Maine’s First Hydrogen Project
Officially Under Way

Wiscasset, Maine – The Chewonki Foundation and Hydrogen Energy Center announced Tuesday that major system components have been ordered for the Chewonki Renewable Hydrogen Project, marking the official launch of Maine’s first-ever renewable hydrogen system.

In this ground-breaking project, renewably generated electricity will power an electrolizer to cleanly generate hydrogen. When needed, the stored hydrogen will be fed into fuel cells to create backup electricity for Chewonki’s 12,000-square-foot Center for Environmental Education. This demonstration system and an accompanying hydrogen education program is scheduled for completion in the winter of 2004. “Today’s purchase represents a strong, innovative idea moving toward reality,” said Peter Arnold, project director for the hydrogen project and coordinator of all Chewonki renewable energy projects, including its biodiesel program. “It also represents a significant step toward a society committed to a sustainable energy future rather than one dependant on burning fossil fuels, which in turn causes global warming.”

The centerpiece of the quarter-million-dollar project is the design, installation, and operation of a hydrogen energy system fueled by renewable energy. The system will create hydrogen from water by electrolysis, releasing oxygen into the air as a byproduct. The electrolysis will be powered by renewable energy, including solar power from photovoltaic panels on the roof of Chewonki’s Center for Environmental Education, and “green power” purchased from Maine Renewable Energy. The hydrogen will be stored until backup power is needed. If the regular power supply is interrupted, the fuel cells will create electricity from the hydrogen, providing up to four days of backup power for Chewonki’s Center.

Project manager, Paul Faulstich, announced Monday that two key system components have been ordered: the electrolyzer unit and the fuel cells. The “Hydrofiller 15” electrolyzer for the system will be supplied by Avalence, LLC of Milford, Conn. The Hydrofiller 15 is unique in the electrolyzer market because it produces high-pressure hydrogen without the need for a compressor, thus increasing energy efficiency.

In addition, three fuel cell units were ordered from ReliOn, of Spokane, Wash. Each “Independence 1000” unit can make one kilowatt (1000 watts) of electricity. Within each unit are six 200-watt cartridges. This design minimizes the impact of system failures by making the operation of each cartridge independent of the others. Thus, the fuel cell would always provide backup power even if one cartridge failed.

In his keynote address to Chewonki’s sixth annual Sustainable Energy Conference, Ross Gelbspan expressed praise for the project: “The hydrogen demonstration project here – along with the education programs, the site displays and the outreach tours – constitute work that reverberates far beyond the immediate confines of coastal Maine. What you are doing is contributing to an invaluable storehouse of information so that when the world finally calls for truly sweeping changes, your efforts will help us know what really works and what does not.”

Persons or organizations wishing to contribute to the Chewonki Renewable Hydrogen Project should may Peter Arnold at the Chewonki Foundation or Rick Smith at the Hydrogen Energy Center.

The Chewonki Foundation is a nonprofit educational institution established in 1962 and located on a 400-acre peninsula in Wiscasset, Maine. Chewonki is dedicated to helping people grow individually and in community with others by providing educational experiences that foster an understanding and appreciation of the natural world. Chewonki's leaders challenge participants both physically and intellectually with activities that build self confidence, a sense of community, and a greater awareness of the inter relatedness of the world around us. The Chewonki Foundation offers summer camp programs; wilderness trips for teenagers and adults; residential, school-year environmental education programs; traveling lessons in natural science and renewable energy; and a residential semester program of academic study for 11th grade students.

The Hydrogen Energy Center based in Portland, Maine, is a non-profit organization working toward a sustainable energy economy based on renewable hydrogen through public education, advocacy, technology demonstration and job creation.

THE CHEWONKI FOUNDATION
485 CHEWONKI NECK ROAD
WISCASSET, MAINE 04578
Phone: (207) 882-7323
Fax: (207) 882-4074