In 2004, GTT and Siemens entered into a cooperation agreement for a stationary fuel cell power system demonstration program. The program, termed EOS (Energia da Ossidi Solidi/energy from solid oxide), is intended to demonstrate the behavior of SOFC systems operating in an actual industrial environment.

The program is based on two demonstrator systems: the SFC-100, presently operating at GTT’s facility in Torino, Italy, and the new SFC-200. The SFC-100 began operation at GTT in June 2005 and has successfully accumulated more than 3500 operating hours to date, supplying 20 percent of the electric power needed at the Torino facility, plus 65 kW of thermal power that is cogenerated for office heating.

"With the success of its Siemens SFC-100 system, GTT has now ordered an SFC-200 system to provide additional heat and power for the Torino facility and, in particular, to evaluate Siemens’ latest pre-commercial technology in anticipation of commercialization," said Thomas Flower, president of Siemens’ Stationary Fuel Cell division. The fuel cell programs underway at GTT are intended to qualify the company as a service provider for future SOFC applications and to demonstrate the reliability of the Siemens technology.

In parallel with the larger systems, GTT also has launched another project termed EBE (Energia a Basse Emissioni/low emission energy) aimed at smaller fuel cell systems. This project will begin with the testing of a 5 kW Siemens SOFC system, recently delivered and to be installed at a later date in a new canteen at the Torino site. This component of GTT’s fuel cell program is intended to demonstrate the validity of an SOFC system of this size for day-to-day operation in a restaurant.

About Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs):
Solid oxide fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert energy in a fuel into electricity much like a battery and, due to the operating temperature, valuable heat is recoverable for use in heating and cooling applications. SOFC systems are fabricated at the Siemens’ Stationary Fuel Cells facility in Churchill, a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Siemens, a world leader in SOFC technology, plans to commercialize SOFC generators and systems in the 5 kW to multi-megawatt range with first pre-commercial deliveries in the 2008/2009 time frame. Siemens is developing SOFC technology under a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Energy, through its National Energy Technology Laboratory, and the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Labor, BMWA.

The Power Generation Group (PG) of Siemens AG) is one of the premier companies in the international power generation sector. In fiscal 2005 (which ended September 30), Siemens PG posted sales amounting to approximately EUR8.1 billion and received new orders totaling EUR10.9 billion. Group profit amounted to EUR951 million. On September 30, 2005, PG had a work force of approximately 33,500 worldwide. (Preliminary figures)

GTT is a leading company in the Turbo Services Network and is headquartered in Torino, Italy - Corso Romania, 661. The Company has 175 employees and revenues of 63.6 million euros (fiscal year 2004-2005). GTT, established in 2003 to provide comprehensive, high quality services to the power generation industry, was founded in 1952 by Fiat. GTT supplies spares, repairs, maintenance and updates for power stations.