Wärtsilä Corporation, Press release 16 August, 2002
Wärtsilä has entered into a co-operation agreement with the Danish technology company Haldor Topsøe A/S to start a joint development programme within the area of fuel cell technology. The development programme aims to bring to the market highly efficient, clean and cost competitive fuel cell products with power outputs above 200 kW for distributed power generation and marine applications.
The programme combines the competence of both companies. Wärtsilä will apply its know-how in decentralised power plant applications and marine propulsion systems. Haldor Topsøe has long experience and a leading position in catalyst development for oil industry and in development of planar solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology.
The fuel cell development programme is part of Wärtsilä´s strategy to provide environmentally friendly solutions for customers with various power generation needs. SOFC technology will provide products for cogeneration applications with ultra-low emission levels, high efficiency and outstanding reliability.
Wärtsilä is the leading global ship power supplier and a major provider of solutions for decentralised power generation and of supporting services with its head office in Helsinki, Finland. Wärtsilä supplies engine room solutions, integrated propulsion systems, main and auxiliary engines and maintenance for all types of vessels. For the power generation market Wärtsilä delivers power plant solutions from 1 to 300 MW. Wärtsilä has a global sales and service network in about 60 countries. Wärtsilä´s net sales totalled EUR 2.4 billion in 2001 and it has 12,000 employees.
Haldor Topsøe is a global technology and catalyst company focused on heavy chemical, petrochemical, refinery, environmental and energy conversion related technologies, with its head office in Lyngby, Denmark. Haldor Topsøe has worked on the development of fuels cells and fuel processing systems for a number of fuel cell technologies for years. In the past five years, development has concentrated on solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology. Topsøe's position within SOFC technology is to a significant degree based on 10 years participation, also financially, in the Danish SOFC Fuel Cell programme led by the Danish National Laboratory at Risø and supported by the Danish government and the Danish energy sector.
Haldor Topsøe is now developing and plans to manufacture cells and stacks for all relevant applications and segments for SOFC systems. Haldor Topsøe´s net sales in 2001 were DKK 2.3 billion ( approx. EUR 310 million) and it has 1,700 employees.
Matti Kleimola,
Group Vice President, Technology and Environment
Wärtsilä Corporation
Direct tel: +358 10 7095 690
Direct fax:
e-mail:matti.kleimola@wartsila.com
Internet: www.wartsila.com
