So far only the odd eccentric has taken to using old chip fat as fuel. A messy process of filtering and the need to go begging to chip shops probably stop many people from pursuing this route to alternatively fuelling their cars. But now, researchers at the University of Leeds may have found a way to make this smelly fuel clean and pure.

Scientists at the university have found a new way to produce hydrogen fuel from the waste product. The new method promises to be cleaner and require less energy input than conventional forms of hydrogen production too. According to the team behind the research, not only does the new process generate some of the energy needed to make the hydrogen gas itself, it is also essentially carbon-neutral.

Hydrogen, traditionally, is steam-reformed from fossil fossil fuels, like natural gas. This process requires high temperatures of around 800 degrees, making it inefficient, expensive and still means reliance on a fossil fuel source. Traditional forms of hydrogen production from more complex fuels like waste vegetable oil require even higher temperatures to allow the effective release of hydrogen molecules, making it an expensive and environmentally unsound process.

But now Dr Valerie Dupont and colleagues at the university have perfected a two-stage process that is essentially self-heating. To begin, a nickel catalyst is blasted with air to form nickel oxide – an ‘exothermic’ process that can raises the starting temperature of 650 degrees by another 200 degrees, reducing the energy needs to reach the correct temperature. The chip fat fuel and steam mixture then reacts with the hot nickel oxide to make hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

“We are working towards a vision of the hydrogen economy,” said Dr Valerie Dupont, who is leading the Leeds-based project. “Hydrogen -based fuel could potentially be used to run our cars or even drive larger scale power plants, generating the electricity we need to light our buildings, run our kettles and fridges, and power our computers. But hydrogen does not occur naturally, it has to be made. With this process, we can do that in a sustainable way by recycling waste materials, such as used cooking oil.”

The researchers also added a special ‘sorbent’ material to trap all the carbon dioxide produced, leaving them with pure hydrogen gas. This trick eliminated the greenhouse gas emissions and also forced the reaction to keep running, increasing the amount of hydrogen made.

The researchers have shown that the two-stage process works well in a small, test reactor. They now want to scale-up the trials and make larger volumes of hydrogen gas over longer periods of time.

“The beauty of this technology is that it can be operated at any scale. It is just as suitable for use at a filling station as at a small power plant,” Dr Dupont said. “If we could create more of our electricity locally using hydrogen-powered fuel cells, then we could cut the amount of energy lost during transmission down power lines.”

Details of the work will be published in the journal Bioresource Technology.

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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 most popular van of them all – the Ford Transit – will soon be running on hydrogen power as part of a new project at London’s Stansted Airport.

An agreement has been signed between the airport and DHL Supply Chain for Hydrogen On Site Trials of ITM Power’s transportable high pressure hydrogen refuelling unit. Built with the support of a Technology Strategy Board grant, the unit will be in place by 2011 and will see two Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine Revolve Technologies Ford Transit vehicles operated on the site with hydrogen produced at the point of use. 

The hydrogen refuelling station will be a self-contained module suitable for refuelling hydrogen road vehicles and forklift trucks. It generates hydrogen via electrolysis, compressing it and storing it before dispensing the gas on demand at high pressure.

As for the Ford Transit vehicles, they have been modified by Revolve Technologies. The conversions feature Ford’s 2.3litre four-cylinder petrol engine with the addition of a belt-driven supercharge with intercooler. This will provide additional combustion air under pressure when the fuel mode switch is selected to hydrogen only.

The fuel is then stored in three tanks which are below the vehicle floor. They have an estimated range of between 95miles on the urban cycle and 135miles on open highway running.

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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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City dwellers and tourists in London should keep their eyes peeled for the latest environmental development in the nation’s capital – a full performance, zero emission Fuel Cell Hybrid London taxi.

The vehicle is the brainchild of Intelligent Energy, LTI Vehicles, TRW Conekt and Lotus Engineering and has been funded by the UK Government’s Technology Strategy Board.

London's fuel cell hybrid taxi.

Boasting an Intelligent Energy fuel cell as a range extender for the 14kWh lithium polymer battery pack, the vehicle can operate for a full day without the need for refuelling. It takes its power from a 100kW motor, can achieve a top speed of 81mph and has a range of more than 250miles. It can also accelerate from 0-30mph in 4.5 seconds and from 0-60mph in 14 seconds. The vehicle can be refuelled in less than five minutes and the fuel cells feature a metallic plate construction designed for low-cost mass manufacture.

Commenting on the introduction of the fuel cell hybrid taxi, London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Chair of the London Hydrogen Partnership Kit Malthouse commented that the black cab is a “much loved London icon” but also “a significant source of pollution”. He believes the fuel cell black cab, which emits only water from its exhaust pipe, is an exciting glimpse of the role hydrogen technology could play in cleaning up air quality.

The Fuel Cell Black Cab is just part of a large scale environmental push by London. Later this year, Transport for London is expected to operate five hydrogen fuel cell buses and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has also committed to working with manufacturers to make all taxis operating in the city zero emission vehicles by 2020.

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