Electro Energy, Inc. (EEI) has developed a new type of rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (BP Ni-MH) battery using a bipolar configuration. A combination of unique materials, a design, and a production process make possible a lower cost technology which out-performs present commercial nickel-metal hydride and lithium polymer batteries in both power and energy.

Subject: UFTO Note - Bipolar NiMHydride Battery Date: Fri, 28…

The "Virtual Utility" (VU) concept provides intelligent coordination and aggregation of distributed resources through web-based connectivity. ABB developed an extensive portfolio of technology and IP which is now being made available for license, as an "enabler" in distributed generation markets. This comes as a result of the company's recent move to tighten its business focus.

Federal research programs represent an opportunity for private industry to get additional resources applied to their RD&D projects and other business goals. Many companies, and a few utilities, have been successful at this for a long time.

In its August 29 issue, Nature magazine published an article by a distinguished group of researchers at the Univ. of Wisconsin who have succeeded in producing hydrogen and fuel gas directly from sugars and other compounds (ethylene glycol, glycerol, etc.). The novel new process is not biological, but catalytic, and represents a key breakthrough.

08 Dec 2002 UFTO Note - 2002 Fuel Cell Seminar 05 Dec 2002 UFTO…

The Fuel Cell Seminar has been held every two years* since 1978. Until recently, it's been essentially a scientific forum. The 2000 event (in Portland OR) saw a major change into a full blown trade show. That trend continued this time, with 50% larger attendance (3000) and many more than twice the number of exhibitors (125).

So much is going on in hydrogen these days, but one still wonders whether truly novel developments will ultimately be the key to making H2 an economic and practical part of the energy system. H2fuel, a small technology development company in Chicago, has two important innovations that may be examples the kinds of breakthroughs that are needed.

Subject: UFTO Note - H2 from Multiple Fuels & Polymeric Membrane…

In iron making, carbon (coke) is mixed into molten iron oxide, and the result is elemental iron (Fe) and CO2. Alchemix's new process, HydroMax,then introduces steam, which makes H2 while converting the Fe back to iron oxide. These two steps are done one after the other, and the fixed inventory of iron/iron oxide remains in place.

In 1999, ComEd began work with Southwire to investigate a new concept to accurately determine the thermal behavior of overhead transmission lines during operation. It is the conductor temperature that dictates the thermal rating and available clearance under a line. However, as of yet no satisfactory method has been developed that measures conductor temperature axially.

The bytes were barely dry on the 14 Oct UFTO Note about thermoelectrics ("There is a tantalizing hope that someday someone will come up with a real breakthrough in direct heat-to-electricity conversion."), and the following day, just such a possible breakthrough came to my attention in an item in EV Progress. (www.EVProgress.com)

There is a tantalizing hope that someday someone will come up with a real breakthrough in direct heat-to-electricity conversion. No moving parts, "solid-state", self-contained, scalable, and so on. Such miracles do exist, but they are costly and inefficient, and can find use only in specialized niche applications like satellite power, IC chip cooling, and novelty items like picnic coolers.

The first Cleantech Investment Monitor was released last week. It reports that investments in "clean" technology companies - ranging from fuel cells to water purification systems exceeded US$500 million in the first half of 2002, more than doubling from Q1 to Q2.. It also lists company investments made during the quarter, and profiles selected companies and investors.