Ballard Ships 250-Kilowatt Stationary Fuel Cell Power Generator
26 April 2000
Ballard Ships 250-Kilowatt Stationary Fuel Cell Power Generator
VANCOUVER, B.C.--April 26, 2000--Ballard Power Systems (TSE:BLD.)(NASDAQ:BLDP) announced today that its subsidiary Ballard Generation Systems shipped its second 250-kilowatt stationary fuel cell power generator for field testing through its associated company ALSTOM BALLARD to Bewag AG's Treptow heating plant in Berlin, Germany. This power generator, which uses Ballard(R) fuel cells, will be tested by a consortium of European electric companies led by Bewag, the largest supplier of power and heat in Berlin."This marks the beginning of our field trial program in Europe," said Jim Kirsch, President of Ballard Generation Systems. "We are confident that by providing an alternative to centralized power plants, we are meeting the market needs resulting from utility deregulation in Europe. We have much to learn from this field demonstration program which will assist us in achieving our goals for commercialization."
ALSTOM BALLARD is a jointly held company of ALSTOM France S.A. and Ballard Generation Systems with a mandate to supply Ballard Generation Systems fuel cell power generators incorporating the Ballard(R) fuel cell to customers in Europe.
Ballard Generation Systems was formed to commercialize PEM fuel cell stationary power generators that use the Ballard(R) fuel cell. In addition to Ballard Power Systems, its shareholders include GPU International Inc. of New Jersey, ALSTOM France S.A., and Ebara Corporation of Japan.
Ballard Power Systems is recognized as the world leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing zero-emission proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells for use in transportation, electricity generation and portable power products. Ballard Power Systems' proprietary fuel cell technology is enabling automobile, electrical equipment and portable power product manufacturers to develop environmentally clean products for sale. The fundamental component of these end-user products is the Ballard(R) fuel cell that combines hydrogen (which can be obtained from methanol, natural gas or petroleum) and oxygen (from air) without combustion to generate electricity. Ballard is partnering with strong, world-leading companies, including DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GPU International, ALSTOM and EBARA, to commercialize Ballard fuel cells. Ballard has also supplied fuel cells to Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Volkswagen, Yamaha, Cinergy and Matsushita Electric Works, among others.
Ballard's Common shares are listed on The Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "BLD" and on the Nasdaq National Market System under the symbol "BLDP". Ballard and the Ballard logo are registered trademarks of Ballard Power Systems Inc.