BEND, OR-- IdaTech, LLC, a global fuel cell solutions developer and manufacturer, today announced that the Communications-Electronics Research Development Center (CERDEC), the Army's information technologies and integrated systems center, has awarded the company a new contract worth more than US$3 Million for the development of a three kilowatt Tactical Fuel Cell Generator.

The advancement of fuel cell systems is a priority for the Army, as diesel generators are currently used on the battlefield and the military is eager to incorporate a quieter power generation system with a reduced life cycle cost and higher reliability. This new contract is for the development of a portable proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system with an output of at least 3 kilowatts to provide reliable, nearly silent power generation for the soldier, for use in training as well as in the field.

IdaTech's industry-leading fuel reformation technologies were a key factor in the selection of IdaTech for this contract. The IdaTech fuel cell system will incorporate an on-board fuel reformer to convert military fuel (JP-8) and diesel fuel into high purity hydrogen as needed to produce power. JP-8 and diesel are among the most difficult fuels in the fuel cell industry to use and have historically represented a barrier to broader deployment of portable fuel cell systems for military applications.

"CERDEC is well recognized for the team's dedication to the advancement of fuel cell technologies for the soldier, and IdaTech is pleased to be working with a military-leader on this new JP-8 fuel cell system," said Claude H. Duss, IdaTech president and CEO. "As one of the few companies in the world able to reform difficult fuels such as JP-8 and diesel, a successful completion of this CERDEC contract could open the door to a number of substantial applications in the commercial diesel generator markets, in addition to the significant military opportunities."

"The IdaTech team's reformation and sulfur management technologies were important for CERDEC in selecting the fuel cell developer for this project," commented Elizabeth Bostic, CERDEC fuel cell team leader. "These technologies combined with an existing working relationship facilitated our choice for the development of this advanced military fuel cell solution."

About IdaTech

IdaTech's fuel cell solutions are based on a flexible modular design, supporting interchangeable components, which enables IdaTech to accelerate product development incorporating proven components and subsystems into customized configurations. Additionally, IdaTech's fuel cell solutions incorporate its patented fuel processing technology and operate on a variety of fuels.

IdaTech's portfolio of fuel cell solutions is based on its proprietary multi-fuel fuel processing technology, its own fuel cell stack and power module, and fuel cell system integration capabilities. With the support of strategic partners, the company's solutions are being deployed on a global scale for stationary and portable applications.