Fuel Cell

Hoku Scientific, Inc. (HOKU) announced that the U.S. Navy has officially accepted the first two of ten planned PEM fuel cell power plants incorporating Hoku MEA that will be demonstrated at Pearl Harbor Naval Station. Each of the stationary fuel cell power plants, or demonstration systems, designed by IdaTech LLC and incorporating Hoku MEA, generates net electrical output of approximately 1.5 kilowatts. Hoku Scientific's contract with the U.S. Navy requires a minimum net electrical output of 1 kilowatt. The fuel cell power plants incorporate an IdaTech fuel processor that produces hydrogen from a mixture of water and methanol....

Mechanical Technology Inc (MKTY) announced an exclusive alliance with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., ("Samsung"), a technology innovator in the telecommunications industry, to develop next-generation fuel cell prototypes for Samsung's mobile phone business. Mobion®, MTI Micro's patented direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) technology, has been chosen to power a series of prototypes designed for Samsung's mobile phone and mobile phone accessories. Samsung is going to be committing up to $1 million in development money for the project and it marks a large step forward in the future development of the micro fuel cell marketplace. I also see this...

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc (QTWW) announced that it received a purchase order for 15 hydrogen-fueled Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles from Miljobil Grenland AS, a participant and vehicle provider to the Norwegian Hydrogen Highway (HyNor). These hydrogen hybrid vehicles will be put in service in Norway in 2006 and 2007 as part of the HyNor program. HyNor is a unique Norwegian joint public/private partnership initiative to demonstrate real life implementation of hydrogen energy infrastructure along a route of 580 kilometers (360 miles) from Oslo to Stavanger during the years 2005 to 2008. The project comprises all steps...

Millennium Cell Inc (MCEL) and Protonex Technology Corporation announced that it has delivered advanced prototypes of its P2 soldier power system to the U.S. Air Force for evaluation. This delivery marks the successful completion of the two-year Dual Use Science and Technology (DUST) program awarded to Protonex by the Air Force in April 2003. In addition, the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has notified Protonex and Millennium Cell Inc. of its intent to award an additional $1.02 million program focusing on P2 enhancements and manufacturability and for procurement of additional systems for performance and reliability testing. The P2...

Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) announced it has received a follow-on order from General Motors Corporation to provide fuel cell test services which is anticipated to be fully realized in 2006. "We are pleased to provide test services for General Motors, a leader in the automotive sector." said Pierre Rivard, President and CEO of Hydrogenics. "We believe that our proprietary testing products assist leading Original Equipment Manufacturers such as General Motors to advance their fuel cell program."

Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) announced it has received orders for three FCATS® fuel cell test stations from GS Caltex, a leading Korean energy company. Hydrogenics will provide a FCATS G300 Test Station and two FCATS G50 Test Stations with delivery expected in 2006. The test stations will be used to advance GS Caltex's activities in new and emerging energy technologies, including small stationary fuel cell applications (below 10 kilowatt) for residential use.

Plug Power Inc (PLUG) announced that Interros, a major Russian investment firm, and Norilsk Nickel, the world's largest producer of nickel and palladium, agreed to make a $217 million cash investment in Plug Power. The investment is being made through Smart Hydrogen, a joint venture of the principal Interros investors and Norilsk Nickel, which was formed to participate in the global hydrogen economy. After this investment Plug Power will have approximately $285 million in cash. The shares of PLUG are up over 20% this morning in pre-market trading.

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc (QTWW) unveiled a hydrogen-hybrid demonstration vehicle today at the 2006 SAE World Congress in Detroit. Using a Ford Hybrid Escape as the demonstrator platform, the Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), with its National Automotive Center (NAC), and industry partner Quantum, is working to pair hybrid electric vehicles with a hydrogen delivery and storage system. Part of the 21st Century Base Initiative, this technology has the potential to offer a cost-effective alternative to full fuel cell powered vehicles.

Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) warned that due to production delays first-quarter revenue will fall below year-ago levels, and will miss Wall Street's target. The company said it expects revenue of between $4.5 million and $6.5 million, compared with the $11.3 million it posted in the prior year quarter. Analysts, on average, expect first-quarter revenue of $11.8 million. Shares of Hydrogenics have fell sharply over the last couple of days.

Fuelcell Energy Inc (FCEL) announced that Tokyo Gas has initiated a program to evaluate a Direct FuelCell® (DFC®) power plant for introducing these units to customers of its energy and industrial gas divisions. The unit is currently located at Kawasaki Heavy Industries' factory in Akashi, Japan, where Tokyo Gas will evaluate the power plant under a variety of expected operating conditions focusing particularly on grid interconnection performance. Tokyo Gas has agreed to install this DFC300A power plant at its new R&D center in Tsurumi in the second quarter of 2006.

Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) warned that first-quarter revenue would be below expectations because of production delays in its OnSite Generation unit. Hydrogenics said it expects revenue of $4.5 million to $6.5 million during the quarter. The Company also anticipates that it will secure a minimum of approximately $7.0 million of new orders in the first quarter of 2006.

The ChangeWave Alliance has produced a detailed look at the key trends for fuel cells and future battery technology. I have been given permission to post the abstract of this 13 page report. Overview: This report focuses on key trends in fuel cells and hydrogen, along with battery technologies. The findings are from the Alliance's most recent alternative energy survey, completed February 10, 2006. A total of 121 members working in the alternative energy industry participated, including 25 working in companies involved with Fuel Cells. Bottom Line: Respondents working in alternative energy believe that over the next...

Plug Power Inc (PLUG) announced that it is terminating a distribution joint venture with a unit of General Electric Co. and said a GE executive had resigned from its board. Plug Power said it and GE MicroGen Inc. would terminate the GE Fuel Cell Systems joint venture. As a result, Plug Power can now sell its products to anyone without obligation to General Electric, the company said in a regulatory filing. Shares of Plug Power are down 1% in pre-market trading.

Hydrogenics Corp (HYGS) announced that it has received orders to supply electrolysis-based hydrogen generator plants to two of China's largest energy companies. China Electric Power Energy Group and China National Power have each purchased a HySTAT-A Hydrogen Plant, capable of producing 10 Nm3/h of high purity hydrogen at a pressure of 25 bar. In both cases, the hydrogen produced will be used to cool the generators in a coal-fired power plant. Delivery of both orders is expected to take place in 2006.

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc (QTWW) announced the delivery of five hydrogen-fueled Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles to the City of Burbank, California. This is part of a larger South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) program to develop and demonstrate 30 hydrogen hybrid vehicles to fleets in Southern California. The formal delivery will take place during a ceremony to be held today at the City of Burbank's Public Works Yard. Under contract to the AQMD, Quantum engineered a state-of-the-art OEM-caliber hydrogen fuel system, optimized the performance of the vehicle system, completed accelerated long-term durability testing, and performed...

Energy Conversion Devices Inc (ENER) has now started fleet testing at the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) in Diamond Bar, California. A project of Ovonic Hydrogen Systems LLC, a subsidiary of ECD Ovonics, the advanced vehicle is a high-profile test bed designed to prove that hydrogen hybrids can be practical in daily life. The high-tech vehicle also serves to showcase Ovonic® solid metal hydrogen storage technology. Based on a production gasoline-electric hybrid model, it is part of a five year, $7 million multi-vehicle hydrogen hybrid demonstration at AQMD.