Technical Update

ITM Power PLC 01 November 2004 1 November 2004 ITM POWER PLC Technical Update ITM Power ('ITM' or 'the Company'), which aims to provide enabling technology for the hydrogen economy, stated at the time of its flotation in June 2004 that its business strategy was to develop its core hydrophilic ionic materials technology to a point where the Company would maximize returns for shareholders by creating a greater number and wider spread of licensees. Progress in developing ITM's technology would be demonstrated through a number of important milestones to be announced, if achieved. Further to the recent business update on September 1st 2004, which concerned the achievement of two such milestones, ITM is pleased to announce a potential, significant broadening of the pool of future licensees as a result of a research programme - part-funded by a grant from the UK Government's DTI - to investigate the application of the Company's hydrophilic ionic materials and one-step manufacturing process to the design and construction of fuel cells using liquid alcohols (methanol for example) as a fuel. Liquid fuelled fuel cells are widely recognised as the preferred route for the energy supply for portable electronic devices, including new generation mobile telephones and laptop computers. This is because of their ability to deliver extended run times to such devices and allowing a fast 'on the move' refueling capability using a fuel that is convenient to handle and store. ITM has now successfully completed some initial proving work on the use of its technology in an alcohol fuel cell. The next stage will move from proof of concept towards undertaking longevity/durability trials with alcohol fuels. To date the programme has defined and undertaken initial work in two areas; (i) acid based hydrophilic materials suitable for use with methanol fuel, and (ii) alkaline based hydrophilic materials. An alkaline environment is known to be able to promote improved catalysis. ITM's alkaline-based hydrophilic materials have a ratio of C/Dk (defined as the ratio of ionic conductivity / methanol diffusion coefficient), which is substantially better than the conventional solid polymer alternatives. This ratio is an important indicator of the potential performance of the fuel cell. These alkaline materials have now been operated as methanol fuel cells and patents have been filed on the materials and their use in direct alcohol-in-alkaline fuel cells (Alkaline-DMFC fuel cells). Outside the DTI-funded programme, ITM has applied its alkaline membrane technology to a second state of the art liquid fuelled fuel cell by demonstrating a fuel cell using a solution of sodium boro-hydride in water. This solution is an alternative route to the development of liquid fuelled fuel cells for portable applications, and has potential advantages of operational safety as compared with alcohol fuels. Jim Heathcote, CEO, ITM Power Plc said: 'We believe that the preliminary results to date are encouraging for our test program on liquid fuelled fuel cells. We will begin testing key performance characteristics including power and longevity in the near future. We shall release results from this and our other development programs, on an ongoing basis, so that we can keep shareholders fully informed of our progress' He added, 'We are very grateful for the support we have received from the DTI and believe this is an excellent example of the benefits of collaboration between Government and industry in basic technological research programmes.' -Ends- For further information please contact: Jim Heathcote David Pannell John West Simon Hudson ITM Power Plc Durlacher Limited Tavistock Communications Tel: 01780 740574 Tel: 020 7459 3600 Tel: 020 7920 3150 fjh@itm-power.com jwest@tavistock.co.uk This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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ITM Power (ITM)
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