The UK Department of Trade and Industry Monday announced a GBP3.2-mil ($5.7-mil) grant to Johnson Matthey Fuel Cells for the company to develop fuel cell technologies, which have the potential to be a new, cleaner energy source.

Energy minister Stephen Timms, speaking at the Renewables Investment Summit in London, said the funding showed the government's commitment to the growing renewables market. "This is yet another example of the wealth of opportunity for investment in the renewables industry," Timms said. "The funding offers the prospect of both technical advances and the development of a UK supply
chain, crucial to the future viability of this techonology."

Johnson Matthey said it would use the money to make progress on fuel cell cars. The project is expected to run for 36 months. The estimated total cost of the project will be GBP5.8-mil, with the DTI funding a little over half.