AFC Energy-related news item...
'World's largest' fuel cell plant bags £5m EU grant /bg/news/2223015/worlds-largest-fuel-cell-plant-bags-gbp5m-eu-grant
08 Nov 2012, BusinessGreen staff , BusinessGreen
Plans to build the world's largest alkaline fuel cell system at a chemical plant in Essex have taken a major step forward after the EU awarded a €6m grant to project developer, AFC Energy.
The company confirmed yesterday that it has received the grant, which will enable it to install a 1MWe fuel cell system to power ICL's chemocal plant in Grays, Essex.
ICL's plant produces chlorine and caustic soda that can be used in detergents and water treatment. It also produces hydrogen as a by-product that will be used to generate power using the fuel cell system.
AFC plans to provide electricity to ICL under an Energy Supply Company (ESCO) model, which would see ICL provide the raw hydrogen and then purchase the resulting power through long-term contracts.
The grant has been funded by the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), and is expected to provide more than four years of financial support for the project.
AFC added that the project would create "a significant" number of long-term jobs.
"I believe that this will help put European fuel cell technology and innovation on a global stage," said Ian Williamson, chief executive of AFC Energy.
"I have previously emphasised our goal to move to a commercial demonstration phase for our technology and ICL have now provided the perfect opportunity for us to demonstrate cost effectiveness compared with other forms of power generation."
The award follows the news that Roman Abramovich's investment firm, Ervington Investments, recently took a 15 per cent stake in AFC. |
