AFC Energy receives European Union grant

published 17 December 2012

AFC Energy has been awarded a European Union grant of up to 1.96 million euros to develop ammonia fed alkaline fuel cell systems.

The industrial fuel cell power company announced Monday the funds would provide three years financial support for the Alkammonia project, commencing next March.

The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH-JU) under the EU's Seventh Framework Programme is providing the grant which is subject to final negotiation.

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AFC Energy expects its direct share of the project funding to be up to €0.64 million with the balance to be received by the other project partners, once it reaches a final agreement with FCH-JU.

The aim of the project is to broaden the variety of different energy feedstocks, including ammonia.

Ammonia has a high energy density which is easily converted to hydrogen by heating it with a substance - a process known as 'cracking'.

AFC Energy's alkaline fuel cell system creates efficient use of hydrogen through cracking, making it potentially more economical compared to other fuel cell types.

The company has also acquired new assets including equipment and intellectual property of Diverse Energy, which has delivered small scale ammonia fed fuel cell systems into the mobile phone mast power market, specifically within Africa.

AFC Energy expects Diverse Energy's equipment, knowledge and systems understanding to accelerate its speed to market for ammonia fed systems.

Chief Executive Officer, Ian Williamson, said: "We are delighted to addDiverse Energy's proven and patented technology, knowhow and equipment to our own. This deal, combined with the EU grant for our Alkammonia project, will help AFC Energy exploit an exciting market opportunity faster than would previously have been possible. These developments will extend our technology portfolio, expand our product offering and help to broaden our addressable market. We believe the ammonia tolerance we have will put our fuel cell system in a very favourable position to be more commercial using this feedstock than its competitors."