Ceres Power Regulatory News (CWR)

6 Apr 2005 07:01

Ceres Power Holdings plc06 April 2005 Major technology award confirms Ceres Power as leader in fuel cell race April 6, 2005: Ceres Power, the AIM-quoted fuel cell company, has won the UKmaterials industry's top accolade. It has been awarded the prestigious 2005Gold Medal from the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining in recognitionof its "significant contribution to the industrial application of materials". Previous winners include teams from Qinetiq and Airbus UK. Developed over a period of more than 15 years, Ceres' patented technology allowsits unique fuel cell to be manufactured cheaply using low cost materials andestablished mass-production techniques. The award-winning manufacturing processmeans the cell's ceramic layers can bond to its stainless steel base and remainintact even at demanding operating temperatures. Ceres Chief Executive Peter Bance said: "We are extremely honoured to have wonthis prestigious award. It helps underscore the outstanding progress we havemade in commercialising this important green technology, and our leadingposition in the alternative energy sector. This recognition reinforces otherhigh-profile endorsements we have received from the UK government, blue chipCity investors and our multinational commercial partners." Ceres has established relationships with several leading energy companies andengineering groups. They include the global industrial gases giant BOC, which isin trials using bottled gas to generate electricity from the Ceres fuel cell,and Dunlop Aerospace, which is helping develop complete power generation unitsthat produce electricity and heat from home boilers, stand-alone generators andfor other market applications. Unlike most others, the Ceres fuel cell can efficiently produce electricity andheat from natural gas as well as hydrogen, meaning it can be introduced usingexisting energy infrastructures ahead of the development of a hydrogen economy. Ceres has been described by Prime Minister Tony Blair as a "world leader", whileEnergy Minister Mike O'Brien said the company is "at the forefront of the raceto make fuel cells a commercially viable technology." For further information contact: Peter Bance, Chief Executive, Ceres Power Ltd: +44 (0) 1293 400 404Allan Piper: First City Financial Public Relations: +44 (0) 20 7436 7486 +44 (0) 7736 064 982 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange