COLUMBIA, SC –BoroScience International, a Columbia, SC-based company
that makes solid-source boron-based compounds, is getting a $123,000 investment from SCRA’s SC
Launch! The company’s technology has potential advanced fuel cell uses.
The SC Launch! funding was provided as a result of the company’s selection as one of the four
award recipients through the Greater Columbia Fuel Cell Challenge. This SC Launch investment
furthers Midlands-area efforts to establish a portable fuel cell cluster and attract additional,
collaborative partners.
BoroScience brings a patented small-scale boron-ammonia manufacturing process to Columbia.
The company serves high-yield, low-cost markets including hydrogen, advanced materials, biomedical
and electronics technology.
“We supply academic and industrial leaders in these fields,” said BoroScience CEO Bernard
Spielvogel, Ph.D. The company is currently researching potential for catalytic hydrogen release and
regeneration “We foresee use of ammonia borane as a feedstock for many commercially valuable
materials which will stimulate large-scale production,” said Spielvogel.
Spielvogel visited South Carolina on a trade mission from Nova Scotia, Canada, in 2006. “In
my travels throughout the state, it became very obvious that SC had a very clear view of the
direction it wanted to take for its future and its place in the U.S.,” he said.
“I met enthusiastic leaders committed to making this happen. Wanting to be a part of it, I
moved my company to Columbia in Feb of 2007.” Spielvogel located BoroScience in the USC Columbia
Technology Incubator and also qualified as a SCLaunch company. “These organizations and USC
administrators have been extremely helpful to grow my company. In the few short months since
arriving in SC, I have participated in events throughout the state and have been presented with
numerous opportunities to grow my business,” he said.
Bill Mahoney, SCRA CEO, said, “Their partnership with USC and the recognition they’ve
received from the Fuel Cell Collaborative provides a strong example of how collaboration
strengthens the knowledge economy of South Carolina,” he said.
The BoroScience announcement follows a series of others by SC Launch. In recent months, more
than 59 start-up initiatives across the state have received financial support and other services
from SC Launch. SC Launch portfolio companies include DigitalDerm (Columbia), Sabal Medical
(Charleston) and Vigilix (Greenville).
On the Web:
www.boroscience.com;
www.scra.org;
www.sclaunch.org
5.29.2008
Northwest Middle School students praised for hydrogen fueled toy cars
(view article)
5.29.2008
Bob Inglis unveils action plan for energy security
(view article)
5.29.2008
Energy forum set for June 4 to discuss hydrogen's future
(view article)
5.28.2008
Boroscience mines $123K from SCRA's SCLaunch!
(view article)
5.28.2008
South Carolina lab exploring hydrogen as power source
(watch
video)
5.28.2008
Columbia Hydrogen Fueling Station Project Officially Launched
(view article)
5.19.2008
Works starts on Columbia, SC hydrogen fueling station
(view article)
5.19.2008
Chamber gets a peek at the future
(view article)
5.16.2008
Hydrogen Fueling station under way
(view article)
5.9.2008
Inglis to test drive hydrogen-powered Chevy truck
(view article)
5.2.2008
Hydrogen-power vision hits road
(view article)
May 29, 2008
(view original article)
Northwest Middle School students praised for hydrogen fueled toy cars
The mission? To help take control of our energy future. That was assignment for some upstate middle school students in the fall. Thursday at the International Center for Automotive Research, those Greenville County students were recognized for the cool hydrogen fueled cars they built in class.
Northwest Middle School sixth grader Katie Clark says it wasn't easy. "We actually made a car that ran off of hydrogen," says Clark. Under the guidance of science teacher Susan McCoy, it was mission accomplished, and today at I-CAR the students launched several of the cars for the crowd gathered for an event orchestrated by Representative Bob Inglis. Inglis praised the students for their use of hydrogen as an alternative energy source, as he spoke about energy security at the I-CAR complex in Greenville County. "The challenge is for America, to inspire these kids to produce those fuels of the future," said Inglis.
Mrs. McCoy’s students stepped up to the plate. They were the only ones in the Southeast to be selected this year to conduct the “Fuel Cell Challenge.” It’s a middle school curriculum from the society of automotive engineers which shows students how math and science can be applied to the real world, and our future. "One hundred percent of my kids said two things. It taught me that I could work in a team and that I could do something that was really hard," says McCoy.
