This seems like a big development in the fuel cell energy market. South Africa is launching a fuel cell powered Locomotive. I love to find news like this about alternative energy development. I say a big hurray for SA for making this step towards renewable fuels for industry.

South Africa’s Anglo American Platinum (Angloplat) has launched the prototype of the first fuel cell powered underground locomotive, in a bid to demonstrate the viability of platinum-based fuel cells as an alternative energy source while helping the country meet its energy and job creation challenges.

Anglo American CEO Cynthia Carroll, speaking at last week’s launch, described the event as “a leap forward for fuel cells.

“The platinum-based hydrogen fuel cells, used to power the locomotive we are unveiling today, offer one of the most exciting opportunities for South Africa in the green economy,” Carroll said.

“At Anglo American, we believe that with platinum at its heart, a South African fuel cell industry would support the country’s drive for jobs and help to meet its energy challenges.”

According to Angloplat, hydrogen-powered fuel cell locomotives are more economical and environmentally friendly than traditional rail transport, being powered by a cleaner and more secure energy source.

A fuel cell is essentially a gas battery that produces electricity as long as it is fed with hydrogen gas. The fuel cells provide availablity 24-7, and there is no need to change or recharge the battery it replaces, which means less downtime and increased productivity.

source – read more

India is looking to fortify their energy needs and they are looking to the USA for large scale importation of liquified shale gas. This has some very positive implications for foreign trades concerns but how does it play out with our own energy policy and development?

India is looking at the possibility of importing liquefied shale gas from the US, as part of efforts to look at alternative sources to meet its energy security needs.

The matter came up during discussions that Indian officials held with Carlos Pascual, the US special envoy for international energy affairs, here Tuesday.

“The possibility of export of shale gas in liquefied form from the US to India was also discussed. We understand that it is expected the US will positively respond to it,” India’s external affairs ministry (MEA) officials said Wednesday.

Pascual led a US delegation, which met a composite Indian team led by MEA Joint Secretary (Americas) Jawed Ashraf and which included officials from the petroleum and natural gas, new and renewable energy resources, and power ministries and the Planning Commission.

Pascual was here to discuss alternate sources of crude supplies to India, and his visit came within a week of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s trip when she had raised the issue of India’s oil imports from Iran and expressed the hope that these would be reduced.

source – read more

What do you think of extracting shale gas? Comment below.

This year ethanol prices are going up due to foreign market pressures, loss of subsidies and other factors. But last year according to this study ethanol had a positive effect on US gas prices.

America’s growing use of domestically-produced ethanol reduced wholesale gasoline prices by an average of $1.09 per gallon in 2011, according to updated research conducted by economics professors at the University of Wisconsin and Iowa State University. The 2011 results, which show a $0.20 per gallon greater price reduction than the $0.89 per gallon impact in 2010, were released today by the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD).

RFA’s summary of the report:

The new analysis, an update to a 2009 peer-reviewed paper published in Energy Policy by professors Dermot Hayes and Xiaodong Du, also found gasoline prices have been reduced by an average of $0.29 per gallon, or 17%, from 2000-2011 thanks to the growing use of ethanol.

“Growth in US ethanol production has added significantly to the volume of fuel available in the US,” said Professor Hayes. “It is as if the US oil refining industry had found a way to extract 10% more gasoline from a barrel of oil. This additional fuel supply has alleviated periodic gasoline shortages that had been caused by limited refinery capacity. It has also changed the relative prices of gasoline and diesel and allowed the US to switch from being a net importer of gasoline to a net exporter. As a result of these changes, US gasoline prices are measurably lower than would otherwise have been the case. This gasoline price impact has been documented in a peer reviewed academic journal and the price dampening effect has increased as ethanol production has grown.”

Three primary factors are responsible for ethanol’s more robust price benefit at the pump in 2011: higher oil and gasoline prices, higher ethanol inclusion, and ethanol being priced at a larger-than-normal discount to gasoline.

source – read more

This would seem to lead to the conclusion that we should support more ethanol development in our country to help offset oil price increases that seem to just keep coming time and again. Do you agree? Well shout out below and let us know what you think.

Scientists at UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s FOLIUM Project, funded by ARPA-E, use light to convert the carbon in tobacco leaves into biofuels.

This is a most interesting approach to converting carbon into useable energy again through the use of light and tobacco plants. And this energy should not cause you to have cancer in then end. Or at least we hope not. Grin

What do you think of this science? Good idea? Or? Comment below to give your thoughts.

