Plug Power Makes Major Advance in Fuel Cell
Commercialization; Runs System on Natural Gas
LATHAM, N.Y., Dec. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move that could affect the
manner in which millions of homes receive electricity, Plug Power today
announced that it has completed the successful demonstration of a natural
gas-based proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system. The
residential- sized system -- which includes a fuel cell stack, power
conditioner and a Johnson Matthey fuel processor -- produced in excess of
4 kW of electricity this week at the company's upstate New
York development facility.
The operation of a complete system on natural gas is an important step
toward bringing Plug Power's residential units to market
in 2001. The natural gas breakthrough means that the more than 70 million
homes that already use natural gas for heating and
cooking in the US alone will eventually be able to use natural gas-powered
fuel cells to meet all their energy needs.
By coupling the use of low-cost fuels like natural gas with the high
efficiency of fuel cell technology, it is estimated that the cost to consumers
for electricity will be as much as 20 percent less than current electricity
costs.
''This event represents a significant juncture in our company's goal of
advancing home fuel cell technology,'' said Gary
Mittleman, President & CEO. ''Though Plug Power is designing systems to
run off a variety of fuels, the ability to utilize the
existing natural gas infrastructure provides an important benefit to
homeowners in our largest target markets -- the United States
and Europe.''
The natural gas system utilizes the same design as Plug Power's 7 kW fuel
cell prototype -- which has operated since June of
1998 on hydrogen and was the first PEM fuel cell system to provide a
home's complete electricity independent from the utility grid. This week,
Plug Power integrated a Johnson Matthey HotSpot™ natural gas fuel
processor into its fuel cell system. The AC electricity generated from the
fuel cell was used to power part of the company's laboratory facility. Last
month, Plug Power
also operated a methanol-based fuel cell power generation system.
''Plug Power's mission is to become the first company to make and
profitably sell one million fuel cell systems; the
achievements of the past six months play a large role in our realization of
that endeavor,'' Mittleman added.
According to Dr. Jack Frost, Johnson Matthey's Fuel Cell Business
Manager, ''The use of fuel cells in the home is one of the
most exciting revolutions in energy generation the world has seen. It has the
potential to provide cheaper and cleaner power
where people need it most. The reduction in CO2 emissions made possible
by these systems will benefit the whole planet. We
are delighted that Johnson Matthey's expertise in fuel conversion
technology has helped Plug Power to make this demonstration
possible.''
Johnson Matthey PLC is a global company with headquarters in the United
Kingdom. Its shares are quoted on the London
Stock Exchange (JMAT) and it also has a Level 1 ADR program in the
United States (OTC Bulletin Board: JMPLY - news).
Johnson Matthey is a world leader in advanced materials technology,
applying the latest technical skills to add real value to precious metals and
other specialized materials. Among its principal activities are the
manufacture of specialty chemicals, catalysts and pollution control systems,
pharmaceutical compounds and the refining, fabrication and marketing of
platinum group metals. Johnson Matthey's web site address is
www.Matthey.com.
Based in Latham, N.Y., Plug Power (www.plugpower.com) is a joint
venture between DTE Energy Company (NYSE: DTE -
news), a diversified energy company involved in the development and
management of energy-related businesses and services
and parent company of Detroit Edison, Michigan's largest utility, and
Mechanical Technology Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board:
MKTY - news), an early developer of fuel cell technologies. Plug Power
was formed to develop and manufacture fuel cells for
electric power generation in residential and automotive applications.
Formed in June 1997, Plug Power has grown from 22 to more than 150
employees, making it the largest PEM fuel cell company in the U.S. The
National Energy Resources
Organization awarded Plug Power the 1998 Research and Development
Award for its fuel cell breakthroughs.
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