Akaer gets approval for hydrogen-powered unmanned aircraft construction
The approval of a subsidy for the construction of an unmanned aircraft (UAV) with hybrid propulsion based on hydrogen was acquired by Akaer from FINEP (Financier of Studies and Projects). The project’s initial name was AKR-H2.
Akaer will be able to work on a prototype for the creation of a tiny eVTOL UAV thanks to the creative and distinctive initiative in the nation. The goal is to show that a cargo transport aircraft powered by clean energy is technically feasible. The evaluation of the hybrid propulsion alternative using an ethanol generator is another area of interest for Akaer. To get finance for this portion of the project, though, is still a necessity.
Akaer plans to create a family of autonomous freight aircraft for civil usage that might also be utilised for military and humanitarian purposes based on the technology that will be created with the AKR-H2 project.
HyVelocity Hub officially applies for $8B clean hydrogen funding
After being encouraged by the US DOE to apply for the funds, the HyVelocity Hub team has submitted an official application for funding from the $8 billion Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs programme.
The HyVelocity team wants to quickly increase clean hydrogen supply and demand in these Gulf Coast regions after submitting its initial concept paper in November 2022. It also intends to support the provision of a plentiful supply of dependable, reasonably priced sustainable energy and the creation of worthwhile jobs in nearby areas.
The Gulf Coast is an ideal location for a clean hydrogen hub, according to HyVelocity Hub, because it already has a number of desirable characteristics, including a significant concentration of hydrogen production assets, energy infrastructure that includes a network of 48 H2 production plants, more than 1,000 miles of dedicated hydrogen pipelines, and customers.
EnergIIZE will give applicants $29,7 million in hydrogen infrastructure incentives
The California Energy Commission’s (CEC) Energy Infrastructure Incentives for Zero-Emission Commercial Vehicles (EnergIIZE) Hydrogen financing channel will open for two weeks on April 27, 2023, at 9 a.m. Pacific Time. The Electric Vehicle (EV) Fast Track funding lane offered $10.4 million in incentives to applicants in minutes and is fully subscribed.
Hydrogen financing routes cover 50% of normal project equipment and software costs up to $3 million. The Jump Start equity criteria cover 75% of approved equipment and software expenditures, up to $4 million per project.
Funded equipment and software includes compressors, liquid and gaseous pumps, piping and pipelines, high-pressure storage, chillers, metres, switchgears, and electrical panel modifications.
Funding candidates must demonstrate that their projects are for medium- or heavy-duty hydrogen fuel-cell cars, that their filling stations can dispense 350 or 700 bar, and that they meet ASME, ASTM, and NFPA requirements.
At the application window, an Incentive Processing Center will accept applications with supporting papers. Prospective applicants can use the Sandbox test application portal until April 21, 2023, to practise applying.
Lhyfe Heroes launches Hydrogen Ecosystems Management Portal
This week’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Europe trade event will feature a display of Lhyfe Heroes’ Hydrogen Ecosystems Management Portal in Hanover, Germany (April 17-21).
According to the business, it is the first gateway available to developers in the UK and around Europe that can manage hydrogen mobility ecosystems.
The platform, which is intended for regions, local governments, economic development organisations, and end users, will facilitate and manage various hydrogen use cases.
Lhyfe is confident that its technology will help with issues like hydrogen production and distribution, situating production and distribution infrastructure correctly to satisfy user needs, and promoting and accelerating the usage of hydrogen in the region through education.
Also, by regularly communicating with hydrogen users, producers, and distributors, it will help developers synchronise projects and map local needs to better understand the quantity needed and pinpoint specific usage locations.
Bspkl claims it’s cracked the iridium problem in electrolysis
The amount of iridium and platinum required for electrolysis, according to a recently established New Zealand business, can be reduced by a factor of 25 using catalyst layer technology. A research institute’s spinoff firm has secured NZD 2.5 million ($2.3 million/USD 1.55 million) in seed funding.
The New Zealand-based startup Bspkl claims to have already produced its membrane products with catalyst coating, which are a part of hydrogen electrolysers, on a large scale. The company is seeking to fully commercialise its product over the next year with the help of the seed round’s funding.
In order to maximise output, hydrogen electrolyser membranes frequently incorporate expensive and resource-intensive precious metals like iridium and platinum. With loading levels of 0.089 mg/cm2 for iridium and 0.122 mg/cm2 for platinum group metal catalysts, Bspkl claims that its technique reduces the amount of iridium and platinum required for electrolysis by 25x.
The startup is presently concentrated on polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolysis, but it claims that it will “shortly” expand into anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolysis, hydrogen fuel cells, and other related technologies.
Recent seed funding for Bspkl was spearheaded by Australian startup capital firm Investible and sponsored by New Zealand technology investor WNT Ventures. Moreover, Callaghan Innovation’s Technological Incubator Program awarded them a NZD 750,000 ($690,000) repayable grant.
City Energy and Gentari partner on hydrogen iand EV charging networks
Two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between Singapore’s City Energy and Malaysia’s Gentari aim to perform cooperative feasibility studies for a hydrogen supply chain between the two nations and establish an EV charging network.
As part of their collaboration, City Energy and Gentari are looking for ways to get hydrogen into Singapore.
The agreements allow City Energy to investigate additional hydrogen sources to support its decarbonization efforts in addition to supporting Singapore’s National Hydrogen Strategy, which was launched in October 2022. Also, all parties will look at other hydrogen-related possibilities.
