US

‘Milestone’ fuel cell deal signed to the tune of $500 million

Contract adds to a “strong growth” in the North American region.

One of the largest deals in the stationary fuel cell industry ever signed, United States-based fuel cell company ClearEdge Power and Austrian low-carbon utility Güssing Renewable Energy G.m.b.H., entered a $500-million, nine-year agreement to deliver 50 megawatts' worth of energy derived from fuel cells by 2020.

In the first phase of this agreement, ClearEdge will provide 8.5 MW of high-temperature PEM fuel cell systems using 1,700 units of its 5-kilowatt modules over the next 36 months.

"This is a very significant milestone for both ClearEdge Power and the stationary fuel cell market. [A]n agreement of this magnitude further validates the role that scalable, continuous onsite power systems will play in the transition to a carbon-neutral society," ClearEdge chief executive Russell Ford said.

Mr. Ford said the contract adds to a "strong growth" in the North American region while it continues international expansion.

The Austrian town of Güssing is the first community in the European Union to derive 100 percent of its energy needs - electricity, heating and cooling and fuels - from renewable resources.

Güssing Renewable Energy's offerings include anaerobic technology that can convert organic mass into high-purity biogas.

Güssing Renewable Energy will reportedly be selling and installing ClearEdge systems in Austria for possible expansion into other Western European countries.

ClearEdge Power, set up in 2003, has been able to deploy its systems in a variety of industries, including multi-tenant housing, hospitality, education, utility, public sector and residential sites, allowing customers to be independent from the main power line.

Last year, ClearEdge bagged a $2.8-million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for its ClearEdge5 fuel system. To date, it has about 125 units in the U.S. West Coast and in South Korea.

(Jhoanna Frances S. Valdez)