1. The Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge
State and Regional Programs and Plans
The Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge
Russ Keller
South Carolina Research Authority
April 1, 2008

2. The Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge
What it is
Who is involved
Why we are pursuing it
What we have done thus far
Where we are going and most importantly…
How you can help us get there

3. The Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge
An initiative to engage firms and service providers:
to partner with the City of Columbia and the University of South Carolina
to assist in the design and implementation of a groundbreaking plan involving unprecedented integration of hydrogen fuel cell technology into multiple aspects of the City and the University.

4. The Columbia “Stakeholders”
University of South Carolina
College of Engineering and Information Technology
NSF Industry-University Cooperative Research Center for Fuel Cells
City of Columbia
Personal and policy priority of the Mayor
Coordinated through City’s Office of Economic Development
EngenuitySC
Regional entrepreneurial leadership group
Focus on high tech job creation
South Carolina Research Authority
Chartered to promote high wage job creation in SC
State mandate to sponsor “target program of excellence” in hydrogen and fuel cell technology

5. Why the “Challenge” The “means” to achieve the desired “ends”
#1 economic development objective for the region is creating a “knowledge economy” sector centered on hydrogen and fuel cell technologies
Research assets are strong
However, no markets exist yet for these products, and SC does not have strong history in high tech commercialization
Solution: leverage existing assets to create win-win partnerships with established industry

6. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Innovation Pipeline
NSF Fuel Cell Center
Innovista -- Horizon Center
Endowed Chairs
USC Future Fuels Program
USC SOFC Program
K-12 Programs
Community Education
FuelCellSouth
SCMEP
SC Export Consortium
MTC Programs
Capital
Fuel Cell District
Demonstration Projects
SC Launch!
Incubation Facilities
Military Testing &Training Center
Recruitment and Incentives

7. History of the Challenge
South Carolina 20-year strategy for capitalizing on emerging hydrogen and fuel cell industry completed Oct 2005
University of South Carolina – City of Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative created spring 2006
Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge concept announced at NHA 06 (Mar 2006)

8. History of the Challenge, Cont’d
Phase 1 RFP issued Jul 2006
Initial project awards announced
6 in Oct 2006
4 in Dec 2006
FTA National Fuel Cell Bus Project award announced Oct 2006
RFP for Columbia Hydrogen Fueling Station issued Jan 2007

9. History of the Challenge, Cont’d
Fueling station vendor selected (Jun 2007)
RFP for Fuel Cell Challenge Phase 2 issued (Oct 2007)
Phase 2 project awardees selected
3 in Dec 2007
1 in Feb 2008
Project announcements in Mar 2008

10. Fuel Cell Challenge, Phase I
“Laying the foundation”
Funded Projects
Planning grant for Children’s Museum exhibit
Development and pilot of K-12 education materials in public schools
Fuel cell kits for FIRST Robotics “Green Machine” high school competition
Creating a South Carolina Citizen’s School for Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Technology
Development and deployment of hybrid fuel cell / battery powered Segway
Deploying 2 fuel cell – powered television cameras with SC ETV
Portable fuel cell power demonstration for Columbia DHS first responders
Portable fuel cell power demonstration for Ft. Jackson SC first responders
Fuel cell backup power unit for Benedict College renovation project
Fuel cell forklift demonstration project (2 trucks in 6 different sites)
How Will We Get There?

11. Fuel Cell Challenge, Phase II
“Building Momentum”
Funded Projects
Support transition of start-up solid state hydrogen company out of local incubator and into initial low-rate manufacturing facility
Incubation of spin-off from established hydrogen and fuel cell company and support for market test of its newest product offering
Market test of fuel cell portable power system with follow-on opportunity for local manufacturing operations
Support a major equipment and facilities upgrade at Midlands Technical College to provide state-of-the-art hardware in support of its world-class fuel cell technician training curriculum

12. Columbia Hydrogen Fueling Station

13. FTA National Fuel Cell Bus Program
When: Fall 2008 – Fall 2009 (SC portion)
Where: Columbia, SC, New Haven, CT and a third site
What: Demonstration of battery dominant hybrid fuel cell bus
Why: Develop clean, reliable transportation technology for our citizens
Team: Innovation Drive, Center for Transportation & Environment, Mobile Energy Solutions, Hydrogenics, SCRA, USC, CMRTA, Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition, transit operators

15. How You Can Help Us Get There
Join our team
Collaborative research projects
Technology demonstration projects
Commercial
Military
Market readiness evaluations
Pilot manufacturing projects
Craft “win-win” partnerships
Come visit us at NHA 09 (or sooner)…and get plugged in

16. Questions?