Protonex Technology Corporation, a manufacturer of long duration power sources for portable and remote applications, has received a $2.6 million award from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory to further the development of an innovative power solution for individual soldiers on extended field missions.
The technology is built on Protonex's NGen" Portable Power System, a durable, compact and lightweight power source that combines a PEM fuel cell power generation system with a chemical hydride hydrogen storage system. Protonex is partnered with Millennium Cell, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCEL), a major subcontractor in this development program. Millennium Cell will provide their patented Hydrogen On Demand storage technology to Protonex under an existing joint development and licensing agreement.
The contract was awarded under the Dual Use Science and Technology (DUST) Program established by the National Defense Authorization. The DUST program promotes the development of dual use technologies with application both in the military and commercial sectors. Initiatives are evaluated based on their viability and potential product transition from military use into commercial markets.
"Current power systems constitute a substantial portion of the weight load for the special operations warfighter. Fuel cell power generators have considerable potential to significantly decrease this burden," said Dr. Thomas Reitz of the Air Force Research Laboratory.
Protonex has been working with the military since 2000 to develop long duration power solutions for portable applications; and is in the process of commercializing a family of products in the power range of 10 to 1000 Watts. A soldier on a 3-day mission, for example, would need to carry nearly 30 pounds of batteries to equal the power of one Protonex portable fuel cell system. Weighing less than 5 pounds with fuel, Protonex's products offer key advantages over conventional batteries such as increased operating times and fast refueling in the field.
Millennium Cell's Hydrogen On Demand system provides a source of pure hydrogen that can be used with fuel cells. It generates hydrogen from sodium borohydride, which is derived from sodium borate, commonly known as borax. Dissolved in water and passed through a proprietary catalyst chamber, the sodium borohydride releases pure hydrogen - on demand - to power a fuel cell.
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