start of discussions with various partners on a planned hydrogen-based city in Fukushima Prefecture. The collaboration will create an implementation model for fuel cell truck deliveries at supermarkets and convenience stores, utilizing hydrogen produced at multiple sites in the prefecture, including Fukushima Hydrogen Energy Research Field (FH2R). The model will be created for a city of 300,000 people, and then aims to expand to similar-sized cities around Japan.  

Click here to read the full press release from Toyota.  

On June 4, Advent Technologies Holdings, Inc. announced that the U.S. Ambassador to Greece, Geoffrey R. Pyatt, visited the company’s facilities at Patras Science Park in Patras, Greece. During the Ambassador’s visit, Dr. Vasilis Gregoriou, Advent Chairman and CEO, led a walking tour of the Advent’s production areas, including Fuel Cell Staack/Hardware R&D and Manufacturing Area, Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) Production Area, and the Sensor Membrane Production Area.  Two additional rooms for Chemical Synthesis and Scale Up and New Generation of Materials/MEAs are currently being refurbished. 

Click here to read the full press release from Advent Technologies. 

On May 31, Energy, Research and Science Ministers representing 22 countries and the European Commission (on behalf of the European Union) announced Mission Innovation 2.0, the second phase of the global Mission Innovation initiative first launched in 2015. New Missions, each led by a coalition of countries, aim to create public-private partnerships to advance global clean energy innovation efforts.  

The first three new Missions are:

Click here to read the full press release from Mission Innovation.

As military technology continues to rapidly develop the power needs and supporting infrastructure of these systems evolves and grows as well; from modern weapon systems and dismounted Solider Systems to more agile expeditionary basing and enhanced energy resiliency of installations.

Defense Strategies Institute’s 3rd Annual DoD Energy and Power Summit will focus on the technologies and policies necessary to support greater energy efficiency, resiliency, affordability and environmental sustainability for the Department of Defense for both fixed and mobile environments at home and abroad.

Click here to register for the event.

ACT Expo, the advanced transportation technology and clean fleet event in North America, serves as a meeting place for transportation executives looking to gain insight and hands-on access to the fuels, technologies, and vehicles driving the future of transportation. ACT Expo features dozens of product debuts and major announcements from leading OEMs and suppliers, unparalleled networking opportunities with the most influential and progressive leaders in the industry, peer-to-peer learning for progressive fleet operators, and access to the most comprehensive assembly of advanced commercial vehicles anywhere.

Click here for more information.

Benchmarking the value associated with creating and maintaining a commercial drone program is critical. Professionals need to understand how drones have proven to enable countless tasks to be performed in faster, cheaper and safer ways. At Commercial UAV Expo Americas, conference topics are developed in cooperation with an Advisory Board of esteemed professionals to focus on these kinds of real-world results.

Click here to register for the event.

DOE launched the Energy Earthshots Initiative to accelerate breakthroughs of more abundant, affordable, and reliable clean energy solutions within the decade. The first Energy Earthshot—Hydrogen Shot—seeks to reduce the cost of clean hydrogen.

In support of the Hydrogen Energy Earthshot, DOE's Hydrogen Program issued a Request for Information (RFI) on viable hydrogen demonstrations, including specific locations, that can help lower the cost of hydrogen, reduce carbon emissions and local air pollution, create good-paying jobs, and provide benefits to disadvantaged communities.

Topics include:

Click here for the full RFI.

EERE's HFTO and Vehicle Technologies Office are partnering on a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to offer up to $100 million in funding over four years—subject to appropriations—to pioneer electrified medium- and heavy-duty trucks and freight system concepts that achieve even higher efficiency and lower emissions. The funding focuses on a range of approaches to electrification—all-electric, plug-in hybrid systems using renewable biofuels, and hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, including hybridization strategies such as fuel cell range extenders.

Click here for the full FOA.

Through this 2021 Laboratory CRADA Call, DOE's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) seeks proposals to support the H2@Scale vision and NREL's Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) research goals. Joint partnerships between national laboratories and qualified partners selected under the three topic areas below will enable the integration of hydrogen technologies in future energy systems.

Up to $12 million in DOE funding is available for collaborative research, development, and demonstration projects at national laboratories in these topic areas:

Click here for more information.

