Dow, GM, cut deal on fuel cells

General Motor and Dow Chemical said May 7 they have agreed that GM will commercialize its hydrogen fuel cell technology to generate electricity from hydrogen created as a co-product at Dow’s operations in Freeport, Texas, Dow’s largest manufacturing facility.

If tests go according to plan, Dow could eventually use up to 35 megawatts of power generated by 500 GM fuel cell units.

A test would begin in the fourth quarter and run through 2005, with plans to commercialize starting in 2006.

Bill Jewell, Dow’s business vice president of energy, said that if the tests are successful, Dow could become the largest user of fuel cell generated electricity in the world.

“Technology moves forward in steps,” Jewell said: “This step can prove the feasibility of manufacturing and using fuel cells in significant quantities.” Larry Burns, GM vice president of research and development and planning, said the collaboration could “reduce the cost of fuel cells and improve their durability so that we may put the in cars by the end of the decade.”

Peter Molinaro, global leader of climate change for Dow, said the “collaboration can place us at the threshold of common use of fuel cells to power significant portions of our economy.” He said the pursuit of energy diversity will ultimately lead to a hydrogen economy.