Nuvera, Uhdenora and Caffaro announce the installation and start up of the first industrial fuel cell system for electricity production and savings in the electrochemical industry.

MILAN / CAMBRIDGE, MA, July 5, 2006 – Nuvera Fuel Cells, Uhdenora SpA, and Caffaro SrL announced the successful start up of Nuvera’s Forza^TM fuel cell power module in an installation designed by Uhdenora. The system, which is fully integrated into Caffaro’s chlorate production plant located in Brescia (Italy), represents the world’s first commercial, large-scale fuel cell installation in the chlorine and chlorate industry.

This industrial installation represents another successful step in the development and commercialization agreement between Nuvera and Uhdenora. This phase of the project follows the successful system validation carried out in Nuvera’s industrial laboratory located inside the SIAD technical gas production facility in Osio Sotto (BG, Italy). The system has logged over 100,000 kilowatt-hours with 95% availability as part of this testing.

The chlorate plant integration is part of an agreement between Nuvera, Uhdenora, and Caffaro, to maximize the value of excess hydrogen, produced as a by-product during chlorate manufacturing processes. The system has a net power of 120 kW and runs solely on the vented hydrogen. The direct current electricity produced by the fuel cell system is fed directly to the chlorate cells, which allows Caffaro to reduce its net electricity consumption. Thousands of kilogram’s of hydrogen are vented annually, and with this agreement they will be captured and used to produce electricity, reducing operating cost while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“This first installation is a further confirmation of Caffaro’s strategy in the application of innovative technologies for the increase of our plant's eco-efficiency. After this first demonstration, we are considering the application of systems in the MW power range on our plants of Brescia and Torviscosa,” said Andrea Mattiussi, President of Caffaro and Managing Director of SNIA.

The system is designed to work 24 hours a day, and has been installed without interference to the chlorate plant operation. Similarly, the system can be inspected and repaired without interrupting the chlorate production process.

“This first installation is proving the industrial validity of the fuel cells technology as a key component for the design of eco-friendly power production systems, designed to be installed on new and existing electrochemical plants, and will contribute to a quick commercialization process,” said Adrian Schervan, Managing Director of Uhdenora.

“Thanks to our strategic cooperation with Uhdenora, we have designed a modular system able to satisfy the needs of the electrochemical industry and other heavy duty applications. The installation at the Caffaro site is confirmation of an industrial design in full compliance with the safety and reliability requirements of the industry,” commented Alessandro Delfrate, Marketing Manager for Hydrogen Systems at Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe.

Nuvera Fuel Cells is a global leader in the development and advancement of multi-fuel processing and fuel cell technology committed to providing clean, safe and efficient power solutions. With offices in Italy and the USA, Nuvera is committed to advancing the commercialization of hydrogen fuel cell power modules for industrial vehicles and stationary applications, natural gas fuel cell power systems for cogeneration applications, and on-board gasoline fuel processors and fuel cell stacks for automotive applications. Nuvera Fuel Cells Europe is ISO 9001:2000 certified for “Research, Development, Design, Production and Servicing of Fuel Cell Stacks and Fuel Cell Systems.”

Uhdenora SpA is a Joint Company between UHDE of Germany and Gruppo De Nora of Italy. Core activities of Uhdenora are the design and realization of electrochemical plants for the production of chlorine and caustic soda and chlorine derivates, like calcium hypochlorite, sodium chlorate, and ferric chloride.

Caffaro SrL was born in 1906 as an electrical and electrochemical company, and through the years has developed a deep knowledge in running and improving electrochemical plants and related processes. Caffaro is part of the SNIA group since 1985, and is active in the field of specialty chemicals, with basic and innovative product like organic additives, biocides, products for paper industry, product for water disinfection and depuration.

Contact
Danielle Andre
Marketing Communications Coordinator
Nuvera Fuel Cells
Tel: +1-617-245-7571
Fax: +1-617-245-7511
Email: DAndre@nuvera.com