- New system to be based on SFC Energy's established EMILY fuel cells for defense applications and successfully completed Joint Development Agreement (JDA)
- Low rate Initial Production order (LRIP): EUR 1.2 million
- User benefits include greater autonomy and non-detectable operation
SFC Energy AG (F3C:DE), a leading provider of hybrid power solutions to the stationary and mobile power generation markets, has been awarded a low rate initial produc-tion (LRIP) order by an international Defense Force for the shipment of a Next Generation Fuel Cell system (NGFC) for defense applications.
The value of the LRIP (commonly used in military programs to designate the phase of initial, small-quantity production) amounts to EUR 1.2 million. SFC Energy will produce, test, and deliver units to the international De-fense Force, which will remain unnamed.
The NGFC has been designed and developed under a JDA as a fully integrated power source for off-grid defense applications in unmanned scenarios in the field. It will power stationary off-grid applications automatically for extended periods of time without requiring any user intervention. Due to its silent, environmentally friendly operation that produces almost no signature, the power source will be non-detectable. Due to the extremely high energy density of the methanol fuel, the fuel cell will power an application for exceptionally long time intervals, without requiring any user intervention. This makes it the ideal power source for all kinds of covert and undercover scenarios.
SFC Energy will base the NGFC on their proven and tested fuel cell archi-tecture. Its defense & security segment fuel cells are fully commercialized and ruggedized for powering electric and electronic devices and for charging batteries on board of vehicles. The silent power source also reliably charges batteries off-vehicle as field charger. The EMILY and JENNY have been successfully qualified and officially cleared for military usage by the German Armed Forces.
In the context of the JDA and the LRIP order with the international De-fense Force, SFC Energy will optimize the fuel cell system as well as all individual components for maximum lifetime, safety and reliability.
Dr. Peter Podesser, CEO of SFC Energy, stated, "We are pleased to con-tinue our evolution in the security and military market. Our experience in successfully deploying our products for military forces in recent years has helped to expand our potential customer base for governments across the world. We are proud that this international Defense Force has selected our technology as source for reliably powering their unmanned devices in the field. Our fielded fuel cells have an excellent international track record in providing silent, non-detectable power to vehicle based and stationary off-grid defense applications. The NGFC will continue this track record and be an integral part of our defense business going forward."
Additional information on SFC Energy's off grid power and distribution portfolio for portable, mobile, stationary and vehicle-based defense ap-plications is available at www.sfc-defense.com.