THE FIRST 6 KW ALKALINE FUEL CELL (AFC) GENERATOR SUITABLE FOR MASS PRODUCTION WAS INTRODUCED BY INDEPENDENT POWER TECHNOLOGIES LTD AT HANNOVER TODAY

Independent Power Technologies Ltd (IPT) is pleased to introduce the very latest commercial development in fuel cell technology: an industrial prototype of 6 kW Alkaline Fuel Cell (AFC) generator “Cascade – IP”. The system introduced today is the first AFC generator ready for mass production. Working in close collaboration with Rocket Space Corporation “Energia”, IPT has invested over 1 mln USD into development of this unique system.

The system has a number of unique features:

• the first in the world, built-in, zero-waste regenerative scrubber is used for the removal of carbon dioxide from the incoming air;
• rapid start-up and shut-down features allow the generator to be used for various auxiliary and back-up power supplies;
• fully automated control unit assures continuous on-line monitoring of the operation in the ambient temperature range from –20oC up to +40oC;
• built-in hydrogen burner enabling a start-up of the generator in cold conditions.

“We consider development of this generator to be a significant milestone in the triumphal advancement of fuel cell technology in general and AFC technology in particular” – said the Chairman of the Board, Professor Greg Shcherbakovskiy. The combination of the benefits of AFC - such as robustness, efficiency, reliability, low operating temperature and long operating life - with low cost mass manufacturing technology will make our generator an attractive product for various sectors of today’s energy markets. Unlike various demonstrational and laboratory prototypes, our system is designed in line with the latest manufacturing standards and is perfectly suitable for mass production. We are particularly proud of the development of the on-line regenerative carbon dioxide scrubber, which obliterates the myth that commercial potential of AFC technology is limited due to technical problems associated with the removal of carbon dioxide from the incoming ambient air. As the next step, our goal is to find strategic partners in the USA and Western Europe who will be interested in the mass production of these generators, while our company will continue to focus on the development of new products. I would like to invite everyone who is interested in becoming our strategic partner or a customer to visit our facilities and to see the generator in operation.”

The generator can be employed as a power source in variety of stationary power applications for residential and commercial distributed power generation, and in marine applications for small commercial vessels, fishing boats and pleasure crafts.

IPT, a privately owned Russian fuel cell company, emerged from Research Production Enterprise “KVANT” – the vanguard of Russian fuel cell technology. IPT specializes in design and manufacture of industrial fuel cell generators based on advanced AFC technology.

The presentation of the new generator was made during the opening press conference at Hannover Messe 2003. The generator will be demonstrated in Belgium after being on display at the IPT facility in Moscow (Russia) in May-June. All inquiries should be sent to info@independentpower.biz or by fax: +7 095 787 5361. Later this month, the company’s website (www.independentpower.biz) will be completed and will offer a comprehensive information on the generator.