24 Sep 2007 07:00
Embargoed Release: 07:00hrs Monday 24th September 2007
Zenergy Power plc (`Zenergy' or the `Group') Commercial Order for Full Scale HTS Induction Heater
Zenergy Power plc (AIM:ZEN.L), the specialist manufacturer and developer of commercial applications for high-temperature superconductive (`HTS') materials, is pleased to announce that it has received the first commercial order for a full scale HTS induction heater. This initial order has been received just four months after the completion of the development and testing of the Group's groundbreaking HTS induction heater equipment (as announced on 22 May 2007) which can greatly reduce the level of energy consumed by the global metals industry. The unit, which is based around Zenergy's proprietary technology and has been designed specifically for heating large aluminium billets, has been purchased by the industrial aluminium supplier Weser Alu GmbH (`Weser Alu') which will install the HTS unit as a replacement of an existing copper-based aluminium heater located in their manufacturing facility in Minden, Germany. The Board and management of Zenergy believe that this represents the first sale anywhere in the world of an industrial scale commercial device employing HTS materials.
Induction heaters are used globally and ubiquitously by producers and manufacturers in the metals industry to heat large quantities of metal bulk prior to carrying out processes of manipulation and shaping that require the metal material to be softened. The softened metal is used for products including installation pipes, heat exchangers, window frames, computer components and profiles for the automotive, aerospace and machine building industries.
The current addressable market for the Group's induction heaters is estimated at c. ¢â€š¬2 billion per annum.
It is anticipated that the unit due to be delivered to Weser Alu will reduce the amount of energy required to heat one ton of aluminium from about 280kWh to just below 160kWh. This near halving of energy consumption is achieved through the substantial efficiency improvements delivered by the Group's proprietary HTS core components. Aside from this significant reduction in energy consumption, the Group's unit has also demonstrated reduced heating times, considerably better temperature distribution and increased productivity levels. Initial feedback from Weser Alu, and other potential customers, is that these performance characteristics make the HTS induction heater significantly advantageous when compared to existing copper-based induction heaters.
As recognition of the environmental benefits achievable through the use of the Group's induction heater, the initial unit was developed and built by Bƒ¼ltmann GmbH and Zenergy with the aid of the German Environmental Fund.
As previously announced, the Group's induction heater operates with energy efficiency levels of over 90% as compared to conventional induction heaters that operate at efficiency levels of between 35% and 45%. This effective halving of electricity requirement is of particular significance when it is considered that, dependent on the country, between 1% and 5% of the total annual electricity consumed in industrialised countries is directly attributable to the operation of heating equipment by the metals industry.
Dirk SchĦtz, Head of The Climate Protection and Energy Department, of the German Environmental Fund, commented:
`As an environmental fund, it is our responsibility to seek out - and invest in - technologies and products capable of making a positive impact on the way in which businesses carry out industrial processes. Zenergy's induction heater is one such product, and furthermore is one of a rare category of products that are capable of aligning the interests of business with those of the environment.
It is for this reason that we supported the development of the HTS induction heater, and it is for the same reason that we now witness such a rapid adoption of the technology by its target industry. The cost savings, productivity performance and environmental benefits make the induction heater a compelling product, and we are proud to have assisted in its development.'
-Ends- www.zenergypower.com www.australiansc.com / www.scpowersystems.com / www.trithor.com For further information:Dr. Jens Mƒ¼ller Zenergy Power Plc + 49 22 26 90 60 200 Chief Executive Officer Tom Hulme Landsbanki Securities +44 207 426 9000 (UK) Limited Andrew Tan Hansard Group + 44 207 245 1100 www.hansardgroup.co.uk About Zenergy Group Plc
Zenergy Power plc is a global specialist manufacturer and developer of commercial applications for superconductive materials. Comprising three operating subsidiaries located in Germany (Trithor), USA (SC Power Systems) and Australia (Australian Superconductors), the Group is developing a number of energy efficient applications to be adopted in renewable energy power generation, energy distribution and large scale, energy intensive industrial processes.
Superconductive materials are capable of conducting electricity without any resistance and were first discovered in 1911 in what was to prove to be one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs of the 20th century.
The global HTS market is substantial and growing, with a number of market studies projecting multi-billion dollar markets for the application of HTS materials and products. The proliferation of the use of HTS materials is largely being driven by the following key factors:
* HTS materials are highly complementary to energy efficient technologies as a substitute for copper; * HTS wires have power densities of over 100X that of copper; * HTS materials deliver exceptional energy efficiencies and thus reduced consumption and running costs; * HTS applications are capable of delivering vastly increased levels of power with increased reliability and reduced material usage; * current developments are leading to substantially reduced costs in the production of HTS materials and are targeting to be cheaper than copper over the next few years; and * HTS technology is set to play a significant role in reducing CO2 emissions in line with international targets.
ZENERGY POWER PLC