Ceramic Fuel Cells Regulatory News (CFU)

29 Aug 2006 07:08

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited29 August 2006 29th August 2006 CERAMIC FUEL CELLS LIMITED APPOINTMENT TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (CFCL), a world leading manufacturer of solid oxidefuel cells and provider of enabling technology for micro-combined heat and power(m-CHP) units and distributed generation, today announces the appointment of itsfirst UK-based Non-Executive Director. This appointment reflects the Company'scommitment to strengthening its base in the United Kingdom, following on fromits listing on AIM earlier in the year and also its increased focus oncommercialising its technology, particularly throughout the European market. Robert (Bob) Kennett, 56, has spent his career in the energy sector and has beenfocused on Combined Heat and Power and renewables. He held the position ofManaging Director of Powergen Combined Heat and Power Ltd for 12 years and, forthree years simultaneously, was the Chairman of PowerGen Renewables Ltd. In histen years in this position, Bob successfully established and managed a leadingand profitable Powergen business in the UK Combined Heat and Power market withassets of more than £600m at 22 sites. Bob is currently a consultant advising financiers and investors on businessopportunities in the UK Combined Heat and Power and Renewable Energy markets. Bob had previously worked at GEC Gas Turbines, Associated Heat Services and ABBPower. While at Powergen, he held the position of Chairman of the Combined Heat andPower Association. He is currently on a Panel of Independent Assessors for DTIEnergy Programmes, as well as being a board member for Power Industries divisionof the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Bob holds an honours degree inMechanical Engineering and is a Fellow of the Institution of MechanicalEngineers. Julian Dinsdale, Chairman of Ceramic Fuel Cells, commented: "I am delighted that Bob is joining the Board of Ceramic Fuel Cells. He has agreat track record in building and managing businesses in Combined Heat andPower, knows the renewables sector well and he has an excellent understanding ofthe financial community. His range of experience will be invaluable as we movetowards commercialisation." ENDS For further information please contact: Andrew Neilson +61 419 950 771Brendan Bilton +44 (0) 7798 554 191Ceramic Fuel Cells investor@cfcl.com.au Nick Denton / Vanessa Orr +44 (0) 20 7357 9477Hogarth Partnership Aamir Quraishi / Charles Goodfellow +44 (0) 20 7569 9661Libertas Capital NOTES TO EDITORS About Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited (CFCL, www.cfcl.com.au) is a world leader indeveloping solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology which can provide reliable,energy efficient, high-quality, and low-emission electricity from widelyavailable natural gas and renewable fuels. CFCL is developing SOFC products forsmall-scale on-site micro combined heat and power (m-CHP) and distributedgeneration units that co-generate electricity and heat for domestic use. CFCL is now at an advanced stage of development, and is moving swiftly towardscommercialization. Since 1992, CFCL has developed its own fuel cells andcomplete fuel cell 'stacks', and has also succeeded in creating the highlyengineered "balance of plant" that surrounds the fuel cell stack and controlsthe inputs (fuel, air and water), outputs (heat and electricity), timing, andtemperature controls. CFCL is currently demonstrating prototype units in field trials with EWE (thefifth-largest German multi-service energy company) and Powerco (New Zealand'ssecond largest electricity and gas distribution company). In June 2006, CFCLsigned a contract with EWE to supply ten CFCL NetGenTM units for further fieldtrials as part of a collaborative project to develop commercial-ready m-CHPproducts for the European market. CFCL has extensive R&D, testing and manufacturing facilities in Melbourne,Australia. CFCL will build a fuel cell manufacturing facility in Europe, withplans to begin large scale production in 2008-09, making CFCL a leader inpreparing for volume manufacturing. The Company will also construct a plant inEurope to produce high quality ceramic powders, which are a key component ofsolid oxide fuel cells, using the Company's patented technology. The powderplant is scheduled to be commissioned in Q1 2007. With over 100 skilled staff and extensive patented technology (50 patents in 28patent 'families' to date), CFCL is pursuing partnerships for manufacture,production and use of its fuel cells in delivering electricity to the domesticEuropean and Asian markets. CFCL was formed in 1992 by Australia's CSIRO (Commonwealth Science and IndustryResearch Organisation) and a consortium of leading energy and industrialcompanies. A UK subsidiary was established in 2004. The Company is based inMelbourne, Australia and Chester, United Kingdom. It is publicly listed on boththe AIM Stock Exchange, London (floated March 2006), and on the Australian StockExchange (floated July 2004). The company's code on both exchanges is CFU. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange