NOTES: Ahh!!!, The smell of Hydrogen in the morning. See Technology Update.
We are on the threshold of the third industrial revolution. The first was based on wood and coal and iron and steam and the printing press. The second, which we have enjoyed, was based on oil and electricity and the telephone. The third, which is beginning to happen, is based on solar hydrogen and internet too. A combination of a better energy system and a better communications system allows for endless synergies of human ingenuity. What an exciting century, the hydrogen century.
1. Greetings and Introductions: Chapter President, John Gotthold, greets all attendees and asks each attendee to state their name and a short synopsis of their background and what they hope to learn by attending the meeting. 10 min.
2. Transportation: We look in detail at the GM Sequel SUV. 100 units to be offered to government entities and the public in 2007.
3. Technology Update: FUEL CELLS. Several companies showing OEM fuel cells. We review the available units and determine what can be built with them. GE demos SOFC which can produce electricity from gasified coal at 49% efficiency. 49% is way better than the 35% available from a coal fired steam turbine old fashioned coal plant. Linde demos Gasoder TM Hydrogen for safety. We look at the specs for this new odorizer.
4. Government Support for Hydrogen: $49 million in grants to three different organizations to advance making hydrogen buses cost effective and viable for public transportation. We look at which projects are getting the funding.
5. Global Warming: California leads the way. Proposition 87 is the first transfer tax. It proposes to tax oil production to provide continuous funding for alternative, no carbon, energy developments. Does AHASVC want to endorse prop 87? We will vote on it.
6. Hydrogen Business: Ballard has follow on contract with General Hydrogen to supply 2,900 Mark 9 SSL TM fuel cells for Hydricity Packs for the materials handling market. All units to ship in 2007-2008. Does 2,900 constitute mass production? Will it begin to rapidly lower the cost of fuel cells so that the world can acutally use them. Beer Power!!!- We look at the system utilized to provide all the electrical energy required to power a brewery from brewery waste material.
