Mar 10 2009
Adaptive Materials, the global fuel cell leader, recently delivered five 25-watt solid oxide fuel cell units for use in a medical readiness training exercise (MEDRETE) held in the Dominican Republic. Adaptive Materials' fuel cells provided portable, reliable and critical power to infrastructure throughout the training exercise, including powering biometric computer terminals.
“In so many parts of the world, electricity is scarce or non-existent,” explained Michelle Crumm, chief business officer, Adaptive Materials. “Adaptive Materials fuel cells provide safe, reliable power in remote areas where electricity is needed. A superior alternative to other fuel cells or generators, Adaptive Materials’ fuel cell runs on globally-available and inexpensive propane, a fuel source that’s easily found in remote areas.”
Held at a Dominican Republic Naval base in Las Caldares, the MEDRETE offered a free medical clinic in a remote, rural community. At the MEDRETE, Adaptive Materials’ fuel cells powered every piece of gear required to create a completely mobile computer network. Adaptive Materials’ fuel cells enabled the mobile computing network, designed to create and store medical records, to be deployed unencumbered.
“Adaptive Materials’ fuel cells are extremely versatile,” said Dr. Daniel McClary, president and chief scientist at img surf, LLC, the technology solutions provider for the MEDRETE. ““Given the limited power available in the region and at the Naval base, the MEDRETE wouldn’t have been as effective without Adaptive Materials.”
Versus other potential power sources that could support the training exercise, Adaptive Materials’ fuel cells were powered by propane that was purchased locally.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) funded the fuel cell development and demonstration. The U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) joint command sponsored MEDRETE.