Ballard Power Systems has signed a deal to supply fuel cell systems with its African distributer Inala Technologies to supply equipment for the next year.
This agreement will involve providing up to 192 ElectraGen TM-ME methanol-fuelled power generation systems. Ballard specialises in commercial uses for clean energy fuel cells, working with proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology.
The methanol fuelled power generation systems are part of Ballard’s portfolio of back-up power products for use with telecommunications that have been installed at over 890 telecom network sites worldwide.
An order has been received for the first systems to be deployed for an African mobile phone operator’s network. Ballard’s President and CEO, John Sheridan sees this supply deal as an important step to capitalise on a recent acquisition of select assets from IdaTech. He says the company is confident in a significant growth market for back-up power solutions that the opportunity can be maximised by the company’s comprehensive product portfolio, now consisting of both hydrogen and methanol fuelled systems.
The telecoms company receiving the generation systems has previously installed a number of these systems to use as a back-up power system for extended periods when the grid has failed.
