FuelCellsWorks

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited [AIM/ASX: CFU], a leading developer of high efficiency and low emission electricity generation units for homes and other buildings, today welcomed the United Kingdom Government’s decision to introduce a feed-in tariff from 1 April 2010 for small low-emission electricity generators, including small scale power and heating products.

The Government’s decision to introduce a feed-in tariff – a premium rate paid for electricity fed back into the electricity grid from designated renewable and low emission electricity generation sources – will greatly assist customers who buy Ceramic Fuel Cells’ gas-to-electricity units.

Under the feed-in tariff, energy retailers are required to pay homeowners 10 pence for every kilowatt hour of electricity generated by the product, plus an additional tariff of 5 pence for every kilowatt hour of electricity exported to the local power grid.  The tariff lasts for ten years.

The tariff is available for micro power and heating products, like Ceramic Fuel Cells’ products, that generate 2 kilowatts of power or less.  The tariff is available from 1 April 2010, for the first 30,000 micro power and heating products installed, with a Government review when 12,000 units have been installed.

Ceramic Fuel Cells is developing integrated power and heating products for homes with E.On UK, one of the largest energy companies in the UK. The first integrated units are installed at the Blackpool facilities of Gledhill, Ceramic Fuel Cells’ appliance partner.

Ceramic Fuel Cells has also developed a modular power and hot water product called BlueGen that can be configured to suit a range of different markets and installations.  Ceramic Fuel Cells has sold BlueGen units in Australia, Japan and Germany, with units to be available for demonstration sites and early customers in the UK from April 2010.

Both products convert natural gas into power and heat, using Ceramic Fuel Cells’ world leading fuel cell technology.  Each unit can generate between 12,000 and 17,000 kilowatts of power per year, more than twice the power requried by the average UK home.  Homeowners can offset their electricity bill and sell excess power back to the grid.

Ceramic Fuel Cells has achieved electrical efficiency of 60 percent, far higher than any other technology in the rapidly expanding market for small scale power and heating generators.  When heat is recovered from the electricity production process, total efficiency is up to 85 percent – twice as efficient as the average among current European power stations.  .

By generating power close to where it is used, Ceramic Fuel Cells’ products can meet the future demand for electricity without the need for huge investments in electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure.

Ceramic Fuel Cells Managing Director Brendan Dow said: “The UK Government’s decision to offer a feed-in tariff for small low-emission electricity generators is a significant step forward for Ceramic Fuel Cells.  British electricity consumers will be able to buy our fuel cell units in the knowledge that they are assisting the environment, plus offsetting their energy bills by selling power back to the grid.”

Store will be First Supermarket in California and Third Whole Foods Market to Generate Bulk of Power with Fuel Cell

SOUTH WINDSOR, Conn. — UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company, today announced that Whole Foods Market has chosen to power a new store in San Jose, Calif., with clean, reliable on-site fuel cell power.  This marks the third Whole Foods Market to install a PureCell® system provided by UTC Power.  The other stores are in Dedham, Mass., and Glastonbury, Conn.

Fuel cells are one of the cleanest energy-generation sources available in the world and meet the strictest U.S. emission standards.  Highly energy efficient and virtually pollution-free, fuel cells produce electricity, heat and water through an electrochemical process.

The new Whole Foods Market, located at the south corner of Blossom Hill Road and Almaden Expressway in South San Jose, is now under construction and will cover approximately 50,000 square feet.  The UTC Power fuel cell system will generate 90 percent of the store’s electricity needs and its byproduct thermal energy will be used for store heating, cooling and refrigeration for an overall efficiency of approximately 60 percent, nearly twice the efficiency of the U.S. electrical grid.

By generating most of its power on-site with a fuel cell, the Whole Foods Market Blossom Hill, San Jose, store will prevent the release of more than 370 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually — the equivalent of planting more than 85 acres of trees. The reductions in nitrogen oxide emissions compared to a conventional power plant are equal to the environmental benefit of removing 92 cars from the road.

“Whole Foods Market is excited to be able to use this clean and highly efficient technology at our new San Jose store,” said Kathy Loftus, Whole Foods Market global leader of sustainable engineering, maintenance and energy. “This will help reduce our impact on the environment and lessen our overall energy demands from traditional sources.”

“We’re proud to be associated with Whole Foods Market, a company always looking for innovative ways to do business more sustainably, and very pleased the company has chosen to fully integrate the thermal and electrical energy produced by  a UTC Power fuel cell at a third store,” said Neal Montany, director of UTC Power’s stationary fuel cell business.  ”Businesses that need reliable power around-the-clock and that can use the fuel cell’s thermal energy are well-suited for fuel cells.”

