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PLUG POWER’S
GENCORE® SYSTEM SUPPORTING REMOTE CELL TOWER IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
LATHAM, N.Y. – March 18, 2004 -- Plug
Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG), a leading provider of clean, reliable
on-site energy, announced today that its GenCore® fuel cell
product has been installed and is currently providing backup power
to a remote cellular telecommunications tower in the United Kingdom.
Plug Power is providing backup power to the remote cell tower in
Elgin, Scotland in collaboration with Orange, one of the world’s
most advanced and fastest growing mobile communications companies;
FDT Associates, provider of design and construction services for
telecommunication sites throughout the UK and Northern Ireland;
and BOC Group, one of the largest hydrogen gas suppliers in the
world, serving two million customers in more than fifty countries.
“We are delighted to be showcasing the very first hydrogen-powered
mobile base station,” said Ian Guthrie, Operations Manager
for Orange in Scotland. “This breakthrough means we
will be able to extend our network to new areas not presently covered.
We are also pleased that we have been able to do this in a cost-effective
way, while minimizing the environmental impact to the surrounding
area.”
The cell site is situated in a forest, 1,500 feet above sea level
at the Huntly Nordic Ski Center training site, and provides telecommunication
coverage between Rhynie and Elgin. The site’s prime
power is supplied by an LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) generator
provided by Harrington Generators. Plug Power’s GenCore®
system, which is fueled by hydrogen, is providing backup power to
the remote location.
“This project represents the potential solution to a very
real problem,” said John Peake, FDT Managing Director.
“Not only could this project help address issues with existing
sites, but also could solve future problems when new sites are erected.”
“The system is quiet and has had no impact whatsoever on our
skiing environment,” said Sandy Thorn, Duty Manager of the
Huntly Nordic Outdoor Center. “This is the first time
we have had full network coverage in the area. In the past,
if an accident occurred we would have had to drive to call an ambulance.”
The system was installed in January 2004 and has provided more than
550 hours of backup power to the site.
About GenCore®
GenCore®5T is Plug Power’s first direct hydrogen product
based on a proprietary, modular, scaleable, architected platform.
The GenCore® 5T is a 5kW product designed to increase network
reliability while reducing lifecycle costs for telecommunication
networks.
About Orange
Orange is one of the most advanced and fastest growing mobile communications
companies in the world, with more than twelve million customers
in the UK and over 30 million customers worldwide. Orange
is ranked the number one mobile telephone service provider in the
UK for the past four years.
About Plug Power
Plug Power Inc. designs and develops on-site energy systems based
on proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Plug Power’s strategic
partners include GE Fuel Cell Systems, DTE Energy Technologies,
Vaillant GmbH, Honda R&D Co., Ltd., Engelhard Corporation and
Celanese Ventures. The Company’s headquarters are located
in Latham, N.Y., with offices in Washington, D.C., and The Netherlands.
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