(The Woodlands, TX - October 2, 2000) Avista Labs, a technology affiliate of Avista Corporation (NYSE: AVA), has been selected to supply the first demonstration unit for a multi-year project to determine whether fuel cells will stack up as an energy source of the future. A consortium, organized by the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), is testing fuel cells' performance and reliability as a clean, efficient and affordable energy source.
The first unit to be demonstrated in Houston Advanced Research (HARC) study is this modular, 3-kilowatt PEM fuel cell from Avista Labs.
The advent of the electric power industry deregulation and new concerns for the environment are driving the development and commercialization of fuel cells. The technology is seen as a viable option for clean, reliable power in residential, commercial and transportation applications.
Participating in the HARC consortium are Dana Corporation (NYSE: DCN), Salt River Project, Southern Company (NYSE:SO), Texaco (NYSE: TX) and Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development, Inc.
Avista Labs is known for its unique modular-based fuel cell, designed to be simple and reliable for the end-user. HARC recently received Avista Labs' three-kilowatt, modular PEM (proton exchange membrane) test unit for demonstration. The unit is about the size needed to meet the average power needs of a typical home.
Patrice Parsons, director of HARC's Fuel Cell Research and Applications Center, said that the consortium is examining issues including power quality and reliability, technology transfer and training as well as the development of long-term performance and emissions data. "We are also interested in learning how the use of fuel cells might be applied to new incentive programs, such as tradable pollution credits and greenhouse gas reductions," she added.
At a recent visit with consortium members, Kim Zentz, president of Avista Labs, emphasized the company's commitment to developing innovative products focused on the end-user. "We are strong proponents of both thorough testing and soliciting end-use customer feedback to drive product development. Results from HARC's testing are important in helping to fulfill our mission of commercializing the Avista Labs modular fuel cell. We are honored to be selected as the first residential fuel cell demonstration in the program."
Bruce Rauhe, technical director of HARC's Fuel Cell Research Center, said the consortium plans to test several fuel cell technologies over the next few years. "We are excited to have an Avista system to launch our stationary PEM fuel cell demonstration project. The results from the Avista Labs' system will provide valuable input and serve as a baseline for future studies. We are just as interested in determining how fuel cells work in large-scale applications, say for a theme park or utility plant, as in how they will perform in homes," he said.
Created in 1982, the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) is a nonprofit, university-linked research institution with major research interests in energy, the environment, and policy studies.
Based in Spokane, Washington, Avista Labs is a leader and innovator in modular PEM fuel cell technology for residential and small commercial markets. The company's exclusive modular technology features strengths in reliability and serviceability, and the modular-based, scalable design can be easily configured to meet any energy load. Avista Labs is dedicated to commercializing a broad array of fuel cell products.
Dana Corporation is one of the world's largest independent suppliers to vehicle manufacturer and the aftermarket. Founded in 1904 and based in Toledo, Ohio, the company operates some 320 major facilities in 32 countries and employs more than 80,000 people.
Salt River Project (SRP) is the third-largest public power utility in the nation serving more than 725,000 customers in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
Southern Company (NYSE: SO), based in Atlanta, is the largest producer of electricity in the United States and one of the world's leading independent power producers, with more than $35 billion in assets. The company has a long history of technology innovation in electric power generation.
Texaco Energy Systems Inc. (TESI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Texaco Inc., was established to explore opportunities to broaden Texaco's energy portfolio. Leveraging the strength of a global corporation, TESI is advancing commercialization activities in the areas of fuel cells, hydrocarbons-to-liquids, small-scale distributed power and alternative fuels.
Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development, Inc. is a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company and is chartered to develop and apply technology to the entertainment field.
Contacts
Jeff Cole, Dana Corporation, (419) 535-4704, jeff.cole@dana.com
David E. King, Southern Company, (404) 506-0267, deking@southernco.com Internet: www.southernco.com
Scott Harelson, SRP, (602) 236-2500 or hsharels@srpnet.com Internet: www.srpnet.com
Tyra M. Metoyer, Texaco, (713) 752-4784 metoytm@texaco.com Internet: www.texaco.com
Benedict R. Schwegler, Jr., Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development, 818-544-7691, ben@disney.com
Barbara Peyton, HARC, (281) 363-7908 or bpeyton@harc.edu Internet: www.harc.edu
Maria Ranniger, Avista Labs, (509) 495-8325 or mranniger@avistalabs.com Internet: www.avistalabs.com
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