Several students, like Katie, are now considering a career in engineering. "It was a hard project, but we had lots of fun."
Her teacher believes one of her hard working students might help change the world.
"They see they can make a difference, and I think that this type of program puts in their heads that, if I can do this now, what can I do with I get there?"
Only 22 schools were selected for the field test program which goes nationwide in the fall.
May 29, 2008
(view
original article)
Bob Inglis unveils action plan for energy security
A dozen or so budding engineers from Northwest Middle School demonstrated a tiny race car running on a hydrogen-cell during the unveiling of U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis’ action plan for energy security.
Inglis told the sixth graders that it was their "patriotic duty" to help wean the United States from its oil addiction.
"It was difficult," said Justin Dribodt, who added that the pilot project sponsored by the Society of Automotive Engineers gave him some ideas for his future career.
"I’ve always like to build and work with stuff," he said.
Inglis said that South Carolina, with its plethora of companies and universities involved in
energy research and production, has the opportunity to be a leader of the alternate fuel industry.
He pointed out research at Clemson University and the University of South Carolina as well as other
colleges is a plus. Also, Michelin North America is a leader in the rolling resistance move, which
saves on gas use. GE builds wind turbines at its Greenville plant.
The United States must face the issue and develop alternate energies, he said. Currently more
than $500 billion a year is going to foreign oil producers -- more than the current U.S. defense
budget.
"We must have a choice in fuels of the future or they will be able to buy and sell America
with our own dollars," he said.
May 29, 2008
(view original article)
Energy forum set for June 4 to discuss hydrogen's future
USC’s College of Engineering and Computing will continue the "Our Energy Future" series with a program June 4 in Columbia.
"The Place of Hydrogen in Our Energy Future," will be held on the University of South Carolina’s Columbia campus at 6:30 p.m. in Amoco Hall of Swearingen Engineering Center on South Main Street.
Guest speakers will be Shannon Baxter-Clemmons, executive director of the S.C. Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Alliance, and James B. Atkins of Regulatory Heuristics and formerly with the S.C. Public Service Commission. The moderator will be Harris Pastides, USC’s vice president for research and health sciences.
Michael Amiridis, dean of the university's College of Engineering and Computing, said the forums examine existing and potential energy sources and their roles in the state's energy future.
Other programs will be June 25 at USC Upstate and July 25 at Claflin University.
For more information about the forums, contact Chris Toumey at (803) 777-2221 or e-mail him at
toumey@sc.edu.
May 28, 2008
(view original article)
Boroscience mines $123K from SCRA's SCLaunch!
May 28, 2008
Columbia Hydrogen Fueling Station Project Officially Launched
Columbia, SC--On behalf of its partners in the University of South Carolina – City of Columbia
Fuel Cell Collaborative, SCRA, a global leader in applied research and commercialization, has
signed a contract with the Center for Transportation and the Environment to lead a project that
will install and commission a hydrogen fueling station in downtown Columbia. An initial project
kick-off meeting was conducted today and work will commence immediately, with the goal of having
the station operational in advance of the 2009 National Hydrogen Association annual conference,
which will be held in Columbia in late March, 2009.
Funding for the first phase of the project, which will design and configure the station,
order major pieces of equipment and secure the necessary permits to begin construction, is
being provided by proceeds from a federal grant awarded to EngenuitySC and by proceeds from the
South Carolina Industry Partnership Fund administered by SCRA. This phase will permit compression,
storage and dispensing of high pressure gaseous hydrogen; subsequent phases of the project will
provide the capability to generate hydrogen on site.
This project represents an unambiguous commitment by the political, economic and academic leaders in the Columbia region to growing and developing a hydrogen and fuel cell economy in the Midlands,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA CEO. “SCRA is pleased to lead investment in this and other projects that fulfill our legislative mandates through the Innovation Centers and Industry Partnership Acts.”
The station’s first “customer” will be the Federal Transit Administration’s National Fuel Cell Bus Program, which will provide a hybrid battery – fuel cell bus for demonstration in Columbia beginning late in 2008. The bus, which is being built in Golden, Colorado, will operate in Columbia for a year as part of a three-site test program.
