Hitachi partners with SaskPower to advance the development of low carbon
energy projects

SASKATOON, Feb. 16 /CNW/ - SaskPower and Hitachi are combining forces to combat carbon. During a recent Government of Saskatchewan mission to Japan, the two companies signed an agreement to collaborate on low carbon energy projects - an agreement that will help SaskPower advance plans for a Saskatchewan demonstration facility (also known as a reference plant) for carbon capture systems.

"Hitachi first entered the North American turbine market through its relationship with SaskPower," said Bill Boyd, Minister responsible for SaskPower. "Forty years later, Hitachi recognizes Saskatchewan's position as a world leader in carbon capture and storage technology, as we embark on tackling this challenge together."

The non exclusive collaboration agreement will see SaskPower and Hitachi cooperate on shortening the path from demonstration project to commercially viable carbon capture and storage technologies.

"Innovative partnerships between utilities and technology suppliers are critical to the successful commercialization of low carbon energy options," said Howard Shearer, chief executive officer, Hitachi Canada Ltd. "Our collaboration with SaskPower will allow us to jointly develop and deliver the next wave of clean energy technologies to the people of Saskatchewan and beyond."

The Saskatchewan Reference Plant, which has a targeted 2012 in-service date, would allow for the full-scale demonstration of one or more carbon dioxide capture technologies. Not only could this facility accelerate development and deployment of capture technologies at a commercial scale, it could also deliver potential cost savings to vendors, governments and prospective buyers.

SaskPower has agreed to provide a host site for the Reference Plant and is working actively on plans to integrate the facility with one of its operating power plants.

About SaskPower: As the principal supplier of electricity in Saskatchewan, SaskPower is a provincial Crown corporation that serves more than 460,000 customers and manages $4.5 billion in assets. We have a team of over 2,500 permanent full-time employees located in 71 communities. Our company operates three coal-fired power stations, seven hydroelectric stations, four natural gas stations and two wind facilities, with a total available generation capacity of 3,641 MW. We maintain more than 156,000 kilometres of power lines, 52 high voltage switching stations and 182 distribution substations.

About Hitachi, Ltd.: Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT / TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately 400,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2008 (ended March 31, 2009) consolidated revenues totaled 10,000 billion yen ($102.0 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials, logistics and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com.

For further information: James Parker, SaskPower, Phone: [phone], Cell: [phone], Email: [email protected]; Sheldon Myhre, Hitachi Canada Ltd., Phone: [phone], Email: Sheldon.myhre_hitachi.ca