FuelCellsWorks

Supermarket chain evaluating 400kW fuel cell technology for future markets

Technology to be used at World Trade Center site location

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Price Chopper’s state-of-the-art Colonie store in New York State’s capital region (Albany, NY) is proud to be the first supermarket in the U.S. to supply its own power on-site with the latest-generation PureCell® Model 400 system from UTC Power, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) company. Twelve of the same model fuel cell system will be installed at towers to be completed at the World Trade Center site in New York City.

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that combines hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air to produce electricity, heat and water. Fuel cells operate without combustion, so they are virtually pollution-free and comply with the strictest U.S. emission standard.

“The UTC Power fuel cell technology serves as both a primary and emergency power source at our 69,000-square-foot Colonie store location. With our ongoing goals of achieving greater efficiencies at our stores, we fully expect the fuel cell unit to reduce our overall utility costs as well as the store’s carbon footprint,” said Benny Smith, Vice President of Facilities for the Golub Corporation.

In addition to the fuel cell, the cutting-edge Colonie store is also equipped with an array of environmentally progressive features including advanced systems in cooling and refrigeration daylight harvesting, in addition to waste and recycling initiatives. The store will serve as a prototype for future Price Chopper supermarkets.

Price Chopper Supermarkets, a Golub Corporation company, is continually exploring more advanced technologies to design and produce ever higher levels of energy efficiency. With energy prices soaring during the Colonie store’s planning stages, Price Chopper management was presented with an opportunity to be one of the first to incorporate a 400 kW fuel cell into a supermarket. After a thorough analysis of potential energy and carbon savings, the company entered into an energy services agreement with UTC Power to provide and operate a 400 kW fuel cell system at the new location.

“UTC Power is proud to be partnered with progressive organizations such as Price Chopper who are increasingly embracing fuel cell technology as a proven and financially rewarding means of improving the energy efficiency of their facilities while also realizing the sustainability benefits of a reduced carbon footprint,” said Neal Montany, director of the UTC Power stationary fuel cell business. “The PureCell® system can also be configured to provide enhanced energy security via a ‘grid-independent’ mode, protecting supermarkets against costly food spoilage if there’s a power failure,” Montany added.

Price Chopper partnered with the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) throughout the planning of the project. NYSERDA provided incentives through the New Construction and Combined Heat and Power Demonstration programs.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also awarded the Colonie store with the highest level of GreenChill gold-level certification ever achieved by a supermarket retailer. At the time, only three other stores in the nation had achieved gold level certification and, of the four, Price Chopper’s new Colonie store received the highest rating. The store was touted “best of the best” within this elite group.

The GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership is a voluntary program with the supermarket industry and other stakeholders to promote advanced refrigeration technologies, strategies, and practices that reduce refrigerant charges and emissions of ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases.

POTTSVILLE, PA – On Wednesday, January 20, a fleet of 50 hydrogen fuel cell-powered pallet trucks will be mobilized in the produce facility at Wegmans Retail Service Center (RSC). In March, nine hydrogen fuel cell-powered fork lifts will be added to the fleet. The project was, in part, made possible by a $1 million grant from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA). The funds were used to offset a portion of the cost of installing an on-site hydrogen infrastructure, which includes an outdoor hydrogen storage tank and indoor fueling dispensers.

Wegmans hopes to convert its entire lift truck fleet at the Pottsville facility to hydrogen fuel cells over the next few years. To this point, Wegmans’ material-handling equipment was all powered with lead acid batteries.

Wegmans purchased the 50 Crown pallet trucks and 9 Crown stand-up forklifts from Lift Inc. of Lancaster, PA.  Lift Inc. will also supply Wegmans with Plug Power’s GenDrive™ fuel cell solution to power its fleet. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. of Allentown, PA installed the on-site hydrogen infrastructure and will supply the hydrogen fuel.

Dave Allar, Wegmans’ RSC maintenance manager, has been anxious for this day to arrive and so have employees at the Pottsville facility. “Our folks tested the equipment early last year, and could immediately see what it would mean to equipment performance and productivity.” Allar compared the experience to that of driving a car. “Whether a gas tank is full or down to a quarter tank, a car will travel at 60 mph. Not so when battery power is used; performance diminishes as the battery discharges.”

In addition to greater productivity and lower operating costs, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced. A hydrogen fuel cell produces energy through an electrochemical reaction. Because hydrogen is the fuel source, heat and water are the only byproducts. By converting the lift equipment in just the produce area of its facility to hydrogen fuel cells, carbon emissions will be reduced by an amount equivalent to removing 134 cars off the road each year.

“We appreciate the investment that PEDA made in this project. It enabled us to do something that will improve job satisfaction for our employees, benefit the environment, and is right for our business,” says Mike Cullen, Wegmans’ vice president of distribution planning.”

In addition to its Retail Service Center, Wegmans now operates 13 stores in Pennsylvania, with plans for 2 more in the future. One of the future stores will open in Malvern, PA later this year. Wegmans has approximately 7,000 employees in the state of Pennsylvania.

Ceres Power Holdings plc is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Phil Whalen to its Board as Technology Director.

Phil joined Ceres in July 2009 having been Chief Technology Officer of Invensys plc and previously Director of Technology Strategy at Honeywell International Inc. Phil is responsible for technology development, advanced engineering and control

systems. He has over twenty years experience of developing and leading global technology teams across a variety of technologies, including engineered ceramics and control systems. Phil has extensive experience in developing and commercialising new technologies across a wide range of international markets.  Phil is an American citizen and received a PhD in Ceramic Science and Engineering from Rutgers University, New Jersey.

Brian Count, Chairman of Ceres Power commented:

“I am delighted to welcome Phil to our Board. His strong background in leading and developing technology teams and bringing new technology products to market will prove invaluable as Ceres Power progresses towards the mass market launch of our domestic CHP product”

Information required pursuant to Schedule 2 (g) of the AIM Rules:

Dr Phil Whalen is aged 51

He currently holds the following directorships:

Ceres Power Limited

Ceres Intellectual Property Company Limited

Phil holds no shares in Ceres Power. He holds 212,500 options over shares in Ceres Power at a price of £2.00 per share. The exercise of these share options is subject to the following performance targets based on growth in the Company’s share price;

* 25% of the options will become exercisable if the Company’s share price exceeds £4 for a period of twenty consecutive dealing days between the second and tenth anniversary of the grant

* 37.5% of the options will become exercisable if the Company’s share price exceeds £5 for a period of twenty consecutive dealing days between the third and tenth anniversary of the grant

* 37.5% of the options will become exercisable if the Company’s share price exceeds £6 for a period of twenty consecutive dealing days between the fourth and tenth anniversary of the grant

Phil held no other directorships in the last five years