Generac acquires equity stake in WATT Fuel Cell
Generac Power Systems, Inc. announced a minority equity investment in WATT Fuel Cell Corp (“WATT”), a leading developer and manufacturer of low emissions Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (“SOFC”) stacks and systems.
WATT’s Imperium™ fuel cell makes power with no combustion and low emissions, using an electrochemical process that generates electricity from hydrogen molecules derived from one of several readily available fuel options such as propane, natural gas, or hydrogen.
Generac and WATT plan to collaborate on the design and development of low-emission solutions supporting the resiliency needs of Generac’s customers. The companies will combine WATT’s highly reliable, low-emission technology with Generac’s clean energy portfolio of products, which includes microinverters and battery storage system solutions.
“We are excited about this investment in WATT Fuel Cell and look forward to collaborating towards the integration of this advanced technology into the Generac Home Energy Ecosystem,” said Patrick Forsythe, chief technical officer at Generac. “The combination of highly efficient fuel cells with solar and energy storage, provides a low-carbon solution for homeowners seeking resilience and energy independence.”
“Generac is the perfect partner to assist us in accelerating the development and commercialization of our fuel cell power generation technology,” said Caine Finnerty, president and co-founder of WATT. “Generac’s strong expertise in residential home resiliency and clean energy products will provide access to a national base of installation partners, thereby accelerating the path to a low carbon future. We look forward to all the incredible opportunities this partnership will provide.”
As a part of the investment, a member of the Generac executive team will join the WATT board of directors. The investment closed on November 23, 2022.