ReliOn

ReliOn Inc. carved out a niche in the alternative energy equipment sector, specializing in hydrogen fuel cell technology for backup power applications. The company's journey began in 1995 when it was launched as Avista Laboratories, a subsidiary of Avista Corp. It later operated as a privately held startup based in Spokane, Washington.

The firm's business focused on developing and manufacturing modular and scalable proton exchange membrane (PEM) hydrogen fuel cell systems. These systems were designed as backup power sources, serving a client base that included major telecommunications companies like AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon, as well as other large industrial and government customers. The core of their product offering was technology that converts hydrogen through a chemical reaction to produce electricity, ensuring an uninterrupted power supply for critical equipment. Products like the T-1000 and T-2000 hydrogen fuel cells were specifically engineered for communications backup power, offering scalability from under 600 Watts to 12 kilowatts. This technology aimed to reduce or eliminate the reliance on traditional lead-acid batteries, proposing a longer service life and lower maintenance costs.

ReliOn's technology was distinguished by its air-cooled stack designs and a low-cost, "snap-and-build" assembly process. The company held a significant intellectual property portfolio, with 36 U.S. patents and 38 foreign patents by mid-2012. A key achievement was securing Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification for its T-1000 and T-2000 models, a first under the ANSI/CSA FC 1-2004 standard for stationary fuel cell systems. Before its acquisition, the company had successfully deployed over 5,000 fuel cell stacks at customer sites. In April 2014, Plug Power Inc., a New York-based energy solutions provider, acquired the assets of ReliOn for approximately $4 million in common stock. The acquisition was a strategic move for Plug Power to enter the stationary fuel cell market and integrate ReliOn's patented stack technology into its own product lines, particularly for material handling equipment.

Keywords: hydrogen fuel cells, backup power, stationary fuel cells, proton exchange membrane, alternative energy, power generation, telecommunications infrastructure, energy storage, fuel cell stack, clean energy