AFC Energy Plc: MPs learn about potential of fuel cells
12 February 2013
MPs learn about potential of fuel cells
Ian Williamson, Chief Executive of AFC Energy (AIM: AFC), the industrial fuel cell power company, was one of several panellists at a seminar in Parliament organised by the UK Hydrogen Fuel Cell Association (UKHFCA), the Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group (PRASEG) and All Party Parliamentary Group on Intelligent Energy (APPGIE).
At the seminar MPs and peers heard that the Feed-In Tariff should be expanded to enable fuel cells to revolutionise the energy industry and bring green manufacturing jobs to the UK.
Over 80 attendees, including parliamentarians and industry representatives, gathered in Portcullis House in Westminster. In a lively debate, Ian Williamson and representatives from other leading UK fuel cell and hydrogen companies explored the role of hydrogen and fuel cells in delivering a low carbon economy, the competitiveness of hydrogen and fuel cells relative to alternative options, the nature and scale of the hydrogen and fuel cell opportunity for and how this opportunity can be realised. The event coincided with a series of one-to-one meetings with MPs and Government Officials aimed at gathering support for the UKHCFA's new Feed-in Tariff Campaign.
Ian Williamson, who is also a director of the UKHFCA, said: "Politicians and policy-makers are starting to become more aware of the environmental and economic benefits of hydrogen fuel cells, and events such as this really help to ensure this technology remains on the political radar. However, as noted by many of those in attendance, there is still a huge amount of work to be done. The benefits of this technology are yet to be reflected in government policy, and we are seeing the UK and Europe lag behind the US and Korea in terms of government support for base load power from fuel cell technology.
"The UK is a leader in fuel cell technology and AFC Energy wants it to remain that way. This is about both energy efficiency and UK jobs. That is why we have urged the government to extend the feed-in-tariff scheme to cover fuel cells, something which my fellow panel members and the wider sector fully support."
Dennis Hayter, the chairman of the UKHFCA and Vice President, Business Development of Intelligent Energy said: "The UK hydrogen and fuel cell industry is poised to take a key role in delivering a low carbon Britain. With the appropriate policy framework in place, our members can rapidly accelerate commercialisation, generating significant numbers of 'green collar' jobs and helping to achieve climate change targets. Events such as these have an important part to play in gaining support for and engagement with the sector."
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