NEWS

The demonstration project will be in threephases, with the first taking place this summer.In this phase, Hydrogenics’ 50 kWe HyStat fuelcell stationary generator will demonstrate ‘peakshaving’ at the National Trade Center (NTC).Hydrogenics and partner John Deere also plan tooperate a fuel cell-powered John Deere ProGator vehicle in the grounds to demonstratehow fuel cell technology can provide quiet, zero-emission power to vehicles. The vehicle willrefuel with hydrogen from the HyStat’sintegrated natural gas reformer, which is beingdeveloped with funding from NRCan’sCanadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance[FCB, May 2003]. Phase Two, planned forsummer 2004, will see the HyStat continuouslyoffset the electricity required at the NTC, todemonstrate the progress of fuel cell systemstowards being able to supply primary power. Inthe third phase, Hydrogenics will seek toincorporate a renewable energy source such aswind or solar power to supply electricity to anelectrolyzer to make hydrogen, thus demon-strating the potential of hydrogen fuel cells toprovide completely clean and renewable power.

Contact: Hydrogenics, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.Tel: +1 905 361 3660, www.hydrogenics.com

Or contact: City of Toronto Energy Efficiency Office,Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +1 416 392 1110,www.city.toronto.on.ca/energy

Avista Labs completesArmy demo, signsdistribution dealLocally based Avista Labs has completed ayear-long demonstration of a 3 kWe PEM fuelcell installed at the Washington Air NationalGuard facility at Geiger Field in Spokane,Washington. The system successfully ran in abase load application for one year, achievingan availability rate of 93.24%, exceeding itstarget of 90%. The fuel cell was used to powercritical loads, including maintenance baylighting and the local area network switch.

The SR-72 3 kWe fuel cell was installed underthe US Department of Defense PEM Fuel CellDemonstration Program, which is led by the USArmy Corps of Engineers’ Construction Engin-eering Research Laboratory (CERL). The trialprovided valuable customer and field data aboutAvista Labs’ fuel cells in longer-term installations.

According to Avista, the SR-72 has alreadybeen replaced with improved, commerciallyavailable products in its Independence™ line,providing power in the 50 We to 5 kWe range.The technology continues to use the company’spatented Modular Cartridge Technology™.

In other news, the company has signed a non-exclusive distribution agreement with SunelcoInc, the Montana-based distributor of renewableenergy products. Under the agreement, to rununtil July 2004, Sunelco will sell Avista Labs’Independence fuel cells, and feature the productline in the 2003 edition of its Planning Guideand Products Catalog.

Contact: Avista Labs, Spokane, WA, USA. Tel: +1 509228 6500, www.avistalabs.com

Or contact: Sunelco, Hamilton, MT, USA. Tel: 1 800338 6844 (tollfree in US), www.sunelco.com

FCE to install powerplants at two universitiesConnecticut-based FuelCell Energy has beencontracted by Grand Valley State University inMichigan to install and service a DFC300Afuel cell power plant for its Energy Institute’snew 26 000 ft2 (2400 m2) research center inMuskegon, Michigan. The company will alsoinstall a DFC300A system to provide heat andpower for Yale University’s EnvironmentalSciences Building in New Haven, Connecticut.

Funding for the Grand Valley State Universityproject, including the building and the fuel cells,is being provided by a $3m alternative energygrant from the Michigan Public ServiceCommission and bonding from the City ofMuskegon. FCE’s Direct FuelCell® (DFC®)power plant will provide electricity and a heatrecovery system for heating and coolingapplications in newly created research space,incubator facilities, a conference center andclassrooms. The project will also include a solarphotovoltaic installation that will provide hotwater and warm air for heating and air-conditioning.

The state-of-the-art building is currentlyunder construction, and is expected to becompleted by the fall. The fuel cell will bedelivered and installed in the fourth quarter.This facility will be the world’s first commercialproject to integrate fuel cell technology, a heat recovery system for heating and air-conditioning, photovoltaics and a NiMHbattery storage system to store excess energy,creating a building that powers itself using‘green’ sources. The project’s goal is to developand improve the quality and application ofenergy-efficient technologies such as fuel cells forstationary base load power generation, and toexpand the market for such technologies.

The second DFC300A will provide heat andpower for the Environmental Sciences Buildingat Yale University. The unit will provideapproximately 25% of the building’s electricity

needs, with the heat used primarily to maintaintight temperature and humidity controls at astorage facility where rare bones and artifacts arepreserved. Startup of the project – which willcost $1.25m, exclusive of a five-year renewableservice agreement – is expected in the summer.The DFC300A unit was purchased by theConnecticut Clean Energy Fund last year for usein the state, and the Yale University location wasapproved last December.

Contact: FuelCell Energy, Danbury, CT, USA. Tel: +1 203825 6000, www.fuelcellenergy.com or www.fce.com

Or contact: Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, Rocky Hill,CT, USA. Tel: +1 860 563 0015, www.ctcleanenergy.com

Quantum to acquireGlobal, forms alliancewith SumitomoCalifornia-based Quantum Technologies hassigned an agreement to purchase GlobalThermoelectric in Calgary, Canada in a stock-for-stock exchange valued at about US$75m.

Quantum designs and manufacturescomponents and integrated fuel systems toOEMs for use in alternative fuel vehicles, fuelcell applications and hydrogen refueling systems,while Global Thermoelectric develops andproduces stationary power generation products,as well as developing SOFC technology.According to Quantum, the combination willimmediately create a more cost-efficient, well-capitalized and diversified company to addressthe transportation, stationary power generationand hydrogen refueling markets.

Once the deal closes, Quantum will integrateGlobal’s operations to improve financialstrength, operational efficiencies and ‘synergisticproduct development and commercialization’.The company will continue to maintainoperations in Alberta, Michigan and California,and will run Global as a Canadian subsidiary.The transaction is subject to the approval ofboth companies’ shareholders and the requisiteregulatory approvals. General Motors,Quantum’s largest shareholder with 19.9%ownership, has already agreed to back theproposed combination with Global. The deal isexpected to close in July 2003.

Quantum has also formed an alliance withSumitomo Corporation in Japan, giving the latterexclusive rights to represent Quantum to Japanesecustomers and to market its products for use inthe global alternative fuel and fuel cell markets.Sumitomo will also manage product certificationactivities for Quantum’s Japanese markets. Inaddition, the agreement forms the basis for

6Fuel Cells Bulletin June 2003