Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited CFC and Alliander plan broad deployment of BlueGEN

RNS Number : 8774Z

Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited

13 March 2013

PRESS RELEASE

Ceramic Fuel Cells and Alliander plan broad deployment of BlueGEN systems

600 BlueGEN systems to be installed across Alliander's German grids by 2015

Heinsberg, 13 March 2013. Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited ("CFCL") (AIM / ASX: CFU), a leading developer of generators which use fuel cell technology to convert natural gas into electricity and heat for homes and other buildings, today signed a letter of intent for a strategic partnership with Alliander AG, a distribution grid operator. As a first step, up to 600 BlueGEN systems are to be installed across Alliander's regional grids in Germany by 2015. Alliander will make an important contribution to advancing decentralised energy provision and to introducing this innovative fuel cell technology to the German market.

Alliander was an early adopter of the BlueGEN product and will initially focus on the Heinsberg region (in North-Rhine Westphalia) before moving to the national level in a second phase of deployment. To achieve this objective, Alliander plans to top up national and regional subsidy schemes to make the installation of BlueGEN systems financially more attractive to clients connected to Alliander's grids. This novel, value-added offering creates a link between clients and their grid operator.

"We were impressed with BlueGEN's almost 100 per cent operational availability", says Ton Doesburg, CEO of Alliander AG. "After three years of positive experience, we will now move to the next level and actively support the deployment of this innovative and environmentally friendly technology across our grids."

"The planned cooperation with Alliander opens additional important distribution opportunities for our BlueGEN systems," says Bob Kennett, CEO of Ceramic Fuel Cells Limited. "We are proud that our product has worked so well for Alliander's grid experts. Their feedback again testifies to the marketability of BlueGEN."

Alliander views decentralised electricity production as an important challenge and opportunity for the "energy transition" towards a greater share of renewables in the energy mix. In that, the BlueGEN technology can play a major role: Contrary to solar, wind and hydro-electric power, BlueGENs are consistently available, independent of weather conditions and can balance electricity grid volatility. As a result, their deployment improves the stability of decentralised grids. Central control of the individual units allows an optimal use of the energy generated, as well as its integration in regional structures.

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