National Hydrogen Association Conference

Join us for Public Day!
Below you find links to register for School Group Tours, South Carolina Science and Technology Teacher Workshops and much more.  Registration must be submitted by March 25, 2009.

School Group Tours
April 1, 2009
10:00 am - 3:15 pm
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Additional Information/Fax Registration
Register Online!

South Carolina Science and Technology Teachers
Hydrogen Education Workshop
April 2, 2009
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Additional Information/Fax Registration
Register Online!

Looking beyond the world-class keynotes and searching for the cool stuff?  Make sure you don't miss these:

The Hydrogen Vehicle Ride and Drive
Mar 31 and Apr 1:  10:30am-2:30pm (In front of the Convention Center)
Each year, the NHA Conference and Hydrogen Expo showcases one of the best displays of hydrogen vehicles anywhere. Some of the vehicles are powered by engines. Others run on electricity from fuel cells. Many are hybrids. All of them run on hydrogen. Come ride or drive one yourself and don’t forget to bring a valid driver’s license with you.

Hydrogen Student Design Contest:  A Green Building with Hydrogen
Mar 30, 6-8pm (Poster Walk); Mar 31, 10-5pm (Poster Walk); Apr 1, 10-4pm (Poster Walk); Apr 2, 8:30-9am (Ballroom)
The latest Hydrogen Student Design Contest asked students to imagine they had $28 Million USD to design a new green Student Center powered by hydrogen for the State University of New York - Farmingdale Campus on Long Island, NY.  Attend Thursday's keynote session to hear from the grand-prize winning team who will be announced that morning and visit the poster sessions anytime from Monday though Wednesday evening to hear from the two Honorable Mention teams.

"Green Machine" Student Competition
Apr 1, 10am-4pm (Expo Hall Live Demo Area)
First Fuel Cells, a distributor of practical hydrogen fuel cells for personal and educational, is holding their 2nd Annual Fuel Cell "Green Machine" Competition for students.  The competition includes five stages which include the Insertion of a Fuel Cell System in an unmanned vehicle.  The SC Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Alliance, in partnership with SCRA/SC Launch! funded five South Carolina school teams to compete in the "Green Machine" segment of the First Robotics competition.  These contestants will be displaying and demonstrating their technologies during the NHA event on April 1, 2009. Come see how youth, talent, technology, and imagination come together!

Formula Zero Hydrogen Race Kart
Mar 31 and Apr 1, 1-2pm (lower level, Convention Center parking lot)
Formula Zero is an international championship race series among six university teams from Europe and the United States.  Teams compete in the design, building, and racing of karts powered entirely by zero-emission hydrogen fuel cells.  Come watch demonstrations by the Element One team, speak with the engineers about their vehicle, and learn about the future of zero-emissions racing. Their 500-lb kart has a top speed of about 60 mph.

Hydrogen 101 Educational Film
Apr 1, 10am-4pm (Carolina B, Lower Level)
Hydrogen is a universal fuel that will play a major role in our clean, sustainable energy future. Although you may not know it, hydrogen is already becoming a practical reality in our everyday lives. Come watch a short film about our growing hydrogen economy and learn more about how hydrogen’s versatility makes it an ideal fuel that can be made anywhere and used in a broad spectrum of applications — power for buildings, vehicles, and portable electronics.

Hydrogen Fork Lift to Drive
Mar 31 and Apr 1, 10am-5pm (Expo Hall Live Demo Area)
Hydrogen forklifts represent one of the newest and most exciting new markets for today's
companies.  There will be several forklifts on display in the Hydrogen Expo and at least one available to drive from Carolina Tractor, a division of Caterpillar.  Forklifts like theirs are being used today by companies like Bridgestone/Firestone, Ace Hardware and Walmart.

Hydrogen Segways
Mar 31 and Apr 1, 10am-5pm (Expo Hall Live Demo Area)
South Carolina partners have added hydrogen fuel cells to the typically battery-only segways to increase range and power.  They are currently used by the Columbia Police Department and the Innovista research district.  Check them out for yourself as they roam around the Convention Center.

Hydrogen Video Cameras
Mar 31 and Apr 1, 10am-5pm (Expo Hall Live Demo Area)
In 2006, South Carolina ETV, the USC Columbia Fuel Cell Collaborative, and Jadoo Power Systems partnered on the project to bring portable fuel cells into the world of communications with fuel cell powered filming cameras.  Launched in 2006, the cameras have been utilized at over 50 events in the Greater Columbia area and continue to run today.  The SCETV team has highlighted the fuel cell's portability, light weight, and superior cell life as significant reasons why they are still in use today.

