Zemship award win

RNS Number : 2152F

Proton Power Systems PLC

07 October 2008

 

Press release

7 October 2008

Proton Power Systems plc

('Proton Power' or 'the Company')

Zemship wins award at premier hydrogen technology conference

Proton Power Systems plc (AIM:PPS), a leading designer, developer and producer of fuel cells and fuel cell electric hybrid systems, today announces that the Zemship (Zero Emission Ship) has won the silver award at f-cell, a premier hydrogen technology conference in Stuttgart. The Zemship runs on an innovative hybrid fuel cell drive technology produced by Proton Power's wholly owned subsidiary, Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH ('Proton Motor').

The award, granted by the German region of Baden-Württemberg, aims to recognise outstanding developments in the area of fuel cells and to stimulate further innovations in this sector.  More than 20 companies, scientific institutions and individuals entered in the running for the innovation award.  A jury assessed the projects on their technological concept, level of innovation, market potential, economic viability, how they would impact on other sectors, and any benefits for society and the environment.  The jury were particularly impressed by Zemship's practical focus.  Proton Motor is part of a consortium of eight companies that contributed to Zemship's development.

Thomas Melczer, CEO of Proton Power Systems plc said: 'This award is a great accolade for Proton Power's technology.  It recognises the growing importance of developing our fuel cell technologies for everyday applications.  We are very proud of this award and look forward to supplying this system to other marine and transport applications.'

Launched in August 2008, the ZemShip is the world's first fuel cell driven passenger ship running on a hybrid unit that integrates two of Proton Motor's 48 kW fuel cell systems and a lead gel battery.   Zemship operates in Hamburg, Germany, and can carry up to 100 passengers.  

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For further information:

Proton Power Systems plc
John Wall, Chairman	Tel: [phone]
Ali Naini, Deputy Chairman	Tel: [phone]
Thomas Melczer, CEO	Tel: [phone]
	www.protonpowersystems.com

Arbuthnot Securities Limited
Tom Griffiths / Antonio Bossi	Tel: [phone]
	www.arbuthnotsecurities.co.uk

Media enquiries:

Abchurch Communications Limited
Justin Heath / Stephanie Cuthbert / Monique Tsang	Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]	www.abchurch-group.com

Notes to Editors 

Proton Power Systems plc is a developer and manufacturer of fuel cells and fuel cell hybrid systems for motive and stationary power supply. Its sales-driven strategy focuses on identifying applications with the greatest market needs and supplying large volumes of cost-competitive systems to fulfil those needs.  Proton is targeting a global opportunity, accessing a broad range of markets through partnerships with leading OEMs such as Skoda Electric and Karmann.

Motive applications include forklifts, city buses, municipal utility vehicles and ferries; 'back-to-base' markets which can readily utilise the modularity and scalability of the Company's hydrogen fuel cell systems, and which do not depend on the existence of a ubiquitous hydrogen infrastructure, thereby facilitating swift commercialisation.  

Stationary applications focus on the Uninterruptible Power Supply sector, where there is a large demand for mission-critical, grid-independent secure power supply in places such as telecommunications stations, data centres, hospitals, and power substations. Further market potential lies in industrial and chemical processing plants, where the otherwise wasted hydrogen by-product can be harnessed for producing local power. 

Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH ('Proton Motor'), the Group has developed and produced a fuel cell module that can be integrated with energy storage media to create a hybrid fuel cell system. A proprietary, intelligent energy management software balances the power output across the fuel cell storage unit(s) to maximise efficiency and improve power delivery. The system thus boasts lower fuel consumption and more consistent levels of power delivery than conventional diesel/combustion engine or fuel cell-only systems, in addition to producing zero harmful emissions. 

Proton Power Systems plc was admitted to trading on AIM on 31 October 2006 and is incorporated in the UK.  Proton Motor has more than 15 years of experience in the fuel cell market and is located in Puchheim, near Munich, Germany, where its manufacturing facility is based. 

 

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