13 Mar 2013 07:00
PRESS RELEASE
Ceramic Fuel Cells and Alliander plan broad deployment of BlueGEN systems
600 BlueGEN systems to be installed across Alliander's German grids by 2015
Heinsberg, 13 March 2013. Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited ("CFCL") (AIM / ASX: CFU), a leading developer of generators which use fuel cell technology to convert natural gas into electricity and heat for homes and other buildings, today signed a letter of intent for a strategic partnership with Alliander AG, a distribution grid operator. As a first step, up to 600 BlueGEN systems are to be installed across Alliander's regional grids in Germany by 2015. Alliander will make an important contribution to advancing decentralised energy provision and to introducing this innovative fuel cell technology to the German market.
Alliander was an early adopter of the BlueGEN product and will initially focus on the Heinsberg region (in North-Rhine Westphalia) before moving to the national level in a second phase of deployment. To achieve this objective, Alliander plans to top up national and regional subsidy schemes to make the installation of BlueGEN systems financially more attractive to clients connected to Alliander's grids. This novel, value-added offering creates a link between clients and their grid operator.
"We were impressed with BlueGEN's almost 100 per cent operational availability", says Ton Doesburg, CEO of Alliander AG. "After three years of positive experience, we will now move to the next level and actively support the deployment of this innovative and environmentally friendly technology across our grids."
"The planned cooperation with Alliander opens additional important distribution opportunities for our BlueGEN systems," says Bob Kennett, CEO of Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited. "We are proud that our product has worked so well for Alliander's grid experts. Their feedback again testifies to the marketability of BlueGEN."
Alliander views decentralised electricity production as an important challenge and opportunity for the "energy transition" towards a greater share of renewables in the energy mix. In that, the BlueGEN technology can play a major role: Contrary to solar, wind and hydro-electric power, BlueGENs are consistently available, independent of weather conditions and can balance electricity grid volatility. As a result, their deployment improves the stability of decentralised grids. Central control of the individual units allows an optimal use of the energy generated, as well as its integration in regional structures.
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For more information please contact:
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Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited | ||||
Frank Obernitz (GER) | Tel. | : +49 (0) 171 3300 721 : investor@cfcl.com.au | ||
Nomura Code Securities (AIM Nomad) | ||||
Juliet Thompson Chris Golden | Tel. | : +44 (0) 207 776 1200 | ||
Australian media enquiries | ||||
Richard Allen Oxygen Financial Public Relations | Tel. | : +61 (0) 3 9915 6341 : richard@oxygenpr.com.au
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UK media enquiries | ||||
David StürkenMaitland | Tel. | : +44 (0) 207 379 5151 : dsturken@maitland.co.uk | ||
German media enquiries | ||||
Sebastian Mewißen Hering Schuppener Consulting | Tel. | : +49 (0) 211 430 79 26 : smewissen@heringschuppener.com
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About Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited:
Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited is a world leader in developing fuel cell technology to generate highly efficient and low-emission electricity from widely available natural gas. Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited has sold its BlueGEN gas-to-electricity generator to major utilities and other foundation customers in Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Italy, Japan, Australia, and the USA. Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited is also developing fully integrated power and heating products with leading energy companies E.ON UK in the United Kingdom, GdF Suez in France and EWE in Germany.
The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange AIM market and the Australian Securities Exchange (code CFU).
www.cfcl.com.au
About Alliander:
Alliander AG with headquarters in Berlin and Heinsberg/NRW is part of the Dutch Alliander NV, the leading electricity and gas grid operator in the Netherlands.
Alliander has been operating in Germany since 2001. With about 120 employees, it focuses on operating and upgrading energy grids, public lighting infrastructure and traffic light systems.
Alliander runs the Heinsberg electricity grid and has also bought the concession for the local gas grid. Alliander has acquired additional concessions for the operation of electricity and gas grids in the Oberhavel region. It manages the public lighting infrastructure of Berlin, Cottbus, Hagen, Heinsberg and Rüsselsheim. Furthermore, Alliander operates the traffic light system in the German capital. As a partner in the implementation of the energy transition, the company follows a sustainable growth strategy in Germany.
Its ownership unbundling has made Alliander the only independent grid operator in Germany. The company is fully owned by the public sector. Alliander helps communities to achieve energy supply independence by building intelligent infrastructure that takes into account economic, environmental and social objectives.