ITM Power PLC
22 June 2006
Strictly embargoed until: 0700hrs, 22 June 2006
ITM Power Plc
('ITM' or 'The Company')
Key Personnel Appointment
ITM Appoints New Electrolyser Business Development Officer
ITM Power Plc is pleased to announce today it has appointed Professor Marcus
Newborough as Electrolyser Business Development Officer, where he will play a
major role in the strategic planning and commercialisation of ITM's electrolyser
technology. Professor Newborough will be joining ITM in September 2006 after
completing his notice period with his current employer, Heriot-Watt University.
Professor Newborough is internationally recognised as one of the leading experts
within energy systems specialising in electrolysers and their application to
renewable hydrogen production. Over the last few years he has built a close
working relationship with ITM Power while he acted as an independent consultant
evaluating electrolyser technologies for BOC, ITM and the EU.
Professor Newborough's most recent post was as the Royal Academy of Engineering
Research Chair in Energy and Environmental Engineering at Heriot-Watt
University, where he established and directed the HWU Energy Academy.
Previously, he was Head of Applied Energy, School of Mechanical Engineering at
Cranfield University where he was responsible for directing commercially
sponsored research and post graduate research programmes in energy, including
energy management in the built environment, applications of micro-CHP and
environmental implications of energy use in industry.
Jim Heathcote, CEO of ITM Power Plc, said 'I am delighted to welcome Marcus to
ITM Power. I am confident that he will play a major role as we pursue the
commercial production and deployment of ITM's electrolyser technology. We have
made substantial progress this year on cost reduction and durability of our
electrolysers and we believe that the electrolyser is likely to be one of our
first devices to be commercially available.'
Marcus Newborough, added: 'I am looking forward to joining ITM at such an
exciting time in its development. ITM's electrolyser technology has the
potential to overcome the commercial barriers associated with the cost of
hydrogen and its delivery. The appropriate deployment of such electrolysers will
provide a major route to achieving both energy security and carbon abatement. '
Ends
For further information please contact:
Gemma Chandler Tim Linacre / Katherine Roe Simon Hudson /Clemmie Carr
ITM Power Plc Panmure Gordon Tavistock Communications
Tel: 01799 532 860 Tel: 020 7459 3600 Tel: 020 7920 3150
Mob: 07921 057712
Notes to Editors
Electrolyser:
An electrolyser converts water and electricity into hydrogen and oxygen. These
gases can be used as fuel for combustion engines, fuel cells, heating and
conventional electricity generation.
Existing electrolysers cost in the region of $2,000/ kW and the US Department of
Energy 2010 target is $300/kW for an electrolyser stack.
ITM Power has identified low cost electrolysers as a vital component to replace
hydrocarbon fuels with hydrogen. ITM has achieved costs as low as $164 / per kW.
About the hydrogen economy and ITM Power:
The future shape of the energy industry is being driven predominantly by the
growth in the global demand for energy, the diminishing reserves of oil and by
the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels.
ITM aims to provide all aspects of the technology necessary to make the hydrogen
economy a commercial reality and replace hydrocarbon fuels.
Hydrogen Economy:
• Term used to describe the use of hydrogen as a critical element in the
energy economy of the future.
• Benefit of hydrogen is that it has the potential to a be a totally
'clean' source of fuel
• The vision is that low cost electrolysers produce hydrogen from 'clean'
energy sources such as solar, wind and wave and fuel cells use this hydrogen
to produce the electricity when it's required
'If all the sunlight hitting the earth's surface in one hour was harnessed and
converted into electrical power, it would be enough to fulfil mankind's energy
needs for a complete year' - BP Solar
ITM's Technology:
ITM Power plc believes it has developed and patented the keys to revolutionise
the hydrogen economy and is set to become one of the UK's leading innovators
within the alternative energy sources industry.
ITM's ionically conductive polymer materials and manufacturing processes are
used in the production of fuel cells and electrolysers, which are significantly
cheaper than those presently used in production. The technology offers high
conductivity, hydration control and has the benefit of catalyst recycling.
Existing industry standard membrane material is estimated to cost $500 per sq
metre, ITM's membrane costs $5 per sq metre. The Company has the ability to
produce low cost devices that meet the energy demands of a wide range of
industries and specialist technologies including military, automotive and
stationary fuel cell markets as well as the capacity to produce household items
such as laptops and domestic appliances.
ITM's has patented a new manufacturing process that allows a fuel cell/
electrolyser stack of cells to be made in a single process similar to a mass
production casting process. The process is capable of producing cells or stacks
of any shape that may also be flexible so that they can be moulded into smaller
products, such as mobile phones. The Company has applied this technology to a
low cost electrolyser that can convert carbon free energy into clean hydrogen
fuel on site and on demand, therefore completing the circle of the manufacturing
process.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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