$42 mn US in Fuel Cell Funding promotes emissions cutting technologies (Part 2 of 3) (Funding)

Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced $41.9 million in ARRA funding for the fuel cell industry to promote solutions that lower GHG emissions and foster energy independence. This funding is expected to accelerate the commercialization and deployment of fuel cells, and create jobs in fuel cell manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and support services. The new funding will enhance the potential of fuel cells to provide power in stationary, portable and specialty vehicle applications, while cutting carbon emissions and broadening the country's clean energy technology portfolio.

"The investments we're making today will help us build a robust fuel cell manufacturing industry in the United States," says Chu. "Developing and deploying the next generation of fuel cells will not only create jobs -- it will help our businesses become more energy efficient and productive. We are laying the foundation for a green energy economy."

The $41.9 million -- combined with $72.4 million in cost-sharing from industry -- will support immediate deployment of nearly 1,000 fuel cell systems for emergency backup power and material handling applications (e.g., forklifts) that have emerged as key early markets in which fuel cells can compete with conventional power technologies.

It's hoped that the increase in manufacturing volume in key early markets will bring costs down and encourage domestic supplier base growth. A variety of technologies will be developed and deployed, including polymer electrolyte, solid oxide and direct-methanol fuel cells.
The funding includes:

· Massachusetts: To Nuvera Fuel Cells and automotive and industrial battery manufacturer, East Penn Manufacturing. Nuvera will deploy 10 fuel cell forklifts in East Penn's facility in Topton, PA. Fuel will be supplied by Nuvera's natural gas reformer, storage, and dispensing system. $1.1 million

· Michigan: Delphi Automotive will develop, test and demonstrate a 3- to 5-kW solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) auxiliary power unit (APU) for heavy duty commercial class 8 trucks. The demonstration will improve upon Delphi's current generation SOFC technology by increasing net output power and fuel processing efficiency, decreasing heat loss and parasitic power loss, and establishing diesel fuel compatibility. $2.4 million

(Source: DOE, April 15, 2009) Contact: Richard Farmer, Acting Team Leader, Fuel Cells, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, DOE, (202) 586-1623, Richard.Farmer@ee.doe.gov, www.eere.energy.gov; Lindsey Williams, Delphi, (248) 813-2528, delphi.com; Danielle Andre, Marketing Communications Specialist, Nuvera Fuel Cells, (617) 245-7571, DAndre@nuvera.com, www.nuvera.com.