The area company is working on what the Edison center called a "novel Spiral Stackable Reactor for low-cost stationary hydrogen production.''
The reactor is intended to be a drop-in replacement for the loose ceramic catalyst media in the process that has been used for many years to produce hydrogen from natural gas, according to Edison.

Stationary fuel cells use hydrogen generate electricity for houses, machinery or other equipment without the pollution created by gasoline and other fossil fuels.

Catacel's experience lies in creating and implementing metal honeycomb and heat exchanger solutions linked to fuel reforming, fuel cells, catalytic combustion and specialty catalytic devices, Edison stated.

According to its Web site, the company is headquartered in Garrettsville, although the Edison news release placed it in Leavittsburg. No one from Edison or Catacel could be reached early Wednesday evening.

Catacel has teamed with the University of Toledo and AvMat LLC in Akron to develop and commercialize the reactor, according to the Edison center.

In another contract, the Edison center said it awarded a $360,287 deal to Faraday Technology Inc. of Clayton to develop low-cost, mass production fabrication technology for membrane electrode assemblies for Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cells. The program will enable high-cost electrode catalysts to be used more efficiently.

The awards were made after the Edison center's competitive solicitation for proposals addressing needs in generating and storing hydrogen for near-term commercial use.