2015 Contest to Develop Innovative Hydrogen Fueling Station Business Models and Financial Analysis

WASHINGTON - Nov. 26, 2014 - PRLog -- WASHINGTON, DC - November 25, 2014 - Today, the Hydrogen Education Foundation announced the 11th annual Hydrogen Student Design Contest, which will challenge student teams to develop business and financing models for hydrogen fueling stations. Finalists will be asked to pitch their plans to investors. Registration for the Contest, which is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, is open at www.hydrogencontest.org until January 16, 2015.

"Expansion of hydrogen refueling infrastructure is one of the great challenges facing mass deployment of fuel cell vehicles. In California, Japan and Germany, the combination of public and industry funding has jump-started initial station construction," said Jeff Serfass, President of the Hydrogen Education Foundation. "But public financing is not a sustainable business model for successful adoption of these zero emission cars; rather, this long term transition requires hydrogen fueling stations to be funded by private investment."

Through the Contest, multidisciplinary student teams will demonstrate their talents in business, finance, engineering, public planning, architecture, marketing, and entrepreneurship. In previous years, teams have designed fueling stations, airport systems and green buildings - all using hydrogen.

The top teams will be invited to present their design to a panel of industry professionals and investors, and the winning teams will be able to present their approach at a major industry conference. A full description of prize packages can be found online.

Students interested in participating in the Contest can register early by December 8, 2014 or by the final deadline of January 16, 2015 at www.HydrogenContest.org/register.asp. The Rules and Guidelines, which are the key documents, are available on the Contest website as well. The deadline for abstracts is also January 16, 2015.

Companies interested in receiving recognition by supporting this student activity should contact Emanuel Wagner, Hydrogen Education Foundation at +1-202-223-5547 x360 by January 13, 2015.

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About the Hydrogen Student Design Contest

Organized by the Hydrogen Education Foundation, the annual Hydrogen Student Design Contest challenges university-level students to develop innovative solutions to key issues facing the hydrogen and fuel cell industries. The Contest showcases the talents of students in many disciplines, including engineering, architecture, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

About the Hydrogen Education Foundation

The Hydrogen Education Foundation promotes clean hydrogen energy technologies through student scholarships, innovative national competitions, and educational programs to encourage environmental stewardship, improve energy security, and create green jobs.