Dave Edlund ’87 Environmentalist Explores New Source of Power

Though it’s not a big campus, the University of Oregon boasts over 5,000 trees — which often makes visitors exclaim at the greenness of the campus and students feel like they’re attending classes in the middle of a large park. So it’s no surprise, given the lushness of the surroundings, that Ducks have a reputation for being environmentalists. However, environmentalists, like everyone else, need electricity. So, especially in light of last year’s energy crisis and the current utility rate increases, they continue to consider energy alternatives. But gas plants pollute. Nuclear power still makes people uneasy. Hydropower is great, but wavers during droughts. And solar and wind power are not 100 percent reliable. UO alumnus Dr. David Edlund has another answer: hydrogen power. More specifically, hydrogen-powered fuel cells — potentially a miniaturized source of power in every home on the block that, he says, “will be a low-cost item to be replaced, rather than repaired, once it’s reached the end of its lifetime.” Hydrogen power has long been one of the most sought-after power sources. It’s the most abundant element on our planet, and, when utilized properly, generates only hot water and air as waste products. But it’s also been an elusive source of power — until now. When Dr. Edlund graduated from the UO in 1987 with his doctorate in chemistry, he didn’t know he would have a hand in creating a power source both reliable and environmentally sound. “The things that stand out most about the UO,” he says, “were the people that I worked with as a grad student, the exposure to a variety of research ideas, and the exposure to a good problem-solving process.” Within eight years of graduating, Edlund put those problem-solving skills and research experience to work, forming a company known as NorthWest Power Sources with two partners. After IdaCorp, a holding company based in Boise, Idaho, made a substantial investment, NPS was renamed IdaTech. And the ideas began to grow. “Fuel cells produce direct-current electricity,” Edlund says, “very similar to a battery. But unlike a battery, they don’t need to be recharged.” And these specific fuel cells, also unlike a battery, are not powered by fuels that may potentially damage the environment — rather, they run off of the most abundant element on the planet. Edlund predicts that these fuel cells will be available to the average consumer in two to five years. The Research and Development Division of Electricité de France, one of the world’s leading energy holding corporations, is planning on field testing the fuel cells in spring 2002, following the successful spring 2001 lab tests. Closer to home, Bonneville Power Administration, of the Pacific Northwest, is conducting similar tests. “It’s going to take some time, but I think hydrogen fuel cells will give consumers an opportunity to have electricity available anywhere,” he says. The cells are both quieter and cleaner than the vast majority of power sources on the market today, and, unlike most, will be available to customers who live off of the power grid, are mobile, or simply want an inexpensive back-up to standard power systems. So, what’s an earth-loving Duck to do when confronted with a polluting and unreliable system? David Edlund’s response was simple — revolutionize the industry.

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