Industrial fuel cell company AFC Energy and Industrial Chemicals Limited (ICL) are hailing the award of a €6 million grant from the EU to install what is claimed to be the world’s largest alkaline fuel cell.

The 1 MW alkaline fuel cell energy system will be installed at ICL’s chlor-alkaline chemical plant in Essex, UK where it will use hydrogen produced as a byproduct during the process to generate power.

The project will serve as a commercial demonstration of AFC Energy’s technology and the potential benefits of alkaline fuel cells.

Currently, around 1.4 million metric tonnes of hydrogen is produced each year by the chlor-alkali industry alone, 15% of which is wasted through venting or flaring.

The EU funding, which is still subject to agreement, from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH-JU) via the EU’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) is expected to be in place early next year and will support the project for more than four years.

AFC Energy will receive a direct share of €3 million, with the remainder of the funds shared between other project partners.

“I believe that this will help put European fuel cell technology and innovation on a global stage,” says AFC Energy’s CEO Ian Williamson. “Our technology could readily help the environment as well as create economic value.

For further information:
www.afcenergy.com
www.icgl.co.uk

Related stories:
Toyota starts up fuel cell at California HQ (19-Oct)
ATT dials up ‘Bloom Boxes’ to power US facilities (4-Oct)
Carbon Trust backs UK fuel cells pioneers with £1.95 million (2-Aug)
UK retailer John Lewis to test fuel cells for powering stores (6-Apr 2011)

Article source: http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/5529/