Sacramento Business Journal - 11:15 AM PDT Thursday, September 20, 2007
by Celia LambStaff writer

Two fuel cell companies, one based in Folsom and the other based in Westwood, Mass., and headed by the chairman of a Sacramento clean-technology business incubator, have agreed to partner on developing mobile fuel cell systems for military and commercial markets.

Jadoo Power Systems and Acumentrics Corp. want to make small-scale generators for mobile command-and-control centers, remote power backup a portable generator for emergency services, construction and recreational equipment markets. They plan to combine Acumentrics' solid-oxide fuel cells with Jadoo Power's N-Stor fuel canisters.

"Providing generators that are silent, clean and efficient and can operate on conventional fuels like propane is a winning product that can replace light-duty generators," said Jadoo Power chief executive officer Lee Arikara.

Acumentrics' chief executive officer Gary Simon is also chairman of CleanStart, a clean technology incubator in McClellan Park.

"...the Acumentrics Jadoo system is expected to double the run time of the current 500 pounds of batteries carried by soldiers for a five day recon mission, weigh 80 percent less (including fuel), and operate silently," Simon said in the press release. "Silence is very important. Small generators give away our soldiers' position."

The combined system is designed to work for equipment that needs 5,000 watts or less. The two companies expect to begin evaluating applications of the new unit with prospective users in the first quarter of 2009.

This is a great outcome that I am sure was based on introductions made through CleanStart. Let's hope many more come from this great organization.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive