High Power Density Fuel Cells

RNS Number : 4198A

ITM Power PLC

01 February 2011

 



1^st February 2011

ITM Power plc

("ITM Power" or "the Company")

High Power Density Fuel Cells Test Update

ITM Power (AIM: ITM), the energy storage and clean fuel company, is pleased to announce an early technical result from the initial phase of the high power density fuel cell membrane testing, an ambitious technology development project supported with £108,000 of research funding from the Carbon Trust.

ITM Power has demonstrated exceptionally high power densities by developing its proprietary hydrocarbon membrane materials for hydrogen/oxygen fuel cells.  A step change from the current state of the art has been achieved, with what is believed to be the highest power density ever recorded for a PEM fuel cell (5.5W/cm² and 10A/cm²) using pure oxygen.  ITM Power has now successfully demonstrated the performance of the membrane in a hydrogen/air fuel cell developing over 2.1W/cm² and 4A/cm², more than doubling the power density performance presently available on the market.

While the Company's initial investigations focused on hydrogen and oxygen fed fuel cells, a commercial fuel cell system for deployment in a vehicle requires air to be used as the oxidant.  This early result with air exceeds the ambitious target of 1.5W/cm² which was defined as part of the Carbon Trust project and is further evidence of the potential for ITM Power's materials to offer a step change in performance.

The project continues to progress well.  ITM Power will disclose further information to the market upon project completion.  The summary of the power density performance achieved by ITM's patented membrane technology has been updated today on the Company's website:

http://www.itm-power.com/cmsFiles/investors/CarbonTrust_GrantAward.pdf

Commenting for ITM Power, CEO Graham Cooley said: "I am very pleased with the rate of technical progress.  Exceeding our power density target for the fuel cell during the initial phase of the Carbon Trust project shows the huge potential of our materials and the enthusiasm with which we are attacking this development.  I look forward to reporting further progress on completion of the project."

Pierre Gaudillat, Technology Commercialisation Manager, the Carbon Trust added: "We are delighted with how the fuel cell project with ITM is progressing.  It is clear that ITM's technology has a great deal to offer and we continue to facilitate introductions to potential commercial end users interested in these exciting developments."

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

ITM Power plc Graham Cooley, CEO	0114 244 5111
Panmure Gordon & Co. Katherine Roe	020 7459 3600
Tavistock Communications Simon Hudson /  Andrew Dunn	020 7920 3150

About Carbon Trust:

The Carbon Trust is a not-for-profit company with the mission to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy. We provide specialist support to help business and the public sector cut carbon emissions, save energy and commercialise low carbon technologies. By stimulating low carbon action we contribute to key UK goals of lower carbon emissions, the development of low carbon businesses, increased energy security and associated jobs.

About ITM Power:

ITM Power designs and manufactures Hydrogen Energy Systems for Energy Storage and Clean Fuel production.

ITM Power is committed to clean sustainable energy solutions based around water electrolysis. Our principal motivation is to engineer zero-carbon hydrogen energy systems that provide energy security and independence from fossil fuels.

ITM Power's electrolyser and fuel cell technologies have the potential to become the cornerstones of a future hydrogen economy based on 'green' hydrogen. Our hydrogen systems are able to convert renewable energy to a clean fuel that can be indefinitely stored for use in transport, residential and industrial applications.

ITM Power has grown from its original platform of novel polymeric electrolytes (for water electrolysis and hydrogen fuel cells) to that of a technology provider. ITM Power now has both a strong base of intellectual property and engineering expertise for providing complete hydrogen solutions.

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