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DOE announces $350m in H2 research projects
NEWS sensor technologies needed to monitor fuel cells. ‘We have a great deal of experience in air flow, humidity, pressure and temperature technology platforms,’ says Dan Dixon, a Sensing & Control market manager. ‘We now need to increase the level of performance of those sensors.’ The team has now entered the first (‘alpha’) level of testing, with sensor prototypes being put through rigorous testing in a simulated environment, according to a report in The JournalStandard in Freeport, Illinois. Prototypes will be taken to customers, for their feedback. The design phase is scheduled to conclude in the fall, with a final prototype due by early November. A formal demonstration of the finished product is set for the end of January, and field testing and reports will be sent to DOE in October 2005. Honeywell aims to market products for stationary fuel cell applications in 2006, while the bestcase scenario for the automotive market is 2012. Contact: Bruce Figi, Honeywell Sensing & Control, Freeport, Illinois, USA. Tel: +1 815 235 6769, Email: bruce. [email protected], www.honeywell.com/ sensing
DOE announces $350m in H2 research projects
U
S energy secretary Spencer Abraham has announced $350 million in nationwide funding for research projects to establish a hydrogen economy, representing nearly one-third of President Bush’s $1.2 billion commitment in research funding to bring hydrogen and fuel cell technology from the lab to the showroom. Including the industrial cost-share contribution, the total amount of research funding could reach more than $575 million. The projects – selected through a meritreviewed, competitive process – involve 30 lead organizations and include more than 100 partners. Key research areas include: • National Hydrogen Storage Project: DOE is providing $150m over five years (with an additional private cost-share of about $20m) to establish three ‘Centers of Excellence’ for exploratory research in hydrogen storage within the Hydrogen Storage Grand Challenge. The centers – led by DOE national labs, each with several university and industry partners – will focus on how to store enough hydrogen on-board to enable greater than 300 mile (480 km) driving range without impacting cargo or passenger space. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory
June 2004
in Colorado will lead the Carbon Center; Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington will jointly lead the Chemical Hydrogen Center; and Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, California will lead the Metal Hydride Center. In addition, new materials will be investigated for hydrogen storage in a further 15 projects at the Universities of Missouri, Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania and California (at Berkeley and at Santa Barbara), Michigan Technological University, Alfred University, State University of New York, the Gas Technology Institute (two projects), Carnegie Institute, Research Triangle Institute, TIAX and Toftec Inc. • Vehicle and Infrastructure ‘Learning’ Demonstrations: The use of hydrogen for transportation and the development of FCVs will require extensive research and an implementation strategy. These ‘learning demonstrations’ will provide important data to focus research efforts. Automakers and energy companies will work together in five teams – led by Air Products & Chemicals (with Toyota, Nissan, Honda and BMW), DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors and Texaco Energy Systems (with Hyundai) – to demonstrate integrated and complete system solutions operating in real-world environments. The demonstrations will assess the program’s progress towards making a commercialization decision by 2015. The expected DOE share is $190m over five years, with industry contributing a similar amount. • Fuel cell research: DOE is also funding research projects that address critical fuel cell cost and durability issues for consumer electronics (PolyFuel, MTI Micro), auxiliary power (Cummins, Delphi) and off-road (IdaTech) applications. The DOE share is $13m over three years, with an industry contribution of some $10m. These selections are in addition to the $75m in fuel cell awards announced last year [FCB, September]. • Hydrogen education: Hydrogen technology education projects include middle- and high-school curricula and teacher professional development. These projects will pair hydrogen technology experts with professional educators and experienced curriculum developers to create hands-on activities and lessons to engage students in the developing hydrogen economy. The projects also include developing materials suitable for a general audience, to help introduce the public to the hydrogen vision. For more information on the various projects, go to: www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells
In Brief Dynetek hydrogen storage for Toyota, valve development funding Canadian-based Dynetek Industries has delivered on-board lightweight compressed natural gas (CNG) and hydrogen fuel storage systems to Toyota Motor Corporation. Dynetek has also had a proposal approved by the Canadian Department of Natural Resources (NRCan) for the development of a 700 bar (10 000 psi) hydrogen solenoid valve. The hydrogen storage cylinders delivered to Toyota have been certified to 350 bar (5000 psi), with approval by KHK in Japan. The hydrogen storage systems have been integrated into Toyota’s FCHV fuel cell hybrid vehicle. The Canadian government will fund up to C$1.5 million (US$1.1m) over the next 12 months for Dynetek’s 700 bar valve development. This is in addition to the C$484 000 NRCan agreed last October to develop and certify a 350 bar hydrogen solenoid valve and regulator solutions. Dynetek will redesign the current 350 bar valve to operate in a 700 bar system, validating its functionality and robustness in addition to certifying the final product. The valve will be tested in accordance to the highest common denominators of commonly recognized current standards – NGV 3.1, ECE Regulation 110 and the European Integrated Hydrogen Project (EIHP rev 110). Joint project to build hydrogen station for 2005 Expo in Japan Tokyo-based Nippon Steel, Toho Gas in Nagoya and Nippon Sanso Corporation in Tokyo plan to jointly set up a hydrogen fueling station to service fuel cell buses – built by Toyota Motor Corporation [FCB, September 2003] – that will ferry people between pavilions at the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture. Toho Gas will design the station, while Nippon Sanso will provide know-how for handling hydrogen gas and run the station. The joint project will be conducted as part of a series of trials sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry. In one trial, a station has been set up in the Arakawa district of Tokyo. The Expo station, likely be the first to be built outside the Tokyo metropolitan area, will have two types of systems. The off-site system will use hydrogen generated as a by-product in Nippon Steel’s Nagoya steelworks’ coke furnaces; the company will enhance the gas’s purity. The on-site system will generate hydrogen from city gas supplied by Toho Gas. The unit to be set up at the Expo is expected to generate some 2000 m3/day of hydrogen, anticipated to be sufficient for 40 fuel cell buses, according to a Nihon Keizai Shimbun report.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7