The California Energy Commission’s (CEC’s) Clean Transportation Program announces the availability of $8.0 million to support ultra-low-carbon fuel in two funding categories: commercial-scale production facilities and blending infrastructure.

Click here for more information and click here for the request for information.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is releasing a request for information (RFI) to understand the current barriers and actions needed to make its funding opportunities and innovation and entrepreneurship activities more inclusive, just, and equitable, in line with the Administration’s climate goals.

The responses to the RFI will help DOE understand barriers to entry to its funding opportunities, current resources and support for innovation and entrepreneurial activities, experiences of those who have received funding or assistance, and resources and approaches that DOE can provide and implement towards removing these barriers. DOE is particularly interested in hearing from environmental justice organizations; community-based organizations; state, local, and tribal governments; entrepreneurs; small businesses; incubators and accelerators; and researchers and innovators who experience location-based difficulties in accessing resources. Other respondents with relevant insight—regardless of whether they have experience applying to government funding opportunities—are also encouraged to respond.

Based on the responses to this RFI, DOE may release funding opportunities, assistance for grant application support services, incubation and acceleration services for entrepreneurship, and/or develop other measures to support a just and inclusive innovation ecosystem. This RFI includes five categories:

Click here for more information and to access the full RFI.

NineSigma, representing Molymet, invites participants to submit proposals for the Rhenium Challenge.

The goal is to incorporate rhenium in novel catalyst formulations that allow efficient and economic production of hydrogen from renewable sources and/or the use of hydrogen in fuel cells or chemicals synthesis, in order to make green hydrogen a viable carbon-free chemical and energy vector.

In the spirit of open-source science and our commitment to the well-being of humanity through products developed by people who care about the planet, Molymet believes that the excellent catalytic properties of rhenium can help improve the hydrogen value chain, thus contributing to its decarbonization.

They invite participants to submit proposals for innovative ways to take advantage of the electrochemical properties of rhenium and use it for the production/conversion of green hydrogen as well as it use in fuel cells.

Click here to learn more.

MassCEC seeks applications under the Accelerating Clean Transportation for All (“ACT4All”) Program that pilot innovative, broadly replicable clean transportation adoption and deployment program models that further the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ climate and equity goals.

ACT4All aims to address inequities in the clean transportation sector by seeking applications that explicitly increase access to clean transportation technologies and modalities and decrease health impacts and related burdens from the existing transportation system. Under ACT4All, MassCEC seeks to fund projects that will pilot or demonstrate innovative business and/or incentive models to meet these twin goals of increasing access and reducing burden, as well as funding projects which broaden the market for clean transportation technologies through consumer education and awareness.

Click here to learn more.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is pleased to announce that up to $34 million is now open on a first-come, first-served basis for the VW Environmental Mitigation Trust Zero-Emission Freight and Marine project categories including:

Click here to apply for funding.

VALE improves airport air quality and provides air quality credits for future airport development. Created in 2004, VALE helps airport sponsors meet their state-related air quality responsibilities under the Clean Air Act. Through VALE, airport sponsors can use Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funds and Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs) to finance low emission vehicles, refueling and recharging stations, gate electrification, and other airport air quality improvements. The VALE program is a Federal Aviation Association (FAA) program.

Click here for more information.

The primary goal of the State Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21) Clean Fuels Incentive Program (CFIP) is to reduce consumption of imported petroleum through the use of homegrown alternative fuels that will result in a cleaner and greener transportation sector within Maryland, improving the state's economy and environment in the process. With a program budget of $1.3M, there are 2 areas of interest (AOI) under the FY21 CFIP.

Click here for more information.

Click here for more information.

There are $90 million in funds allocated to this category, for which the first installment was allotted $27 million. The first solicitation is scheduled for release pending approval by the South Coast AQMD Board on Friday, August 7, 2020. If approved, applications will be accepted online beginning Tuesday, August 18, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. (PST) and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Both public and private entities that own and operate eligible vehicles may apply. Funding is available to replace the following vehicles with zero emission technologies:

Class 8 only:

Click here for more information.

CORE is designed to accelerate deployment of cleaner off-road technologies by providing a streamlined way for fleets ready to purchase specific zero-emission equipment to receive funding to offset the higher cost of such technologies. This project is analogous to the Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP), but will specifically target zero-emission off-road freight equipment that is currently in the early stages of commercial deployment.

Click here for more information.