Ceres Power Regulatory News (CWR)

30 Sep 2008 07:00



30 September 2008

Ceres Power Holdings plc

('Ceres', 'Ceres Power' or the 'Company')

Fuel Cell Module meets Alpha phase target on schedule

Ceres Power announces that it has successfully built and tested a 1kW Fuel Cell Module meeting the performance, size and weight requirements under the Alpha Phase of the CHP programme with British Gas. This represents the successful achievement of the Q3 2008 milestone of the CHP product roadmap set out in the British Gas CHP update on 24th June 2008. 

The Fuel Cell Module is the 'electrochemical engine' that quietly and efficiently converts fuel and air into electricity and heat and is at the heart of the Group's integrated wall-mountable residential Combined Heat and Power (CHP) product. The close-coupled Fuel Cell Module consists of the Fuel Cell Stack integrated with fuel processing and heat exchange balance of plant elements.

The Fuel Cell Module was operated on three different fuel types: mains natural gas, methane and propane. On each fuel, it delivered a maximum electrical output of just over 1kW and was operated over a broad range of power outputs demonstrating its controllability and efficiency.  The core Fuel Cell Stack within the integrated Fuel Cell Module demonstrated a heat to power ratio of better than 1:1 and was built using Ceres Power fuel cells made by scaleable manufacturing processes.

The Ceres Power value engineering programme has resulted in a major reduction in component part count. This has been achieved using innovative systems integration and through pre-assembly of balance of plant elements by supply chain partners as a core part of the design for manufacture strategy.  

The Fuel Cell Module has been packaged to fit overall dimensions of 205mm by 305mm by 305mm. Including its thermal insulation it weighs less than 25kg, meeting the Alpha CHP product targets. Together, these size and weight achievements enable the CHP product to be wall mountable and easy to install, essential to maximise mass market access.

The achievement of the Fuel Cell Module milestone underpins the subsequent Alpha milestones in Ceres Power's CHP programme with British Gas, namely the Alpha CHP product build due to be completed in Q4 2008 and tested through Q1 2009.

Gearoid Lane, Director British Gas New Energy, commented:

"We are pleased with the recent progress under our new contract with Ceres Power. The programme is on track to deliver as planned and we look forward to the testing of the Alpha CHP Product early in 2009." 

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