* POSCO Power orders 30.8 MW  * Sonoma County orders 1.4 MW power plant   * Product cost-to-revenue ratio improves to 1.40 from 1.68 a year ago  * Cost-reduced DFC products enter production in July   * Company raises $24.2 million in registered direct offering 

DANBURY, Conn., Sept. 8, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FuelCell Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq:FCEL), a leading manufacturer of high efficiency, ultra-clean power plants using renewable biogas and other fuels for commercial, industrial, utility and government customers, today reported results and accomplishments for its third fiscal quarter and nine months ended July 31, 2009.

Financial Results

FuelCell Energy reported revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2009 of $23.0 million compared to $27.9 million in the same period a year ago. Product sales and revenues were $18.7 million compared to $23.2 million in the third quarter of 2008. Lower product revenues reflect delayed activity in the U.S. due to difficult credit markets and delays in capital spending. Research and development contract revenue was $4.3 million compared to $4.7 million in 2008.

The Company's product backlog, including long-term service agreements, as of July 31, 2009 was $104.8 million compared to the $100.7 million reported as of July 31, 2008. Research and development contract backlog totaled $15.3 million compared to $5.5 million as of July 31, 2008.

For the third quarter of fiscal 2009, net loss to common shareholders was $15.7 million or $0.21 per basic and diluted loss per share compared to a net loss to common shareholders of $26.8 million or $0.39 per basic and diluted share in the same period of the previous year. The product cost-to-revenue ratio was 1.40 in the third quarter of 2009, which compares favorably with 1.68 in the same period a year ago. The contribution from the cost-reduced modules resulted in higher product margins compared to last year and mitigating this benefit in the quarter were higher costs related to commissioning multi-megawatt power plants in South Korea.

Total cash and investments totaled $53.0 million as of July 31, 2009. During the third quarter, FuelCell Energy sold 6.7 million shares of its common stock at $3.59 per share in a registered direct offering raising approximately $22.5 million of cash. Excluding the equity offering, net cash use for the third quarter was $11.9 million, which included capital spending of approximately $0.2 million. Depreciation expense for the third quarter was approximately $2.2 million.

For the nine months ended July 31, 2009, FuelCell Energy reported sales and revenue of $67.6 million compared with $74.6 million in the same period a year ago. Product sales and revenues were $57.1 million compared to $59.4 million in 2008. The product cost-to-revenue ratio was 1.47 which compares favorably with 1.65 for the nine-month period a year ago, reflecting lower per unit production costs and the transition in product mix to primarily megawatt-class power plants. Research and development contract revenue was $10.5 million compared to $15.1 million in the comparable 2008 period.

For the nine months ended July 31, 2009, FuelCell Energy reported a net loss to common shareholders of $56.3 million or $0.80 per basic and diluted share compared to a net loss of $72.3 million or $1.06 per basic and diluted share in the same period a year ago.

Corporate Highlights

"During the third quarter, we produced our latest cost-reduced fuel cell modules -- an important milestone on the path to profitability. These fuel cells generate more power and reduce our cost for each unit," said R. Daniel Brdar, Chairman and CEO of FuelCell Energy. "We continued to drive sales volumes with the Sonoma County and POSCO Power orders that totaled over 32 megawatts of orders -- our highest ever in a single quarter."

Key Markets

South Korea: In the third quarter, POSCO Power ordered 30.8 megawatts (MW) of FuelCell Energy DFC modules and components for grid support with a value of $58 million. The Company received a down payment of $5.8 million associated with this order in July 2009. In conjunction with the POSCO Power contract, the Company executed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) committing the parties to negotiate to enter into a new technology transfer agreement allowing POSCO Power to manufacture stack modules from cell and module components provided by FuelCell Energy. As part of this arrangement, POSCO Power is expected to make an upfront licensing payment and invest $25 million in FuelCell Energy common stock.

Completion of these agreements was delayed because the Company and POSCO Power experienced a longer than expected commissioning cycle for units currently being installed in South Korea. FuelCell Energy expects to close the agreements before October 31, 2009.

To date, POSCO Power has ordered 68 MW of megawatt-class fuel cell products for its customers in South Korea and 12 MW of these are now operating at customer sites. Ultra-clean, highly efficient fuel cell power plants meet South Korea's need for increased production of clean power and green technologies that contribute to increased domestic employment as well as its mandate for clean energy generation. South Korea has committed 2 percent of its gross national product to clean energy projects -- more than any other developed country. Currently, South Korea is pursuing the passage of a $85.8 billion renewable energy plan that includes a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) of 11 percent clean energy by 2030 or a total of 7,150 MW.

California: Aircon Energy ordered a 1.4 MW power plant for Sonoma County. The fuel cell power plant will provide electricity for the complex and heat for hot water, space heating, cleaning and cooking, reducing natural gas requirements by approximately half.

California continues to be a strong market for clean energy generation including wind, solar and fuel cells. It is FuelCell Energy's leading market for renewable wastewater and food processing applications. The Company is currently working with several wastewater treatment facilities that are awaiting notice of award for DOE combined heat and power grants.

With natural gas supplying the fuel for 55 percent of the electric grid, customers like Sonoma County benefit from the ultra-clean reliability of distributed generation fuel cells. FuelCell Energy is currently working with several utilities to expand the use of fuel cells in government buildings.

Looking ahead, the state of California is working several programs that would be beneficial to fuel cells including a combined heat and power feed-in tariff and a renewable energy feed-in tariff.

Connecticut: Currently, FuelCell Energy is in discussions with project developers and financiers for the 43.5 MW of fuel cell projects approved under Connecticut's Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). In parallel, the Company is submitting applications under the U.S.