A new innovative process technology has been invented this month which will allow hydrogen from the hydrogen sulphide which naturally contaminates unrefined oil to be extracted and reused.

Researchers from the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory and Kingston Process Metallurgy came up with the process, which is more energy-efficient than existing methods and makes use of a molten copper reactor.

http://www.rdmag.com/ShowPR.aspx?PUBCODE=014&ACCT=1400000101&ISSUE=0809&RELTYPE=MS&PRODCODE=00000000&PRODLETT=M&CommonCount=0

The possibility of getting fuel-cell cars onto the road in their droves is being played up by a number of industry figures, despite concerns over the long-term viability of hydrogen as a fuel source.

The California Fuel-Cell Partnership has claimed that tens of thousands of fuel-cell vehicles will be operating by 2017; Shell predicts that a mass roll-out is "absolutely achievable" by 2020; and the US Department of Energy believes that the vehicles will be "practical and cost-effective" by the same year.

http://www.economist.com/science/tq/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11999229

Ford has unveiled the first fuel-cell plug-in hybrid - a battery-electric car which carries a small engine that can recharge the battery when required rather than push the wheels.

The vehicle, which is based on the American Edge SUV, is powered by a 336-volt lithium-ion battery which can run for 25 miles before the 40kW 'Halo' fuel-cell begins recharging it.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2008/09/05/mnford105.xml

Meanwhile, private research institution Fuji Keizai Co has predicted that the domestic market for fuel cells in Japan will rise to 1.2 trillion yen ($11.1 billion) by the fiscal year of 2020.

The projection is largely centred around the mass production of polymer-electrolyte fuel cells which is set for the next fiscal year, while solid-oxide fuel cells are also expected to soar in popularity.

http://news.tradingcharts.com/futures/8/1/113343818.html

On the back of that prediction, a Japanese research group announced on 12th September that it has developed an impressive new non-humidification polymer electrolyte fuel cell.

The team, headed up by Professor Masahiro Rikukawa from Sophia University, confirmed that the fuel cell can generate power in temperatures ranging from room temperature to intermediate (100C - 200C).

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080912/157871/

Staying in Japan, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company has taken the opportunity this month to exhibit a fuel cell-based portable power supply unit at ECO MAnufacture2008 (ECOMA).

The unit makes use of an active-type direct methanol fuel cell, has an output of 300W and can run on its 54 per cent concentration methanol-water solution for around eight hours with a four-litre fuel tank.

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20080917/158079/

The US Environmental Protection Agency has been testing Chevrolet's fourth-generation Equinox fuel-cell car, which is enabled by General Motors' advanced propulsion system.

The electric car only uses hydrogen as fuel, emits no greenhouse gases, can travel up to 150 miles per fill-up and should meet all 2008 federal motor vehicle safety standards.

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/aaffbaca675bd4a6852574c200532597?OpenDocument

In the UK, Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks has praised the work of Intelligent Energy, a Loughborough-based company which produces a range of clean power systems.

Mr Wicks reserved special commendation for the firm's attempts to produce a fuel-cell powered London taxi in time for the arrival of the Olympic Games in 2012.

http://www.intelligent-energy.com/index_article.asp?SecID=8&secondlevel=25&artid=4019

The South African government has announced this month that it is launching a new hydrogen and fuel-cell research strategy to further exploit its platinum group metals' base.

The 400 million-rand initiative - split over three years - is part of a strategy to help the country provide 25 per cent of global catalyst demand by 2020 and further develop its hydrogen solutions.

The Department of Science and Technology is in negotiations with Johnson Matthey and Anglo Platinum to crystallise the project, following significant investments from Eskom and PetroSA.

http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=143286

Shortly after the initiative was announced, Phil Mjwara claimed that spending on research may exceed the government's target of reaching one per cent of GDP by the end of the fiscal year.

Mr Mjwara, who is Science and Technology's Director-General, said the country is making progress and will outstrip last year's spending of 16.5 billion rand, or 0.95 per cent of GDP.

http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A845068

In the wake of the announcement, Science and Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena announced that South Africa has a competitive advantage in developing hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies.

Having launched the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Research, Development and Innovation Strategy on 16th September, he claimed that the use of hydrogen and fuel cells to carry and produce energy respectively was interesting the government.

http://www.buanews.gov.za/news/08/08091711151004

Finally, MTI Fuel Cells announced that its third-generation Mobion Chip has improved its power performance by around 25 per cent from last June's previous model.

The chip demonstrated power of over 62mW per cm sq, while also producing over 1,800W hours per kg of energy from its direct methanol fuel feed.

http://www.mtimicrofuelcells.com/news/article.asp?id=339