WESTWOOD, Mass., January 31, 2007 - Acumentrics Corporation, a leading developer of solid-oxide fuel cells and uninterruptible power supplies for the distributed generation market, announced today that a 3 kilowatt fuel cell generator finished safety tests for the Japan Gas Association (JGA).
The JGA, a corporate association of 214 city gas utilities and 260 associated firms, is promoting national project funded by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
The JGA project aims to assure the safety of small solid-oxide stationary fuel cell systems "in preparation for Japanese market release and success." Rigid standards must be met in Japan's Electrical Utilities Industry Act and the Fire Services Act. Tests were conducted with several solid-oxide fuel cell systems at the Japan Gas Appliances Inspection Association (JIA) facility in Tokyo.
"This is a great step toward broad sales in the Japanese market," commented Gary Simon, Acumentrics' CEO. "I am proud that our team has developed such a safe system, not only in terms of people and buildings, but also the environment."
Fuel cells use electrochemistry to generate electricity. While many fuel cells require hydrogen to run, Acumentrics' fuel cells can run directly from natural gas, propane, or biofuels, as well as hydrogen. This means of alternative energy is much more carbon-neutral than traditional small-engine generators. Fuel cells are twice as efficient --they use half the fuel per kilowatt-hour-- and have significantly lower CO2, NOx, and SOx emissions. Moreover, excess heat from the cells can be captured for combined heat and power.
Acumentrics' unique, durable, fuel-flexible fuel cell technology is based on tubular ceramics. Over twenty of their fuel cell power generators, ranging from 1-10 kilowatts in size, have been shipped and operated in the field. The Company also sells rugged, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) to the mission-critical market. Acumentrics' rugged UPS products work in extreme heat and cold, in wet and dry conditions, after severe shaking and shock, even in blowing dirt and sand. More information can be found at www.acumentrics.com.
About the JGA:
The Japan Gas Association (JGA) is an organization consisting of city gas utilities that supports the responsible development and promotion of the city gas industry. Established in 1947, and incorporated in 1952 as a corporate association, the JGA has a membership of 214 city gas utilities and an associate membership of about 260 firms closely involved with the gas business. City gas plays a major role in Japan's energy supply. Approximately 27.56 million customers consumed some 32.5 billion cubic meters of gas per year for residential, industrial and air-conditioning use. For more information see: http://www.gas.or.jp/english/index.html.
CONTACT:
Robert Tomasetti, Director of Sales, Acumentrics, at (781) 461-8251 x 339
or via e-mail at btomasetti@acumentrics.com.