- Email: [email protected]
Proton Energy Scholarship gives $1m to students
NEWS cell systems for portable power applications in the 100 W to 1 kW range. Its fuel cell systems are designed to meet the needs of military, commercial and consumer customers for off-grid applications, by providing customizable, stand-alone portable power solutions and systems that may be hybridized with existing power technologies. Protonex Technology Corporation, Southborough, Massachusetts, USA. Tel: +1 508 490 9960, www.protonex.com
Proton Energy Scholarship gives $1m to students
T
he audience at the recent NHA Hydrogen Conference & Expo in Long Beach, California got a big surprise, when entrepreneur Tom Sullivan announced that all 10 finalists for the Proton Energy Scholarship would receive a $100 000, four-year undergraduate scholarship. The initial plan was to give a $100 000 scholarship to one of the 10 finalists, but Sullivan decided all were worthy of the full scholarship. ‘All 10 finalists are truly exceptional individuals, and it was impossible to only give away one $100 000 scholarship – so we awarded all the students the grand prize,’ says Sullivan, supporter and funder of the Proton Energy Scholarship. ‘Each and every student shows tremendous promise in fields of science and technology, and we are excited to help support the bright futures ahead of these talented individuals.’ Sponsored by Proton Energy Systems, which is owned by Sullivan, and administered by the Hydrogen Education Foundation (HEF), the Proton Energy Scholarship recognizes and awards high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding achievement, excellence and promise in the fields of science or technology, and who plan to pursue higher education in these areas. ‘As a result of Tom’s generous gift, the Foundation is proud to help these exceptional young people pursue their studies in science and technology,’ says Jeff Serfass, president of both the HEF and the NHA. ‘As industry makes investments in hydrogen technologies, we must also invest in our future leaders. This is the recipe for growth and continued success.’ The Proton Energy Scholarship finalists were evaluated on academic performance, strength of application, commitment to further education in a science or technology related field, financial need, and demonstrated leadership, work ethic and community involvement.
10
Fuel Cells Bulletin
Tom Sullivan founded Lumber Liquidators, the largest US retailer of hardwood floors, and SunHydro, the world’s first chain of privately funded fueling stations to provide hydrogen for fuel cell cars [FCB, May 2010]. He also owns Connecticut-based Proton Energy Systems, the leading supplier of onsite hydrogen generators utilizing PEM technology. HEF is the charitable, education-focused arm of the US National Hydrogen Association. The HEF currently administers four hallmark programs: the H2 &You outreach program, the Hydrogen Student Design contest, the H-Prize Competition [FCB, October 2009], and the Proton Energy Scholarship Program. Proton Energy Systems, Wallingford, Connecticut, USA. Tel: +1 203 678 2000, www.protonenergy.com Proton Energy Scholarship: www.protonenergyscholarship.com Hydrogen Education Foundation: www.HydrogenEducationFoundation.org National Hydrogen Association: www.HydrogenAssociation.org
ACAL Energy raises £3.5m in latest investment round
I
n the UK, ACAL Energy has completed a £3.5 million (US$5 million) investment round, to boost the development of its innovative, low-cost fuel cell technology. Carbon Trust Investments led the funding round, along with Solvay SA, Porton Capital, and a leading Japanese automotive corporation. Additional funds are expected in a second round later this summer. The funds will be used to complete development of ACAL’s FlowCath® platinum-free cathode technology, and introduce the first commercial offerings. An OEM evaluation kit is planned for availability later this year, and a first fuel cell engine product incorporating FlowCath will be sampled to prospective customers in 2011. FlowCath replaces the expensive platinum catalyst in conventional fuel cells with a proprietary low-cost liquid catalyst. This not only reduces the cost of the fuel cell, but also provides significant durability and reliability benefits, through system simplification and the elimination of the most common failure mechanisms found in standard fuel cells. ACAL Energy believes its FlowCath technology is ready for application in small and medium-sized stationary power applications, replac-
ing diesel generators in backup power systems, combined heat and power (CHP) installations and remote power applications. Larger-scale stationary power and transport applications are planned for the future. Over the last year, ACAL Energy has achieved several important milestones, including achieving a peak power density of nearly 800 mW/cm2, the development of new, potentially higher-performance chemical systems, and the scale-up from a 50 W integrated system to a 1.5 kW laboratory demonstration system [FCB, December 2009]. In March, a model hydrogen fuel cell system was launched to great interest at the Fuel Cell Expo in Japan. Carbon Trust Investments – the venture capital investment subsidiary of The Carbon Trust – recently appointed Dr J. Byron McCormick as a non-executive director on the ACAL board. McCormick is well known in the automotive industry, bringing with him 25 years’ experience in advanced automotive systems, electric vehicle propulsion systems, fuel cells and hydrogen. Most recently he was executive director of General Motors’ fuel cell vehicle development team, which at one time comprised up to 1500 engineers, technicians, and support staff. ACAL Energy Ltd, Runcorn, Cheshire, UK. Tel: +44 1928 511581, www.acalenergy.co.uk
RESEARCH
Maryland, Ballard, Army create fuel processing center
A
new center of excellence for the advancement of fuel processing technology is being established at the University of Maryland (UMD) in College Park, to enable operation of fuel cell products with non-hydrogen fuels. The new FuelWorks™ center will leverage the ongoing efforts of its founding partners: UMD, Canadianbased Ballard Power Systems, and the US Department of Defense’s Army Research Laboratory (ARL). FuelWorks has a mandate to develop technologies that enable fuel cells to operate with fuels such as JP-8, diesel, natural gas, and LPG. It will be open to industry, academia and government agencies, and provide a forum for collaboration to advance fuel reforming technology for military and commercial applications. The center will coordinate ongoing research among scientific and technical staff from UMD, Ballard, and ARL. ‘Ballard is committed to accelerating the implementation of flexible fueling approaches for
