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Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Command Attention at the 2009 Palmetto Pillar Awards

Columbia, SC – Trulite and Fort Jackson were recently recognized for their commitment to hydrogen and fuel cell advancement at the 2009 Palmetto Pillar Awards. These awards are a testament to the bourgeoning hydrogen and fuel cell environment in the Columbia region and around the State.

“This is a great accomplishment. Trulite opened its manufacturing plant in Columbia last year and has truly become a trailblazer for the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Cluster” said Dr. Shannon Baxter-Clemmons, Executive Director of the South Carolina Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance.

Trulite won the Leading Edge Technology category for their manufacturing of small portable hydrogen fuel cells.
Fort Jackson won the Green Technology category for its implementation of ten hydrogen fuel cell generators for emergency backup power replacing pollution emitting diesel generators.

“Fort Jackson‘s award is a testament to the collaborative energy in Columbia, many organizations like SCRA, the Army Corp of Engineers, as well as the South Carolina Energy Office worked together to make this project happen” said Russ Keller, Senior Director for Alternative Energy at the South Carolina Research Authority.

Columbia’s Information Technology Council (ITC), which hosted the 2009 Palmetto Pillar Awards for the 11th year, was formed in 1998 by the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce to serve the greater Columbia Region. The ITC reaches out to, acknowledges and embraces all who are involved in the IT community. The ITC programs are designed to create awareness, provide networking opportunities and to recognize achievement of those in the IT community.

Green Technology
Sponsored by: Edens & Avant
The Green Technology Initiatives award recognizes a company or organization for the application or development of green technology-based projects and programs.

US ARMY – GARRISON COMMAND – FT. JACKSON: 2009 WINNER!

The Army takes proactive steps toward clean energy sources, and Ft. Jackson has taken a major step in its efforts to embrace “green” technology with the installation of 10 hydrogen fuel cells (replacing diesel generators), which will serve as a back-up power source for three critical on-post facilities; the Directorate of Emergency Services; the Energy Management Control Center, and the Directorate of Information Management.

This collaborative project (approximately $500,000) which involved the SC Energy Office, the Army Corps of Engineers and the SC Research Authority, among other agencies, is the first of its kind in the state. Roswell, GA based LOGAN Energy Corp. was contracted to install the fuel cells.

The process involved: locating where the fuel cells could be strategically placed with most efficiency on the installation; the design plan to connect it to the installation infrastructure in addition to pouring concrete; connecting it and insertion of the hydrogen bottles. Each fuel cell has six hydrogen bottles that last for 12 hours.

Leading Edge Technology/ Trailblazers
Sponsored by: DP Professionals
The Trailblazer award recognizes a company, organization or individual for the best use of emerging technologies in the region.

TRULITE: 2009 WINNER!

Trulite designs and manufactures small (20 W - 2 kW) fuel cell and hydrogen generation systems with hydrogen storage cartridge technology (HydroCell) and a 250 watt PEM fuel cell power system (KH4). Their target market Portable and Residential Power is large ($3.7 billion) and expanding, They have their IP well secured with 3 patents awarded and 8 patents pending on their HydroCell, KH$ Power System and fuel cell technology, generating income ($ 1 M in 2009). Trulite started operations in South Carolina in 2008 becoming the first resident company at the Midlands Technical College’s Enterprise Campus. They current employ 2 people at this location and plan to add another 3 in 2009.

The Chamber and the Information Technology Council would like to congratulate all the finalists and winners of the 2009 Palmetto Pillar Technology Awards and to thank the sponsors:
Presenting sponsor: The Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management

Platinum sponsors: BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, Carolina First, DP Professionals, Embassy Suites, and Zero Gravity Project