Colorado Fuel Cell Center Announces Grand Opening

May 9, 2006—The Governor's Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC) along with its partners, the Gas Technology Institute, the Colorado School of Mines, Versa Power Systems, Inc., and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), have announced the grand opening of the state's first fuel cell center.

The Colorado Fuel Cell Center (CFCC), located at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, will be the home to world-class experts and projects focusing on research in the areas of electrochemical technology, materials, and fuel processing. Besides having the expertise and resources of its partners, the CFCC will collaborate with the U.S. Department of Energy's other national laboratories, as well as local and national businesses and industries in advanced research and development of fuel cells.

Research projects are already underway in three areas in the CFCC labs. First, in the field of polymer fuel cells, Colorado School of Mines Associate Professor Andy Herring is using CFCC facilities to develop new high-performance polymers that will improve the power output and the longevity of fuel cells designed for portable and transportation applications. Mines Professor Tony Dean is using the CFCC facilities to study fuel processing with the goal of making fuel cells compatible with a wide range of alternative and renewable fuels. Lastly, Mines Professor Robert Kee is using CFCC equipment to study high temperature fuel cells and cell components with the goal of using the test results to develop new modeling and simulation tools for improving performance and endurance while lowering costs.

"Colorado's existing infrastructure of universities, national laboratories, and high-tech workers is the perfect setting to advance fuel cell technology," said Governor Owens. "CFCC is another example of how our state is able to transform emerging ideas and technologies into real energy solutions for businesses, utilities, and consumers."

"The CFCC and all of its partners are thrilled to have this state-of-the-art laboratory where some of the fuel cell industries' top researchers and developers can collaborate on research and share successes," said Dr. Robert Remick, CFCC Director.

Currently, the CFCC has ten graduate and undergraduate students performing research on a variety of externally funded projects. When fully utilized, the CFCC will be able to accommodate up to 25 research workers. CFCC is funded by OEMC with matching funds from its partners. The CFCC will be self-sustaining within two years of its opening; it will reach that milestone through research and development contracts and consulting agreements. Operations at the CFCC are overseen by a Board of Advisors made up of representatives from the four partnering organizations and local fuel cell developers.