Wins grant from US

Porvair PLC
2 July 2001


                                        2 July 2001


                                   PORVAIR PLC

       Wins substantial development grant from US Department of Energy
                       to develop fuel cell technology

Porvair plc, the fully listed UK based material sciences group announces that
it has won a substantial development grant from the US Department of Energy to
develop carbon and carbon composite bipolar plates for fuel cells.  Porvair
will also develop high-volume production methods for this technology.

The grant, announced by US Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham, is for
$6.1million on a cost-shared basis, over 3 years, and is a substantial part of
an $85 million award programme that is to be invested in energy efficient
science and technology. 18 organisations and 5 universities benefited, with
Porvair being the only UK listed company to be included.

The development grant will be used to broaden and accelerate Porvair's already
committed research and development programme in fuel cell components
technology.

Commenting on the award Ben Stocks, Chief Executive of Porvair plc said:

'This award is a tremendous accolade for Porvair, and a great endorsement for
our technology, which received funding against considerable competition. The
US Department of Energy's programme is the largest of its kind in the world,
and we are delighted to be so significantly involved.'

Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham commenting on the award programme said :

'Enhancing energy efficiency is an important goal of the President's National
Energy Policy. By working together with partners from industry and the
academic community we can make the technological advances and scientific
breakthroughs needed to fully realize the potential of  fuel cell technologies
'


Ben Stocks, Chief Executive
Mark Moran, Group Finance Director
Porvair plc                                             01553 761111
                                                        07768 553188

Charles Ryland / Catherine Miles
Buchanan Communications                                 020 7466 5000