The signs are quite clear: Large manufacturers of classic combustion engines are gradually abandoning their traditional fields of activity and investing in hydrogen technology.
New players in the fuel cell sector
worldwide
China switches to fuel cells
This remark (“major new customers”) stuck particularly with me, because Ballard – although already on board with many top partners and large companies in research technology – expects further major new customers, according to CEO Randy MacEwen in the telephone conference on the occasion of the figures for the fourth quarter of 2018.
Hydrogenics – perfect foundations for 2020 ff
The momentum for the fuel cell is constantly improving with increasing dynamics. Recent co-operations such as those between Bosch and PowerCell, but also positive statements on fuel cells from automobile manufacturers such as Audi are attracting attention. Will China be the driver again, as it was when the batteries were introduced and before that in the field of renewable energies? There, new funding guidelines are about to be introduced, which are intended to favour and strongly promote the fuel cell and the hydrogen infrastructure, while the subsidies for purely battery-operated vehicles will, depending on the radius, be abolished in full or to a large extent.
Bloom Energy – on the right track
In the first quarter, Bloom was able to generate a good US$ 200 million in sales. The bottom line was a minus of US$ 8.8 million or minus US$ 0.22 per share. Nevertheless, a noticeable improvement compared with the same quarter of the previous year, in which a minus of US$ 22.5 million was reported. This represents growth of around 18.5 percent. The cash position is very healthy, amounting to US$ 327.9 million plus US$ 42 million from Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).
FuelCell Energy – Reversal Split as Turbo of the Downward Trend
FuelCell had to feel what it means to fall for smart investors (loan sharks?). The preference shares that could be converted into ordinary shares were probably used to push down the price via short selling and to receive more and more shares due to a conversion ratio. Did the analysts who evaluate and recommend FuelCell Energy simply overlook this? Now the capital has been merged. The number of artificially inflated shares via conversion of preference shares has now been significantly reduced. Unfortunately, all this seems to leave the management cold, otherwise they would at least make a press release.
Tesla – the stock exchange punishes the company
Firstly, all Tesla shops should be closed, because it would be easier to sell the vehicles via the Internet, then some showrooms should remain, because firstly, Tesla would like to continue to be present in important locations (big cities) and secondly, Tesla would not be able to get out of long-term rental agreements without paying a penalty.
SPI without Deutsche Messe
Solar Power International (SPI) will take place this year from September 23 to 26 as part of North America Smart Energy Week in Salt Lake City, but without Hydrogen + Fuel Cells North America. As the organiser Solar Power Events confirmed to HZwei, the cooperation of the past two years with Deutsche Messe and Tobias Renz will not be continued. There will nevertheless be an H2 and FC area under the title Hydrogen + Fuel Cells International.
New contact person in Hannover
The responsibilities of Deutsche Messe AG are changing: Benjamin Low, the former Global Director of the Hannover Messe, left the Lower Saxony trade fair company at the end of February 2019. His successor is Basilios Triantafillos, who previously headed Energy in Hanover. From now on, the graduate economist will be responsible for all energy topics as well as for compressed air and vacuum technology and global business and markets – in Hanover, but also in Asia and North and Central America.
Hydrogen is the key
It’s been a long time since things were moving forward at the pace they have been in recent months. And it has been just as long since the mood was that optimistic in the energy sector. Wherever you look, you feel as if a new chapter has begun. It certainly feels a lot different than past times of doom and gloom in the fuel cell and hydrogen industry.
Fuel cell industry moves at rapid speed
January saw the publication of the Fuel Cell Industry Review 2018, including market figures and analyses. The review was created by the team of E4tech, which has contacted fuel cell companies once a year since 2014 to provide an independent overview of the fuel cell market based on aggregated shipment numbers. Below are some excerpts from its report.
In 2018, fuel cell system sales continued to grow. In all, companies shipped 74,000 systems, around 4,000 more than in 2017.