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On May 15, 2009, a Swedish engineering group, Morphic Exergy Fuel Cells who operates in the areas of fuels cells and wind power, signed a contract with the Narbonne Associates of France for the dissemination of its Polaris 140 portable fuel cell, having a guarantee of minimum value of SEK 48m for Exergy. Polaris 140 is a chemical compound in liquid forms and generates hydrogen on continuous basis and at the same rate as it is consumed in the fuel cell. “The product and area of application are exactly right and show not only that the market has embraced our offer but also indicate that our strategy of focusing our resources on concrete product development rather than visions will generate business. The changes we have now been implemented paved the way for our long-planned share offering and will enable us to fund production for orders like this”, Martin Valfridsson, President and CEO of Morphic Technologies AB, says. The product will be delivered in the beginning of September 2009 as it has been approved by customers. (Comments on this story may be sent to, info@h2euro.org)

In recognition of exceptional developments in one of the new century’s most fascinating technologies, and to stimulate further innovation, the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Environment and the Stuttgart Region Economic Development Corporation are – for the ninth time – inviting entries for the f-cell award, sponsored by the State of Baden-Württemberg.The f-cell award is presented in recognition of new fuel cell technology with the potential for practical application. Entrants can submit innovative solutions involving mobile, portable and stationary deployment of fuel cells. Entries can comprise individual components, entire fuel cell systems, related peripherals (fuel and storage technologies), or advances in the use of fuel cells in mobile, portable or stationary applications. Deadline is July 15, 2009. Winners will be announced at the f-cell Congress, Septemeber 28-28, 2009 in Stuttgart. Please visit f-cell award website for details.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) on May 12 approved €750 million in loans to European-based automotive companies worth  to develop cleaner vehicles. DAF trucks in the Netherlands will receive  €150 million for a research and development project and Ford will receive loans worth €400 million for the construction aplant in Craiova inRomania, the technical rehabilitation of the existing plant, as well as an additional €200 million for the entire research and development related activities for the plant carried out in Germany. The EIB has approved €5.2 billion in loans since last December for European car manfacturers. A total of  €3.billion of these loans are provided under the EIB’s European Clean Transport Facility (ECTF). The ECTF is part of the EIB’s contribution to the European Economic Recovery Package and targets significant reductions in the CO2 emissions of vehicles through research, development and innovation. Further loans for the automotive sector planned for submission to the EIB in June and July would also reach component suppliers. With submissions planned for the June Board meeting, this total would exceed EUR 7 bn by mid-year.  Up to now BMW, Daimler, Fiat, PSA Peugeot-Citroën, Renault, Volvo Cars, Scania and Volvo Trucks have benefitted from the loans. [...]

As the U.S. Energy Department announced a 60% budget cut on May 7, 2009   for hydrogen-related projects to $68.2 million for the next fiscal year, the EU together with 68 industries and top EU research insitutes in hydrogen and fuel cell system development are stepping up their efforts  in a 7 year, € 94o mln Joint Undertaking for fuel cells and hydrogen that will see its second call for proposals of around € 70 mln this summer. This united effort in combination with the recent  developments in the US therefore seem to give Europe anopportunity  to become market leader in  hydrogen transport development that can not be missed. Despite US funding cuts  for hydrogen transport applications, several car makers  expressed their ongoing  commitment to the commercialisation of fuel cells vehicles.  Honda Motor Co., General Motors Corp. as well as  Toyota Motor Corp. all confirmed their intention to continue their development of hydrogen-powered cars  after the announcement of US Enerery Secretary Steven Chu that the Obama administration will concentrate  more on more near term biofuel and battery development, forgetting that  fuel cells significantly extend the short range of battery powered vehicles. “Honda has a significant commitment to fuel cells and [...]

The HyNor Partnership and StatoilHydro inaugurated the  Norwegian hydrogen highway, HyNor  on 11 May 2009 at StatoilHydro’s new hydrogen station at Økern in Oslo. The “EVS Viking Rally” began in conjunction with the HyNor opening. The starting group in the rally included 14 hydrogen vehicles, two plug-in hybrids and 14 battery electric vehicles. The vehicles started in Oslo and reached the beginning of EVS 24 (Electrical Vehicle Symposium, 24th edition)  in Stavanger on 13 May. The tour visited in Porsgrunn, Grimstad, Arendal, Kristiansand, Lyngdal and Egersund. Another 10 battery electric vehicles joined the rally in Egersund. HyNor was opened by Norway’s Minister of Transport and Communications, Liv Signe Navarsete. H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon of Norway joined the first stage of the EVS Viking Rally, from Oslo to Lier, together with race car driver Henning Solberg. The governing mayor of Oslo, Erling Lae, opened StatoilHydro’s new hydrogen service station at Økern, and Navarsete opened the hydrogen station at StatoilHydro’s service station in Lier. The first hydrogen station on the 580-kilometer (360-mile) route between Oslo and Stavanger opened at Forus in Stavanger in 2006, the second in Porsgrunn in 2007, and now the two new stations are open in Oslo and Lier. [...]

On May 5, 2009, Hydrogenics Corporation read out that two additional Hydrogenics’ fuel cell powered hybrid Minibuses is now in function. Hydrogenics Corporation, a leading global developer of clean energy solutions who is always industrious in enhancing the Hydrogen Economy by commercializing hydrogen and fuel cell products. The owner of these Hybrid Minibuses is Vestische Straasenbahnen GmbH, a regional urban transit authority located in Herten, Germany. Moreover, Hydrogenics has made noteworthy growth with Rampini Fuel Cell bus project to be commissioned in Gladbeck; Germany, after great success of Rampini ZEV platform of Italy. Additional models are expected to be ready once the testing has been done. ((Comments on this story may be sent to, eha.fouzia@gmail.com)

The Linde Group, signed  a long term contract with the Shell Oil Company to supply Hydrogen via pipeline in Houston, Texas. The project of using Hydrogen mainly for clean-burning transporting fuel at the Deer Park Refining Company worth more then $ 50 million, will commence in mid 2010.  In his speech,  Linde Group’s executive board member Mr. Kent Master said, “Linde has been associated with Shell on multiple international initiatives in the areas of industrial gases and plant supply and the provision of engineering services during the last five years. We are very excited to expand this relationship by the establishment of this additional long-term hydrogen tonnage supply arrangement in the strategic Houston Ship Channel area.”