If you wish that fuel cell technology was available to help you save money on your motoring costs then spare a thought for the poor old farmer, who is stuck with driving probably one of the most gas-guzzling vehicles in the world. So far, it seems the agricultural world has been left behind in the race to go green. It has been largely accepted that big multi-functional vehicles such as tractors are inevitably going to be thirsty-but at last there may be a solution.

Agricultural machinery firm, New Holland is set to unveil a first for the farming world- a fuel cell tractor. The new NH²  hydrogen tractor will make its public debut today at the  2010 Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa.

Based on the popular New Holland T6000 Series tractor, the  NH2 tractor uses fuel cells and a store of hydrogen to power all its functions. Compressed hydrogen taken from the storage tank and reacts in vehicle’s the fuel cell with oxygen, drawn from the air, to produce water and electricity. The electricity then drives the motors to power the tractor’s drivetrain and auxiliary systems.

The working prototype tractor produces 106 bhp and is able to perform all the tasks of a tractor while emitting nothing other than heat and water. It’s virtually silent too, so there will be nothing to disturb the peace of the countryside. Its manufacturer hopes that the model could help farmers become energy independent as they utilise solar, wind and other natural and renewable sources such as waste products to generate energy and store it in the form of hydrogen.

‘Farmers are in a unique position to benefit from hydrogen technology’, the firm said in a statement. ‘Apart from the environmental benefits, such a system would allow customers to become energy independent and improve their financial stability’ it said.

The vehicle is now being tested at an olive farm in Lebanon.

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There are many challenges facing the commercialisation of fuel cells, not least of which is the creation of inexpensive and efficient catalysts for hydrogen oxidation. However, now researchers believe they have found a solution to help bring fuel cell vehicles a step closer.

At the moment, platinum is the catalyst of choice but is easily poisoned by low levels of CO, which can result in a significant degradation of performance. That’s why a team at Cornell University has created a new highly stable and CO-tolerant platinum/titanium tungsten oxide anode electro-catalyst for PEM fuel cells.

Their work was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society with other research showing that platinised metal oxides exhibit increased CO tolerance, particularly those in tungsten.

Unfortunately, tungsten suffers from low electronic connectivity but the researchers got around that problem by using titania, even though its electronic conductivity is lower than those of conventional carbon supports. However, they got around this problem by improving an aleovalent cation substitution.

Initial tests showed increased stability while the new material also exhibited high activity for H2 oxidation as well as a higher CO tolerance.     

The work was supported by the Energy Materials Centre at Cornell as well as the US Department of Energy.

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Electric vehicles seem to have won the bulk of support in the effort to establish a new greener technology for automobiles, but hope is not lost for hydrogen fuel cells.

A new report by the National Research Council has urged the FreedomCar and Fuel Partnership – a research collaboration among the US Department of Energy, US Council for Automotive Research, two electric utility companies and five energy companies – to continue to include fuel cells and hydrogen technologies in its research.

In what is the third review of the programme, long-range goals were outlined that included a transition to a transportation system that uses sustainable energy resources and reduces emissions.

Even though the partnership has recently focused on advanced combustion engines and plug-in electric vehicles, research and development on hydrogen and fuel cells is also needed according to the report, especially given the high costs and challenges associated with many of the technologies before they can be made available for widespread use.

According to the NRC committee, there are three primary alternative ways to reduce petrol consumption and reduce greenhouse gases – these are improving internal combustion engines and increasing the use of biofuels; a shift from traditional transportation energy to the grid through battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles; and the transition to hydrogen as a major transportation fuel.

Previously, the programme had focused on developing technologies to allow US automakers to make production decisions about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2015. However, last year the partnership changed direction in an effort to push shorter term technologies so this latest development is a welcome reassurance for the future of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

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Oslo in Norway will play host to the first EC-funded European Lighthouse Project for hydrogen fuel cell cars in 2011.

The project, known as H2moves Scandinavia, will involve 17 hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and a large scale hydrogen refuelling station by H2 Logic. It will be the first large scale demonstration project supported by the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking Program.

