Reliant, Texaco Team to Develop Fuel Cells for Home and Business Use (6/12/2001) Houston, June 12, 2001–-Reliant Energy Power Systems, a unit of Houston based Reliant Energy has entered a joint development agreement with Texaco Energy Systems to develop and market a fuel cell to power homes and businesses. The technology can deliver power to homes and businesses independently from the electricity grid, either as a sole source of power or as a backup source. A year ago, Reliant Energy signed an agreement with Texas A&M University for exclusive rights to market a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell developed by Dr. A. John Appleby of the Texas Engineering Experiment Station. This fuel cell is being designed specifically for residential and small commercial use. The 7.5 kilowatt fuel cell prototype extracts hydrogen from natural gas and, through a chemical process, creates electricity. Field testing of the fuel cell is tentatively scheduled for late this year with a goal of marketing the device by late 2003 or early 2004, says Alicia Dixon, a spokeswoman for Reliant Energy. Texaco Energy Systems, a subsidiary of Texaco, was formed in 1999 to develop and commercialize advanced energy technologies such as fuel cells and clean liquid fuels. Reliant Energy Systems was formed last year to bring the PEM fuel cell technology to the marketplace.

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Printed: 7/29/2010