Lyngby, 30 June 2008

The Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and the Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen visited Haldor Topsoe and the subsidiary Topsoe Fuel Cell on 30 June 2008.

The prime ministers were received by Dr. Haldor Topsøe, chairman of the board of Haldor Topsoe A/S, and Claus Olsen, managing director of Topsoe Fuel Cell. The visit focused on Topsoe Fuel Cell’s contribution to solving some of the global climate and energy challenges.

Turning the propeller

After Dr. Haldor Topsøe had presented and introduction to the company, managing director Claus Olsen guided prime ministers Zapatero and Rasmussen through the development of fuel cells and their role in the global energy supply.

The prime ministers were very interested in Research Engineer Pernille Noyé’s demonstration of how a fuel cell works: The fuel cell was heated by a burner and then generated power for a small propeller. ”It is impressive,” Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero said, ”it looks so simple.” Both Prime Minister Zapatero and Prime Minister Rasmussen took the opportunity to activate the propeller.

Managing director Claus Olsen talked about the perspective for the use of fuel cells in trucks, containers and ships, and the prime ministers saw how fuel cells may be used as power units in emergency hospitals.

”We had an interesting dialogue with Prime Minister Zapatero and Prime Minister Rasmussen. They were very interested in both the technology and its applications – and of course in when we expect fuel cells to be available on the commercial market,” said Claus Olsen, who appreciates that fuel cells have been on the prime ministers’ agenda.

Contact

For further information contact
Claus Voigt Andersen, Manager of Business Bevelopment
tel. +45 4527 2324, mobil +45 2275 6575 or by e-mail at clva@topsoe.dk

Christina Odgaard, Corporate PR
tel. +45 4527 2043, mobil +45 5135 9625 or by e-mail at chod@topsoe.dk