1.9.2003: Meldung: FuelCell Energy Partner Completes Fuel Cell Installation

FuelCell Energy, Inc., and its partner, a PPL Corporation subsidiary, have completed the installation of two Direct FuelCell(R) (DFC(R)) 250-kilowatt power plants for Zoot Enterprises"" high-technology campus located eight miles west of Bozeman, Mont. The units use natural gas for fuel and produce electric power and hot water for heating and domestic uses.

Zoot is using the fuel cell power plants in conjunction with the electric grid and diesel generation to meet the primary electrical requirements of its building and to support future development at the campus. Zoot is currently installing the necessary equipment for its DFC power plants to operate independent of the electric utility grid and is very close to achieving that goal.

PPL""s distributed generation and energy services subsidiary developed the project and FuelCell Energy manufactured the fuel cells.

"Zoot""s innovative thinking recognized early on the value of critical power, which led to the installation of these DFC power plants we are dedicating today," said Herbert T. Nock, senior vice president of marketing and sales for FuelCell Energy. "After the recent northeastern U.S. blackout, we expect many other businesses to follow Zoot""s example, utilizing our products to assure critical power needs are met while relieving load from a congested grid."

"Until recently, fuel cell energy technology was not available commercially, and its practical use was very limited," said Michael E. Kroboth, president- PPL Energy Services Holdings. "However fuel cells are now part of a growing range of environmentally friendly energy solutions that PPL is providing to our customers. PPL is proud to supply Zoot""s campus with an efficient, reliable on-site fuel cell energy system."

The total value of the Zoot fuel cell project is $3.8 million, with $1.4 million provided in the form of a grant from the United States Department of Energy. U.S. senators Max Baucus and Conrad Burns were active supporters of the project and assisted in securing federal funding.

"We are thrilled with the success of the fuel cell project," said Chris Nelson, president and CEO of Zoot Enterprises. "Fuel cells provide very reliable power, which is vital to our business. More importantly, they have an extremely low impact on the environment -- which is important to us personally. Our partnership with PPL and FuelCell Energy has allowed us to be part of something that will have a lasting impact."

The Zoot campus, which ultimately is expected to include 14 commercial lots, is the site of Zoot""s recently completed 155,000-square-foot headquarters building. The headquarters building will house 410 employees at full capacity, including an electronic data processing center that performs the company""s core business functions.

About Direct FuelCells

Direct FuelCells efficiently generate clean electricity at distributed locations near the customer, including hospitals, schools, universities, hotels and other commercial and industrial facilities, as well as in grid support applications for utility customers. In essence, Direct FuelCells are like large, continuously operating batteries generate electricity as long as fuel, such as natural gas, is supplied. Since the fuel is not burned, there is no pollution commonly associated with the combustion of fossil fuels. Because hydrogen is generated directly within the fuel cell module from readily available fuels such as synthesis gas, natural gas and wastewater treatment gas, DFC power plants are ready today and do not require the creation of a hydrogen infrastructure. This high-efficiency technology generates more electric power from less fuel and with less carbon dioxide emissions than traditional methods using combustion.

About FuelCell Energy, Inc.

FuelCell Energy, Inc., based in Danbury, Connecticut, is a world leader in the development and manufacture of highly efficient hydrogen fuel cells for clean electric power generation, currently offering DFC power plant products ranging in size from 250 kilowatts to 2 megawatts for applications up to 50 megawatts.

FuelCell Energy has developed commercial distribution alliances for its carbonate Direct FuelCell technology with MTU CFC Solutions Gmbh, a company of DaimlerChrysler AG, in Europe; Marubeni Corporation in Asia; and Caterpillar, PPL Energy Plus, Chevron Energy Solutions and Alliance Power in the U.S. FuelCell Energy is developing Direct FuelCell technology for stationary power plants with the U.S. Department of Energy through their Office of Fossil Energy""s National Energy Technology Laboratory. More information is available at http://www.fuelcellenergy.com/.

About Zoot Enterprises

Zoot Enterprises was founded in 1990 to meet the needs of the financial industry for credit verification and banking software. Zoot""s ASP environment now brings their inventive & innovative approach to loan origination systems. The company has partnered with industry leaders to offer an integrated best-of-breed solution. Zoot currently processes credit information for seven of the top 10 credit grantors in the United States.

About PPL

PPL Corporation, headquartered in Allentown, Pa., controls or owns nearly 11,500 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets, and delivers electricity to customers in Pennsylvania, the United Kingdom and Latin America.

PPL has an equity investment in FuelCell Energy and is a distributor of its DFC products in the United States. PPL has previously installed three other DFC300A power plants at end user sites, including Air Station Cape Cod in Bourne, Mass., Sheraton Edison Hotel in Edison, N.J. and Sheraton Parsippany Hotel in Parsippany, N.J. PPL is currently installing one other DFC300A power plants in New Jersey at Ocean County College in Toms River.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company""s plans and expectations regarding the development and commercialization of its fuel cell technology. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that could cause such a difference include, without limitation, the risk that commercial field trials of the Company""s products will not occur when anticipated, general risks associated with product development, manufacturing, changes in the utility regulatory environment, potential volatility of energy prices, rapid technological change, and competition, as well as other risks set forth in the Company""s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any change in the Company""s expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

More information is available at www.fuelcellenergy.com.
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