Hoku Scientific demonstrates fuel
cell for U.S. Navy
Kapolei, HI— Fuel Cells, a business unit
of Hoku Scientific, Inc. announced that it completed the installation
and commenced the demonstration of the first two stationary fuel
cell power plants under Hoku Scientific’s contract with the
United States Navy. The power plants will be demonstrated over a
one-year period at a building occupied by the Energy and Business
Services Division of United States Navy Region Hawaii at Pearl Harbor.
In May 2006, Hoku Scientific reported that the
United States Navy had officially accepted the first 2 of 10 fuel
cell power plants. Since the Navy’s acceptance of these two
power plants, the Navy has accepted two additional power plants,
and has completed the approval process for the demonstration site
selection and preparation. The remaining seven power plants, six
of which will be demonstration systems, are scheduled for factory
acceptance, installation and demonstration commencement this summer.
These additional power plants are planned for demonstration at the
Energy and Business Services Division building, and at the Greater
Mid-Pacific Branch Office of the Office of Naval Research, located
in the Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet compound.
The stationary fuel cell power plants, or demonstration
systems are designed by IdaTech LLC and incorporate Hoku MEA to
generate net electrical output of approximately 1.5 kilowatts. Hoku
Scientific’s contract with the U.S. Navy requires a minimum
net electrical output of one kilowatt. Each of the fuel cell power
plants incorporates an IdaTech fuel processor that produces hydrogen
from a mixture of water and methanol. |
