Intelligent Energy collaborates to support Hydro's water purification technology across India

Hydro Industries today announces that it has entered into a collaboration with Intelligent Energy to support the commercialisation of Hydro's water purification technology across India. The partnership, which could result in Hydro's technology being powered by Intelligent Energy and deployed at thousands of sites over the next five years, was announced in the presence of First Minister Carwyn Jones shortly before the Wales-Scotland rugby match at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Saturday 15 March.

Hydro Industries, based in Llangennech, South West Wales focuses on the design, manufacture and operation of electro-based water treatment products. Intelligent Energy is an international power technology company specialising in the development of cost-effective, efficient fuel cell systems for its business partners and their global mass markets.

This collaboration follows the announcement that Intelligent Energy, through its wholly owned Indian operating business, Essential Energy, will deliver power management solutions for telecom towers across India.

Essential Energy's power management solutions will facilitate keeping India's mobile phone networks working during the country's frequent power outages, with Intelligent Energy's proprietary fuel cell systems replacing - over time - the more expensive diesel generators currently used. The collaboration will see Hydro's technology powered by Essential Energy's power portfolio, offering Essential Energy an additional customer for its power.

Hydro's proprietary technology uses electricity to treat water, removing the need for bulk liquid chemicals or large volumes of biomass. With no moving parts and adaptive software, system maintenance is straightforward and supervisory control can be carried out remotely.

India has one of the world's fastest growing economies and its rapid urbanisation is expected to lead to a 40% increase in domestic demand for water over the next decade. It is estimated that around 720 million of India's 1.25 billion population lack access to clean drinking water. Around 100,000 people die of water-related illnesses annually and, according to UNICEF, waterborne diseases cost the Indian economy $600m in lost production and medical treatment.

Wayne Preece, CEO of Hydro Industries said: "This  is an extremely significant relationship for our company, further enhancing Hydro's global reputation to deliver resourceful, innovative products to regions in real need of accessible, clean drinking water. The positive humanitarian impact is of vast importance to us, and we are delighted that technologies and products developed in Wales will provide a source of clean water for communities across India, improving their quality of life and giving them access to what is an essential requisite for a healthy life: clean water."

Hydro Industries Chairman and Principal Scientist, Phil Morgan, was clearly delighted, "This collaboration follows a series of successful river and bore-hole water purification trials already conducted on various sources in India. The positive implications are enormous and we are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Intelligent Energy to meet this challenge."

Congratulating Hydro Industries and Intelligent Energy on their collaboration, First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "This is great news and a very clever collaboration and link-up that will benefit everyone.  I am proud that products developed by a Welsh company will help improve the lives of, potentially, millions of people in India who currently have no access to clean water.

"On the economic side, this partnership will help raise the international profile of Hydro Industries' expertise, opening up new business opportunities, while its exports will make a significant contribution to the Welsh economy and create and safeguard jobs in Wales."

Dr Henri Winand, Intelligent Energy's CEO, said: "We are very excited about our relationship with Hydro. The combination of Hydro's leadership in water treatment technology, coupled with Intelligent Energy's expertise in providing efficient power management solutions, will enable the delivery of clean water where it is needed most across India."