Fuel cell commercialization projects get $1.63M funding

Mississauga, ON – Four fuel cell commercialization project are receiving a total of $1.63M in support from Ontario’s provincial government.

Hydrogenics Corporation, a Mississauga-based company that is commercializing hydrogen and fuel cell products, leads three of the newly announced projects:

It will coordinate with Nacco Materials Handling Group, a lift truck manufacturer, for the development and building of fuel cell power packs that are compatible with class 2 lift trucks, commonly used in warehouses.

It will also design and build four eight-kilowatt fuel cell backup power solutions to be deployed at the sites of four leading telecommunications providers, demonstrating the commercial viability of this application.

Finally, it will also contract with a third party to advance the development of international codes and standards in the field of hydrogen refuellers and component parts. This will help facilitate the commercialization of fuel cells, hydrogen and related technologies on a global basis, helping companies like Hydrogenics to sell their products around the world.

The fourth new project is led by Enbridge Gas Distribution. This project will result in a double win for the environment: using fuel cell technology to generate 1.2 megawatts of clean energy – enough to power up to 900 homes – and using by-product heat to reduce natural gas consumption at the facility. Enbridge will coordinate the integration of a large stationary fuel cell with its natural gas high-pressure pipeline energy recovery system.

The company says it expects that this project will assist in establishing a sales demand for its waste energy recovery technology throughout North America, a market estimated at between 500 to 600 megawatts.

“Ontario’s support for our backup power and material handling initiatives will help grow emerging commercial opportunities,” says Daryl Wilson, Hydrogenics president and CEO. “These represent stepping stones on the path to a cleaner energy future where Ontario can be a real contributor in providing global products and solutions.”