The Hindu : Business : Plug Power ties up with SFO Tech

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 15, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Business

Business

Plug Power ties up with SFO Tech

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The increasing power needs of rapidly growing Indian telecommunications industry is sought to be met through a manufacturing agreement between Plug Power of the U.S. and SFO Technologies, part of the Kochi-based, privately-held NeST Group.

The partners have already won a major order, valued $7 million, from Tata Teleservices to power their telecom towers.

Under the five-year agreement, SFO’s manufacturing facility in Kochi will manufacture Plug Power’s fuel cell systems that use an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to generate electrical energy. NeST will also support the partner for vendor development, procurement, manufacturing, testing and shipment of the systems, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of NeST, N. Jehangir, told reporters here.

“This will be an opportunity to demonstrate our group’s integrated capabilities in electronics, wire harness, power supply, sheet metal, plastics and box build,” he added.

Scott Egbert, Managing Director, Plug Power Energy India, said his company’s products would be initially for the telecom market, while exploring opportunities in the defense and other sectors. “Our fuel cell power systems have proved to generate 50 per cent more power, are 20-30 per cent less expensive to maintain and have 3-5 times more life.

They are also eco friendly with zero emissions,” Mr. Egbert said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Business