The US Air Force has placed an order with fuel cell company Millennium Cell to deliver up to $4 million worth of fuel cell technology.

The move demonstrates the US military's commitment to implementing clean energy technology through fuel cells and will see Millennium Cell developing new fuel cartridges in an effort to deliver higher energy density storage targets.

Michael Rottmayer, the Air Force laboratory's programme manager, commented that the US military is "aggressively pursuing" new power supply technology, with fuel cells being a central part of that development.

One of the main obstacles for the military in using fuel cell technology has been the cumbersome nature of storing the hydrogen needed, but as the technology improves so the storage facilities have become smaller, while delivering greater energy density.

"Increased energy density is crucial to meeting future power needs for a variety of military applications and we are committed to this important effort," explained Adam P Briggs, Millennium Cell's president.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd