Ballard Power, Regenx Tech Corp., FuelCell Energy - Greentech with signs of life

FuelCell Energy - Buy signal generated

In the wake of the hydrogen hype, the shares of FuelCell Energy, a manufacturer of fuel cell energy platforms, continued their bear market rally that started at the end of April with a gain of 20% since the beginning of the week. The share price has risen by around 43% since its low for the year of USD 1.77. In fact, the Americans were able to break through a prominent resistance at USD 2.60 and generate a new buy signal. The next target is likely the 200-day line, which is currently at USD 3.11.

The figures published last week for the second quarter were mixed. Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, revenues more than doubled by almost 135% to USD 38 million. In contrast, the operating result worsened significantly to USD -35.858 million, compared to USD -28.217 million in the previous year. The net result was USD -33.911 million, compared to USD -30.126 million in the second quarter of 2022. The cash component fell from USD 415.4 million at the end of the first financial quarter to USD 353.5 million.

In addition, the order backlog developed negatively and now stands at USD 1.022 billion. In the same period of the previous year, this was still USD 1.326 billion. In their latest report, the analysts of the US investment bank Jefferies lowered their price target for FuelCell Energy from USD 3.00 to USD 2.75.

Regenx Tech Corp. - Green recycling

Wind turbines and photovoltaic plants are the hopefuls of the green energy turnaround. However, problems are already occurring with dismantling and recycling when they have reached the end of their service life. Due to the expiry of the EEG subsidy, the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP expects up to 500,000 t of old modules to be produced in Germany alone by the end of the decade. Although around 80% can be recycled, valuable materials such as silicon or silver end up in the waste incineration plant.

An even bigger problem, and a potential market for the Canadian company Regenx Tech, is the recycling of diesel catalytic converters. This is expected to grow from USD 24.7 billion in 2017 to USD 39.8 billion in 2025. Approximately 84% of the world's annual palladium supply is used for catalytic converters in cars, heavy vehicles or industrial equipment. However, every year, around USD 21.2 billion of precious metals from diesel catalytic converters are not recycled, ending up in landfills and contributing to the depletion of this scarce resource.

An environmentally friendly processing technology is offered by Regenx Tech, a company with a CAD 38.72 million market capitalization. Their CleanTech solution uses proprietary chemical and process technology, providing a sustainable alternative to current smelter options for recovering over 90% of platinum and palladium from recycled diesel catalysts. The metals are extracted from the ground materials, dissolved in a solution through chemical processes, and then extracted as a concentrate using the company's proprietary system process. The fact that the process emits significantly less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than traditional mining by smelters should open up an additional source of income in the near future through the trading of emission certificates.

The Company recorded a milestone with the commissioning of its first processing plant in Greeneville, Tennessee. The recycling plant is expected to reach a capacity of 2.5 t per day at full capacity. The US company Davis Recycling, which operates in 13 states, was won as a partner to supply the diesel converters. Following the successful setup of the first processing plant, Regenx plans to build and operate several plants, initially in North America. In a second step, the expansion will then spill over across the pond.

Ballard Power - Scaling and cost reduction

With a share price increase of about 30% in two trading days, the fuel cell specialist Ballard Power headed north. The main focus of the group from Burnaby in Canada is on the development of fuel cells for use in vehicles, buses, commercial vehicles, rail vehicles, ships and other mobility applications.

In addition to the generally positive market sentiment, Ballard Power provided further impetus with the announcement of a "disruptive production technology". With bipolar plates, the Company wants to increase production on the one hand and significantly reduce costs on the other. Ballard Power announced the next generation of its advanced graphite bipolar plates, which are thin and flexible. These significantly reduce material volume while enabling high power density in stack configurations critical for certain markets. In an official press release, the Canadian company highlighted the significant benefits of this innovative technology.

In addition, Ballard Power is planning a revolutionary increase in production capacity for bipolar plates, accompanied by a "disruptive manufacturing technology". The Canadian pioneers anticipate that their extensive cost-cutting measures, including the use of new plate manufacturing processes and the development of low-cost material suppliers, should result in substantial cost savings of up to 70% after the anticipated start-up in late 2025. However, it should be noted that the implementation of these ambitious plans by Ballard Power will involve a corresponding investment of USD 18 million.

As the hydrogen sector rallied, companies such as FuelCell Energy and Ballard Power shot up over 10%. Regenx Tech offers a much more sustainable recycling solution than conventional processes and should benefit significantly from climate change.