The total budget for the project amounts to €1billion and has the goal of advancing hydrogen for transport in Scandinavia while also connecting the region with the strong German incentives within the area.

Among the vehicles involved in the project will be 10 Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell cars; two Alfa Romeo MiTo fuel cell vehicles; and five electric city cars with fuel cell range extension from H2 Logic. The Mercedes-Benz vehicles offer torque of 290Nm and consume the equivalent of 71.3mpg. Meanwhile, the Alfa Romeo MiTo Fuel Cell car can reach a top speed of 93mph and can accelerate from 0-100km in 10 seconds. It has hydrogen consumption at the equivalent of 74mpg.

As part of the project, some of the fuel cell vehicles will be employed on a European hydrogen vehicle demonstration tour with a mobile hydrogen refuelling concept to be developed that will provide almost 100 per cent CO2-free hydrogen.

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A merger between the UK Hydrogen Association and Fuel Cells UK has lead to the creation of a new body to represent the industry.

Called the UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Association (UK HFCA), the new ‘voice’ for the industry will continue the work of the two bodies advocating the positive social, political and economic benefits of the development of hydrogen energy and fuel cells in the UK. 

With a membership comprising the leading fuel cell and hydrogen companies in the UK as well as a range of stakeholders, from energy utilities to component developers, fuel suppliers and others involved both directly and indirectly in the industry, the newly formed UK HFCA has greater influence over key public and private stakeholders to support hydrogen energy and fuel cell research.

The UK HFCA intends to act on behalf of its members to deliver the necessary support to help hydrogen and fuel cells become a key component of a low carbon economy; helping to reduce greenhouse gases, enhance energy security and create ‘green collar’ jobs. The UK HFCA aims to provide an authoritative point of contact and a clear, informed and current view on research, development and demonstration priorities for Government, other funding agencies and key influencers.

Prior to the merger, Fuel Cells UK utilised its collective industry voice at national and international level, working alongside the Treasury to successfully identify appropriate support mechanisms for fuel cells, lobbying Government on the introduction of feed in tariffs for low carbon technologies. Meanwhile the UK Hydrogen Association, worked towards defining routes for low carbon hydrogen delivered at competitive costs, doing much to demonstrate that this can be achieved safely, and diversifying energy options for consumers.

"The UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Association has the breadth of capability to shape the climate agenda today and drive hydrogen deployment and fuel cell commercialisation towards the low carbon economy of tomorrow," said Dennis Hayter, newly appointed Chair of the UK HFCA.

"We now have a common voice with which to ensure the industry receives all the support necessary to realise the tremendous potential it offers in meeting low carbon objectives in the UK."

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The US government should continue to invest in fuel cell technologies, a new report from the National Academy of Sciences concludes.

The Obama administration took the decision when it came to power to focus investment in alternative fuels on nearer term solutions such as plug-in electric vehicles and advanced combustion engines.

The previous Bush administration-established FreedomCAR (Cooperative Automotive Research) and Fuel Partnership which includes U.S. Department of Energy, major US carmakers, five major energy companies, and two electric utility companies agree however that research and development into hydrogen and fuel cell technology is needed given the high-cost and limitations of other technologies.

Currently at the instruction of the current administration FreedomCAR is focusing its research on these nearer term solutions, however the National Academy, which advises the government, says investment into fuel cells is justified.

One of the authors of the report, Vernon P. Roan, the retired director of the Center of Advanced Studies in Engineering and professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, University of Florida, said: "The FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership has made significant progress in all of the technologies it is developing, including hydrogen-based technologies.

"Although it’s important to work on near-term technologies, it’s equally important for the partnership to perform the type of high-risk research in areas such as hydrogen that would not otherwise be taken on by the private sector, especially as the economy is still recovering."

The report, the third in a series of reviews on the FreedomCAR programme, reiterates the findings of a letter report issued by the committee last year. At that time, the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2009 budget request to Congress essentially eliminated the hydrogen and automotive fuel-cell portions of the program in favour of developing short-term technologies. Congress has since reinstated most of that funding. The new report calls for the partnership’s sustained support of a balanced portfolio of nearer-term and longer-term options, including research on fuel cells and hydrogen technologies. This research could provide sufficient information for the auto industry to make decisions about the marketability of hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2015.