UTC Power is part of United Technologies Corp. (UTC), which provides energy-efficient products and services to the aerospace and building industries.  UTC is a founding member of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index each year since it was launched in 1999.  Based in South Windsor, Conn., UTC Power is the world leader in developing and producing fuel cells that generate energy for buildings and for transportation, space and defense applications.  For more information, please visit www.utcpower.com

About Whole Foods Market®

Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com), a leader in the natural and organic foods industry and America’s first national certified organic grocer,  was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” in 2008 and was recognized as one of “America’s Healthiest 100″ in 2009 by Health magazine. The Whole Foods Market motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures the company’s mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to its 51,100 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 13 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2008, the company had sales of $8 billion and currently has more than 280 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market, Fresh & Wild™, and Harry’s Farmers Market® are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP,LP.  Wild Oats® and Capers Community Market™ are trademarks owned by Wild Marks, Inc.”

WASHINGTON–The U.S. Fuel Cell Council (USFCC) has named Ruth Cox, a successful businesswoman with wide ranging experience in high-tech industries, as its Executive Director, USFCC President Mike Hicks announced today.

“Ruth Cox has an impressive and well-rounded background in management, marketing, business and politics. These skills will strengthen the council’s ability to be an effective advocate for fuel cell commercialization,” Hicks said. “With more than 20 years in the telecommunications and computer technology industries in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, she has experience with burgeoning industries and knows what it takes to build successful businesses.”

“This is an exciting opportunity for me and an exciting point in the development of fuel cells for portable, stationary and transportation applications.” Cox said. “Hydrogen and fuel cells are critical components in the nation’s strategy to lower greenhouse gas emissions, cut smog, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and grow our economy.

“Cost reductions and performance and durability improvements have opened several early markets for fuel cell products, and competitive systems are in development for many other markets. Success means good, high paying jobs and energy and environmental security benefits, in the U.S. and wherever markets open for fuel cells,” she said.

“I look forward to working with the USFCC member companies, allied organizations and the Obama Administration to hasten the commercialization of the fuel cell family,” she said.

Ms. Cox was marketing director for a number of Silicon Valley firms introducing leading edge technologies for rich media communications, and earlier was telecommunications marketing director for Oracle, Hewlett Packard Corporation and Tandem Computers. She was the Vice President of Strategy for the Dutch telecom provider now known as KPN, during a critical period after privatization.

Ms. Cox has also been involved in Democratic politics, and worked on President Obama’s campaign in several key states. Most recently she served as interim Executive Director of 21st Century Democrats, a political action committee. Ms. Cox’s appointment is effective immediately.

Robert Rose, the USFCC’s founding executive director, will remain to work on communications and strategic planning.

About the U.S. Fuel Cell Council: The USFCC is an industry association dedicated to fostering the commercialization of fuel cells. Our members include the world’s leading fuel cell developers, manufacturers, suppliers and customers.

NEWPORT, R.I., 26 Jan. 2010. U.S. Navy undersea technology researchers are set to award a sole-source contract to Delphi Corp. in Troy, Mich., for a 30-cell solid oxide fuel cell stack (SOFC) system to power unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) applications

To negotiate the sole-source contract are undersea researchers at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, Newport (NUWCDIVNPT) in Newport, R.I.

A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that produces electricity from a fuel tank by producing a reaction between the fuel and an oxidant. Fuel cells can operate virtually continuously as long as the necessary flows are maintained.

The Navy is awarding the contract to Delphi sole source because researchers find that solid oxide fuel cell stack technologies from other companies have shown either unacceptable levels of gas leakage, lower power density, or too high an operating temperature, Navy officials say.

Delphi experts will supply the 30-cell solid oxide fuel cell stack, set-up and initiate fuel processor testing, and do post run autopsy and analysis of the stack.

For more information contact the Naval Undersea Warfare Center online at www.navsea.navy.mil/nuwc/newport/, or Delphi Corp. at http://delphi.com.

LOS ANGELES – Freight trains that run through Orange County could soon be powered by cleaner-burning fuel – hope given by newly emerging technology announced.

Officials with Burlington Northern Santa Fe unveiled what they say is the first locomotive powered by hydrogen-fuel cells at a news conference Thursday that included Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Matt Rose, CEO of BNSF.

A BNSF train travels through Placentia. The company announced Thursday that it is developing cleaner burning hydrogen-fueled trains.

“We are excited to take a leadership role in this emerging technology … that we believe will keep California competitive,” Rose said.

Trains powered by hydrogen instead of diesel fuel could help solve two problems, officials said – provide an alternative to increasingly scarce fuel supplies and prevent millions of tons of carbon from being released into the environment.

The hydrogen-fuel train is a switch locomotive that moves train cars short distances and from track to track. It will initially operate in Los Angeles. The company plans to continue developing the technology, with the hope of eventually pulling entire freight trains through the region.

“It’s the beginning steps of the technology,” Schwarzenegger said, standing in front of the BNSF locomotive parked in its Los Angeles yard. “(But) again California is at the front – they will be talking about this is China and Japan. It’s more needed than ever.”

Pringle attended the event partly to speak about high-speed rail funding. But he also thanked Rose for committing resources toward cleaner-burning trains. Dozens of BNSF freight trains run through Orange County daily.

“On behalf of my residents, I thank BNSF for its commitment to looking at ways to clean up our environment,” Pringle said.