FuelCell
Energy Awarded $1.5 Million for Electrochemical Hydrogen Separator Research
by U.S. Department of Defense
EHS System Being
Developed to Separate Pure Hydrogen to Enable Green Industrial and
Transportation Applications
DANBURY, Conn., Oct.
5, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL), a leading
manufacturer of high efficiency ultra-clean power plants using renewable and
other fuels for commercial, industrial, government, and utility customers,
today announced that the U.S. Department of Defense's Engineer Research and
Development Center - Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL)
awarded it approximately $1.5 million to continue development of its
electrochemical hydrogen separator (EHS). The EHS system separates pure
hydrogen from gas internally generated in a fuel cell that can be used for
industrial and transportation applications.
The EHS research
contributes to the development of FuelCell Energy's DFC-H2 product. The
DFC-H2 integrates an EHS system with the company's high-efficiency Direct
FuelCell (DFC) power plant to produce ultra-clean electricity, heat and pure
hydrogen. A DFC300 combined with an EHS would produce 300 kilowatts of power,
heat for combined heat and power applications, and up to 300 lbs. per day of
hydrogen. If successful, this combination may produce hydrogen more
economically than other methods.
"This award
recognizes our expertise in electrochemical separation technology and the
opportunity to further develop our fuel cell technology," said
Christopher Bentley, Executive Vice President, Government Research and
Development Operations for FuelCell Energy. "It also confirms the
Department of Defense's continued commitment to support the development of
innovative technologies."
Conventional methods
of separating hydrogen rely on a complex separation step using mechanical
compression. FuelCell Energy's proprietary EHS technology has no moving parts
and does not use compression, potentially offering higher reliability and
efficiency, resulting in the need for only half the energy compared to
conventional compression methods of producing hydrogen.
FuelCell Energy's DFC
stationary power plants use biofuels and fossil fuels more efficiently than
the electric grid and other distributed generation their size. Their high
efficiency results in low CO2 and, because they produce power without
combustion, they produce near-zero nitrous oxides, sulfur oxides, and
particulate matter.
The $1.5 million
ERDC-CERL program will span twenty months and will support the scale-up of
the EHS technology and establish readiness for a field demonstration.
About FuelCell Energy
FuelCell Energy is the
world leader in the development and production of stationary fuel cells for
commercial, industrial, municipal and utility customers. FuelCell Energy's
ultra-clean and high efficiency DFC(R) fuel cells are generating power at
over 55 locations worldwide. The company's power plants have generated over
340 million kWh of power using a variety of fuels including renewable
wastewater gas, biogas from beer and food processing, as well as natural gas
and other hydrocarbon fuels. FuelCell Energy has partnerships with major
power plant developers and power companies around the world. The company also
receives funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and other government
agencies for the development of leading edge technologies such as fuel cells.
For more information please visit our website at www.fuelcellenergy.com
About ERDC-CERL
The U.S. Army Engineer
Research and Development Center (ERDC) is the integrated Army Corps of
Engineers' research and development organization. Seven labs located at four
sites comprise ERDC: Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory,
Hanover, N.H.; Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL),
Champaign, Ill.; Coastal and Hydraulics, Environmental, Geotechnical and
Structures, Information Technology Laboratories, Vicksburg, Miss.; and
Topographic Engineering Center, Alexandria, Va. CERL conducts research and
development in infrastructure and environmental sustainment. This research results
in new technologies that help military installations provide and maintain
quality training lands and facilities for soldiers and their families. Many
of these products also find use in the private sector. CERL represents a
unique asset to the nation for research in civil engineering and
environmental quality.
This news release contains forward-looking statements, including
statements regarding the Company's plans and expectations regarding the
continuing development and commercialization of its fuel cell technology. All
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that
could cause such a difference include, without limitation, general risks
associated with product development, manufacturing, changes in the utility
regulatory environment, potential volatility of energy prices, rapid
technological change, competition, and the Company's ability to achieve its
sales plans and cost reduction targets, as well as other risks set forth in
the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this
press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking
to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect
any change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions
or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Direct FuelCell, DFC, DFC/T, DFC-H2 and FuelCell Energy, Inc.
are registered trademarks of FuelCell Energy, Inc. DFC-EHS is a trademark
owned by FuelCell Energy, Inc.
CONTACT: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
Lisa Lettieri
(203) 830-7494
ir@fce.com