— FuelCell Energy Solutions, GmbH Acquires Select Assets from MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH

— European Joint Venture With Fraunhofer IKTS to be Finalized by June 30,2012

FuelCell Energy, Inc. a leading manufacturer of ultra-clean, efficient and reliable fuel cell power plants, today announced that its German subsidiary, FuelCell Energy Solutions GmbH, is acquiring select assets from MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH, a subsidiary of Tognum AG. The select assets include fuel cell component inventory and fuel cell manufacturing equipment of the former MTU Onsite Energy GmbH Fuel Cell Systems in Ottobrunn, Germany, which was merged with MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH. Parties to the agreement include FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCE), FuelCell Energy Solutions GmbH (FCES), MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH (MTU), and Fraunhofer IKTS (Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems). Under the agreement, MTU will contribute fuel cell related intellectual property to Fraunhofer IKTS. Fraunhofer IKTS will become a minority owner in FuelCell Energy Solutions by June 30, 2012. FuelCell Energy Solutions, a German company, will develop the market for stationary fuel cell power plants in Europe for commercial, industrial, and utility scale applications.

“Leveraging the technology strength of Fraunhofer and the commercial strength and experience of FuelCell Energy, FuelCell Energy Solutions now has a clear path for market development and local manufacturing
that will drive job creation in Europe,” said Prof. Dr. Alexander Michaelis, director, Fraunhofer IKTS. “We are eager to apply our R&D capabilities to the Direct FuelCell technology and work with European
governments and industry to support the adoption of stationary fuel cell power plants that help address the power generation challenges facing certain regions of Europe.”

“This effort is a crucial part of FuelCell Energy’s previously announced global growth strategy, leveraging prior relationships with MTU as well as an expanding relationship with Fraunhofer IKTS,” said
Chip Bottone, President and Chief Executive Officer for FuelCell Energy, Inc. “The agreement with MTU provides assets that will accelerate market development while optimizing current and future capital needs from FuelCell Energy so future investment will be predicated on order flow and a growing installed base.”

Mr. Bottone continued, “This agreement and the ramp-up of FCES will enable cost effective large scale fuel cell technology to become available today, for commercial applications throughout Europe. We are
building on the strength and leadership shown by the vision of the German government, and bringing the experience which comes from over 180 megawatts of commercial installations and order backlog worldwide.”

The scope of FCES will include the continuation of research to further enhance carbonate fuel cell technology, combining the strength of FCE’s Direct FuelCell power plants and the carbonate “EuroCell” technology of MTU, which will be licensed into FCES by Fraunhofer IKTS. Local manufacturing capacity will be established at a facility formerly leased by MTU in Ottobrunn, Germany, thus keeping advanced technology fuel cell power plant manufacturing in Germany.

In addition, FCE will execute its business activities for the larger European Served Area from the FCES base of operations in Dresden and Ottobrunn, utilizing locally hired sales, service, engineering, and
manufacturing personnel. It is anticipated that FuelCell Energy Solutions will enter into service agreements with existing MTU fuel cell customers.

Fraunhofer IKTS will contribute certain assets to the joint venture including the use of intellectual property as well as their expertise and extensive research and development capabilities with fuel cells and materials science. FuelCell Energy Solutions, GmbH is consolidated in the financial statements of FuelCell Energy, Inc.

MTU and FuelCell Energy have previously maintained various license agreements relating to fuel cell technology, including a two-way license related to balance of plant technology, and a license from FCE
to MTU related to core fuel cell technology.

MTU developed and sold stationary fuel cell power plants in Europe utilizing Direct FuelCell(R) (DFC(R)) carbonate technology and DFC components manufactured by FuelCell Energy at its plant in Torrington,
Connecticut, USA. MTU assembled and stacked the DFC components and added the mechanical and electrical balance of plant. The agreements expired at the end of 2009.

DFC power plants cost effectively provide on-site power and support to the electric grid. The levelized cost of electricity for DFC plants is competitive with the electric grid in regions with high power costs
such as urban centers in Europe, coastal cities in the USA and certain Asian countries. Increasing sales volume will continue to result in lower power generation costs for DFC plants. Examples of grid support
applications include two fuel cell parks operating in Asia that each are in excess of 10 megawatts as well as DFC plants in the USA owned by utilities and located on the property of the end power user.

Fuel cells electrochemically convert a fuel source into electricity and heat in a highly efficient process that emits virtually no pollutants due to the absence of combustion. DFC power plants are fuel flexible, capable of operating on natural gas or renewable biogas. Efficiency of up to 90 percent can be achieved when the DFC plant is configured for combined heat and power (CHP) applications. High efficiency reduces fuel costs and carbon emissions, and producing both electricity and heat from the same unit of fuel can reduce the use of combustion based boilers used for heating, further reducing costs and pollutants.

For more information please visit our website at www.fuelcellenergy.com