FuelCellsWorks

LIVERMORE, CA– UltraCell Corporation, a leading producer of fuel cells for mobile power applications, today announced plans to build fuel cell systems for the Center for Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) Exploitation (CUE) in its Dayton, Ohio, manufacturing plant. UltraCell will initially build 10 units based on the company’s XX25™ reformed methanol fuel cell (RMFC) technology, with potential to expand production in the future.

Funded by the State of Ohio Third Frontier Project, the CUE is a collaborative effort between local Dayton-area businesses, academic institutions and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton. The CUE was developed to improve integration between UAV controls, wireless communications, advanced sensor technology and portable power.

UltraCell’s XX25 delivers extended runtime and offers low weight, crucial benefits for designing portable power solutions for aerial vehicles. The XX25 has achieved the military’s Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 status demonstrating operation in relevant environments. In addition, the XX25 has successfully completed numerous MIL-STD-810F Environmental Tests, including altitude, making it an ideal power source for applications such as UAVs.

“We’re delighted to be able to participate in the Center for UAV Exploitation’s work in Dayton,” said UltraCell CEO Keith Scott. “We see tremendous opportunity for UAV applications both in the military and commercial markets and believe our fuel cell technology is a perfect power solution for these systems.”

With a market expected to grow tremendously over the next five years, UAV research and development done by the CUE will focus on control, communications, power and sensor solutions for vehicles weighing 150 pounds or less. Success with smaller vehicles that boast greater maneuverability, increased mobility and lower cost is expected to carry over into the larger UAV and manned aircraft markets. Systems designed by the CUE will be some of the first UAVs commercialized in non-defense applications.

Other CUE participants include BAE Systems, Co-operative Engineering Services, Inc (CESI), the Institute for the Development and Commercialization of Advanced Sensor Technology (IDCAST), L3 Communications Nova Engineering, STAN Solutions, TecEdgeWorks, Defense Research Associates (DRA) and the University of Dayton Research Institute.

About UltraCell

UltraCell is a leading producer of fuel cell systems for mobile devices. With an exclusive license with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories for micro fuel cell technology, the company has developed new technologies and intellectual property in the field of methanol-based fuel cells. Its patented, award-winning portable fuel cell, the XX25™, achieved Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 status, a significant U.S. Army milestone and certification for military use and commercial production. For more information about UltraCell, please visit http://www.ultracellpower.com/.

SOUTHBOROUGH, MA; Protonex Technology Corporation (LSE: AIM: PTX and PTXU), a leading provider of advanced fuel cell power systems for portable, remote and mobile applications, today announced its interim results for the six months ended 31 March 2009.

• Continued progress in moving PEM and SOFC fuel cell platforms towards initial commercial and military products
• Introduced and demonstrated M250-B product at several recreational vehicle (RV) trade shows in United States to generate and gauge interest. OEM and beta trials scheduled for H2 2009; general availability revised to 2010
• Demonstrated fully functional SOFC prototype systems running on propane fuel. Awarded $1.5 million contract in January 2009 from US Army for liquid-fuelled SOFC system development
• Strong progress on several UAV development contracts with the US Military. $3.3 million ($2.2m base award with $1.1m option) contract awarded in March 2009 by US Department of Defense to develop a high-performance UAV propulsion system for emerging AECV platform
• BPM power managers being evaluated in field by US Military. First units of SPM power managers shipped to several US Military agencies in the first half of calendar year 2009
• H1 2009 fiscal year revenues of $2.6 million, a 17% decrease compared to $3.2m in H1 2008, primarily as a result of contracting delays on new military programmes caused by change in US Administration and a general delay in the release of military contracts
• Increasing opportunity for US Government and Military funds to support product development and product purchases in 2010 and beyond. Driven primarily by general military needs and stimulus programmes
• Transitioned to Piper Jaffray for NOMAD/Broker services

Post period end highlights

• Hired Dave Ierardi as Vice President of Operations in May of 2009. Dave brings a very strong background in all facets of manufacturing and operations
• In May 2009, received a $0.5 million contract extension from US Naval Research Lab for testing and refinement of UAV system

Commenting on the results, Scott Pearson, CEO of Protonex, said:
“Throughout the first half of our 2009 fiscal year, Protonex has made significant progress in virtually all areas of its business. The Company has continued its transition from being primarily a technology development company to being a product company. Today, that transition is substantially complete and we expect the resulting products to deliver strong value to a broad set of military and commercial markets.”

