Shell Hydrogen funds Luxembourg hydrogen station, appoints new CEO
Dutch-based Shell Hydrogen is providing funding and technological know-how for the construction of a hydrogen refueling station in neighboring Luxembourg, as part of the EU's Clean Urban Transport for Europe (CUTE) initiative to operate small fleets of fuel cell powered buses in nine European cities. The company has also appointed Jeremy Bentham as chief executive officer with effect from 1 April.
The Luxembourg project is being run by the municipal authority, La Ville de Luxembourg VdL. The hydrogen refueling station will be built at the city's main bus station, and will supply fuel to three fuel cell buses that will run on its streets. The refueling station is planned to be operational in the third quarter of 2003.
New CEO Jeremy Bentham brings broad experience in research, manufacturing, strategy, sales and marketing. He replaces Don Huberts, who has been appointed VP Refining & Chemicals in Shell Global Solutions.
Federal funding for NextEnergy fuel cell development program
Michigan's alternative energy research, development and education program, NextEnergy, is to receive US$2m from the federal fiscal 2003 energy and water appropriations bill, to support an intense research effort into hydrogen reforming, tanking and refueling.
NextEnergy is a non-profit corporation founded last October in the Wayne State University Research & Technology Park in Detroit, with its new 40 000 ft 2 (3700 m 2 ) facility dedicated in December. The facility will incorporate the latest technology into the building's electrical, and heating and cooling systems. Its power grid will include the use of fuel cells, as well as other advanced conventional and sustainable energy technologies.