Richardson Electronics, Ltd. Completes Phase One of Largest Retrofit of Ultracapacitors for Pitch Energy Modules in North America

Company reaches milestone with over 50,000 units of patented ULTRA3000 installed

LAFOX, Ill., March 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Richardson Electronics, Ltd. (NASDAQ: RELL), a global provider of engineered solutions for renewable energy and other power management applications, has reached a significant milestone with the shipment and installation of over 50,000 patented ULTRA3000 pitch energy modules ("PEMs"). PEMs store and manage energy required to adjust the blade angles to ensure effective operation of the wind turbine. This achievement marks the largest retrofit of ultracapacitors for pitch energy modules in North America and is a major step toward the Company's growth goals within the renewable energy market.

Richardson Electronics' ULTRA3000 is a drop-in replacement for lead acid batteries used in electric pitch systems within wind turbines. Lead-acid batteries are toxic to the environment if not properly disposed. In addition, the improved life span of the patented ULTRA3000 reduces maintenance requirements and significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with lead acid batteries. To put it into perspective, the Company estimates the impact of installing 50,000 PEMs is equivalent to:

• Eliminating the demand for approximately 250,000 toxic lead-acid batteries that can cause environmental issues
• Saving an estimated 3,300 tons of CO₂ production
• Saving owner-operators millions of dollars in maintenance and battery disposal costs over the life of the wind turbine
  

“This milestone is a testament to our team’s dedication and hard work. Our design, manufacturing, and quality approach allowed us to reach this milestone in a very short amount of time. As we celebrate this achievement, we are excited to expand outside of North America with new products designed and engineered for other wind turbine platforms throughout the world," stated Greg Peloquin, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Power & Microwave Technologies and Green Energy Solutions groups.

Richardson Electronics will showcase its ultracapacitor pitch energy modules and other product solutions for wind turbine platforms on September 24 to 27, 2024, at the WindEnergy Hamburg Event (Hamburg, Germany). With approximately 40,000 attendees from over 100 countries, this show is one of the world's biggest and most important wind business platforms for exchanging news and views and building networks.