News

Proton Energy Awarded MDA Fuel Cell Contracts

December 17, 2003 by Jeff Shepard

Proton Energy Systems Inc. (Wallingford, CT), a hydrogen generator and regenerative fuel cell company, announced the award of a small business innovative research (SBIR) Phase I contract from the US Army Missile Defense Agency (MDA) for development of lightweight regenerative fuel cell technology for high-altitude airships. The MDA SBIR Phase I contract is valued at $69,865 with a 6-month period of performance.

The goal of the Phase I contract with the MDA is to achieve key milestones that demonstrate the possibility of manufacturing lightweight regenerative fuel cell hardware to meet the needs of high-altitude airships. The ultimate design goal is to develop and demonstrate a hydrogen/oxygen regenerative fuel cell with lightweight packaging capable of high-pressure hydrogen and oxygen generation and multi-kilowatt power output.

The MDA contract is part of a Department of Defense initiative to develop a lighter-than-air, high-altitude airship, Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) prototype. According to the MDA, the ACTD plans to demonstrate the engineering feasibility and potential military utility of an unmanned, un-tethered, gas-filled, solar-powered airship that can fly at 70,000ft.