UK-based Proton Power Systems

UK-based Proton Power Systems (LSE:PPS.L) said it has signed a partnership and exclusivity agreement with Muskegon, Mich.-based L-3 Communications Combat Propulsion Systems to expand in the North American market.

Proton Power—which produces fuel cells and fuel cell electric hybrid systems for motive and stationary applications—said L-3 plans to sell its systems for use in propulsion systems, marine and uninterruptible power supply (UPS) applications to the North American military and civilian applications market.

L-3 develops propulsion and mobility systems such as engines and transmissions for military combat platforms on a worldwide level. It is a division of U.S. defense contractor L-3 Communications. Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

Proton Power’s polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells run on hydrogen, converting hydrogen into electrical energy. The German company says the technology, when combined with thermal energy conversion in UPS applications, offers energy efficiencies that can reach more than 90 percent.

In May, Proton Power’s subsidiary Proton Motor signed an exclusive, five-year agreement with contract manufacturer Deutsche Mechatronics to facilitate the volume production of Proton Motor’s fuel cell systems in Germany (see Proton ramps fuel cell production with Deutsche Mechatronics deal). Proton Motor is developing fuel cells that can be integrated with energy storage media to create hybrid fuel systems.

In 2008, Proton Motor delivered a ship's fuel cell system, one of the first times the technology had been applied in passenger vessels (see Proton Motor debuts first fuel cell passenger ship)