DECC Funding Award

RNS Number : 3713R

ITM Power PLC

19 November 2012

ITM Power plc

("ITM Power" or the "Company")

DECC Funding Award for the Production of Synthetic Methane

ITM Power (AIM: ITM), the energy storage and clean fuel company, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a grant by the Department of Energy and Climate Change ("DECC") to undertake a £100k, 12-month engineering feasibility, as part of the £20m Carbon Capture and Storage ("CCS") Innovation Competition.

ITM Power is leading a consortium which includes SSE, Scotia Gas Networks, Logan Energy Ltd and Kiwa Gastec at CRE ("Gastec"), in an investigation of the technological, financial and operational feasibility of producing synthetic methane using carbon dioxide from industrial processes and hydrogen produced by electrolysis. The process will convert waste carbon dioxide and renewable hydrogen to produce pure methane for injection into the gas grid and other natural gas substitution applications. The potential of the process for managing renewable power curtailment and exploiting onshore wind power assets will also be assessed.

Synthetic natural gas can be produced by a process known as methanation which is the reaction of carbon dioxide with hydrogen. The carbon dioxide can be sourced from industrial processes including CCS and the hydrogen can be produced from the electrolysis of water using renewable energy sources. The production of synthetic methane in this way has the potential to make significant contributions to reducing the cost of CCS by creating revenue streams from the sale of methane, while the electrolysis plant offers grid balancing, stabilisation and energy storage services to the electricity industry.

Dr Graham Cooley, CEO, ITM Power plc commented:"ITM Power is delighted to be leading this DECC funded feasibility study that will assess how hydrogen produced using renewable energy can be combined with carbon dioxide to produce methane as a direct substitute for natural gas. We look forward to working with our industry partners in what could be another key large market for ITM Power's electrolyser products"

For further information please visit www.itm-power.comor contact:

ITM Power plc

Graham Cooley, CEO

0114 244 5111

N+1 Singer (Nominated Adviser & Broker)

Shaun Dobson

020 7496 3000

Tavistock Communications

Simon Hudson / Kelsey Traynor

020 7920 3150

About ITM Power

ITM Power plc was admitted to the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in 2004 and raised its initial funding of £10m gross in its IPO. Further funding rounds of £28.5m in 2006 and £5.4m in 2012 have been completed. The Company has now made the transition from a research and development company to a product manufacturer and technology provider. The Company has both a strong base of intellectual property and engineering expertise for providing complete hydrogen solutions. The Company has been successful in developing strategic industry partnerships in the following projects:

· EU Funding for PEM Fuel Cell Innovation - IMPACT

http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/eu-funding-for-pem-fuel-cell-innovation-impact/

· Agreement with ABO Wind of Wiesbaden, Germany

http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/agreement-with-abo-wind-of-wiesbaden-germany/

· Letter of Intent signed with German Utility

http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/letter-of-intent-signe-witdh-german-utility/

· Shell and National Grid Join Gas Inject Project

http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/shell-and-national-grid-join-gas-inject-project/

· EcoIsland TSB Funding

http://www.fuelcelltoday.com/news-events/news-archive/2012/july/ecoisland-progresses-tsb-grant-awarded-for-isle-of-wight-integrated-hydrogen-project

· 700bar Dispensing Collaboration in Germany

http://www.itm-power.com/news-item/700bar-dispensing-collaboration-in-germany/