IdaTech Secures Another Order for its Fuel Cell ElectraGen XTi Unit

IdaTech today announces that it has received an order for 35 of its ElectraGen Xti ('XTi') systems from a major national US mobile telecommunications company. 

The 35 unit order follows successful field trials of IdaTech's XTi within the customer's network over the last six months. The systems, which will be deployed in Florida, will provide reliable, extended duration backup power in this storm prone state.  The XTi systems will provide backup to the cellular base station network during times of power outage from the electricity grid.  The use of IdaTech's XTi provides the customer with long backup times, enabling the base stations to remain operational for days rather than hours.  This is particularly important given the US Federal Communication Commission's ruling (resulting from the failure of the telecommunication networks following Hurricane Katrina in 2005) that may require telecommunication companies to provide at least eight hours of backup for such sites.

The 35 systems will be shipped before the end of 2008. The ElectraGen XTi backup power fuel cell systems are fully integrated units incorporating IdaTech's fuel cell system for power generation and its proprietary fuel reforming capability which converts liquid fuel into high-purity hydrogen onsite as needed. These systems overcome the hydrogen barrier by avoiding the need to store or refuel compressed hydrogen gas. This has previously been one of the key factors which has deterred the mass adoption of fuel cells.  Liquid fuel enables almost unlimited backup time, which is practically not possible using compressed hydrogen gas. IdaTech is the only company offering this capability for backup power.

Source: Fuel Cell Today