GrafTech International Ltd. (GTI, Wilmington, DE) announced that its Advanced Energy Technology (AET) subsidiary was awarded two cash grants totaling $1.4 million from the State of Ohio to support fuel cell development programs. The awards are part of Ohio Governor Bob Taft's Third Frontier Program to foster the growth of fuel cell technology.
The new funding will support two fuel cell programs. Approximately $800,000 will be used in a program to develop high-volume manufacturing processes for proton-exchange membrane, fuel cell, flow field plates. The program will utilize proprietary GRAFCELL® advanced flexible graphite from AET and systems design expertise from PIA Group Inc. (Cincinnati, OH).
The second program, under which AET will receive approximately $600,000, will develop a rapid, cost-effective, fuel cell testing system. The program will be instrumental in accelerating improvements in the design and affordability of fuel cell components. AET is partnering with both the University of Akron and Lake Shore Cryotronics to develop and commercialize the fuel-cell-testing system.