DOE announces $350m in H2 research projects
U
S energy secretary Spencer Abraham has announced $350 million in nationwide funding for research projects to establish a hydrogen economy, representing nearly one-third of President Bush’s $1.2 billion commitment in research funding to bring hydrogen and fuel cell technology from the lab to the showroom. Including the industrial cost-share contribution, the total amount of research funding could reach more than $575 million. The projects – selected through a meritreviewed, competitive process – involve 30 lead organizations and include more than 100 partners. Key research areas include: • National Hydrogen Storage Project: DOE is providing $150m over five years (with an additional private cost-share of about $20m) to establish three ‘Centers of Excellence’ for exploratory research in hydrogen storage within the Hydrogen Storage Grand Challenge. The centers – led by DOE national labs, each with several university and industry partners – will focus on how to store enough hydrogen on-board to enable greater than 300 mile (480 km) driving range without impacting cargo or passenger space. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory
June 2004
in Colorado will lead the Carbon Center; Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington will jointly lead the Chemical Hydrogen Center; and Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, California will lead the Metal Hydride Center. In addition, new materials will be investigated for hydrogen storage in a further 15 projects at the Universities of Missouri, Connecticut, Michigan, Pennsylvania and California (at Berkeley and at Santa Barbara), Michigan Technological University, Alfred University, State University of New York, the Gas Technology Institute (two projects), Carnegie Institute, Research Triangle Institute, TIAX and Toftec Inc. • Vehicle and Infrastructure ‘Learning’ Demonstrations: The use of hydrogen for transportation and the development of FCVs will require extensive research and an implementation strategy. These ‘learning demonstrations’ will provide important data to focus research efforts. Automakers and energy companies will work together in five teams – led by Air Products & Chemicals (with Toyota, Nissan, Honda and BMW), DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors and Texaco Energy Systems (with Hyundai) – to demonstrate integrated and complete system solutions operating in real-world environments. The demonstrations will assess the program’s progress towards making a commercialization decision by 2015. The expected DOE share is $190m over five years, with industry contributing a similar amount. • Fuel cell research: DOE is also funding research projects that address critical fuel cell cost and durability issues for consumer electronics (PolyFuel, MTI Micro), auxiliary power (Cummins, Delphi) and off-road (IdaTech) applications. The DOE share is $13m over three years, with an industry contribution of some $10m. These selections are in addition to the $75m in fuel cell awards announced last year [FCB, September]. • Hydrogen education: Hydrogen technology education projects include middle- and high-school curricula and teacher professional development. These projects will pair hydrogen technology experts with professional educators and experienced curriculum developers to create hands-on activities and lessons to engage students in the developing hydrogen economy. The projects also include developing materials suitable for a general audience, to help introduce the public to the hydrogen vision. For more information on the various projects, go to: www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells
In Brief Dynetek hydrogen storage for Toyota, valve development funding Canadian-based Dynetek Industries has delivered on-board lightweight compressed natural gas (CNG) and hydrogen fuel storage systems to Toyota Motor Corporation. Dynetek has also had a proposal approved by the Canadian Department of Natural Resources (NRCan) for the development of a 700 bar (10 000 psi) hydrogen solenoid valve. The hydrogen storage cylinders delivered to Toyota have been certified to 350 bar (5000 psi), with approval by KHK in Japan. The hydrogen storage systems have been integrated into Toyota’s FCHV fuel cell hybrid vehicle. The Canadian government will fund up to C$1.5 million (US$1.1m) over the next 12 months for Dynetek’s 700 bar valve development. This is in addition to the C$484 000 NRCan agreed last October to develop and certify a 350 bar hydrogen solenoid valve and regulator solutions. Dynetek will redesign the current 350 bar valve to operate in a 700 bar system, validating its functionality and robustness in addition to certifying the final product. The valve will be tested in accordance to the highest common denominators of commonly recognized current standards – NGV 3.1, ECE Regulation 110 and the European Integrated Hydrogen Project (EIHP rev 110). Joint project to build hydrogen station for 2005 Expo in Japan Tokyo-based Nippon Steel, Toho Gas in Nagoya and Nippon Sanso Corporation in Tokyo plan to jointly set up a hydrogen fueling station to service fuel cell buses – built by Toyota Motor Corporation [FCB, September 2003] – that will ferry people between pavilions at the 2005 World Exposition in Aichi Prefecture. Toho Gas will design the station, while Nippon Sanso will provide know-how for handling hydrogen gas and run the station. The joint project will be conducted as part of a series of trials sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry. In one trial, a station has been set up in the Arakawa district of Tokyo. The Expo station, likely be the first to be built outside the Tokyo metropolitan area, will have two types of systems. The off-site system will use hydrogen generated as a by-product in Nippon Steel’s Nagoya steelworks’ coke furnaces; the company will enhance the gas’s purity. The on-site system will generate hydrogen from city gas supplied by Toho Gas. The unit to be set up at the Expo is expected to generate some 2000 m3/day of hydrogen, anticipated to be sufficient for 40 fuel cell buses, according to a Nihon Keizai Shimbun report.
Fuel Cells Bulletin
7