Our commitment to creating a hydrogen and fuel cell economy in Columbia is one step closer with the launch of this fueling station. This station and other related projects lay the foundation or making our vision a reality,” said Bob Coble, Mayor of the City of Columbia. “ We are proud to join a select group of cities who have embraced the hydrogen economy in the U.S.”& amp; amp; amp; lt; /p>
The project team will be led by the Center for Transportation and the Environment, an Atlanta based organization specializing in public transportation projects. Technical lead for the project will be the Gas Technology Institute, an Illinois-based research, development and training organization focused on delivering technology-based solutions for consumers, industry, and government. Major equipment and components will be supplied by Greenfield Compression, a Texas-based company specializing in compression and storage systems for industrial and natural gases. Local partners on the project team include the University of South Carolina and the Boudreaux Group.
CTE is proud to be involved in this important project, which brings together an exceptional team of regional expertise and resources and will attract national and international attention to Columbia and South Carolina as a leader in hydrogen and fuel cell technology development,” said Dan Raudebaugh, CTE’s Executive Director.
An official “ground breaking” for the station is anticipated later this summer.
May 19, 2008
(view original article)
Work starts on Columbia, SC hydrogen fueling station
COLUMBIA, SC—SCRA, a global leader in applied research and commercialization, has signed a contract with the SC Center for Transportation and the Environment to lead a project that will install and commission a hydrogen fueling station in downtown Columbia.
Work will commence immediately with the goal of having the station operational in advance of the 2009 National Hydrogen Association annual conference, which will be held in Columbia in late March, 2009.
Funding for the first phase of the project, which will design and configure the station, order major pieces of equipment and secure the necessary permits to begin construction, is being provided by proceeds from a federal grant awarded to EngenuitySC and by proceeds from the South Carolina Industry Partnership Fund administered by SCRA.
“This project represents an unambiguous commitment by the political, economic and academic leaders in the Columbia region to growing and developing a hydrogen and fuel cell economy in the Midlands,” said Bill Mahoney, SCRA CEO. “SCRA is pleased to lead investment in this and other projects that fulfill our legislative mandates through the Innovation Centers and Industry Partnership Acts.”
The station’s first “customer” will be the Federal Transit Administration’s National Fuel Cell Bus Program, which will provide a hybrid battery – fuel cell bus for demonstration in Columbia beginning late in 2008. The bus, which is being built in Golden, Colorado, will operate in Columbia for a year as part of a three-site test program.
The project team will be led by the Center for Transportation and the Environment, an Atlanta-based organization specializing in public transportation projects.
May 19, 2008
(view original article)
Chamber gets a peek at the future
By RACHEL JOHNSON Staff writer
A casual business lunch consisting of hydrogen dogs, a mini-trade show and kicking tires entertained the Aiken business community last week.
On Friday afternoon the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce held a Membership Appreciation Lunch. "We wanted to show our appreciation for all our members do with creating jobs and investing in the community," explained CEO/President of the Chamber David Jameson.
Additionally the Chamber wanted to take the opportunity to introduce the advances of hydrogen research to members. "Aiken County is on the cutting edge of hydrogen research," said Jameson as he pointed to the first registered hydrogen truck in South Carolina parked in June's Garden at the Chamber.
Over forty-five vendors packed the Chamber for a mini-trade show, featuring a wide variety of products and services ranging from ice cream to travel packages and home security systems.
Many attendees took the opportunity to speak first hand with Ernest Chaput of the Center for Hydrogen Research. Currently the hydrogen truck is on loan to the Economic Development Partnership by the Center for Hydrogen Research.
"The vehicle shows what can be done with hydrogen today," explained Chaput to a group of inquisitive visitors. "We believe it is important to develop a replacement for petroleum as supplies dwindle and prices rise. We are thinking of the future and hydrogen is a probable option. The vehicle was bought to introduce South Carolina to hydrogen. It is practical and safe, emitting no greenhouse gases."
Currently the only hydrogen refueling station in the state is located at the SRS, but plans are in motion for additional locations. Researchers are looking for ways to manufacture the hydrogen vehicles that would reduce the cost and make them available to the common consumer.
During the member appreciation lunch, hundreds dropped by to share in the festivities with the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce. "We wanted to deliver a simple message - thank you for all you do to make Aiken the special place it is," Jameson said.
For more information, contact the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce at (803) 641-1111 or visit them online at www.aikenchamber.net.
