AFC Energy PLC Launches LASER-CELL Project

AFC Energy (AIM: AFC), the leading developer of low-cost alkaline fuel cells, is pleased to announce that the inaugural consortium meeting of project LASER-CELL recently took place at the Company’s Dunsfold headquarters.

Project LASER-CELL will develop innovative high-volume production technologies which can be used to manufacture alkaline fuel cell components, and will include comprehensive life-cycle and market analysis. The project will run in parallel with the Company’s current development programme.

AFC Energy leads the consortium that was awarded a grant of €1.4 million towards the €2.9 million research and development project. The project is funded by the European Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) through the European Union’s 7th Framework Programme (FP7).

The consortium comprises the following organisations:

AFC Energy http://www.afcenergy.com Fuel cell developer UK
Cencorp Oyj http://www.cencorp.com/ Automation and laser specialists Finland
VTT Technical Research Centre http://www.vtt.fi/laser Finland’s globally networked multi-technological contract research organisation Finland
Air Products http://www.airproducts.com//h2energy Leading global supplier of industrial gases and equipment, chemicals and environmental and energy systems UK
Nanocyl SA http://www.nanocyl.com/ Leading global manufacturer of specialty and industrial carbon nanotubes. Belgium
UDE http://www.uni-due.de/energietechnik Energy and Environmental Engineering Institute of Duisburg-Essen University. Germany

The project will exploit the expertise and resources of all the partners. Work will be carried out at the premises of each partner and will be coordinated and managed by AFC Energy.

Ian Williamson, CEO of AFC Energy plc, commented: “The award of this significant R&D grant from the European Union demonstrates the EU’s commitment and endorsement of our technology. We were delighted to personally welcome our partners, whose impressive expertise will be key to the success of project LASER-CELL.”