FuelCellsWorks

Acta S.p.A. (AIM:ACTA), the clean energy products company, is delighted to announce that it has signed an exclusive supply agreement (the “Framework Agreement”) with Girelli Bruni S.p.A., one of Italy’s leading installers of filling station forecourt equipment, for the supply of photovoltaic installations and integrated hydrogen generators for the Italian service station sector. The Company estimates that, based on Girelli Bruni’s current level of annual installations, the Framework Agreement has a potential revenue value to Acta of up to €5 million per annum and is expected to ramp up to this level over the next 12 to 18 months, initially biased towards photovoltaic installations.

Under the Framework Agreement, signed on 19 July 2010, Acta will be the exclusive supplier of photovoltaic installations to Girelli Bruni, which supplies forecourt installations in Italy for major brands such as Agip, Esso, Shell, Total, ERG, Repsol and Auchan. Girelli Bruni will also be the exclusive distributor of Acta’s hydrogen generators for the fuel supply sector in Italy. Based on Acta’s proprietary catalytic and hydrogen conversion technologies, these generators can be safely integrated with the photovoltaic installations to produce clean, dry and compressed hydrogen. Girelli Bruni completed more than 170 forecourt installation projects during 2009, of which the majority also requested the installation of photovoltaic capacity.

The Italian service station sector is currently adapting to the requirements of a regional law, being progressively adopted by each Regional Government of Italy, which requires any new fuel service station to install a minimum quantity of photovoltaic generation capacity and to provide a gaseous fuel alternative to petroleum. The regional law of Tuscany for example, passed in 2005, requires each new service station to install at least 12kW of photovoltaic capacity and the provision of at least one alternative fuel out of methane, LPG or hydrogen. Acta’s agreement with Girelli Bruni will serve as a one-stop solution to fulfilling these regulatory requirements.

In addition, Girelli Bruni will become the exclusive supplier of the collapsible photovoltaic bike shed canopy developed by Acta together with Girelli Bruni and demonstrated in June 2010 at Viareggio as part of Acta’s hydrogen village display. Acta intends to distribute these units, which can refuel hydrogen fuel cell bikes, boats and other applications, via the Company’s low cost hydrogen generator, to local authorities, marinas, and other commercial customers.

Paolo Bert, Chief Executive, commented:

“This agreement will bring Acta’s hydrogen products onto the forecourt and into the automotive sector for the first time. We are delighted that Girelli Bruni has chosen Acta as its exclusive supply partner and the agreement demonstrates the powerful synergies between our photovoltaic and hydrogen generation products and activities. Acta

Ceramic Fuel Cells – a leading developer of high efficiency and low emission power products for homes – has orders for 49 BlueGen units from 14 customers in six countries.

It says this includes an order for 30 units from the Victorian government.

The firm said underlying net operating cash outflow for the June quarter was A$4.7m which was in line with last quarter.

Receipts from customers for the quarter were A$0.4m including initial payments by customers on the signing of orders for BlueGen units.

This does not include the initial payment from the Victorian government which remained conditional upon the finalisation of internal government funding arrangements.

This is expected to be finalised in the September quarter.

The firm said it had cash at 30 June of A$11.5m.

BOTHELL, WA- –  NEAH Power Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: NPWZ), www.neahpower.com, the company developing fuel cell based renewable energy solutions, announced today that it has successfully qualified alternate materials that will help to reduce precious metal content in its fuel cell.

Following the successful demonstration of NEAH Power’s prototype, the company has been evaluating cheaper components and materials. Derek Reiman, NEAH Power’s Director of Manufacturing, said, “We’ve had precious metals reduction in our crosshairs for quite some time. Now that we have a fully operational system, we have turned our focus to improving lifetime and lowering overall product and manufacturing cost. Given the flexibility of our silicon substrate, we are able to use materials and processes that traditional PEM fuel cells cannot. This has allowed NEAH to qualify multiple non-precious metals and significantly reduce our reliance on gold as a current collector.” 

NEAH Power’s President and CEO, Dr. Chris D’Couto, added: “Given the 40 fold increase in surface area we see from using 3D porous silicon, we are already at the front of the pack in terms of power density. This added surface area also gives us more room to work with in terms of efficient catalyst placement. Our goal is to provide a system that can out-compete a battery not only in terms of capability, but also affordability.”

About NEAH Power

NEAH Power Systems, Inc. (OTCBB: NPWZ) is developing long-lasting, efficient and safe power solutions for the military and for portable electronic devices and off the grid power solutions. NEAH uses a unique, patented, silicon-based design for its micro fuel cells that enable higher power densities, lower cost and compact form-factors.

Further company information can be found at http://www.neahpower.com.