BOC Hydrogen Provides High Tech Fuel for Latitude

23 July 2009

Hydrogen from industrial gas producer BOC provided the power to light up the theatre tent at this year's Latitude Festival in Suffolk. The 2009 event, held on the weekend of 17-19 July, featured the Pet Shop Boys among a glittering array of acts. Over 20,000 people attended this year's event.

The hydrogen was used to power a 5kW Gencore fuel cell supplied by the London Hydrogen Partnership in association with Logan Energy, providing electricity for the low energy lighting designed and installed by London's Arcola Theatre.

This is the second time that Arcola have provided low energy, hydrogen-driven lighting for Latitude. It presents special challenges to the designers. Arcola's Executive Director Dr Ben Todd said: "Latitude is a great opportunity to push the boundaries of fuel cell and low energy lighting technologies in a high pressure dynamic environment. It proved very successful last year and we are delighted to be able to extend it and improve it still further this year."

BOC, a member of the international Linde Group, is at the forefront of developing applications for hydrogen. BOC Product Manager Garry Crace noted that it offers special benefits to the event world. "Hydrogen powered generating sets are cleaner, quieter and more efficient than conventional diesel or petrol-driven versions. Also, hydrogen will be a key part of tomorrow's green economy so the more sectors that can take advantage of hydrogen applications, the sooner we will arrive at a low carbon world."

BOC

BOC is a member of The Linde Group. An industrial, medical and special gases provider, the company supplies compressed and bulk gases, chemicals and equipment. For more than a century the company's gases and expertise have contributed to advances in many areas of everyday life, and industries including steelmaking, refining, chemical processing, environmental protection, wastewater treatment, welding and cutting, food processing and distribution, glass production, electronics and health care.

The Linde Group

The Linde Group is a world leading gases and engineering company with almost 52,000 employees working in around 100 countries worldwide. In the 2008 financial year it achieved sales of EUR 12.7 billion. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards sustainable earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services. Linde acts responsibly towards its shareholders, business partners, employees, society and the environment - in every one of its business areas, regions and locations across the globe. Linde is committed to technologies and products that unite the goals of customer value and sustainable development. For more information, see The Linde Group online at www.linde.com

For more information on this release please email or call Simon Napper on 07500 815 166