The Energy Evolution - Hydrogen and Fuel Cells: Advances in Transportation and Power - page 26

lasted 1 hour and used a proton exchange membrane cell with platinum
catalyst. The Global Observer would use fuel cells and fly for more than
a week at 65,000 feet (19,800m). Israel Aircraft Industries is working on
mini-UAV applications where flight times last for 4 hours initially and
then later 8 hours.
Boeing's fuel-cell-powered manned glider is being developed by the
U.S. company's Spanish operation with Intelligent Energy, a U.K. compa-
ny, providing the fuel cell. A 50-kW proton membrane exchange fuel cell
has been installed with a battery hydride in the glider to demonstrate the
technology.
MATERIALS RESEARCH
Areas of research under way in Europe and the USA include weight-
reducing materials, increasing power-to-weight density, lower cost ma-
terials, reducing complexity, minimizing temperature rise, streamlining
manufacturing processes and designing for mass production and lower
unit costs.
Low-cost material programs include the European Union's $54 mil-
lion sixth framework research program on nanotechnologies and nano-
sciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials, new production
processes and devices. In partnership with the European Space Agency
(ESA), the 5-year project seeks to find catalysts less expensive than plati-
num, which is used widely in fuel cells. As an alternative to platinum,
nickel, cobalt and copper alloys are a possible solution.
HYDROGEN IN ICELAND
Iceland's hydrogen fueling station near Reykjavik is used by a
small fleet of fuel cell buses. The hydrogen is produced on site from elec-
trolyzed tap water. The Iceland New Energy consortium includes auto
manufacturers, Royal Dutch/Shell and the Icelandic power company
Norak Hydro. It has plans to convert all of Iceland to hydrogen. Almost
75% of Iceland's present electricity comes from geothermal and hydro-
electric power. In the U.S. only about 15% of grid electricity comes from
geothermal and hydroelectric sources, while 71% is generated from fossil
fuels. Only 16 hydrogen fueling stations are planned to allow Icelanders
to refuel fuel cell cars around the country.