NexTech Receives Third Frontier Development Grants

March 25, 2008
Lewis Center, OH -

NexTech learned today that it will be the recipient of two major grants from the Ohio Third Frontier Program. Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher made the announcement of $8.9 million in fuel cell research and production grants to 12 entities and $12 million in grants to 17 recipients to accelerate the advancement and growth of the advanced energy industry in Ohio. NexTech was awarded a $1 million grant for its Cell Manufacturing for 100+kW SOFC Power Generation System project and $549,088 for its Market Readiness of Hydrogen Sensor for Advanced Energy Applications project.

With the fuel cell grant funds, NexTech Materials, working with Ohio State University, will fabricate and validate "ultra-large" area planar solid oxide fuel cells to be incorporated into 100+ kW power generation systems. Funds will be used to acquire equipment adequate for near-term prototyping needs, establish testing capability for large area cell validation and to support an Ohio State University development model.

To meet the needs of megawatt-scale distributed power generation, multiple fuel cell stacks will be combined and integrated into a power generation system. As system power output increases, it is necessary to increase the power output per stack module (to reduce the number of modules in the system). This leads to a need for larger and more powerful fuel cells (500 watts/cell, compared to the current 50 watts/cell). Over the past three years, NexTech Materials has established fuel cell technology with enabling attributes for fuel-flexible power systems. According to NexTech’s CEO, Bill Dawson, “Development of these power systems will allow NexTech’s commercial partners to design cost effective and efficient solutions for distributed generation of power. NexTech will establish critical, world-class manufacturing capability right here in Ohio.”

With Third Frontier Support of its hydrogen sensor commercialization project, NexTech Materials, in collaboration with the Edison Materials Technology Center, will develop specifications for various customer applications and complete sensor element design for manufacturing, sensor electronics integration and packaging, supply chain development, establish sensor manufacturing capability, and complete product validation/certification. NexTech plans on beginning beta-testing of its hydrogen sensor products in late 2008 and for product entry in 2010. Lora Thrun, NexTech’s Associate Director of Commercialization, stated “support from the Third Frontier will allow us to make our hydrogen sensor technology market-ready and will provide a key strategic advantage to building hydrogen and fuel cell products here in Ohio.”

"Strategic investments from Ohio's Third Frontier Fuel Cell Program have established our state as a global leader in fuel cell innovations," said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development and Chair of the Third Frontier Commission. "The investments made today will provide additional opportunities for the development and deployment of fuel cell technologies and will continue to spur economic growth in this important industry."

About NexTech Materials

NexTech’s vision is to be a global leader in the development and manufacturing of innovative products that solve energy and environmentally related problems. NexTech is a leading developer and supplier of materials, components and services for the fuel cell industry and is dedicated to reducing the manufacturing and operating costs of fuel cells and other electrochemical devices. NexTech's customers are located in over 35 countries and include leading researchers, developers and manufacturers throughout the world. NexTech Materials, Ltd. was founded as a privately held company in 1994 and has grown into one of Ohio’s leading technology companies. NexTech recently expanded its manufacturing and R&D facilities located in Lewis Center Ohio. NexTech has many products in the pipeline including fuel cell stacks for military and residential power applications, sensors for gas detection and control systems, catalysts for energy conversion systems, and membranes for gas separation devices. For more information, please visit our web site http://www.nextechmaterials.com.

Contact:

Mr. William Dawson
(614) 842-6606, extension 108
e-mail: w.dawson@nextechmaterials.com
NexTech Materials, Ltd.
404 Enterprise Drive
Lewis Center, OH 43035

Dr. Lora Thrun
(614) 842-6606, extension 129