Ballard Passes Key Milestone for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Deployments in India
03 July 2009 - 1:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
VANCOUVER, July 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ballard Power Systems
(TSX: BLD; NASDAQ: BLDP) announced today that together with its
partner, IdaTech LLC, it has passed a product acceptance milestone
and confirmed the order of 310 ElectraGen(TM) H2 hydrogen-based
units. These units will be used to provide backup power for
wireless telecommunications network equipment to ACME Tele Power
Ltd customers in the Indian market. The units were designed and
built around Ballard's FCgen(TM)-1020 ACS fuel cell stack. John
Sheridan, Ballard's President and Chief Executive Officer said,
"Having our FCgen(TM)-1020 ACS fuel cell product pass product
acceptance as part of IdaTech's ElectraGen(TM) H2 DC generator is a
key proof point in our joint partnership with ACME. This formal
acceptance triggers the order of 310 hydrogen units representing
around 2MW of total power. Under the terms of the contract
announced in October 2008, an order of natural gas units
representing 10,000 units or over 70MW of total power is to follow
later in 2009, subject to product acceptance tests on our new
natural gas product." In support of the future natural gas
deployment, Ballard is developing a new low-cost, reformate-capable
FCgen(TM)-1300 fuel cell product. This technology overcomes
distribution challenges presented with hydrogen, particularly in
remote areas in India. In addition, the technology takes advantage
of government subsidies for natural gas, accessing significant
natural gas reserves and leveraging a growing natural gas
distribution network throughout the country. IdaTech's
ElectraGen(TM) NG DC power generator, fueled by natural gas, will
be built incorporating Ballard's new FCgen(TM)-1300 fuel cell.
Ballard plans to begin shipping its FCgen(TM)-1300 fuel cell
product in the last quarter of 2009. "The news that the
ElectraGen(TM) H2 has been accepted by ACME and its customers is a
very exciting development for IdaTech and, we believe for the
industry as a whole. This order further validates the use of fuel
cells as a viable and economic alternative to diesel generators,"
said Hal Koyama, CEO of Idatech. "The performance of the
ElectraGen(TM) H2 unit, incorporating Ballard's FCgen(TM)-1020 ACS
fuel cell, passed our acceptance criteria and expectations," stated
Sanjay Dhawan, CEO, ACME Tele Power Ltd. Atul Sabharwal, Chief
Operating Officer, ACME Group, further commented, "We are excited
to be working with both Ballard and IdaTech. The strong performance
of the hydrogen fuel cells is an important operational milestone
and demonstrates that we are on track for the broader deployment of
the natural gas fuel cell product to begin later in the year."
Extended duration backup power for wireless cell phone towers is a
necessity in India, where due to an unstable electrical grid, daily
extended power outages are common. Fuel cells provide extended run
times, longer lifetimes and lower overall maintenance costs over
the incumbent diesel generator and lead acid battery solutions. In
addition, fuel cell backup power systems reduce noise and air
emissions along with avoiding disposal issues associated with lead
acid batteries. About Ballard Power Systems Ballard Power Systems
(TSX: BLD; NASDAQ: BLDP) is recognized as a world leader in the
design, development, manufacture and sale of clean energy fuel cell
products. Ballard's mission is to accelerate fuel cell product
adoption. To learn more about what Ballard is doing with Power to
Change the World(R), visit http://www.ballard.com/. Ballard, the
Ballard logo and Power to Change the World are registered
trademarks of Ballard Power Systems Inc. DATASOURCE: Ballard Power
Systems Inc. CONTACT: or to arrange an interview with a Ballard
spokesperson, please contact Lori Rozali at telephone number (604)
453-3804 or on e-mail
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