Acta unveils world's first hydrogen-powered tender

Acta S.p.A.

("Acta" or "the Company")

Acta unveils world's first hydrogen-powered tender to the yachting sector

Acta (AIM:ACTA), the clean energy products company, has unveiled the world's first hydrogen-powered tender, at the European Sailing Championships being held this week in Viareggio, Italy. The new tender, branded "HIDRO" incorporates Acta's award-winning hydrogen generator at the heart of the HIDRO concept, and demonstrates the potential of the hydrogen generator to transform the way in which recreational boats and vehicles are powered.

Acta has developed the tender in partnership with Callegari S.p.A., a leading Italian brand in the production of inflatable boats and dinghies. Two HIDRO tenders have been servicing sailing boats at the Championships, prior to their full commercial launch at the forthcoming Genoa Boat Show in early October. The tenders run on a hybrid battery / fuel cell outboard motor system, powered by hydrogen from Acta's highly innovative hydrogen generator which is, in turn, powered by solar PV panels.

Acta is demonstrating a number of ground breaking products at its hydrogen village, established in Viareggio during the championships, which have received an enthusiastic reception from spectators and competitors alike. Visitors have been able to test drive Acta's hydrogen bikes, which are also recharged via a hydrogen generator connected to solar PV panels. These panels have been built into a 1kW collapsible aluminium canopy, under which the bikes are stored; an arrangement that has been purpose-designed by Acta to facilitate the usability of such recreational vehicles.

Paolo Bert, Chief Executive, commented: "We are very proud to have introduced the world's first hydrogen-powered tender to the public. This year has seen our market-leading hydrogen generator become the crucial foundation for a new age of clean energy mobility in recreational boats, vehicles and camping equipment.

Acta's presence at the championships has enabled us to demonstrate, in an engaging and striking way, how these technologies complete the missing hydrogen link in the renewable energy value chain. We have been able to demonstrate the ease with which these products can be recharged from solar energy in a cheap and environmentally-friendly way. We now look forward to promoting and developing this domestic-scale solar-hydrogen infrastructure into many new markets."

- ENDS -

For further information please contact:

Media enquiries:

Notes to Editors

Acta S.p.A. is a developer and provider of a broad range of renewable energy and related products. Its product line includes a range of compact hydrogen generators as well as various portable, mobile and backup fuel cell devices that can make use of locally generated hydrogen in UPS, marine, automotive, electric cycling, scooter, camping and domestic applications. The Company's broader interests include a range of environmental catalysts and solar power projects.

Acta's products are based on its proprietary, inexpensive environmental catalyst and hydrogen conversion technologies. These products help overcome the barriers to the adoption of fuel cells, most notably the lack of a local hydrogen infrastructure.

Acta's low-cost hydrogen generators represent a breakthrough in electrolyser technology. They can operate using mains power or intermittent renewable energy, and produce clean, dry hydrogen already at pressure for use in fuel cell and other industrial and consumer applications. This combination of features avoids the system complexity and energy cost of further cleaning, drying and compression of the hydrogen, resulting in a simple, compact, low-cost and highly efficient system that is ideally suited for energy conversion and storage applications. In such applications, which include battery replacement and renewable energy storage, low cost and high efficiency are critical to commercial viability, while hydrogen compression is essential for the energy density of the system. The Company believes that no other water electrolyser currently on the market offers this combination of benefits.

Acta is focusing on delivering its products to markets with high volume demand for high-value environmental solutions (transport, UPS, energy and leisure). It is seeking to accelerate the commercialisation of its products via partnerships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), distributors, and agents in these sectors.

Acta is marketing its product range to early adopters through its energy products division, Acta Energy. This division's objective is to ensure, through facilitating the widespread adoption of commercial and domestic fuel cell products, that Acta's hydrogen generator becomes a familiar industrial and domestic appliance.

Acta S.p.A. was admitted to trading on AIM in October 2005. It is based near Pisa, Italy, from where it manages a growing overseas distributor network targeting a global fuel cell market estimated to be worth US$26 billion by 2020 (source: Carbon Trust).

Star European Championship Viareggio 2010

The Star European Championship is being in held in Viareggio for the third time from 5 to 13 June and will see world-leading crews competing in one of the best known sailing environments.

Photos and videos of the Viareggio event, of the HIDRO, and of Acta's clean energy products in action will be available at www.actaenergy.itfrom 17 June 2010.