The partnership should also intensify long-term, high-risk research to improve materials and systems for high-energy batteries, both for plug-in and battery electric vehicles, the report says. This research has taken on a new importance in response to the Obama administration’s goal of putting 1 million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on the road by 2015.

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It might not be the most glamorous of vehicles but the humble forklift truck is proving that fuel cells can have real-world applications.

Plug Power, a leading provider of clean energy solutions has confirmed it has struck a deal with Walmart Canada to provide its GenDrive fuel cell units to power the firm’s fleet of electric lift trucks.

The supermarket giant’s fleet now powered by the hydrogen fuel cells will benefit from the lower operating costs, increased productivity time thanks to quick refuelling ability and ability to work in cold conditions-just some of the benefits the fuel cells promise over electric batteries. 

As the fleet of vehicles will be used in the food giant’s refrigerated distribution centre in Alberta, Canada, the GenDrive fuel cell units’ ability to work at -29°C will be well-tested. Units can also be refuelled in less than two minutes, minimizing lost productivity

The GenDrive systems will be integrated into trucks manufactured by Crown Equipment Corporation. Both perishable and freezer goods will be distributed in Walmart Canada’s newly-built facility to support retail stores in Western Canada.

Prehaps most importantly, the use of hydrogen fuel cells allows the store to meet its environmental initiatives. Plug Power say its system promises the possible greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction of up to 72 per cent, compared to batteries charged from the grid, GenDrive supports a sustainable operation.

“Plug Power is thrilled our GenDrive fuel cell product is helping Walmart Canada’s Alberta facility become one of the most energy-efficient distribution facilities of its kind in North America,” said Plug Power’s CEO, Andy Marsh. “Plug Power’s complete product suite allowed Walmart to implement the GenDrive solution throughout its entire fleet. The commercial economics make sense and we believe customers see the benefits this progressive solution brings to its operations.”

The New York firm will begin shipping its systems to Walmart Canada this month, where they are expected to become operational by the autumn of 2010.

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The next generation of demonstration fuel cell hybrid vehicles from UK-based Microcab Industries have taken a step forward after the company ordered 10 Serenus high-temperature 3kW PEM fuel cell systems from Denmark’s Serenergy A/S.

Serenergy will supply a system module that includes the fuel cell, its control system and power conditioning circuitry to supply the hybrid battery and electric drive. Microcab is expected to work closely with the company to develop future automotive applications, with the firm already employing lightweight construction techniques and fuel cell hybrid powertrains with electric drive in its vehicles.The Serenergy fuel cells have a high internal operating temperature of 1508C or more which means they can operate over a wide range of environmental temperatures and use less pure hydrogen fuel. Thanks to the high temperature exhaust, the otherwise wasted thermal energy is used for heating the vehicle’s interior helping to increase efficiency further.

Indeed there are a host of benefits to the technology including the fact that it doesn’t include a humidifier, a compressor or a radiator and that it features patented bipolar plates that result in a prolonged lifetime, higher efficiency and greater power density. The system is also comparatively cheap as it is built using a simple internal architecture – this reduces the balance of plants cost to around 25 per cent of the fuel cell stack cost.

Also thanks to the use of higher operating temperatures, hydrogen with a higher CO concentration can be employed meaning it is possible to make use of direct hydrogen reformate and easy to handle energy carriers including ethanol, diesel and methanol.

Microcab will initially manufacture eight vehicles to the new design and they will be supplied to Coventry University as part of a 12month trial known as the Coventry and Birmingham Low Emissions Demonstrator project.

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The European Commission Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking has announced its 2010 Call for Proposals that outlines how funding will be distributed towards research, technological development and demonstration projects.

A whopping €89.1million will be made available across four areas: transportation and refuelling; storage and distribution; hydrogen production; and stationary power generation and CHP.

