AFC Energy takes wraps off inaugural product ranges

Hydrogen power generation technology company AFC Energy unveiled the branding of its inaugural range of product lines on Tuesday, with the first being ‘HydroX-Cell(L)’, which it described as a zero emission, high efficiency and low-cost alkaline fuel cell utilising a liquid electrolyte configured in 10kW modules, capable of deployment across large scale industrial applications utilising lower grades of hydrogen.

The AIM-traded firm said the second product line was ‘HydroX-Cell(S)’, which is a zero emission, high efficiency, high current density alkaline fuel cell utilising an anionic exchange membrane configured in 10kW modules, capable of deployment across a range of both stationary and mobile applications, which was also capable of utilising lower grades of hydrogen.

‘H-Power’ was described by the board as “the new range of hydrogen power systems”, including its soon-to-be-released hydrogen fuelled off-grid electric vehicle charger, utilising the HydroX-Cell portfolio of fuel cell module configurations.

The company’s final product line was dubbed as ‘AlkaMem’, which it said was its new range of anionic exchange polymer membranes developed for the HydroX-Cell(S) fuel cell application, but with universal application across a range of additional applications including alkaline water electrolysis, fuel synthesis and energy storage.

In recent years, AFC Energy said its alkaline fuel cell technology had “become synonymous” with low cost, high efficiency, and fuel tolerant hydrogen power generators, following a redesign and development programme instigated three years ago.

The board said it was “now only right” that the technology underpinning its core identity was afforded its own brand as a key component of the firm’s phased go to market strategy.

Alkaline fuel cells were distinguished from other fuel cell technologies in the manner by which hydroxyl group ions migrate from cathode to anode.

It is at the anode where the hydrogen reacts with the hydroxyl group ions, the company explained, releasing electrons, and which gave AFC Energy technology its high fuel efficiency and tolerance to lower grades of hydrogen.

The board said the HydroX-Cell series of fuel cells drew its name from that unique reaction, while the distinguishing feature between technologies rested in the liquid, or ‘L’, and solid, or ‘S’, electrolytes used to conduct ions from cathode to anode.

The AlkaMem polymer membrane developed by AFC Energy for inclusion in the Hydrox-Cell(S) fuel cell had been afforded its own branding due to the multiple applications in which it could be used outside of the fuel cell field, the board explained.

AFC Energy said it would be releasing a specific update on each of the HydroX-Cell(S) and AlkaMem technologies “shortly”, detailing updates on progress made in the development of those etwo core platforms within the AFC Energy technology portfolio.

“The culmination of the past three years work has led us to a clear tri-pillar approach to the branding of our core technologies within the H-Power suite of products,” said chief executive officer Adam Bond.

“With a clear focus on our customer value proposition, we believe that these three core technologies, utilised within applications such as the company's hydrogen fuelled EV charger to be released next month, will deliver a zero emission, low cost and high performing technology platform capable of competing favourably with PEM and SOFC fuel cell systems in the market today.”

As at 1115 GMT, shares in AFC Energy were up 21.98% at 6.04p.