As a result of co-operation between Hawaiian state government energy agencies, the US Department of Defence and United Technologies Corp. a fuel cell research centre has opened in Oahu, Hawaii.
The project is to study hydrogen fuel cell production and cost-effective hydrogen production storage solutions. If the centre is successful, cells could be used in a range of applications including cars and power plants.
The facility is expected to become fully operational by late summer and will contain up to eight fuel test rigs to support cell development. Funding for the facility comes from a $1.5 million appropriation from the DOD for research collaboration between HNEI and the Naval Research Laboratory under the Hawaii Energy and Environment Technology Initiative.