Among the specific topics outlined in the 2010 announcement are:

- Transportation and refuelling infrastructure - €36.1million will be dedicated for a large-scale demonstration of second generation fuel cell vehicles and of a refuelling infrastructure that will expand on the existing demo sites across Europe. Other activities will include research and development into membrane electrode assemblies of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells in the hope of reducing platinum loading; and investigating degradation phenomena particularly relating to transport applications.

- Hydrogen production and distribution – There will be a focus on research and development in an effort to improve reforming technologies for hydrogen production. A total of €11million will be dedicated to addressing mid-term fuelling requirements based on conventional and alternative fuels.

- Stationary power generation – Around €33million will go towards material development to improve performance of fuel cell stacks and balance of plants components. Money will also be invested into research for novel architectures for cells and stack design; while the improvement of fuel cell system components will also be looked at.

- Early markets – A further €11.5million of funding will go towards the demonstration of the readiness of fuel cell systems applied to materials handling vehicles. The aim is to stimulate the market for these applications.

- Cross cutting – Finally, €2million will focus on two topics – the development of a comprehensive technology monitoring and assessment framework; and the development of financing models for reusable or recyclable components of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

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A new, more efficient process for storing and generating hydrogen to power cars has been invented by chemical engineers at Purdue University in Indiana.

The new process called hydrothermolysis, uses a powdered chemical called ammonia borane, which has one of the highest hydrogen contents of all solid materials. The new process combines hydrolysis and thermolysis, two hydrogen-generating processes that by themselves are less than practical for use within vehicles. 

Ammonia borane contains 19.6 per cent hydrogen, a high weight percentage that means a relatively small quantity and volume of the material are needed to store large amounts of hydrogen.

In hydrolysis, water is combined with ammonia borane and the process requires a catalyst to generate hydrogen. This means that the system requires a catalyst to be carried around inside the car and periodically replaced. Meanwhile in thermolysis the material must be heated to more than 170 degrees Celsius, to release sufficient quantities of hydrogen; a very energy intensive method.

However, as fuel cells in cars operate at about 85 degrees Celsius, researchers at the university looked for a new method that would work at the same temperature as the fuel cells to reduce the energy requirements.

The researchers conducted experiments using a reactor vessel operating at the same temperature as fuel cells. The process requires maintaining the reactor at a pressure of less than 200 pounds per square inch, far lower than the 5,000 psi required for current hydrogen-powered test vehicles that use compressed hydrogen gas stored in tanks.

In some experiments, the researchers used water containing a form of hydrogen called deuterium. Using water containing deuterium instead of hydrogen enabled the researchers to trace how much hydrogen is generated from the hydrolysis reaction and how much from the thermolysis reaction, details critical to understanding the process.

At the optimum conditions, hydrogen from the hydrothermolysis approach amounted to about 14 per cent of the total weight of the ammonia borane and water used in the process. This is significantly higher than the hydrogen yields from other experimental systems reported in the scientific literature, Arvind Varma,  Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University says.

"This is important because the U.S. Department of Energy has set a 2015 target of 5.5 weight per cent hydrogen for hydrogen storage systems, meaning available hydrogen should be at least 5.5 per cent of a system’s total weight," he said. "If you’re only yielding, say, 7 per cent hydrogen from the material, you’re not going to make this 5.5 per cent requirement once you consider the combined weight of the entire system, which includes the reactor, tubing, the ammonia borane, water, valves and other required equipment."

The researchers determined that a concentration of 77 per cent ammonia borane is ideal for maximum hydrogen yield using the new process.

The new combined production process also promises to harness waste heat from fuel cells to operate the hydrogen generation reactor.

The research has been funded by the U.S. Department of Energy by a grant through the Energy Center in Purdue’s Discovery Park.

Future work on hydrothermolysis will explore scaling up the reactor to the size required for a vehicle to drive 350 miles before refuelling. Additional research also is needed to develop recycling technologies for turning waste residues produced in the process back into ammonia borane.

The technology may also be used to produce hydrogen for fuel cells to recharge batteries in portable electronics, such as notebook computers, cell phones, personal digital assistants, digital cameras, handheld medical diagnostic devices and defibrillators.

"The recycling isn’t important for small-scale applications, such as portable electronics, but is needed before the process becomes practical for cars," Varma said.

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