Feasibility Study - U.S.-ACEF Fuel Cell Applications for Telecommunications Tower, through Government of South Africa

A USTDA grant of $872,000 to South Africa telecommunications infrastructure solutions provider Plessey (Pty) Ltd. (Grantee) is supporting a feasibility study and pilot project to qualify methanol fuel cell technology for use by the telecommunications industry in South Africa.

If implemented, the fuel cell systems would replace diesel fuel generators as the primary or secondary power supply at remote telecommunications tower sites.

The developmental impacts of displacing diesel generators with fuel cells would include improvement of South Africa's physical telecommunications infrastructure and operational efficiency, reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and noise pollution, and job creation and technical training for Plessey's South African staff.

The feasibility study and pilot project are being undertaken on a sole-source basis by Oorja Protonics, Inc. (Contractor), a direct methanol fuel cell manufacturer based in Fremont, CA. The Contractor has agreed to share costs of the study.