Nuvera Fuel Cells

I had the chance to see the new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, this past weekend.  While it is an action-packed adventure of a movie (and there are worse ways to spend a Sunday afternoon than watching Daniel Craig run around in a tux), I did take issue with the movie’s finale.

SPOILER ALERT!

As the movie speeds along to its eventual climax, bringing all of the major players together in a green energy hotel, you are told that it is powered entirely by fuel cells.  A groan escaped my lips…in a movie low on dialogue, this piece of information had to foreshadow something, and my guess was that it was going to be fiery.  Without giving away too much, fuel cells are inaccurately depicted in the scenes that follow, with the movie makers disregarding science and technological advancements in favor instead of movie magic, explosions, and special effects.  Yet another misunderstanding of hydrogen safety and fuel cell commercial preparedness…

The upside (I am nothing if not a silver-lining devotee), is that fuel cells made it into one of the biggest blockbusters of the year.  Our goal for next year is to make it into a blockbuster, only this time, accurately portrayed!

Thanks Bill

In addition to our fuel cell forklift proving ground in Topton, Pennsylvania, Nuvera has recently begun testing of its ReadyPower power pack here in our Billerica facility. The focus is on acceleration and braking, with special attention being paid to the regenerative braking system in place on most forklift trucks today. These tests will allow optimization of the hardware that Deka and Nuvera use to absorb the braking energy created (ReadyPower doesn’t have the large battery presence that traditional lead acid batteries do, as it stores its electricity in the form of hydrogen).

Pictured on the forklift is Aaron Harris, our Environmental, Health and Safety Coordinator.

Representative Niki Tsongas organized an event on Monday titled “Green, Clean and Sustainable – Economic Development for the 21st Century. 

At the meeting, which attracted about 75 people, she spoke about her desire to partner with green energy companies in the fifth districtof Massachusetts, to do what she can to help companies like ours grow both in market share and in employees.  An interesting bon mot that she offered to the audience: the green sector in Massachusetts employs over 14,000 people!  She also offered “As we seek solutions to our nation’s energy crisis, there are several innovative employers right in our backyard that are producing the alternative energy technologies which will help limit our foreign oil dependence and the harmful effects of climate change, while simultaneously creating outstanding green collar jobs for residents of the Fifth District.  The Merrimack Valley is fertile ground for the further growth and development of these jobs and this economic development conference that I am hosting will bring together job creation and environmental experts with leaders in our communities to discuss the steps that should be taken in order to encourage the further growth of this industry in our region.”

Bill Mitchell, our vice president of sales and marketing, participated in a panel titled “Green in the 5th – what did it take?” discussing Nuvera’s move last June from Cambridge to Billerica. On the panel with Bill were other area leaders in the solar, power electronics, and filtration industries.  The general consensus was that Massachusetts is a great place to live, and to attract and find talented people due to the numeraous universities inthe area.

The keynote speaker was Secretary Ian A. Bowles, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affiars who among other points of discussion, hinted at an upcoming clean energy bill that would be announced in the Commonwealth - more to come on this issue soon!.