Secretary Abraham Applauds Dow/GM Milestone Hydrogen Fuel Cell Test in Texas
Palaces For The People
Secretary Abraham Applauds Dow/GM Milestone Hydrogen Fuel Cell Test in
Texas
2/10/04 3:19:00 PM
To: National Desk, Energy Reporter
Contact: Joe Davis, 202-586-4940; Tom Welch, 202-586-5806, both of the
U.S. Department of Energy
FREEPORT, Texas, Feb. 10 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Secretary of Energy
Spencer Abraham, joined by Texas Governor Rick Perry and other
dignitaries, today officially opened a new General Motors hydrogen
fuel cell test facility that will convert hydrogen into electricity
for the Dow Chemical Company's manufacturing facility site in
Freeport. This new facility will conduct field tests to transfer
hydrogen into electricity and will demonstrate the viability of fuel
cell power generation for chemical manufacturing. The test is a
milestone that could have wide ranging benefits for industry and
individuals in the years to come.
"The Dow-GM transaction typifies the type of creative arrangements
that will arise from the new hydrogen economy," Secretary Abraham
said. "Not only is this test a first for evaluating the broad
industrial use of fuel cell technology, it is the first time a
carmaker has used its fuel cell technology to provide electricity and
heat for buildings and manufacturing,"
President Bush has called on the Department of Energy (DOE) to pursue
the promise of hydrogen. Over the next five years DOE will invest $1.7
billion in research and development of hydrogen vehicles and hydrogen
infrastructure technologies.
"We are optimistic about the prospects for hydrogen, not just as the
transportation fuel of the future, but also for its potential to
generate electricity to heat and power our homes and businesses,"
Secretary Abraham said.
Successful installation of hydrogen fuel cells will give Dow, an
energy-intensive manufacturer, an additional supply of electricity
while reducing emissions. The arrangement will also inevitably drive
technological progress in GM's pursuit of cost- competitive fuel cell
systems.
The initial test will convert hydrogen into 75 kilowatts of
electricity, or enough power for sixty homes per year. Ultimately,
fuel cells from GM could generate 35 megawatts of power from hydrogen
for Dow, equivalent to electricity for 25,000 homes.