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St Andrews Fuel Cells

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18th September 2008: St Andrew Fuel Cells is selected as a CleanTech 100 Company

St Andrews Fuel Cells (SAFC) is pleased to have been included in the Guardian / Library House CleanTech 100 list of most promising private companies in Europe focusing on clean technology, as announced in the Guardian today and to be discussed at the Library House Essential CleanTech 2008 conference on 25th September 2008.

SAFC is developing a high temperature, solid oxide fuel cell based on a patented, rolled topology. This allows the cells to be manufactured using a simplified manufacturing process which reduces costs. It also reduces the stress arising in the cells when they are heated to operating temperature, thereby holding the promise of increased reliability.

Clive Dyson, Chief Executive of SAFC said today,

“This is a wonderful honour and real recognition of the hard work we have put into developing fuel cells for modern technologies.  We look forward to taking our demonstration system out of the lab and into trials.”

High temperature fuel cells can by used in a range of applications, including transportable power (to replace internal combustion engine-driven generators), uninterruptable power systems and combined heat and power systems. They operate with either hydrocarbons (such as methane) or hydrogen as fuels.

The company is currently developing a 200W demonstration system and is seeking additional partners to participate in evaluation trials. The company will proceed with its first significant funding round as the demonstration system is readied for trials.

SAFC is backed by NESTA, Sigma Capital Group plc, Imprimatur Capital, the Low Carbon Seed Fund and Scottish Enterprise Scottish Seed Fund.

George Whitehead of NESTA commented,

“I am delighted to hear that SAFC is included in this important list.  Investment in ideas like this makes a real contribution towards practical green energy.”

11th December 2007: St Andrews Fuel Cells concludes investment round

St Andrews Fuel Cells ("SAFC") is pleased to announce the completion of a total investment of £692,000 in the company by a consortium of investors led by the Sigma Sustainable Energies Fund (“SSEF”).

The SSEF has invested £250,000 in St Andrews Fuel Cells Limited, with the balance of the funds coming from existing investors NESTA and Imprimatur Capital, and new investors, Imperial Innovations and Scottish Enterprise Scottish Seed Fund. In addition to the money raised at this round the company has secured significant grant funding.

Clive Dyson, Chief Executive at SAFC, commented:

"SAFC has already successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of its innovative fuel cell design. This investment will finance our new development facility in Fife and support the company's planned development of engineering systems for evaluation by partners in our target markets, including transportable power, uninterruptable power supplies and combined heat and power."

Mark Hogarth, Investment Director at Sigma, said,

“We are delighted to be investing in St Andrews Fuel Cells Limited alongside NESTA, Imprimatur Capital, Imperial Innovations and the Scottish Enterprise Scottish Seed Fund.  The company has the opportunity to deliver a low cost solution for low kilowatt portable fuel cell applications and combined heat and power systems.

Clean energy and energy efficiency is a key focus for Sigma and the SSEF was Sigma’s first fund specifically dedicated to investment in these areas.”