WISCASSET, MAINE – Maine’s first hydrogen fuel cell was activated today in Wiscasset beginning a new age of energy independence for the state. The solar-powered hydrogen system, designed and built by 60 Maine engineers and volunteers, can generate and store enough hydrogen to provide four days of electricity for an 11,000 square foot
visitor center.

At the ceremony, Governor John Baldacci signed an Executive Order creating the Maine Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Partnership to accelerate the development of renewable hydrogen technology in Maine. The Governor declared the 
Chewonki Renewable Hydrogen Project “a perfect example of Maine businesses and organizations uniting local business development, environmental sustainability, and energy independence.”

A three year, $250,000 collaborative effort by the Hydrogen Energy Center, The Chewonki Foundation, the Maine Energy Investment Corporation and a host of regional engineers, contractors and manufacturers, the project paves the way for other commercial hydrogen systems. The project received a cluster enhancement award from the Maine Technology Institute (MTI), including funds from MTI’s Maine Renewable Resources Matching Fund.

The three-kilowatt hydrogen energy system and demonstration project at The Chewonki Foundation in Wiscasset will provide backup power for its Center for Environmental Education, as well as clean, drinkable water and heat. Visiting school, technical and engineering groups can tour the Chewonki site as part of variety of education and outreach programs.

The hydrogen system makes use of an Avalence Hydrofiller electrolyzer, which generates hydrogen by using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is stored until off-grid power is desired, at which point three ReliOn fuel cells combine the hydrogen with oxygen in the air to produce electricity.

The Avalence electrolyzer is unique in that it produces hydrogen at high pressure, which allows it to use vastly smaller storage containers. Storage is one of the key challenges hydrogen faces for its widespread use, especially cars. The Chewonki system uses eight tanks of hydrogen, similar to helium balloon tanks, for its four-day supply.

“Typical systems require a compressor if they want to attain these pressures,” claims Avalence’s system engineer Martin Shimko. “Compressors dramatically increase cost and complexity and can introduce impurities. Our system creates extremely pure hydrogen directly at high pressure.”

Peter Arnold, of The Chewonki Foundation said, “Hydrogen energy is well suited for use with renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and hydro, and provide peak power when the resource is available, which may not be when you need it. Hydrogen can be used to store that energy for later use.”

Project Manager Paul Faulstich added, “Hydrogen is flexible in that it can be easily transported, stored for long periods, and used in conjunction with non-renewable sources such as fossil fuels, which allows one to transition from the non-renewable resource to a renewable one. For example, there are multi-fuel engines available that can burn gasoline, hydrogen, or a mixture – so you can fill up on whichever is available in your area.”

The Hydrogen Energy Center (http://www.HydrogenEnergyCenter.org) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization committed to advancing the transition to a renewable hydrogen energy economy through education, demonstration, and advocacy. 

Founded in 1991, HEC is based in Portland, Maine with members located throughout the United States and
Europe. The Chewonki Foundation (www.chewonki.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental educational institution, founded in 1962 in Wiscasset, Maine. Chewonki is dedicated to helping people grow individually and in community with others by providing educational experiences that foster an understanding, appreciation and stewardship of the natural world and that emphasize the power of focused, collective effort.

Governor John Baldacci (seated) signs an Executive Order establishing the Maine
Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Partnership. Standing, left to right: Richard “Rick”
Smith, Don Hudson, Congressman Michael Michaud (D-ME), Susan Jones, Beth
Nagusky, Betsy Biemann, David Dvorak

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