Hydrogenics Unveils Toronto's First Hydrogen Refueling Station
Government of Canada Invests Over $4.2 Million in Hydrogenics' Fuel Cell Initiatives
TORONTO, Aug. 24 -- Hydrogenics Corporation , a designer and manufacturer of hydrogen and fuel cell systems, today unveiled the first of four Hydrogenics' projects to be part of Toronto's Hydrogen Village. The unveiling of the Company's HyLYZER(TM) hydrogen refueler took place at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) as part of the CNE's Green Day event. Hydrogenics also announced it has received a CDN $4.25 million strategic investment from the Government of Canada's Hydrogen Early Adopters (h2EA) program that will help in establishing the four unique projects in which Hydrogenics will lead a consortium of partners. The total value of the projects is over CDN $10 million.
"We are pleased to be at the core of the larger Hydrogen Village initiative and to have this show of government support," said Pierre Rivard, President and CEO of Hydrogenics. "These projects and the technology portfolio that they encompass are at the heart of what Hydrogenics does. It will allow us to showcase our technologies in our home town and demonstrate the potential for early market adoption in several key industries like fleet transportation, light mobility transportation and back-up power generation."
Hydrogenics' HyLYZER(TM) refueler at Exhibition Place is Toronto's first public hydrogen refueling station. During the CNE the refueler will use electricity generated by the Wind Turbine, sited at Exhibition Place, to produce clean hydrogen. The hydrogen will be used to refuel a range of fuel cell powered demonstration vehicles at the event, all powered by Hydrogenics' fuel cell power module technology. The vehicles on site include a forklift, a John Deere commercial work vehicle, and a GEM(TM) 'neighborhood' vehicle.
As part of Toronto's Hydrogen Village it is hoped that the initiatives this investment supports (described below) will act as catalysts for more development in Toronto's Hydrogen infrastructure. Projects over the next two years include:
-- Fuel Cell Powered Utility Work Vehicles
Four fuel cell powered utility work vehicles will be showcased in two
phases (2004 and 2005). Throughout this demonstration phase these
vehicles will perform regular duties at Exhibition Place and other
designated locations. The project will also demonstrate critical on
and off-board diagnostics and monitoring equipment. Participants in
this demonstration include John Deere ePower Technologies, Exhibition
Place and Greenlight Power Technologies (a division of Hydrogenics).
-- HyLYZER Refueling Station
Fuelled by wind energy from the wind turbine located at Toronto's
Exhibition Place, the HyLYZER refueling station will be capable of
producing approximately 65 kg of hydrogen per day, an amount sufficient
to fuel up to 20 vehicles per day. In this project the hydrogen
produced will be used to fuel the hydrogen powered John Deere vehicles
mentioned above, as well as other vehicles that are introduced in the
development of the Hydrogen Village. Participants in this project
include Exhibition Place, the City of Toronto, and Toronto Renewable
Energy Corporation.
-- Back-up Power Generator
A hydrogen fuel cell power module will be used for a backup power
generation solution at a cell tower site. Partners in this project
include Bell Canada and Emerson Network Power Group, formerly known as
Marconi Communications.
-- Hybrid Fuel Cell / Battery Delivery Vehicle
This project will demonstrate a hybrid fuel cell delivery vehicle in a
commercial fleet application. Hydrogenics' HyPM(TM) power module
technology will be integrated with batteries to offer an efficient
zero-emission alternative to Purolator Courier Ltd's diesel/electric
powered fleet vehicles as that company undertakes its 'Greening the
Fleet' program. The project also includes the commissioning of a
HyLYZER(TM) Refueler providing on-site hydrogen production, storage and
dispensing capabilities. Partnerships in this project include Purolator
and Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance.
About Hydrogenics
Hydrogenics Corporation (http://www.hydrogenics.com/) is a leading clean power generation company, engaged in the commercialization of fuel cell technology and test stations for fuel cells. The company is building a sustainable business, in a potentially "game changing technology" for transportation, stationary and portable power. Hydrogenics, based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, has operations in British Columbia, Canada, Japan, the United States and Germany.
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