Plug Power Inc, a leader in providing clean, reliable on-site energy products, today announced that IST Holdings (Pty) Ltd (IST), a Plug Power distributor headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa, has issued a follow-on purchase order for 120 of the company's GenCore backup fuel cell systems.
In the last year, IST has experienced increased interest in the technology as a result of instability in the electricity supply.
As the South African market gets to understand and appreciate the technology, there is openness to fuel cells. The company is seeing interest for providing power backup for critical applications, such as strategic mobile base stations, server rooms, and even traffic signals at key intersections.
"We have committed a lot of resources to educating the market, on the value of the technology, and why it makes more business sense, and on the value fuel cells offer, compared to batteries, and generators. Fuel cells are silent, give zero emissions, and are fully managed from an operations centre," say Magato Mello, MD of IST Telecoms.
"This represents Plug Power's largest single purchase order to date from an international distributor and is also a resounding testament to our aggressive engagement of the South African market with IST," said Greg Silvestri, Plug Power's President.
Plug Power will continue to build on its growing presence in South Africa and has participated in the ninth annual GSM 3G Africa conference, a leading Pan-African communication event. Plug Power exhibited its GenCore backup fuel cell system, which included a new battery free model that utilises ultracapacitor technology. More than 3 000 attendees, including representatives of Africa's leading telecommunication and utility companies, attended the event.
"The ultracapacitor feature allows us to better meet the demands of customers that require reliable on-site backup power in remote regions, where immoderate climates and severe temperatures negatively impact battery life spans and overall performance," noted Mark Sperry, Plug Power's Chief Marketing Officer.
Kennith Shuda, Power Systems Manager for IST Telecoms, said: "This technology offers a better total cost of ownership compared to generators, because of reduced maintenance cycles. The predictability of the fuel cell run time, automatic periodic self-testing and remote reporting capabilities add to the reliability of the fuel cell system".
In December 2005, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, awarded a $3 million grant to IST and Plug Power to install 400 fuel cells in remote locations and cities throughout South Africa over a three-year period. IST operates throughout Africa's southern countries and sees the supply of fuel cells in South Africa under the IFC program as a logical step toward introducing fuel cells and other renewable energy projects across the African continent.
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Founded in 1980 as a systems technology integrator for industrial markets, IST today is comprised of two major operating segments: the electronics group, which is engaged in the energy system and telecommunication sectors, and the mechanical group, which serves the defence, nuclear power system and multi-disciplinary project sectors. The group's headquarters is in Pretoria, South Africa, from which it bases its operations throughout Southern Africa, as well as North Africa, the Middle East, Australia and Europe. For more information, please visit www.ist.co.za.
Plug Power
Plug Power Inc is an established leader in the deployment of clean, reliable, on-site energy products. More than 650 Plug Power fuel cell systems have been delivered to customers worldwide in commercial, public sector, telecommunications, utility and uninterruptible power supply markets. For more information about how to join Plug Power's energy revolution as an investor, customer, supplier or strategic partner, please visit www.plugpower.com.
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