A copy of the complete report can be obtained by clicking the following link: Protonex 2009 Interim Report

A new catalyst for use with ENEFARM (residential fuel cell co-generating system) was developed by Fuel Cell Nanomaterials Center, University of Yamanashi. The catalyst developed this time belongs to the Catalyst for Selectively Methanating CO. With use of the catalyst newly developed, the fuel processor will be cost-reduced by about 20%, and the fuel processor will be volume-reduced to 2/3 of the current processor.

The results of using the new catalyst in the ENEFARM’s fuel process for converting city gas into hydrogen are:
1) Removal of the residual carbon monoxide by at least 99.9%, and
2) Reduction of size, weight and the amount of used catalyst and simplified structure, and much reduction of cost.
It is sure that the new catalyst will accelerate spread of ENEFARMs the sales of which started on this May.

The results of the study will be presented in Symposium of “2009 NEDO Development Results Report on Fuel Cell/Hydrogen Technologies” (June 30, 2009), and “104th Catalyst Forum” (September 27, 2009).

Adaptive Materials’ chief business officer Michelle Crumm has been selected as one of the winners of Ernst & Young L.L.P.’s annual Entrepreneur of the Year awards for the Central Great Lakes region.  Crumm bested 30 other finalists to win top honors in the Product Innovation category; she will now go on to compete for the national Entrepreneur of the Year award.

“Recognition as an Entrepreneur of the Year in the product innovation space is an acknowledgement of the constant attention that Adaptive Materials pays to product enhancements and improvements,” Crumm said.  “We actively test our fuel cells in the field and continue to innovate to meet the needs of the soldiers and first responders who need reliable, portable power.”

Crumm is one of 11 finalists from the Central Region competing with a national pool of candidates for the top Entrepreneur of the Year award.  A national panel will choose between Crumm and finalists from 25 other U.S. regions to select the Master Entrepreneur of the Year award winner.

Ernst & Young’s 23rd annual Entrepreneur of the Year awards ceremony will take place November 14, 2009, in Palm Springs, Calif.

About Adaptive Materials, Inc.
Adaptive Materials, Inc. is the leader in the development of portable power made from solid oxide fuel cell technology.  Leveraging its patented single step process in the manufacturing of micro-tubular fuel cells, Adaptive Materials has developed the ideal portable power solution.  At the forefront of portable power innovation, Adaptive Materials is the first company to develop, demonstrate and deliver a portable, affordable, and fuel flexible solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system.  Adaptive Materials’ fuel cell system is provides portable power to the United States Armed Forces as well as industries including recreational vehicles, boating, and medical devices.  For more information, visit www.adaptivematerials.com.

Researchers at Zhengzhou University, China, have shown the enhanced production of hydrogen from pretreated corn stalk biomass by mixed culture using manure from the lesser panda as the source of the hydrogen-producing bacteria. The study is reported in Issue 54 (8)the Chinese Science Bulletin, a journal co-sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The annual yield of natural cellulosic biomass in China exceeds 0.7 billion tons, in which the amount of corn stalk is around 220 million tons.

The maximum cumulative H₂ yield of 176 ml/g-TS (total solids) and H₂ production rate (14.5 ml/g-TS h^-1) were obtained at pH 5.5, 36 °C by treating a substrate of 15 g/L. The hydrogen content in the resultant biogas was 57.2% and there was no significant methane gas observed.

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