Hydrogen Portable Power Units
Mar 31 and Apr 1, 10am-5pm (Expo Hall Live Demo Area)
Trulite is one of the first companies to relocate their fuel cell manufacturing to Columbia, SC to take advantage of the research and innovation activity there.They will have their 23-lb, ultra quiet, 250W portable power unit to show how easy it can be to take electricity with you when you need it remotely.Come check it out!

Columbia Fuel Cell District Tours
Mar 31 and Apr 1, 2pm, 3:30pm and 5pm (In front of Convention Center)
The exciting Fuel Cell District Tours offer riders an opportunity to learn about Columbia’s assets and what is making our region an emerging center of excellence nationally. Guided tours will include destinations like USC’s dynamic research campus Innovista, fuel cell and other green power projects at FortJackson, Trulite’s pilot facility at the MTC Enterprise Campus, and the City of Columbia’s Hydrogen Fueling Station. During the tour, riders will learn about many the initiatives that operate in Columbia Region and the state of South Carolina in support of hydrogen and fuel cell innovation pipeline development.

HydrogenTown Hall—The Good, Bad, & Ugly About Hydrogen
Apr 2, 2:30-4pm (Richland Room, Lower Level)
Come to NHA’s Town Hall meeting and discover the truth behind the hype. An expert panel will be on hand to interact with the audience, to share information and ideas, and to answer questions. This event is open to all business leaders, civic leaders, and citizens to come and explore the real truth about hydrogen, the hydrogen economy in the U.S. and South Carolina, and hydrogen’s role in addressing our world’s energy issues. The guest moderator for the session will be South Carolina State Representative Joan Brady (Dist 78). Expert Panelists: Christy Cooper, U.S. Department of Energy; Rick Smith, Hydrogen Energy Center, Maine; Chris White, California Fuel Cell Partnership; Joel Rinebold, Connecticut Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Coalition; Rolf Nordstrom, Upper Midwest Hydrogen Initiative; and Carla York, Innovative Drive, Virginia.

Hydrogen Hybrid Bus Demo
March 30-April 3, 10am-5pm (In front of Convention Center)
The Hydrogen Hybrid Bus is coming to the Midlands of South Carolina. The prototype vehicle represents coupling many advanced technologies and is the result of an extensive partnership of designers, builders, and planners. Once the bus arrives in Columbia, it will be used and tested on routes for the University of South Carolina and Central Midlands Transit Authority. Come take a sneak peak under the hood and learn how the bus works.

South Carolina Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Alliance Pavilion
March 30-April 3, 10am-5pm (Expo Hall)
The SC Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Alliance is an exhibit that showcases South Carolina’s research, educational, governmental and industrial resources that contribute to the state’s hydrogen and fuel cell economy. The Pavilion is hosting 22 different South Carolina based groups in a 1500 square foot exhibit space, the largest it has been in its history. Come meet some of South Carolina’s hydrogen and fuel cell technology trailblazers.

School Group Tours
April 1, 10am-3:15pm (You Must Register By March 25th at http://www.nhatrailblazers.com)
This is a field trip opportunity not to be missed! Sign up your class for a special group tour at the 2009 National Hydrogen Association Conference & Hydrogen Expo. This is a perfect opportunity for students to learn about hydrogen technologies and our state’s fuel cell-powered future. Students will enjoy a group led scavenger hunt on the Expo floor, an educational film on hydrogen and fuel cell technology, and an interactive session at the live demo sites where they can see all kinds of hydrogen powered cars, robots, go-karts, forklifts, and more!  The forty-five minute tours will run every 15 minutes starting at 10 a.m. with the last one leaving at 3:15 p.m.Groups are asked to arrive 15 minutes before their tour. A marshalling yard will be available for school buses. Register online by March 25th.

School Group Tours
April 2, 9am-3:00pm (You Must Register By March 25th at http://www.nhatrailblazers.com)
The U.S. Department of Energy and the NEED Project are pleased to announce the upcoming South Carolina H2 Educate Workshop. Classroom teachers (grades 6-12) will have a unique opportunity to learn information and hands-on activities to teach students about hydrogen. Thanks to the U.S. Department of Energy, the workshop is free to South Carolina teachers! The workshop includes substitute teacher reimbursement, breakfast and lunch. Each school will receive a $500 H2 Educate Kit with materials for multiple teachers to use. Register online by March 25th.