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Palcan Develops Stationary PEM Fuel Cell System

September 03, 2003 by Jeff Shepard

Palcan Fuel Cells Ltd. (Burnaby, BC) announced completion of its joint development project with Goodings Environmental Inc. and Fuel Cells Canada. The project was created to develop a regenerative system that could provide backup "off-grid" power for the telecommunications, uninterruptible power supply and critical applications markets.

The project developed a stationary proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system, which can utilize an external source of hydrogen fuel or generate its own hydrogen fuel by converting renewable energy such as solar power (photovoltaic) or wind power into hydrogen. This is significant because a fuel cell can be powered in any location without having to rely on pre-existing supplies of hydrogen.

Such regenerative, fuel cell energy systems can provide greater security for governments, businesses, hospitals, emergency services, police departments, the elderly or the infirmed, in remote off-grid locations where hydrogen supplies are not readily available, or during times of power shortages or failures. Typically, health care and telecommunications environments depend on batteries or diesel generators for their backup power needs. These markets are strong candidates for the Palcan/Goodings Environmental/Fuel Cells Canada regenerative system.