June 2010
Proton Energy Scholarship gives $1m to students
T
he audience at the recent NHA Hydrogen Conference & Expo in Long Beach, California got a big surprise, when entrepreneur Tom Sullivan announced that all 10 finalists for the Proton Energy Scholarship would receive a $100 000, four-year undergraduate scholarship. The initial plan was to give a $100 000 scholarship to one of the 10 finalists, but Sullivan decided all were worthy of the full scholarship. ‘All 10 finalists are truly exceptional individuals, and it was impossible to only give away one $100 000 scholarship – so we awarded all the students the grand prize,’ says Sullivan, supporter and funder of the Proton Energy Scholarship. ‘Each and every student shows tremendous promise in fields of science and technology, and we are excited to help support the bright futures ahead of these talented individuals.’ Sponsored by Proton Energy Systems, which is owned by Sullivan, and administered by the Hydrogen Education Foundation (HEF), the Proton Energy Scholarship recognizes and awards high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding achievement, excellence and promise in the fields of science or technology, and who plan to pursue higher education in these areas. ‘As a result of Tom’s generous gift, the Foundation is proud to help these exceptional young people pursue their studies in science and technology,’ says Jeff Serfass, president of both the HEF and the NHA. ‘As industry makes investments in hydrogen technologies, we must also invest in our future leaders. This is the recipe for growth and continued success.’ The Proton Energy Scholarship finalists were evaluated on academic performance, strength of application, commitment to further education in a science or technology related field, financial need, and demonstrated leadership, work ethic and community involvement.
10
Fuel Cells Bulletin
Tom Sullivan founded Lumber Liquidators, the largest US retailer of hardwood floors, and SunHydro, the world’s first chain of privately funded fueling stations to provide hydrogen for fuel cell cars [FCB, May 2010]. He also owns Connecticut-based Proton Energy Systems, the leading supplier of onsite hydrogen generators utilizing PEM technology. HEF is the charitable, education-focused arm of the US National Hydrogen Association. The HEF currently administers four hallmark programs: the H2 &You outreach program, the Hydrogen Student Design contest, the H-Prize Competition [FCB, October 2009], and the Proton Energy Scholarship Program. Proton Energy Systems, Wallingford, Connecticut, USA. Tel: +1 203 678 2000, www.protonenergy.com Proton Energy Scholarship: www.protonenergyscholarship.com Hydrogen Education Foundation: www.HydrogenEducationFoundation.org National Hydrogen Association: www.HydrogenAssociation.org
ACAL Energy raises £3.5m in latest investment round
I
n the UK, ACAL Energy has completed a £3.5 million (US$5 million) investment round, to boost the development of its innovative, low-cost fuel cell technology. Carbon Trust Investments led the funding round, along with Solvay SA, Porton Capital, and a leading Japanese automotive corporation. Additional funds are expected in a second round later this summer. The funds will be used to complete development of ACAL’s FlowCath® platinum-free cathode technology, and introduce the first commercial offerings. An OEM evaluation kit is planned for availability later this year, and a first fuel cell engine product incorporating FlowCath will be sampled to prospective customers in 2011. FlowCath replaces the expensive platinum catalyst in conventional fuel cells with a proprietary low-cost liquid catalyst. This not only reduces the cost of the fuel cell, but also provides significant durability and reliability benefits, through system simplification and the elimination of the most common failure mechanisms found in standard fuel cells. ACAL Energy believes its FlowCath technology is ready for application in small and medium-sized stationary power applications, replac-
ing diesel generators in backup power systems, combined heat and power (CHP) installations and remote power applications. Larger-scale stationary power and transport applications are planned for the future. Over the last year, ACAL Energy has achieved several important milestones, including achieving a peak power density of nearly 800 mW/cm2, the development of new, potentially higher-performance chemical systems, and the scale-up from a 50 W integrated system to a 1.5 kW laboratory demonstration system [FCB, December 2009]. In March, a model hydrogen fuel cell system was launched to great interest at the Fuel Cell Expo in Japan. Carbon Trust Investments – the venture capital investment subsidiary of The Carbon Trust – recently appointed Dr J. Byron McCormick as a non-executive director on the ACAL board. McCormick is well known in the automotive industry, bringing with him 25 years’ experience in advanced automotive systems, electric vehicle propulsion systems, fuel cells and hydrogen. Most recently he was executive director of General Motors’ fuel cell vehicle development team, which at one time comprised up to 1500 engineers, technicians, and support staff. ACAL Energy Ltd, Runcorn, Cheshire, UK. Tel: +44 1928 511581, www.acalenergy.co.uk
RESEARCH
Maryland, Ballard, Army create fuel processing center
A
new center of excellence for the advancement of fuel processing technology is being established at the University of Maryland (UMD) in College Park, to enable operation of fuel cell products with non-hydrogen fuels. The new FuelWorks™ center will leverage the ongoing efforts of its founding partners: UMD, Canadianbased Ballard Power Systems, and the US Department of Defense’s Army Research Laboratory (ARL). FuelWorks has a mandate to develop technologies that enable fuel cells to operate with fuels such as JP-8, diesel, natural gas, and LPG. It will be open to industry, academia and government agencies, and provide a forum for collaboration to advance fuel reforming technology for military and commercial applications. The center will coordinate ongoing research among scientific and technical staff from UMD, Ballard, and ARL. ‘Ballard is committed to accelerating the implementation of flexible fueling approaches for
June 2010