MTI MicroFuel Cells, a developer of the Mobion off-the-grid portable power systems has received a $1.2m grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE), to expand the scope of the cost-shared program fund that supports the manufacturing process for Mobion fuel cell systems and reduce the overall cost of micro fuel cell systems.

According to MTI MicroFuel Cells, this grant supplements the cost-shared program awarded to MTI Micro in April 2009, bringing the aggregated amount to about $6m through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The grant is being used to support the acceleration of fuel cell use to power portable electronic devices in the consumer electronic device market.

Peng Lim, president and CEO of MTI MicroFuel, said: ”We are extremely grateful for the confidence and continued support that the US Department of Energy has taken to maintain micro fuel cell technology leadership in the US.

”This grant will bring us to the next phase of our development – field testing – which is a precursor start to our Mobion production process, helping to bring a more efficient and environmentally friendly power source to the global market.”