Millennium Cell Inc. (NASDAQ: MCEL) has been awarded a $730,000 Phase II Small Business Innovation Research Program (“SBIR”) contract by the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (“TACOM”).
Under this two year program, the Company and its subcontractor ReliOn, a Spokane, WA based fuel cell manufacturer, will develop a fully modular 500 watt power system with the ability to use available field water with a variety of impurities.
The power system will combine Millennium Cell’s Hydrogen on Demand technology and ReliOn’s Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell to create a 500 watt hydrogen battery. The completed system will be evaluated by Selfridge Air National Guard Base and have the capability to support a number of military uses including silent watch power, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) countermeasure systems, battery charging, and critical backup power for telecom as well as communications equipment for air traffic control. The Company will explore potential commercial applications for the modular hydrogen storage system as well.
The standardized 500 watt hydrogen storage modules will be designed to run in parallel or in series with a modular fuel cell to reach power ranges of up to 5kW and can provide for extended run times for applications as needed at lower power ranges. ReliOn, the leader in the development and marketing of modular, cartridge-based, PEM fuel cells for stationary and backup power applications, will provide the fuel cells and integration support for the program. Concurrent Technologies Corporation of Johnstown, PA will test the system.
“This contract will fund the development of a flexible, fully modular, efficient and lightweight power source that can provide the military with an inherently safe, state-of-the-art solution for a variety of applications,” commented H. David Ramm, Millennium Cell Chief Executive Officer. “In addition, this project is our first with ReliOn, a leading PEM fuel cell developer focused on distinct markets from our existing fuel cell partners. We look forward to the opportunity to work with ReliOn on this program and to explore other ways we can work together in the future.”
“ReliOn is very excited to participate in this important program with Millennium Cell”, stated ReliOn President and CEO, Gary Flood. “With more than 850kW of commercial product sold, our modular, redundant approach to fuel cells is field-proven. In combination with Millennium Cell’s modular fuel solution, this project will provide a highly reliable power solution for the U.S. Army.”
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