In this report, the third in a twenty-four month period, Helliwell was overwhelmed by the dramatic progress made by the company in terms of both technical innovation, design concepts and targets achieved and was left in no doubt that AFC Energy will deliver on their commercialisation goals.
One of the most radical developments acknowledged in this report is the concept and fabrication of new Beta electrodes. The company has moved towards a new metal based electrode system, which has a significantly higher volumetric power density and can be refurbished and reused. These electrodes form the basis of the new Beta system; the next generation alkaline fuel cell which is set to be officially launched in 2011. Helliwell commended company investment in the new pilot scale development facilities and equipment which will be elemental for the production of these commercial electrodes.
The right balance
“AFC Energy is maintaining an appropriate balance between the focus on commercialising the consolidated system design and the innovation that supports its technology development plans,” Helliwell noted. He believes the company has “maintained its absolute focus on cost, performance and manufacturability” and sees “no technical reason why the system should not be delivered in accordance with the company’s technical development plan.”
Helliwell was given complete, unrestricted access to staff and technology for his assessment, giving him a unique opportunity to examine the future of alkaline fuel cell technology. He speaks highly of the reorganised technical team which is “clearly operating above expectations”. The confidence and motivation of this specialised team is viewed as “a significant factor in the level of achievement attained by the company.”
“Jon’s recognition of the progress made in the past six months is a fantastic testament to the hard working team behind this pioneering technology. He was given full access to the people instrumental in the company’s development and I’m glad their passion, dedication and hard work shines through in this report,” commented Dr Gene Lewis, Technical Director, AFC Energy.
The rapid progression made in the last few months has contributed to a number of key industry tie ups and projects. Earlier this year AFC Energy and their partner B9 Coal announced a game-changing carbon capture and storage (CCS) proposal based on Rio Tinto Alcan’s Lynemouth Plant in the North East of England. The 500MW project is a world first combination of fuel cell technology and underground coal gasification and is being put forward for the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) CCS demonstration competition. B9 Coal has also signed an agreement with Powerfuel to roll out alkaline fuel cell power stations across the UK using AFC Energy’s technology.
“We are, of course, delighted that the progress the company is making has received such a positive report from an independent expert. It is an endorsement of our achievements so far and the commercial viability of our product. The UK is looking for a system that satisfies green energy demands and we are close to providing it,” commented Ian Balchin, CEO, AFC Energy.
This positive report comes off the back of a quarter of rapid change. AFC Energy has seen considerable growth through private investor and partner support with Linc Energy exercising its option to an exclusive license for underground coal gasification applications and buying a stake of around 10% of the company. The rapid development of the Beta system brings the company ever closer to showcasing their technology on a commercial scale. AFC Energy’s alkaline fuel cell system will provide a solid foundation upon which a low carbon economy can be built.
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