FuelCell Energy Awarded $1.5 Million for Electrochemical Hydrogen Separator Research...

FuelCell Energy Awarded $1.5 Million for Electrochemical Hydrogen Separator
Research by U.S. Department of Defense

DANBURY, Conn., Oct. 5, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FuelCell Energy, Inc.
(Nasdaq:FCEL), a leading manufacturer of high efficiency ultra-clean power
plants using renewable and other fuels for commercial, industrial, government,
and utility customers, today announced that the U.S. Department of Defense's
Engineer Research and Development Center - Construction Engineering Research
Laboratory (ERDC-CERL) awarded it approximately $1.5 million to continue
development of its electrochemical hydrogen separator (EHS). The EHS system
separates pure hydrogen from gas internally generated in a fuel cell that can be
used for industrial and transportation applications.

The EHS research contributes to the development of FuelCell Energy's DFC-H2
product. The DFC-H2 integrates an EHS system with the company's high-efficiency
Direct FuelCell (DFC) power plant to produce ultra-clean electricity, heat and
pure hydrogen. A DFC300 combined with an EHS would produce 300 kilowatts of
power, heat for combined heat and power applications, and up to 300 lbs. per day
of hydrogen. If successful, this combination may produce hydrogen more
economically than other methods.

"This award recognizes our expertise in electrochemical separation technology
and the opportunity to further develop our fuel cell technology," said
Christopher Bentley, Executive Vice President, Government Research and
Development Operations for FuelCell Energy. "It also confirms the Department of
Defense's continued commitment to support the development of innovative
technologies."

Conventional methods of separating hydrogen rely on a complex separation step
using mechanical compression. FuelCell Energy's proprietary EHS technology has
no moving parts and does not use compression, potentially offering higher
reliability and efficiency, resulting in the need for only half the energy
compared to conventional compression methods of producing hydrogen.

FuelCell Energy's DFC stationary power plants use biofuels and fossil fuels more
efficiently than the electric grid and other distributed generation their size.
Their high efficiency results in low CO2 and, because they produce power without
combustion, they produce near-zero nitrous oxides, sulfur oxides, and
particulate matter.

The $1.5 million ERDC-CERL program will span twenty months and will support the
scale-up of the EHS technology and establish readiness for a field
demonstration.

About FuelCell Energy

FuelCell Energy is the world leader in the development and production of
stationary fuel cells for commercial, industrial, municipal and utility
customers. FuelCell Energy's ultra-clean and high efficiency DFC(R) fuel cells
are generating power at over 55 locations worldwide. The company's power plants
have generated over 340 million kWh of power using a variety of fuels including
renewable wastewater gas, biogas from beer and food processing, as well as
natural gas and other hydrocarbon fuels. FuelCell Energy has partnerships with
major power plant developers and power companies around the world. The company
also receives funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and other government
agencies for the development of leading edge technologies such as fuel cells.
For more information please visit our website at www.fuelcellenergy.com

About ERDC-CERL

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is the integrated
Army Corps of Engineers' research and development organization. Seven labs
located at four sites comprise ERDC: Cold Regions Research and Engineering
Laboratory, Hanover, N.H.; Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL),
Champaign, Ill.; Coastal and Hydraulics, Environmental, Geotechnical and
Structures, Information Technology Laboratories, Vicksburg, Miss.; and
Topographic Engineering Center, Alexandria, Va. CERL conducts research and
development in infrastructure and environmental sustainment. This research
results in new technologies that help military installations provide and
maintain quality training lands and facilities for soldiers and their families.
Many of these products also find use in the private sector. CERL represents a
unique asset to the nation for research in civil engineering and environmental
quality.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements
regarding the Company's plans and expectations regarding the continuing
development and commercialization of its fuel cell technology. All
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Factors that
could cause such a difference include, without limitation, general risks
associated with product development, manufacturing, changes in the utility
regulatory environment, potential volatility of energy prices, rapid
technological change, competition, and the Company's ability to achieve its
sales plans and cost reduction targets, as well as other risks set forth in the
Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this
press release. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to
release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement to reflect any
change in the Company's expectations or any change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Direct FuelCell, DFC, DFC/T, DFC-H2 and FuelCell Energy, Inc. are registered
trademarks of FuelCell Energy, Inc. DFC-EHS is a trademark owned by FuelCell
Energy, Inc.

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CONTACT: FuelCell Energy, Inc.
Lisa Lettieri
(203) 830-7494
ir@fce.com