VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 06/14/13 -- Editors Note: There is a video associated with this press release.
Canada's Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Sector is headed for a strong, successful year based on early results, according to Eric Denhoff, President and CEO of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, as the sixth edition of the international "Hydrogen +Fuel Cells 2013" (HFC2013) Conference is set to kick off this weekend in Vancouver.
More than 700 leaders from business, government and research institutions are attending the four day conference and tradeshow, beginning Sunday at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre.
"Canada continues to lead the world in key hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and commercialization initiatives," Mr. Denhoff said, pointing to Ballard Power Systems' recent Engineering Services contract with Volkswagen to advance development of fuel cells for use in demonstration vehicles, valued at C$60-to-100 million, Mercedes-Benz Canada's launch of a new $53 million automated fuel cell production and technology development facility in Burnaby as well as Canadian energy storage leader Hydrogenics Corporation's recent signing of its largest ever multi-year contract, valued at $90 million.
"Canada is leading the way in renewables to hydrogen to gas technologies," noted Hydrogenics Corporation's CEO Daryl Wilson. Hydrogenics has won a very significant share of global power to gas energy storage projects with their world leading electrolysis product.
"Ballard Power Systems and Hydrogenics Corporation have both experienced significant appreciation of their respective share prices in the last year, demonstrating renewed investor confidence in the growing Canadian sector", Denhoff noted.
"At Ballard, we are very pleased with the level of market interest and increasing adoption of commercial fuel cell solutions," said John Sheridan, President & CEO of Ballard Power Systems. "For example, our Telecom Backup Power systems have proven to be a highly reliable, cost effective alternative to meet extended duration runtime requirements in wireless telecom networks from South Africa to Southeast Asia. We believe that overall positive developments in the sector are taking us toward a 'tipping point'."
On the automotive front, Denhoff noted "Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., have joined forces at Mercedes' facility in Burnaby, reinforcing Canada's continuing leadership in the sector." Hyundai Motor Company has launched the world's first commercial, serial factory production of Fuel Cell Vehicles, and Canadians can get a first look during HFC 2013, where a 'Ride & Drive' event will highlight Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota fuel cell vehicles, as well as showcasing a Class 8 fuel cell truck from California. A zero emission fuel cell bus from the BC Transit fleet in Whistler will also be on display. The Whistler fleet is the world's largest zero emission fuel cell bus fleet, and has logged more than 1.5 million miles in revenue service to date.
Denhoff noted that the Canadian hydrogen and fuel cell sector generates more than $200 million in annual revenue and supports 2,000 clean, high-paying technology jobs. World leaders in the sector will be in Vancouver to showcase new developments, including commercial products.
There are major developments in the sector regularly, Mr. Denhoff said, "These range from energy storage projects to automotive alliances; and from growing telecom backup power installations to important product enhancements. These are signs of an evolving, fast-growing clean energy sector."
Denhoff added, "Companies like BMW, FedEx, Whole Foods, Walmart and others have been deploying fuel-cell powered forklifts for distribution centres, a clean energy application powered by Ballard-made fuel cells. More than 40 buses worldwide will be in service by the end of this year, using Canadian fuel cells. And companies from around the world are investing in the hydrogen and fuel cell sector, from BIC to Luxor, to companies from China, the U.S. and elsewhere. And, Canadian expertise in this sector has a very positive worldwide reputation."
Eric Denhoff, President and CEO
Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association
The Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA) is a national, non-profit association that supports Canadian corporations, governments and educational institutions that are developing, demonstrating and deploying hydrogen and fuel cell products and services in Canada.
To view the video associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.chfca.ca/resources/video/.
Contacts:
Media Contact:
Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association
Roxanne Le-Goff
604-283-1041
rlegoff@chfca.ca