Contact Rachel Johnson at rjohnson@aikenstandard.com
May 16, 2008
(view original article)
Hydrogen Fueling station under way
ashain@thestate.com
Work formally began this week on a hydrogen refueling station in the Vista that’s supposed to
help make the city a center for alternative fuels.
When it opens in February, the station will fuel a bus that will travel around the USC campus and on several city transit routes, said Russ Keller of the South Carolina Research Authority, the project manager.
The bus from the Federal Transit Administration will remain in Columbia for a year. Officials hope the station will next fuel shuttles used at Midlands military bases and forklifts used by area companies.
The station at Huger and Laurel streets would be the Southeast’s only publicly accessible hydrogen fueling station, outside of Florida.
Hydrogen fuel is supposed to be less environmentally harmful than fossil fuels and would lessen dependence on oil, proponents say.
But the technology is years away from common use, and hydrogen fuel costs about $5-$10 a gallon, said Keller, the authority’s senior director for alternative energy. That’s $1.50 to $5.50 a gallon more than gasoline.
USC and the city of Columbia have collaborated for several years to develop hydrogen technology projects. The technology was put on display at six companies that used two hydrogen-powered forklifts last year.
“We want to be the next Silicon Valley with hydrogen technology,” Columbia Mayor Bob Coble said. “You can’t be a hydrogen city without a hydrogen station.”
Funding for the $1.2 million fueling station comes from a federal grant and the research authority.
Design work began this week with construction slated to start this fall, Keller said.
The bus could arrive as early as Oct. 1 and will be fueled remotely until the station opens.
The bus and station will be operating when the National Hydrogen Association annual conference comes to Columbia in March. The conference is expected to bring dozens of hydrogen-powered vehicles for demonstrations.
Reach Shain at (803) 771-8619.
May 9, 2008
(view original article)
Inglis to test drive hydrogen-powered Chevy truck
U.S. Rep. Inglis (R-SC) will test drive a hydrogen-powered truck and deliver remarks this afternoon at the Fifth-Annual FuelCellSouth Southeastern Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Conference in downtown Greenville.
Co-chair of the House Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Caucus, Inglis will take a spin around downtown in the Chevy Silverado pickup before speaking to the Conference at approximately 6 p.m.
The hydrogen-powered Chevy Silverado is owned by the Center for Hydrogen Research, part of the S.C. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Alliance, and is the first officially registered hydrogen vehicle in the State.
What: FuelCellSouth Industry Conference
When: Today, April 28, 2008 at 5:15 p.m.
Where: Hyatt Regency (220 N. Main St., Greenville)
Contact: Please contact Price Atkinson if you are interested in attending this
afternoon. Interested media should be on sight by 5:15 p.m.
May 2, 2008
(view original article)
As printed in The State and Myrtle Beach Sun
Hydrogen-power vision hits road
When Fred Humes, director of the Economic Development Partnership of Aiken and Edgefield counties, called an insurance company to get a policy for the state's first hydrogen-powered vehicle, the agent on the line did not know what to say.
Such are the problems that the new technology faces as boosters try to promote use of the environmentally clean alternative to gas-powered vehicles.
Humes showed off the vehicle - a modified 2007 Chevrolet Silverado - at a state economic development conference Thursday in Myrtle Beach.
"Tomorrow is actually today," Humes said. "This is for real."
A moderately priced, hydrogen-powered vehicle could be available to consumers within three to four years, Humes said. But the problem is the infrastructure: places to fuel up, mechanics to maintain or modify the vehicles and rules and regulations regarding them, for example.
The Center for Hydrogen Research, an Aiken group funded by public and private sources, bought the Silverado two months ago for $120,000, and Humes is taking it around the state to show people the possibilities.
The Silverado looks just like a gas-powered vehicle, only with three huge hydrogen tanks in the pickup's bed.
The truck gets slightly better mileage on hydrogen than gas - the equivalent of 20 miles per gallon instead of 17 miles per gallon, Humes said. It costs more to fill up the truck: the equivalent of $5.50 a gallon. But the truck releases virtually no greenhouse gases, and the technology would reduce America's dependence on foreign oil, Humes said.
"Wonderful," said Harry Bugbee, manager of economic development of Scana Corp., as he admired the truck. "We've got to find an alternative. ... We have to do it differently. We have to think differently."